Ch.4646. Let’s See How Much Has Changed?

“Hmm! So refreshing!! Selden, how does it feel to bathe with your sister after so long?”

I soaked my naked body in the large bath and stared blankly at the ceiling.

If only someone would answer, I’d grab them by the pants leg and ask:

Who am I?

Where is this place?

Why am I in a bath alone with a woman?

What’s even more astounding is that Padericks had prepared the bath as if it were a routine matter.

So I asked him with a desperate expression:

Am I really taking a bath with Miria Alphonse?

But.

He responded with a strange look.

‘Wasn’t the family conversation I mentioned earlier obviously meant to take place in the bath?’ he said.

This is insane. How could two grown adults share a bath just because they’re family?

And completely naked, no less.

When I stood firm at the edge of the bath, refusing to enter, what did Miria Alphonse say?

Something about getting in if I wanted to live with her until the exile ended?

Since I couldn’t gauge her abilities, I worried about using my skills and ending up in trouble, so I racked my brain.

Then suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

‘Why should I refuse?’

I mean, I have nothing to lose, and it might even be good, right?

It’s not like I’ve seen a naked woman recently.

So I stripped off all my clothes with a “whatever happens, happens” attitude and got into the bath.

Then Miria Alphonse followed, equally naked.

At this point, I didn’t care if our family fell apart.

I decided to leave it to fate.

“It’s warm and nice for me too.”

“Is it? But why were you trying to avoid getting in the bath with me earlier? That made me sad.”

“W-well, I’m all grown up now, aren’t I? I was just feeling shy.”

“Then why did you change your mind?”

“Because I realized there was no reason for me to miss out.”

The words in my mind came straight out of my mouth without filtering.

Miria Alphonse looked slightly taken aback for a moment, then covered her mouth and giggled.

“That’s right! What man in this world could see me naked? Only my adorable little brother.”

Despite our limited conversations, her responses were always beyond imagination.

I wondered if this is what people call being free-spirited.

Thanks to Miria Alphonse’s positive reception, my mood seemed to lift a bit too.

I raised my chin slightly and put on a haughty expression.

“You won’t be missing out either, Sister.”

“Pfft!! My little brother has really grown up!? Even knows how to banter with his sister.”

“Didn’t I just say I’ve grown up?”

Miria Alphonse and I sat facing each other at opposite ends of the bath.

The rising steam and water concealed most of our bodies, but half of her chest was visible.

Plus, the seductive expression she gave me was a bonus.

By this point, I wondered if this rascal “Selden Alphonse” had done something inappropriate to his sister.

Miria Alphonse smirked and opened her drowsy eyes.

“But, setting aside the pleasure district, why did you really go to Evis?”

“I told you earlier, didn’t I? To gather information about magical beasts.”

“Don’t tell me you actually hunted a magical beast?”

“Yes, I did.”

“How could you possibly hunt a magical beast!?”

“Didn’t Father tell you? I’ve gotten stronger too.”

Once again, for whatever reason, Miria Alphonse burst into laughter.

Was it because the bath made her voice echo?

Listening to her laugh made me feel somewhat annoyed.

“So Father wasn’t joking when he said you’ve been learning swordsmanship lately?”

“Father isn’t the type to make frivolous jokes, is he?”

“What happened to the crybaby who used to get beaten up by Leonard and come running to me?”

The fourth sibling used to hit me?

No wonder when I saw him at the joint magical beast hunt, his fists kept rising unconsciously…

I should have called him aside and given him a good beating.

No, I should have properly connected him with Seri Familia.

By now, he would have been completely dissected by her hands.

“Why bring up old stories? I’ve changed a lot since being exiled.”

“Then let’s see how much our cute little brother has changed?”

With that, she dipped under the water with a “plop” and instantly resurfaced right in front of me.

Miria Alphonse reached toward my private area, feeling my thigh.

I hastily blocked her hand and raised my voice.

“…What are you doing!?”

“I’m just checking how much you’ve changed! I’m your sister, what’s the problem!?”

“I-I’ll tell Father!!”

I never imagined I’d say “I’ll tell Father” out of my mouth.

How desperate must I have been?

Miria Alphonse, who had been full of suggestiveness, muttered “That’s playing dirty” at the mention of Father and stood up.

Right in front of me.

Splash!

My neck reflexively bent.

