Episode 80
"So... I was lying down for a whole week?"
"Yes... you were."
The several months I experienced in the System's trial amounted to merely a week in reality.
Still, it's fortunate that it wasn't a 1:1 ratio.
"But... how did you know I would wake up?"
"Early this morning, Young Master's unconsciousness began to fade, so I prepared in advance."
"...I see."
I asked because I was curious about the secret to having all the birthday party preparations ready by the time I woke up, and Cania answered as if it was nothing special.
Cania really is quite capable.
"By the way, this cake..."
"It's a cake I specially ordered in advance. Do you like it?"
"...I really do like it."
Seeing the cake with silver and black cats playing on it, my heart feels slightly at ease.
It would have been perfect if we could all have gathered for a birthday party like in that dream, but since that's nearly impossible, I'll have to be content with Cania and Irina.
"Um... Young Master. Would you like to blow it?"
"What is this, a magic candle?"
While I was thinking that, Cania had already inserted a candle and lit it. Seeing the subtle energy emanating from the candle, it seems to be a premium product that releases a fragrance that calms the mind and body when lit.
".....Hoo."
After blowing out the candle and inhaling the subtle fragrance that rose up, I feel like I'm lying leisurely on a vast meadow.
"Thank you, you two."
Thinking such thoughts, I closed my eyes gently and expressed my sincere gratitude to Cania and Irina.
"It would have been really difficult without you two. If even you two weren't here, I would have been eating cake alone right now."
Saying that, I picked up the knife placed beside me and quickly cut the cake into easy-to-eat pieces.
"...Thank you, Young Master."
"Th-thank you."
When I distributed a piece of cake to each of them, Cania expressed her thanks calmly, while Irina thanked me with a blushing face.
'...It's a good thing that wasn't reality.'
Seeing them like that, memories of them from the trial begin to surface unbidden.
Like the moment when Cania, who had been living in exhaustion while suffering from guilt for not being able to save me every moment and the desire to destroy the world, burst into tears the moment she saw me.
Or when Irina, who had been living in a state of mental breakdown to the point where she couldn't even recognize Arienne, shed tears the moment she saw me as her eyes became clear.
"Young Master? What's wrong?"
"Frey, are you okay?"
Recalling such appearances, my expression naturally furrows. Because of that, Cania and Irina asked questions with quite worried expressions.
"Ah, no. It's just... memories of the trial came to mind."
I said while trying to make an expression like it was nothing, but Irina's expression turned pale again.
"F-Frey... how was the trial? Was it very hard?"
"It wasn't hard at all. It was just..."
"...You say that, but the sleep-talking you've been doing all this time was quite something."
I was speaking in a soft voice to calm her down, but Cania, who had been maintaining an expressionless face beside me, cut off my words.
"Young Master, what happened?"
"Hmm... well..."
"Of course, if you don't wish to remember, you don't have to tell us. It's just..."
Cania, who had been glancing at Irina beside her, soon answered with a sigh.
"Seeing the various behaviors and emotions Irina showed during the week Young Master was asleep, it seems that if you don't tell the story, Irina's mind might soon fall apart."
Saying that, Cania pointed at Irina, who was trembling with eyes full of anxiety and guilt.
"Well, it wasn't anything special..."
Because Irina overlapped with her appearance in the trial, I had no choice but to start telling the story.
"I just experienced what would have happened if I had died at the mansion, and went around meeting people one by one who harbored guilt toward me. That's all. At most, it only took a week. To me who has been through all kinds of hardships, it was nothing..."
"...You said last time it would take several months."
"Anyway, it really wasn't anything special. Look, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"
I said that with a smile, but Irina's expression is ominous.
"Then... what's the reason you kept saying such gloomy words in your sleep-talking, like wanting to leave here now, or that it was the worst, or begging please don't do that...?"
"That's..."
"The trial... was that painful. I didn't know that... I..."
As Irina murmured like that and began to sob, I was wondering what to say when Cania, who had been quietly watching the situation from the side, interjected.
"Irina. That's enough."
"But..."
"I understand your worried feelings well, but today is Young Master's birthday. So, let's have these gloomy conversations later."
