Chapter 6 – Deprived of Human Rights

“I heard you sparred with the knights.”

During dinner, my father’s voice, filled with anxiety and concern, reached my ears.

“Yes.”

“Well… you didn’t get hurt anywhere, did you?”

“I’m fine. The Eustetia Knights lived up to their reputation. I sparred over thirty times and didn’t even get a single bruise.”

I shot a sharp glance at my father while speaking pointedly.

“Look at this arm. I’m right-handed, but there’s not a single bruise. My shoulder’s fine too.”

“Hmm, hmm… I see.”

Receiving my gaze, Father let out an awkward cough and took a sip of water.

“Oh my, our Ellie must have felt quite left out,” Mother said with her usual radiant smile, as if she had expected this.

“Yes. I almost cried from frustration. It felt like I was being excluded, left alone in the world. If I’d known it would be like this, I might as well have spent the time beating up a scarecrow. At least a scarecrow doesn’t talk or have feelings, so I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. Sigh.“

With an exaggerated sigh, I bit into a huge piece of beef.

Chomp chomp.

“But, but I heard that at least Yurasia gave you a proper match… wasn’t that the case?”

“Was that a proper match? Well, I guess I’ll be getting another personal servant soon.”

“Pfft.”

Kerian finally burst into laughter. Father turned to Kerian, the only person at the table he could speak to freely.

“So, Kerian. What did you think of our Ellie’s performance?”

“Well, my answer might depend on which Turrius Eustetia is asking.”

“Just think of me as your brother and answer.”

“Alright. But before I do, let me ask you one thing, brother.”

Kerian tapped the table, looking at me with a glint in his eye.

Is this okay?

I nodded slightly while chewing my steak.

Kerian was asking because of a favor I’d requested before dinner. A favor I’d hinted at earlier.

The gist of it was… I wanted his help in getting a real sword.

After much deliberation, he had agreed.

Chomp chomp.

At first, I thought it might be troublesome that Kerian had discovered my skills, but on second thought, it was an opportunity.

An opportunity to get a real sword.

So I decided to use it.

Thinking that Kerian, who was closer to martial arts than Father, would understand my desire.

But he’s being more proactive than I expected.

“Did you really not teach Ellie anything?”

Father’s cautious gaze turned to me.

What? I glared back at him again.

“…Including Julie, not once. Never.”

“Then, Ellie is a genius.”

Father’s body trembled. Mother’s smile deepened.

“…A genius?”

“I’m not saying this because she’s my niece, or to make you feel good. I’m speaking as the vice-captain of the Nameless. Brother, Ellie is a genius. A genius who might surpass even me, or perhaps our captain.”

Father’s gaze shifted back to me, no longer cautious or worried, but with the authority of the head of the family.

There was still affection in his eyes, but they held a charisma that made me feel a sense of reverence I had almost forgotten.

By the way, who is the captain of the Nameless?

If Kerian is this strong and only the vice-captain, then the captain must be even stronger.

I doubt they’d tell me even if I asked. The Nameless isn’t called Nameless for nothing.

I’d like to meet them someday. Even better if I could spar with them.

Feeling a bit disappointed, I took another large bite of my steak.

Chomp chomp.

Anyway. Kerian has done his part, so it’s my turn to step up.

I need to bring up the real sword naturally, then use that momentum to persuade Father.

I have an idea, but it seems more likely to work on Mother than Father.

So, for Father, appealing to emotions might be the best strategy.

After chewing and swallowing the beef in my cheeks, I met Father’s gaze.

…Before resorting to that disgusting act, let’s try the straightforward approach. It might work.

“Father.”

“Yes, Ellie.”

“Uncle said earlier that I’m skilled enough to handle a real sword. Right, Uncle?”

I looked at Kerian, urging him to agree quickly. Kerian nodded smoothly and answered immediately.

“That’s right. I’m sure the other knights and captains who were present thought the same.”

Excellent.

I took another satisfied bite of my steak.

“And Father, you know Ellie isn’t the type to swing a sword at just anyone, right? You and Julie know her personality best, after all.”

“That’s true, but… a real sword is still out of the question. Ellie, I’m worried you might get hurt.”

I spat out the beef I was chewing.

“You’re worried I’ll get hurt? There’s no way I could hurt myself with just one sword.”

In my past life, I handled more than twenty weapons that could peel flesh off at the slightest touch.

Even if I were drunk enough not to recognize my own parents, I wouldn’t cut myself with my own weapon.

But how could I explain that?

“Ellie. Life doesn’t always go as we plan. Of course, I know you’re very skilled. But you’re still too young. Even Kerian didn’t get his first real sword until he was 17, let alone 15.”

If you use Kerian, who’s stronger than me now, as an example, I have no way to refute.

It’s frustrating. My insides are boiling. I want to shout right here that I was Ronan in my past life, that all those damn fairy tales scattered around the world are lies.

But I can’t do that. There’s no way they’d believe me.

So, what should I do?

What do you mean, what should I do?

I’ll have to use the method that only works on Father.

Ha.

The more I think about what I’m about to do, the more I hate myself, but.

For the sake of a real sword. For the sake of my growth.

I can endure it.

It’s better than my past life, right? Back then, I licked some worthless bastard’s boots to become his disciple.

Sigh. Yeah. It’s better than that now.

It’s for the real sword. For the real sword.

So, just like when I licked those boots. Like a man, I’ll just close my eyes and do it.

I am Ronan. Ronan Lujarak. The hero who slaughtered the most demons.

And now…

I am Ellie.

Eliaernes Eustetia.

The only daughter of the Eustetia ducal family.

And a 15-year-old girl with a very, very cute face.

So, this isn’t strange at all.

