20 - Chapter 2: Prologue
Having lost a contest to my sister, Celes, who was called a monster, I, Riel Walt, was kicked out of my family home, the House of Walt. Now, I am sitting around a table with two women.
(Ah, I can't taste anything.)
As I ate a slightly late dinner, I wondered how things had come to this.
From the heir of a count's house, I was cast out and lost everything.
Having lost it all, I left my hometown with the intention of becoming an adventurer for the time being.
My former fiancée, Novem Foxuse, came along with me despite my loss of everything. She was originally the second daughter of a baron's house and someone I have known since childhood.
She is an exceptionally capable former fiancée, and someone I can never quite stand tall before.
It is not that she is scary or terrifying.
She sold off the household goods she had bought for my sake and used the money for me.
She even takes care of me, who is clueless about the ways of the world.
Kind, and yet beautiful.
With her bright brown hair tied in a side-tail, she was now eating her meal in silence. Her pale pink lips touched the spoon.
Her purple eyes were looking at the food she had prepared. There was soup, bread, and some cheaply bought grilled meat on the table.
"Riel-sama, is it not to your liking?"
Noticing that I was staring, Novem looked at me with a bit of concern.
"N-no, that's not it!"
Saying so, I resumed eating.
Then, I turned my gaze toward the woman sitting across from Novem.
Her red hair extended down to her back, with the ends slightly wavy. Her purple eyes were moving incessantly, as if she couldn't quite settle down.
Aria Lockwood was a woman who had also been kicked out of her home.
However, the reason she was cast out was different from mine.
It was because her father had connections with a band of bandits. The bandits, who had drifted into the city of Darion, had made a nearby abandoned mine their stronghold and smuggled several subordinates into the city.
The one who had aided them was her father.
The House of Lockwood had been a prestigious family, originally a viscount's house, and had even held positions as robed nobility.
Her—Aria's—father had ruined it in a single generation.
Furthermore, he had even sold off the Lockwood family heirloom.
I, who ended up dealing with the bandits, played the part of the foolish son who had been kicked out of his home, and received financial aid from the Lord of Darion to recover that heirloom.
"Ah, this is delicious."
When Aria said that, Novem looked happy.
She explained the dish with a smile.
"I tenderized that meat and marinated it in alcohol. I'm glad it's to your liking."
I swear, I did not help Aria because I fell for her.
Absolutely not.
There is a reason why she is staying in the house with me and Novem.
Aria's father, who had connections with the bandits and sold off an Orb that possessed multiple skills, was currently imprisoned by the Lord.
And as a result, he was to be evicted from the house he lived in.
Originally, a path toward becoming a prostitute had been prepared for Aria as well. However, the narrative became that the reason I subjugated the bandits was because I had fallen for Aria—
"It's more delicious than what I make..."
To Aria, who looked a little sad, Novem spoke comfortingly.
"I can teach you whatever I can."
"P-please do."
—And so, it was forced upon me by the Lord, Bentlar-san.
(At this rate, I'm just a piece of trash!)
I have Novem providing the funds for me to become a full-fledged adventurer, and she even takes care of me.
And yet, I have another woman living in the house under the pretense that I've found a girl I like.
Of course, I did not help Aria out of any ulterior motives.
There was a proper reason.
Having ended up in this state, I confessed my feelings to Novem and told her how I felt. However, Bentlar-san was not the only one who suggested I accept Aria.
Novem was also positive about accepting her.
After my determined confession—
"I am very happy about your feelings. However, if I were to be united with Riel-sama, I believe Aria-san would feel uncomfortable. I hope that when Riel-sama becomes a full-fledged adventurer, you can accept her as well—"
—is what she told me.
(I finally succeeded, so what do you mean I'm back to square one? Besides, I never imagined Novem would be the one recommending a harem!)
It seems the catalyst was my own words.
When leaving my hometown, I had told Novem that I would send her back.
"I'll become an adventurer, build a harem, and live a leisurely life."
I had said something like that.
Novem apparently understood that as "An adventurer who can maintain a harem is first-rate. And to live a leisurely life, one needs to be a super first-rate adventurer. Riel's goal is to become a super first-rate adventurer."
