Chapter 75

The way people live is free.

If it doesn't bother others, it should be respected.

So, my desire to live a peaceful life in the countryside should also be respected.

"Boring? So what? Why don't you tell me about your interesting way of life?"

Serge, who was facing me, smiled, the corners of his mouth turning up.

He's such an annoying guy.

Don't criticize how others live.

I won't say anything if it doesn't harm me.

"Even though you've obtained incredible power, you say it's boring not to use it. Both of us have obtained these superweapons. Isn't it foolish to do nothing with them?"

"So what? What do you intend to do?"

You want to use the incredible power you've obtained.

Well, that's a human-like way of thinking.

I was also carried away when I obtained Luxion.

Thanks to that, I had a hard time.

"I will unify this continent. With my partner—Idéal, I can do anything."

I found Serge's words interesting.

Indeed, the Republic lacks unity within its borders.

The simplest way to solve this, regardless of right or wrong, is to dominate with overwhelming power.

Serge has obtained the power to do so.

—He has obtained it.

"Good for you. I have no interest, but I'll support you. Do your best to unify this country."

I was annoyed by Serge's "boring," but if he wants to wreak havoc in the Republic, that's his problem.

It's the Republic's issue.

I don't need to complain.

The unhappiness created in a rule by force is a problem for Serge and the Republic.

Does this short-sighted fool even think about what will happen afterward?

"—You really are a boring guy."

In response to Serge's disappearing smile, I smiled back.

"Let me teach you something, brat. What you find interesting or boring is just your personal standard. It's only your personal opinion. You'll embarrass yourself if you talk as if it's common sense."

Common sense varies by country, region, and even by group.

To put it bluntly, common sense differs from person to person.

It's natural for Serge to think differently from me, as he called my way of life boring.

"You're the same age as me!"

When I provoked him a little, he reacted immediately.

This guy's past life must have been a kid.

He's definitely younger than me.

"I said you're a kid because you lack life experience, including your past life. Can't you see that?"

Don't make me explain because you're embarrassed.

Lelia seemed uncomfortable with the tense atmosphere between us.

"Let's stop this. Come on, as fellow reincarnators, we should get along."

"Ha!"

Looking at Serge, who turned away, I thought we couldn't get along.

That's fine.

I'm going back to my hometown—the Kingdom of Holfaert, so I can't deal with the Republic's problems anyway.

With Serge around, the Republic's issues will be resolved, so I'll just go back.

"More importantly, you guys should take care of the Holy Tree. It's your country, after all."

When I said something like, "Good luck with the final boss," Lelia gave me a stern look.

"You've caused so much trouble and now you're planning to run away? Help us."

Serge, who has power equal to mine, made Lelia feel a bit more confident today.

"That's annoying. I'm busy too. There's also the matter of my sister—Noelle."

More importantly, Lelia had previously said that Serge was harmless—could he be harmful to the Republic of Alzer?

"My sister?"

"Yeah, I'm actually taking her back to the kingdom."

I thought I should tell them in advance.

If I take her without permission and they complain, it won't be good.

But I won't tell them about the marriage.

I don't know what will happen.

"That's a problem!"

"I'm troubled too. But Noelle was chosen as the sapling priestess."

"—Lies. She's already been chosen?"

It was decided that Noelle would eventually become the sapling priestess, but Lelia seemed surprised that it was happening now.

"According to Luxion, the sapling will grow to a certain extent, so we should find it ourselves. Idéal will find it, right?"

When I looked at Idéal, his red single eye moved up and down in affirmation.

'If you give the order, I will do it immediately.'

Lelia seemed unsure of what to do and looked at Serge.

Serge didn't seem interested.

"Is the Holy Tree going to go berserk? With Idéal, you can handle it, so I'm not interested—Is the reason you're taking Noelle related to the sapling? Are you using her as a priestess?"

"—Yeah."

I paused for a moment before answering, remembering Ange's words.

However, I'm also unsure if it's right to take Noelle to the kingdom.

I don't know if it will make her happy.

"You're a real scumbag."

I couldn't argue with Serge's words, so I ended the conversation and left.

◇

On the way back, I talked to Luxion, who was floating near my right shoulder.

"Did you get along with your companions?"

I was concerned because Luxion was more reserved than usual.

In fact, Luxion—

'I don't feel the need to get along. I will only cooperate if necessary.'

My impression of Idéal is that he is a quiet and unpleasant sphere.

Luxion seems to have a different personality.

"You seem more composed than I expected. I thought you might invite me to destroy the new humans together."

Unlike Luxion, who immediately wants to destroy the new humans.

'Like me and Claire, we have different jurisdictions, which is why our thinking is different.'

"Jurisdictions?"

'Yes. I am a multi-functional, high-performance immigrant ship. I have the function of a battleship, but I am treated as an immigrant ship. Claire managed a research facility.'

Indeed, Luxion and Claire are different.

Claire seems more relaxed.

"What about Idéal?"

'He was a military supply ship.'

"Army? Wait, aren't you a battleship? You have a lot of weapons, right?"

'It's a bit different. It would take over ten hours for the Master to understand. Do you still want to know?'

It sounds like the organizational structure of the old humans, which wouldn't make much sense to me.

"I've lost interest. So, you and I are from different jurisdictions, right?"

'It's fine.'

"Can't get along because of different jurisdictions? You guys are so human-like."

I laughed, and Luxion's atmosphere was different from usual.

He didn't make sarcastic remarks.

"What's wrong? You're unusually quiet today."

'No, I hesitated to tell you because the information is uncertain. More importantly, weren't you supposed to compete in living skills with those five?'

