Chapter 69
"That's what happened with Father and me."
"...I see."
"Well, goodnight, Riera."
"...Yes, Ultos-sama."
After finishing my talk with Father, I hurried straight back to my room and told Riera what had happened.
Since it was already late, I said goodnight to her.
I let out a breath as I listened to Riera's footsteps fade into the distance.
I wondered, Is Riera kind of low-energy tonight?? But that feeling didn't last long.
I was pumping my fist with all my might.
"Perfect...!"
I mean... Come on!
Just when I thought Father, who had a reputation for doing and saying nothing but unnecessary things, was about to say something else unnecessary, he ended up bringing me an astonishing stroke of good luck.
I couldn't help but be grateful.
And more than anything, the circumstances this time were almost too good.
For one thing, even if I went poking my nose into this affair, it probably wouldn't have anything to do with the story. This kind of event never happened in the original.
In other words, during the Genesis incident, I'd been constantly on edge, carefully considering the story and the main characters. But this time, I didn't have to worry about the original at all.
Yeah, wonderful.
Well, after all the trouble I went through during the Genesis incident, maybe it was nice to have a more relaxed turn of events for once.
And there were other good points, too.
Namely, Rain—the protagonist Sieg-kun's father—would be coming along.
Rain was incredibly strong. His strength was well established in the game. In fact, he was reputed to be stronger than even an S-rank adventurer.
I could make up with Sieg-kun and get to know his father at the same time. What else could you call that but good luck?
Well, there was one thing I was a little worried about.
Mainly, Kuzutos's reputation. His reputation, and his reputation.
At dinner just now, Father had been looking smug as he said,
"So you'll break free of the cage called bikini armor and take flight..." and other such chuunibyou nonsense.
If Father had been going around delivering his "bikini armor sermons" like that, my reputation would be far worse than I'd imagined.
But still.
This time, it seemed like things would be all right.
Sieg-kun wasn't a monster, after all.
The protagonists of games are usually pretty understanding. If I showed him I was sincere, he'd surely accept me as a friend.
If that was the plan, then I needed to create an opportunity for us to get along.
For example, I could invite him to take a bath together.
"...That might actually work."
Right. It didn't seem like a bad idea.
On the surface, I was the one with the higher status, so he'd have a hard time turning me down. If we took a nice, relaxing bath together, it felt like we could forge a bond of male friendship... maybe.
Of course, I didn't think we could become best friends just from one trip together. Well, we could take things one step at a time.
If I befriended the future hero, my own future would be secure.
And on top of that, I'd get him motivated and make him train.
I stood up and tried murmuring in a serious tone.
"Still, this is my duty, after all."
That's right.
This is my Kuzulesse Oblige. I'll atone for all my scummy behavior and aim to become the perfect Mob A.
"—If I don't do it here, who will?"
I put some force into my voice and told myself as much.
That's right.
If I didn't do it here, my life as a mob character was doomed.
To secure my future, I was prepared to lick even Sieg-kun's shoes if necessary.
"All right. Let's get started... the Genesis Plan—no."
Wait a second.
I'd almost said Genesis, but then I remembered the Genesis Plan had been kind of a disaster.
All the trouble that came from calling myself Genesis.
Going out to the city, only to get shut up in some gloomy room with a stupid noble my age and spend the whole time drinking water.
Spending the night fighting thugs and the sword-licker until dawn, even though I was dead tired.
And finally, wrecking the mayor's office.
Yeah, well, in other words...
"...That was kind of a mess."
That's right.
I'd changed my mind after all.
The Genesis Plan was over.
Maybe it was time for a fresh start and a new name.
I chuckled to myself, thinking it sounded a little too chuunibyou, but this kind of thing was really all about the mood.
Gazing out at the night sky beyond the window, I murmured softly.
"Kuzulesse Oblige. The second plan—Project 'Judgment.'"
Incidentally, the reason I called it 'Judgment' was that the most important thing this time was to encourage Sieg-kun and get him to accept me as a friend.
In other words, the key was whether I could withstand Sieg-kun's judgment.
"Was that too chuunibyou?? Oh well."
And so, having made a great haul, I went to bed and slept soundly, ready for the upcoming "Project Judgment (the plan where I'll do anything—even lick his shoes—to get Sieg-kun to judge me worthy of being his friend)."
Hopefully, I could at least make it to acquaintance, or maybe even friend, status.
♦♦
"Well, goodnight, Riera."
"...Yes, Ultos-sama."
After seeing her master—Ultos—to his room, Riera stepped away from the door and started down the hallway.
But a little while later, Riera turned and headed back the way she'd come.
Because...
(What could Ultos-sama be thinking?)
Her master was always saying things like, "I don't want to work anymore" and "I want nothing to do with anything troublesome," in that laid-back way of his.
That was why, after hearing about the situation from Ultos when he returned to his room, Riera had been worried.
—What did Ultos-sama think about this sudden opportunity that had fallen into his lap?
She made her way back without making a sound, careful not to disturb him.
She could see her master's room.
"...Ultos-sama."
Was her master hesitating after all?
It was true that Riera wanted the world to know about Ultos-sama's achievements. But if Ultos himself didn't want to go, then he didn't have to this time.
(If you don't want to go, Riera will be all right with that...!)
Just as she steeled herself and was about to knock on the door...
She suddenly heard a faint voice. It sounded like Ultos speaking to himself.
'—Still, this is my duty, after all.'
"Huh?"
She stopped in her tracks before she realized it.
His tone was still casual. But the voice coming from beyond the door carried a seriousness that Ultos-sama never showed.
Duty. My duty.
'If I don't do it here, who will?'
A powerful determination came through in his voice.
He sounded perfectly natural.
And that was precisely why his words—or rather, his resolve—sank straight into Riera's heart.
'Let's begin... the Lesse Oblige... plan.'
"..............."
Riera stood there, stunned.
Then came the last words she heard from beyond the door.
They were faint and hard to make out, but Riera thought she recognized them.
"...Noblesse Oblige."
Riera murmured in a daze.
—Protect the weak and humble the strong.
It was a well-worn ideal of what a noble should be.
The reality was nothing like that. No—those words existed precisely because there were no nobles who lived up to them.
And yet...
Ultos, her master, was secretly trying to embody that ideal.
Ignoring any praise from others and all public opinion.
"...Hehe."
Riera covered her mouth and laughed.
Ultos was so different from his carefree self during the day.
That was the real Ultos—the one only Riera knew.
He hid all his talent and effort behind the mask of a clown, all so he could fulfill his duty.
Just how difficult a path must it be?
Just how hard must it be?
"I see... You're right."
But, Riera thought...
(That really is the kind of person Ultos-sama wants to become...)
She wouldn't get in her master's way.
Riera slowly turned and headed back down the hallway.
(Even if everyone else doubts you, I will always believe in you, Ultos-sama.)
Completely unaware that her master was seriously considering licking the shoes of a boy his own age, Riera walked cheerfully through the mansion, a smile on her face and reverence for him in her heart.
Incidentally, the next day...
Worried because Riera had seemed so low-energy the day before, Ultos asked her if she was all right.
"What great evil are we going to crush this time, Ultos-sama?" Riera asked with a smile.
Her relentlessly muscle-brained response was so far removed from that gentle smile that Ultos found himself thinking, "Is this girl some kind of berserker???" and recoiling a little. But Riera's loyalty knew no bounds—
――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
Ultos: "Kuzulesse Oblige... Guess I'll do it (reluctantly)."
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This time's MVP, Door-kun: "...Lesse Oblige... huh..."
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Riera: "S-so you're going to carry out Noblesse Oblige with all your might?!"