The Darion lord's manor.
It was my second time visiting, but the atmosphere felt different this time around.
Last time I'd played the fool, but this time, coming straight from the guild, I was dressed pretty casually.
Ideally I should have changed, but Zelphy had told me to hurry.
And once Zelphy and I passed through the manor gates, we found Lord Bentler already waiting for us in a room.
(I see — that's why he wanted us to rush.)
He probably had his reasons for not wanting to keep his employer waiting, and Zelphy felt the same way.
Bentler greeted us with a smile over tea, and I bowed to him.
"I am truly grateful for your support this time—"
"Let's skip the formalities. Right now, I think of you as the adventurer Lyle."
In other words, he'd determined that I wasn't seeking to return as the heir.
(Did Zelphy tell him?)
The moment Zelphy had identified me as a member of House Walt, she must have reported it.
(Or maybe she got curious when I used magic and looked into it.)
The Seventh Generation, who was on duty today, evaluated the man.
*'I see — so he's not what he appears to be. Truly outstanding.'*
Once we sat down on the sofa, Bentler asked what he'd really been wanting to know.
The real purpose.
"I've heard from Zelphy. You two have no intention of becoming nobles — you truly plan to live as adventurers. But this whole affair was carried out with entirely different motivations. If you wanted to build a reputation, you should have operated as a small elite team from the start. Right now, people are calling you 'that idiot son of a fallen noble.'"
I understood why people were saying that, given how I'd acted.
I'd prepared several times the necessary manpower and spent piles of money just to wipe out a single bandit gang. There were far more efficient methods available.
Normally, this would have been a massive financial loss. Whether as an adventurer or as a noble's son, being called an idiot was entirely justified.
Still, I'd accomplished my goal, and rather than losing money, I'd actually earned sixty gold coins.
A net positive, easily.
"That would be for my own personal gain, I suppose."
"You had a personal gain tied to this bandit purge?"
Hearing that, the Seventh Generation murmured under his breath.
*'It's to lift the restrictions on his Skills. I doubt he'd understand even if you told him.'*
That was exactly right.
I agreed with the Seventh Generation.
Then, for reasons of her own, Zelphy brought up Rockwade's name.
"Were you moved by Lady Aria's plea? Or perhaps you had ulterior motives?"
"Huh? No, that's not..."
For just an instant, Zelphy glared at me with real intensity. Maybe she was telling me to go along with it.
The Seventh Generation said "Hmm" and then offered some advice.
*'Lyle, just go with the flow for now. If the First Generation starts making a fuss about Aria, it'll be a headache.'*
Without fully understanding, I agreed anyway.
"R-Right... y'know. ...Makes sense?"
I answered vaguely, sneaking a glance at Novem.
Novem wasn't angry at all — she was calmly drinking tea.
(Good — Novem understands what's happening too! Actually, from everyone else's perspective, I really did act on Rockwade's behalf.)
Thinking that, I went along with Zelphy's lead and repeated vague affirmations to Bentler's words.
If saying it was for my Skills wouldn't be believed, I needed to come up with a plausible reason, or they'd get suspicious.
"Indeed, Lyle is a man after all. Youth is a wonderful thing — so faithful to one's desires."
Bentler was smiling, but I didn't feel the least bit praised.
I hadn't grasped the direction of the conversation, and somehow the whole thing had turned into me carrying out the bandit purge because I'd taken an immediate liking to Rockwade.
(This is going in a bad direction. What does Novem think about this?)
I kept glancing at Novem, but she showed no signs of anger.
Internally, I was trembling, wondering if she'd been utterly exasperated with me, but she didn't seem that way either.
"Hmm. In that case, shall I consider my reward to be Lady Aria?"
"...Reward?"
Bentler nodded.
"This whole affair benefited me as well, thanks to Lyle. If Lyle desires Lady Aria, then I'll arrange for her disposition. After all, the head of House Lockwade was colluding with the bandits."
From the bandits' past activities, Bentler had suspected there was an accomplice in Darion and investigated.
The result: the connection was with House Lockwade.
When Rockwade learned this, the shock had apparently been devastating.
