Dungeon Expedition and Rewards (3)
Dungeon Expedition and Rewards (3)
While we were laughing and chatting away, we'd made it back to the dungeon before we knew it. The artifact's duration was almost spent.
The moment we returned, Mother's expression chilled again, and my sisters started wearing their best cautious faces.
"Um, Head of House. About what just happened..."
"Call me 'Mother.' It was quite pleasant to hear."
"...Yes! Mother!"
Still, as if the artifact's power had cleared away some old misunderstanding, my sisters began to treat Mother a little more comfortably despite her terrifying face. The atmosphere was still awkward, but it would get better with time.
"Mom, when we get back, let's practice smiling together. I'll teach you."
"Alright. Thank you."
* * * * * *
After a short break, we left the dungeon with the knight order.
Fortunately, there were no casualties all the way to the end, so the knights were in a festive mood.
-See? Told you knights get stronger when they have a man to protect. Last time I got hurt because it was all gloomy women.
-Knights who fight risking their lives to uphold noble chivalry... weren't we rather dashing today, senior?
-Quiet, all of you. Our lady took care of the monsters practically by herself. What do we have to be cocky about?
-'Tisn't as if we held back because we didn't want to slay them. Her Grace slew them all before we could get a swing in.
The knights chattered noisily as they mounted up one by one. I couldn't quite catch what they were saying, though judging by Mother's ears going slightly red, they were probably praising her for that overwhelming display of power.
"Albert, give me a ride back."
I was hovering around Albert to hitch a ride when Mar called out from behind me.
"Oh? You're going with Albert this time?"
"Yeah. I'm not going with a mean sister who tries to make me cry. Bleh."
"...I really will make you cry. I'll eat every last one of your cookies, little brother."
"That's so unfair! Mom, she says she's gonna steal my cookies! Scold her!!"
Spurred by those honest feelings we'd heard earlier, Mar and I started squabbling. I called out to Mother to save me from a cookie hostage crisis, but...
"Yunes, Margarete. That is enough. If you cannot conduct yourselves like nobles in front of the knights, at least refrain from such a vulgar display."
"Yes, Mother. My apologies."
"Sorry..."
Mother had elegantly rephrased "What are you doing, embarrassing yourselves in front of the knights?" Still smarting at having lost the round, I shot Mar a glare, then snuggled into Albert's arms.
"Anyway. That's how it is, so give me a ride, sis."
"Heh. Okay."
* * * * * *
The moment we were back at the mansion, I headed for the bath.
Male servants in suits that were basically maid uniforms rushed over to attend me, but just as I had for the past year, I stubbornly refused and washed myself. A man touching my body? Not a chance. Even if soap got in my eyes, I'd never let that happen.
Fresh and clean, I returned to my room to find...
"Huh? Why are you two in my room?"
"You just finished bathing, little brother? Look how dewy your skin is."
"Yune, I brought milk and cookies. Want some?"
"Cookies? Yeah."
Mar and Albert were there to greet me. They must have been tired from exploring the dungeon too—what was the occasion?
I took the cookies and glass of milk Albert offered and sat on the bed.
"So, what's up? You needed something?"
-Crunch, gulp gulp.
'Wow, these cookies are good. They got a little cold and crispy, which makes them even better.'
I started munching and sipping while waiting for them to speak. The two sisters gazed down at me, then sighed in unison.
"Haah. Yep, that's our little brother for sure."
"Mmph? Mm-hm? (Huh? What?)"
"Never mind. More importantly—the reason you asked me to go to the dungeon was because of that artifact, wasn't it?"
Mar suddenly asked why I'd wanted to go to the dungeon. I nodded to say yes.
Albert immediately cut to the heart of it.
"Yune, how did you know that artifact was there?"
"...Ah?"
"To be honest, ever since you handed me that lamp-shaped artifact, I've been wondering. How could you have known about it? The question kept nagging at me."
"Now that Albert says it, it really is a bit odd. So we came to ask you together."
"I almost brought it up in that space earlier, but... something about the mood told me I shouldn't, so I held back."
That's when I realized—I hadn't told my sisters that I carried the memories of "Ryu Si-u." From their perspective, their youngest brother had suddenly demanded a dungeon trip, expertly located a deeply hidden artifact, and skillfully used it. It was only natural for them to wonder what in the world was going on.
But I couldn't tell my sisters about Ryu Si-u. I'd promised Mother I would never tell anyone else.
So, like a true manly man, I opted for a frontal breakthrough.
"...I can't tell you! Mom told me to keep it a deadly secret!"
