Ch.6767. If You’re Curious, Check It Yourself.

“Who do you think I am?”

“….You are my sister, as high as the heavens.”

Miria Alphonse, completely naked, pressed close to my side and stroked my head with a satisfied expression.

The moment was so sudden that ‘that thing’ in my lower body couldn’t even react.

I also wondered how she could so naturally talk about pouncing on her brother, even as a joke.

“You’ll listen to your big sister from now on, right?”

“….Pardon?”

“Hmm? Why? That’s not a very enthusiastic answer. Should I just pounce on you?”

“I’ll tell father—”

“What would be faster? Telling father who’s returned to the family, or me pouncing on you?”

She was exuding such intimidation that normal conversation seemed impossible.

Honestly, even though I could easily overpower her physically, I felt overwhelmed by some inexplicable pressure.

I gave Miria Alphonse the kindest smile I could muster.

“Sister, you’re being unusually aggressive today.”

“I’ll ask again, will you listen to your big sister from now on?”

“When have I ever disobeyed you? I promise I won’t go anywhere near the Forest of Death again.”

“Now that’s the answer I like to hear.”

“….Thank you.”

After playing with my hair for a while, Miria Alphonse returned to her place.

It was brief, but a terrifying time. Her eyes had looked so wild, as if she might pounce on me at any moment.

“So you only went to the entrance of the Forest of Death?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I heard that once you enter the Forest of Death, you can’t come back out.”

“That wasn’t the case. I think about 20 years ago, an expedition went all the way in and met with disaster.”

“Still, you could have been in big trouble. What would you have done if you’d encountered a demon in the Forest of Death?”

I tilted my head at Miria Alphonse’s words.

“But I did encounter one.”

“Y-you met one? A demon?”

“Yes, fortunately I only encountered one succubus before returning.”

“Ah… just one… w-wait, you met a succubus?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Even I haven’t met a succubus yet, but rumor has it they bewitch humans with powerful magic.”

If it had been an ordinary succubus, it might have been an easier opponent, but my adversary was Evarim, the former queen.

I sighed briefly, recalling the breathtaking encounter from earlier.

“I was lucky.”

“Just lucky?”

“The succubus’s skills didn’t work on me.”

“You mean you didn’t fall for the succubus’s seduction?”

“Well, something like that.”

Miria Alphonse lifted her voluptuous breasts slightly above the water and gave me a suggestive smile.

“That’s right, our Selden is someone who doesn’t even flinch at my seduction.”

“That’s because we share the same blood, sister.”

“So you’re saying you would be seduced by other women?”

“I am a proper man. And at a vigorous age too.”

As I carefully drew a line against Miria Alphonse’s increasingly inappropriate behavior, she burst into a bright smile instead.

“It’s okay, you can be seduced. Just know that if anyone’s going to drain your vital energy, it’ll be me rather than some succubus.”

Miria Alphonse flicked her tongue while saying these chilling words.

Despite the situation still feeling uncomfortable, I continued the conversation nonchalantly.

“Of course, I’d rather have my vital energy drained by you than by a succubus.”

“….And from now on, I really wish you wouldn’t go to dangerous places like the Forest of Death.”

“I understand. I won’t go there again, even for exploration purposes.”

That was a lie.

In six months, there would be a demon wave.

And just from this brief visit with Jawill Wilson and Rio, I clearly felt the power gap.

As the saying goes, know your enemy and know yourself, and you’ll win a hundred battles. I needed to properly investigate.

But if I told her the truth, would Miria Alphonse return to the family?

Of course I had to say I wouldn’t go to the Forest of Death.

Miria Alphonse stared at me intently, her eyes reddening with emotion.

“Selden, don’t change too much.”

It seemed she wasn’t doubting me, but rather was afraid of how the “Selden Alphonse” she knew was gradually changing.

It’s like when you meet friends sometimes, isn’t it? When they start changing too much, you get that feeling you might not be able to meet them together anymore.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be within reach of your touch.”

When I answered sincerely, Miria Alphonse flinched momentarily before quickly resuming her characteristic mischievous expression.

“Yes, always stay where I can touch you.”

Clearly, though we said the same thing, Miria Alphonse had a talent for making it sound suggestive.

I smiled helplessly at her excellent wordplay.

“I understand.”

*

“How’s Lucien?”

“He’s amazing. He’s already accumulated knowledge far beyond children his age. He’s not even two months old yet—he’s truly a genius, isn’t he?”

