The Demise of Haps (2)
The friendly monster Ratatosk left behind a curse. I can't be bothered to remember what the bastard said in his final moments, but one thing's for sure—that curse lingers intimately in this world.
That woman. She's looking at me right now with what seems like a flicker of rationality?
She was Regiph's mother, but for her to view me as a potential romantic interest now... At best, a candidate for romance. At worst, a stud to continue the family line.
Her family is now called Ludbekia after her own name, but if you think about it, she was pure-blooded Hapsderk.
If she's recognizing the remnants of Regiph's essence in my body because of the curse, that means the Hapsderk curse is still alive and well.
The Hapsderks don't give a damn about anyone outside their bloodline. A beauty. An S-rank mage. Ruler of Hapsderk territory. Even the monster zone above it had its threats toward the territory largely neutralized with Ratatosk's demise. A widow with no sons, only daughters. From a nobleman's perspective, she's prime merchandise—hell, the king could take her as a concubine or even queen consort without batting an eye.
For a woman like that to still be in mourning garb, clinging to widowhood, means she's rejecting other men because the Hapsderk curse is still binding her.
I don't know what she's been up to since becoming the Ludbekia Marchioness, but judging from Instructor Esta's reaction, I can guess.
"Marchioness. What on earth...?"
"Once I send Seiya to the academy, it'll get lonely, and... well, after ten years, I feel like I've upheld my duty long enough..."
"Pardon?"
Instructor Esta looked flustered. Facing an S-rank mage, even a swordmaster's instincts couldn't easily parse her true intentions.
But.
"Hehe, just kidding, Instructor Esta. You didn't think I'd devour a 17-year-old student, did you?"
Ludbekia waved her hand with a laugh, as if to say it was obviously a joke. Her tone and gaze toward Esta screamed of course it's a joke.
"Ah, y-yes, of course."
Instructor Esta sighed in relief amid her confusion.
Esta's definitely still a virgin.
Should I tell her later? That this woman is thinking something similar right now. I won't devour a 17-year-old.
Seventeen is still a minor. But if she holds out for three years...?
"So, what does the man in question think about being treated like a son?"
As I stayed silent, Ludbekia turned her arrow on me. Unlike Esta's fluster, my calm demeanor seemed to make Ludbekia a tad impatient.
"Hmm, that's tricky."
I took a slow sip of my coffee, then set the cup down leisurely.
"If I became the Marchioness Ludbekia's son, would that make me Red Sol Ludbekia?"
I started by floating a personal reason subtly.
"Probably? Oh, is the name 'Phoenix' more important to you? Hmm, in that case... To use a middle name, you'd need to be a duke at least."
"How about I found House Phoenix Duke, and you become the duchess?"
Then I countered slyly.
"Duchess?"
"House Phoenix Duke pursues polygamy, and I plan to prepare separate rooms for each wife."
"You... what?"
Instructor Esta tried to cut in, as if I'd spouted nonsense, but I nudged her ankle under the table with my shoeless foot. I'll handle this.
She caught the signal, sipping her drink quietly.
"Not as Marchioness Ludbekia, but as a woman coming at me?"
"I don't care about age as long as she's pretty, beautiful, and lovable."
"Pfft!"
Instructor Esta spat out her tea.
"My goodness... Even as a widow with a 17-year-old daughter?"
"If it's 'genuine' love drawing her to me, I wouldn't nitpick her circumstances. Noble or commoner, married or not, virgin or not, human or otherwise..."
I lightly placed my index finger on the table, drawing a line through the condensation.
"Anyone but minors who catches my fancy is all good with me."
"Hmm."
"Even if there are ulterior motives or gains mixed in—as long as the root is 'genuine'."
What if Ludbekia was approaching me purely as a rational interest, not the curse? If she's rationally viewing me that way, steeling herself even against Ratatosk's 'Haps curse,' then I'd consider rethinking things.
But not in her current state.
It's not some fateful spark at first sight—it's the curse making her ovulate like crazy right now.
I know. Her mana state right now. It's not her heart stirring her body—it's the flesh heating up. If I bite now, I might become her mana outlet to vent a decade of pent-up whatever.
"...Phoenix."
Ludbekia swallowed hard, straightening her back.
"You're more serious than I thought. Or did you not understand the offer to become my son?"
"I understood both romantically and politically."
"Yet you're refusing?"
"Not refusing—I'm stating my ambitions."
I raised my half-empty cup like a toast.
"I want to be the head of my own house, not someone's adopted son or live-in son-in-law."
"Hm."
