Chapter 101

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 100

Chapter Title: Ulterior Motives

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"Mm..."

The day after my highly anticipated date with the Imperial Princess came to an end.

"I probably won't be able to see you for a while."

Having lost most of my memories, I woke up in my bed and found a single letter placed near the pillow.

"I want to become someone more worthy of you."

The handwriting matched the letters she usually sent, so fortunately, it seemed the Imperial Princess hadn't been harmed or imprisoned anywhere.

"I'll keep sending letters through Peep."

I had no idea what wind had blown her way, but if it was her choice, I had to support it.

"...In the end, I didn't get to hang out with the Princess."

Of course, I felt a bit regretful about missing the chance to show a whole new world to the Princess, who had never left the imperial palace before.

And there was one more regrettable thing.

'I was aiming to hit 100 during this picnic...'

I had tried to stoke Mother's jealousy by flirting with the Princess, but that plan seemed to have failed.

'What on earth happened?'

Still, since the value had gone up, it could be seen as half a success, but it hadn't reached 100, so it felt more like a failure.

"Young Master."

As I sat there with a sullen expression lost in those thoughts, a low voice suddenly came from beside me.

"Did you have fun?"

Schwarz had somehow taken the spot right next to me and was asking with her signature chilling smile.

"You went off without us again."

"That's mean."

"If you keep this up, we'll get sulky?"

Even the three acting head maids, who had appeared out of nowhere, were peeking in from the doorway, muttering as much.

"At this rate, we'll have to wait until you're bigger..."

"Hehe..."

Of course, I trusted these people(?) now, so I just gave them an innocent smile.

That was when.

"Oh, right. Young Master."

"Yes?"

"You might want to step out of the mansion for a bit."

Schwarz, who had been muttering ominously to herself, suddenly spoke up as if she'd just remembered something.

"Anyway, that's the situation."

"Huh?"

What? Why did this atmosphere feel so suspicious?

"Don't worry."

"You won't regret it."

"Yeah, yeah, it'll definitely be fun."

Tilting my head in confusion, the three maids scurried over, smiling and whispering the same.

'What is it...?'

I had no idea why everyone was making such a fuss, but I supposed I should head to the garden first.

'What in the world is going on?'

As I stepped outside the mansion, what caught my eye was the sight of all the Belverk household servants lined up neatly on either side.

"Little brother."

"Oh, there you are."

"Kid, over here."

And at the very front, for some reason, my three big sisters were dressed formally.

"I have to head back to the academy now."

"What!?"

"Hehe, why the dumbstruck look?"

I stared at them in bewilderment when Uriel sis suddenly dropped that bombshell, making my eyes go wide.

"I only came back to the mansion briefly because of the break, after all."

"Ah..."

"As student council president, I can't afford to be away any longer."

True, Uriel sis was attending the academy now, so staying at the mansion indefinitely would be tough.

"And I probably won't be back for a while."

"Why, why?"

"Graduation's just a couple years away, and the biennial academy festival is coming up soon."

I'd just started getting close to her, and now she wouldn't be around for a bit—it made me feel down for no reason.

Maybe I could ask Mother for permission to visit the academy later?

"Little brother, I have to go too."

"Eh?"

"I got a call from Marquis Hackfried yesterday."

As I made a sullen face with those thoughts, Big Sis approached me.

"The northern defense line is on the verge of breaking."

If that's the reason, there's no helping it, but I wanted to keep hanging out with Big Sis, so it was quite disappointing.

"So I asked Mother if I could take you along, and she chewed me out..."

Of course, I didn't particularly want to tag along to the north. Thanks, Mom!

"So I won't be able to play with you for a while either."

"Y-yeah..."

"But I'll try to wipe them out... subjugate them as fast as possible."

Anyway, there was a weird word at the end there, but Big Sis looked pretty bummed too.

"......"

In the brief silence that followed, as I alternated glances between Big Sis and Second Sis, I casually turned my gaze to Third Sis beside them.

"Wh-why are you looking at me?"

Lilien, who had been staring at me quietly, blushed and reacted.

"I don't have any plans to leave."

"Aha."

"Kid, what's up? Scared I'd leave too?"

She smirked and poked my side.

"Being a freeloader is comfy, huh."

"Y-you shut up...!"

But right after, scolded by our sisters, she immediately looked down and muttered softly.

'Lilien sis hasn't changed a bit— that's nice.'

As I smiled inwardly at Third Sis,

"Anyway, so that's how it is..."

Uriel sis suddenly stepped toward me and lowered her stance.

- *Smack*...

The soft sensation on my cheek right after.

