Ch.71Reflecting (2)

# Hersy heard about Ruide’s urgent call through Miho.

“What could Ruide want? He said it was important business.”

Hersy stood in front of the “Dessert Shop Dragons Can’t Resist.”

It was the most expensive dessert shop on the island.

[Maybe he wants to apologize?]

“Apologize… Ruide?”

[He seemed really sorry.]

“Hmm. There must be some tremendous reason behind that incident that we can’t possibly understand.”

[…Hersy. That’s a severe case of delusion.]

“Ruide isn’t a psychopath. He wouldn’t blow up the main building without a reason.”

Hersy had strong faith in him.

‘I see. So he called me to explain himself.’

Irina didn’t seem to think much of it, but Damon appeared quite displeased.

Even that rogue prince who would shout “How dare you!” even if he fell into hell had kept his mouth shut.

‘Good. This is exactly when I should comfort him.’

He was currently facing a lot of criticism at the academy.

Even for someone like Ruide, this time might be difficult.

Hersy imagined herself listening attentively and comforting him in a wonderful scene.

This was her chance to secure the spot beside him.

‘Fighting, Hersy.’

Hersy clenched her fist slightly before entering the shop.

Ruide was sitting in the spot with the best sunlight, wearing a melancholic expression.

**

Ruide had decided to seriously accept life.

A serious life, huh.

Ruide rolled around on the table, thinking.

‘How do you even do that?’

He wasn’t sure, but—

One thing did come to mind.

People who chase their goals shine brightly.

‘I’ve just been acting spoiled until now. I was such a child. Hmm. Dreams, huh. What could there be?’

Ruide wasn’t actually 12 years old.

He was clearly someone with memories of a past life.

Although that past life was as a shut-in who escaped reality.

Even someone like him had a dream.

Namely, to be a full-time househusband.

The idea that men can’t be full-time househusbands is an outdated notion.

Of course, people’s gazes wouldn’t be kind, but Ruide wasn’t the type to care about others’ opinions anyway.

‘…That’s not it. Anyway.’

It wasn’t easy to set goals when you already had everything. No matter how much he thought with his excellent brain, he couldn’t figure it out. There was nothing he wanted to achieve.

But he had found a direction.

Maybe if he helped those around him achieve their goals, he might discover his own?

Since he had called Hersy, he decided to ask her.

“You’re here?”

“Yes.”

Hersy sat down next to Ruide.

She smiled awkwardly at the messily arranged food.

“You ate—no, you ordered a lot.”

Several cakes.

They looked untouched, but they weren’t.

Each type had diminished by a chestnut-sized amount.

“That’s not what’s important.”

Ruide was extremely serious right now.

He clasped his hands together.

“What’s your dream, Hersy?”

“…Why so suddenly?”

Hersy blinked. But seeing Ruide’s serious gaze, she answered.

“Marriage…I guess.”

“You also dream of being a full-time househusband?”

“What? What’s a full-time househusband?”

“It’s a thing.”

Ruide crossed his arms.

He closed his eyes briefly to think.

Then opened them.

“What’s your ideal type?”

The big data of people in Ruide’s head.

Finding Hersy’s potential husband would be no challenge at all.

“W-well…”

Hersy’s face turned red.

Glancing at Ruide occasionally, she spoke in a small voice.

“…Someone cute.”

“And?”

“…Since I have to think about descendants, they should have good genes.”

“Genes?”

“Being handsome and strong would be nice. And status… the more noble, the better.”

Hersy coughed awkwardly out of embarrassment.

Ruide narrowed his eyes and stared at Hersy.

Hersy’s face turned tomato-red.

‘Has he… figured it out?’

“Hersy.”

“Yes.”

Ruide spoke seriously.

“Someone who’s cute, handsome, strong, and has high status doesn’t exist in this world.”

“……”

“You’re too greedy. Lower your standards. Do you want to stay single forever?”

His lack of awareness was hopelessly bad!

‘I should have known.’

Hersy’s eyes cooled slightly. She sighed softly. She had gathered her courage for nothing.

“But that’s fine.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll introduce you to someone.”

“Introduce…?”

“A man. How about Pent Eder, the eldest son of Count Eder?”

“……”

Hersy became serious.

“No. I’ll find my own marriage partner.”

‘What’s with her? I went to all this trouble to think of someone.’

Ruide shook his head. Women’s hearts are difficult.

“Is there nothing else?”

“Nothing else?”

“Like worries or something. You must have some.”

“…No. Why would I? I don’t have anything in particular.”

Hersy’s eyes were clear.

It wasn’t that she was hiding something; she really didn’t seem to have any.

‘…Well, I guess it’s natural since she avoided the future of becoming a villain.’

Ruide’s eyes narrowed.

He had just taken the first great step toward becoming a new person.

It was disappointing to have no results.

“What about magic? Are you growing steadily?”

Hersy’s shoulders drooped at the mention of magic.

“Actually, I haven’t made any progress lately. The exam is coming up soon. What should I do?”

“That’s to be expected. You’ve just been playing around.”

“…At least I’m better than Ruide who sleeps 20 hours a day.”

“I only slept 15 hours today.”

“That’s still a lot.”

‘Should I teach her magic?’

Ruide was quite knowledgeable about magic.

He had experimented with many things and understood most principles.

So teaching magic wouldn’t be difficult, but…

‘That’s boring.’

