Volume 5 Chapter 6 The Great Villain Of The World Is Offered A Future Reward
──Tenhou's Perspective──
The conversation with Ryougen-kun was still going on.
Ryougen-kun and Yuuri-san said, "Our request is for the long term."
It doesn't mean I have something to do today or tomorrow.
It also doesn't mean that I am always by Crown Prince Rouen's side.
They just want to have a way for Crown Prince Rouen, Ryougen-kun, and the Kou family to stay in touch.
This is so we can keep working together for a long time.
"I know you are given work by His Highness Rouen. You can focus on that first."
That was Ryougen-kun's words.
It seems Ryougen-kun also knows that I am given tasks by Crown Prince Rouen.
But, he doesn't know the details.
"That's all I would like to ask. Do you have any requests?"
"Ah, yes. Then, I will speak."
"Yes. Please go ahead and say it."
"I found a talented person in the Toukaku of Eastern Town. I would like to give that child a chance to learn."
I told Ryougen-kun about Fuu Senkou.
──Fuu Senkou helped me to get rid of the bandits.
──She is very smart and eager to learn.
──Her parents, who were very enthusiastic about education, were killed by a gang of bandits.
──After that, Fuu Senkou accumulated knowledge through self-study.
"Fuu Senkou is a rare talent. I think it would be in Aika Country's interest to give her the opportunity to learn."
After I finished explaining, I bowed to Ryougen-kun.
"Please accept Fuu Senkou as a guest of Your Highness the King's younger brother. And I would like to be allowed to enter the library of your mansion."
"I understand"
Ryougen-kun's answer was short.
"Let's make that girl, Fuu Senkou, my guest."
"Thank you very much!"
I didn't think I would get permission so easily.
It's so easy that I'm a bit surprised....
"I trust you. If it's your introduction, there is no problem."
Ryougen-kun said that and smiled.
"Also, what happened in Toukaku town is my responsibility too. Even with many information networks, I didn't notice what Chou Shoukatsu was doing."
"...Your Highness the King's younger brother"
"Giving the girl Fuu Senkou a chance for education can also help make up for that mistake. If she is the niece of the Vice Captain of Toukaku's defense, she can use that knowledge to help with defense."
Ryougen-kun said that and nodded.
"I will allow Fuu Senkou to enter the library. Also, I will make one of my guests her teacher. Is that okay?"
"Thank you. I appreciate Your Highness the King's younger brother's kindness."
"No, it's kind of you. Kou Tenhou."
"...Huh?"
"I just said, 'I wonder if you have any wish?'"
"Yes. So I'd like to give Fuu Senkou a chance to enter the archives──"
"I asked you if there was anything you wanted for yourself?"
"...Ah."
I didn't notice.
I see, Ryougen-kun was trying to give me a reward.
"I, the King's younger brother, am asking you for a long-term favor. Surely I should give you something in return? Is there anything you yourself would like to have?"
"What do I want...?"
Right now... nothing in particular.
I don't want a rank or a position.
If I fail in a high position, I might end up ruined like in a game.
At worst, I might even get executed.
As for money... I don't have a use for it right now.
Speaking of shopping, I only bought souvenirs for Seirei and Shouou when I left Toukaku.
I have mostly saved my salary without spending much.
So for now, I don't want anything.
I want to wait until things settle down before I receive any rewards.
Right now, there's a lot going on with the bandits and the Chou Family.
So──
"Thank you for your words, Your Highness the King's younger brother."
I bowed again.
"But, I can't think of anything I really want right now. So, can I put it on hold?"
"That's fine."
"Someday... when the world is calm again, I would like to receive my reward."
"...What a mysterious person you are."
Ryougen-kun was looking at me closely.
"I have seen many people, but I can't quite grasp your true nature. Are you selfless or greedy?"
"I'm not sure myself... but maybe I am a bit greedy."
My hope is to avoid the 'Aika Country Destruction ending' and the 'Kou Tenhou Destruction ending'.
I'm trying to change the fate of a country.
That's greedy no matter how you look at it.
"So I want to wait until the world calms down before I receive my reward."
"Interesting. You are"
"...I'm sorry"
"Maybe you have ambitions that you yourself are not aware of. That is why you cannot see desires. You are so greedy that you appear to be selfless. There are people like that."
Ryougen-kun's eyes become sharper.
His intense gaze seems to be trying to find out who I am.
