The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

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Bured Di Mataisa had seen many things as king.

But this was the first time he'd witnessed such a large-scale sibling squabble.

"No way, I can't accept this! Luney Trading Company belongs to Lilith, right? Why is it becoming my asset?"

"Everything that belongs to Lili is yours, Brother Ruru. I've been saying this all along. Lili pledges her loyalty to you, Brother."

"This reverse Giantism is scary! This goes way beyond loyalty! The total asset value is too insane to accept!"

"Before we talk about accepting or not, legally it's already yours, Brother Ruru."

"Th-Then I'll give it back to Lilith."

"That's not impossible, but... in that case, the gift tax would be an enormous amount. Probably half of the total assets would become tax revenue. Isn't that right, Your Majesty?"

Lilith said this while turning to look at Bured.

Bured's mouth twisted as he listened to their argument.

"Oh, that's some good news. I never expected a single person's tax revenue to cover the royal family's annual budget."

"It won't. Look, Brother, if you do that, His Majesty will be the only winner. We'd have to fire most of the company's employees. We've been raising many children and providing employment so they won't struggle with their lives or futures... *sniff sniff* To think we'd have to make them wander the streets again..."

"Alright, alright, I get it! I give up, damn it!"

Ruruk shouted, almost in desperation.

Lilith looked pleased.

"Fufu. Then, I'd like to discuss the details of management. Do you have time today?"

"Yeah, that's fine. Should we do it at Luney Trading Company? Or at my place?"

"...If it's not too much trouble, may I visit your residence, Brother?"

"Alright. I'll introduce you to my companions while we're at it."

"I'm so happy. Then let's go."

"Yeah. Well then, Your Majesty, Father, I'll be heading back with Lilith. Take care."

Saying that, Ruruk and Lilith teleported away without waiting for a response.

They were gone in an instant.

Bured chuckled a little and said,

"Hey Digray, what was that? It's beyond the level of a monster, isn't it?"

"...I'm completely lost too."

Bured has a unique skill he was born with.

It allows him to sense the danger level of any target. This lets him identify mixed-in poisons and understand health conditions. The more trained and young a person is, the higher their danger level, while older, unhealthy individuals have lower levels.

But Ruruk's danger level was literally off the charts.

"Between Lilith and him, your children are all monsters, huh?"

"Ruruk is an exception. He's not my child."

"You mean mentally, right? I can only see the physical danger level. Without a doubt, that's your child."

Hearing this, Digray grimaced as if extremely displeased.

Bured could understand his complicated feelings. Someone of unknown identity had taken the place of the son who was supposed to be dead. And that someone had rapidly gained power, now possessing strength that could annihilate ten thousand monsters in a single blow.

How could one not be afraid?

But Bured laughed.

"You should be happy instead. For now, that thing isn't our enemy, right? We couldn't bind him with territory, but we should try to do something else. I want something that will prevent him from betraying my country."

"...You're as greedy as ever."

"It's my policy to get everything I want."

Though he said it flippantly, Bured was serious.

"With him, we'd have the strongest diplomatic card in history. It would greatly influence not just diplomacy but internal affairs too. Even our power balance with Bargia would change. He's playing around trading punches with the Dragon King, right?"

"...Seems so."

"That's amazing, isn't it? Even the Maguu Empire wouldn't be a match. But his desire for freedom as an adventurer is a problem... Hey, you're his father, right? Come up with some good ideas."

"I don't know. I don't know anything about him. He's never been interested in any family members except Lilith since long ago."

"What's with that, you really don't get along... Wait, we can use that! Lilith is your daughter and a duke's daughter. She holds the management rights of Luney Trading Company and is already a talented individual involved in this country's politics. Plus, she just broke off her engagement, right? And since Ruruk is her half-brother with different blood, there's no legal problem--"

"Hey, you! What are you planning to make my daughter do?!"

Digray shouted angrily.

Covering his ears, Bured shouted back just as fiercely.

"An engagement, of course! From the looks of it, Lilith genuinely likes Ruruk, right? Lilith would probably be happy about it. That way we can bind Ruruk to this country, and he won't feel like he's being bound. Everything works out!"

"Did you think I'd let such a thing happen?! Have you lost your mind, Bured?"

"I know you care about your beloved daughter. But I'm carrying the weight of a country here. If we were to make an enemy of him by any chance, there's a possibility we could be destroyed by one person's military might, you know?"

"Ruruk wouldn't do such a thing! He's gentle like Rerena..."

Digray started to say, then suddenly stopped and hung his head.

His hands were trembling as he stared at the floor with a regretful expression.