'The ultimate move: name-dropping Mom.'
I gave my honest answer with the determination not to tell a lie. Albert's reaction, surprisingly, was to give in right away.
"Phew, I thought so. No wonder Mother was so unruffled. Fine. I won't ask any more. Whatever it is, if Mother knows, then that's that."
"Oh? You don't need to ask for more details? If it were me, I'd be dying of curiosity."
"I'm curious too. But if Mother ordered it kept secret, there must be a good reason."
She finished speaking, then smiled affectionately and handed me another cookie. ...Albert really was kind. Unlike some sister who wanted to make me cry.
I munched on the cookie while staring pointedly at Mar, who raised an eyebrow and stared back.
"...Why are you looking at me like that, little brother? That's a rather insolent gaze."
"Nothing. Just thinking that, unlike some people, Albert is so pretty and kind."
"Oh-ho. You little— Keep that up and I won't give you your present."
"Present?"
"Yeah. As a commemorative gift for your first dungeon trip—since you came back safely. At the academy..."
She then told me about an academy custom. Among young nobles who majored in swordsmanship, when someone completed their first dungeon and returned "safely," it was customary to give a small gift.
"What, there was something like that? I never got one."
"You majored in strategy and tactics, Albert, so it makes sense you wouldn't know. Anyway. My professor gave me a bottle of sword oil, but I can't give my little brother something so trivial. Not to the precious youngest son of the esteemed Nordkirchen Grand Ducal House."
"Wow! What are you giving me that you're talking it up so grandly? Can I get my hopes up?"
"Before that. What did you say earlier? Compared to me, Albert is pretty and kind? That sounded an awful lot like you were saying I'm not."
Mar had built it up like she was giving me an incredible present, then grabbed onto my earlier words and wouldn't let go. Ugh, so petty.
As a manly man, I decided to be the bigger person and concede. What good would winning against my sister do me?
"Big sis, you're so pretty~! You're the best! I love you!!"
"...Your reaction speed for acting cute is on a Sword Master level, good grief."
I unleashed the cutesy charm that had become second nature from a year of using it on Mother, clinging to my sister and leaving her with a dazed expression as if she hadn't expected it to go this far. But I soldiered on with the act. Mark of a Manly Man: when you do something, you go all the way.
"I love you so much, Big sis, maybe when I grow up I'll want to marry you~? Ahh~ I want my beloved big sis to give me a present~."
"Okay, okay! Stop it, geez. Anyone watching would think I'm some kind of pedophile."
The moment I brought up marriage like I did with Mom, my sister waved her hands frantically. But she wasn't entirely displeased; a faint smile lingered on her lips.
"Yune, I'll give you a present too! Something you like!"
"Really? Waah~ I love you too, Big Sis Albert!"
Albert, who'd been watching with an odd look, immediately declared she'd also give me a gift. I answered with another swift deposit of cuteness. And so I performed a high-speed display of cuteness between my two sisters for a good while.
* * * * * *
Only after I'd dished out enough cuteness to digest all the cookies did I sit down across from Mar at the table.
"So, Big Sis Mar. What exactly are you planning to give me?"
"I do have something in mind. Little brother, wouldn't you like to raise a pet?"
"A pet?"
"Yeah. Lately it's trendy among young nobles in the imperial capital, apparently. Keeping a pet."
When I fixed her with a stare demanding to know what the gift was, she sprang a pet on me out of nowhere.
'A pet? Hmm... Ryu Si-u did always think about raising a silver-furred cat someday, but...'
"I don't know? I've never raised one, so I'm not sure. And besides, this place gets insanely cold whenever winter rolls around. We might be fine, but could an animal endure it?"
This was the North, after all. The summer months were bearable, but winter would hit with truly brutal cold. When I asked, worried about that, my sister loudly proclaimed that I was worrying over nothing.
"There are plenty of ways to handle that. So just tell me what kind you want!"
"Then a cat. One with silver fur."
"A cat? Got it."
With her acting that confident, I decided to trust her. The thought of raising a cat suddenly made my heart flutter.
'A cat... What should I name it? Silver-nyang, maybe?'
So I started pondering the cat's name, how to raise it, whether I could sleep cuddling it, whether neutering would be needed, and so on.
Maybe that's why.
"For reference, do you prefer a female or a male?"
"Huh? Female."
I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't see what kind of expression Mar was making at that moment.
Looking back on it later, she'd probably been...
"Pfft, okay. Look forward to it, little brother."
She must have been grinning, thoroughly thrilled at the chance to pull one over on me.