Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Our Young Master Has Changed
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Our young master has changed.
He doesn't kick me awake every morning anymore.
He doesn't throw glasses at me or make me follow him hopping like a rabbit just because I'm a rabbitkin anymore.
Above all, sometimes he even pushes snacks my way or pets my ears.
It's true, really.
Sure, it never actually hurt no matter how much he hit me, but pretending it did was exhausting.
I couldn't lie in the letters to my family before, so now I can finally send them.
That I'm doing well here. That the young master treats me nicely.
Because I'm a proud warrior of the steppe rabbitkin!
* * *
She's out cold. What kind of maid is she?
I stood up, leaving Luna dozing off by the sunlit window, mumbling in her sleep like she was dreaming.
My special perks showed just how much of a disaster my usual self had been—ever since opening my eyes here, no one but Luna had approached me directly...
So when a butler with a fancy curled mustache suddenly called me "young master," I nearly jumped out of my skin.
[Alkaido Hayman—Iron-Blooded Butler]
Main Traits: [Loyalty (A)] [Composure (B)]
Hidden Traits: [Bargaining (C)] [Obsessive Cleanliness (A)]
Unlike Adelrian, who never even appeared in the original story and only showed up in game flashbacks, this was a familiar name.
Alkaido—in the original, he'd been the family proxy holding the seal in Adelrian's place, waiting for Gardia.
In the game, I'd used him as an NPC to maintain the Kruger finances while standing in for talentless, ice-magic-only Gardia.
I'd trusted that Loyalty trait and used him, only to get stabbed in the back...
Maybe because I winced at the painful memory, he cleared his throat and spoke again.
"The family head summons you, young master."
"My ears work fine. You only need to say it once, Alkaido."
Now's my chance!
To keep up my perfect wastrel act, I seized the moment and deliberately slapped his shoulder as I brushed past.
Then I strode straight down the left corridor with full confidence!
I'd wandered this castle map countless times in the game, so this had to be the right way.
"This way, young master."
...It was definitely this way in the game.
Well, games show the whole map at a tap—totally different from real life. Anyone else would've gotten lost too.
Even so, for an indie game that wasn't full 3D, it was well-made. Walking the castle in reality felt refreshingly new.
More ornate, bigger, farther...!
As I followed Alkaido for a good while, I spotted maids and servants in the distance—they locked eyes with me, flinched, and scurried around in wide arcs.
'What the hell did Adelrian do around here? He didn't kill anyone, did he?'
...Even that Rachel girl wouldn't make a murderer my special perk, right? ...Right?
This is all karma, pure karma... No point turning over a new leaf now.
What I had planned ahead was so far from normal anyway—better to lean into this image.
"The family head said only you should enter, young master. I'll take my leave."
At Alkaido's words, I whistled idly and flicked a pricey-looking vase off its stand with my finger, sending it crashing down.
"Looks like you're free now, Alkaido. Clean this up on your way out."
Not because you might stab me in the back later—I'm just a wastrel doing wastrel things. Got it?
I flashed a grin at Alkaido, who bowed slightly without changing expression, then stepped through the door he opened.
"Hello, Father."
Father had always loved only his younger son, simply because he was his son. The child born from Mother's death. Even with no talent, Father made him heir out of sheer maleness and showered him with love. The one child that cold, snake-like man had ever chosen.
Just as Gardia had lamented countless times in the original story I'd read, the platinum-haired, blue-eyed man looked utterly frigid. Like someone without blood or tears.
'But I know better.'
How much he truly loved Gardia.
"You're as ill-mannered as ever, Adelrian. You'll be acting family head soon."
"Then you just keep doing it, Father. Why bother passing it on?"
Thanks to the immersion, "Father" rolled off my tongue like a scripted line. I sprawled on the office sofa and looked up at him.
"Do as I say."
"Then let me do whatever I want with it, and stay out of my business."
His sharply arched brows twitched. If this were the real Adelrian, he'd be getting smacked right now?
Whatever. Knowing Adelrian would inherit the ring, live as he pleased, and end up with his throat slit by Gardia left me fearless.
Plus, I already knew why you were handing over the ring in the original.
Financial might rivaling a nation, offset by inferior military power and authority.
To counter that, you're passing the family headship and plotting—to protect your daughter.
In the original, to the butler. In the game, to the son. A poisoned chalice gilded in gold.
He handed over the Kruger ring, engraved with twelve crests. Instead of "I understand," I snatched it from his hand.
"And don't hide the fire essence too well. If Sis finds out, she'll think you're trying to burn her alive."
Not because I like you—it's advice to fix Gardia's temper, Father.
[Kaiman Jinwon Kruger—All-Gold Harmonizer]
Main Traits: [Financial Might (SSS)] [Dignity (S)] [Calculated (A)] [Scheming (A)]
Hidden Traits: [Tempestuous (B)] [Deception (B)]
I shut the door after glimpsing Father's traits.
* * *
Slipping the ring on my ring finger, it resized perfectly.
I'd love to toss it in my subspace, but I need it on to use the bloodline magic.
Now, no one in this castle could defy me, no matter what I did.
No grand succession ceremony or party, but the handover was official regardless of the circumstances.
Other families might inherit duties, reports, and studies on leading the house.
