I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble and Want to Enjoy a Laid-Back Harem Life – I Have No Intention of Getting Involved in the Main Story, Just Want to Live Comfortably with My Female Slaves, but Everyone Around Me Keeps Treating Me Like a Hero - Chapter 2.1

I was born into the House of Reinhardt.

A powerful marquis family, it held its own domain and was one of the great noble houses of the mighty Twilight Kingdom.

However, despite its prestige, the House of Reinhardt was far from being in an ideal state.

The reason was simple.

A deadly plague swept through the family years ago, wiping out my relatives. My mother perished, and though my father survived, he was left permanently weakened—no longer capable of producing an heir.

As a result, I am the only one who can inherit the House of Reinhardt.

If I die, the Reinhardt bloodline ends.

“That’s why, logically speaking, it’s strange that someone like you can stand beside me.”

“Huh? What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“I was just talking about how the House of Reinhardt isn’t in its prime right now.”

“…Oi, don’t just drop eerie topics like that.”

“Nah, it’s not that scary.”

Sure, my family’s current situation is dire.

But still, this body—the body of Lloyd Reinhardt, one of history’s greatest geniuses—belongs to me.

No matter how much of an average person I may be on the inside, with a body this powerful, there’s no way the House of Reinhardt will crumble.

“…Though, honestly, learning royal governance is such a pain.”

The expectations placed on me as the family’s sole heir were nothing short of overwhelming.

“Yeah, yeah. Do your best.”

“No, but think about it. What is a ruler? Surely, a ruler is simply someone with power, no?”

“…Okay? Where are you going with this?”

“So, if I possess overwhelming power, then why would I need to study governance at all? Shouldn’t my priority be learning magic to become that overwhelming force?”

“You’re already obsessed with magic—you research it all the time. And you still think that’s not enough? You magic freak.”

“And yet, Bohater, you always go along with it, don’t you?”

I drag Bohater around for sparring matches all the time.

If anything, he has it worse than me since he constantly ends up being my magic test dummy.

“Not only that, you’re always training yourself too. You’re just as bad as me. Total hypocrisy, you know that?”

Bohater wasn’t content with just being my sparring partner—he trained tirelessly, swinging his sword alone day after day.

Sure, I was pretty obsessed with magic, but Bohater was no less devoted to strength.

“…I need power.”

Bohater muttered under his breath, his words carrying a weight far too real.

“Oh? And why is that? It’s not like I, your master, have ever asked you to be strong.”

“—Huh!? Ah, no, that’s—!”

When I teasingly questioned him, Bohater suddenly looked beyond flustered.

“Well, whatever. Feel free to get as strong as you like. As long as you don’t become my enemy, I don’t really care.”

“O-Of course! I’m your slave, after all—”

“You know, you can stop being my slave whenever you want. If you ever want to leave, I won’t stop you.”

“…Huh?”

“The slave seal. You do know I can remove it anytime, right?”

Slaves are supposed to obey their masters unconditionally.

That’s enforced by magic—the Slave Seal, a spell that compels obedience to one’s master.

However, it’s not an unbreakable spell.

I could remove it in less than a second.

And Bohater? He could probably do the same.

“…What?”

“You have something you need to do, don’t you?”

Bohater wasn’t normal.

He was nearly strong enough to stand against me—someone who had inherited the House of Reinhardt’s monstrous power.

There was no way he was just some random slave.

Clearly, he had circumstances.

“I won’t stop you… Just don’t drag me into your mess, alright?”

I had no intention of keeping him chained down.

Forcing someone like that to stay would only cause more trouble.

“Until then, as long as we can stay good friends, that’s enough for me.”

“…B-Brother…”

I got up from the bed where Bohater and I had been lounging and walked toward my bookshelf.

I ran my fingers over the countless magic tomes lined up neatly.

“Magic is glorious! Its depths are endless, and its mysteries know no bounds!”

What started as nothing more than a nerd’s fascination had long since turned into an obsession.

“With magic’s power, I’ll naturally become a ruler… So why should I bother with royal studies?! Don’t you agree, Bohater? So, why don’t we just skip the next imperial governance lesson and go have some fun in town—”

“Even a ruler must not become a tyrant.”

“Huh?!—Wha—?!”

A voice suddenly whispered into my ear.

I yelped in surprise.

“Rulers who rely on power alone are nothing more than despots. True rulers must honor those beneath them and carry the dignity of leadership.”

I turned around and saw my old butler standing behind me.

When had he even gotten there!?

“Power is meaningless without the wisdom to wield it properly. To lead is to learn, to understand, and to guide. That is what it means to be an emperor.”

“…Okay, stop. That actually hurts to hear.”

“Ah, my apologies. You see, an old fool such as myself finds it difficult to joke. Now then, let us begin your imperial governance lesson.”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”