"Your desire might be as big as the world. It probably can't be satisfied with things like status, rank, or money. It's interesting, but also makes me worried."
"...Your Highness the King's younger brother?"
"It's good to be grand. But if your abilities are too much for this country, then I..."
"You're thinking too much, Father."
Suddenly, Yuuri-san spoke up.
"Also, it's not like you to worry about rewards, Father. You've always chosen the right things for others, haven't you?"
"That's true, but I don't know what Kou Tenhou wants. This is my first time dealing with something like this..."
"I have one recommended reward."
"Oh! What is it?"
"A wedding!"
Yuuri-san said with a very happy expression.
"Kou Tenhou-sama will eventually marry someone from this country. At that time, you can hold a grand wedding in Ryougen-kun's name. This way, it will show everyone that Kou Tenhou-sama is an important person for you."
"Oh! That's a good idea."
"By doing so, we will have a deep connection with Kou Tenhou-sama... and ultimately with the Kou family. Isn't this in keeping with Father's wishes? "
"Yes, you're right. It's a great idea. Yuuri."
"...Uh. Your Highness the King's younger brother. Yuuri-sama"
I hurriedly looked up.
"I don't have any plans to get married at the moment..."
"It's a future talk."
"It's about the future. Kou Tenhou"
Yuuri-san and Ryougen-kun nod in unison.
"But I think it's a good idea to show everyone that I consider you important. What do you think, Kou Tenhou?"
"In the future, when you get married, may I have your permission for my father to run the ceremony?"
"I want to make that a reward for you."
"Even a verbal promise is fine. Please just say 'I allow it.'"
The two of them said so.
"...Can I think about it a little?"
So I had no choice but to answer that way.
If I said "I understand" here, I feel like something really bad would happen.
Yuuri-san has a dreamy look on her face.
Ryougen-kun keeps nodding and saying "It's a good idea."
Ryougen-kun is the prime minister of Aika Country and an expert in people and diplomacy.
Yuuri-san is his daughter and an expert in social events.
...Since it's the two of them, I feel like there's something else going on.
"I am happy to hear your words, Your Highness and Yuuri-sama. However, I would like a little time."
"I understand. But I want an answer soon."
"Please, Kou Tenhou-sama."
That was how my meeting with Ryougen-kun and Yuuri-san ended.
After that, when I returned to the Kou family──
"Brother, can I talk to you?"
Seirei was waiting at the front door.
Her hands are on her hips and she is staring at me.
"I want to ask my brother about Fuu Senkou-sama..."
Seirei ran straight to me but suddenly stopped.
"...No, never mind, it's fine for now."
"Huh? What happened? I don't mind talking."
"No, it's okay."
Seirei shook her head with a worried look.
"Because my brother seems tired."
"...Oh, yeah."
I guess I am a little tired.
I had talked for a long time at Ryougen-kun's place.
The Chou Family stuff was shocking, and the request afterward surprised me too.
More than anything, when I talk to Ryougen-kun, I feel a lot of pressure.
That person is like a great hero from history.
Plus, in the game 'History of Swordmaster,' he is the enemy of the bad guy Kou Tenhou.
Even though I know he is on my side in this world, I still feel nervous.
"It's true; I talked a lot with the His Highness King's younger brother and Yuuri-san. I might be tired."
"...I see."
"But it's not enough for Seirei to worry."
"Really?"
"I can't tell you the details of the story... but it wasn't a bad story. His Highness King's younger brother valued me."
I can't talk about Kairyu-aniue's personnel affairs or the cooperative relationship between Ryougen-kun and the Kou family.
But if I don't say anything, Seirei will be worried.
There's something I'd like to talk about... well, I guess.
"Oh, there was a talk about my marriage"
"What?!"
"In the future, if I get married to someone, Ryougen-kun will officiate the ceremony."
"Wha-aat...?!"
"Yuuri-sama was also keen"
"Oh, oh no. Yuuri-sama? That means..."
"For now, I just said 'I need to think about it.' But really, His Highness King's younger brother is amazing. He even worries about my marriage."
"........."
"...Yeah. After talking to Seirei, I feel a bit calmer now."
Because we're family.
I feel safe when I'm with her.
Talking to Seirei like this makes me feel like I'm home.
"Thank you, Seirei."
"N-no, thank you for talking to me... I really appreciate it."
"By the way, what did you want to talk about, Seirei?"
"...I forgot."
"Huh?"
