Ch.86Hersy Minerva (2)

# Coincidentally, Ruide witnessed the scene of the slap and dragged Hersy to Amelia’s office.

“It… it was nothing.”

When asked what happened, Hersy firmly denied it. Ruide didn’t push. He just…

*Staaaare*—

He and Amelia just stared at her.

When the two blonde siblings stared at her as if they could bore holes through her face, Hersy couldn’t hold out for even ten minutes.

Finally, she opened up.

Her story was quite long.

Hersy had grown up in a harsh home environment. From an early age, her parents offered no affection, only harsh standards. If she fell short in the slightest, they would punish her physically.

In that environment, Klein had been her only support. Her other siblings had been kind too. But everything changed once he became the heir, she said.

Today, she had gathered her courage to apologize and hoped to return to how things were before, but it hadn’t worked out. Now, there was probably no hope left.

As she spoke the last part, Hersy even began to sob a little.

“That’s just how it turned out… I don’t think badly of my brother. It happened because of my inadequacy.”

Hersy finished her story and wiped her reddened eyes.

‘An older brother who feels inferior to his little sister… how petty.’

But could it really be defined so simply?

It would be difficult to easily judge Klein’s feelings after being stripped of his inheritance in favor of a 5-year-old girl.

While it wasn’t right, it wasn’t incomprehensible either.

“What do you want to do?”

“I want our family to get along well… like the Windsor family.”

“Our family doesn’t get along well.”

Ruide blinked.

Hersy looked puzzled.

“What?”

“Ame got beaten up by Irene all the time growing up.”

The corner of Amelia’s mouth twitched.

“Rui…de? Those were just training matches.”

“Violence disguised as training, more like. I couldn’t hold back my tears whenever you got hit.”

“…You were yawning.”

Amelia’s shoulders slumped. Where had her authority as an older sister gone?

“But everyone still cares about Ruide.”

“That’s because I’m me.”

“……”

Amelia sighed and added:

“As annoying as it is, he’s right, Hersy.”

Ruide nodded. It was a bit funny to think this way after possessing someone else’s body, but still.

“The Windsor succession battles have always been fierce, though it’s not well-known outside.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Since Windsor selects its heir through tests, competition is inevitable. However, our method is more peaceful than other noble families. There’s no direct conflict.”

Amelia stroked Ruide’s head.

“This generation’s Windsors don’t even do that much. That’s largely because of Ruide’s existence.”

More precisely, it was because Ruide was a magician.

A magician cannot become the head of the Windsor family. Therefore, Ruide was automatically excluded from the succession competition.

With her brother excluded, Amelia could also more easily give up on succession.

She could just live with her brother.

“I couldn’t possibly engage in power struggles when I have such an adorable brother. Besides, my sister is far more capable than I am.”

“Agreed.”

Ruide nodded.

Comparing Amelia and Irene, both had their strengths and weaknesses—

But as a family head, Irene was much better. Irene had good decisiveness. She handled any situation without hesitation, resolving matters simply.

‘Sorry to Amelia, but if she became the duchess, she’d definitely get taken advantage of.’

Amelia glared briefly at Ruide, then turned to Hersy with a warm expression.

“Whether relationships improve or deteriorate isn’t up to you, Hersy.”

“R-really?”

“It’s a matter of acceptance or rejection. Unless he acknowledges his defeat, there’s no possibility of progress in your relationship. All you can do is show an overwhelmingly impressive side of yourself.”

Hersy hung her head low. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke.

“But then— wouldn’t he hate me more? Maybe I should just give up the position of family head.”

“Hersy.”

Amelia shook her head.

“That would be an insult to him. He would probably feel even more miserable.”

“…!”

“Work hard to prove your abilities. Rather than giving up on competition, engaging in fair competition is the right approach.”

Hersy looked at Amelia. With slight embarrassment, she said:

“Thank you. I… think you would do well as family head too, Amelia. You’re so admirable.”

Ruide turned his head away.

But Amelia had accurate self-awareness.

“I’m not suited for the position of family head. I’m better suited as a knight guarding my sister. Or perhaps, Ruide’s knight.”

‘Knight, huh… that sounds nice.’

Amelia gave off the impression of a somewhat large retriever. Someone who eats well and is quietly dependable.

Living a life of being spoiled by Amelia forever didn’t sound bad. If he was going to live as a freeloader, he definitely needed someone to support him.

‘You chose this life, sis. Take responsibility.’

From today, Amelia couldn’t get married.

She would be single for life. He would make sure of it. After all, she said with her own mouth that she would be his knight. Until death, she had to live only with him for the rest of her life.

Ruide smirked with a mischievous expression.

“R-Ruide? Why are you making such a scary face…”

Amelia laughed awkwardly, feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

**

Amelia’s advice.

Ruide thought it wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t the best solution either.

It’s not like Hersy could exude an unapproachable aura like Irene.

She already seemed to be trying hard enough.

Above all, the good relationship between Amelia and Irene existed purely because Amelia was kind.

Hersy’s case was different.

“Let’s just observe for now.”

Ruide had no intention of getting heavily involved.

It was bothersome.

And he didn’t want to meddle in another family’s affairs.

However, he did plan to filter things out in advance if the situation became too severe.

Ruide headed to the third-year Magic Department building.

[Should I just brainwash him? Such an insolent human.]

Miho, sitting on Ruide’s shoulder, growled softly. Ruide replied indifferently:

“Unnecessary meddling.”

[I can’t forgive anyone who hurts Hersy.]

“Do as you please. I’m too lazy.”

[…You say you’re lazy, but you’re going to solve it anyway.]

“I’m just taking a walk.”

[Inside a building…?]

