Volume 1 Chapter 2 The Great Villain Of The World Concerned About His Sister
That night.
At the dinner table, Father introduced Seirei to everyone.
Seated at the dinner table were me and Seirei.
Father――Kou Eishin, the head of the Kou family.
Mother――Gyokushi.
Older Brother――Kou Kairyou.
In addition, there was Hakuyou, the servant responsible for serving us.
Hakuyou is 16 years old.
She has served the Kou family since childhood, handling various tasks.
Incidentally, she is also my bodyguard and childhood friend.
"From today, Seirei, the daughter of the Ryuu family, has become part of our family!"
Father said, holding a sake cup in his hand.
"As you all know, the Ryuu family has long served the Kou family. Especially Seirei's father, who supported me as my lieutenant. Losing him was a great regret. Therefore, I decided to take in Seirei, the last remaining member of the Ryuu family. Although her surname will remain the same to preserve the Ryuu family, I want you to treat Seirei as part of our family!"
"Shin-sama."
Mother put her finger to her lips and looked at Father.
"Please don't speak too loudly. Seirei-chan has just arrived at the Kou family. She might get startled."
"...Hmm. U-um. I suppose Gyokushi is right..."
Father's face drooped in disappointment.
Though he appears to be a bold and strong general who commands troops on the battlefield, he is weak when it comes to Mother.
Mother was originally a commoner. I heard that Father passionately pursued her and they got married.
Father is so in love with Mother that he can't go against her.
"I'm sorry if I surprised you. My bad, Seirei."
"...no, it's fine."
Seirei answered in a whispering voice.
"...I'm... okay..."
"Speak clearly. The head of the family, Father, is talking to you."
Brother looked at Seirei.
But Father scolded Brother,
"It's fine, Kairyou."
"It's not fine. Even if she is the daughter of Father's best friend, if she is to become part of our family――"
"I am saying it's fine."
"...yes."
At Father's words, Brother backed down.
Seeing everyone calm down, the servant Hakuyou made more tea.
The whole Kou family was gathered in the hall.
I wonder if someone here will bring Seirei into the inner palace in the future...?
No, there's no point in thinking about that now.
First, I need to make sure Seirei can fit into our family.
"Father, shall we make a toast?"
I said after waiting for the conversation to pause.
"Since our family is growing, let's celebrate."
"Y-yes, that's right."
"Well said, Tenhou."
"If Father says so."
"...yes."
Father raised his sake cup, while I, Brother, and Mother held up our tea cups.
Seirei also lifted her tea cup with both hands.
"To celebrate the arrival of our new family member and to wish for the continued prosperity of the Kou family. Cheers!"
"""Cheers!"""
"...cheers..."
After the toast, the servant Hakuyou brought out the food.
The food in this world is surprisingly delicious.
In my past life, it felt like simple Chinese food.
Today's menu is Hu Bing buns and a Gēng soup with lamb. There's also stir-fried chives and eggs.
It seems a bit fancier than usual, probably to welcome Seirei.
Father is smiling, shaking his beard, happy that our family has grown.
Mother is seated, paying attention to Seirei next to her.
Brother has a serious face. No... Brother always looks like this, right?
Brother is, in my past life's words, a handsome guy. But he worries that he doesn't have a warrior's face like Father. His build is also slimmer compared to Father.
Because of that, Brother is hard on himself.
Even now, he sits up straight and eats according to manners.
He seems unapproachable, but for me――Tenhou――he's a brother I respect.
"...Huh?"
When I glance over, I see Seirei touch the soup with her mouth and pull back immediately.
When I try it myself... it's super hot.
Father and Brother like it hot, so maybe they don't notice.
Maybe Seirei has a sensitive tongue.
It looks like it's really hard for her to drink. She keeps touching the spoon to her mouth and pulling back.
Alright. This is a chance to get closer to Seirei.
I'll casually teach her how to handle it.
I tear off a piece of the Hu Bing and dip it in the soup.
