Prologue: I Slept Like a Log After This

“Mama!”

My nightmares always begin with those happy days spent with my mother.

Her pure white hair, which reached down to her waist, was as smooth as silk. Whenever I threw my arms around her waist, she always smelled of sweet flowers.

“Hehe, you’re such a spoiled little thing, Tia.”

Mother would offer a gentle smile before scooping me up and setting me on her lap.

“Whatcha makin’?”

“It’s been getting a bit chilly lately, hasn’t it? I thought I’d knit a scarf for Lou.”

“A scarf for Big Brother Lou?! I wanna help!”

“Oh? I think that might be a bit too difficult for you just yet, Tia.”

“Nuh-uh! I can do it! I’m gonna make a scarf for Big Brother Lou!”

“Alright, alright. I’ll be counting on your help, then.”

“Yay!”

With a resigned shrug of her shoulders—a gesture Big Brother Lou often mimicked—Mother began to teach me how to knit.

The scarf we made back then... well, it ended up looking more like a tattered rag, but I still keep it hidden away to this day as a precious memento of her. I never did give it to Big Brother Lou...

Cough! Hack!

Mother let out a ragged cough right above my head. Her health had been declining for a while, and the more the scarf took shape, the worse her condition became.

It was as if the scarf were growing by drinking away her very life.

It was around that time that the plague began to spread through the royal capital.

Mother and I were isolated from the inner palace and confined to a small room at the top of a spire. The other consorts and nobles had caused an uproar, claiming Mother had been infected by the epidemic.

That room in the spire was freezing. The wind hammered against the window incessantly, making it impossible to sleep at night. While Mother’s condition worsened by the day, my younger self tried desperately to nurse her back to health. But I didn't know what to do... All I could do was sit there and squeeze her hand...

“Tia...”

Mother’s voice was barely a rasp when she called my name.

Her consciousness was fading; she could hardly even see anymore. Her hand, now thin as a withered branch, wandered blindly until it found my face, tracing the shape of my head and cheeks as if trying to memorize them.

“My sweet... Lucretia. Please... find happiness...”

“Mama...? No... no! Don’t go! Don’t leave me alone!”

She was smiling so peacefully. Then she stopped moving entirely, and her body grew cold. All I could do was scream.

“Don’t go anywhere! Don’t leave me behind!”

No matter how much I shook her, Mother wouldn't wake up. Even when I cried out, she wouldn't hold me. Her body just kept getting colder and colder.

No, Mama! Don't die! Don't leave me all by myself! Mamaaaaa!

◇

“Lugue!”

Without thinking, I grabbed her hand and called out her name. The short hand of the clock was just shy of three in the morning. I had been jolted awake by the sound of Lugue’s voice coming from my bed.

This was a much worse night terror than the one I’d witnessed before.

Large beads of sweat stood out on her forehead, and her bangs were plastered to her skin. Despite the heat, her face was deathly pale, the blood drained from her features. She was thrashing about, her arms reaching out desperately as she struggled against the invisible weight of her nightmare.

This was bad. I had to wake her up.

“Lugue...!”

“—! ...Hugh?”

I tapped a magic tool to turn on the room’s lights. After I shook her shoulder and called her name again, her eyes finally snapped open. Those deep navy orbs reflected my face.

“Wait... I...”

Lugue was gasping for air as if she’d just run a marathon.

She kicked off the duvet and slowly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her nightgown was damp with sweat, clinging to her skin and turning translucent enough to catch a glimpse of the flesh beneath.

I quickly averted my eyes and stood up.

“I’ll get you some water. Just wait a second.”

I headed to the kitchen and filled a glass from the magic-tool-operated faucet.

When I returned and handed it over, Lugue took slow, deliberate sips. By the time the glass was empty, her breathing had stabilized, and a hint of color had returned to her cheeks.

“You okay now?” I asked.

“Yeah. Thanks, Hugh. I’m sorry... I woke you up, didn't I?”

“Don't worry about it. I’d actually just woken up from a bad dream myself.”

In truth, it was her screaming that had woken me, but the part about the bad dream wasn't a total lie.

It had been a while since I’d dreamt about my past life—those days spent as a corporate drone, worked to the bone. As a child, I used to wake up crying from those dreams, which always worried my mother. I hadn't seen them once since entering the Royal Academy, but... well, my issues didn't matter right now.

For Lugue, the death of her mother was clearly a trauma carved so deeply into her heart that it manifested as a recurring nightmare. I wondered what exactly had happened back then...