"A jewel holding multiple Skills is certainly not mainstream in today's world. But selling it to a bandit gang — he should have understood what that would lead to. And on top of that, actually collaborating with them... punishment is warranted."
He'd wanted to show what happens to those who aid criminals.
Or rather...
*'Wh-What! Sold them out... Lyle! I'm gonna go beat up the current head of House Lockwade right now! Selling Alice's jewel — that's just wrong on a human level!'*
As usual, the Second Generation restrained the First.
*'You're the one who's a failure as a parent, you know. Anyway, listen to what they're saying — this is about what's going to happen to that precious Lady Aria.'*
*'Oh, right!'*
Once my ancestors fell silent, I looked at Bentler.
"Of course, I had intended for Aria, as family, to share in the consequences. It appears she and her father are all that remain of the household now. Honestly... Zelphy helped me, and because of that kindness, I've been able to live in Darion—"
"Excuse me, but what exactly did House Lockwade do?"
When Novem asked, Zelphy covered her face with his left hand as he explained.
"He used his position as a military officer to collude with the bandits and look the other way on their crimes. That's how House Lockwade's reputation hit rock floor. Mind you, the spending had been reckless ever since the current head took over. My own father was driven out, and the whole family left the Royal Capital for Darion."
Bentler picked up where Zelphy left off.
"A disgraced vassal knight would feel unwelcome in Central with all the eyes watching. Zelphy's family apparently struggled quite a bit. After all, the knight had to become an adventurer just to support his family."
But at that point, Zelphy's expression turned difficult to read.
"Lady Aria watched House Lockwade's decline with her own eyes. And now, to learn they were connected to the bandits..."
"That's just—"
Even Novem was at a loss for words.
Some families rise in a single generation, and some fall in a single generation.
(I'm hardly one to talk, though.)
The Seventh Generation spoke.
*'The reason the clan and those involved weren't executed must be due to past meritorious service? In my era, every last one of them would have been put to death. No, wait — was House Lockwade aligned with the royal faction? His Majesty's grace, then.'*
Apparently, there were circumstances at play there.
I'd been cast out of my own family, and if not for Zell and Novem, I'd probably have died in a ditch by now.
I couldn't treat it as someone else's problem.
It was because Zell picked me up that I'd obtained the Jewel too.
"...What will happen to House Lockwade?"
When I asked, Bentler's expression turned serious.
He'd been lenient with the troublemakers in his territory until now. But selling a multi-Skill jewel to bandits for pocket change — that was another matter entirely.
To top it off, they'd actually helped lure bandits into Darion.
He had no intention of letting it go.
"I'd let them live in Darion as a favor to Zelphy, but even that has its limits. Keeping around a troublesome figure who's lost both his title and his position is nothing but a liability."
Like being driven out of Central, House Lockwade had washed up in Darion.
It was comfortable to live in, and conveniently close to Central.
But a military officer connected to bandits — Darion wouldn't have wanted them either.
They'd only accepted the family because of Zelphy's plea.
Zelphy really was quite the loyal one.
"They did have ties to the bandits and helped bring them into Darion. If you dig into it, who knows how much wrongdoing you'll find..."
The jewel thought stolen had actually been sold to the bandits.
And with the connection to the bandits established... the head of House Lockwade's crimes were severe.
"The head will likely be sent to the mines. Normally, with Lady Aria's looks and youth, she might have ended up as a prostitute somewhere else."
Hard labor in a brutal mine, as a slave.
And for Rockwade, a life of prostitution awaited.
"Still, I didn't want to dispose of a brave young woman in such a manner. But if Lyle desires her, then I'll leave it in your hands."
I tilted my head, looking at Bentler's smiling face.
"...Huh?"
Then Zelphy slapped me repeatedly on the shoulder.
"Well, isn't that great, Lyle! Lady Aria is quite the looker. Truly wonderful! Ahahaha!"
"W-Wait... what?"
Zelphy bulldozed his way into wrapping things up, seemingly deaf to anything I had to say.
I looked to Novem for help.