"Show me you've grown a bit more stalwart by the time I return."

In the blink of an eye, Uriel sis had kissed my cheek and was stroking my head with a smile in her eyes.

"And..."

Blushing slightly and looking down, I noticed Uriel sis quietly turning around.

"You all know what happens if anyone messes with Kairen while I'm gone, right?"

"......"

"They'll end up digested in my stomach."

I couldn't see her face since her back was turned, but judging by the servants gulping, she must have made a scary expression.

"Mm..."

As I awkwardly rubbed my cheek where I'd felt the sensation,

"Isn't kissing something lovers do?"

Big Sis, who had been glancing at me sidelong, quietly asked Uriel sis.

"Hehe, this much is just light familial affection."

"Ah, I see."

Uriel sis smiled at Big Sis again, seemingly having figured out how to handle her now.

Second Sis really is sharp as a tack...

- *Swipe*...

As I scratched my head thinking that, Big Sis suddenly stepped forward and lowered her stance.

"Hm?"

Bewildered for a moment, I closed my eyes again, assuming she'd kiss my cheek too, my face flushing.

- *Smack*...

But the soft sensation this time was in a slightly different spot.

"Mmph."

Not my cheek—the warm touch on my lips made me jolt and stagger back, eyes wide.

"Don't they do it on the lips?"

Yet Big Sis, the culprit, innocently said so, ignoring Uriel sis's murderous glare from the side.

"See you later, little brother."

Big Sis waved at me and headed toward the waiting 2nd and 3rd Knight Orders in the distance.

"Hey, kid."

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I watched her back, my face even redder, a subdued voice came from beside me.

"I've decided to build my own faction too."

Lilien, who had been glaring daggers at Big Sis just like Uriel sis, turned to me with a serious expression.

"But, thinking about it, I'm no good at this stuff."

"...?"

"So I'll join yours for now."

Wait, the flow of her words felt a bit off?

"So be careful. You never know when I might charm everyone and steal your faction away."

Was even this part of Lilien sis's calculated tsundere act?

"Thanks, sis!"

I gave her a knowing look and raised my voice cheerfully to test her intentions.

"Sh-shut up. Say it quietly."

"Sis is the best!"

"Ugh..."

And sure enough, blushing and backing away, she avoided my gaze and fled into the mansion.

Right then, a system message popped up before my eyes.

'Huh?'

Staring blankly at it, trying to process, I suddenly realized something and gaped.

'No way...'

I hadn't formed or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠declared any force, yet this message appeared now.

'...My sisters have all joined my force?'

It clearly meant that all three Belverk sisters officially supported me as their leader from this moment on.

By the time that realization hit, the system started delivering new info.

That meant I could take it easy without any issues for a while?

No, really? Is that okay?

I was a bit skeptical, but after awakening the system, so much had happened that a rest period was very welcome.

"Wh-what about the reward?!"

But shouldn't I get the Chapter 3 quest reward for sure?

The system flatly dismissed my plea and quietly vanished from my sight.

"That's not fair!"

With the main scenario entering a rest period like that, I began enjoying peaceful daily life for the first time in ages since awakening the system.

I diligently exercised, studied what I'd neglected due to busyness, wandered around, and got a grasp ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the empire's backdrop—a pretty meaningful time.

It felt like I, an otherworlder dropped into this strange realm, was gradually assimilating and becoming a resident.

"Young Master, don't be startled."

"Yes!"

"Young Master has grown..."

But sadly, one thing hadn't changed.

"...an entire 0.07cm taller!"

"Kyaaaaah!"

It was my eternally puny height!

Thus, Kairen entered a brief rest period and began his peaceful daily routine.

"Things are getting complicated."

But even amid that routine, dark conspiracies were steadily blooming in the empire's shadows.

"The Pope shows signs of defecting to the empire. The stage is set for you to finally control the Holy Church as you please, but..."

"......"

"Isn't it a big problem that your identity as the Saintess has been exposed?"

The Second Prince, appearing in a hidden slum location in the empire as always, immediately started with his nagging.

"Don't worry."

The girl with pure white hair and eyes glanced at where his voice came from, then quietly lifted her veil to cover her face.

"I have plans too."

"What plans?"

"I was just about to step out myself."

Turning her head again, she looked at the wall plastered with photos and arrows.

"My ultimate goal is..."

Gazing at Kairen's photo in the center among the Belverk clan—X-marked multiple times in black on Lia Imperial Princess's photo beside it—the veiled woman smiled chillingly as she pinned her own photo next to his.

"...to steal the heroine's spot."}