Prince Lucas or Lily, who had been close to her since they were children, might know the details, but I didn't want to be the kind of tactless jerk who went snooping around her past without her permission.

I’d just have to wait until she felt ready to tell me herself.

But more importantly...

“Uh... hey. You think you can get back to sleep on your own?”

When I asked, Lugue gave her head a vigorous little shake. Usually, she’d just sneak into my bed in the middle of the night, but since I was already awake, her "stealth" approach wasn't an option.

Lugue bit her lip and looked up at me with pleading eyes.

...Yeah, I got the message.

“Er... you want to sleep together?”

“Is that okay?” she whispered.

“Y-yeah. Sure. If you’re okay with it.”

“I am!”

We’d already spent plenty of nights in the same bed, but now that I thought about it, I don't think there’d ever been a time where it happened with my explicit consent beforehand. Thinking about it that way made me a little nervous... Not that I was planning anything scandalous, of course. There was no reason to be on guard.

“Oh, but... I might smell like sweat right now. Can I take a quick shower?”

“...Right. Y-yeah. Good idea.”

Lugue tilted her head at my stammering response, then gathered her change of clothes and a bath towel before heading to the washroom. A few moments later, I heard the faint sound of running water.

Wh-why am I so tense?! I thought, clutching my head. It’s just a platonic sleepover like usual!

...That said, there was a world of difference between her invitation-free intrusions and me actually inviting her into the bed.

Back in my old world, there was a saying about a man’s shame being "leaving a feast untouched." I wondered if there was a similar proverb in this world.

While I sat on the edge of the bed, agonizing over useless thoughts, Lugue returned.

“S-sorry to keep you waiting, Hugh.”

Wearing a pale pink negligee, Lugue stood before me, her hands clasped tightly in front of her chest. Her cheeks looked flushed—likely just from the heat of the shower.

The sweet scent of osmanthus drifted from her even more strongly than usual now that she was fresh from the bath.

I gulped instinctively, then crawled into bed to hide my flustered state.

“L-let’s get some sleep, then.”

“R-right. Sorry for the intrusion...”

With stiff, overly formal movements, Lugue climbed into my bed. I pressed myself as far against the wall as possible to make room for her.

“Hugh, isn't it cramped?”

“What about you? You’re so close to the edge you might fall off...”

There was enough space between us for a third person to fit. For a split second, I had a vision of us sleeping like the character for "river"—two parents with a child in the middle—but I shook the thought away. Way too fast, Hugh. Way too fast.

“Well then... hep!”

Lugue rolled over, closing the gap between us in one smooth motion. As a result, her back was pressed firmly against my chest.

“H-hey! Now you’re too close!”

“I-I don't think so...?”

No, the level of physical contact here was on an entirely different scale than before.

Lugue made herself comfortable using my left arm as a pillow, then reached over to the magic tool on the bedside table to kill the lights. In the darkness, I could feel her body heat through her nightgown, and the rapid thumping of a heart—which I was fairly certain wasn't just mine.

Am I actually going to be able to sleep like this...?

◇

Somehow, I managed to get a decent night’s sleep. When morning came, I left the room for my training session with Alyssa-san, sent off by a pouting Lugue who looked like she was about to burst with annoyance.

I had a pretty good idea of what she’d been hoping for last night...

But that didn't mean I could just go along with it.

It wasn't even a matter of my own resolve. Lugue was Lucretia von Reese, the seventh princess of this kingdom—and more importantly, she was a fifteen-year-old girl in the middle of puberty.

Even if our physical ages were the same, my mental age was pushing forty. If I didn't step on the brakes, who would?

...Though, I seriously doubted whether those brakes would hold until graduation. At this rate, I felt like "brake fade" was inevitable at some point.

I really needed to have a proper talk with Lugue sooner or later...

Come to think of it, I hadn't even given her a formal confession yet. I felt like I should probably make my feelings clear soon. I just needed to find the right timing.

Lost in thought, I arrived at the vacant lot behind the faculty dormitory that we used for training. Alyssa-san and Idiot were already there.

“Haaaaah!”

“Too slow, kid!”

Alyssa parried a swinging wooden sword and thrust the tip of her own blade right at Idiot’s throat. Having lost his opening, Idiot raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“As expected of the 《Sword Master》’s right hand... I can’t believe I couldn't land a single hit.”

“Heh-heh! I’m just that good, ya know! Also, Young Master Idiot? You’re banned from initiating attacks for now. It’s obvious that the benefits of your Skill vanish the moment you try to play offense.”

