Right, I Also Said I'd Give You the Position of Head of the Family.
Right, I Also Said I'd Give You the Position of Head of the Family.
Early morning.
The time had finally come to dine with the Head of the Yudith family. The mansion had been in an uproar since dawn preparing for it.
"We greet our lord!"
The maids scrambled to their feet at that cry, hastily lining up before the door.
"We greet our lord."
Scarlett, too, bowed her head toward the Head of the Household.
"Hmm."
The honored guest surveying his surroundings was a man of composed bearing. His dignified, commanding presence marked him unmistakably as master of the estate.
The Head of the Yudith family. Scarlett's father had returned.
"Ah—"
At that moment, one of the maids stumbled over her own feet. She immediately steadied herself, a rapid stream of "I apologize!" tumbling from her lips.
"Don't fret over it."
Authoritative, yet at the same time deeply restrained. The maids' heads bowed low of their own accord at his demeanor.
At last, the Head of the Household's gaze reached Scarlett.
"It has been a while."
"Yes."
Even as they exchanged greetings, Head of the Household Theodore continued surveying his surroundings, as though the person he was truly searching for was somewhere else.
"Plan is absent."
"He went out to an auction. He hasn't returned yet."
She wished he simply wouldn't come back at all.
But the very moment she gave that reply.
The mansion doors opened once more and Plan appeared. The Head of the Household's gaze naturally turned that way, and Scarlett found it profoundly displeasing.
"You as well. It has been a while, Plan."
Yet the Head of the Household's greeting came in a gentle tone.
"...."
Plan merely gave a quiet nod.
Scarlett shot him a burning glare to signal him, but Plan's attitude did not change in the slightest. To the end, he did not open his mouth to offer a greeting.
Head of the Household Theodore stepped forward two or three paces and examined Plan's appearance. Then he spoke, briefly.
"Something seems different about you."
"Does it."
Everything was different.
The energy coiled within him, the look in his eyes, the squared confidence of his shoulders, his manner of replying... all of it.
And yet, if one asked whether this was his son, he was unmistakably Theodore's son.
What in the world had happened? That was something to find out over the meal ahead.
Theodore's gaze moved to the head maid.
Meeting the Head of the Household's eye, the head maid promptly parted her lips.
"The meal is already prepared."
"The tea?"
"We have prepared the one best suited to your palate, my lord."
Theodore nodded, satisfied, and the maids who had been lined up began to move at once, with perfect coordination.
A spacious dining table. Scarlett and Plan sat side by side across from Head of the Household Theodore.
Not a word of conversation passed among the three. For a while, Theodore merely savored his coffee.
Then, a short while later. Theodore spoke.
"I came across several articles in the academy newspaper."
The Head of the Household's eyes were fixed solely upon Plan. And everyone present easily understood what those newspaper articles signified.
"You seem to have been busy with quite a number of things, Plan."
"He has also been spending a great deal of gold coins. Recklessly—as many as two hundred thousand."
Scarlett cut in with those words.
"That is not what matters now. Time is short. Let us ask the important questions first, and quickly."
But Theodore only quietly savored what remained of his half-finished cup. The fragrance of the tea slowly filled the broad dining hall.
"Plan. What have you been doing out there, and what do you mean to do?"
Plan gazed steadily at Theodore.
There was no blind condemnation, no outburst of anger. He simply seemed, with genuine sincerity, to be curious about many things concerning Plan.
Quite naturally, his interest was stirred. The knightly house of Yudith, renowned far and wide. What kind of thoughts did its head truly hold?
"Magic."
Plan's answer covered both of the questions Theodore had asked.
In the empty air, father and son's gazes quietly crossed.
"And the sword—still no interest?"
"Yes."
"Is that so."
Theodore at last set down his empty teacup.
"Let us speak in a bit more detail from now on."
In his pupils, too, there was a flame.
◈
Theodore was the head of the Yudith family.
Before being a single knight, he was the Head of Yudith. And so, perhaps, the position he found himself in now was one that demanded nothing short of fury.
Yet it could not be so.
On the contrary, Theodore found Plan's present transformation deeply intriguing.
'You, who once lacked even the will to live.'
In Theodore's heart, Plan had always been a weight that sank deep.
He had inherited magnificent talent, yet he had cast aside the sword and, at some point, lost all interest in everything entirely. He rarely emerged from his room, and skipped meals as a rule rather than an exception.
Yet what change in the world had taken place?
'So long as it is not a crime.'
A blazing flame that sets one's life alight. Passion.
That was Theodore's code of chivalry. He had burned himself to a cinder to keep from straying from that standard, and he had hoped his children would live the same way.
And so, the look in Plan's eyes now pleased him, if anything.
'His grades are reasonably good, too.'
At some point, Theodore had taken to seeking out every newspaper the academy's Magic Department published.
He had also checked his son's grades.
But until now, it had only been to the point of acknowledging them. Just that, and nothing more.
