Chapter 58
Translator: penny
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Birthday Party
"...It's my birthday, birthday!"
About three hours after I finally opened my eyes following a week-long slumber,
"Congratulations, Young Master!"
"Wow, Young Master is ten now!"
"You're a proper ten-year-old now!"
After finishing some light rehab with Schwarz's support and feeling completely refreshed, I was bouncing around the garden when I suddenly stopped as some passing maids greeted me with birthday wishes.
"Young Master is getting older. This is... hell."
"What are you talking about?"
"Even as an adult, he'll be the same! That's Belverk's little family head!"
I ignored the maids spouting their usual nonsense behind me, but one phrase lingered inescapably in my ears.
'Am I... growing a bit slowly?'
Despite being a proper ten years old now, my height and weight were far below average for my age.
Sure, up until now, it was unavoidable due to the abuse at the Opstein Marquisate, but since coming to Belverk, I've been eating three full meals a day.
Yet my height hasn't budged, and neither has my weight. What's going on?
Happy Birthday.
I'd like to give you a gift too. Is there anything you want?
As I moped over these thoughts, a system message popped up before my eyes.
I stared quietly at the system, which was speaking to me privately after quite a while, then my eyes sparkled as I opened my mouth.
"I want to grow taller!"
But the system's immediate response was quite firm.
That's rather difficult.
"Wh-why?"
Your growth is halted due to side effects from the experiment.
Oh, so that's it? No wonder no matter how much I eat, I don't grow taller or gain muscle.
"Then... I won't grow at all?"
Wait, if that's true... does that mean even as an adult, I'll look like this?
"That's not okay...?"
I couldn't accept that at all, so with a pale expression, I muttered. The system flickered with noise for a moment before making a new proposal.
There are ways, though not impossible.
Restoring your original growth rate is impossible, but methods exist to enable some growth.
Good. Sad I can't regain my original growth, but at least there's hope.
But it will require significant resolve. Are you sure?
As I thought that, the system suddenly asked for confirmation using red text.
"If I can grow even a little taller, I don't care!"
The red warning meant serious risks, but I couldn't give up on growth, so I nodded firmly.
Side effect neutralization sequence activating...
Preparation will take some time.
Right after those words, the system began operating, displaying a complex array of numbers and letters.
'What exactly is this thing called the system...?'
As I watched, curiosity about this 'system'—the entity that changed my life—suddenly welled up anew.
"Young Master, you can't go near them."
Lost in thought and wandering aimlessly, Schwarz suddenly pulled me back.
"They're the second daughter, Lady Uriel's faction."
"Ah..."
"Represented by Lady Uriel's head maid and the 4th Knight Order Captain."
Raising my head at her words, just as Schwarz said, a group of unfamiliar maids and a knight stood before us.
"Young Master, remember this. They're different from the servants so far."
"......"
"The ones who remained in the mansion until yesterday were relatively favorable to you, as they were Mother's close aides."
No wonder the maid sisters behind me had been flashing cold smiles and emanating hostility since earlier.
Still, it's the middle of the garden on my birthday—they wouldn't cause trouble, right?
"But Lady Uriel's faction, who returned today, and the eldest lady's faction in the north are absolutely not favorable to you..."
"...Hello!"
As I glanced back at the maids behind me with those thoughts, I stepped forward and greeted Lady Uriel's faction with a bright smile.
"I'm Kairen Nox Belverk!"
Until yesterday, I would've clung to Schwarz and fled without a word, but now Lady Uriel was practically my friend, so it should be fine.
"Demon of Hierarchy Rank 6, Parasite."
"...4th Knight Order Captain Ellen."
And sure enough, after staring at me silently for a moment, Lady Uriel's two aides bowed their heads in greeting.
- Swish, stroke...
But only for a moment—suddenly, Lady Uriel's head maid began stroking my head.
"Hm?"
I tilted my head in confusion. Then her two aides addressed me in subdued voices.
"...We have no excuse."
"...Is your body alright?"
What? Why the funeral atmosphere from both?
"Kairen's all better now!"
Whatever it was, it didn't suit my birthday vibe, so I raised my voice cheerfully. Then I looked around and asked,
"But where's Second Sis?"
"......"
"It'd be great if Second Sis came to the birthday too..."
But upon hearing that, they averted their gazes and quietly walked past me.
"...Excuse us."
Lady Uriel's head maid left those words, bowed once more, and vanished from the garden with the knights.
"Huh?"
As I stared at them in bewilderment, Schwarz—who had been watching them with cold eyes beside me—suddenly smiled and spoke.
"Young Master, shouldn't you head over soon?"
Head over? Where?
"To the grand hall."
"Ah!"
"I'll follow a bit later, so go on ahead."
Oh, right. My birthday party was about to start.
"Thanks!"
I waved to Schwarz, who had reminded me, and ran toward the mansion with an excited expression.
"Hehe..."
"Kukuku."
"Ehehehe."
For some reason, suspicious laughter from the maids trailed behind me, but since it wasn't the first time, I let it slide.
'What could go wrong?'
With that thought, I dashed straight to the grand hall, sparkling eyes on the door as I flung it open.
"Everyone attending Kairen's birthday party!"
"......"
"Thank you so...?"
I continued my greeting to those gathered inside with a beaming smile, but as I looked around, I had to stop.
"...Wh-where is everyone?"
The grand hall, supposedly filled with people celebrating my birthday, was utterly empty.
"Am I the first one here...?"
After blankly scanning the hall, I spotted something on a table ahead and walked over.
