Chapter 9 - Damn Reincarnation

Gilead

Eugene had not the slightest desire to get particularly friendly with the other collateral-branch children. It wasn’t as though he felt no kinship with them, but seeing them in person, he found none worth his attention.

Decon, eleven.

Hansen, fourteen.

Jules, ten.

Three collateral-branch children had arrived one after another. Eugene exchanged cursory greetings with them while lumping all three together in his head.

'A bunch of nobodies.'

They were thoroughly cowed from the outset, constantly looking around to gauge everyone’s reactions. Eugene especially disliked Hansen, the boy a year older than him. With his plump cheeks and pudgy body, he openly tried to act like everyone’s big brother simply because he was the oldest.

But he only behaved that way around Eugene and the other collateral-branch children. Hansen, who had been swaggering about as their self-appointed big brother, immediately changed his tune upon seeing the lion emblem over Ciel’s left breast.

It wasn’t really something Eugene could fault him for. Children from weaker collateral branches had no choice but to fear the main family’s children.

“... What’s with him?”

That was why the three nobodies kept glancing at Eugene in bewilderment.

After those brief greetings, Eugene resumed his training, continuing the physical conditioning he had begun that morning.

As far as Eugene was concerned, techniques inevitably advanced over time. Martial arts were no exception. Even if he had been the Hero’s companion three hundred years ago, it would be sheer arrogance to assume that “Hamel the Fool’s” martial arts were necessarily superior to those of the present day.

However, no matter how far martial arts advanced, they could not be used properly without a well-conditioned body. Eugene believed that without a shred of doubt.

Even if he hadn’t trained his mana, he could not neglect physical conditioning.

'If anything, I need to work harder precisely because I haven’t trained my mana.'

Granted, he couldn’t really argue if someone called that a boneheaded way of thinking. But what else could he do? The Bloodline Succession Ceremony—that damned tradition—was preventing him from training his mana.

The ceremony was bound to revolve around the direct line. His determination to screw over the main family there was also a form of rebellion against Vermouth, who must have tolerated that tradition.

“Aren’t you tired?”

“I am.”

Partway through, Ciel had sat down beside Eugene to watch him train. There were all sorts of things about him that intrigued her. Raised in the main family, she and her brother had undergone various kinds of training since childhood. But neither twin had ever trained in such a brutally strenuous, boneheaded fashion as Eugene.

“Looks like someone’s arrived.”

Eugene shook out his sweat-soaked hair and stood. The distant front gates were opening. It was almost sundown, so it seemed the two collateral-branch children scheduled to arrive that evening had come.

'Isn’t this a bit too much commotion?'

Servants were rushing out of the main house, practically racing one another. The knights stationed behind it were also running out in formation.

Gargis and Dezra. He had heard that the two youngsters came from families counted among the greatest collateral branches, but it was odd to see everyone scrambling now when they hadn’t made any preparations to welcome them until this moment.

“... Oh!”

Ciel had wondered the same thing. She blinked as she watched the front gates, then broke into a radiant smile when the flags lining the way from the entrance were raised high.

“Father must be back!”

She cried out excitedly, sprang to her feet, and ran toward the front gates without even saying goodbye to Eugene.

“M-Master Eugene.”

Startled, Nina hurried over to him as well.

“It seems the family head has returned. You should go welcome him... Ah, no. First, you should change your clothes.”

“Showing up covered in sweat will make a better impression than being the only one late.”

Eugene answered as he brushed the dust off himself. Nina hesitated briefly, then took a handkerchief from inside her clothes and wiped his arms and legs. The lingering smell of sweat remained, however, so she even brought out perfume and sprayed him with it.

“That’s good enough.”

He roughly smoothed down his hair, matted with dirt and sweat. It hadn’t taken very long, yet all the annex servants and collateral-branch nobodies had already gone to the front gates. In the end, Eugene and Nina were the last to leave the annex and head over.

'Oh...'

Every flag bearing the Lionheart emblem had been raised high into the sky. Well over a hundred knights stood in lines aligned with the flags. The servants from the main house and annex had gathered together, forming ranks at the mansion’s entrance.

The main family’s relatives stood in front of the servants. Ciel straightened her clothes as she took her place to Anisilla’s left, while a pale-faced Cyan stood to her right.

A few steps ahead of Anisilla stood Theonis. Though she had been stripped of actual authority over the family, as the principal wife, she stood ahead of Anisilla on occasions like this. Her expression was rather dispassionate for someone greeting a husband returning after years away.

Eugene turned his attention to the boy beside Theonis. He was reasonably handsome, but his eyes were unusually dull for his age, and his shoulders drooped. Eward Lionheart: the main family’s eldest son and first in the line of succession.

Theonis moved her lips to say something. Eward’s expression stiffened, and he straightened his back and squared his shoulders.

'Looks like they haven’t all grown up being doted on.'

No wonder their personalities turned out so shitty. Eugene clicked his tongue and turned away.

“This way, please.”

One of the main house’s butlers approached and bowed. The collateral-branch children were to stand off to one side of the main family’s relatives. The distance between them made the distinction clear.

SHING!

The assembled knights drew their swords in unison. Though more than a hundred blades were drawn, the metallic sound rang out as one. Holding their swords upright against their left breasts, the knights turned toward the front gates.

A man riding an enormous black horse was entering, leading two carriages. There were no thunderous cheers. In unified silence, the knights welcomed their family head home after years away.

'Gilead Lionheart.'

Eugene watched the man with sparkling eyes. His face did not resemble Vermouth’s, but the brilliant intensity of his gaze was quite impressive.

'And the fellow following him must be his younger brother, Gion.'

Gilead, the head of the Lionheart family, had two younger brothers. Gilford, the second-born, had married but still hadn’t established a separate household, living under the main family’s roof instead. Gion, the third-born, had left the main family with Gilead without ever marrying.

