Chapter 3

Sanz郎 seemed to have anticipated this reaction to some extent, as Aura smiled slightly and continued her explanation in a calm voice.

“Let me explain, though it’s a long story. First, I would like you to listen. As I mentioned earlier, our country has survived a long period of war. Fortunately, we managed to become one of the victors, but the cost was great.

The population has decreased, the land has been ravaged, and all the direct royal family members, except for me, have perished.

Fortunately, the country and its people have somewhat recovered through the collective efforts of the nation, but the problem lies with the royal family. With only me left, the royal bloodline could easily die out.

My marriage is an absolute duty.

However, our ‘Carpa’ royal family carries a special magic called ‘Time-Space Magic’ in our blood. Not just anyone can be my spouse. To pass on the magic to the next generation, it is desirable for the partner to also have the blood of the Carpa royal family.”

“Ah, I see…”

Sanz郎 nodded reflexively, though he didn’t fully understand. The custom of maintaining a pure bloodline by choosing a spouse from the closest possible lineage was a common practice in the past on Earth as well.

Moreover, in this world, there is a visible benefit in the form of ‘special magic’ that is inherited through blood. It is only natural that pure blood is revered.

“But, if that’s the case, why me? I’m just an Earthling who doesn’t even know the word ‘magic.’”

In response to Sanz郎’s question, Aura smiled meaningfully and answered.

“The reason is very simple. You, Lord Zenjiro, are a direct descendant of our ‘Carpa’ royal family.”

“…What? No, no way! That’s impossible!”

Shocked by Aura’s unexpected answer, Sanz郎 waved his hands in front of his face, but Aura continued without pausing.

“The story goes back five generations, about 150 years. It’s a tale that has been erased from the royal records, so the details are unclear, but it is said that the first prince at the time fell in love with a woman he was not supposed to marry.

The woman was either a commoner or a member of the royal family of an enemy country. In any case, the prince, who was to be the next king, fell in love with someone he was absolutely not allowed to marry and refused to listen to the persuasion of his parents, the king and queen.

The conclusion that the lovers, who were not allowed to be together in this world, came to was to go to another world and marry there. It was a rather romantic solution.”

By this point, Sanz郎 understood what Aura was trying to say.

“You mean… I am a descendant of that couple?”

“That’s right.”

To Sanz郎’s stunned question, Aura nodded without breaking her smile.

“I didn’t use the summoning magic carelessly. I set it to summon a man with a bloodline of the Carpa royal family that is more concentrated than a certain level. As a result, the one who appeared was you, Lord Zenjiro.

Therefore, it is almost certain that you are a descendant of that couple.”

“No way. Even if that’s true, it’s five generations ago! That means, like, my great-great-great-grandfather, right? The blood I have must be very, very diluted, right?”

“I understand that, and I was prepared for that. However, surprisingly, Lord Zenjiro has a rather strong royal bloodline. Not as direct as the main line, but in the class of a prominent branch.”

“Y-You can tell that?”

Faced with Aura’s serious assertion, Sanz郎 leaned back in his seat and asked hesitantly.

“I can tell. Whether or not you have the blood of the ‘royal family’ is unknown, but a trained magician can see the amount of latent magic a person possesses. Lord Zenjiro’s magic power is clearly in the class of a quasi-royal family.

The fact that you responded to my summoning magic confirms that you are of the ‘Carpa royal family’ bloodline. Judging from your magic power, the blood is quite strong. I would call this a pleasant surprise.

It’s as if the person who crossed over to your world intentionally maintained the bloodline through repeated close marriages.”

Hearing this, Sanz郎 suddenly realized something.

“Oh, right! If I think about it that way, it makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Lord Zenjiro? Do you have something in mind?”

Tilting her head, Aura asked. Sanz郎 thought for a moment before answering.

“Yes. Actually, my hometown is a very old, closed-off farming village. For generations, only one or two people from outside would marry into the village.”

Disgusted with the closed and monotonous village, Sanz郎 went to a university in the Kanto region and decided to work there, starting his life in the city.

Now that he thought about it, his parents, who had recently passed away, and the people in that village had unusually dark skin and reddish hair, which was quite rare for Japanese people.

Hearing this, Aura placed her hand on her mouth and nodded as if she understood.

“I see, the closed nature of the village effectively prevented the spread of the royal blood that flowed into the other world.”

“Yes, if I think about it that way, it makes sense.”

(Really? So, I’m not a pure Japanese person, but mostly from another world? I’ve never heard of such a thing!?)

Yes, it makes sense. It does. On the surface, Sanz郎 forced a strained smile, but inside, he was in a state of panic, feeling like he wanted to hold his head in his hands.