I run it around the edge of the bowl to soak the bun in the soup.
This way, the bun will be easier to eat, and the soup will cool down. It should be fine even for someone with a sensitive tongue.
"...Ah."
...Seirei is looking at me.
She's tearing off a piece of the Hu Bing, trying to copy me.
Good.
With this, Seirei should be able to eat calmly now――
"――Tenhou! Stop acting like a child!!"
Suddenly, my brother shouted.
"Playing with Hu Bing bun in a gēng soup bowl is something only a child would do!! The Kou family has connections with your family. Do you act like this even at meals with noble people? You!!"
"Brother? This is..."
"Don't make excuses! Don't you feel embarrassed in front of the new family!?"
"──I apologize."
I apologized to my brother.
"But, it's fine if a younger child does it, right?"
"Don't talk back! Besides, you──."
"Kairyou. This is a meal. It's not a place to shout."
It was our mother who stopped my brother.
She had her arm around Seirei's shoulder.
Seirei was stiff, with wide eyes.
Holding the bread in her hand, she looked scared.
"This is a family dining table. We don't have to stick to formalities. Right, Shin-sama?"
Mother smiled at Father.
Father nodded,
"Yes. As Gyokushi said, on the battlefield, we throw dried rice into soup and eat it. How we eat bread doesn't matter."
"Because Father and Mother spoil him, Tenhou is like this."
My brother sighed heavily,
"There's no inner force. No elegance. The shame of having such a family..."
"That's enough, Kairyou."
"Mother!"
"This is a gathering to welcome Seirei. What are you doing scaring the guest?"
Only then did my brother look at Seirei.
Next to Mother, Seirei was starting to tremble.
It seemed like there was no time for a meal anymore.
"I'm going to take a break with Seirei. You all continue eating."
Saying that, my mother took Seirei to her room.
Left behind were me, my father, and my brother, with an awkward atmosphere hanging in the air.
"...It's your fault, Tenhou."
My brother glared at me, but I couldn't focus on that.
I messed up. Right from the first day. I scared Seirei.
This is bad. Really bad.
What if Seirei starts to feel small in the Kou family? What if she begins to dislike being in the Kou family?
If that happens, the future king of Aika Country――the current Crown Prince――might want her in the harem.
If that happens, I, Kou Tenhou, would be taking a big step toward ruin.
Should I have not done anything unnecessary...?
After that, we finished dinner in silence.
I couldn't even taste the food.
I was too scared of the approaching execution ending.
As I finished my meal and tried to go back to my room――
"Tenhou. Come here."
My mother called out to me.
"I need to talk to you about Seirei."
"I'm sorry, Mother."
As soon as I entered my mother's room, I bowed my head.
My mother was sitting up on the bed.
She didn't look well.
My mother is weak, especially in early spring when her health gets worse.
Yet today, she was in the kitchen, preparing to welcome Seirei.
I ruined that thoughtfulness.
"I'm already 14 years old. I shouldn't be acting like a child."
"It's okay. Thank you, Tenhou."
My mother shook her head at my words.
"You've been watching over Seirei well, haven't you?"
"...Mother?"
"I didn't realize that Seirei doesn't like hot things. Until she saw Seirei imitating you, I didn't even know that today's meal was too hot for her."
"It's not your fault, Mother. More importantly, how is Seirei doing?"
"She's sleeping. She must be tired."
"I see..."
"Tenhou. I want to talk to you about Seirei's situation."
My mother said this with a serious expression.
"And if possible, I would like to ask you to take care of Seirei."
"Me? But I'm..."
"I know that your inner force is weak."
...No, it's not just weak; it's 0.
Father and my older brother can strengthen their bodies and increase their striking power with 'ki' energy, but I can't do that.
There are also competitions where we push against each other's bodies with ki, but I haven't done that at all recently. When I was little, I would get blown away immediately by Father and my brother's ki.
Saying my ki is 'weak' is probably my mother's kindness.