“What...?! No way... actually, now that you mention it...”

Idiot’s Skill, 《Guardian/Chevalier》, was a powerful defensive ability that included 《Physical Enhancement》 and 《Swordsmanship》. When he was on the defensive, even a Max Level 《Swordsmanship》 Skill couldn't easily break through.

On the flip side, his 《Guardian/Chevalier》 didn't seem nearly as threatening when he went on the attack. In our mock battles and this recent exchange, Idiot always ended up getting countered and defeated the moment he switched to offense.

I see... So 《Guardian/Chevalier》 only manifested its true power when the user was defending. It was a niche application, but the effect was absolute. Skills really were deep.

“Ah, there you are, Young Master Hugh!” Alyssa chirped.

“Good morning, Alyssa-san.”

“Hmph. You’re late, Hugh. We’ve already started.”

“Sorry. I overslept a bit.”

I gave them both a quick nod of apology and grabbed the wooden sword leaning against a nearby tree.

It had only been two days since Idiot started joining our morning practice. It happened right after he returned to school, having been away for two weeks to handle the fallout of the Hortness family's involvement in the Cathedral incident.

Apparently, Prince Lucas had "suggested" he join us.

The House of Hortness had been charged with the attempted kidnapping of Lecty. Two-thirds of their territory had been confiscated, and their rank had been stripped from Marquess down to Baron. The loss of prestige was immeasurable—a fatal blow in a noble society that prized honor above all else.

Idiot, having been handed the headship of a family on the brink of ruin in place of his father (who was under house arrest), now had the monumental task of rebuilding his house.

That said, as a fresh student at the Royal Academy, his options were limited.

Prince Lucas’s proposal was for Idiot to earn military merit through his sword. Specifically, he would accompany the Kingdom Knights on missions to fight monsters and criminals, or delve into dungeons as an adventurer.

Basically, the fastest way to restore the honor of the Hortness family was for Idiot himself to keep racking up achievements. By casually bringing Idiot under his own command within the Kingdom Knights, Prince Lucas was proving once again how shrewd he was. He never missed a beat.

With Idiot making us a trio, Alyssa’s training had shifted to become more practical. As expected, a month of training wasn't enough to close the gap between me and Idiot. In fact, seeing his bladework up close only hammered home how far behind I was.

I lacked both the effort and the resolve. And yet...!

I fought desperately to keep up until the session ended. Once again, I hadn't managed to take a single point from either Alyssa or Idiot.

“Hugh, have you been training with the sword since you were a child?”

As we walked back to the dorms after parting with Alyssa, Idiot turned to ask me.

“No. I just learned a bit from my father back home. He’s more of a bow-and-arrow guy, so I really only know the basics.”

“I see. Then Ms. Swift must be an exceptional teacher indeed. For someone who only began serious study after our duel, your skill is far from poor.”

“Really? I don't feel like I’m making much progress. I still can't touch Alyssa-san, after all.”

“What are you saying? Your opponent is Alyssa Swift, the woman hailed as the 《Sword Master》’s right hand. She is not an opponent one bests easily. She is easily one of the five strongest warriors in the kingdom.”

“Is she really that big a deal?”

“It’s a mystery why someone of her caliber has been seconded from the Knights to the Royal Academy.”

...It seemed my "brother-in-law" was surprisingly overprotective. Sending someone like that to the academy was basically shouting to the world that Prince Lucas had someone very important here. But I guess it was a bit late to worry about that.

I parted ways with Idiot to head back to my room, showered, and then went to the cafeteria with Lugue—who was still pouting.

We met up with Idiot again at the dining hall and shared a table for breakfast.

“Hugh, did something happen between you and Lugue? She seems... displeased.”

“Uh... well. It’s not so much that something happened...”

It was more that she was grumpy because nothing had happened. When I looked over at Lugue, she let out a sharp hmpf and turned her head away. I might be getting the silent treatment for a while.

As we continued our meal at a leisurely pace, I suddenly felt eyes on us from across the room.

I wasn't using my 《Ninja》 Skill, so I thought I might be imagining it, but when I looked up, I saw a group watching us. It was Anne and the rest of Idiot’s former hangers-on.

Come to think of it, Idiot used to eat with them almost every day. He seemed to have noticed them too.

“Even if you don't eat with them, you could at least go say hi,” I suggested.

“Better not. If I am seen with them, it will only invite unnecessary speculation.”

“I guess so...”

The story of how Prince Slay and the Marquess of Hortness had defied the royal decree to plot Lecty’s kidnapping—and how Idiot had stopped them—had been made public.

