Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: The Crazy Family
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“Still as pathetic a body as ever today.”
The first thing he saw upon entering was a man of enormous build greeting Elric.
“......Pardon?”
“How are you going to survive at the academy like this? Your big brother is worried. Come train with me morning and night from now on.”
His bulging muscles were intimidating. Elric felt the urge to step back at the sight of those twitching biceps.
Elric's older brother, the firstborn son of the Raishion Duke, Joel Raishion.
Suddenly, Elric recalled what 'Elric' had written about the family in his notes.
[Big brother is obsessed with muscles.]
He said that since his brother always tried to make him do muscle training whenever they met, it was best to avoid him as much as possible.
Seeing him in person, Elric could understand why.
“My, are you still saying things like that?”
[And there's someone even more dangerous than big brother.]
From across Joel, a woman with her golden hair tied up in a single ponytail spoke with wide eyes and a gentle expression.
“Just building muscle like a brute won't get you anywhere. After all, skill matters more than strength for a person. Elric, before heading to the academy, why not train with me instead of that musclehead? I'll show you the advantages of mastering technique to its limit.”
Joel's eyebrow twitched at her words.
[That's Silua Raishion, big sis.]
Looking at Silua's appearance, Elric tilted his head inwardly. She didn't seem particularly large, and her impression was soft.
Above all, there was no way a woman smiling like that could be dangerous...
It was then.
Something brushed past Elric's hair.
“Got a problem with that? How about a round, Joel?”
Silua had drawn a long longsword and was pointing it at Joel.
A few strands of Elric's hair, severed by her blade, fluttered in the air.
Elric froze in place, too shocked to move.
“You still won't call me brother, huh, Silua.”
“Oh? If you've got a problem, beat me and maybe I will.”
“Hah, all talk from someone who fights dirty instead of head-on.”
“Hehe, I could slice those balloon muscles of yours in an instant.”
“A true body doesn't yield even to swords.”
As their auras turned hostile in an instant, Elric swallowed hard.
[Don't be fooled by big sis's harmless looks. She's even trickier to handle than big brother.]
Women really shouldn't be judged by appearances.
“Looks like we need to settle this here.”
“I agree. Winner trains Elric before the academy.”
[Hey, what about my opinion?!]
Of course, Elric couldn't say that. It wasn't 'Elric's' personality, and his survival instincts screamed not to get involved right now.
Did they plan to fight for real at the dinner table? Joel tensed his muscles with a fierce expression, while Silua gripped her sword tighter. The blade, held at an angle, gleamed in the chandelier's light.
[Why are you doing this all of a sudden?!]
“Today, I'll crush you with my power.”
“You won't even touch me.”
The moment both placed a foot on the table,
Boom!!
The man at the head table slammed it down with tremendous force. Crack. A light fracture appeared on the table, made of special alloy and reinforced for such occasions. Elric suppressed a hiccup with superhuman effort.
[Th-that's clearly not wood?! It looks insanely sturdy...!]
The hostile atmosphere shifted to the man in an instant. Elric, Joel, and Silua's gazes turned to him.
The head of the Raishion family, Techel Raishion, glared ferociously.
Clack, clack.
“You didn't just break the table again after saying that, did you?”
At that moment, a beautiful woman with long black hair approached from the side. She smiled sweetly, but her voice was chillingly cold, mismatched to her face.
Her appearance instantly changed the atmosphere. The man at the head quietly withdrew his fist, Joel backed off, and Silua sheathed her sword.
In the suddenly calm situation, the woman smiled as she placed the flowers she held into the vase at the table's center, ignoring the crack entirely.
Elric doubted his eyes upon seeing what those 'flowers' were.
They weren't ordinary flowers, but strange monsters shaped like blooms. At where the stamen and pistil should be was a mouth, but with its tongue severed, it could only flail silently.
“Elric takes after me and has talent for magic. Isn't that right, Elric?”
At the words of the woman—Elric's mother, the Raishion Duchess, Celest Raishion—Elric forgot to even smoke and nodded hastily. His back was drenched in cold sweat.
[So that's what they mean by getting caught means death!]
If these people found out he wasn't the original 'Elric', he wouldn't have a body left. He couldn't even imagine what these 'caring' family members would do if they knew.
[Explaining a family like this so casually?!]
Resentment toward 'Elric' welled up in Elric. If he'd known about this family, he would've prepared more thoroughly before coming. He might actually die!
[Ah, I just want to bolt to the academy...]