Hearing those words, Irina quietly nodded her head, then took my hand and spoke.
"...You worked hard, Frey."
"Mm..."
For some reason, Cania seemed to be glaring at me coldly, so I answered while trailing off, then took a bite of the cake I had cut into several pieces in front of me.
"Ah... it's sweet. Sweet things really are the best. Serena was right..."
"Young Master. In a few days, Young Master's birthday party is scheduled to be held."
"Pfft!!"
I was savoring the cake that was sweet enough to make my eyes roll back if I offered it to Serena, when shocking news came from Cania's mouth.
"Cough, cough. Ugh..."
"Young Master, are you alright."
Thanks to that, the cake I was eating got stuck in my throat and I was coughing, so Cania handed me a water glass beside her.
"Cania, didn't you just say to stop the gloomy talk?"
"Um... Young Master, you always liked birthday parties, didn't you?"
When I asked after drinking water and feeling somewhat better, Cania asked back with a flustered expression.
"Ah... you didn't know. I absolutely hate birthday parties."
"Huh?"
"...There's no one who sincerely congratulates me, and who would like a party teeming with people who despise me or want to exploit me."
"Ah....."
Hearing those words, Cania quietly lowered her head.
Well, in the previous timeline, I always wore a broad smile and engaged in dissolute behavior every time there was a birthday party... so anyone would think I like birthday parties.
- Knock knock knock
"I came to clean..."
While I was thinking that, someone knocked on the door.
"Ah, hello..."
"Lulu?"
"...Eek."
Soon, Lulu, who entered wearing a maid outfit, saw me awake and began to tremble with a pale face.
"Come in later."
"Ah, yes... y-yes..."
I coldly told her to leave the room, then sighed and spoke.
"It seems the instructions I gave were carried out well?"
"Yes, it proceeded without any issues."
"Good, that's how it should be. That's a relief."
After hearing Cania's words, I lay back on the bed with a satisfied smile and began listening to her continued briefing.
"As planned by Young Master, the servants who were expelled from the mansion during the break will receive the same amount as their working wages under the name of vacation pay, and the commoner students who will be fired from their temporary servant positions as of today will receive a large compensation."
"Then, all I have to do now is act like I'm being unfair."
"Yes, that is correct."
As Cania said, I had been planning to give money to the commoner students from the beginning.
After having Cania investigate behind the scenes, half of the commoner students are suffering from poverty to the point where they can't even eat proper meals.
And among them, a quarter have sick siblings or parents they can't treat because they lack money.
That's not all. Most students don't have the money to buy Sunrise Academy's expensive textbooks, so they save up little by little to buy textbooks and share them around.
It's common for students who can't pay the cost to participate in the field trip in the second semester, and every lunchtime, they force themselves to fill their stomachs with the tasteless food from the Academy's cafeteria.
Given their situation, they endured the humiliation of becoming maids and servants following my orders in this exam.
That's because Class A receives tuition exemption.
Though Sunrise Academy is full of corruption, the Class A tuition exemption is a longstanding tradition that has continued for 1000 years, so even the headmaster can't do anything about it.
In other words, anything that isn't such a longstanding tradition has all been reformed by the headmaster.
Anyway, to conclude, financial support is desperately needed for the commoner students.
However, the bleak reality of the current Sunrise Empire is that there isn't a single rule, system, or institution that provides financial support to commoners.
So, I will distribute money to the commoners by forcing them to work at my mansion.
"Cania, the 'Servant Welfare Rules' my father created are still valid, right?"
"Yes, they are."
Hearing that, I smiled quietly.
My father, who was usually very interested in servant welfare, had created quite complex and powerful rules.
And among those rules, I will use the rules regarding servants' vacations and the rules regarding servants' dismissal.
"...Cania, what happened to the special exam?"
"The Imperial Family cancelled it to minimize the aftermath of this incident. Thanks to that, Class A's personnel will remain as is."
I was worried that Klana, who had arrived at the incident scene, might have failed all the commoners except me, but fortunately, the exam was cancelled due to the mansion attack incident a week ago.
