Becoming the Marquis's Eldest Son (1)
Leminguat—my declaration as Red Sol Phoenix's Regiph Hapsderk. In response, the hunters, Silverstar, and even the special class students from the old school building showed a degree of acceptance toward the Marquis Ludbekia's declaration, which could almost be called a stretch. They'd all reached some point of consensus. More precisely, they each had their own reasons to buy into why the Marquis Ludbekia had made her coming-out announcement.
The reason: "Phoenix's affiliation needs to be clearly defined, no matter where it is." It was just a roundabout way of saying the Ludbekia Marquis family would act as my guardian. She didn't need to phrase it as "my son Regiph has returned alive," but that was necessary to make it more than just a simple guardianship—there had to be a reason why it had to be her son. And now, I was getting the chance to hear that reason directly.
"...That's what I told everyone. I'm sorry for deciding it without consulting you first."
"Mm."
The Marquis Ludbekia had come down herself to relay this. I wondered if anyone might be eavesdropping with spread mana, and sure enough, there was. She swept her hand through the air and produced a seal.
"So, from now on, I'm to become the son of Marquis Ludbekia?"
"That's how it is."
"In other words, ten years ago, I repelled the monster horde here through a deal with a demon, got dragged to the demon realm by that monster's curse, and just escaped after a decade?"
"Exactly."
"You think people will buy that?"
"Whether they believe it or not doesn't matter. What matters is that we claim it."
"This seal from the Ludbekia Marquis family will be a shield protecting you from countless people. When annoying troubles arise or folks come sniffing around, the name Ludbekia acts as a filter."
"Anyone who doesn't plan to charge head-on at the Ludbekia Marquis family will all scatter like roaches?"
"Yes. Isn't that merit enough on its own? Especially thinking ahead."
The Marquis Ludbekia's proposal was a deal. In exchange for becoming her son and a member of the Ludbekia family, I'd reap the benefits.
"Then what do I have to do for you?"
"Nothing."
"......"
"More precisely, just act as you originally planned. Simply do it with the Ludbekia seal attached."
"As the Marquis's lost son. Right?"
"Yes."
If I weren't Regiph, the reaction would fall into one of two categories.
—No matter what, how can you ask me to swap out my perfectly healthy parents? This goes against morals and ethics! The vehement rejection, furious at the idea of replacing one's mother.
But in this world, I had no mother. The other reaction would be the polar opposite.
"I thought becoming nobility would be great in many ways, but I never expected the opportunity to come so soon."
Accepting it as if they'd been waiting for this exact offer.
"Not a bad deal. Though I'm curious why you're not just adopting me outright, but instead disguising me as your missing child under the pretext of a 'demon realm abduction' and calling me Regiph."
"There's a very important reason for that."
"What is it?"
"My daughter, Seya."
"......"
Regiph's little sister—the first person I'd ever cast full-face magic on.
"You haven't run into her since living at the old school building, but my daughter Seya is a first-year at the academy now. And the academy boys... they've been hitting on her."
"Mm."
I had to keep my reaction as neutral as possible.
"She must be pretty, taking after you, Marquis. But bringing up your daughter means you want me to play big brother and chase off the guys approaching her?"
"Yes. There are complications, but to put it plainly, I want you in the position of 'Hapsderk.'"
"Hapsderk."
I knew that name better than anyone.
"In other words, you want me to take the spot as Seya's 'marriage candidate'?"
"Exactly."
"Why?"
"Because this is my own kind of investment."
The Marquis Ludbekia pointed at me.
"Your past, your potential, your limits, your knowledge—all shrouded in mystery, impossible to see through. But one thing I can say for sure: you can turn a woman into... an even more perfect being."
"......"
"Whether it's in the realm of magic or romance, whatever secret you hold, I felt it when I exorcised that monster. There's such a thing as a fated connection you must seize in life."
"So that's why you're putting me in the 'son' position."
"Even if that means..."
I pretended to make the sign of the cross, then clenched my fist.
"Even if it makes enemies of the Goddess Church, you can handle that?"
"Planning to fight the Church?"
"It might come to that."
This wasn't just for the Marquis Ludbekia—it was for whoever was listening from above, too.
"Not that I'm saying this for eavesdroppers, but the Church brands anything slightly off doctrine as heresy in a heartbeat, right?"
"......"
"If the truths I understand about the world get judged as something the Church can't let spread, I might end up hunted by them. Or, per what you've said, holy knights could show up any minute to slap me in chains."
I clasped my hands in front like I was handcuffed.
"Oh, contractor of Satan! Vile one who made a pact with demons! You've endured eternal torment in hell, yet clawed your way back to the surface to spread your wickedness!"
"That's..."
"They'd proclaim that publicly, then torture me behind closed doors. 'How was the demon realm? What did hell look like? Was it teeming with Satan's kin and fiends, just like the doctrine says?'"
"......"
"If I become Phoenix Ludbekia, I might have to deal with that. Would you just play dumb then?"
"No."
The Marquis Ludbekia shook her head firmly.
"Clashing with the Church is a given. Our relations are already at rock bottom. I wanted to show you around during field training, but the Ludbekia estate has no church or cathedral."
"Pardon?"
"After the incident ten years ago, the Church pulled out."
Every territory had at least one cathedral, but circumstances must have aligned to keep them from returning.
"So, aside from that, no other hang-ups?"
"There's one more."
"Tell me."
"Can you really handle it?"
I pointed my thumb at myself.
"I don't know what'll happen down the line. You might need more than a shield—maybe a breakwater against the waves. And even that could get smashed."
Probably only Unia would fully grasp the meaning here. Since we were being eavesdropped on anyway, a little spoiler for the others.
"You say I'm from the demon realm, so what if fighting whatever's trying to end the world through me means battling world-ending threats?"
"Huh?"
"Roughly that setup, right? I escaped the demon realm somehow, and now monsters from hell are rampaging to drag me back. Then it wouldn't be the Church—we'd be fighting demon realm beasts."
"You were that dangerous?"
At my not-quite-threat, the Marquis Ludbekia chuckled and spread her arms.
"It's fine. A mother would even make choices others point fingers at to protect her child who comes home after killing people."
"......"
"No matter what happens, I'll handle it all. That's a mother's job."
"Not sure the math works out on this."
When I'd cut a bad deal with Yurha, I had few options and was obsessed with ruining Hapsderk somehow.
"Looks like you're the one taking the loss, Marquis."
Were all Hapsderk bloodlines just natural pushovers?
"No, it's not a loss. Even if it were, how could a mother calculate gains and losses when giving to her child? A mother does anything for her kids."
"If it's about money, even family should discuss openly and crunch the numbers thoroughly."
"Then let's do this."
The Marquis Ludbekia smiled brightly.
"If you ever marry, make one of your wives the one I choose—no exceptions."
"......"
Of course.
"Marquis, don't tell me."
"Yes, that 'don't tell me.'"
She fiddled with the fourth finger on her left hand and grinned.
"Marry my daughter, Seya."
".......Pardon?"
"If you really don't like her, divorce after. I'll convince Seya, so take her in without worry. Even as a Ludbekia, we have our traditions."
"What..."
"It's tradition and common sense for a big brother to take his little sister's first time."
"......."
"I told you—a mother will do anything for her child."