Episode 96: Mother-in-Law Conflict (2)
The Nevilim baronial family.
They are my mother’s family home, and during the Kingdom of Ortenos era, they were the Nevilim viscount family, one of the Lanecki marquis family’s retainers.
Historically, they are a young house, so they don’t have a legitimately inscribed technique like Meteor Ray, but they are a rare family originating from a Hero who made assassination their profession.
Therefore, my mother’s attire is basically black, and she wears ninja-like combat gear.
“Elmia-san, I will ascertain the extent of your resolve. If you lose, you will sever your relationship with Sharka and resign from your position as the next head of the family, so be prepared for that.”
“Fine. In return, Camilla, if you lose, you will not be allowed to interfere in my relationship with Sharka in any way from now on. This is an order as the next head of the Marquis of Ortenos.”
That means that from now on, Elmia is recognized as the next head of the family, and her family home will be silenced.
Elmia’s combat uniform is based on white.
An easy-to-move mini-skirt and a sacred robe like a saint.
In her hand, she holds a Shakujo.
“…Very well.”
“I’ll ask just in case, but why are you interfering with my relationship with Sharka, Camilla?”
“I can’t possibly entrust my precious Sharka to a woman like you who is all talk and no substance.”
“Then, all I have to do is show you that I’m not just talk, right?”
Elmia and my mother both readied their Star Tools.
“…Now, begin!”
At my father’s signal to start, with a subtle expression, both of them began to knead their Magical Power.
Elmia is more of a long-range type.
On the other hand, my mother is a full-on physical attacker who cuts in with body enhancement.
“Perish, Camilla!”
Elmia’s magic was completed first.
Meteor Ray, huh?
However, Elmia’s is a little different from a laser beam.
When Elmia waved her Shakujo, about seven orbs of light floated around her.
(I see, she intends to overwhelm with the number of attacks.)
From the seven orbs of light, thin, penetrating Meteor Ray light bullets are fired.
About one bullet is loaded per second for each orb, so she can fire seven Meteor Rays per second.
It’s like a Gatling gun, Elmia’s original magic.
“Your handling of magic is quite good. As expected of Elmia-san.”
“Fufu, I wonder how long that composure will last?”
My mother runs around vertically and horizontally.
However, it is extremely difficult to avoid all the bullets fired like a raging storm.
Unable to avoid everything, Elmia’s light bullets eventually caught my mother.
“I got you.”
Elmia was convinced that it would hit.
However, my mother created a Magical Power Shield and deflected them with minimal movement.
The light bullets, having their trajectories diverted, collided with the ground in vain, creating craters.
“What, that’s Sharka’s! How do you know that technique?!”
A long time ago, I had Elmia accompany me in practicing defensive training.
Elmia, happy to be relied upon by me, was in a good mood, saying, “Fufun, it can’t be helped,” and fired Gatling magic at me just like now.
At that time, what I showed was the technique of parrying using a Shield.
Deflecting light bullets fired at high speed is like succeeding in a Just Guard every time in a game.
I can’t do it continuously either.
My mother demonstrated it with ease.
Elmia was surprised by my mother’s skill and widened her eyes.
“What kind of surprised face are you making, Elmia-san? In the first place, it was I who taught Sharka combat skills, you know?”
“…!”
Elmia continues to fire light bullets.
However, my mother deflected all of them.
There are not many nobles who can do this feat.
Because it is a dangerous technique that leads to instant death if the timing is even slightly off.
“Are you underestimating me, Elmia-san?”
My mother stopped and started talking.
Seeing this, Elmia temporarily interrupted her attack.
“Sharka is currently being targeted by the Court of Justice behind the scenes. The Lanecki Family can no longer ignore Sharka, who has been active in the First Campaign and the Ceasefire Talks. Perhaps they will add some kind of obstruction right now, just before you guys go to the academy.”
“N-No way…!”
In Elmia’s Plan, if she could go to the academy with me, she would be able to shake off the obstruction there.
When I talked to Elmia at Bangwall, she said that she intended to resolve the issue of legitimacy with Lanecki by using external forces.