Ruide looked around the corridor. According to the student directory, Klein was currently attending “Dellin’s Magic Theory” class. And that class was held on the second floor of Building 4.

He was certain because he had sneaked a peek at Fenicia’s calendar, the professor of “Dellin’s Magic Interpretation.”

The information was accurate. Inside the classroom, he could see Klein attending the lecture.

“Oh, what a coincidence. Running into the mean person who slapped his sister.”

Miho was dumbfounded by Ruide’s flat tone as he muttered.

‘Master, you’re really bad at acting.’

Ruide stood on his tiptoes to peek through the window into the classroom.

‘I can’t tell anything from this.’

Klein was drenched in sweat.

It was clear he was attending the class very diligently.

Though why he was doing push-ups during a magic theory lecture was unclear.

…It seemed to be Clifford’s influence.

‘I need some kind of device. What would be a way to understand that person’s character?’

Ruide’s eyes met Miho’s.

A white, cute Arctic fox.

Should he send her in to see if Klein likes her?

‘No way. There can’t be anyone in this world who doesn’t find Arctic foxes cute.’

But going to talk to Klein directly was problematic because of Klein’s noble status.

Even a slave merchant would be kind to him.

“Hmmmm.”

Ruide was stroking his chin when something suddenly occurred to him.

“Fox.”

[Yes?]

“Can you find out if that person is good or bad?”

[I could hypnotize him and ask, couldn’t I?]

“Are there side effects to that?”

Miho curled the corners of her mouth strangely. It was a bit creepy seeing a fox do that.

[Once someone falls under my hypnosis, they do become a vegetable.]

“……”

Let’s not do that.

Instead, Ruide’s quick thinking found the optimal solution.

“You can transform into a human, right?”

[That’s right. Miho can do anything.]

“As a nine-tailed fox, seducing one human should be nothing, right?”

Miho caught on to what Ruide was asking and made a face that clearly showed her displeasure.

“I’ll cut off your mana.”

As soon as she heard those words, there was a poof, and smoke rose.

What appeared was Miho’s human form. However, it wasn’t the blue-haired girl he had seen before.

“Fox.”

Ruide narrowed his brow.

“Why do you look similar to me?”

“You’re imagining things.”

Miho said with displeasure, crossing her arms.

What Miho had transformed into was a small, beautiful girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Exactly like a female version of Ruide.

This was her punishment for him showing no interest normally but then asking her to seduce another man.

“…Change it. I don’t like it.”

Ruide was understandably displeased.

“Ah, I can only change my polymorph once a day. I can grow here though, want to see? A taller version of you, Master.”

“……”

‘Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.’

Though it felt a bit unpleasant, since Miho would be doing all the hard work, he decided to put up with it. But he thought she was being a bit impudent.

“The plan is simple.”

Ruide explained to Miho.

“Make Klein like you.”

“Ah….”

Miho’s expression showed she really didn’t want to do it.

“And if he tries to seduce you, say ‘I like people who have harmonious families.’ Most importantly, find out what kind of person Klein is.”

‘I can’t know what kind of person he is without seeing for myself.’

But he didn’t want to approach and befriend Klein directly.

That’s why he sent Miho. If he could observe their conversations with his own eyes, he was confident he could quickly judge whether Klein was good or evil.

If things went better than expected, Klein and Hersy’s relationship might improve.

This was killing two birds with one stone.

“Answer me.”

Seduce a human?

Miho really hated it.

Really— she hated it so much.

Really really— she truly hated it.

Above all, she felt hurt.

‘…I even counseled him last time and didn’t get a single thank you. Always abandoning me with Hersy and never looking for me. This time too, he only called me because he needed something. This is too much.’

Miho wasn’t just a pet fox.

She was clearly a “spirit” with her own personality.

Moreover, she was a spirit who had lived for over 500 years and had her own pride.

Spirits value communion very much.

Even if it’s their master, they won’t obey orders that don’t make sense. They could even unilaterally terminate the contract.

“Answer me. Nine-tailed fox. I’m telling you to do your main job.”

Miho’s cheeks puffed up.

Ruide became 20 times more annoyed.

Seeing someone who looked just like him but with longer hair acting cute.

“I don’t want to. I won’t do this.”

‘This is ridiculous.’

Ruide decided to speak more harshly.

“If you’re a pet fox, act like one. Obey my words. You’re just draining my magical power without doing anything.”

“—!”

Crack! Wrinkles formed on Miho’s forehead. Her face turned bright red. Trembling, she said:

“I think it’s you who needs to be taught a lesson, Master.”

Ruide was just dumbfounded. He shrugged.

“What can you possibly do?”

“…High-level spirits can do a lot more than you think, Master.”

Ruide was incredulous. Shouldn’t he be the one getting angry here? He was looking at her female form that she had transformed into without permission.

“What are you going to do? Go ahead and try.”

“You clearly— told me to try. Don’t regret it.”

Miho, with trembling lips, placed her hand on her chest.

A five-colored fox bead emerged from her chest.

With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it lightly into the air.

[Polymorph— Synchronization.]

“…?”

At that moment, the fox bead approached Ruide.

Before he could react, the fox bead was sucked into his body with a whoosh.

Ruide blinked in astonishment.

Miho’s body glowed, then returned to her fox form.

But she wasn’t her usual size; she was very small, with nine tails.

It was Miho’s true form.

“…What’s going on?”

Ruide was bewildered.

Just as he was about to get angry and say something—

“…?”

He felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘Why does my voice sound like this?’

Slowly, he brought his hand to the back of his neck.

He felt soft hair.

In a place where it shouldn’t be.

‘N-no way.’

Cold sweat dripped from Ruide’s forehead.

With trembling hands, he checked a certain area.

“…It’s gone?”

Ruide’s pupils trembled finely.