After returning from the Forest of Death, I thought Jawill Wilson would be subdued, but he was bouncing with excitement, spitting as he talked.

His saliva had already splattered on the desk.

I frowned and quickly waved my hand.

“I get it, but could you talk from a bit further away?”

“Ah, yes. I got too excited, didn’t I? But if you had been watching him too, young master, you would have been just like me. Do you know how capable this child is?”

“Well, I don’t know in detail.”

“Last night, he suddenly asked me how to make money. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“He said he wanted to buy nice clothes for you and me as gifts. *Sniff*… he’s such a precious child.”

A smile formed on my lips without me realizing it, but I quickly hid my expression.

“So what did you tell him?”

“Ah… I told him that you and I have plenty of money, so it’s fine.”

“Next time, explain to him how money is earned and then say it’s fine. You should satisfy his curiosity.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“How about his training?”

At my question, Jawill Wilson hesitated and swallowed hard.

“As you said, young master, it’s beyond imagination. He might catch up to my skill level within a month.”

“No, he’s probably already caught up, hasn’t he?”

“…Pardon?”

“This is a child who was born with Breath and Meteor skills. He’s probably already caught up but is just pretending to be weak.”

“But why would he do that?”

“Perhaps because he’s happy with the current situation? It also means you’re taking good care of Lucien.”

They say you become more tearful as you age, but Jawill Wilson, despite being in his prime, quickly reddened around the eyes.

“*Ahem*… To think that such a small child could harbor such deep intentions.”

“So from now on, you just handle the basic training, and I’ll take care of the rest. He needs to start gaining experience hunting demons.”

Jawill Wilson glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

“No, absolutely not!”

“What now?”

“You’re planning to take our Lucien to the Forest of Death, aren’t you?”

“It’s fine, I told you Lucien is stronger than you.”

“I collapsed in the Forest of Death without even knowing why. Don’t you realize how dangerous that place is?”

I know exactly how dangerous it is, which is why I’m taking him there.

Lucien, being at the infant stage in human terms, can only maintain a human form now, but if he could manifest his dragon form, he might be stronger than me.

Of course, his potential alone seemed sufficient even now.

That’s why.

I’m entering the Forest of Death with Lucien to accelerate his growth.

It means time is pressing.

The truth is, despite being possessed in this body and experiencing various incidents, I remained relaxed because Rio Sergan and Luna Brillhart were in Lake territory.

In the original story, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say those two stopped the demon wave.

And now, there’s even me, someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

The knights of the Alphonse family have also grown much stronger than in the original story, stimulated by my sudden change, so I couldn’t help but feel at ease.

But.

After briefly exploring the Forest of Death, I wondered: what if we weren’t the only ones who had grown stronger?

What if the butterfly effect of my existence had also influenced the demons?

It means I can no longer afford to take my time.

So, even if it’s a bit reckless, I want to go with Lucien.

“That’s because you’re weak.”

“You haven’t even explained in detail why I collapsed! And Rio didn’t tell me either…”

“You collapsed because you were intoxicated by the succubus’s scent.”

“…What?!”

“Rio collapsed after being hit by a skill while fighting the succubus, and you just collapsed.”

“Are you saying I collapsed… because of a succubus?”

“Yes, which means you’re that weak.”

Jawill Wilson, who had backed away because of the saliva on the desk, took a few steps forward again.

“Was she pretty?”

“…Do you want to die?”

“This is a truly personal question. I’ve never seen a succubus before… they say just seeing one makes you wet yourself. Was she really pretty?”

Has Jawill Wilson ever been this serious?

Even though I tried to avoid answering, looking at his eyes made my mouth open involuntarily.

“You really…”

Just then, Pedericks entered the study with a knock.

His neat formal attire seemed particularly eye-catching today.

“Your clothes suit you well today.”

When I complimented his outfit, Pedericks cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Ahem! A guest has arrived.”

“A guest?”

“She asked me to tell you her name is Evarim.”

What? I told her to stay put in the Forest of Death, but Evarim came looking for me?

As I made a bewildered face, Jawill Wilson once again spat as he spoke.

“Ah!! Before you go meet the guest, please answer my question! I’m curious!! Was she pretty?”

I sighed deeply and stood up.

Then I nodded my chin toward Jawill Wilson.

“If you’re curious, go see for yourself.”