The venom drained from Bured as well.

"Ah... sorry about that. You're right, Ruruk does resemble Lady Rerena. The way he looks at his family, his troubled expressions, they're very similar. Even if his spirit is different, there's no doubt that his fundamental kindness is influenced by Lady Rerena. Sorry for making you remember, my bad."

"...No, it's fine."

"Well, but this is a separate issue. Try to think about it without your personal feelings. Whether we can keep Ruruk here is a matter directly linked to national interests. You've been listening to the reports from the Adventurers' Guild properly, right?"

"...Yeah."

"I think whether we can do something before it's carried out will be the watershed moment. It'll be too late once it happens."

Bured was imagining the future.

No, for him, it was a concrete image that could be called a prediction.

"Probably this continent... Ruruk alone will cause quite a lot of chaos."

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When I returned to the mansion with Lilith, I witnessed a bit of a scene.

"I'm telling you, you can use as many rooms as you want. We have plenty of guest rooms to spare."

"What's the big deal? Ruruk-sama said we could stay here as we like. So, I think I have the right to sleep here too, don't I?"

"Don't twist his words. Karmarike, you're just a freeloader, right? You're not a party member, so you should sleep in a separate room."

"What's the big deal about being in the party! It's not like you're dating Ruruk-sama either, right Saaya?"

"T-That's... but still, we can't just let anyone and everyone into the bedroom!"

"Why are you in charge anyway, Saaya! This mansion was built by Seori's papa, right? If Ruruk-sama and Seori say it's okay, that's one thing, but I don't feel like listening to you!"

...Hey Lilith, maybe we should talk at Luney Trading Company after all?

Oh, we can't? Why do you look so happy about this?

I mean, for two people with high communication skills, they sure don't seem to get along well.

And could you two stop fighting in front of the bedroom? I can't get through.

"Um... can I pass through?"

"Ah, Ruruk, welcome back! Ruruk, tell Karmarike too! Sleeping together is a privilege for party members!"

"Ruruk-sama, Saaya is being bossy! I stayed in the same room before, so it's okay to be together from now on too, right?"

The two of them crowd around me.

I avert my gaze and say,

"...I've been saying all along that I want to sleep alone, you know?"

"That's not allowed," they say in unison.

What's with this?

As I'm deflating from having my human rights denied, an angel speaks from behind me.

"Then Brother Ruru, will you sleep with Lili tonight? These seven years under a roof without you have been lonely."

"Eh, Lilith-san!?"

"W-Who?"

Saaya and Karmarike are surprised.

After thinking for a moment, I say,

"...Well, if you two are going to fight, I might as well sleep with Lilith. Come to think of it, it's the first time."

"Fufu. Our first night together, right?"

"Hey, don't say things that could be misunderstood."

I lightly bonk her on the head with my fist, and Lilith laughs like a mischievous child.

Hearing this, Saaya and the others say,

"...L-Lilith-san, could it be you're betraying..."

"I said, who is she! Hey Ruruk-sama, who is this person, tell me!"

"Alright, alright, I'll introduce her soon. Everyone gather in the living room. Go get the others too."

As I brush them off, Saaya and Karmarike immediately run off.

I take Lilith to the living room first. The one already relaxing in the living room was, as usual, Seori.

"Master, welcome ba-- Eek!"

The socially awkward girl hides behind the sofa upon seeing Lilith.

Well, never mind Seori.

"Welcome back, Master~. Is this a guest? Welcome!"

"I'm back, Punisuke. This is my sister Lilith. Today's dinner will be a welcome party, so could you prepare a feast?"

"You must be Punisuke-san. It's nice to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you."

"Yes! My arms are raring to go~"

Punisuke hops off to the kitchen.

He really is the cutest thing ever.

After waiting for a while, Saaya returns with Nagi, and Karmarike comes back with Elen.

Everyone sits on the sofa.

"So, the commotion with the Maguu Empire's behind-the-scenes activities has come to an end. Including that, I have some reports and various things I want to talk about. First, let me introduce you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Lilith Muuteru. I am Brother Ruru's sister and serve as the chairperson of Luney Trading Company. In the company, I go by the name Monon."

"Monon? So that famous empress was Ruruk's sister?"

"Yeah, I just found out too. But it seems Saaya knew."

"Well, yeah."

I can understand why Saaya trusted Luney Trading Company now.

"So Lilith, you already knew Saaya? What about the others?"

"No, this is my first time meeting them."

"Then I'll introduce them. That's Elenora of the sheep-folk, soon to be a Demon King."

"Mm, nice to meet you."