「Sorry about this, Kairen.」
On the table I'd approached was a hastily scrawled, smudged letter and a birthday cake that looked rather modest compared to Belverk's prestige.
「An emergency arose in the eastern Empire, so everyone had to leave.」
Curious what it could be, I read down the letter, then quietly dropped my hand and lowered my head.
「Anyway, happy birthday, Kairen.」
A somewhat perfunctory birthday message at the end caught my eye.
"......"
But of course, I wasn't looking at that obviously rushed letter.
- Rumble...
More precisely, I'd been watching a massive table—definitely not there yesterday—subtly shaking since earlier.
'Did they think I'd fall for this?'
The distant cabinet, wardrobe, and even the cutlery rack were quietly trembling too.
This had to be a surprise, no matter how you looked at it.
Even with a ten-year-old body and mindset, my knowledge remained intact!
- Creak...
Thinking about it, this was all prepared for me. Fine, I'll play along just this once.
"Happy birthday to me... happy birthday to me..."
With a somewhat downcast expression, I lit a match and ignited the candles on the modest cake, then sang in a glum voice.
"Dear Kairen..."
"......"
"Happy birthday to you..."
I did my best to ignore the increasingly intense vibrations around me.
"Fuu..."
The moment I squeezed my eyes shut and blew out the candles.
- BOOMBOOMBOOM!!!
A massive firework explosion echoed through the grand hall.
"Eek!?"
Even though I'd anticipated something like this, the sheer scale startled me into jumping up in panic.
- Clapclapclapclapclap...
Then thunderous applause erupted from all directions.
"Happy birthday, Kairen."
"Hey, brat. You're not crying, are you?"
From the head seat positioned to face me, Mother and Lilien leaped out, gauging my reaction as they spoke.
"Happy birthday on behalf of the Knight Order."
"Hoho, we wouldn't leave you behind, Young Master."
"Right, Young Master~!"
At the same time, the 1st Knight Order Captain, retainers, and maids popped out from somewhere (I could guess where, but pretended not to know) and addressed me, watching my reaction.
"Y-you said there was an emergency in the eastern Empire!"
"Kairen, there's no chance I'd miss your birthday."
In that moment, after hesitating and gaping, I stared at Mother in stunned bewilderment.
"Even if the imperial capital were invaded, I'd be here for your birthday."
Her words were oddly touching yet terrifying, but I had no time to dwell on them.
"Young Master~!"
"Presents!"
"We stayed up all night making these!"
The acting head maids and Schwarz entered through the now-open back door, carrying a cake that looked over ten layers tall.
"Stop spacing out and come sit, Kairen."
"Ah..."
"The Imperial Princess and the three ladies will join after changing. We'll light the real cake candles then."
I stared blankly, then broke Belverk's rule against bowing before retainers by slowly lowering my head.
"Uriel... probably won't attend."
"Eh, maybe it's better without her... Hm? What's wrong?"
Mother and Lilien, continuing as they watched me, soon tilted their heads.
- Tremble...
How strange. To my eyes, with past-life knowledge, this childish, unamusing surprise was obvious.
"Today..."
Yet my eyes suddenly grew moist.
"Today is the best day of my life!"
Overwhelmed by surging emotions, tears welled up. I hastily wiped them with my sleeve, fearing anyone would see, and flashed a radiant smile.
"I really, really love you all!"
Honestly, I'd rationalized such expressions before as acting or forced.
"So, Kairen..."
But right now, in this moment, no rationalization was needed.
"...will live long and be happy with you all forever..."
Because today, I was reborn not as my past self, but as Belverk's youngest, Kairen...
Side effect neutralization sequence preparation complete.
Proceeding per user's request.
No, wait. Blocking my view in this important moment—what's the deal?
"...Cough."
As I thought that and tried to glare at System Sis, a sudden cough hit. I clamped my mouth, body heaving.
"Ah."
The next instant, I realized too late why the system had warned me so gravely.
"Kairen?"
"Brat, what now?"
Mother and Lilien, holding fireworks with puzzled looks, couldn't see it.
- Drip...
But the hand I'd used to cover my mouth from coughing was stained red with blood.
"......"
Meanwhile, at that moment.
"...I must steel my heart."
Uriel Nox Belverk stood alone quietly at the entrance to the grand hall where Kairen's birthday party was underway.
"Guilt is a mere luxury."
After glaring at the door for a long while, she gritted her teeth and turned away from the hall.
"In Belverk, weakness is sin."
Yet, despite resolving her lifelong terminal illness, her face remained pale. She paused, then quietly turned back.
"......It must be a place like that."
Unknowingly murmuring at the sound of Kairen's cheerful voice from within.
"......"
She tried to ignore Kairen's wish—which she probably couldn't fulfill—and lowered her head, stepping forward quietly.
- Crash!
But only for a moment—a sudden noise from behind.
"......!?"
Startled, Uriel whipped around, her expression turning surprised as she focused her gaze.
"Cough, cough..."
She witnessed Kairen, who had rushed out of the hall clutching his mouth and coughing, sprinting to the bathroom with a deathly pale face.
"This is..."
The bright red blood leaking from Kairen's hand left vivid stains on the corridor floor.
"Urk... blegh..."
Soon after, serious retching echoed from the bathroom.
"......"
Uriel stood dazed in the corridor, and for the first time in her life, she bowed her head and bit her lip at the sound.
- Grind...
Her lips, paler than ever, oozed red blood just like Kairen's.