To the nobles who had supported the now-fallen Prince Slay, Idiot was a traitor. While no one criticized him openly, even I could feel the cold shoulder they were giving him.

Anne and the others genuinely admired him, so those looks were likely born of genuine concern. That was exactly why Idiot was keeping his distance—to protect them from being associated with a "traitor."

Incidentally, the reason Idiot hung out with us wasn't because he didn't care about our reputation; it was because the rest of the school already saw us as being firmly in Prince Lucas’s camp anyway. There was no point in worrying about it now.

Breakfast finished, we began making our way from the cafeteria to the classroom—when suddenly...

“I’M GOING TO BE LAAAAAAATE!!!!”

A girl with bubblegum-pink hair came flying around the corner of the hallway.

I instinctively stepped aside to shield Lugue, which meant...

““GAH?!””

The girl blew right past me and slammed head-on into Idiot.

“Ow, ow, ow...”

As the girl picked herself up, her distinctive pink hair—styled into bouncing, drill-like ringlets—swayed with her movements.

Dressed in the Royal Academy’s white uniform with blue accents was none other than the Saint chosen by the Divine Grant Religion: Rosalie Saint.

“R-Rosalie?! What’s the big rush?” Lugue asked.

“Oh, Lady Lugue! And Lord Hugh as well. Good morning to you!”

Rosalie offered us a dazzling smile, despite the fact that she was currently straddling a fallen Idiot.

Rosalie had only just transferred to the Royal Academy yesterday. Due to various circumstances, she had been enrolled as a transfer student and was set to join our Class 1-A starting today.

“Please wait, Lady Rosalie!”

A voice called out from down the hall, and I looked over to see a woman with a striking navy-blue bob running toward us. It was Cicely, the Holy Knight serving as Rosalie’s bodyguard. She was also set to work at the academy as a bodyguard and assistant teacher.

“Good morning, Ms. Cicely.”

“Ah, Lord Hugh and Lady Lugue. Good morning.”

Noticing us, Cicely came to a halt and gave a polite bow.

She was a graceful, soft-spoken person. Since she wasn't much older than us, I had a feeling she’d be quite popular with the students, regardless of gender.

“Really, Cicely, you’re so slow! If we don't finish breakfast quickly, we shall be late!”

“Lady Rosalie, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no longer time for breakfast. Since this is your first day, we must complete the final procedures at the faculty office...”

“Is that so?! But I have longed to experience this thing called a 'cafeteria' for so long! How disappointing...”

Rosalie’s shoulders slumped in defeat. Given the dark circles under her eyes, she probably hadn't slept well last night. Since her insomnia was supposed to be mostly cured, she was likely just too excited about starting her school life to sleep.

That aside...

“Lady Rosalie...! Would you mind getting off me now?!”

“Oh, Lord Idiot. Whatever are you doing down there?”

“Because you ran into me, that’s why!”

Idiot, who had been pinned under Rosalie this entire time, finally lost his patience. Rosalie finally seemed to realize her position and hopped off him with a breezy, “Do forgive me.”

“Good grief... I never would have imagined a Saint of the Church would be such a tomboy... You should take a page out of Lady Lecty’s book on ladylike grace.”

“Oh, Lord Idiot, comparing women and trying to fit them into molds is quite nouveau riche. Lecty has her charms, and I certainly have mine!”

“I wouldn’t exactly call being a flighty whirlwind a ‘virtue,’” Idiot countered.

“On the contrary! Grandfather always praised me, saying, 『Rosalie is so full of life that just looking at her makes others feel energized.』 It is one of my most magnificent qualities!”

Idiot and Rosalie continued to lock horns, staring each other down with sparks practically flying between them. They’d been at each other's throats ever since they first met during the incident at the Great Cathedral. This was my first time witnessing it in person, and while they were definitely bickering, the atmosphere wasn't quite as poisonous as the rumors had led me to believe.

“Don’t you have paperwork to finish?” Idiot sighed, waving a hand dismissively. “Why don’t you just get going?”

“I shall do exactly that, even without you telling me to! Lady Lugue, Lord Hugh, I shall see you both later!”

“Yeah, see ya,” I replied.

Rosalie gave a sharp hmph!, turned her back on Idiot, and marched toward the faculty office.

“Oh, wait, Rosalie!” Lugue called out to her retreating back. “If you’re free, would you like to grab lunch with us?”

“Oh my! My, my, my! Lunch at the cafeteria with friends?! It’s exactly like a scene from a storybook—how wonderful! I would be honored, Lady Lugue!”