But Novem just—
"You've done well, Lyle-sama. This brings you one step closer to your dream."
"D-Dream? What? What!? Huh?"
While I floundered in confusion, the conversation moved on.
*'O-Oi... what the hell is going on here?'*
The First Generation was bewildered too.
The Second felt the same.
*'W-Wait... this is supposed to be the part where Lyle stops Aria from being turned into a prostitute, right?!'*
But the Third Generation disagreed with both of them.
*'Is it, though? Seems like everyone has their own agenda...'*
The Fourth Generation was troubled by Novem's reaction.
*'Novem-chan, snap out of it! This is bad, you know!'*
The Fifth Generation took issue with Bentler.
*'This lord — he got tricked himself, so now he's sending Aria Lyle's way as payback. That old fox is probably laughing his ass off inside, watching Lyle squirm.'*
The Sixth Generation was focused on Zelphy.
*'As far as adventurers go, Zelphy is quite determined. But Novem's response was unexpected.'*
The Seventh Generation seemed unconcerned.
*'Novem is a daughter of House Foxes, after all. She likely wouldn't mind if her husband kept a concubine or two besides his wife. More to the point, I'm more worried about Lyle.'*
I realized I had no allies in the room.
After all, the guard standing next to the lord had glanced at me and grinned.
(...D-Did I just get set up? But... why?)
For a split second, I'd briefly thought it would be fine if Zelphy just took Rockwade in instead — and I don't think I was wrong.
Yet somehow, I was the one who ended up having to take her in.
When I finally returned home, I turned to face Novem. I needed to talk to her.
Dinner prep had been a hassle, so I'd eaten out.
I'd taken a bath and brushed my teeth.
(I-I need to steel myself!)
I steadied my breathing and decided to tell her how I felt.
This wasn't because my ancestors told me to.
I wanted to give something back to Novem, who supported me even like this.
More than anything... I loved Novem.
My nerves made me break into a sweat, and the words wouldn't come easily.
"Novem... I love you. I'm a mess, but I want you to marry me."
"Lyle-sama... I'm so happy."
Novem pressed both hands to her mouth, face flushed red, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Y-Yeah! So, you see... I mean... I like Novem, and I have no romantic feelings toward Rockwade. I think I just sort of ended up heading in the direction of helping her."
I felt like I was making excuses like a hopeless man, but right now, my priority was getting my feelings across to Novem.
My ancestors were being noisy, though.
I wished they'd read the room and shut up.
The First and Second Generations spoke.
*'What a pathetic thing to say... At least try to sound cool about it.'*
*'Coming from the guy who couldn't even speak to his first crush, that doesn't carry an ounce of weight.'*
I wanted to tell Novem that I only needed her by my side—
"So, I want you to stay by my side forever. Just the two of us, living together, that's... that's all I want..."
*'Well, as confessions go, it's pretty underwhelming. Lyle, I think you should set the mood more — get her a present, pick a proper place to confess... you really need to plan it out.'*
The Third Generation had to chime in with criticism too.
I knew that. But something told me if I didn't say it now, there'd be no going back.
Wiping her tears with a finger, Novem spoke.
"Thank you, Lyle-sama... but—"
(B-But? Wait, is she rejecting me? But just now she said she was happy!)
"A man must not so easily change the dream he's set for himself. Becoming an adventurer and living surrounded by women in luxury... to make that dream a reality, you need to build real strength as an adventurer. To fulfill Lyle-sama's dream, you truly must become a first-rate adventurer."
I stared at Novem, unable to process what she'd just said.
A first-rate adventurer?
I'd become an adventurer because I wanted a way to make a living. I hadn't thought that far ahead about anything.
"...What do you mean?"
*'Lyle! You had that kind of ambition all along?!'*
I heard the Fourth Generation's roar.
But I had no memory of saying any such thing. For starters, I'd never been that invested in the adventurer life in the first place.
Novem continued.
"I'm also well aware of House Walt's family motto. Lady Aria is a woman worthy of becoming part of House Walt. So please, feel free to add her to your harem."
Novem's words shocked the First Generation.
