Chapter 282: The Problem of the Duke’s Family (1/2)

The next day.

I decided to reveal that I was a child of God while we were gathered together before breakfast. Turns out, they were expecting it, but they didn’t expect me to tell them out of the blue like that. Everyone except Remilie-san stared at me with wide-open eyes.

“I’m sorry for keeping quiet about it.” [Ryouma]

“It’s nothing to apologize for, really. It would be a much bigger problem if you treated your status as a Child of God flippantly. Besides, we all have something we want to hide, though the reason and degree to which might differ. For one, we were all hiding the fact that we knew you were a Child of God.” [Reinbach]

“It’s wonderful to have a person you can trust and reveal all of your secrets to, but there are steps that need to be taken before that can happen. So there’s no need for you to be so concerned. Ryouma-sama, thank you for taking this opportunity to tell us.” [Sebasu]

“Just hearing you say that makes me feel better already.” [Ryouma]

Looks like there won’t be any changes to my relationship with Reinbach-sama and Sebasu-san. What’s more concerning, however, is Schieber-san. I think I can trust him, but he’s been keeping quiet and making a difficult face this whole time.

“Schieber, how about you say something too?” [Reinbach]

“Ah, sorry… I don’t want to dig up too much about it, but Ryouma, as a Child of God, do you have any intention of hurting this country or the royal family?” [Schieber]

He was calm, but he exuded a pressure even stronger than one he exuded during our spar.

I can tell he wouldn’t tolerate a lie, but there’s nothing to worry about.

“At the very least, there’s nothing of the sort right now. All I want right now is to be able to maintain my current life, so there’s no point picking a fight with the country or the royal family. I’m not interested in peerage or authority either, so honestly, the royal family isn’t really my concern.” [Ryouma]

When I said that, Schieber-san finally relaxed.

“Sorry about that. I did think that would be the case, but it was on my mind.” [Schieber]

“Well, you were the knight commander, so it’s understandable you’d be concerned.” [Ryouma]

After that Schieber-san promised to neither tell others nor report to the royal family. He was already retired, so he had no obligations to make such a report.

“But if His Majesty has already heard about you, then there’s probably no point even if we don’t say anything. I’m sure His Majesty will summon you at some point.” [Schieber]

So that really was the case… It’s too late to be on guard now, but I wonder how he’s able to distinguish the Children of the Gods. To clarify, I don’t feel bad about it, I’m just curious.

“A way to distinguish a Child of God… At the very least, I’ve never heard of it.” [Schieber]

“Same. If I knew a method like that, I would have used it already.” [Reinbach]

“But it did seem like His Majesty was certain that the young lady wasn’t a Child of God. He just declared it out of the blue, so perhaps there might have been a reason why.” [Remilie]

“Was there nothing strange before the investigation ended? If there’s a method, then perhaps he might have asked a different question or brought a strange device.” [Ryouma]

But everyone shook their heads.

“If he did something so obvious, we would have noticed it. We were always with Elia-chan during those days. To monitor her and to observe her, especially, when the king was around.” [Remilie]

“Well, it’s a different story if it was a small tool, though. He could have been hidden it in his pocket or his sleeves since we didn’t really check His Majesty’s body or personal belongings.” [Schieber]

“True, but that would mean he could have used it at any time. Besides, His Majesty made every effort he could when we first started. I don’t think he was acting back then. Perhaps, he discovered something.” [Reinbach]

“At most, there’s that time when he made the young lady cry.” [Remilie]

He made Elia cry?

“Did he take her blood?” [Ryouma]

“Oh, nothing of the sort. His Majesty has always adored the young lady, and so did she him, so they would play together whenever they were together. That day he poked the young lady on the cheeks a little too hard, so she cried. She wasn’t actually hurt, but the strength he used surprised her. It was a rare event, so I still remember it, but I don’t think it had anything to do with distinguishing if she was a Child of God.” [Sebasu]

“I see…” [Ryouma]

I thought they might have missed some things related to otherworlders or Earth, but there’s not enough information. There’s no point even if we think about it now.

“Thank you for answering my questions.” [Ryouma]

“You’re not pursuing it anymore? We might be able to realize something if we talk a bit more.” [Reinbach]

“Our food will be ready in a short while, and I was just curious since it concerned me. It could have just been a political decision anyway. I just thought he might have had a method since Elia really isn’t a Child of God, so——” [Ryouma]

But I couldn’t finish what I was saying because Remilie-san and the rest of the adults suddenly looked at me with greater intensity than when I revealed that I was a Child of God. Reinbach-sama and Sebasu-san in particular were strongly affected.

“Ryouma-kun, is that true?” [Reinbach]

“!” [Ryouma]

When I heard Reinbach-sama’s serious voice, it dawned on me. The Children of the Gods were seen by the people of this country as ‘bombs’. They were profitable when handled well, but they could do tremendous damage otherwise. Of course, they could also be a dud.

Reinbach-sama and the others did not know how to distinguish the Children of the Gods, so they weren’t actually sure that Elia wasn’t one. Somewhere deep inside Reinbach-sama must have been yearning for a clear answer to that.

“Yes, there’s no doubt about it. It’s true that King Masaharu’s blood runs deep in her, but that’s all.” [Ryouma]

“Ryouma-sama, I say this not in doubt of your words, but could we know if you have any proof to back your statements?” [Sebasu]

“I have no documents of the sort, but perhaps this will suffice?” [Ryouma]

I took out my Status Board from my Item Box and showed Sebasu-san two entries.

“Are these!?” [Sebasu]

“What’s the matter? What is it?” [Reinbach]

“…Ryouma-sama possesses the title, ‘Favored Child of the Gods’, and even the skill, ‘Oracle’.” [Sebasu]

“My goodness, so Elia truly isn’t a Child of God then?” [Reinbach]

“Do you remember when we went to the church shortly after we met to produce my Status Board?” [Ryouma]

“Yes. Did you receive an oracle then?” [Reinbach]

“I was told it was my good fortune to meet you and I learned a few things about your family as well. Also, generally, there’s only one Child of God at a time. There were indeed times when there were multiple at the same time, but I should be the only one right now.” [Ryouma]

“I see…” [Reinbach]

Reinbach-sama must be relieved. His expression was relaxed now and his eyes were even a little moist. Sebasu-san had also taken out a handkerchief and looked like he was about to cry.

“If you don’t mind my asking, are you by any chance concerned that Elia could use King Masaharu’s ‘Calamity Magic’?” [Ryouma]

“You’re not wrong, but it’s a bit of a long story… Are you aware that King Masaharu was called a tyrant?” [Reinbach]

“A tyrant?” [Ryouma]