Yudith.
The weight of the Yudith name was beyond measure. It was heavy.
Theodore was not the sort of knight who would lightly cast aside the family's will merely because his son had somewhat pleased him.
Should his interest cool, or should Plan come to a halt midway along the path of magic despite meeting his limits, the damage would be immense.
Yudith would be cloaked in unspeakable dishonor, and Theodore would lose his son.
That was why some measure of weighing was necessary.
Here and now, he meant to confirm Plan's sincerity.
"Plan. I trust you remember the promise you made with me."
As he opened the conversation, Theodore once more studied his son's face.
The eyes of a predator, not prey.
Looking again, it pleased him quite well.
"I said it plainly, did I not. If only you took up the sword again... I would bestow a great many things upon you."
Scarlett's eyes narrowed. It was only natural. This was a conversation she knew nothing about.
"That's right. I even told you I'd give you the position of head of the family."
"—!"
Sparks flew from Scarlett's eyes.
Head of the family?
The position of head of the family?
Even setting aside a portion of the estate would have been an immense shock, yet Theodore had spoken to Plan of granting him nothing less than the 'position of head of the family' itself.
With a sharp hiss, the liquid in her teacup vaporized entirely. In the next instant, her hand trembled.
To put it another way, didn't this mean that the moment the words "I will take up the sword" left Plan's lips, the headship would be decided in his favor, here and now?
"Even so, you still mean to say you have no intention of taking up the sword?"
Everyone simply waited for Plan's lips to part.
"...."
Plan himself merely tilted his head a fraction.
It seemed his mouth would open at any moment, yet stubbornly it did not. In the end, it was Scarlett who broke the silence first.
"Answer."
Anxiety bloomed in Scarlett's heart.
Both Scarlett and Theodore thought Plan was right now deliberating over whether to take up the sword.
The longer the silence stretched, the more certain she grew that he was entertaining thoughts of the headship.
And then, at last. Plan opened his mouth.
"...That's all?"
That's all. Neither Scarlett nor Theodore yet understood the meaning of those two words.
"I thought you would offer something more."
"...?"
"Was I mistaken."
Theodore belatedly grasped Plan's meaning, and despite himself, let out a laugh.
In other words, his son was right now speaking as though the position of the head of Yudith was nothing at all.
Theodore quietly spoke.
"We are not of the imperial blood, yet we are also different from the nobility. Even if they labored their whole lives, it would be difficult for the likes of them to attain the renown and lands of the Yudith."
One of the Knights of the Round Table. The 'Blazing' house of Yudith. The fame and authority it carried were more lofty, more immense than the boy could imagine.
Yet whether he did not understand, or whether he understood and was saying this anyway, Plan remained as unruffled as ever.
"What do you suppose would happen if I dedicated my entire life to magic."
"Let me ask you instead. To what degree are you truly confident?"
Theodore answered Plan's question with a question of his own. And the reply that came was swift.
"In that case, ask me about the timeframe instead."
Was it nothing but childish defiance?
Unable to readily tell, Theodore let the corner of his lips lift slightly, and Plan likewise let the corner of his lips lift slightly.
"Because it is certain that I will reach the highest place."
"...."
Theodore's eyes shone sharply.
"Your confidence is considerable. However, whether this is simply giving voice to will... or if...."
The Head of the Household studied Plan's expression as he continued.
"You have the grounds to keep doing so moving forward."
"There is no need for further discussion. This wretch spent so long shut up in his room that he has entirely lost any sense of reality. Is the matter of the two hundred thousand gold coins not proof enough?"
Scarlett cut in as though the whole affair was insufferably frustrating. But Theodore merely shook his head. He was focused exclusively on the conversation with Plan.
"I am aware that you are currently achieving good results. But simply being 'impressive' will not suffice. It must be to the degree that it establishes an entirely new standard."
Plan likewise found Theodore's words pleasing.
He was not engaging Plan on an emotional basis. On the contrary, wasn't he displaying a rational bearing and pursuing what was practical?
"Therefore, my son. Let us do this."
Theodore continued.
"Should you seize victory in the 2-Discipline Subjugation Festival, then at the time of the 3-Discipline event hosted by the Imperial Household."
On his face as he gazed at his son, a deeply satisfied expression had settled before he knew it.
"I will have you participate — as a mage, under the name of Yudith. Prove it, one thing at a time, with your own hands."
"...."
Plan quietly sank into thought.
He had intended to win the Subjugation Festival in any case.
And if the weight of the Yudith name were granted as a reward as well, the impact of his future steps would be vastly amplified.
If that were the case.
His answer was already decided.
◈
"My lord... my lord! What in the world is the meaning of this!"
After the meal, Scarlett hurried after the Head of the Household. But Theodore simply walked on, without so much as a backward glance.
At some point, his footsteps came to a halt.
"What could have happened, I wonder. To Plan."
"Is that truly what matters right now?"
