Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Triplets (1)
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One room in the imperial palace.
"I'm bored."
"Yeah, it's boring."
"This sucks~."
The triplet princes.
The 10th Prince Riki Eldiad, 11th Prince Ruki Eldiad, and 12th Prince Raki Eldiad were all sharing the same boredom.
"Everyone's so mean~ They won't even play with us~."
"They're all busy with official duties or whatever, playing their political games."
"No one has any affection! None at all!"
The triplets, a year younger than Aren.
But all three of them had the builds of early teens—no different from little kids.
The youngest of the triplets, Riki, rolled around on the bed as he spoke.
"Things were at least fun when Big Brother Aren was around."
"Right! He always played with us so well!"
"Honestly, Big Brother Aren had the most free time anyway."
"Ugh! Why'd he have to leave the capital?!"
"It's all~ because those older folks are giving him the cold shoulder."
"To be precise, it's those hangers-on buzzing around our older siblings who are making a fuss on their own."
"And when Big Brother Aren left, Big Sis Lune just got all irritable for no reason."
"Back then, we had a blast playing with spirits to cheer her up."
"Now that she's calmed down, she just glares at us like we're a nuisance when we ask her to play!"
"They don't appreciate our kindness! They don't!"
The triplet princes grumbled just like the kids they looked like.
Like Aren, they had no desire to become emperor.
Even the nobles who hadn't joined other factions clinging to them in hopes of scraps was a hassle.
But as royals, they needed their own followers, so they didn't push them away outright.
Above all, they didn't refuse because having no faction at all looked bad.
And if worst came to worst, those forces could protect them if their siblings attacked, claiming the triplets were obstacles to the throne.
"Ah, what now."
"Wanna sneak out and hunt some beasts?"
"I'm sick of that!"
"How about a play?"
"We've seen every one in the capital."
"......Wanna go play at Big Brother Aren's place?"
"Oh?"
"Oh!"
"That's it!"
The other siblings were either too busy or obsessed with the throne to play much.
But Aren Eldiad had zero interest in the succession and always played with them well when he was in the capital. They could just go visit his estate.
No other siblings would find it suspicious if they went to see Aren.
Having reached that conclusion, the triplet princes sprang into action right away.
"We're here to play! Big Brother Aren!"
A few days later, the triplet princes arrived at Aren Eldiad's estate.
The weekend.
No classes, so while petting Honeyball, I was pondering how to acquire more useful secret techniques faster.
That's when Ridel informed me that my little brothers—the triplet princes Riki, Ruki, and Raki—were at the front gate.
I headed straight to the main entrance.
There was a carriage escorted by knights on horseback.
The moment I stepped out to the entrance, three kids hopped down from the carriage.
My little brothers, the triplets: Riki with blond hair and green eyes, Ruki with green and blue eyes, and Raki with blue eyes. They waved excitedly when they saw me.
"We're here, big bro~."
"Long time no see, bro~."
"Let's play, bro~!"
'They must be pretty bored in the capital.'
I could tell right away why the three of them had come to my estate.
And I had no doubts about their reason.
These weren't the type of kids to do something like that, according to my memories.
Of course, they shared the ruthless royal side that could turn cold in an instant if it threatened them or if the opportunity arose—but the odds of that with these kids were next to zero.
"You should've at least sent a letter. I could've prepared a proper welcome."
"What welcome could your estate top the palace's with?"
"No need to make you go to extra trouble~."
"Bro! Let's play!"
These rascals.
They might look young, but they'd be adults next year—and they were as mischievous as ever.
Riki, Ruki, and Raki had peculiar constitutions.
The triplets whose growth had stalled at kid size.
They'd once been thoroughly investigated for curses or sabotage, but nothing turned up.
Yet their personalities stayed just as childish and prankish as their looks.
For the record, they looked the same in Savior of World, where the community dubbed them "legal shota."
Riki, Ruki, and Raki were quite popular among the imperial family characters in Savior of World.
Because... these kids stayed as player allies all the way to the late game.
They even jumped in to fight certain bosses alongside you.
"It's been a while, Your Highnesses Riki, Ruki, and Raki."
Ridel greeted the three of them.
"Ah! It's Ridel!"
"Hi, Ridel!"
"You and bro doing good?"