Well, the 'rule that the commander can decide the failed participants' that she probably inserted to at least do some check when she failed to kill me, and the concern about security weakening due to this incident would have made this a natural course of action.
"Good, that worked out well. Then I should proceed with the planned matters soon."
Saying that, I stood up, stretched, and headed toward the door.
"Are the commoner students still at the mansion?"
"Yes, they are. Since the news that the special exam was cancelled was announced today, the commoners were also waiting at the mansion."
"How did you create my alibi?"
"Yes, the commoner students believe that Young Master went on an overseas trip ignoring the special exam regulations and returned today."
"Well done. Then gather everyone on the 1st floor."
Saying that and about to step outside, something floated up before my eyes.
[Second reward.......]
"...Go away."
I immediately swiped away the system window that had insensitively interrupted while I was trying to do something important, then sighed realizing the word 'second reward' had passed.
'I'll check it a bit later...'
It's true that the system's rewards and abilities are helpful, but lately, whenever I see that hateful system, irritation surges up.
If the second reward I'll check a little later turns out to be pathetic, from now on I won't even glance at the system except when using the point investment system.
"U-um... can I go in now..."
"You come too."
"Heup...!"
Thinking such thoughts as I left the room, I began to drag Lulu's arm as she was trembling with anxiety outside the room.
"W-where are we going...?"
"Never mind that, just follow me."
Dragging Lulu who had a flustered expression, I went down to the 1st floor, and already some commoner students had been called out and were looking at me with eyes full of hostility.
Well, considering that I, the Empire's greatest scoundrel who is believed to have sexually harassed female students, put them in danger and calmly went on an overseas trip, it's only natural.
"...I have news to tell you."
Accepting their gazes calmly, I started speaking with a disinterested expression once all the students had gathered in the 1st floor lobby.
"The special exam has been cancelled. Our class will remain as is next semester."
Hearing that, the commoner students' expressions brightened.
Well, for them who are struggling with poverty, what could be happier news than hearing they won't be expelled from Class A?
"So... now everyone get out of my house."
However, at my following words, the commoners began to show cold expressions again as if that never happened.
"What are you doing? Not leaving?"
Looking at them with an absurd expression, I began to speak with my face deeply furrowed.
"Why, did you perhaps work expecting compensation? I fed and housed you for free, isn't that too unconscionable?"
"But... when we first came here, we definitely signed a contract..."
"What?"
When one student hesitantly stepped forward, I raised my voice and spoke.
"What contract?"
"Well... on the first day we came to this mansion, we signed a contract..."
"I'm asking what that contract is!!"
When I snapped at them, the student who had stepped forward began to sweat cold sweat.
"Young Master. I will explain that."
And at that point, Cania, who had been quietly looking at me, interjected.
"On the first day the students came, I distributed contracts to them."
"What?"
"According to the rules regarding servant employment established by Abraham Raon Starlight, the owner of Starlight Mansion and the original head of this household..."
"Cania, are you messing with me right now?"
Approaching Cania while saying that, I spoke while emitting a sinister aura.
"The head of this mansion is me right now. My word is the rule and the law. So why is my father's rule coming up?"
"Young Master is the temporary head of household..."
- Smack!!
Cania's face swung to the side.
""...........""
And silence flowed through the mansion's lobby.
"I told you not to climb over me."
.......I apologize."
Cania, with a red handprint on her face, quietly bows her head and apologizes.
And the commoners watching that sight are all looking at me with expressions of contempt.
Of course, they seem to be managing their expressions, but to me who has received so many gazes, their inner thoughts are too plainly visible.
"I don't care about contracts or anything else. Get out of our mansion right now."
"But Young Master, the rules created by Abraham-sama have binding force under Imperial law and are also magically restricted..."
"So you want to keep these kids around? I'm going to hold my birthday party soon?"
I speak with an incredulous voice to Cania who has a troubled expression. Ignoring the cold stares flying from around me.
"Never mind if the special exam was in progress, but the exam is over so I'm going to hold a birthday party at my house. But if such guys who can't even cook and are clumsy at handling work fill up the mansion... what do you think will happen to my dignity?"
"But Young Master's birthday party is held somewhere else, not at this mansion..."