"You are the kind one, Tenhou."
It was as if my mother read my mind when she said that.
"You noticed that Seirei doesn't like hot things and dipped the Hu Bing bun in the soup for her, right? I understand, Mother."
"That's right."
"That's why I want you to take care of Seirei."
"Um... Mother, may I ask something?"
"Go ahead."
"What was the relationship between our family and the Ryuu Family?"
"The Ryuu Family has been close with the Kou family for generations. When I, a farmer, married Shin-sama, it was the people from the Ryuu Family who taught me the customs and manners of the general's household. They also helped a lot when Kairyou and Tenhou were born."
"...I didn't know that."
"After Seirei was born, the people from the Ryuu Family started to visit our home less often."
Mother sighed.
"It was because of Seirei's silver hair and red eyes. Some people called her creepy. The Ryuu Family said they didn't want to trouble the Kou family, so they began to keep their distance."
"I think Seirei's hair and eyes are beautiful."
"Not everyone feels the same way as you do."
"The people from the Ryuu Family... have passed away, haven't they?"
"I've heard they were attacked by foreign soldiers in the north."
Mother began to talk about the incident when Seirei's family was attacked.
The people of the Ryuu Family cherished their daughter, Seirei.
They couldn't leave her alone and always stayed close to her.
At that time, Seirei's father was ordered to transport goods to the northern fortress.
It was a job he was used to.
So, he took his wife, Seirei, and some family members with him.
It seems they were attacked by a group of foreign cavalry there.
"All the luggage was burned, and the Ryuu Family members and soldiers were killed. The only survivor is Seirei. When Shin-sama learned about the incident and went to rescue her, Seirei was said to be caught in a tree on the cliff. That's why the enemy probably overlooked her."
"In a tree on the cliff, huh?"
"It seems she was in that state for 2 whole days."
"Did everyone in the Ryuu Family really die?"
"Only Seirei's mother's body hasn't been found. She might have been taken by the enemy... or maybe she's alive somewhere, but the chances are low."
With a sad tone, my mother explained.
"If she went through something like that... it's no wonder Seirei is scared."
"Seirei used to show smiles to her family. But now, that must be difficult for her."
Saying that, my mother took my hand.
"That's why I want you to take care of Seirei, Tenhou. Father will cherish her in his own way. Kairyou will do the same. But I feel like you're the only one who can truly understand her."
"...Me?"
"It's a wish from your mother. If something happens, please be on Seirei's side."
"I understand, Mother."
Now I get it. No one in the Kou family would offer Seirei to the harem.
Before I regained my memories from my past life, I was loyal to my father and mother.
That means the enemy is outside the house.
In that case, my plan doesn't change.
I will become friends with Seirei and make sure she doesn't go far away.
I need to gain 'ki' to be able to escape when the time comes.
I will also protect Seirei. That's all there is to it.
"I understand, Mother."
I clasped my hands together in respect (Kyōshu) and answered my mother.
"I promise. As her older brother, I will protect Seirei."
"Thank you for saying that."
"So... please, rest for today."
When I said that, Mother smiled and lay down on the bed.
Suddenly, I remembered something.
In 'History of Swordmaster,' there's no character named Gyokushi, who is the mother of Kou Tenhou.
Father――Kou Eishin――isn't in it either.
For that matter, neither is my older brother, Kou Kairyou.
However, the game starts in a world set ten years from now.
Father might have retired by then.
It makes sense that Mother, who isn't a martial officer, doesn't appear.
But it feels unnatural that my older brother isn't mentioned.
Could it be that something happens to the Kou family within these ten years?
As a result, did Tenhou and Seirei end up seeking power?
...No way.
I won't accept such a fate.
I won't be destroyed. Neither will Seirei.
If there's a disaster awaiting the Kou family, then I'll do whatever it takes to change it.
How to do that... I still don't know.
"Goodnight, Tenhou."
"Goodnight, Mother."
Thinking about such things, I left Mother's room.
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