“Great! See you later, Rosalie.”

“Indeed! Until later!”

Rosalie waved vigorously as she disappeared down the hall toward the office. Ms. Cicely gave us a quick, apologetic bow before scurrying after her charge.

It looked like our daily lives were about to get a whole lot noisier.

“That’s great, right, Lugue?” I said, turning to her.

“Yeah... Oh, pout!”

She turned away from me again. It looked like it was going to take a little longer for her to get over her mood.

◇

“Essentially, she’s a hostage.”

Lily, who was sitting across from me at lunch, let out a quiet mutter as she watched the scene a few tables over. Rosalie was surrounded by Lugue, Lecty, and other classmates like Anne and Brown, looking like she was having the time of her life.

Rosalie’s transfer had been the result of a negotiation between the Papacy of the Divine Grant Religion and Prince Lucas.

After being forced by Malicious to "treat" patients against her will, Rosalie’s reputation as a Saint had hit rock bottom. The Church, finding it difficult to let her continue her duties in the current climate, had accepted Prince Lucas’s proposal to shelter her at the Royal Academy until the heat died down.

"Sheltering" sounded nice and noble, but... yeah, she was definitely a hostage.

“Well, she doesn't seem to mind,” I remarked.

“...I’ve heard the gist of the situation from Lecty. If you need any support in looking after her, don’t hesitate to ask,” Lily said.

“Thanks, Lily. That helps.”

“Still... fufu. Lugue and Lecty both look like they're having fun. That’s what matters most.”

Watching the two of them laughing with Rosalie, Lily gave a soft, maternal smile. I could understand why she felt that way. Especially with Lecty—back when we first started at the academy, I couldn't have imagined her chatting and laughing with classmates away from Lily or me.

I felt a tiny bit of "empty nest" syndrome, but more than that, I was happy to see how much she’d grown.

I’m sure Lily felt the same.

As I was watching Lecty, our eyes suddenly met. Her face instantly flushed a deep crimson, and she jerked her gaze away.

Ever since that day at the Cathedral—specifically, ever since Lecty had stolen my first kiss—I hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with her.

She was definitely avoiding me. I knew it wasn't out of malice, of course. I was just as guilty of being too embarrassed to speak up.

“Hoo boy...” Lily hummed.

“What?”

“I was just thinking... my husband is quite the sinful man.”

“Cut it out, you...”

I wished she’d stop calling me "husband" in a crowded place like this. Though, with everyone’s attention on Rosalie’s group, I figured we were safe for now.

“I don't mind, personally,” Lily continued. “In fact, if it’s Lecty, I’d welcome her with open arms. I doubt she’s the type who’d want to keep you all to herself anyway.”

“Lecty might be fine with it, but...”

The real problem was what Lucretia would think. “I love you, please marry me. By the way, I’m planning on taking two other wives.” That sounded incredibly insincere. If Lucretia told me she wanted to marry a scumbag like that, I’d do everything in my power to stop her. ...Wait, the scumbag is me.

“If you’re worried, why don't you just confess and ask her? If she refuses, I’ll step back gracefully.”

The way Lily said it so nonchalantly made me think she was absolutely certain Lucretia wouldn't say no.

A confession, huh...

“It’s not like I haven't thought about it. The timing is just... tricky.”

In my old world, the classic moves were events like Christmas or Valentine’s Day. But as far as I knew, this world didn't have anything equivalent.

“The perfect timing is right around the corner, isn't it?”

“Huh?”

“Her birthday is next month.”

“Are you serious?!”

“Yes. It falls right in the middle of the field exercise.”

The field exercise was a school event scheduled for about a month, starting the week after next. During that time, we’d be leaving the academy to undergo combat training against monsters in some dungeon.

It wasn't supposed to be hardcore military training; it was more like a glorified school trip.

A school trip and a birthday? That was practically the legendary "S-rank" timing for a confession.

However, there was one glaring problem.

“What am I gonna do about a birthday present...?”

“I could give you some advice if we went shopping together?” Lily offered.

“No, it’s a more fundamental problem than that. ...I’m broke.”

About three months ago, the travel money my father had given me to get between the Pnocis territory and the capital was my entire net worth. I’d been scraping by on the leftovers from my return trip budget, but I had finally hit rock bottom.

Life at the Royal Academy was free—tuition, room, and board were all covered. That was exactly why it felt so awkward to ask for an allowance when I sent a letter home to announce I’d passed the entrance exam. I didn't want to write, "Please send money so I can go out with girls." I couldn't think of a good excuse, either...