"Oh, right. It's summer break, so maybe I'll try a part-time job."

'A competition to see who can earn the most? Can you win with a part-time job?'

"They won't do well. I think the steady, hardworking approach has a higher chance of winning."

I checked a flyer for job openings.

It was a job opening for a part-time job at a restaurant.

"It's close to where I live. The conditions seem good, so I'll go for it."

On my way back, I met an unexpected person.

◇

At the restaurant where I applied for a part-time job, I met Noelle's—Noelle the dog's former owner.

Jean was surprised.

"Why is a viscount doing a part-time job?"

Jean, who is a student at the academy, looked very puzzled.

I asked him in return.

"Why are you here? Don't you have enough for tuition and living expenses?"

Jean, a student at the academy, was hospitalized after being assaulted by Pierre.

Due to insufficient attendance, he was decided to repeat a year, and he was considering dropping out due to financial issues.

I had helped him with tuition and living expenses after receiving—no, after receiving compensation from Pierre.

He is now working part-time while studying.

Embarrassed, he said,

"Well, I couldn't just sit around doing nothing."

He plans to return to school next year, so he has time now.

—He was a hardworking student, so he couldn't just sit around studying.

"I'm doing this for social experience—and to show my living skills."

"Living skills?"

I ended up working part-time with Jean, who was troubled.

"I have my reasons. Still, it's a pretty busy place."

The restaurant was bustling, which is why they were hiring part-time workers.

"Apparently, the owner's wife can no longer work."

"Eh!"

"Oh, no—she just had a baby. They've been getting busier, so they decided to hire more part-time workers."

I thought it might be a sad story, but it was good news.

"That's good to hear."

While doing odd jobs, I heard the owner's hurried voice from the kitchen.

"Hey, Leon! Hurry up and bring the dishes!"

The owner doesn't know I'm a viscount or a foreign noble.

Jean, who knows I'm a foreign noble, turned pale and said,

"I'll do it instead!"

Jean, who knows I'm a foreign noble, tried to switch jobs.

"No, you need to learn the job quickly. Jean, do your own job."

I smiled at the flustered Jean.

"Don't worry. I said it's for social experience. I don't intend to say anything based on my position."

If they knew I was a noble, they wouldn't hire me.

I took the dishes and brought them to the table.

More importantly, the restaurant was busy with many customers.

The restaurant was quite large, and it was clearly short-staffed.

The owner was also concerned about this.

"Business is good, but it's been busy lately. It would be perfect if we had a signboard girl."

He doesn't seem to like having just two guys.

A signboard girl, huh—

◇

At the Laurt family mansion, Serge was talking to Idéal.

Serge, holding a glass, thought of Leon's face.

He was angry at Leon's mocking face, which he called a brat.

"What an annoying guy."

A fellow reincarnator.

But their thoughts were completely different.

Serge, who wanted to use his power actively, saw Leon's passive attitude as foolish.

"Calling me a brat. How old is he? Is he a sixty-year-old grandpa inside?"

He finished the glass of wine, which warmed his throat and then his stomach.

'Excessive drinking is bad for your health.'

"Ha! I'm already an adult inside. Let me drink freely."

'Your physical age is still in the growth stage. Excessive consumption is still bad for your health.'

Ignoring Idéal's nagging, Serge drank more.

"Your wine is good, which is why it's bad. It's so easy to drink. Getting drunk feels good. —Even though my mood is terrible right now."

Serge wanted to enjoy a drink, but he was frustrated.

"That guy treated Noelle like an object. What a terrible scumbag."

Serge knew Noelle from the academy.

She was a straightforward girl, not his type, but he liked her.

"If he were just a scumbag, I'd kick him out right away. Maybe you're overthinking it? He said he wants to live a peaceful life in the countryside."

'Shall we fight immediately?'

"—No, he's probably strong. I don't know how strong, though."

He's a fellow reincarnator with a cheat.

Even if they fought, they lacked information.

Serge was hesitant.

Besides, he realized he couldn't get along with Leon.

"Idéal, can you do something about them?"

'What do you mean by "do something"?'

"Can you defeat them?"

'Currently, I can't make a judgment. I've only been fully operational recently. However, they have at least a few years' advantage.'

Serge wanted to teach them a lesson.

He wanted to give them a scare.

As he poured more wine into his glass—

'However, they might be dangerous.'

"Eh?"

He shifted his gaze from the wine to Idéal.

'They might be hiding their true intentions. He said he wants to live a peaceful life in the countryside, but his position is a viscount in the kingdom. Lady Lelia said he rose to that position in one generation.'

"He was the third son of a poor noble? That's quite a Cinderella story."

Serge, drinking the wine he had poured, thought about Leon.

(That is strange. If he wants to live a peaceful life in the countryside, he doesn't need to rise to such a high position. Could he be trying to deceive me? For what purpose?)

Idéal said,

'The Fauver case was impressive. He prepared thoroughly, obtained a large amount of gemstones, and secured a huge settlement from the Republic. —Master, he is dangerous.'

Serge finished his drink,

"Your kind is around, so it should be easy, right?"

'I have a different jurisdiction. He is an immigrant ship—a special position.'

"What do you mean?"

'You should think that having a foolish ambition is pointless.'

Serge didn't understand.

"What does an AI want?"

'—The extermination of the new humans.'

Serge stood up.

He dropped his glass, which rolled on the floor.

"Are you serious?"

'There is a possibility. I am a military AI, but he is not. A man who collaborates with such a dangerous AI—might be dangerous.'

As Serge thought, Idéal's red eyes glowed mysteriously.