"Next is Seori, the useless dragon princess as you know. And next to her is Nagi, the sharp-tongued demon swordswoman."

"...I-I'm Seori..."

"I'm Nagi. I'm not sharp-tongued."

"These are the party members. You probably know them already."

"It's nice to meet you all."

Lilith bowed politely.

"And that small animal-like elf is Karmarike. She was banished from the elf village, so she's staying here for a while."

"It seems Senta Betsu has been in your care. Please take good care of her!"

[TL notes: Senta Betsu - They talking about elf Fia. ]

"No, she's been working very well. It's my pleasure to meet you too."

"So Ruruk, you're going to tell me more about Karmarike, right?"

I'm glared at with suspicious eyes.

Of course I intend to talk about it, but before that.

"I'll report this first. About Luney Trading Company, it's become my personal asset."

"...Huh?"

Everyone is dumbfounded.

After I explain in detail what just happened,

"So Ruruk, you're super rich now?"

"Master is amazing!"

"If I marry Ruruk-sama... it would be marrying into money..."

"Ruruk, is that story true?"

Nagi comes right next to me and whispers in my ear.

"Which story? It's true that I became the owner."

"No, not that. The line where your sister said 'Please accept it as a token of my love.'"

"Oh, that's true too."

As I nod, Nagi lets out a deep sigh.

"...That's nothing but an engagement gift. Or rather, it's on a completely different level as a gift from a sister to her brother. That woman, despite her modest appearance, is an incredibly clingy woman."

"Hey, watch your tongue."

Nagi-chan, you meanie! Meanie!

For now, I send the sharp-tongued girl back to her seat. Nagi starts whispering with Saaya.

"Listen, you guys. Lilith has no ulterior motives, she's just my cute sister. Hey, don't call her clingy. That's rude, right Lilith?"

"No, I understand how you feel. But please don't worry, Sister-in-law Saaya. Lili doesn't want to be Brother Ruru's number one or anything. My stance is the same as I explained before."

"R-Really? Then I guess I can relax..."

"Yes. For Lili, competing to be the first wife is out of the question... Well, looking at this situation, I might have a chance at being third or so."

As she says this, Lilith glances provocatively at Nagi, Seori, and Karmarike.

"What! T-This woman is quite the vixen!"

"I won't give up Master!"

"Huh, she's your sister, right? Ruruk-sama, she's your real sister, right?!"

Things are getting chaotic.

Lilith, don't say such things even as a joke to provoke them.

"Alright, alright. Anyway, Lilith is the chairperson of Luney Trading Company, so feel free to rely on her if you need anything. Lilith, I'd appreciate it if you could try to listen to my companions' requests as much as possible."

"Yes, of course, Brother."

"And while I'm not happy about suddenly becoming the owner, what's done is done. Besides, although I have the assets, Lilith holds the management rights, and I don't intend to do as I please just because I'm the owner. We'll continue to rely on Luney Trading Company as an information provider and store as we have been. That's all."

"Oh my, Brother, is that all? Now that Lili has revealed her identity, I intend to provide all my inventions to you."

"...Sounds like some outrageous things might pop up. But I don't intend to rely on you that much. To begin with, I can't think of an appropriate return gift for Lilith's presents. It doesn't suit my nature to keep receiving favors."

I think I could only repay a little bit of my debt if I could give something that would truly make Lilith happy.

I don't think I have the right to take Lilith's important inventions when I haven't given anything in return.

Then Lilith thought for a moment and clapped her hands.

"Then, I have one request, Brother."

"Tell me anything. I'll do my best to grant it."

"Please let Lili live here too."

"Live together? Well, we have more than enough rooms, but what about your ladies' academy? And the dormitory?"

"I can teleport with a magical device, so there's no problem. The same goes for the dormitory."

"Then that's fine, but... is that all? Surely you have more."

"In that case, please let Lili sleep together with you. How about that?"

She looks at me with passionate eyes.

Honestly, it's within the realm of possibility. After all, I'm already sleeping with five people plus Punisuke. One more person won't make a difference, and there's still plenty of room in the bed.

"That's fine too, but... is that really enough? You could ask for something more difficult, you know."

"No. Right now, for Lili, that's the most valuable thing."

I see. If that's the case, I won't say anything more.

When I agreed, the other members started making a fuss.

"Hold on, are you seriously aiming for Ruruk? You're just a sister, right?"

"As expected, this woman can't be trusted at all."

"M-Master~"

"I object! Then Ruruk-sama, let me sleep with you too!"

It's getting noisy with all the yelling.

I cover my ears with my hands and look up at the ceiling.