269 266. Living Dead.txt (1/2)

The country of Fuzzyards is divided into small sections, and the citizens are divided into the classes according to their numbers.

The large numbered areas are inhabited by low rank commoners and the small numbered areas are inhabited by the high nobility. The divisions are subdivided into nearly a hundred, and in the single-digit blocks only the largest nobles are allowed to reside.

The Helvirshain family is so high in rank that they are called the four largest nobles in the Confederation. Hence, even if it is a villa, they have a house on a special single-digit lot.

When I come back to that luxurious and spacious villa, I go to greet the owner of the house first and foremost.

I don't like it, but it's polite and obligatory. I catch one of the house's maidservants, ask her to give me a message to let me know she's back, and wait with baited breath at the door. If possible, I'd like to do my duty without being found by an extra person.

After a short wait, one of his brothers appears.

Then he gives me a look as if a dovetail rat has entered the house.

'...... liner?'

He is the second son of the Helvilleshain family, with the same light golden hair as Brother Hein - Luca Helvilleshain.

He is an older brother who has become a little twisted by being compared to Brother Hein, who is perfect at every turn, and is now the acting master of the villa.

Brother Luka gave a small, evasive cluck of his tongue and was happy to see me return in his own way.

''You came to the United Kingdom?　I don't know how you were able to show your face.

'Yes, sir. I am in the Confederacy on knightly business.

'I wasn't told what it was about, but you're doing the dirty work anyway, aren't you?　At best, you can do it in such a way that it doesn't bother the main family.

If you're going to die, you're going to die quietly and without bothering the house.

Implicitly, he is telling me not to do the same thing as my brother Hein. The second son, who loves the Helvilleshain family so much, is worried that I will try to imitate him.

And since my suspicions are correct, I can only bow to him.

''Of course. I have sworn in my heart that I will definitely repay the debt of gratitude that the Helvirshine family has picked up for me.

I don't know: ......

Seeing me humble myself in an auspicious manner, brother Luka makes a dumbfounded face. You know that there's no point in saying anything, so you quickly sigh and then spit out the obligatory welcome.

'...... I won't say another word. You can take your time.

Thank you.

Thus, I finish my obligatory greeting.

With a sigh of relief, I see brother Luka's back as he leaves.

I'm glad that it ended without incident. It's a relief that the one who greeted me was brother Luka, who is a fine knight. If this was a group of jealous brothers under the third son, it would have been much longer.

-- or just walk away without a word, like my father-in-law, who is now passing through the hallway across from the front door.

Immediately I head down the hallway. My father-in-law only gave that youngest child, who hadn't been home in a year, a quick glance at him.

I'm sure he would only give me a passing glance if I were to be harassed by my brothers and sisters and die as a result. I am certain that my in-laws will be indifferent to my death.

'Wind....... I feel like I'm coming home .......

I'm relieved to see that it's still the same Helvirshine family. Then he speaks to the maidservant who was shrinking in the corner of the doorway.

'Thank you. That's the end of the greetings. I'm going to spend some time in the garden of the villa now, so you can get back to work.

He thanks the maidservant for calling his brother and tries to stay outside in the garden instead of inside the villa. It's a consideration to cause as little trouble as possible.

''No, Master Ryner. It's .......

What's wrong with ......?

It was a toothless reply.

Is there something that is not good for her?

Come to think of it, I can sense a strange look from earlier. I'm not going to be the only one who has a problem with that.

It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what a samurai girl looks like.

--is this ...... a watchful eye by someone at a higher level?

I'm guessing a lot of things based on the maidservant's reaction when a voice from behind me calls out.

''Ryner!

It was a bright, energetic, core female voice.

Upon seeing the owner of that voice, a voice leaked out of her throat.

''Gee--''

The seventh daughter of the Helvirshain family, Franlle Helvirshain, was running from the opposite side of the street from the direction that brother Luke had left.

When I turned to the maidservant, she looked down apologetically. It's probably because she couldn't obey my order to keep my ”Don't tell my sister Fran alone”.

I can see the scene of a maidservant running down the corridor in search of brother Luka, being spotted by her sister and forcing her to ask her about her errand.

' ...... It's been a long time, sister.

I greet her with a bit of trouble.

My sister responds to that with a smile.

'Yes, it's been a really long time. Have you grown taller?　You've changed your face a bit.

You won't be much different.

It's been a year, but it was the same as always.

It's the opposite of the hospitality I got from brother Luke earlier.