But I'm just a sacrificial lamb who's praiseworthy for staying alive till the grand plan ends~
"Now the real fun begins."
In this trash game, what I want—and what Rachel, who sent me here, wants—is one thing.
A perfect happy ending.
Harem ending!
Just you wait, Kane. I'll pave your flowerbed, then bail. I'll fix that main party crew's attitudes too.
"Y-Young master, what if you abandon me and go...!"
"What're you on about? You were sleeping fine."
I shoved aside Luna, who had tracked me down and was clinging, sniffling, then headed to the basement where Kane was locked up.
From game flashbacks, Adelrian had bought him at auction and slapped on obedience magic to make him outwardly compliant before abusing him.
If I did that now, I'd end up on Kane's revenge list for sure, so I just dragged him here raw—and look at the mess.
More wounds added since then—he must've resisted hard here too.
"Ease up on the glare? If looks could kill, you'd be ashes by now, but you're human."
Knowing basilisk hybrids aside, eyes alone can't do squat, but his piercing stare made my legs shake anyway. I played it cool.
"Perverted bastard. I'm a guy."
"I know, you lunatic! What do you think I bought you for?"
I like girls, plain and simple! That your future wife is my favorite female character changes nothing!
Don't get the wrong idea about this otaku's heart, pushing you toward harem ending!
"Must be a misunderstanding. I didn't buy you for that."
I calmed myself, dragged a chair in front of Kane—limbs bound, sprawled on the stone floor—and sat.
Annoying? Yeah, I know. But I can't afford to look weak to you.
A talentless, powerless Adelrian body and a regular game otaku's best play? Bluffing and scams.
You fell right into it.
"I know exactly what you want, Kane Rayners. Last survivor."
Kane's eyes widened; he writhed and crawled toward me.
"My name. How do you know it?"
"Eyes won't kill me, Kane. And that's not your real question. Not 'how,' but 'what do you want?'"
Leaning forward from my chair as he reached my feet, I whispered low.
"I know your enemies, Kane. I'll help you kill them. Let's make a deal."
"A deal?"
"Yeah, a deal. I'll make you strong. Once you're the best and it's all over, swear loyalty to me."
As if it were nonsense, Kane furrowed his brow. I added,
"Oh, and knowing your personality, I won't expect real loyalty—just the show. You get support to grow strong; I get the 'best' title."
We can do a divine contract if you want. At my whisper, Kane's shoulders trembled.
Divine punishment for breakers.
"Can't understand. I haven't had my birthday yet—no one knows my talents or traits, not even me. Believe you?"
"Why do I know your full name? Your past, your wishes, your enemies. If I know that, why wouldn't I see your potential?"
No point groveling to that paranoid guy about goodwill—he won't hear it.
Sincerity doesn't work on him. Everyone he trusted backstabbed him or experimented on him. Who could he trust?
Better to be the enigmatic guy with insider knowledge offering a profitable deal.
Not faith or heart-to-heart. Transaction and exploitation.
Not bros. Business partners. That's us.
Channeling black-hearted villain vibes from movies, I smiled coolly.
"I want someone stronger than anyone. To make my family untouchable. Only the continent's strongest could be my knight."
But think of the current top dogs. Royal knights, tower masters, elf consorts.
"How long to recruit them? Easier to raise my own, right?"
I'm a mad scientist. A black幕. A slightly unhinged idealist.
My ideals are warped; I'm not normal. So my words aren't traps—they're twisted sincerity.
Believe me, Kane. Divine contract seals it. No downside for you.
"I can't trust you."
You bastard! I barely held my cracking smile and met his eyes.
"Why not?"
"Because I'm not strong."
Don't say it with your face, protagonist—'If I were strong, that wouldn't have happened.'
Even if he plots solo revenge forever.
"No. You are strong. Or rather, you will be. I'll make you that way. Your job now? One thing."
I knelt before Kane and whispered in his ear.
"Just once. Acknowledge me. Entrust your future to your spon—er, supporter."
Odd wording—I swapped words quick and grinned.
"What?"
"You never admit defeat. You deny loss, failure. But people grow by breaking pride or will once."
So your Indomitable trait vanishes.
Listen to me. I don't wanna do this either. For real.
"So I'll break you. Not to test endurance—remember, just once. I'll let you go after one time. I'm not just tormenting you."
Kane looked confused, so I beckoned.
Dude, you have genius traits—you know exactly what I mean.
Good call masking as a slightly crazy black幕. Explains my future actions as 'he's just not right in the head.'
"No water till near death. No sleep either."
Kane stared in disbelief as I waved the prepped divine contract, then stuck it to the wall.
"See my name? Call it once, and it's done."
I handed off to soldiers for sleepless watch, baton-passed, and shut the prison door behind me.
"Young master... really... is that you? So... scary... that kid's pitiful..."
Seeing timid Luna sniffling—'Just kick him and be done,' 'starving's too cruel'—proved future hubby's a catch?
These past days without my rampages, she's chatty. I smiled gently at her.
"Wanna forfeit today's carrot cake then, Luna?"
"...Pardon?"
Frozen speechless, I ditched her. She snapped to, clung to my arm wailing 'I'll give it up...!' I shoved her off.
Nope, too late. No take-backs.