“... It would have been nice if you had let us know before coming.”

“I am the family head, returning to my own home. Why should I need to announce it?”

Gilead answered as he dismounted.

“Eward. You’ve grown quite a bit taller. Have your skills improved just as much?”

“... I worked hard to live up to your expectations, Father.”

Eward averted his eyes, his voice trailing off. Gilead studied his eldest son for a moment before turning away.

“Cyan and Ciel? I almost didn’t recognize you. Children really do grow quickly. Astonishingly so.”

“I missed you, Father.”

Ciel answered with a bright smile. Only then did Gilead smile and nod. He caught the scent of dust and sweat from the twins—a scent absent from Eward.

“Gilford. I heard you had a son. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to share that blessed moment.”

“Please don’t say that, Brother.”

Gilford answered with a deep bow. Beside him, his wife Neria held a soundly sleeping newborn. Gilead gazed at the baby for a moment, then looked away.

His sharp gaze swept over the collateral-branch children. A few swallowed their surprise and straightened their backs. Eugene didn’t bother. He was only looking at them—why make a fuss?

“... There’s no need to prepare anything elaborate. Let’s simply have a meal together,” Gilead said.

“And discuss the Bloodline Succession Ceremony while we’re at it.”

* * *

Everyone gathered around a broad rectangular dining table. The collateral-branch children filled the seats from the far end.

Dezra and Gargis had been riding in the two carriages that arrived with Gilead. As though it were only natural, they took the seats closest to the center among the collateral-branch children.

Eugene sat beside Gargis.

“...?”

Gargis looked over Eugene’s face with a puzzled expression.

At gatherings like this, sitting according to each family’s standing was an unwritten rule. By rights, the fat boy Hansen should have been sitting beside Gargis.

But Hansen sat beside Eugene without daring to show any dissatisfaction.

Having arrived around noon, Hansen had seen how brutally Eugene trained. He had also seen Ciel, one of the main family’s notorious twins, treating Eugene like a friend. He had no desire to pick an unnecessary fight with this mysterious relative.

“I’ve met Gargis and Dezra before, and we came here together, so I know their faces...”

Gilead, the family head, sat in the center across from the collateral-branch children. As he wiped his hands with a damp towel, he examined each of them in turn.

“But I don’t know who the other four are.”

“My name is Eugene, from Gidol. My father is Gerhard Lionheart.”

Eugene introduced himself with a slight bow. Following his lead, the other collateral-branch children introduced themselves as well. But only Eugene spoke smoothly. The others’ voices trembled, and they stammered. Having the head of the main family seated directly across from them made them nervous.

“... Hmm.”

After hearing all the introductions, Gilead gave a small nod. Then, without saying anything else, he rested his chin on his hand.

Silence.

The collateral-branch children watched him warily, scarcely daring to breathe. Gargis and Dezra were no different. Dezra in particular, seated directly in front of Gilead, couldn’t keep her gaze still and only pinched at her innocent thighs.

'I’m hungry.'

They could at least have waited until the food was ready before calling everyone in. Eugene glared at the paltry spread. There were a few pieces of bread and some tea, but who was that supposed to feed?

'And who’s that bastard?'

A blond young man sat beside Eward. He had arrived in a different carriage from Dezra and Gargis. At a glance, he didn’t seem to belong to the Lionheart family. Even Eward, sitting right beside him, appeared not to know who he was.

“Father.”

Ciel was the one to break the silence. With a sweet smile, she looked straight at Gilead.

“You’ve come home after three whole years. Didn’t you bring me a present?”

“I’m afraid I didn’t think of it.”

Gilead answered with a smile. Like most fathers, he adored his daughter. All the more so because, unlike his eldest son, Ciel was so affectionate.

“Aww... I missed you every single day. Didn’t you miss me, Father?”

“Of course I did.”

“You’re lying. You didn’t even bring me a present.”

“Haha. Can’t I give you a present after the Bloodline Succession Ceremony? Don’t be too upset with your father.”

As they spoke, Eward chewed on his lower lip. Cyan also lowered his eyes without saying a word. Ordinarily, he would have joined Ciel in trying to win their father’s affection.

But yesterday’s bruise still lingered over his solar plexus. The duel. His defeat. Cyan was afraid his father would scold him.

“By the way, Father. Who is that guest?”

After briefly meeting Eugene’s eyes, Ciel turned toward the man beside Eward. She had noticed Eugene repeatedly glancing at him. That wasn’t her only reason for asking, though. She, too, was curious about the unknown man’s identity.

Neither Anisilla nor Theonis had been allowed to join them at this table, nor had Gilead’s two younger brothers.

The head of the Lionheart family, who presided over the Bloodline Succession Ceremony, and the children participating in it.

They should have been the only people present, yet an unidentified outsider was sitting among them.

“... Hmm. I was going to introduce him a little later...”

“I don’t mind,” the man answered with a smile.

“Well, the food hasn’t arrived yet, has it? The children seem to be struggling with the silence. I think a little conversation would help lighten the mood.”

“Indeed. I was just regretting calling everyone together so early in my eagerness.”

“Haha, it’s not your fault, Lord Gilead. Anyone would feel awkward meeting distant relatives for the first time.”

The man smiled as he looked around at the children. Listening to their exchange, Eugene picked up his teacup. He was hungry enough to want to put something—anything—down his throat.

“Hello, children. My name is Lovellian, from the Red Tower of Aroth.”

“... Huh?”

Dezra let out a startled sound. Lovellian? A few of the children tilted their heads, searching their memories for the name.

“Th-the Red Tower Master.”

Eward turned toward Lovellian with a look of astonishment.

“Pffft!”

Tea sprayed from Eugene’s mouth.