Ch.326The World’s NPCs in Uproar (1)

It wasn’t because I’d been hit with harsh truths from Ira’s friend Grace and Gor. Having awakened through trials to a new profession, becoming Ira’s brother—this new me—I simply resolved not to take lightly the hearts of the lovely women who throw themselves at me.

So if there was something I could give to Rey, who did his best to save everyone, help them, and protect Ira, I wanted to return it as a reward and a gift.

“J-Jack? You’re not angry, are you?”

“Angry? I told you properly last night. I thanked you. I said I properly heard how thanks to you, both Ira and Gor are safe, didn’t I?”

“Y-yes! I remember! Then perhaps… what I want in the future…?”

“Yeah. I also told you I wouldn’t do it for a while, right?”

“Heeeng!!”

This guy Rey was groaning all last night, so I tried my best to create a sweet, caring, and even ticklishly romantic mood. I really made an incredible effort to create a nice atmosphere! And what did he want? To be spanked on the butt, to have his butt caressed!! And in the end, he even asked if I could strip him and spank him!!

Seriously, can’t he do something about those perverted tendencies? Hmm? Is it too much to ask for a soft atmosphere where we just kiss nicely, hold hands, and gently embrace each other? Huh?! Of course, even while I’m complaining inside, I still did everything he asked!!

“Ugh, Jack is definitely angry.”

“You brought this on yourself. The master deliberately stayed up until that hour waiting for you to wake up, and you just laid out all your perversions and everything you wanted. Isn’t this only natural?”

“Huh? Brother, didn’t you sleep with me yesterday?”

“Yes. I slept with Ira. You were next to me when I woke up this morning, weren’t you?”

Of course, since Ira is present, I have no intention of explicitly discussing what she did or questioning her about it. No, even if Ira weren’t here, I wouldn’t want to bring it up. I knew she was a pervert from the beginning. And Gor? Watch your words? Our Ira is only thirteen now? What if she learns inappropriate knowledge or bad words?

Gor bows her head slightly in apology at my glare—truly a perfect maid. No, an attendant.

We’re currently at the home of a girl named Grace, a guest house of the Müller Count’s mansion. I arrived here with Ira, my sister, after several days. Since Ira said she wanted to stay with me, I had originally planned to move to an inn in town, but somehow this noble showed a friendly-to-commoners move straight out of a light novel, saying that since family members who hadn’t seen each other in a long time would have a lot to talk about, she would generously lend us the guest house where we wouldn’t be disturbed.

Thanks to that, I was able to hold Ira in my arms all day yesterday and listen to various stories. Mm, it was an incredibly happy time being able to hear about everything Ira had been up to during our nearly year-long separation.

“Gor, you’ve become skilled at cooking. It’s much more delicious than before.”

“I made an effort to remember the recipes and ingredients for all the foods that Miss Ira liked at the Neity market so I could make them. For dessert, cream waffles are also prepared.”

“Waffles! Brother! I love the waffles Gor makes!!”

“Heh, so Ira prefers waffles over skewers now?”

“No! Skewers are still my favorite, then waffles!! And then ice cream!!!”

I thought her taste might have become more girlish and age-appropriate, but it seems skewers are still Ira’s top pick. Hmm, was Ira perhaps someone who died without getting to eat skewers in a past life?

“U-um? I-I also!! I also worked hard!! I’ve gotten better at making tea…!!”

“Rey’s tea has shifted toward flavors and aromas that Ragni and the Headmaster prefer. Thanks to that, I didn’t have to make tea for those people and could focus on making food that suits Miss Ira’s taste. For today’s snack, I’ll make strawberry ice cream.”

“Wow! Strawberry ice cream!!”

“What?!! Y-you!! So that’s why you deliberately haven’t been making tea for those two all this time?!!”

Watching Ira anticipate dessert during breakfast, Rey shouting that he’s been completely duped, and Gor snorting at her—it all resembles the world I once saw in a dream. Truly, such a happy morning that the corners of my mouth lift involuntarily. This is the peaceful daily life I’ve wished for.

“Haha. That’s great, Ira.”

“Yes! Brother! Gor makes really good ice cream too! Let’s eat it together?”

“Sure.”

As I gently stroke Ira’s head while she sits happily on my lap, she smiles brightly and lets out a cheerful laugh. Ah, really. How wonderful would it be if these happy times could just continue? Thinking this, after finishing breakfast, I drank the tea Gor prepared for us and began to speak words that would break this daily life with my own hands. This daily life is truly happy, but the dream I saw, the daily life I hoped for, is not yet complete.

“Listen, everyone. I met with Ragni.”

“Huh? Brother! You met big sister Ragni?! Where is she!! Why didn’t you bring her?!!”

“Is Ragni safe?”

While Gor, who already knew I had met Ragni, listened quietly, Rey and Ira reacted quite intensely, asking about her well-being, and I nodded gently to let them know she was safe.

“And now I’m going to meet Ragni again. So…”

“I’m going too! I don’t want to wait anymore!! I’ve worked hard enough to be able to stay with you, Brother!!”