"It just flew out of my head... right now, my mind is blank, and I can't think of anything."
"Oh really?"
"Big brother... please talk to Senkou-sama. Right now... my heart is so full... I can't find the words."
"...Are you okay, Seirei?"
"......I'm okay."
"No, you're not okay! I'll walk you to your room!!"
I took Seirei's bright red hand and led her to her room.
Then I talked with Fuu Senkou.
Ryougen-kun will make her his guest.
For allowing me to enter and leave the mansion's archives.
I also had the opportunity to tour the archives.
The library is a large room, with shelves along the entire wall, packed with books──
"......Uuuuu"
──And with that said, Fuu Senkou sat down on the floor.
The little body is swaying back and forth.
She was so excited that she held her nose,
"T...Thank you very much. Kou Tenhou-sama"
"Yes. Can I continue?"
"Oh, there's more...?"
"His Highness King's younger brother appreciated Kō-san. I think it was because you helped us defeat the bandits."
"Yes, yes..."
"Anyway, you don't have to worry about your livelihood while you're in Hokurin"
Ryougen's guest is guaranteed food, clothing, and shelter.
Also, Fuu Senkou will be treated like a special guest.
She will get housing and clothes.
Three meals will also be provided.
Additionally, Fuu Senkou will apparently have a tutor.
This is really an amazing offer.
That's just like Ryougen.
It seems he recognized that Fuu Senkou is a valuable person.
"It sounds like you can enter the housing any time. What will you do? You can go back to Toukaku and talk to Heki Nei-san first if you want."
"Well, first of all, I want to enter the library!"
Fuu Senkou spoke in an excited voice.
"I want to go into the library and learn many new things! Ah... but once I go in, I might not want to leave. I could end up living there..."
"...that sounds possible."
"Ah, but I really want to enter the library. What should I do?"
"Then, let's set a time limit."
I suggested.
"You can stay in the library for just one day. After that, I will pull Kō-san out of the library and throw your into the carriage to Toukaku. How does that sound?"
"Y-Yes. Please do it!!"
Fuu Senkou bowed down.
Then, with a red face,
"I'm really surprised that it's going to be included in the archives of His Highness King's younger brother."
"I thought Kō-san would be okay."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I have told His Highness King's younger brother about Kō-san's talent."
"How?! No, no... I'm scared to ask... so it's okay"
"By the way"
"Y-yes!"
"Kō-san, is there anything you'd like to say to me?"
"I think it was there! But my mind went blank, so I'll try again another day!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"I see. That would be great..."
"Kou Tenhou-sama!"
It was sudden.
Fuu Senkou rubbed his little head against the floor.
"Kō wants to make Kou Tenhou-sama the special leader of my heart!"
"Special Lord of your Heart?"
"It's in the story. People make promises like being brothers or showing loyalty to show their strong will. But Kō is so small and still not very skilled. So..."
Fuu Senkou looked up,
"Right now, I want to make Kou Tenhou-sama my special lord! I want to study hard, like the North Star in the sky that never moves, so I can help Kou Tenhou-sama. If I do that, I think I can grow my knowledge without going the wrong way."
"Yeah. I understand."
'Special Lord of her Heart,' huh.
That kind of thing wasn't in the game 'History of Swordmaster.'
So, this must be something original from Fuu Senkou.
If so, I don't think it's a problem to accept it.
Fuu Senkou is serious and a good kid.
I'm happy that she promises to be on my side.
"If Kō-san wishes, I will be the special lord of your heart."
I bent down and helped Fuu Senkou sit up.
"I want to live in a way that helps Aika Country. I would be happy if you, Kō-san, could help with that. For that, I want you to study with His Highness, the King's younger brother."
"Yes! Kou Tenhou-sama!!"
Fuu Senkou nodded.
"Kō has found the way. From now on, I look forward to working with you!"
And so Fuu Senkou came to study under Ryougen-kun.
The next day, someone came to pick her up from Ryougen-kun's mansion.
Fuu Senkou thanked everyone in the Kou family many times, then got into the carriage that was waiting for him.
She is going to meet with Ryougen-kun and Yuuri-san soon.
Ryougen-kun said he would take care of Fuu Senkou.
Yuuri promised to care about her too.
It seems that when Seirei visits Yuuri, he will check on Fuu Senkou.
So, everyone said goodbye to Fuu Senkou but then, a few hours later.
A messenger from Crown Prince Rouen came to the Kou family.
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