episode_0250

Two years have passed since I met Seria.

I was worried that Seria might intentionally or accidentally reveal information about me and make things complicated, but fortunately that didn’t happen.

It’s still too early to be completely at ease, as it’s only been two years, but since we’re already in another country, far away from the castle where Seria is, we don’t have to worry about having to deal with the military.

Well, it would be a different story if a large-scale subjugation order was issued. That’s something to think about later.

“… … .”

anyway. About two years have passed since that day, and Hermel and I have settled down in a coastal city far southeast of the Holy Kingdom.

It was chosen because it was a place mainly used for trade, where information was exchanged quickly, and because it was the size of a large city.

As the saying goes, we didn’t just rent an inn, we bought a real mansion.

Oh, and I also bought a boat of an appropriate size so that I could go out on a boat if something happened.

Not me, but Hermel.

“The weather is nice… .”

mansion? ship? To be honest, I thought it was good. If Hermel is by my side, I can live happily and smile even in a single room in a semi-basement.

Right now, I would laugh and give up my head for Hermel, but what a big deal that would be.

… In fact, I, who have nothing, think that the reason I am enriching myself with Hermel’s money is because my conscience pricks me.

Of course, Hermel said, ‘It’s not that there is no room, and it would be a fool to not use it when there is plenty of room,’ but there is no way you can take that literally.

Squeak – Squeak –

I was looking out the window blankly, and when I heard the cries of mice coming from below, I closed my eyes and sighed.

done… . This was enough to escape reality.

“Phew… .”

I looked down while brushing my bangs, looked down at the cage containing the mouse, and massaged my eyebrows.

What I am currently doing is research that I started after purchasing the mansion and boat. Although this was a study that was not originally planned… . Well, things have changed now.

“Isn’t this experiment also fruitful? .”

Is it because I paid too much attention to it for the first time in a long time? I sighed and fell down on the desk, feeling my warm, throbbing head.

Feeling the fatigue that had been weighing down my entire body, I was half unconscious. I yawned profusely, got up from my seat, and bent my neck from side to side.

My head seemed to clear as I felt a cool, tingling pain along with a tap-tap-tap sound.

“Is it time for Hermel to come? Tsk… Tea.”

Looking at the position of the sun outside the window, I realized that it had been four hours since Hermel left on the boat and that it was time to return, so I got up and stretched.

After stretching out to blow away any remaining sleepiness, I put on my outerwear and was about to go out.

Suddenly, I looked inside the cage and saw a mouse running around and made a dumb sound.

“Uh… ?”

* * *

After leaving the lab and going down to the mansion’s dining room, I blinked blankly, remembering what I saw in the lab.

From the beginning, I didn’t think it would be successful, and I started this research with the intention of extending the time if there was a 5-year period if there was any hope, and finishing it early if there was no hope.

But I never imagined that we would achieve results like this in two years… .

“Ha.”

Is it because I succeeded too early? Or is it because it was an unexpected success? Bewilderment preceded joy.

Is it okay to tell this to Hermel? No, there is no problem with the research itself since Hermel gave the okay… .

But this… . Even if it was Hermel, wouldn’t he be offended? What if Hermel doesn’t like it? If it’s Hermel, you’ll absolutely love it! If you think like Seria, you have no thoughts beyond being positive… .

Although it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission, I wonder if this is wrong enough to ask for forgiveness… .

“… … .”

I wonder if it’s something to worry about this much… .

I laid down on the table and sighed, feeling a different headache from when I was stuck on research without being able to get results.

“Ha… .”

It’s not a bad thing, but it somehow makes me the most nervous out of all the things I’ve ever done. How should I talk to Hermel? How should I start the story?

After lying down for a while with my mind filled with such thoughts, I heard Hermel’s voice and a gentle hand was placed on my shoulder.

“――Charles? What’s wrong, where does it hurt?”

I trembled and raised my head to see Hermel looking at me with a worried face and gave me a small smile.

I didn’t do anything wrong, so why am I so surprised? After thinking for a moment, the answer came quickly. I guess that means he was that nervous.

