Chapter 233: Don’t Call Me Uppy
“Ah, I see. Uppy inherited Rodel’s legacy and took over that land. So, you came here to investigate my villa, huh?”
“…That’s about it.”
As Rest revealed this information, pressed against the chest of her sailor uniform, Shoko made a slightly sad face, murmuring, “Hmm.”
“I see, I see… So, Rodel really has passed away. I feel bad about that.”
“…Is that all? Don’t you have anything else to say?”
Rest had already informed Shoko about Rodel’s murder. She had intentionally revealed this information to gauge her reaction, but despite the fact that her beloved grandson had been killed, Shoko showed no signs of anger or hatred toward Rest.
“The fact that that child died is because of me—or rather, Frederica. I have no reason to resent anyone.”
“…Is that so?”
In response, Rest’s expression slightly darkened with anger. If there was no hatred, did that mean there was no sense of guilt either? If she truly was the Queen Dowager, then had she not spoiled Rodel, he might not have strayed from the path.
“I’m sorry. I’m just a reincarnator based on my previous life’s personality, you see. I don’t really have Frederica’s feelings.”
“…So you mean you don’t have any emotions as a party involved?”
“Something like that, I guess?”
Shoko stood up from the bench. She swung a pack of strawberry milk high and tossed it into a nearby trash can with a satisfying thud.
“Since Uppy shared her story, I’ll share mine too. I died in an accident, you know.”
“An accident…?”
“Yep! And when I realized it, I had been reborn into this world.”
Shoko sat back down on the bench, crossing her legs.
“I was born and raised in this rural town… I was supposed to be able to attend a university in the city soon. But instead… I died before I could become an adult. I hadn’t even had sex yet!”
“…………Girls shouldn’t talk about sex like that.”
“That comment is a bit sexist, you know? Girls can be interested in naughty things too.”
Rest rubbed her face in annoyance, and Shoko grinned, showing her teeth in a mock angry expression.
“Anyway, I reincarnated into this world as a noble named Reijou.”
“…………”
“My new family treated me well. My dad and mom were nice people, my little brother was adorable, and I even had a handsome and kind fiancé. On top of that… I had a reincarnation bonus, a cheat, you know?”
“A reincarnation bonus… a cheat…?”
“Exactly! It’s called ‘Skuld’s Eye,’ and it lets me see the future. Isn’t that amazing?”
Shoko chuckled, casually revealing that information. So, she indeed possessed a reincarnation cheat, and it turned out to be the power of future prediction.
“…By the way, didn’t you have any powers like ‘Charm’?”
“Oh, you’re suspicious about that, huh? Sure, I was super popular with the boys, but that was all my own charm. I didn’t use any weird powers.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yep. Even that guy… Gascoin, he suspected me too.”
“Gascoin… Leonardo Gascoigne, you mean?”
He was the chairman of the Council of Sages. It was the first time Shoko had heard of any connection to the Queen Dowager.
“According to him, there are a lot of reincarnators in this world—about seventy-eight of them.”
“That’s quite a specific number…”
“I thought so too… Apparently, the number of reincarnators is seventy-eight. When one dies, another is born. The reincarnation bonuses are passed down too.”
“…………”
Seventy-eight. That was not only the number of reincarnators but might also represent the number of reincarnation bonuses. Shoko possessed the power of ‘Skuld’s Eye’ for future prediction, while Rest seemed to have infinite magical power, known as the ‘Ouroboros Ring.’
“Apparently, each reincarnator gets only one bonus. So, it seems there are indeed seventy-eight reincarnators. All the executives of the Council of Sages are reincarnators too.”
“Is that so… Then Gascoigne really was a reincarnator after all.”
“Yeah. But honestly, it’s not that important to me.”
Shoko reached into her pocket and pulled out a lollipop. She unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth, making a delightful sucking sound.
“Let’s get back to the topic. So, I reincarnated into this world, but I forgot something important.”
“…………”
“I forgot how absurd the world can be.”
“…………”
“In my previous life, I died without becoming an adult, without fulfilling my dreams. I couldn’t even repay my parents. I mistakenly thought this world would be different. I was really foolish.”
Suddenly, Shoko’s expression, which had been calm until now, turned serious.
“That’s why… everything was taken from me. I was forcibly made the king’s wife, and my family and fiancé who opposed it were killed.”