The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

While comforting the loudly crying Saaya in my arms, I was also trying to calm my own shaken heart.

I was surprised that Saaya was Japanese, but to think she was actually Ichinomiya...

It's true, when I first reincarnated here, I had thought about it a bit. 

My classmates who died with me might have also reincarnated into this world. They could be somewhere out there.

However, without any clues and being under house arrest, I couldn't even make a handful of acquaintances outside my family. After that, I stopped thinking about it and completely forgot.

Thinking about it now, maybe other classmates have also reincarnated somewhere.

"Ugu, hic..."

Ichinomiya... no, I should call her Saaya now. Just like how I'm Ruruk.

Saaya was still clinging to my shirt, trembling.

A flood of emotions must have hit her all at once. Even though her mental age is higher than her appearance due to being reincarnated, she almost got killed by her father. She must have been terrified.

With my strength, Saaya's light body isn't a burden at all, so I silently continue holding her.

But she's so light. Are 10-year-old girls really this light?

Looks 10, mind of a high school girl, and a classmate... Wait a minute? Did we just get another member with an unclear real age? Don't we have any normal people??

Oh, that's right. She's going to be a comrade from now on...

I feel an indescribable awkwardness.

"Saaya! What happened?!"

At that moment, Viscount Schreine burst into the kitchen in his nightclothes, his face pale with worry. He was holding a sword for self-defense, which looked menacing, but the nightcap perched on his head was cute.

The Viscount looked in order at the overturned water barrel in the kitchen, the broken wine glass, Saaya crying in my arms, the dazed fat father on the floor, and the vivid red handprint on Saaya's neck.

"...So, this time has finally come."

He unsheathed the sword he was holding and advanced towards the stunned fat father with murderous intent.

He's seriously going to kill him... I should stop him, though.

Still holding Saaya, I used my free hand to block the Viscount's path.

"Please move aside, Ruruk-kun."

"You can't, Viscount-sama."

"No, now that it's come to this, I must judge this foolish man with my own hands. The Schreine family may end here, but that's my responsibility too. As punishment for not being able to stop my brother, I'll stake my life to cut off Saaya's sorrows."

"That's not it. It's already over."

When I said this, Viscount Schreine relaxed his killing intent and carefully observed the fat father.

Noticing that something was definitely wrong with the fat father who kept staring blankly into space, the Viscount finally lowered his sword.

Returning to his usual polite manner of speaking, he said:

"...Indeed, it seems Saaya is no longer in danger. Would you mind telling me in detail what happened, Ruruk-kun?"

"Of course. There are many things we need to discuss openly, so please bear with me despite the late hour."

"That's fine. Let's talk in the living room then."

The Viscount picked up the scabbard and sheathed his sword, then ordered the maid waiting outside the room to bring the fat father along. We all moved to the reception room together.

"First of all, Ruruk-kun, thank you so much for saving Saaya."

The Viscount bowed deeply as soon as he sat on the sofa.

Saaya, who had been crying her eyes out, was now sitting next to me with teary eyes.

For some reason, she was clinging to my arm tightly.

"No, I'm just glad I made it in time. I'm sorry I didn't come to help sooner, Saaya-san."

"No. I'm happy."

Saaya smiled bravely.

"By the way, Ruruk-kun, may I ask why you visited at such a late hour?"

"You could call it a premonition, I suppose. I felt that Saaya-san was in danger... I came nearby out of concern, and when I sensed something was amiss, I jumped into the grounds knowing it was rude. I apologize for my presumptuous behavior."

"No, no, I can only express gratitude, not blame. Saaya, it seems you've found a good companion."

The Viscount looked pleased.

Well, to be honest, that's a lie.

The truth is, Elen used "Full Search" at the inn. Of course, it was to search for demons, and it was just a coincidence that it happened when Saaya was being attacked.

When I heard Elen's report, I teleported here at full speed, repeatedly.

If I had been a few seconds later, who knows what would have happened. I need to thank Elen too.

"Yes, Ruruk always helps me, Uncle."

