The Genius and Calamity of the Villainous Noble: A Brilliant Prodigy Unaware of Their Reincarnation as the Game's Antagonist Defies the Scenario and Dominates with Talent and Hard Work - Chapter 1.9

A war had broken out in a land far from my country.

Even if part of the reason for the war could be traced back to me, and even if I stood to profit immensely from it, a war in some distant land had nothing to do with me.

“So, where to next? Is there anything you want to buy?”

As always, I was enjoying life to the fullest.

“Hmm… let me think,” Marina said, holding my hand as we strolled through the streets together.

We were currently on a date, leisurely wandering through a high-end shopping district.

“Oh, right! Didn’t you get invited back to your family home, Ark-sama? You’ll probably need clothes for that, especially if there’s a party. You’ll need something suitable too, won’t you?”

“Ah… yeah, that’s true.”

I nodded at Marina’s suggestion.

With the vast wealth I now possessed, showing up in the same clothes I’d been wearing before would undoubtedly be unacceptable. In noble society, appearances and status were everything.

“I don’t really like flashy clothes covered in jewels and gold, though.”

“Such whims won’t be tolerated, Ark-sama. You’re destined to become the head of the Reinhardt ducal family someday, after all.”

“But my succession rank is pretty low.”

I responded to Marina’s confident statement with a shrug.

There’s my eldest brother, and then my second brother. Realistically, my chances of inheriting the family title were slim to none.

“…? Even so, Ark-sama, you’ll become the head of the family, won’t you? You’re more than capable of it. I’m sure you’ll knock the others aside and claim the position for yourself.”

“And what if I say I don’t want to?”

“Wh-what!? Ark-sama not becoming the head of the Reinhardt ducal family would be a massive loss for this country! Y-you’re not serious, are you!? You’re going to, right!?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Marina’s panicked reaction.

“Well… yeah. I’ll become the head. I’ve already got plans in place for that.”

With a quiet murmur, I confirmed Marina’s assumption.

“Y-you will? Oh, thank goodness…”

“Yep, that’s right. Now, let’s go pick out some clothes. How about we try a shop we haven’t been to before?”

“Huh!? Are you serious!?”

“Why not? It’s a good opportunity.”

“Y-you’re just deciding on a whim!? While it’s true that being unpredictable is part of your charm, Ark-sama, this isn’t exactly what I’d call noble behavior…”

“Sometimes doing something out of the ordinary is the most fun.”

Even though I’d become deeply ingrained in the values of this world’s nobility—so much so that simply visiting a new shop felt unconventional—I still wanted to break out of the mold.

I smiled and invited Marina along, ready to enjoy the thrill of doing something a little different.