Looking up at Miria Alphonse’s naked body from below…

What more needs to be said?

I sat frozen, as if entranced.

Then, Miria Alphonse spoke as she stepped out of the bath.

“Aren’t you coming out!?”

I hung my head low and glanced at “that fellow” attached to my lower body.

Despite the warm water, “that fellow” was particularly angry today.

I raised my head slightly and cleared my throat.

“Ahem, I’ll soak a bit longer before coming out.”

*

“I didn’t expect the Baron to visit personally.”

“Well, my son has gone missing. The eldest son of the Cardrian family, no less.”

Ricardo Cardrian, who had come to investigate Lake territory with Baron Byron’s permission, stood proudly.

Fortunately, there was no suspicion in his eyes, but he was definitely cautious.

Is that natural?

He had permission, but while the Alphonse family wasn’t hostile, they weren’t exactly friendly either.

I gently placed my teacup on the table.

“Father asked me to ensure you could conduct a thorough investigation. He doesn’t want any uncomfortable relations.”

“As it should be… By the way, I heard you and Seri Familia were injured due to the earthquake?”

“We’re fine. We just fell down, but fortunately it wasn’t deep. The same goes for Lady Seri Familia.”

“I see. Was the earthquake severe?”

“There were several more tremors, but we didn’t specifically measure the intensity.”

Baron Ricardo tilted his head.

“You didn’t measure it?”

“To begin with, it wasn’t the hunting ground we had originally planned for the joint magical beast hunt. Father and Baron Rene were so excited about hunting after such a long time that they ventured near the danger zone.”

“Near the danger zone? From what I know, only weak magical beasts appear in Lake territory?”

“To be precise, it’s an unconfirmed area. We call it the ‘Forest of Death.'”

“Forest of Death…”

Baron Ricardo stroked his chin, trailing off.

Ignoring his reaction, I explained the ‘Forest of Death’ exactly as it was.

“When my father, a former knight, was granted Lake territory, he continuously explored to develop it. That’s when he reached what is now called the ‘Forest of Death.'”

Baron Ricardo seemed quite interested, nodding and blinking his eyes.

“Go on.”

“But all ten people who went to explore died. Without any explanation.”

“Because of magical beasts, I assume.”

“Even that’s not certain. My father gave up on exploration and built defensive lines at the entrance of the Forest of Death for years, preparing for magical beasts to emerge…”

“But no magical beasts came out of the Forest of Death?”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“What a peculiar forest.”

The ‘Forest of Death’ in Lake territory.

I know more about this forest than what I’ve explained to Baron Ricardo.

This isn’t information I gained after possessing this body.

It’s just that I know it well because the Forest of Death will be the initial site of the upcoming magical beast wave.

“I wouldn’t recommend entering the Forest of Death if possible.”

“Well, I suppose I’ll have to make do with investigating around the Forest of Death.”

“An excellent choice. I’ve already informed the villagers to fully cooperate with the Cardrian family’s visit, so they’ll answer any questions you have sincerely.”

Baron Ricardo looked at me intently as I spoke fluently, then continued.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Not at all. These are all instructions from my father, Baron Byron.”

“By the way, may I ask you something?”

“Yes, of course.”

“You and the Parseche family benefited the most from the Peil fruit. Is this a coincidence?”

A question I hadn’t anticipated at all.

However, since there was nothing to hide, I nodded calmly.

“It might not be a coincidence.”

“Might not be?”

“Elina Parseche once visited our mansion to withdraw her request for breaking off the engagement. At that time, I think she might have accidentally overheard about the Peil fruit.”

“Accidentally overheard…”

I gritted my teeth as Baron Ricardo still seemed doubtful.

“If it weren’t for the Parseche family, the price of Peil fruit would have risen even higher. I still wake up in the middle of the night, furious when I think about it.”

“…I can see why you’d feel that way.”

“The information leak was ultimately my oversight, so I can’t blame anyone else. It’s maddening.”

Baron Ricardo, having apparently finished his business with me, put down his teacup and stood up.

Then, looking down at me, he creased the corners of his mouth.

“Thank you for your answers.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I need to start investigating as soon as possible. I’ll definitely repay you for your consideration today someday.”

As Baron Ricardo smoothly left the reception room, I stood up and bowed respectfully, pretending to maintain courtesy until the end.

“Take care on your way.”