Scarlett's chest grew tight. The bitter resentment she had pressed down and down surged up within her.
"Is there truly a need for you to go out of your way to support that wretch becoming a mage? Is there?"
A house born by the sword, dying by the sword.
To Scarlett, that was what Yudith was. Whether Plan proved something or not, Yudith had to remain a knightly house, no question.
"Why do you not press him on where the gold coins went? And to say you would grant him the headship if he simply took up the sword — does that make any sense whatsoever?"
"I am merely watching, and confirming. With my own eyes, directly."
"What in the world is the reason for it! Why, ever since I was a child, I alone have been—"
"Discrimination, you say. Scarlett."
Theodore let out a short, soft laugh.
"I believe I have already placed in your hands countless swords that you may wield under the name of Yudith."
"...."
Scarlett let out a deep sigh.
"Ha...."
She simply could not understand his thinking.
"How do you expect to face Mother later? How do you imagine the Blazing Knight would ever—"
"No."
The Head of the Household cut Scarlett's words off.
"If it were your mother... I am certain she...."
The gaze he turned toward Scarlett was earnest.
"Would have been perfectly delighted, insisting that you prove it."
◈
"Ugh... Plan will be here soon."
Early morning. Spitting out the strands of hair that had found their way into her mouth, Becky struggled free of her bed at last.
Today was finally the day. Plan was returning to the academy.
And so, the girl had work to do. That work consisted of carefully checking to make sure nothing had been missed.
"I did it all. I definitely did it all...."
Of course, she had already finished everything the night before.
She had learned this and that from the pretty summoning beast Plan had left behind, and the things he had demanded summaries for had been tidily completed.
Becky yawned and stepped out into the broad common space.
"Hm...?"
But at that moment.
In the lounge-like space that the representatives shared, something caught her eye.
It was an enormous pile of books. More precisely, books that had spilled out from Trixie's slightly ajar door.
Should she wake her and let her know?
—What.
—What are you looking at.
—It's annoying.
"...."
Yes, that did seem like a bad idea after all.
Trixie was always as cold as ice, sharp as a drawn blade. Becky had no desire to be pricked or cut by her unnecessarily.
Nothing for it. She would examine what kind of books they were, summarize if summarization was needed, and tidy them up if tidying was needed.
Becky slowly began to examine the books.
Shhhrk.
Her page-turning speed was quite fast now. Plan had, for better or worse, shaped her into this constitution.
"Wow."
And in the midst of looking, she let out an exclamation without realizing it.
"She's already tackling Elvish in parallel...."
Vocabulary books, novels, research journals... the types were diverse.
But they all had one thing in common. Every single one was written in the Elvish language.
It was still beyond Becky's ability to interpret. No — not just her, but most people would be in the same position.
Humans, being human, found it difficult to comprehend the linguistic system of the elves. It hardly needed stating that acquiring and utilizing it demanded an immense investment of time and effort.
"Not just anyone can be the next head of the family...."
Shaking her head in amazement, Becky began to put the books away.
She tidied, and tidied, until at last, the final volume at the very bottom. A single volume, markedly thicker than the others.
When Becky opened it without much thought.
"...?"
This time, it was not printed letters that captured her gaze, but illustrations.
"Ah~ it's thick because it's a picture book."
Because the Elvish language was so profoundly difficult, there were books that explained things solely through pictures. Then again, considering visibility, it wasn't a bad choice at all.
Her interest piqued, she slowly turned the pages one by one.
"Joint magic? The level is quite high."
Shhk—
She turned the page.
"One man and one woman. Is there really a reason for it to be specifically like this?"
Shhk— Shhk—
She continued to turn the pages.
At some point, the speed of her hand slowed.
"Uh... is this magic that you perform without clothes on...?"
Shhk— Shhk— Shhk—
After turning several more pages.
"...."
Becky's hand, clutching the book, trembled faintly. At the same time, her face turned as red as her own hair.
"Wh-wh-wh-what in the world is...."
Even as she murmured that, Becky could not tear her eyes from the book for a single instant. More precisely, it was so shocking she couldn't tear them away.
Amidst that.
At some point, a deep shadow fell over the entire book. With a sense of foreboding, Becky turned her head back.
"...!"
Becky's eyes, which had seemed incapable of growing any larger, widened far, far more.
Her eyes rapidly swept over the owner of the shadow.
The academy uniform, its lines elegant as a formal suit; the red eyes that shone like jewels; the sharp bridge of the nose that seemed to have grown even higher in the meantime.
The center of all the recent talk, with that characteristic blank expression.
...It was Plan.
Turning pages had become such a habit that Becky flipped to the next one without realizing it.
Only then did the gravity of the situation truly hit her.
"...."
First, Becky shut the book.
"Um...."
For some reason, she could not meet Plan's eyes.
"...."
She stood frozen for a long moment, then at last managed to squeeze out a single sentence.
"It's not my book."
"Then whose is it."
"...."
She simply could not bring herself to answer.