“Ugh. no. By the way, when did you come back? If you come, I’ll at least show you some popularity.”

“I said I had been there when I came in. There was no answer, so I thought he was sleeping, but on my way to the kitchen after laying out what I had caught, I saw him sleeping here, so I came in. ”

“Haha… . I wasn’t sleeping. Just… . I have something to think about.”

As I spoke and scratched my cheek, Hermel frowned slightly, took off the straw hat he was wearing and came next to me.

“It’s really good, right? Doesn’t it hurt somewhere? Tell me honestly.”

If you don’t tell me even though you’re sick, I’ll take you by force to the doctor.

No, I will treat you even if it means raiding the Holy Kingdom and dragging Ceria by her hair.

With eyes filled with such determination, I couldn’t say anything, just blinked, smiled bitterly, and shook my head.

“It’s true. I mean it as much as I love Hermel. It doesn’t hurt. just… . There’s something I’m a little worried about. no. worry… . It feels a little different to say that… .”

“Charles is so worried… . Isn’t it really serious?”

“You don’t have to worry, it’s okay. really… . Umm… . It’s not a big deal, it’s a little important… . ha… . Let’s just say it’s important.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I rambled for a while, then sighed and touched my forehead.

You should know this before. Everyone says that starting is like walking and that taking the first step is difficult, but I never imagined that it would be difficult to even stand up, let alone take that step.

Hermel must have sensed that my atmosphere was heavy, and he sat down opposite me with an equally heavy atmosphere.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but if you need my help, you can tell me without hesitation. Because it’s okay.”

The confident image that he would trust me no matter what happened was so reassuring that I felt like a fool for struggling alone.

Feeling relieved, I laughed and shook my head, and Hermel, who was giving me a heated gaze, blinked and tilted his head.

“I said something strange… ?”

“No… . no. I just felt like a fool for thinking about it alone.”

okay. There is no way Hermel would stay away from me… . It will be fine. After thinking that and controlling my mind, I took out a mouse that I had kept in my arms.

Hermel, who was staring blankly at the mouse, slowly blinked and then frowned.

“… I’ll listen to the explanation first and then get angry. Did this mouse come out of the mansion?”

“No. If there was a mouse in the house, Hermel would have noticed it before me.”

“That’s true too… . So what is this? Where did it come from?”

After looking at the questioning face for a moment, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“Do you remember what you said shortly after entering the mansion?”

“… Does the house seem clean and nice?”

“Not about the house, but about what we said when deciding on the purpose of the room.”

“Ah. Obviously, I remember you said you were doing some kind of research… . Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. What was needed for that research was that mouse. It’s not that the previous owner was bad at maintaining it, so don’t worry.”

I said that and pointed to the mouse lying on the table.

“Anyway. After continuing to do the research I talked about before. This experiment yielded significant results. And the result is that.”

“Umm… .”

At my words, Hermel looked at me and the mouse with a shocked expression.

The look in his eyes that seemed to have no idea what the result was was a bit heartbreaking for someone who had worked hard for two years, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t understand.

Even if it were me, if I brought in a pregnant female mouse and showed it to her, saying that it was the result of my research, she would have looked at me with the thought, ‘Are you crazy?’

“Okay. I understand why you make that face. If you just look at it, it’s an ordinary female mouse.”

“Uh… . Does that mean this isn’t your average female mouse?”

“It’s an ordinary female mouse.”

Hermel, who was blinking as if he really didn’t understand what I was saying, scratched his head and said.

“That… . Isn’t it normal for a female mouse to have a child if there is a male mouse?”

“That’s right. But if that were all, I wouldn’t have called this research or even the results.”

“Please don’t hesitate and tell me! What is it?”

Hermel frowned as he said that, perhaps out of frustration, and I took another breath and answered.

“The mice in the cage were both female.”

“… What?”

“They were both female.”

There are no male mice in my lab. Not even one.

With as calm a face as possible, I conveyed the fact that I had overturned the laws of heaven.

The fact that they succeeded in creating a child through mating between females without a male.