“…Jack, I’m sorry to say this, but if Ira says she’s going, I can’t say I’ll stay behind to protect her anymore. Ira has worked very hard. Really, she’s now strong enough to escape from Gor and me on her own if she wants to.”

My lips curl up involuntarily as I see Ira strongly grabbing my arm as if expecting me to ask her to wait a little longer, and Rey resolutely taking Ira’s side. Don’t worry. I don’t want to go anywhere without you two either.

“Then!!”

“Yes. Ira, let’s go on a somewhat dangerous journey together this time. There, we’ll meet Ragni and scold her properly for going off alone.”

“Yes!! I really need to have a word with big sister! Since she ran away on her own, I’m really going to spank her bottom!”

“Hehe. May I be angry too? Because of Ragni, I really suffered quite a few times.”

“I agree on that point as well. With the master’s permission, I’d like to hang her up somewhere and punish her properly.”

Hmm, why does everyone look happy when I tell them I’m taking them to a dangerous place? No, Ira’s face is genuinely happy even as she talks about getting angry at Ragni. Clearly, in my absence, my little sister worked hard at the academy, following both the Headmaster’s education and Gor’s level-up plan out of her desire to be with me. Really, if I had the time, I would have wanted to spend that time together with Ira.

“Well, considering it’s decided that we’re all going together, I’ll tell you about Ragni’s plan next. Ragni intends to punish the Emperor and Chancellor who started this war, and to show herself, as a member of the royal family, being punished as well. Of course, the punishment doesn’t involve executing herself or anything like that, and I’ve left the specific methods to Ragni. We’ll help with that, and in the end, she plans to return to us and become a commoner rather than a princess. Well, we’ll hear the details directly from Ragni when we meet her. Since Rey has only become able to move today, I’m thinking we’ll leave at dawn tomorrow…”

-SLAM!!

“Dawn?! Tomorrow?!! You’re leaving with Ira tomorrow?!! Ah!!”

“”Ah.””

“Ah! Grace!! Good morning! Have you had breakfast?”

“……”

The moment I mentioned leaving tomorrow, a brown-haired girl who had flung open the dining room door appeared, covering her mouth in surprise at her own action, her eyes darting around. Well, we’re in trouble. How much did she hear? Why didn’t I notice her?

“I apologize. Actually, she’s been outside the door since we were talking about ice cream.”

“…You knew and let her be?”

“My goodness, I didn’t sense her presence at all.”

-Hop!

“Our dessert is cream waffles! Grace, let’s eat together!”

The conversation about Ragni is, naturally, quite a serious secret. If the listener is someone from the Empire, especially a noble, it’s something that should be kept even more hidden. And we let her hear all of it? Despite our serious atmosphere, Ira jumped off my lap and took Grace’s hand with a smile, but I silently questioned Gor about why she hadn’t said anything when she noticed, and she immediately answered with a shrug.

“She is more infatuated with Miss Ira than you think, Master. If we were to disappear without a word, or if we were to cause something big enough to start rumors, she might act impulsively. So it’s better to let her hear and explain properly, before she becomes something we can’t control.”

“Gor, that’s…”

“…That was your judgment?”

“Yes. I don’t think this judgment was wrong.”

It might partly be because the veteran ranger’s detection is gone, but considering that even Rey couldn’t sense her presence, she must have been hiding herself with magic or spirit arts while listening to our conversation. Just looking at her level shown in the status window, she’s already on par with the Headmaster. Someone like her, infatuated with Ira, might act on her own after we quietly disappear and cause other problems. That’s what Gor was saying. Hmm, in the past, you would have told me everything and sought my answer. Gor, not only have you gained a voice, but your personality has changed quite a bit too?

“I apologize for making a judgment and acting on my own. If you wish to punish me, I will gladly accept any punishment… *slurp* Ah, um.”

“…I see.”

You bastard, are you deliberately trying to get punished? After watching Gor wipe the drool(?) from the corner of her mouth, I smiled slightly and just patted her head, which made her eyes widen in surprise. Sorry, but I still don’t intend to leisurely play along with your perverted tendencies.

“Excuse me, Miss Grace? How much did you hear and how much did you understand?”

“Yes, ice cream together…!! Eh, ah!”

In contrast to the serious expression she had when she burst through the door, the thirteen-year-old girl who had been excited about discussing afternoon snacks with Ira corrected her expression as if she had forgotten something and opened her mouth.

“Ragni. The person you all called Ragni is this country’s princess, Ragni Bluemoon Ottoman, and I heard and understood that. And as I suspected, that Princess Ragni might be the Assistant Instructor Rag who was at our academy. And I heard and understood that you are all now heading to the Imperial capital for her sake.”

Assistant Instructor Rag? What’s that about? I have even more questions now!

Looking at what Grace said, Rey hitting his forehead saying “Oh no! You found out about that?!”, and Gor closing her eyes and mouth as if it were obvious, I thought we probably had a lot more to discuss, so I told Gor to bring the dessert first.