Saaya seems to have understood about Elen's forbidden technique, so she didn't pursue it further.

Though her way of putting it seems a bit exaggerated.

"So, Viscount-sama, about Saaya's father... your brother, I'm not sure where to start, but—"

"Uncle. Papa was poisoning you to make you unable to have children."

Saaya blurted out straightforwardly. Her expression still showed anger.

Well, the Viscount had been worrying about not being able to have a son all this time.

He must be furious— or so I thought, but...

"Yes, I knew."

"Eh? Really?"

"Ah. There was a time when my brother was preparing meals for me. It seems he was slipping the drug into those... A drug that causes reproductive dysfunction, apparently... By the time I found out, it was already too late."

"You knew!? Why did you keep quiet if you knew?!"

Saaya started to heat up.

I patted her head to calm her down, and suddenly her face turned bright red and she quieted. Oh my, how cute... No, wait, her core is my classmate, don't let your guard down.

The Viscount answered with a bitter smile.

"Even if I confronted him, he would just evade the issue. Besides, I didn't think it was so bad to have the talented Saaya succeed me. And if I had children, I might not be able to take care of the children suffering from discrimination and abuse... That's what I thought. So, you see."

"That's... Uncle, I didn't know anything..."

"It's alright. Besides, my greedy and foolish brother gave me just one treasure. When I think of it that way, I feel I can forgive not being able to have children."

"Treasure?"

"Yes, a treasure... It's you, Saaya."

The Viscount looked at Saaya with his usual gentle smile.

"You have wonderful talent, you're intelligent, and you have a strong desire to improve. And above all, you have a kindness that doesn't discriminate against the weak. You're such an exceptional child, it's hard to believe you were born from my foolish brother. My wives and I truly think of you as our own child."

"...But, still..."

"That's why you don't need to worry about it, Saaya. If anything, because I don't have children, you've had to endure a lot until now. From now on, grow up freely without having to hold back. You don't need to worry about this house either. Instead of three years, travel with Ruruk-kun and the others as long as you like, and make lots of wonderful memories. That's the only atonement we can offer to the unfortunate daughter born into this house."

"Uncle..."

Saaya covered her mouth with both hands, tears in her eyes.

With a trembling voice, she said.

To her kind but pitiful uncle who could no longer have children.

"Thank you, Uncle... No, Father."

"—!"

The Viscount's eyes widened.

After a slight moment of agitation, he covered his face with his hands and bowed his head.

I saw his shoulders shake and a small droplet fall to the floor.

I pretended not to see and shifted my gaze to Saaya.

Saaya had a very happy expression.

It was a beautiful smile.

After a while, having composed himself, the Viscount raised his face and smiled shyly.

"Haha, I'm sorry... Maybe I'm getting old. Anyway, Ruruk-kun, changing the subject, may I ask about my brother?"

The Viscount turned his gaze behind him.

There sat the now-deranged fat father, emotionlessly in a chair. The expression of the maid standing beside him was hidden as she looked down.

"I'm sorry, Viscount-sama. I took direct action myself."

"No, that's fine. I can understand that it's my brother's just deserts. But what kind of technique did you use?"

"I'm showing him an illusion that separates his mind and body. As long as he has specific desires, he can't regain his sense of self or move his body with just his consciousness. However, he can still take reflexive actions, so with care, he can still live."

"Is that mystical arts?"

"Yes. It's my unique technique. Therefore, there's no way to undo it."

I have no intention of undoing it anyway. I have no intention of forgiving him.

If it could be undone, it would only be when he reaches a mental state where he can accept Saaya with unconditional love. And when his thirst for power completely disappears.

I don't know if such a day will ever come.

"I see... So he needs care..."

"...Master. I... I can't...!"

The maid's hands were trembling.

Her gaze was fixed on her unmoving master. In her eyes was clear hatred and murderous intent.

The Viscount heaved a big sigh.

"...That's right. We've troubled you just as much as Saaya. I'm sorry for making you endure for so long. Tomorrow, let's go immediately to cancel your slavery contract... You've worked enough for us."