Elric felt like crying. Why did he have to go through this? What had he done wrong? He gazed vacantly at his life in reflection.
Food probably wouldn't go down properly.
The family dinner proceeded quite peacefully, unlike that explosive intro.
“Dear, how's that territory issue going?”
“......The lord is resisting fiercely, but it should be resolved soon.”
“Oh, that's a relief. I hope it goes well.”
“Thank you.”
Techel answered Celest calmly, as if he'd never smashed the table or glared menacingly.
“Joel, how's your training going lately?”
“Very well, Mother. My muscle mass has increased compared to a week ago. A bit more refinement, and I should handle the next stage dumbbells.”
“Oh, wonderful news. But don't get so excited swinging them that you smash half the training hall wall again?”
“Of course not, Mother.”
Unlike before, Joel nodded obediently.
“Silua, and you? Any progress on the swordsmanship you're developing?”
“Yes, Mother. A little more, and I should complete the technique I'm working on. Hehe.”
“Good. But no leaving marks on the training hall walls while testing, okay?”
“Of course not, Mother.”
Silua also nodded meekly, her earlier demeanor gone.
“Elric, how's your research coming along?”
“Pardon?”
Elric, who had been following the conversation with his eyes, answered Celest hastily. His voice cracked slightly, but she showed no suspicion and chuckled.
“My, why so startled? Lost in thought again? Didn't I tell you not to daydream during meals?”
“......You did say not to.”
“Hehe, that's right. As expected, our Elric takes after me—smart as a whip.”
Ha, haha. Elric barely held back a reflexive laugh.
[I won't die for zoning out next time, right?]
A chilling thought ran down his spine. Elric struggled to keep a straight face.
Maintaining a poker face was harder than expected, especially in front of this terrifying family.
How had 'Elric' kept his cool around them? Elric felt genuine admiration.
“So, any progress on the research?”
“......I'm not sure yet. I'm investigating diligently for now.”
Celest's eyes widened at Elric's reply.
“Oh? Even you hit roadblocks?”
[Oh no!]
Was that the wrong answer? Damn, why was 'Elric' such a pointless genius! Never getting stuck on research? Who does that?!
“Hmm, well, the field you're in is notoriously tough. Dimensional research has so few resources.”
“Yes.”
[What?! Dimensional research?!]
He's really 18? Dimensions are usually the pinnacle of fantasy magic, right? Already diving into that?
“It's not my specialty, so I can't help much. But if you need me, just say so. After all, we're the only two mages in the Raishion family.”
Celest smiled at Elric. He nodded lightly.
[Th-thank goodness it's not the same field...]
If it overlapped, his facade would've crumbled instantly.
Elric resolved to head straight to his room after eating and study.
[If I want to live, I have to study...!]
If they found out he wasn't 'Elric', he'd really die. Sweating coldly, Elric shoveled in tasteless food.
“Ugh...”
Exhausted... After breakfast, Elric slid onto his bed.
“Just one family meal and I'm drained... Ha...”
Why me? Indignation bubbled up.
“Can't skip it or I'll really die if they catch on...”
No choice. He'd have to get used to it somehow.
Resting a moment, Elric recalled Celest's words from dinner.
'Just building muscle like a brute won't get you anywhere. After all, skill matters more than strength for a person. Elric, before heading to the academy, why not train with me instead of that musclehead? I'll show you the advantages of mastering technique to its limit.'
'The academy...'
Right, academy enrollment was right around the corner.
Houser Academy, where the heirs of Tyrell Continent's top families—including the Raishion Ducal House of the Sisly Empire—enrolled.
The main stage for the novel's protagonist Chloe and villain 'Elric', where most events Elric knew took place.
And where pretending to be a genius would be most scrutinized.
'Ah... I'm screwed...'
The first episode after enrollment featured top enrollee and freshman representative 'Elric's oath, followed by a barrage of questions from students and professors about the book he'd written before even entering— which had rocked the academic world.
The oath would draw massive attention to Elric, and then the genius verification episode on top of that.
Sure, as the web novel's ultimate villain, 'Elric' needed that spotlight. But for an ordinary guy like me in this body, it was hell!
“......Gotta study, huh...?”
Having to study a book I supposedly wrote? Utter despair.
But no choice. If the author couldn't answer questions about his own book, anyone would get suspicious.
And if doubt crept in... He'd really die at the hands of 'Elric's family!
With that, he reluctantly opened 'Elric's book, [Training Method to Dramatically Increase Mana Recovery Speed].
He probably wouldn't sleep properly before the academy.
Studying!