GCHPM 06

Chapter – 06 

Of

Several days had passed since that commotion.

So far, I hadn’t heard any news from Lord Kelts or Lady Elena. Presumably, our connection had fizzled out naturally.

Just as I wanted.

I had only one goal.

To live a slow life.

Let me say it again—before I was reincarnated, I worked as a cram school teacher and died from overwork.

I wanted to make the most of this life, learning from the mistakes of my past.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about climbing the social ladder or getting rich.

As long as I didn’t get too greedy, I had enough skills to get by.

Hmm.

For now, let’s just take down some monsters.

Lately, I’d only been hunting strong monsters, so my finances were starting to get tight.

No, scratch that—

They were in *really* bad shape.

The next tuition payment was more than double the previous one.

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep sigh and, out on an empty plain, began taking down one suitable monster after another.

Hours of combat.

Goblins, slimes, wolves, giant plants, giant boars—

None of them stood a chance against my weapons.

But…

“It’s still not enough. Maybe I should take out a loan…”

—

**Our Way-Too-Dilapidated Home**

Today, to make katsudon, I’d brought back a generous amount of giant boar meat. Unlike the Great Water Buffalo I’d taken down the other day, this shouldn’t disappear so quickly.

“I’m home! I’ll start cooking soon, so just wait a bit!”

I said with a bright expression—

“Hoh, Kanato. What are you planning to cook today?”

“Huh?”

Peeking his head out from the living room door was a very refined middle-aged man with blond hair.

Following him, a beautiful girl in a pristine uniform showed her face, and behind her, a purple-haired maid shot me a half-lidded stare.

Lady Elena looked lively—that was a relief.

And then—

“B-Brother… welcome back.”

Lina, appearing from behind the maid, gave an awkward “ahaha” laugh as she looked at me apologetically.

“…”

That meat’s going to disappear fast.

—

“W-WHAT IS THIS DISH?!! Just breaded and fried pork—and it’s THIS delicious?!!”

“My lord, that’s not all. There’s some kind of special sauce on it!”

“…Lina’s brother, please pass me another serving.”

“Brother, me too.”

“…”

That rice is going to disappear fast too.

In the end, I ended up making twenty servings of katsudon. And honestly, the Fiibel family members could really pack it away.

After we finished eating, we all sat in a circle in our shabby living room. Then, suddenly, part of the ceiling crumbled and fell right on top of us.

We were all covered in dust.

“I’m so sorry you had to come all the way to this cramped, miserable place…”

I bowed my head apologetically. Lord Kelts, looking smug, pulled something out of his inner coat pocket and handed it to me.

“Take this.”

“Huh?”

I accepted it reflexively and looked at it—

It was a piece of paper bearing the Fiibel family crest and an intricate design.

“What is this?”

“A blank check.”

“A blank check?”

“Write any number in that blank space, and the Fiibel family is obligated to pay that amount.”

“N-no way…”

My jaw dropped.

With this, I wouldn’t have to worry about Lina’s tuition anymore. I could even say goodbye to this dusty, crumbling shack.

My hands started trembling.

But—

“I can’t accept this.”

I politely declined and handed the blank check back to Lord Kelts.

And then, he—

“HAHAHAHA!!! Just how far do you plan to test me?!”

“Huh?”

“Could it be that what Kanato truly desires is this entire kingdom?”

“N-no! What are you saying?!”

“If there’s anything you want, just say it.”

“No, I don’t—”

“Or perhaps… you wish to paint me as a lowly, despicable noble who eats and runs without paying? That would be worse than death for me.”

This guy was definitely not backing down.

“Lina’s brother, be honest with me. You deserve compensation. I guarantee it.”

“Brother…”

Everyone was looking at me.

Well… I might as well be honest.

“I need money for Lina’s tuition. There’s only so much someone of my standing can do.”

“Hoh. I see. In that case, may I make a proposal?”

“Huh?”

“The Fiibel family will sponsor you. Enroll in Central Magic Academy immediately. If you do, I’ll cover both your tuition and Lina’s.”

“M-me too… at the Magic Academy?”

The moment I asked back, Lina suddenly leapt at me.

“Brother!!! This is an incredible offer!! B-Brother and I at the same academy… haaah… just thinking about it gives me the shivers…”

As I tried to calm my excited sister and looked at Lord Kelts, he continued.

“That’s not all. After school, I want you to teach my daughter—just like you did with Lina. I’ll pay you handsomely for your instruction.”

“Huh? I’m a complete amateur and I’ve never taught anyone other than my sister—are you sure that’s okay?”

“You defeated my daughter with overwhelming strength. What more is there to say?”

I stared at Lady Elena, mouth slightly agape.

She fidgeted nervously before speaking.

“With Lina’s brother, I’m sure I can become stronger. That’s why… I want to fight you more. There are feelings I can only get from that.”

“…”

As I remained silent, the maid gently touched Lina’s shoulder and added.

“To have guided a commoner like Lina into Central Magic Academy—there must be some kind of secret training method that no one knows about.”

Then Lina answered in a gentle tone.

“It was just normal fighting, studying, eating good food… nothing special… Ah! There was! Every night, Brother and I would ofu— Mmmphhh!”

I covered Lina’s mouth at the speed of light.

“Ahaha! Lord Kelts! I accept your terms!”

“Hmm. Very well. Let’s begin the enrollment procedures immediately.”

“Don’t you think that’s a bit too fast?”

“There’s no such thing as too fast.”

As expected of a Duke. No gaps in his game plan.

As I felt drained, Lady Elena kept sending me meaningful glances and muttered something under her breath, barely audible.

“Ofu…? I wonder… if I did ‘ofu’ with Lina’s brother every night… would I become stronger too?”