Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 269

The palace on a sunny day. As usual, Victor prepared to start his day.

His personal attendant, Remilia, was meticulously grooming herself, wearing multiple layers of magic gear designed to make her appear more masculine.

However, that was where the normalcy ended.

“Is Louise heading out again today?”

“Yes, I heard she attended a lecture this morning. After that, she has a personal meeting with the Duchess, and then she’ll have lunch before receiving swordsmanship training from the Empire’s greatest swordsman.”

Ever since the disappearance incident, Victor asked about Louise’s whereabouts every day.

It wasn’t to control her, fearing she might cause a ruckus like last time. Louise had repeatedly apologized, saying she wouldn’t trouble anyone again, and Victor was also aware that her impulsive actions were ultimately due to him.

“She’s been going out a lot lately. Doesn’t seem like she’s clinging to me as much anymore.”

Victor mumbled while looking in the mirror. The attendant, seeing him, smiled warmly.

“That’s true, but now that it’s like this, I feel a bit lonely.”

“…Honestly, as a fellow woman, I’m not sure how to respond to that.”

“And yet, you’re smiling slyly.”

Victor sighed and stared at Remilia in the mirror. Her face, full of playful mischief, showed no signs of discomfort.

“Well, I can’t very well tell you that you look pitiful, can I?”

“…Pitiful?”

“Yes.”

Remilia laughed behind her hand as she responded.

“A woman who used to cling to you no longer approaches, and now it bothers you. Don’t you think, looking back, you might feel a little… pitiful?”

“…You’re probably the only one in the Empire who can speak so freely to me.”

“Oh, not at all. I actually think your human side is rather endearing.”

Remilia rested her chin on her hand, watching Victor, who crossed his arms in discomfort as he stared at his long-time attendant.

“Endearing? Not an insult?”

“Franz never even had these kinds of feelings.”

The attendant recalled the elderly man currently recovering in the south. Though he was often called the “Emperor without blood or tears,” even he could not escape the passage of time.

“Your mother, Lady Ado, tried so hard to win Franz’s attention, didn’t she?”

“…”

“People say that personality traits are often inherited between parent and child, but I think it’s a relief you didn’t take after him.”

Therefore, Victor was better than Franz.

Victor’s mother never received true love, and even the little she did receive was a lie, created to deceive her husband and the world.

But what about Louise’s position in comparison?

At the very least, Louise received the most attention from Victor. It may not be genuine love, but she could still be considered the most precious person in his life.

Before the disappearance incident, the black-haired delinquent nobleman was Victor’s top priority, but now it felt like Louise had caught up to him, at least to shoulder-level.

“Really, is this okay?”

Victor muttered toward his long-time attendant.

“Yes, it is. Sure, being swayed by a woman would be a disqualifying trait for an emperor, but I think it’s a good thing.”

Remilia placed the platinum crown on Victor’s head. It was a simple one, devoid of elaborate decorations, almost like a tiara.

“As long as the truth remains hidden, this is the best course for you.”

“…And if the truth is revealed?”

Victor asked cautiously. Remilia’s expression turned icy.

“Are you serious?”

“With my father far away and my foundation starting to…”

“It’s not solid yet.”

Remilia’s tone shifted. Her previously light and breezy manner was now completely devoid of warmth.

“Pull yourself together. Are you prepared to spill countless lives across the empire over a single woman?”

“Even if I only tell Louise, would it still lead to that?”

“I’ll refrain from answering.”

“…You don’t trust Louise, do you?”

“Allow me to give you some sincere advice.”

Remilia brushed her hair behind her ear, revealing a scarred ear to Victor.

The Empire was a vast nation with various ethnic groups, but the higher one went in society, the more conservative the views became.

Among them is a faction that believed in pure-blood superiority, and they would never allow someone like Remilia, a half-breed, to set foot in the imperial palace.

“The world isn’t designed to let you catch two rabbits at once.”

Perhaps that was why Victor, seeing her scars, realized just how deeply determined she was.

Shiron lowered his head, letting out a long groan. Despite his head being lowered, there was a pillar standing proudly, yet his expression was unimpressed.

“It’s not as effective as I thought.”

He had tried the aphrodisiac he acquired from the black market, but its effects were less than what he had hoped for, leaving him disappointed.

Despite claims that it would turn him into a lustful beast, all it did was make him hard without any women around and give him a slight sense of euphoria.

“Seira, are you sure this stuff works?”

“Sigh.”

Seira, hearing the innocent voice from beyond the tent, sighed deeply.

“Think about when you were a child. You tried all sorts of bizarre things to build poison resistance, and now you expect a normal aphrodisiac to have exaggerated effects?”

“Should I increase the dose?”

“…I’m not sure how much resistance the Emperor has, but I doubt it’s even half of yours.”