"We're working on it."
Just as Ridel had greeted them from our side, one of their knights dismounted and bowed to me.
"It's been a while, Your Highness."
"Yeah, good to see you, Hulan?"
"Yes. It's my daily honor to serve Their Highnesses Riki, Ruki, and Raki."
Hulan.
He was the captain of the triplets' knight order... and in Savior of World, he fell to corruption and appeared as a monster.
'Now that I think about it...'
Hulan wielded a spear as his main weapon.
And the secret technique he used was quite useful, much like Eagle Pursuit.
'I was just wondering how to expand my secret techniques.'
I hadn't expected my cute little brothers to bring me a gift like this.
I tried ushering my brothers into the estate, but these curiosity-driven rascals had no intention of heading straight inside. Their eyes darted everywhere, drawn to whatever caught their interest first.
"Hehe, Mikel. Tasty?"
-Kurrrgh!
"Whoa! What's this?!"
"It's a griffon!"
"Bro! You raising a griffon too?"
"Uwak!?"
Amelin, who had been feeding Mikel, jumped in surprise at the sudden appearance of my brothers.
"Wh-who... who are..."
"Who's this lady?"
"Her boobs are huge!"
"Her butt's big too!"
"Eek!?"
"Kids, no sexual harassment on first meetings."
"Okay, bro~."
"B-bro?"
"Amelin, these are my little brothers: Riki, Ruki, and Raki."
"Hi!"
"Uh, uh!? Greetings to the noble princes!"
"Yeah!"
"So who's this lady, bro?"
"My exclusive mage. Her name's Amelin. This griffon's her familiar too."
"A summoning mage!"
"Just like Big Bro Ben."
"But Ben's got a dragon, and this one's a griffon."
"We'll check out Mikel later. Let's head inside first—you must be hungry after the trip."
"Got it!"
"Mikel, huh. Cool name."
"See ya later!"
-Kuruk?
Once inside the estate, Tenka and Kirigumo were kneeling to greet us.
"Greetings to the noble princes. I am Kirigumo Kazuki, Your Highness Aren's tutor and attendant."
"I am Kirigumo Tenka, maid serving alongside my father to attend our lord."
"Hi!"
"This lady's got big boobs too."
"Bro, where's Ridel? Why'd you only hire busty ladies?"
"Cut the weird talk, Raki."
Pok!
"Ow."
"Your Highness Raki, mine aren't any smaller."
"Ridel's confident!"
"Ridel's pretty big too."
"Ridel, don't play along."
"Hehe, yes."
We entered the reception room, and I ordered the servants to bring tea and cake.
They might be a bit hungry, but it wasn't mealtime for a full meal.
Sipping the tea the servants brought, I asked the three of them.
"So you really came just because you were bored?"
"We also wanted to see how you've been holding up~."
"Hiring two pretty ladies~ Bro, were you holding back in the palace?"
"How's it going with Ridel? Hehe, you two do it yet?"
These cheeky little punks.
"Do what?"
"Lord Aren is still a pure soul."
"What? You haven't?!"
"Uwuu~ Scaredy-cat~."
"Don't run away! You can't dodge Ridel forever, bro~!"
"Kids? You wanna see big bro mad?"
"Sorry~ bro~."
"We just missed you so much~."
"Don't be mad, bro~."
I'd warned them, so they wouldn't push that angle anymore.
"No fun at all in the capital? I get the older sibs, but what about Ragna?"
Ragna Eldiad.
The youngest, 13th Prince.
"Ragna's no fun."
"Way too serious."
"And if you mess with studying Ragna, Mom chews you out."
Mom still doted on Ragna hard, huh.
...Which was probably why she turned out like that in Savior of World.
"Still, fun meeting me?"
"It's all about hanging with you, bro~."
"But more fun is better!"
"Bro! Anything fun happen lately? Tell us!"
"Fun stories, huh..."
Honestly, with the triplets, I could tell them about my current state and they wouldn't see me as a rival or threat.
But... I was uneasy they'd blab to the other siblings.
So I'd test the waters before spilling everything.
'Let's reveal just one thing for now?'
"Riki, Ruki, Raki. I... made a contract with a spirit."
"Really?!"
All three looked at me with eyes full of expectation.