I agreed at that time, but after the attack by the Court of Justice at Bangwall, I am now trying to steer the course in the direction of dismantling the Court of Justice by force.
“Of course, I intend to protect Sharka. But what about you? You speak as if everything will be resolved if you stand above, but in the end, you are just distracted by love and haven’t thought about anything concrete, have you?”
“…!”
Elmia is shaken by my mother’s words, which hit the nail on the head.
Well, I had a feeling that Elmia was a love brain who was only thinking about having a lovey-dovey time with me at the academy.
From my point of view, crushing Lanecki is simple and best.
“Your kind of attitude is just like the dead Elena. If you continue like this, you will surely meet a tragic death like Elena.”
My mother smiled coldly and looked down on Elmia.
“What! How dare you insult my mother…!”
Strong emotions were drawn out from Elmia, and her Magical Power was disturbed.
My mother did not miss Elmia’s gap.
Then, she kneaded Magical Power and fired Magical Power bullets in rapid succession.
This is a degraded version of Elmia’s Gatling magic.
Elmia starts intercepting late, but that’s a bad move.
My mother’s is a barrage, a feint to distract her aim.
The main event is, after all, close combat.
My mother took advantage of Elmia’s gap and jumped into her range.
“Haaah!”
“Kuh! So fast!”
My mother thrust her spear in one breath.
Elmia doesn’t even have time to apply body enhancement.
She barely parries with her Shakujo.
My mother’s Star Tool is a strange spear with a twisted bud-like tip.
“You’re too naive, Elmia-san.”
My mother pours Magical Power into her Star Tool.
Then, the twisted bud at the tip of the Star Tool bloomed.
My mother’s spear transforms into a grotesque Star Tool with several protrusions.
“Eh? …Kyaa!”
Her flank was torn apart by the protrusions of the spear that she thought she had parried.
Blood drips down.
“Haa… Haa…”
“Elmia-san, why don’t you give up? You have no chance of winning anymore.”
“Haa… Haa… Who would ever, give up.”
Elmia was on the defensive, without even having time to use Healing Magic.
Even if she could handle the thrusts, she couldn’t completely defend against the existence of the protrusions that moved freely.
“It’s always been like this since long ago. You thought that if you made a gloomy face and kept crying to trouble Sharka, you would be able to get his attention, right?”
“…”
“Let me be clear, you are just coddling Sharka. You become the head of the family in that state, and take Sharka as your Husband? Don’t be ridiculous!”
As expected, the difference in combat experience showed.
My mother used her spear to knock up Elmia’s Shakujo’s guard.
Elmia becomes completely defenseless.
“It’s over, Elmia-san.”
My mother was convinced of that and was about to swing her spear, but she didn’t move.
Why?
She looks at the tip of the spear.
Elmia’s protrusions were entangled by the decorations on the head of the Shakujo.
“It’s you who’s finished, Camilla.”
“Could it be, you were aiming for this?”
Seven orbs of light float behind Elmia.
“You’ve been noisy since a while ago, you old hag! Even so, I love Sharka! So don’t get in my way!”
Then, light bullets were fired at Camilla at point-blank range.
Camilla created a Shield in a hurry, but as expected, she couldn’t parry at point-blank range, and the magic hit her directly.
A roar resounds, and dust rises.
Eventually, the dust clears.
“…I did it… I won!”
“…Haa, haa. That’s why you’re not thorough enough.”
A voice came from behind.
“Hk! Fugu!”
Camilla, tattered, had gone behind Elmia.
Then, she immediately applied a choke sleeper.
Elmia thrashes, but she can’t escape because she is restrained by my mother’s legs.
“Carelessness on the battlefield is directly linked to death. Elmia-san, you have lost.”
Saliva drips from the corner of Elmia’s mouth.
Her eyes become vacant, and just when it seemed like she was at her limit.
“I hate it… I… won’t lose!… Because I don’t want Sharka to think I’m a weak woman…!”
“Lies?!”
Elmia exerted the strength of a cornered rat and forcibly got up.
Her body was covered in a divine white aura.
