Chapter 38: How Much Do You Like Me?
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Foreword
To everyone who has left comments!
I’ve read them all.
Thank you for all the interesting comments!
I apologize for not being able to reply…
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“Do you like Reina? Seriously?”
“Huh? What’s with the sudden question?”
I thought it was a joke, but looking at Zeke’s eyes, I realized he was serious. So, I straightened up and answered Zeke.
“Yes, I like her. Seriously.”
A silence enveloped us for a while.
The air was serious, and I didn’t know why Zeke brought this up.
“How much do you like her?”
It was like a clingy girl asking, “How much do you like me?” But maybe this was a father’s concern.
I answered seriously; my feelings hadn’t changed since that day, if anything, they were growing stronger every day.
“I like her enough to give my life to protect her.”
I like her as much as I like Kaguya.
Impure? But I genuinely like them both.
Who decided that you can’t genuinely like two people? Who decided that you can’t pour equal love into two people?
According to the rules set by people, such things are forbidden.
But no one can prove that these feelings are a lie.
Because I, Kenyya, am head-over-heels in love with both of them.
I won’t let anyone deny these feelings as lies.
“You’re serious, huh? I see… I’ll accept it.”
“Huh? Does that mean I should start calling you Papa now?”
“Y-you idiot! It’s not about marriage!”
I thought he meant he was accepting our marriage, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.
He made me misunderstand.
“We’ll talk more about this after Lord-sama arrives. And Kenyya, about your name…”
I was still feeling a bit confused by the sudden change of topic, but I replied.
“Is Kenyya not good enough?”
“A name that could easily be traced is not good. How about a pseudonym, like Sword? Sword Sylphid.”
“Sword… coming from Kenyya, that name is good… Yes! I understand!”
My name as an Asgardian became Sword.
It was simple, but it’s just a pseudonym, so I guess anything is fine.
“And from now on, call me… Papa. ‘Zeke-san’ will raise suspicion.”
“So, it’s Papa after all.”
“It’s regrettable, but in this case, ‘Papa’ doesn’t mean Reina’s husband, but rather, you’re my son. Don’t misunderstand.”
“Y-yes, understood. Papa.”
Zeke made a very bitter face when I called him Papa.
He must be struggling with something, but from now on, I’m counting on you, Papa!
He’s going to act as my Papa, it’s Papa-katsu!
“By the way, who’s the older sibling?”
“Hmm? It doesn’t matter, do as you like.”
“!?!”
Those words struck me like lightning.
“Do as I like…”
I thought about what that meant.
My brain went into overdrive, my thoughts accelerated, and the colors of the world faded.
Which would be better, older brother or younger brother, older sister or younger sister?
To make the best choice that satisfies my desires, to make a choice I won’t regret.
(To be called “Onii-chan” or to be able to call her “Onee-chan.” What a difficult choice! I can’t give up either!)
I imagined Reina calling me “Onii-chan.”
“Onii-chan! It’s morning!”
“Ugh, just a little more… five more minutes.”
“Come on… wake up, Onii-chan!”
“H-hey, Reina! Don’t jump on my stomach!”
For some reason, when I think of a younger sister, I imagine her waking up her sleeping older brother. It’s not just me, right?
How wonderful, I want her as my younger sister.
And then there’s the older sister.
Just imagining it is scandalous; no younger brother dislikes a beautiful older sister.
People who actually have older sisters might say it’s impossible, but…
But the older sister in my fantasies is always kind and a little bit naughty to her younger brother, right, everyone!
“Ugh, ugh, if I choose one, the other will be left out… well, either way, it’ll stand up.”
“What are you talking about?”
As I was groaning, Reina entered the room wearing an apron.
It seemed like we were having a Japanese breakfast today, with miso soup, rolled omelet, and white rice, the best breakfast for me.
“Breakfast is ready, Kenyya-kun, Papa.”
“Reina, can you call me Onii-chan?”
“?… I don’t really understand, but… Onii-chan?”
Reina tilted her head and looked straight at me as she called me Onii-chan.
“Guh! Thank you for the meal!”
I clutched my chest and writhed.
“But we haven’t started eating yet…”
“What are you playing at?”
I had a dignified death.
And at the same time, I decided to have her call me Onii-chan.
…
After breakfast, while we were taking a short break, Lord-sama visited the mansion.
“Good morning, everyone. I’m glad to see you all again.”
“So, Lord-sama, what are we going to do now? Please tell us the plan.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
Then, the members of the Nichia Alliance took their seats.
Tanaka, Lord-sama, Zeke, Reina, and me, now known as Sword.
“Sword, huh… yeah, that’s not bad.”
“Kenyya-kun is… Onii-chan? I understand. Please take care of me, Onii-chan.”
“Ugh!”
I told Lord-sama, Tanaka, and Reina about the decision I had made earlier.
I was still not used to it and clutched my chest, my heart was pounding.
“So, about our future actions, Kenyya… no, excuse me. Sword, you will go to the Aasgard Empire.”
“I see, I had a feeling, but what’s the reason?”
“First, you need to rise through the ranks as a soldier. At the very least, I want you to obtain the position of a Holy Knight.”
“Is that necessary?”
“Yes, only the Holy Knight Captain can appoint a Knight. Just like my sister’s Knight was Jillian, the Holy Knight Captain. If you’re a Holy Knight, I should be able to make you the Holy Knight Captain with my authority.”
“Then why not from the start…”
“No, as I said yesterday, this is ultimately a matter of emotion, of having won the traditional battle. If an unknown Knight suddenly becomes active in my camp, it will diminish the effect of my power. First, you will enter the Aasgard KOG Training School as Zeke’s child. And you need to show our friendly relationship and make it known that you are in my camp. That Zeke, Reina, and Sword are in my camp.”
“I don’t mind that… but can I really become a Holy Knight that quickly?”
“You’ll be fine. And Reina-kun, I’m asking the same of you.”
“Me as well?”
“Yes, I’m worried about Sword being alone, and it would be better to have someone who knows the Aasgard Empire by his side. Besides, you’re invincible when you’re riding a KOG, but otherwise, you’re a bit… no, let me be frank. You’re weak, and I’m worried.”
“Worried… I’m a man, you know? To be protected like that…”
“Reina-kun is strong, the name of the Silver Ice Princess is still alive even in close combat. You’d have your neck snapped with her bare hands. There aren’t many adults who can beat her.”
(What’s that, scary.)
Now that I think about it, when Reina grabbed my shoulder before, it hurt like hell.
Reina’s trained body is overwhelmingly stronger than mine, as expected of someone raised by a Terminator.
Come to think of it, I heard Kaguya is also quite strong, wait, am I the weakest?
It’s true that I’ve never done any martial arts other than KOG, so I’d lose to an average person.
I’d probably be knocked out by a single punch from some thug, though I don’t know if there are thugs in this world.
Then, the Terminator, or rather, Zeke, opened his mouth.
“So, that’s how it is… which means…”
“Yes.”
Zeke and Lord-sama looked at each other and nodded.
Then, they looked back and forth between me and Reina.
“Sword, Reina. You two will live together in Valhalla, the capital of the Aasgard Empire.”
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Afterword
The story isn’t progressing, so I’ll update another chapter.
Probably around evening.
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