Chapter 107: Moving In
The morning after Ryu returned to the second estate and was reunited with Rena.
It was a weekday, so Rena would be heading to the academy as usual, while Ryu planned to assist with Esther’s move.
Having gone to bed early the previous night to recover from the fatigue of travel, Ryu awoke before any servant could come to rouse him.
In the hazy depths of half-consciousness, he frowned slightly.
“…………”
(My body feels strangely heavy… Have I not fully shaken off the exhaustion from the journey…?)
Yet dragonkind possessed extraordinary regenerative abilities. Fatigue lingering this long was unlikely.
Which meant the cause must be something else.
Slowly, he pushed back the covers—
“Munya… ehehehe… I can’t eat another bite…”
Rena lay sprawled atop him, fast asleep, her face buried snugly against his chest as though it were the most natural pillow in the world.
“…………”
(So it’s you. You must have snuck in during the night, didn’t you?)
Even Ryu could not suppress the soft smile that curved his lips.
(Well… I suppose I’ll go back to sleep. Who knows when I’ll get another chance like this.)
There was no world in which he would squander such a bonus moment.
He pulled the blanket back over them and closed his eyes again, feeling the gentle warmth of his little sister’s body rise and fall with each peaceful breath.
Two hours later.
“Do your best today. And if it ever becomes too much, you can always come home, alright?”
“Yeees! I’m off!”
Rena darted out the front door and scampered toward the carriage with light, rhythmic steps. Her raspberry-colored skirt fluttered playfully from side to side with every bounce.
“Rena in her uniform… No matter how many times I see it, it’s a feast for the eyes.”
“R-Ryu-sama…”
Standing beside him with his arms crossed and nodding in deep approval, Ryu looked utterly satisfied. Meanwhile, a certain cat-eared beastwoman at his side stole glances at him, a bead of awkward sweat forming on her temple.
“R-Ryu-sama… are you perhaps what they call… a siscon?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. This is perfectly normal sibling affection, Mimi.”
“Rena-sama also seems… somewhat unusual…”
“Overthinking will only give you a headache. More importantly, I’m counting on you today.”
“Y-Yes! I’ll do my very best!”
Today was Esther’s moving day.
That said, essential furnishings and daily necessities for her new room had already been arranged by House Arden. All Ryu and Mimi needed to do was help transport her larger alchemical equipment—items too bulky to fit inside an item bag.
“Has Esther-sama’s room already been decided?” Mimi asked.
“For now, she’ll be staying in the room next to Rena’s. The two of them get along well.”
“Then that would be the room diagonally to the right of yours, Ryu-sama!”
“Yeah. Esther’s practically family at this point. She deserves one of the best rooms we have.”
“She is the great benefactor who saved Iris-sama, after all!”
With that, the two set off toward Esther’s decrepit mansion.
The Arden carriage rolled smoothly along the capital’s main avenue. Pedestrians stepped aside readily, allowing it to pass with relative ease.
It wasn’t the family crest or the noble carriage that compelled them to yield.
It was Axel.
After all, his massive frame—more than twice the size of an ordinary warhorse—radiated unmistakable intimidation.
“Look, Mama! That horse is huge!”
“H-Hey! Don’t point at a noble’s horse!”
“That’s the Arden viscount’s crest, isn’t it?”
“Figures. The nobles on the rise really are something else.”
“Never seen such a magnificent warhorse in my life.”
“Even the coachman up there looks well-bred.”
(I’m not a coachman—I’m the head of the viscount’s house.)
Still, a lord personally driving his own carriage was practically unheard of. The misunderstanding was understandable.
From the wagon behind him, Mimi popped her head out.
“I heard Axel evolved, is that true?”
“Oh? You’re well-informed. Who told you?”
“Head Butler Sebas mentioned it. What rank is he now?”
“That’s the thing—we’re not sure yet. He used to be C-rank, so he’s probably at least B, maybe even A.”
“Wha—?! That’s incredible, Axel!”
“Did you hear that?” Ryu said lightly.
“Brrr…”
Mimi let out an excited little snort.
Ryu glanced back at her.
“Do you have an interest in monsters, by any chance?”
“Eh? N-No, um…”
“You can be honest.”
“Well… recently, I’ve been more interested in adventurers than monsters…”
“Right. You stayed in the knight order’s women’s dorm with Stingray for a while, didn’t you? Did he tell you stories about his adventurer days?”
“You really do see through everything, Ryu-sama… Yes, that’s exactly it…”
“Then tomorrow, let’s go register you at the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“I-Is that really okay?!”
“I have to register Axel and Homura anyway. We’ll do it together. Officially, you’ll be undertaking adventurer work as part of your assassin training. If you find that it suits you better, then forget about being an assassin. Spread your wings as an adventurer instead.”
“B-But… you once said you wanted me to defeat the Hero…”
“As far as the Hero is concerned, I only said that because I wanted your skills to reach that level. Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to be bound to Arden. Live how you want. Just come back now and then so I can see your face.”
“Ryu-sama…”
Mimi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
How many nobles in this world would ever say such a thing?
None.
“Besides,” Ryu added casually, “if that Hero of the North ever tries anything foolish…”
“…If he does?”
“In the worst case— I’ll deal with it.”
“…………!”
At that moment, Ryu’s back seemed larger than any sacred peak.
They arrived at a certain dilapidated mansion in the commoner district.
“Um… this isn’t it, right?” Mimi asked hesitantly.