That is a mistake.
She is usually such a perceptive girl, I cannot understand why she misunderstood there.
(I thought that if I let her see I was a useless man, Novem would get fed up and go home. And yet she followed me... and on top of that, she devoted herself to me, only to take my words seriously.)
Even though I had forgotten, she had apparently remembered dutifully.
But let me say this—
I truly had no ulterior motives.
(Yes, for me, these things—this Jewel Orb...)
A Jewel Orb can be called the completed form of an Orb.
An Orb is a tool that can record skills that do not manifest, and a person can only possess one.
They are not mainstream anymore, but it seems an Orb that had recorded such skills had recorded eight skills and reached completion.
It changed from an Orb to a Jewel Orb.
My skill, whose effect I still haven't discovered, and the seven skills recorded in the blue Jewel Orb passed down through the House of Walt.
However, the problem is—
'Aria-chan is so cute... To be troubled by a shitty father and kicked out of her home, she's such a pitiful child.'
A thick voice echoed from the Jewel Orb.
It was the voice of the first generation of the House of Walt, Basil Walt.
'Look in a mirror and say that! Since your own shitty father's face is probably reflected there!'
A voice that sounded like it was picking a fight with the first generation could be heard.
That was the second generation, Crassel Walt.
The second generation, who looked like a hunter, is spoken of as a plain existence within the House of Walt.
The first generation led a pioneer group to establish a village, became the lord, and the House of Walt began as local nobility.
Then, the third generation gained fame as a righteous general by successfully executing the King's retreat in a war with another country.
Moreover, because he died in battle after making the retreat successful, the name of the third generation, Slay Walt, still comes up whenever that topic is mentioned.
Sandwiched between the two, the second generation is a plain existence even in the House of Walt.
—But the truth is different.
The first generation, who expanded the territory without a plan and persuaded barbarians with his fists to bring them under his umbrella.
The son, who was unreliable and aloof, reacting lightly to everything.
The second generation, sandwiched between the two, was the person who suffered considerably to solidify the foundation of the House of Walt.
And yet, he is a pitiful person who is not appreciated.
(...The second generation is harsh on the first generation again today.)
When it became a Jewel Orb, personalities dwelled within the recorded skills.
Those are also the memories of the ancestors who used them.
When my skill manifested and the Orb became a Jewel Orb, the ancestors also woke up as skills.
However, this Jewel Orb—
'The first and second generations are energetic today as well.'
The one listening to the argument of the two while laughing is the third generation.
However, the fact that I can hear them means the Jewel Orb is being used.
—In other words, it means it is consuming my magic power.
Even though I'm not using any skills!
(Can't you guys be a little more quiet...?)
Perhaps because the skills have wills, their usage restrictions are also imposed by the skills themselves.
Therefore, in order to use the skills, I listened to Aria's request.
Why was it necessary to listen to Aria's request?
That was because Aria resembled the first generation's first love.
Moreover, Aria is apparently the spitting image of that first love.
Because of that, it led to the subjugation of the bandits.
I became able to use the first generation's skill, and temporarily, I became able to use other skills as well.
However, I still cannot use the skills of the third and seventh generations.
Restrictions are placed on them for the reason that my body cannot withstand them.
(These things are definitely not a Jewel Orb. They're a cursed tool or something.)
Since things that make me think so keep happening, my evaluation of the Jewel Orb is gradually dropping within me.
I welcomed Aria, but naturally, what I need is combat power.
Therefore, it was decided that Aria would become an adventurer.
She herself agreed to it, saying it would be wrong to simply be supported.
She agreed, but—
"Then, I will complete the party registration. Aria-san has joined, but please be careful that the contract with Zelfie-san cannot be extended."
Told by the muscular, brown-skinned guild employee with a buzzed red head—Hawkins-san—Aria also looked nervous.
He looked intimidating, but his work was kind and polite, and he was an excellent employee at the Darion Adventurers' Guild.
"Y-yes!"
Zelfie-san, the instructor, called out to Aria, who had received her guild card.