Phew. I took a deep breath, stared at Father intently, and then…

“Hmph.”

I turned my head with a cute snort. My pink twin-tails brushed against my cheeks.

At the same time…

“Gasp.”

Father was startled.

“Oh my?”

Mother, uncharacteristically, seemed surprised.

“Kuh.”

Kerian punched his own stomach to suppress his laughter.

I feel like throwing up. My stomach is churning. My limbs are curling up in embarrassment, and my ribs are itching.

I want to shout every curse I know to cleanse this wretched memory, but I can’t.

The real sword.

I need to get a real sword that can fully withstand my mana.

No matter what.

A cold silence fell.

Finally, Father stammered.

“E-Ellie…?”

“What?”

“I… I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know. I hate you, Daddy. Hmph.”

I turned my head the other way again. Once more, my pink twin-tails swayed along.

“Oh, she hates me… she said she hates me… But she called me Daddy…”

Father stood up, utterly confused about whether he should be happy or sad.

As he cautiously approached me…

“Don’t come closer. If you do, I’ll go to my room.”

I nailed it.

Father collapsed back into his chair, pale. Mother kept watching me as if I were just being cute. Kerian looked like he was having the time of his life.

Suppressing the feeling of bugs crawling all over my body, I gritted my teeth.

Then I glanced at Father, met his eyes, and quickly turned away again.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh

With each flick of my twin-tails, Father’s face grew paler, but there was nothing I could do.

He should have assigned me a knight when I first asked.

After what felt like forever, Father, on the verge of tears, cautiously asked.

“Ellie… is there anything I can do for you to forgive me?”

At those long-awaited words, I immediately blurted out what had been stuck in my throat.

“A real sword.”

“Huh?”

“A two-handed sword made of black iron.”

“Huh…”

I uncrossed my arms and faced Father directly.

“But I’m not asking for it for free. I’ll spar. Choose someone from the knights for me to fight, and if I win, give me the sword then. If you’re worried about me getting hurt, you and Uncle Kerian can observe. I trust you both to stop us before either of us gets injured.”

Not that anyone’s going to get hurt.

“Huh…”

“Is that not okay?”

Father flinched, but he was no longer the same doting father as before.

“If that’s the case, Ellie. May I ask you one thing?”

“Yes.”

“This father is very curious… why are you so intent on becoming stronger?”

The reason I want to become stronger.

That goes without saying. To kill the Demon King.

To kill the Demon King that my comrades only managed to seal.

That’s why I’m striving to get stronger, why I’m going through all this trouble.

But I can’t say that.

Not in this damned peaceful era.

So, I’ll tweak it a bit.

“Because I’m a Eustetia.”

Arisa Eustetia. A descendant of that chimpanzee, a descendant of the hero.

Because I was reincarnated as her descendant.

If not that, then… Someone must have reincarnated me for this purpose.

Whatever the case, I have more than enough reason to get stronger.

Though my answer was vague since I swallowed the rest, Father nodded.

“That’s right. We are Eustetia.”

Then, after being lost in thought for quite some time…

He smiled brightly.

“Alright. I understand. A two-handed black iron sword. If you win the sparring match, I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

“Thank you.”

Just a moment ago, I had been grinding my teeth in frustration, feeling like my head would explode.

But now, at the thought of getting my hands on a real sword, my mood brightened.

Black iron, the material I favored in my past life. Black iron that doesn’t break no matter how much mana you pour into it. Ridiculously expensive, but worth every penny.

This is definitely one of the perks of being from a noble family. Being able to buy such expensive black iron at will.

Of course, it depends on the noble family. I can live so comfortably thanks to my parents who care for me.

Even if we weren’t nobles, I’m sure this would still be a happy family.

“…You don’t hate Daddy anymore, do you?”

“Well, I guess not.”

“Then, to celebrate, how about a kiss on the cheek―”

“No.”

“Then, how about calling me Papa―”

“No.”

“Then, then… will you at least give me a shoulder massage later…?”

Well, that much is fine.

“Okay.”

I nodded readily. A massage isn’t too embarrassing, after all.

“Thank you… thank you so much.”

Father replied in a choked voice, beaming with joy.

***

The next afternoon.

While Father and Kerian exchanged pleasantries with Karon, the captain of the First Knight Division…

“Miss… did I do something wrong…? If I did, I’m sorry…” my sparring partner, Yurasia, approached me, trembling and on the verge of tears.

“No, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Then… sniff, then why are you doing this…?”

“Because I feel most comfortable with you?”

“…Huh?”

Yurasia tilted her head, looking down at me as if to ask what I meant.

“Shouldn’t you be nicer to me then…?”

“I am being nice.”

Faced with my confident response, Yurasia, at a loss for words, whimpered like a puppy about to wet itself.

“Are you really being nice? You’re not just tormenting me, right?”

Honestly, I am teasing her because she keeps calling me the reincarnation of the chimpanzee.

But I am being nice.

“Yes, I’m serious.”

I looked into Yurasia’s teary eyes.

I was planning to tell her this later, but given the situation, it seems like she won’t be able to put up a proper fight unless I say it now.

“Yurasia.”

“Sniff… yes?”

“If you give me your all in this sparring match, I’ll buy you a sword made of black iron.”

I don’t know how much black iron costs these days.

But I’ve saved up my allowance.

Since I never go out, I haven’t had anything to spend it on.

There wasn’t anything I wanted to buy either.

So it’s not a waste. Considering my future relationship with Yurasia, it’s a pretty good gift.

“How about that? Now do you feel like I’m being nice―”

“You’re the best, Miss! I’ll do my very best!! I love you!!!”

“Ack! Don’t hug me! Get off!”