That was Elmia’s last bit of pride.
“Deyaaaa!”
Elmia slammed herself and my mother into the ground in a shoulder throw.
–With a roar, dust dances violently.
A huge crater was created in the ground by the power exceeding Stella-Class body enhancement.
Neither of them moved.
“Both combatants—unconscious. This match is a draw!”
My father’s voice echoed through the training grounds.
Thus, the fierce battle between the two came to an end.
——
Elmia’s bedroom.
“Ugh…”
“Elmia, are you awake?”
Elmia opened her eyes.
“Brother… what happened to me?”
“Don’t push yourself. Can you drink some water?”
“Y-yes.”
I tilted the water pitcher and helped Elmia drink.
“Brother, what was the result of the duel?”
“It was a draw. You showed real spirit against Mother, Elmia. That last strike was truly amazing.”
“Hehe, do you think so?! But…”
“Hmm, what’s wrong?”
Elmia’s face brightened for a moment, but she quickly became dejected.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Elmia looking so gloomy.
“Camilla-sama was right about everything. I’ve been relying on you too much, Brother…”
“That’s not true. Elmia, you’ve been managing perfectly well on your own as the next head of the House.”
“No, Brother. I haven’t really been thinking about anything. All I could think about was being with you. I didn’t realize it until Camilla-sama pointed it out.”
So, she’s become able to look at herself objectively.
But this feeling is one of frustration, a wavering of confidence.
It’s not a positive emotion.
“Elmia…”
“I can’t stay like this. With my current strength, I can’t even protect you from Lanecki…”
Elmia said, her voice tinged with frustration.
“Elmia, I… no, never mind.”
I was about to say that there’s no problem because I’ll protect her, but it didn’t feel right.
Elmia is now facing her own conceit and lack of power, trying to improve herself.
I didn’t want to say anything that would deny those feelings.
“I have to become stronger. Otherwise, I…”
“Yes, Elmia-san, you must become stronger.”
“…! Camilla-sama.”
Mother suddenly visited Elmia’s bedroom.
“I didn’t expect you to get up from that point. I’ll be honest, I’ve reassessed you, Elmia-san. I might even give you a little bit of recognition.”
“Does that mean…!”
Elmia raised her face at Mother’s words.
“However, it’s also true that you can’t say you’ve won against me. I still don’t think Elmia-san is suitable as the head of House Ortenos, and I still don’t think you’re a match for Sharka.”
“I see…”
This time, she became dejected again.
She’s reacting too much to Mother’s words.
“I said ‘not yet,’ Elmia-san. You still have room to grow. If you can reach the level I expect, I might consider approving of your relationship with Sharka.”
“…What should I do?”
“Elmia-san, become my disciple. I will personally train you to a level suitable for the head of House Ortenos.”
People tend to believe convenient words when they are weak.
I judged that Elmia was in that state now.
Mother’s face looks like that of a con artist right now.
“Mother-sama, what on earth has gotten into you?”
I questioned Mother.
I don’t think Mother would easily acknowledge Elmia.
If she’s planning to do something to Elmia, I’ll take action, even if she’s my mother.
“Sharka, I’m sad that you would look at me like that. Elmia-san, you’re truly fortunate to be so loved by Sharka. That’s why you can’t stay as you are.”
“Mother-sama, don’t change the subject…”
“Sharka, this is a conversation between women. You stay silent.”
“…”
I was sharply silenced by Mother.
It’s tough being a man when you’re told to be quiet like that.
“So, Elmia-san. May I have your answer?”
“…I accept your offer.”
It was then that a smile appeared on Mother’s face for the first time.
“Yes, yes! I believed that Elmia-san would say that. Well then, for the short time before you go to the academy, let’s—do our best together.”
“Yes, let’s.”
The two of them shook hands.
I could only watch the scene.
Elmia’s condition is not necessarily good.
What is Mother’s intention in taking advantage of that?
I can’t understand the true meaning behind Mother’s smile right now.
(I need to keep a close eye on their actions from now on.)
Even after seeing his sister’s growth, the older brother’s worries were endless.