"Don't be too nervous. From now on, since there's a matter of position, I'll call you without honorifics during work. That's fine with you too, Aria-ojousama?"
Zelfie-san, who originally served the House of Lockwood, was the person we requested from the guild as an instructor.
She is the person who teaches the basics of being an adventurer to us, who know nothing after leaving our family homes.
She is soon to be married, so she disbanded her party and is now working hard on training adventurers by request of the guild.
—That is her public face.
It seems it's true that she's getting married, but in secret, she is an adventurer with connections to the Lord, Bentlar-san.
In Darion, where they are kind to newcomers who have just become adventurers, she is also a highly skilled adventurer.
"Now, we have all three of us together, but I need to teach you the basics. I'll be instructing Aria-ojou... Aria in the guild's meeting room, so Riel and the others will take on chore-type requests."
Hearing that, I made a blatantly displeased face.
"A-again?"
Novem looked a bit troubled seeing my face.
She spoke to encourage me.
"Riel-sama, let's do our best."
Zelfie-san was looking at me with a smirk.
After all, I had tricked Zelfie-san's employer into giving money. I also worked Zelfie-san to the bone in the process, so she probably wants to get back at me.
"Of course. Well, it's a request that should be finished by noon. Once it's over, Riel, you should get your equipment in order. Your spare saber has become useless too, right?"
"...Yes."
When I fought the boss of the bandits, I ruined my own weapon, the saber.
Because the opponent had a red Orb—an Orb that records skills specialized for close combat—the spare saber was also ruined.
I thought it could be used if I fixed it, but the blacksmith I asked for repairs told me to buy a new one.
"You've got money now. You should be able to buy a slightly better one. Now then, Aria, you're coming with me to the second floor. Boss, please explain the request to these two."
Zelfie-san took Aria away.
Hawkins-san took out the request form we were scheduled to take.
"...Chores again."
As I slumped my shoulders, Hawkins-san comforted me.
"Riel-kun, don't be so depressed. Accumulating these kinds of requests is also important. If you change your home, they'll judge your character by looking at your past achievements like these."
I am only staying in Darion temporarily.
Once I gain strength, I intend to change my home—the city I use as a base of activity.
"That's right, Riel-sama. Steady effort is also important. Let's do our best together."
Novem directed a smile toward me.
Then, Hawkins-san spoke.
"Ah, Novem-san has transcription work at the guild until lunch. Riel-kun will be doing physical labor outside, so you'll be separate."
"N-no! Please let me do physical labor outside as well!"
When Novem said that, voices came from the Jewel Orb.
The first through fourth generations, who were greatly indebted to Novem's family, the House of Foxuse, favored Novem.
'Physical labor for Novem-chan? You mustn't say such stupid things!'
When the first generation said that, the second generation followed.
'Riel, this is where you show your manhood.'
The third generation too—
'Novem-chan is such a good girl. Come on, Riel, say something to her.'
The fourth generation...
'There's no way you'd let Novem-chan do physical labor, right, Riel?'
He threatened me in a low voice.
(...I'm done with these guys.)
And from the fifth generation onward, they had no special feelings for Novem.
After all, from the fifth generation onward, the House of Foxuse was merely a vassal family.
'Physical labor for a woman is inefficient.'
When the fifth generation said that, the sixth generation also spoke.
'Indeed. Well, she'd just be in the way anyway.'
As for the seventh generation—my grandfather.
'Riel doing physical labor... and to think he is one who carries the blood of the royal family.'
He was grieving for me. He seems to be a grandfather who is soft on his grandson.
I looked at Novem and spoke.
"I-it's okay. Let's go shopping together in the afternoon."
Hearing that, Novem spoke while looking a bit worried.
"Please don't push yourself too hard, Riel-sama. Now, shall we proceed with the paperwork?"
Because the Jewel Orb consumes magic power relentlessly, I am currently perceived by those around me as frail.
The reason Novem worries is because I have collapsed many times.
(...Somehow, I can't accept this.)
I want to shout at the top of my lungs that it's not my fault.