“Unfortunately, it is. The haunted house.”
“…Sh-Shall we knock?”
“No need.”
As if on cue—
“What do you mean, haunted house, you brat?! Insolent whelp!”
A dust-covered loli elf burst dramatically through the door.
“There she is. That’s the Esther I told you about.”
“Don’t refer to me as ‘that’!!!”
Esther stormed toward them in a huff.
Ryu slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a certain item.
“Here. A candy for you.”
“Wooooooah!!!!! Sweetness after a whole day’s absence!!!!!”
She screeched to a halt and began eagerly stuffing the candy into her mouth. Her ears twitched excitedly as she rolled it around with her tongue—unchanged as ever.
“…………”
Ryu couldn’t help but smile.
Mimi blinked.
(I’ve never seen Ryu-sama smile like that before…)
Esther eventually regained composure.
“By the way, who’s this girl?” she mumbled around the candy.
“This is Mimi. Our maid, assassin, and soon-to-be adventurer.”
“I see… I don’t see at all,” Esther replied, still munching.
“In short, she’s one of Arden’s finest. She’s helping with your move—and joining us at the Guild tomorrow.”
“Very well. I’ll be in your care, Mimi.”
“Y-Yes! Please take care of me as well, Esther-sama!”
At that moment, a baby dragon fluttered weakly out of the mansion.
“Gyau…”
(The dust is unbearable… the bugs are unbearable… I may not survive…)
“Ah! A baby dragon! How adorable!”
“Gyau!”
(Ryu-sama! It has been far too long!!!)
“It’s been a day.”
Homura, however, seemed far more interested in Ryu than in Mimi.
They began the moving process, and by snack time that afternoon, everything had been loaded.
“And now—we depart for my villa!!!”
“Yes! All aboard!”
“Gyau!”
Perhaps because she could return here anytime, Esther showed no sign of sentimentality.
Exhausted from yesterday’s packing, she and Homura lay sprawled atop the luggage, munching on daifuku purchased in Hinomaru.
“Woooah… chewy, sweet, heavenly…”
“Gyau…”
“This ‘daifuku’ sweet is far too delicious…!” Mimi chimed in, cheeks puffed.
“Ryu,” Esther said between bites, “have you given Rena her souvenirs yet?”
“Thanks to you, I managed to last night.”
Hair ornaments, decorative trinkets, kimono, and wagashi he knew she would adore.
“Oho… and? How did she react?”
“She was… incredible. Happier than I imagined.”
“Good, good.”
In truth, after thanking him profusely and retreating to her room, Rena had been so overwhelmed with joy that she couldn’t sleep—ultimately sneaking into Ryu’s room at midnight and clutching him like a body pillow.
Such a devoted little sister.
Naturally, he had purchased gifts for Sebas and the other servants as well. Sebas, in particular, had wept with gratitude.
They passed through the noble district gates and arrived at the Arden second estate.
“Oho~ No matter how many times I see it, my villa is truly magnificent.”
“You’re free to build a laboratory in the garden. It’s absurdly spacious. Even ten buildings wouldn’t fill it.”
“That’s a matter for the future. First comes money.”
“We can fund it.”
“I shall earn my own research funds! I am, after all, a highly sought-after apothecary.”
“You’re fairly idle most of the time.”
“Well… most requests are for elixir synthesis…”
After a pause, Esther mused,
“Perhaps I should seek new employment.”
“Such as?”
“For example… the Imperial Academy. I happen to know the headmaster there. If I became a pharmacology lecturer, I’d have free use of a laboratory and research funds. Quite appealing, I’d say.”
“Oh? That’s very interesting.”
“Why are you making that villainous face…?”
As a great benefactor of House Arden, Esther was personally welcomed by the assembled servants and knights before being escorted inside with ceremony.
“So this is my room… It’s like something meant for a princess of a small kingdom…”
This estate had been prepared with utmost sincerity by the Empress herself. Surprise was only natural.
“Feel free to use any facilities. There’s a chef stationed in the dining hall—eat whenever you like. If you need anything, send a servant. That’s about it.”
“Ooooooh…”
Esther suddenly sprinted toward the king-sized bed.
“Hup!”
She leapt to dive—
“Absolutely not. At least change and shower first.”
Ryu intercepted her midair, catching her by the waist. Allowing her to plunge into pristine sheets while coated in dust-blackened robes was unthinkable.
Dangling helplessly, she flailed.
“Waaaaah!!!!! Let me gooooo!!!!!”
“Private shower or the large bath downstairs?”
“I just want to sleeeeeeep!”
“Large bath it is. Homura, you’re coming as guardian.”
“Gyau!”
(Understood!!!)
Moments later, Esther was handed over to the maids and scrubbed thoroughly under Homura’s watchful supervision.
Now, she soaked in the grand bath, steam curling around her.
Beside her, Homura floated contentedly, wings spread across the water’s surface.
Esther sank half her face beneath the surface.
“Muu…” bubbles rose.
“Gyau.”
(Is something wrong?)
“Ryu should have joined us…”
“Gyau.”
(But now that Ryu-sama has successfully evolved, there’s no longer any need to examine his body, is there?)
Through the rising steam, Esther murmured softly,
“That’s not what I meant, you foolish hatchling…” more bubbles.
“Gyau.”
(Ah… I see…)
A faint flush colored her cheeks.
Whether it was from the heat of the bath—
Or something else entirely—
No one could say.