"Thank you! Thank you so much!"

The slave girl bowed her head repeatedly, crying.

After confirming their exchange was over, I interjected.

"Regarding the care expenses, of course I will cover them. Tomorrow when I make the payment, I'll add 1000 gold coins for compensation and care expenses."

"No, there's no need to go that far."

"But if not, I won't feel—"

"In the first place, I have no intention of keeping my brother alive."

The Viscount said with a sharp gaze.

"Ruruk-kun, I'm grateful that you judged him. If not for that, Saaya probably wouldn't have been able to accept it. So I won't say anything about that, and I don't think I have the right to. But you know, I too am guilty of knowing my brother's nature and leaving him be. If it weren't for you, I would have lost Saaya, who is like a daughter... no, who is my daughter. I pride myself on having even stronger feelings of resentment towards my brother than you do."

"That's... I see. I can imagine how you feel."

"Besides, the matter of my brother—the poisoning incident—has already been reported to Count Ketaaru. Or rather, it was the Count who initially discovered that I had been poisoned. I just asked him not to make it public for Saaya's sake, so the crime was put on hold. But we can't leave this recent incident as it is. If the Count finds out, there will surely be a secret noble trial, and he will undoubtedly be sentenced to death."

So that's how it was.

This must be why Count Babel called the Viscount a softie. I guess there's a lot going on in noble society that we don't see. I'll just accept that.

"I see. I apologize for my unnecessary interference."

"Not at all. If I had acted on my emotions and cut him down earlier, I would have been similarly charged with a crime."

In any case, it seems the Viscount won't be troubled by this.

Still, the fact remains that I took action. I should at least give him the additional compensation.

After all, I'm going to be taking care of his precious daughter, so it can serve as an apology too.

"Viscount-sama, about Saaya-san... I suppose we can't leave her here tonight, can we?"

"I was going to ask you myself. Although it's before the contract, Ruruk-kun was the one who protected Saaya first and foremost. I can entrust her to you with peace of mind. Is that alright with you, Saaya?"

"Of course! I'll go with Ruruk!"

"Then please take care of her."

"Understood."

As I readily agreed, Saaya happily tightened her grip on my arm.

However, if there's a problem, it would be...

"...Saaya-san, at this hour the inn's reception will be closed, so we'll have to sneak in quietly. Is that okay?"

"Yes! But Ruruk... are you still using polite language with me?"

"Is that not okay?"

"It's not okay. Because, you know... aren't we, like, that?"

Former classmates, huh.

Since I've lived in this world for so long, it feels more like memories from a previous life.

Well, either way, she's going to be my junior disciple and comrade. With Elen too, I started dropping the polite language during battles because it was getting in the way, and before I knew it, I was speaking casually.

If it's going to happen eventually, maybe it's better to get used to it now. Besides, I'm getting tired of keeping up appearances all the time.

I shrugged and nodded.

"Alright, Saaya."

"Ehehehehe."

She looks really happy.

Saaya, who had been linking arms with me, now intertwined her fingers with mine as well.

...Wait, Saaya-san, isn't that something couples do?

I don't have experience with this kind of thing either. I don't know what kind of face I should make in this situation. Should I smile? I don't think so, so I'll just look confused.

As I tried to let go of her hand, the Viscount, misunderstanding the situation, slammed the table forcefully. Switching to his killer mode, he spoke harshly.

"Wait a moment, Ruruk-kun! I may have accepted you becoming comrades with our daughter, but I absolutely won't allow dating!"

"Eh, no, please calm down, Viscount-sama. Your Saaya is still 10 years old, you know?"

"You like 10-year-olds!? Is that it, Ruruk-kun! That's it, isn't it!"

"No, that's not what I meant at all."

"Eh... Ruruk, am I not attractive?"

"That's not what I meant either."

"What's this! Are you saying there's something unsatisfactory about our Saaya?!"

"Which is it? Do you want to approve or not?!"

Why am I being blamed? Did I do something wrong?

For some reason, it was a chaotic late night at the Schreine household.