Besides, the Pnocis family was "country-noble" poor. They probably didn't have much to spare. Relying on home for money wasn't an option.

“Aren't you receiving a salary from His Highness Lucas?” Lily asked.

“It’s not like I’m actually 'working' for him.”

Whether it was Lily’s situation, or Lecty’s, or Rosalie’s—I was the one who had asked for his help. Prince Lucas had never actually given me a direct order, and as the one who had benefited from his efforts, I didn't feel I had any right to ask for a paycheck.

“Technically, His Highness is closer to the throne because of your actions. I think you deserve a suitable reward,” Lily argued.

“Even if that’s true, look at the reason... I can’t exactly go up to him and say, 『I want to buy your sister a birthday present and confess to her, so please give me a reward based on my performance so far.』”

“You don't have to be that honest... Well, I suppose I understand why it’s hard to ask him. If you’re just having money troubles, I wouldn't mind supporting you myself...”

“Confessing with a gift bought using money from another woman... that’s peak 'trash-tier' behavior,” I groaned.

Besides, being a kept man for Lily was... complicated.

In my previous life, when I was grinding away at my job, I used to fantasize about finding a rich girlfriend and living as a "leech." But now that the opportunity was staring me in the face, I found myself hesitating.

Precisely because I was conscious of Lily as a woman, I didn't want to show her my pathetic side.

“I’ll just have to find a job somewhere...”

“In that case, I know of a very good workplace.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. One of the servants who has served a certain noble house for many years is currently out with a back injury. They’re looking for someone to fill in as a temporary servant.”

“I see... a short-term gig as a servant.”

A servant for a noble house should pay reasonably well. It sounded like hard work, but I could always switch my active Skill to 【Servant】 to power through it.

“So, which noble house is looking?”

“The House of Puridy.”

“That’s your house, Lily!”

It wasn't that I couldn't do it, but it felt a bit too close to home. My employer would technically be the Marquess of Puridy... and for the same reasons I couldn't ask Lucas or my own family, there was a certain awkwardness to it.

“Sorry, Lily. I think I’ll pass on that one.”

“Oh, what a shame. And here I was hoping to see Hugh in a butler’s uniform.”

Lily rested her cheek in her hand and sighed, before letting out a creepy, wicked little giggle—“Fuhishi!”—at the thought of it.

“Please stop your baseless fantasies, My Lady,” I deadpanned.

I hadn't heard that "fuhishi" laugh in a while...

“I’ll just find some random job—working in a kitchen or doing construction or something.”

“Denied. I’ve thought this for a while, but your awareness as a noble is far too thin. You need to care more about appearances. Even if you’re a 'backwater' poor noble, if you’re seen doing manual labor like that, it’ll make everyone around you uncomfortable.”

“Ah, I guess that’s true.”

“It is true. You don't want to make everyone else walk on eggshells around you, do you?”

“No, not really...”

The divide between nobles and commoners wasn't shallow enough that a simple "I don't care, so you shouldn't either" would fix things. Back in my backwater village where everyone knew each other, it was fine. But here in the capital, I was expected to act like a noble.

I could try to work in disguise, but if that led to unnecessary trouble, it would be a huge pain later. It was frustrating not being able to just pick up a part-time job, but I guess that’s just how it was.

“As for jobs a noble could do... let’s see. A tutor for another noble family...? No, wait, never mind.”

“Hey, don't look away from me.”

“Ahem. Right. How about becoming an adventurer?” Lily suggested, clearing her throat to hide her slip-up. I considered pressing her on what she’d almost said, but decided to let it slide.

“There are plenty of nobles who are adventurers. You won't have to worry about people being uncomfortable.”

In the Kingdom of Reese, primogeniture was the norm. It wasn't uncommon for second or third sons who couldn't inherit the estate to leave home and become adventurers upon reaching adulthood. Since noble boys were often trained in martial arts from a young age, they were welcomed as immediate assets.

“Can I even become an adventurer while I’m still a student?”

“Yes, as long as you get permission. I’m sure Alyssa-san could handle the paperwork if you asked her.”

“An adventurer, huh... that doesn't sound bad.”

I’d been interested in it since I was a kid. It was the quintessential profession for an isekai fantasy world, and adventure was every man’s romance. If I hadn't been a corporate slave in my past life, my goal might have been "adventurer" rather than "slow life."

I didn't plan on becoming a professional right now, but it seemed like a good way to earn some pocket change.