'I feel like I've changed since you haven't shown your face to me. Even though you've become a knight of the mainland, you don't mind showing up at home a bit more, do you?　You are part of the Hellville Shine: ......

This guy really can't read the air in the house: .......

No, he can read it, but he just doesn't have any teeth .......

This is the most talented daughter in the Helvilleshain family, so our head of the family must be a headache.

I thank him with a bitter smile at his freedom.

''Thank you. But those words are enough for me.'

Oh, you're so boring.

Feeling a bit of a stranger, Franlleure's expression became dissatisfied - but without making a dent, he took a step forward and approached my side.

'So, where have you been lately?'

And I've heard the core of the story without being built up. It's still the same direct question.

'...... That's a top secret mission, so I can't say anything. I will probably continue to work in a completely different place than my sister. I'm sorry, but it seems I can't be a shield to protect my sister forever.

He shakes his head for the right reasons and tells her that he can't watch over her like he did when he was an academy student.

In the past, I used to want to die in the place of Brother Hein and Sister Fran. But I can no longer die in someone else's place. That's just self-satisfaction. From the bottom of my heart, I know that.

I guess I've changed over the past year.

No, has the way I look at my sister changed after my interaction with that Titi guy?

Anyway, my battle with the Guardian (Guardian) and Christ the Lord has definitely helped me grow up.

However, Sister Fran shakes her head in response to the answer.

'No ....... All along, Ryner has been my shield to protect me.

But I could tell from the look on his face that he wasn't going to mindlessly disagree with me.

'And I am meant to be the sword to strike out your enemies. If you have any trouble, tell me. Even if this body is broken, I will definitely want to help you, my brother.

I slapped my chest and smiled, a smile I hadn't had a year ago.

Sister Fran was just as different as I was.

A teenage year is a big thing. One minute you take your eyes off her, the next she changes like a different person. Just watching that sister grow up, I--.

'Hey, sister ....... You can go to .......

Are you nuts?

I'm going to say that.

Honestly, I feel even dumber than before.

In every world, there is a knight who uses his body as a shield to protect his shield.

''Did I say something strange?''

It's strange. It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about this, because if you do, you're going to be able to get your hands on some of these things.　That's not cool, so let's help each other out in moderation. We're not kids who don't know how to add or subtract anymore. ......

'Mmm. Mmmm... It's true. ...... I was also taught by the President that it's best to trust each other and help each other in moderation ....... A sword and shield will only break uselessly if used excessively - come to think of it, the president is always getting angry with me for treating swords and shields with more care.

If you're your sister's chancellor, is that Persiona Quager from ...... The Seven Knights of Heaven (Celestial Knights)?

Thank you, Patriarch, from the bottom of my heart.

Thanks to your guidance for a year, your sister's sketchy and boorish personality has been alleviated, and she has become such a woman of sensitive thoughts and things.

In this Helvilleshain family, there were only fools who could only adore Sister Fran, so a scolding presence like you is really valuable. To be honest, I had given up on treating my sister's foolishness.

...... I feel like you're being a little rude to me.

'Have you excused my sister?　I shouldn't do that. I will not allow anyone to be disrespectful to my esteemed sister here.

I would gush to my sister, who was strangely intuitive.

This was the moment when I thought that even though we weren't blood related, we had made a sister and brother in our own way.

''Hmph. You're starting to say: ......

Sister Fran-sama laughed a small laugh while dumbfounded, and after shrugging her shoulders - she suddenly became serious.

...... It's time to get to the point. Let's do that moderate helping each other that I just mentioned, Ryner.

Yeah, well, ...... if I can do it. ......

I was put off by the air that didn't allow for the joke and waited for his next words, slurring my words.

'You know something about you ...... Kanami-sama, don't you?'

...... and I don't know.

Only to hear his next words, and guessing the purpose of catching me until I ran back, it was my turn to be dumbfounded.

You know that look, after all!　I expected the orders to Ryner that came down from the Senate to be related to the great hero, Kanami-sama!　And the rumor of Kanami-sama's appearance in the Confederation a few days ago, and the return of Ryner to coincide with that!　I'd be ashamed to be the daughter of the Helvilleshain family if I couldn't deduce this!　Now, say it!　I need to know where Kanami-sama is now!

My sister was convinced that she was closing in on me.

...... blunder.

I couldn't answer immediately that I didn't know, even though I could have expected it.

I thought about it slightly.

First of all, my basic policy - I've decided to never let my sister and Christ meet.