The Villainous Aristocrat's Efforts Led to a Genuine Harem - Episode 4

Episode 4

“I understand. Then, if I talk to my family and get their permission, can I ask you again?”

“Yes, of course.”

Zangell smiled warmly, bowed his head, and left.

After scratching my head, I let out a sigh.

I don’t want to meet my family.

Right now, I’m alone in a room at the edge of the mansion. And as long as I don’t leave this room, I practically never have to face them.

In fact, since I reincarnated into this body, I haven’t met them even once.

Honestly speaking, the members of the Validor family in Reis-kun’s memories are trash with personalities I definitely don’t want to deal with. And I can’t imagine they’d agree to anything I ask.

Zangell is… the lazy type. That’s probably why he made that suggestion just now.

He doesn’t want to hear my request directly. But because of his position, it’s hard for him to outright refuse. So he used my family against me—that’s what it is.

That bastard… No, well, to begin with, it was Reis-kun’s fault for constantly acting like someone people would hate.

Even if I said, “I’m a different person now! My inside has changed!” they’d just think I’ve finally lost it completely.

Here comes another obstacle… but, oh well.

When I hear the word “obstacle,” I get excited… Damn it, Reis-kun really could take joy in anything.

Anyway, I need to persuade my family and get Zangell—who has the highest-level [Instructor] skill—to educate me.

When negotiating with my family, begging like what’s common in normal households won’t work.

There’s a huge wall between me and them. I have to draw out an outcome they’ll be pleased with.

My family are dangerous people who find joy in rejecting what I want and bullying me.

In other words—

If I create a situation where “I don’t want sword training.” Then I can make it so that my family forces sword training onto me.

With that premise in place, it’s simple.

I’ll show that I want to learn magic.

From that day on, I walk the hallways while reading a grimoire.

All of this is to show my family that I want to study magic.

Of course, this is part of my basic training too. By studying magic, I can train my magical power and magic attack strength.

…However, if you don’t have someone with the [Instructor] skill teaching you, the effect isn’t very strong.

It’s mostly just a token effort. But by continuing the training every day, there are times I pass by my family in the halls.

My parents throw cold glances at me and mutter insults under their breath.

My older brothers, the first and second sons, even go out of their way to bump into my shoulder and walk off with sneering smiles.

…It seems even Reis-kun couldn’t get excited about that. The only thing piling up is disgust.

Apparently, Reis-kun only liked being bullied by women outside the family.

…It must be something about his upbringing that made his preferences so warped.

While I was living that kind of life, I got summoned by my parents.

The location was the dining hall. Naturally, I didn’t have a seat at the table where the rest of the family was eating.

…Well, that’s my standing in the Validor household.

My father—Roubel Validor—gave me a glance. He then glared at me with displeasure.

“Reis. Do you know why you were summoned here?”

“…No, I don’t.”

“I hear you’ve been studying magic lately.”

At Father’s irritated question, the rest of the family all glared at me in unison.

—Here it comes!

I hold back the urge to smile with joy.

Things are going exactly as planned. And I’m more than satisfied. But I can’t let a smile show here.

I put on a properly serious expression.

Of course, I already know the reason behind their irritation. But I play dumb.

“…Y-yes, but… what about it?”

Reis-kun acts all high and mighty with commoners. But this is how he is with family.

At my question, Father’s face turned bright red in an instant.

“Magic is a power granted only to nobles!”

His voice thundered like lightning. It shook every corner of the room.

…In the game’s setting, only nobles and a few exceptionally talented people could use magic.

But well, it’s a game—most of the commoner party members were those “exceptionally talented” ones and had magic powers.

Anyway, since Father shouted, I pretended to be scared.

“You’re just someone who happened to be born by accident. So don’t go studying magic!”

“I-I’m sorry… b-but I just want to study magic…”

“First of all, the magic you’re suited for is spatial magic. That’s completely useless! Practicing such a thing is meaningless! And it pisses me off, so don’t do it where I can see it!”

S-Say whatever you want while I stay silent, huh…?

In the first place, it’s your fault I was born—you got horny and laid hands on a servant, didn’t you…?

In this world, it’s common knowledge that killing a child brings a curse on the family. So I was born safely. But then this stepmother of mine couldn’t stand it and killed my mother anyway.

After that, I was raised like a burden they couldn’t get rid of.

“…E-even so… I want to study magic. I-I can use magic too… I want to fight using magic instead of swords like the soldiers!”

As I desperately said that, Father came at me with his fist raised.

But then—it happened.

The grinning eldest son Life and second son Ligul turned their disgusting smiles on me.

“Father. I have a good idea.”

“Me too, me too.”

“…What is it?”

“Why don’t we teach that useless brat how to use a sword?”

“…A sword?”

“Yeah. He said he wanted to fight, right? So teach him how to use a sword.”

“Hmm…”

“Learning swordsmanship is something commoners do, right? Let’s have him learn the same thing as those talentless fools.”

Are you gods or what?! I almost screamed in thanks inside my head. But on the surface, I kept a desperate expression.

“N-no…! I don’t want to learn the sword…! I-I want to be a magician…!”

At that moment, Father’s magic was released.

A blast of wind slammed into my body and sent me flying. I crashed into the dining hall wall. And I could hear a short scream from a servant nearby.

O-ow…! D-damn, that really hurt. If this doesn’t count toward stat training in magic defense, it’s totally not worth it!

Raising my face in frustration, I saw my family’s filthy smiles.

They were grinning down at me in mockery.

“Indeed. I shall train you in swordsmanship. From now on, you’ll train every day alongside the commoners.”

“S-such a thing…! I don’t want to learn swordsmanship! And… no way! Having that commoner Zangell as my instructor… that’s absolutely disgusting!”

“…Oh? Is that so? Then perhaps I should appoint Zangell as your instructor.”

Yes! Mission complete. Things are going so well I might start laughing.

With this, I’ve secured an instructor—Zangell.

I’ve finally taken the first step to changing my future.

Putting on a look of despair, I made a fist-pump and danced with joy in my heart, when—*bam!* My head was stepped on.

…L-Lifeeeee! You bastard…! How dare you stomp on me with your filthy feet!!

I wouldn’t mind if it were a beautiful girl stepping on me. But I don’t have any interest in being stepped on by a dirty fat brat like you!!

N-no, being stepped on by a beautiful girl is still not okay…! What the hell is wrong with Reis’ body!?

But right now, I have neither position nor power.

“Hah hah hah. Good for you!”

“Now you’re one step closer to becoming a proper commoner…!”

As Life said that, he finally lifted his foot. And I raised my face.

……..I’ve found a new goal.

Of course, I still intend to avoid my ruin.

But aside from that, I have one more—

—I’m going to beat the hell out of these guys!

I’ll gain a position where I can take revenge on the Validor family, and return everything they’ve done to me many times over!