*'Wh-What did she just say...'*
"Stop. Novem, stop."
Besides, what harem — I never—
Just as I was thinking that, the Third Generation spoke up.
*'Ah! Lyle, you said it! Now that I think about it, you did say that, didn't you!'*
(I never said that! And even if I had, looking at Novem who's given me so much and then running off to another woman — even I'm not that much of an idiot!)
"I didn't say that. I never said any of that."
"Lyle-sama?"
Novem tilted her head as the Third Generation pressed on.
*'Remember? The very beginning! Before you knew about our existence, you said it to Novem on the back of that cart!'*
Hearing that, the Second Generation remembered too.
*'Oh, that time!'*
The Third Generation confirmed while the Second wondered aloud.
*'But that was just to get Novem-chan to go home, right? Wait — wouldn't it be weird for Novem-chan not to have noticed that?'*
At that, I finally remembered.
It was when I'd tried to shatter Novem's image of me and send her home.
*'I have no such intention. I'll become an adventurer, surround myself with women, and live however I please. Being kicked out of my family — I'm perfectly fine with it.'*
"You said it!!!"
In my panic, I screamed, and Novem placed a hand on my shoulder in concern.
"Lyle-sama!? What's wrong, Lyle-sama?!"
The First Generation spoke in a low voice.
*'You... for a coward like you to have such ambitions...'*
The Second Generation said to the First—
*'Think about the context! Lyle was lying back then!'*
The Third Generation was mulling it over.
*'But I find it hard to believe Novem-chan didn't pick up on that.'*
The Fourth Generation laid into me.
*'Lyle! What are you going to do now?! Novem-chan is right here, and you're going to take in that Aria girl? The choice should be obvious!'*
The First Generation roared at the Fourth.
*'Don't you dare badmouth Alice's living image — Aria! You four-eyed coward, step outside!'*
The Fifth Generation seemed to side with the Third.
*'That's right. I doubt she's oblivious. Besides, does Novem perhaps have her own agenda? It's possible she got close to Lyle for that reason.'*
The Fifth's point was swept aside.
The Sixth Generation evaluated Novem thus:
*'Novem is the type — one wrong step and she'll forge a first-rate deadbeat.'*
The Seventh remained unfazed.
*'Lyle is the former heir to an earldom, and moreover, a chosen one who carries royal blood? He's received House Foxes' education as well. He wouldn't make a fuss over one or two concubines.'*
The Sixth muttered under his breath in response.
*'...Says the guy who had only one wife.'*
The Seventh shot back.
*'I could hardly look at my father and grandfather and envy a harem. Besides, Novem would manage the household affairs capably. No problem there.'*
(Forget all that — someone come up with a good idea to get me out of this mess!)
Standing up to clear the misunderstanding with Novem, I grabbed her by both shoulders.
Ignoring the useless lot behind me, I steeled myself.
"Novem!"
"Y-Yes!"
I steadied my breathing.
And then I looked straight into Novem's violet eyes.
"I don't need a harem. You're all I need!"
"Lyle-sama... I'm sorry."
To make sure she didn't misread me, I declared it clearly.
I'd decided that a vague response wouldn't cut it.
And yet...
"Huh?"
When Novem said she was sorry, the bell on the front door rang.
"I've already gone ahead and called for Aria. She'd been kicked out of her home, and Zelphy said he couldn't take her in because he lives with his fiancée—"
"But I didn't even get to—!"
I'd just learned for the first time that Zelphy had a fiancée, but Rockwade's situation was more pressing.
"So, I'm truly sorry. Oh — I'll go greet her now."
As Novem pulled away from me, I could've sworn she was smiling faintly.
Like a mischievous child, yet genuinely happy.
(W-What's going on?)
I sank to the floor, clutching my head with both hands.
A woman who'd done this much for me was here, and I'd just brought a new woman into my home.
From the outside, I was unambiguously a deadbeat. There was no way to spin this.
"Isn't this literally the definition of a deadbeat?!"
The Fourth Generation's words pierced me like a dagger.
*'Huh? You're a deadbeat no matter how you look at it.'*