"You know too. My shadow friends. We've always held a birthday party with them separately at my mansion every year."
Hearing that, the commoners' expressions stiffen. Well, it's understandable since they heard about my shadow friends who were only rumors from my own mouth.
Of course, it's also because I deliberately emphasized it so the commoners would spread the rumor.
"But Young Master... if you kick them out right now... heup...!"
"I don't care so everyone get out. I'll pay compensation or penalty money, so take that and get lost."
When I kicked Cania over with my foot and coldly glared at the commoners, they began to tremble.
It seems they're quite angry at my atrocious behavior.
"Cania! Are you alright!"
As expected, Perloche, who had been clenching her teeth, suddenly rushed at Cania and began emitting divine power.
"I'll heal..."
"I-I'm fine! Saintess!"
"Ah, ah... th-that's right!"
But seeing Cania's flustered expression and late remembering that she's a black magician vulnerable to divine power, Perloche hurriedly moved away from her and began to look at me.
"Frey! Stop this atrocious behavior!"
"Atrocious behavior?"
"Yes! How hard we worked! Kicking us out without pay! I cannot forgive such unfair treatment..."
"...Let's just go, Perloche."
"Huh?"
I was wondering how to stop Perloche who was unknowingly starting to interfere with my plan to give huge compensation to the commoners, when Irina beside her began to whisper in a low voice.
"Irina! But..."
"Cania has a plan. So... let's step back here."
"Ugh..."
Soon after pondering Irina's words, Perloche glared at me and slowly stepped back.
"Then, Young Master is 'dismissing' everyone here?"
And at that moment, Cania asked me in a meaningful voice.
"That's right, those kids are all fired."
"I see. Then, I will process it that way."
When I answered with a calm expression, Cania nodded with a composed expression and spoke while looking at the children.
"Yes, therefore... everyone is dismissed as of this time. Please refer to the contract here for details."
"Just hurry up and send them out."
"Young Master, won't you check? The rules here are..."
"I said it's fine. I have zero interest in such old-fashioned rules my father made."
"...Understood. Then, I will go guide the commoners."
Just as Cania answered and was about to leave the mansion with the commoners, I raised the corner of my mouth and grabbed Lulu's shoulder beside me.
"Wait... you stay behind."
"Heok! Y-yes?"
"I'll keep your contract. Thinking about it, it seems like it would be quite fun to use you as a toy when playing with my shadow friends."
Hearing that, Lulu's expression turned pale, while the commoner students began to show disgusted expressions.
"...Let's go."
Soon after Cania muttered quietly, the commoners one by one took their eyes off me and began to slowly leave the mansion.
"U-um, that means..."
"Don't say anything after the fact and just clean my room."
"Heup, heuk..."
I sent Lulu who was sobbing beside me upstairs, and quietly fell into thought.
'...Damn, what do I do.'
Actually, detaining Lulu today wasn't in my plan.
I now have quite a lot of things to worry about, so I was planning to attach Cania to investigate after giving the huge compensation to the commoners who were unfairly fired by me today.
[Lulu's current emotions: Suicidal impulse/Guilt/Self-loathing]
"...Sigh."
But after using the mind-reading skill just now, I couldn't just send her away.
"Another thing to worry about..."
She didn't have [Suicidal impulse] until that incident happened, I don't know why it suddenly appeared. It seems I'll have to keep a close watch on her from now on.
"Hoo..."
Thinking such thoughts as I surveyed the lobby where I had done the slapstick act with Cania, I began to smile faintly thinking about the huge compensation the commoners would soon receive, but...
"Is Frey Raon Starlight here?"
"What is it?"
Suddenly someone knocked on the main gate calling me, so I frowned and walked forward.
"...What is this matter?"
Soon after opening the gate, I asked with an annoyed expression...
"It's an Imperial command."
"Huh?"
Hearing the words from the Imperial attendant standing in front of the gate, I couldn't help but open my mouth wide.
"...It has been decided that the Imperial Family will host Frey-sama's birthday party."
.......!
"It's His Majesty the Emperor's consideration for you to spend an intimate time with the Third Princess."
It seems my fate is cursed.