"Lady Ludbekia under Phoenix is fine, but dropping Phoenix for Red Ludbekia? That clashes with my identity."
"You're beating around the bush, but basically..."
Ludbekia tapped the table with an amused laugh.
"Don't stand above me?"
She grinned.
I smiled back instead of answering.
"Hmm..."
"Wait, you can't say things like—"
"Fascinating. A freshman should have that kind of ambition. I was worried you'd be some shallow type jumping at the son offer with a 'yes, sir.'"
Ludbekia raised a hand, shifting her tone. She took my refusal in stride, no offense taken.
"Still, I haven't given up on getting close. Men like you are the ones women charm into changing their minds... Ahem, falling."
"Is that so?"
Hasn't given up, huh.
"Of course. 'Son' could just mean son, but a mother-in-law and son-in-law could end up like mom and son, right?"
I flinched.
"Marchioness."
"Instructor Esta. Of course it depends on Seiya's feelings, but you never know."
Mother-in-law and son-in-law. Normally no blood relation, but what if that son-in-law was her son from hell, resurrected?
Terrifying, Ratatosk. Even after I killed him with blue flames, he cursed this world.
"I see. Still, be careful."
I downed the rest of my coffee.
"If I win over Miss Seya Ludbekia and we end up as rivals fighting, that'd be awkward."
"...My. Declaring you'll steal both mother and daughter's hearts?"
"Does it sound like a joke?"
I'd issued a clear warning.
"If it comes to that, I'd have to choose the one more 'genuine' toward me."
Because.
The demise of Haps. It's not just becoming -Haps-.
"I don't like women fighting over one man with jealousy and envy. Especially if they're old comrades, sisters... or."
[The Demise of Haps]. No.10-2. Filial Depravity Yandere Ending.
"Even mother and daughter."
It's the extreme end where you love your family so much that you kill them lest your child steals your mate's love.
* * *
While the Ludbekia Marchioness stepped out to fix her makeup.
"...The marchioness is acting different from usual—be careful."
Instructor Esta warned me in a grave tone.
"Hate to say it, but she seems to be projecting 'that child' onto you."
"That child?"
"...Regiph Hapsderk."
Me, from before.
"I suspected it briefly, but I never imagined she'd say it outright."
"That similar, huh?"
"Less similar, more..."
Instructor Esta pointed to her eyes.
"The way you look at people."
"......"
"It's been ten years, but I still remember. The gaze that 7-year-old kid gave me."
"What was it like?"
"Wary, appraising, with a touch of fear."
"Fear?"
"His eyes held the tension of facing a disaster too vast to handle."
Was that it? So that's how I looked at the heroines back then.
"Was I giving off that vibe?"
"Slightly different."
"Pardon?"
"Maybe because ten years have passed—it feels that way."
Esta pointed at my eyes.
"If you were Regiph, it'd be eyes brimming with confidence that what was uncontrollable back then is now fully under your command."
"Hmm."
"That's the vibe. But no way. Regiph Hapsderk..."
"Is dead," Ludbekia said, returning.
"This mourning garb is for that child."
"...And your husband?"
"Husband is husband, child is child. I lost both family members equally, but unlike my husband, my child... Hm. Phoenix?"
Ludbekia lowered her voice seriously.
"As someone treating you like a son, if you ever see anything like 'blue flames' at the academy, get away immediately."
"Marchioness."
"Instructor Esta. It's the most dangerous thing—I can tell her that much, right?"
"Well..."
"If Seiya were on the same team, she could explain instead, but unfortunately not."
"?"
Something sent a chill down my spine.
"Wasn't Miss Seya Ludbekia the remaining teammate? That's why you came out...?"
"The opposite, actually. Even special admits have some 'fairness' to uphold, it seems."
Ludbekia spoke with uncharacteristic sarcasm.
"What's wrong with me looking after my daughter and the child I'll treat like a son in my own zone? Who's getting special treatment?"
"Then... who the hell is the last one...?"
"Ta-da."
Ludbekia clasped her hands in a flower bud pose and smiled.
"Your classmate, Ludbekia~"
She even used magic to style her loose hair into twin tails.
"......."
"......Just kidding. Don't look so serious. Mama's hurt?"
I know why she's saying that.
"......I'll let the 'mama' slide, so spare me that."
"Hehehe."
Ludbekia quietly undid the pose.
"I wanted to send Seiya originally, but someone else insisted on the old school building. Suddenly."
"...Someone else?"
"Yes."
Rustle.
"Princess Evangeline di Ershi."
"......."
?
"Who?"