It was tasteless. He wanted to do something more impressive.

“Do you know what’s happening at the academy these days?”

About three days had passed since that incident.

During that time, Ruide had been repeating a cycle of getting scolded, sleeping, getting scolded, and eating.

He shook his head.

“Did something happen? Besides my magic incident.”

“It’s the follow-up measures. It’s the first time a powerful black mage has entered the academy.”

Ruide spoke indifferently.

“I don’t care.”

“What?”

“I’m not going to care about academy matters anymore.”

The original story, the original story. That damn original story.

Ruide wanted to break free from this cycle.

‘Well… I guess she wouldn’t suddenly share her worries just because I called her.’

There was no rush. Today he had moved forward just a worm’s length, so that was satisfying.

Ruide stood up.

“If you have any worries, feel free to tell me anytime.”

Hersy was puzzled but nodded.

“Okay.”

“Then I’ll be going.”

Ruide shuffled away.

“Oh, Ru-Ruide?”

Hersy called out.

He turned around with a puzzled expression.

She was standing with a waiter.

“What about the bill?”

“Ah, sorry. I don’t have money, so pay for me.”

As Ruide tried to slip away, Hersy grabbed his arm.

“Ruide?”

“Yes?”

“Actually, before coming here, I met Lady Amelia.”

“Good for you.”

“…She told me not to buy anything for you if you asked.”

Ruide blinked.

‘Why is she so thorough?’

This was unexpected. He scratched his head.

“Um… lend me some then.”

“…So you really are on an allowance ban.”

“Yes.”

Ruide put his hands together in prayer.

“I’m sorry. I’ll pay you back. When I get my salary next month.”

Ruide looked at Hersy pleadingly.

Hersy spoke with a troubled expression.

“Well, she said not to help you financially in any form.”

“That much?”

“Yes…”

Ruide was openly disappointed.

“That’s really too much.”

“W-well. Isn’t the one who’s too much Ruide, who called me saying he had important business but actually just wanted me to pay the bill?”

“……”

Hersy was surprisingly the type to speak her mind.

**

In the end, Ruide paid 45 gold.

Now he had so little money left that it all fit in his small hand.

“Just when I was trying to live diligently.”

Ruide walked weakly.

The world was unfair.

“Ugh, whatever, this is all because of sister Ame. I should develop some inorganic magic and sleep for a year.”

Ruide attempted to escape reality.

Like saying “I was just about to study but my mom nagged me so I won’t.”

‘Wait. Isn’t that a bit dangerous?’

Shouldn’t he maintain at least some dignity as a human being?

If he did something like that again, Ruide felt he wouldn’t be able to acknowledge himself as human.

Reluctantly, he decided to earn money.

‘She said only earned income would be recognized.’

Should he bring Miho and make her perform circus tricks on the street?

A talking arctic fox would be interesting and could earn a lot of money.

But wouldn’t that only amount to a few coins? Ruide needed a lot of money.

Therefore, rejected.

‘Come to think of it, the empire had something called performance bonuses. Do professors get them too?’

If not, he could talk to the emperor and create them.

‘Performance bonuses earned as a professor would be recognized.’

Ruide racked his brain.

Maybe he could create research results and write a paper.

There were countless concepts that didn’t exist in this world.

‘Ugh, no thanks.’

Research would require reviews, proofs, and presentations.

Just thinking about it made him want to lie down.

‘Isn’t there money falling from somewhere?’

That would be best.

“…Ruide.”

Just then, someone grabbed the hem of his robe.

Ruide slowly turned around.

A slightly dazed-looking girl with silver hair.

Among the people passing through this street, she had an overwhelmingly otherworldly appearance.

“Hello.”

It was Lydia, the Saintess.

Ruide was a bit taken aback but greeted her.

She stared at Ruide and opened her mouth.

“Why… haven’t you come even once since that day?”

‘Is she talking about the church rooftop?’

That place that was good for sleeping.

He had forgotten about it. Honestly, he had been busy since then.

“I was busy.”

After a moment of silence, Lydia said:

“You’re so selfish.”

“That’s my charm.”

Lydia nodded seriously.

“I suppose so. You’re the first to react to me like this.”

‘Should I ask her too?’

If this was fate, it was fate.

Ruide decided to give it a try.

“What’s your dream?”

“To marry you.”

He shouldn’t have asked.

“Take care. Let’s have a meal sometime.”

That meant he wouldn’t see her. Ruide turned his back.

“Wait.”

Lydia grabbed his arm.

She spoke faster than usual.

“If you don’t like marriage, let’s have a child first.”

Ruide regretted calling Irene crazy.

The real crazy one was right here.

Seeing Ruide’s disgusted expression, Lydia changed her words.

“Alright. Then let’s start with dating slowly. We can marry in a month—”

“Why is marrying you a foregone conclusion…?”

Ruide stepped back.

No matter how pretty she was, someone who said such things seemed dangerous.

Lydia looked at Ruide with strange eyes.

“You don’t like marriage, you don’t like children, you don’t like dating. You’re a strange one. Then, let’s start as friends.”

Ruide was about to refuse immediately when an idea suddenly occurred to him.

“Are you rich? To be my friend, you need to be rich.”

The so-called Golden Sun operation!

A girl in love would go into debt to shower the Golden Sun with gifts to win his favor…

“You’re more of a trash than you look.”

“……”

Ruide had nothing to say.