I Already Know My Magic Power Is Ridiculously High! Now I Just Need a Cute Wife... - Episode 56

“Roa, I called you here for a reason. I need you to persuade a certain man and make him spill some information.”

Considering that he’s only eleven years old, this might be too early for him.

As his older brother, I feel ashamed, but I have no choice but to rely on Roa.

“Pe-Persuade?”

“During the Apo operation the other day, we managed to capture one of the generals of the Naia army. Apparently, he was serving under Barbato.”

“Huh? And why are you asking me to do it?”

“Well, the thing is, it’s not going well. I’ve tried using some persuasion tools, but he still won’t talk.”

I point to the persuasion tools placed on the table.

There were drugs, acid, knives, nail pullers, spiked clubs, saws, and other various instruments.

All of them were stained with fresh bl00d dripping from their surfaces.

Roa saw them and gasped, turning pale.

“Persuasion?! This is torture!”

“Well, you could say that. So, Roa, will you do it?”

“Do it? N-No way! Besides, you can just use magic, right, Brother?”

“No, that’s the problem. It seems the prisoner has been protected by a curse seal magic, and I can’t break it.”

Curse seal magic is a type of magic that uses seals to activate various effects.

It can range from mild effects like hypnosis and contracts to more serious ones like sealing someone’s magical power.

I don’t understand the full principles, but it’s likely that Aquila’s rampage was also caused by the application of this magic.

By the way, I’m not very skilled in curse seal magic.

I can handle basic seals like the “Seal of Magic Suppression” and the “Seal of Justification,” but I struggle with breaking curses or engraving complex effects.

For someone like me, controlling magic is like trying to pour exactly one milliliter of water into a one-liter container—it requires extreme precision.

That’s why Roa, who is somewhat knowledgeable about curse seal magic, is the best choice for this task.

“But… torture is just…”

“Roa, this may sound harsh, but as a noble, you must be able to persuade others as easily as breathing. You understand that, right?”

“Not at all!”

Unlike most male nobles, Roa has a kind heart and dislikes killing.

As someone who once lived in a democratic society on Earth, I feel completely out of place here.

“Persuasion involves all the essential qualities of a noble. It trains magic control, mental strength, and even compassion. There’s no better way to develop these traits at the same time.”

“What are you even saying, Brother?”

Roa looks at me with suspicion.

“You shouldn’t underestimate it. Controlling an enormous amount of magic is a major challenge for nobles. Even when training with allies, accidents happen, and people subconsciously hold back.”

“Well, that’s true…”

“But with an unrelated person, you can use your magic freely. You’ll learn through trial and error how to extract information with minimal pain, how much magic to use before breaking someone, and the best way to get results. It’s better for you to get used to it now.”

“Ugh… but it’s scary…”

Well, I don’t have much experience myself, so I can’t say this with full confidence.

I know this is inhumane, but to protect my family, sometimes I have to accept both good and evil.

“Roa, Mother always tells us, right? Since we were born into the Ortenos family, there will come a time when we must stand on the battlefield. That’s why we need to gain strength to survive.”

“I… I’m not as strong as you, Brother.”

“Roa…”

Roa’s emotions start to affect his magic, causing it to waver.

Maybe he feels pressured after hearing about my military achievements.

Was that tense expression I saw in the office because of this?

If so, as his older brother, I should make sure to take care of his mental well-being.

“Roa, you might see me as a strong older brother, but there are many things I can’t do. The fact that I’m relying on you now proves that.”

“That’s… not possible…”

Roa is already at a noble’s combat level.

But since I’m always around him, his sense of comparison has become distorted.

To reassure him, I gently pat his head.

I also use relaxation magic, and soon, his eyes become drowsy.

“Roa, you’re stronger and more capable than you think. Do you remember when I taught you lightning magic?”

“Of course, I could never forget that.”

“You endured my training patiently and mastered lightning magic, something even Sir Uklein couldn’t do. To be honest, I thought it would be too difficult for you, but you proved me wrong. I was truly amazed.”

There isn’t a standardized method for learning magic.

Some noble families might focus on theory, but in Ortenos, we believe in learning through physical training.

Because that was the only way I knew, I had no choice but to drill lightning magic into Roa until he learned it.

“Back then, I was desperate to catch up to you, Brother. And… if it was your magic, I could endure it no matter how harsh…”

“I-Is that so…”

“But no matter how hard I try, I can never catch up to you. You’re always beyond my reach.”

Roa leans against my chest, pressing his body close.

I place my hand on his shoulder.

For some reason, I catch the scent of white lilies coming from him.

It’s a scent unmistakably feminine.

Before I realize it, my brain starts registering Roa as a girl.

“Even though you’re right here, it feels like you’re getting farther away, Brother.”

“Roa, I’ve always been watching you.”

“Eh…”

Roa’s cheeks turn red, and his eyes look at me with expectation.

“You always observe those around you. That’s why I thought you were training in areas where I’m weak. Was I wrong?”

“H-How do you know that…?”

“Because you’re my precious family. I know you better than anyone else.”

I smile at him, trying to act like a dependable older brother.

“Ah… Brother, you’ve been watching me that closely…”

Roa clings to me tightly.

His tearful eyes and rapid breathing make his body press against mine.

From behind his ear, I smell a familiar mix of his natural scent and perfume.

(This is bad… If this continues—!)

—A natural bodily reaction.

Right now, my instincts fully recognize Roa as a beautiful girl.

No one can blame me for my reflexive response.

This is a different kind of crisis from what happened with Elmia.

My pride as an older brother is on the line.

“Ah, um, Brother? Something is pressing against my stomach…”

Roa has noticed.

If he realizes what it is, there’s no way I can explain it away.

In this era, getting caught in such a situation could lead to exile from noble society, like Barbato.

I have no choice—I need to cover it up.

“It’s my stargem in my pocket. Don’t mind it.”

“Huh? But it’s kind of warm…”

Roa touches my so-called stargem.

“That’s just how this stargem is.”

“But…”

“It’s a stargem.”

“…O-Okay…”

I shut him down with a firm response.

Phew, that was close.

If he had kept touching it, things could have ended very badly.

Though Roa still looks doubtful, I change the subject.

“Ahem… back to our previous discussion. I’m not forcing you. If it’s too difficult, I’ll try persuading the prisoner myself.”

“Ugh… Brother, you’re so unfair.”

“Roa?”

He pouts a little.

“…Fine. Since it’s you asking, I’ll give it a try.”

“Really? Thanks, Roa! Then let me introduce you—”

I pull back the curtain where the prisoner is held.

What Roa sees is a middle-aged man tied to a chair, blindfolded and gagged.

“Mmmmmm—mmmmm!”

His clothes and the floor are stained with bl00d, but he has no visible wounds.

Roa realizes he must have been healed with magic after being tortured.

However, his head was completely shaved like a burned field.

“Eek!”

Roa lets out a small scream at the prisoner’s groan, shrinking back with teary eyes.

Seeing his reaction, I smirk slightly.

“Naia Kingdom’s strategic advisor—Nephthys.”