“Hmm…”

Shiron brushed his hand over his groin. In terms of sensation, he felt about 1.5 times more sensitive than usual.

‘If Victor’s resistance is less than half of mine, it could be risky.’

But for a first experience, premature ejaculation wouldn’t do. As a close friend, Shiron hoped Victor could at least protect his male pride.

Shiron put on his pants and opened the tent. Then he stared directly at Seira.

“W-what are you looking at?”

Seira covered herself with her arms and stepped back.

Shiron sighed heavily, then smirked at the corner of his mouth.

“Don’t worry, Seira. I don’t feel the slightest urge to jump on you.”

“…What did you just say?”

“Well, you were covering yourself, and I didn’t want you to misunderstand.”

“…”

‘What is this? Does this mean he doesn’t find me attractive as a woman at all?’

Seira’s delicate brow furrowed.

“Kid, are you sure you’re not gay?”

“What are you talking about again?”

“I mean, come on! How could you look at an elf as beautiful as me and not feel anything?”

She had lived in Nightrail for over a hundred years, and even though she hadn’t taken it herself, she knew from the rumors how potent the aphrodisiac was. Her pride was hurt.

That stuff was said to drive even virgins and devout monks insane with lust.

No matter how much of a hero Shiron was or that he was a Prient, it made no sense for him to feel no desire when faced with her, someone as beautiful, voluptuous, and charming as she was.

“What are you talking about? If I were gay, would I have left Victor alone?”

“T-then prove it!”

Seira suddenly dropped her arms, which had been covering herself, and stood up. She tugged at the waist of her loose nun’s robe, emphasizing her figure.

Seira’s hidden figure was now revealed.

“Even now? Do you still feel nothing?”

“…Hmm.”

Shiron gazed at Seira through half-closed eyes.

Her voluptuous figure, now visible through the tight nun’s robe, filled his vision. Every time she jumped slightly to emphasize her hips and chest, her large breasts bounced in a vulgar manner.

Shiron turned his flushed face to the side.

“Wait, stop!”

“See? I told you!”

Seira laughed heartily and patted Shiron’s back. Seira Romer, an elf who had been cherished as a lover alongside beastmen for thousands of years, had successfully defended her pride.

“How about it? You can’t resist, right? I’m still attractive, aren’t I? Not past my prime, right?”

“Ugh…”

“Should this big sister back off a bit?”

“What’s wrong with you?!”

Irritated by Seira’s teasing, Shiron slapped her bottom with a sharp smack. Seira, grabbing her stinging behind, still couldn’t stop laughing.

“Hmph! Take this.”

Finally, after laughing to the point of drooling, she handed Shiron a piece of paper.

It was the barrier spell Shiron had requested. Snatching the paper quickly, Shiron hurried out of the room.

After laughing her heart out, Seira wiped the tears from her eyes. While Shiron’s embarrassed reaction was amusing, the real reason for her laughter was because of what he had asked for.

Muttering to himself, Shiron left the annex and headed to the training grounds. He was looking for a noblewoman who had been visiting the Prient mansion daily for the past few days.

As soon as he reached the entrance to the training grounds, he felt a strong gust of wind.

Then he saw two women.

Louise was swinging her sword with all her might, while Siriel easily deflected her attacks with one hand. The skill difference was so overwhelming that it could hardly be called a duel.

As if to prove it, Siriel, noticing Shiron, effortlessly caught Louise’s sword.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Louise graciously admitted defeat and bowed her head to Siriel. Siriel dusted off Louise and approached Shiron.

“What brings you here, broither?”

“I have business with her.”

“Me?”

Louise, looking disheveled, pointed at herself.

“Didn’t you say you had something to talk about last time? I can’t remember since it was a month ago.”

“…That did happen. But now, I don’t know, I feel fine.”

“What? You said you had something important to say.”

“Well, at the time, I was feeling frustrated, but now I feel more at peace. Maybe I was being childish, throwing a tantrum for no reason…”

Louise looked away and touched her cheek.

Back when she was trapped in the labyrinth, she had wanted to confront Shiron for tormenting her. But as time passed, she realized she had been acting foolishly.

She had decided to carry herself properly and continue honing her skills. Bothering the person who had saved her life now seemed like a huge discourtesy.

“It’s fine. I have something to talk about.”

But none of that mattered to Shiron. He reached out to grab Louise’s wrist… but instead grabbed Siriel’s shoulder.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

Siriel flinched in surprise. Normally, a light touch wouldn’t have bothered her, but after intense physical activity, her body was drenched in sweat, and steam rose from her skin. Naturally, she became wary of Shiron.

“Brother?!”

Unfazed by the smell, Shiron lifted Siriel into his arms.

“Louise, wash off that dirt. It’ll only take an hour—no, thirty minutes.”

With that, Shiron dashed off toward the mansion with Siriel in his arms.