The Villainous Noble Son Wants to Capture His Stepsister! - Chapter 41

Ah—this is bad.

I actually blacked out for a second there.

That last attack nearly killed me.

If I hadn’t instinctively coated my body with a thin layer of water to soften the impact, I might have been dead.

Still… I never thought I’d wake up to Primelia’s voice.

I guess this just reaffirmed how important she is to me.

“…To think you’re still alive. I must say, I’m genuinely surprised.”

Ah, that look on Orelian’s face is priceless.

Just remembering it makes me want to grin.

Actually, I am grinning.

No wonder Orelian is glaring daggers at me.

Sorry, but I’m the type whose expressions show exactly what I’m thinking.

“Fine, then. This time, I’ll make sure to kill—”

“Wait!”

Before Orelian could launch another attack, the king’s voice rang out, ordering him to halt.

Even Orelian wasn’t reckless enough to ignore a direct command from the king.

The king then turned to me with a solemn expression.

“Kraut… do you still intend to fight?”

“Yes. I haven’t surrendered, and I’m not dead yet.”

“…Enough. You don’t need to inherit Wertheim. We will support you. You could be adopted into another noble house, or take a position as a government official.”

“Are you serious?”

“…”

I appreciated the king’s concern.

But that wouldn’t solve anything.

It wouldn’t allow me to protect what I must protect.

“The town… the orphanage… and Primelia—I can only protect them because I am Wertheim. If I can’t do that, then it doesn’t matter who I become or where I go.”

“But—”

The king still hesitated, unwilling to accept my resolve.

He and his family really were good people.

But that was exactly why Wertheim’s corruption needed to be purged now.

“There’s no need to worry. Because—this next strike will end it.”

“!?”

“What…?”

The king and the others were stunned.

Orelian narrowed his already-thin eyes into slits, like a predator sizing up its prey.

“My, myyy… That’s quite the bold statement. Just a moment ago—or rather, even now—you’re barely clinging to lifeee.”

“Then go ahead and underestimate me. Makes my job easier.”

“No, nooo. That remark of yours did annoy me quite a bit. I’ll be sure to carve you up thoroughlyyy.”

“Is that so…? By the way, you’re completely covered in bl00d.”

“Why, of course! It’s allll yours, after all! I haven’t taken so much as a scratch myself!”

As expected from a man who enjoys tormenting others.

He was drenched in my bl00d—absolutely covered in it.

“Here I go… This will be my final strike!!”

“Hah! I’ll cut you down first!!”

Ignoring the pain, I forced my body forward and activated Chikara Mizu, strengthening myself as I lunged—executing my fastest draw yet.

“Hah! That technique again!? Not even once has it come close to hitting me!!”

He was right.

I had used my iai countless times today, but not a single strike had landed.

Orelian sneered with confidence—just as he moved to evade my full-powered attack—

“…!?”

He froze.

No matter how skilled he was—that moment of hesitation was fatal.

The blade, freed from its scabbard, sliced into his right side—cleaving through him.

“Ghh—Aaagh!!”

His upper body spun through the air before crashing onto the ground with a dull thud.

From the severed cross-section, a torrent of bl00d erupted.

“Haa… Haa…”

I was at my limit.

I had lost too much bl00d, burned too much energy, and overused Chikara Mizu and my iai techniques.

I might be bedridden for five days after this.

As I stood there, barely holding onto consciousness, Orelian—somehow still breathing—spoke in a rasping voice.

“What… did you… do…?”

“My magic affinity is ‘Water.’ I can control not just ordinary water—but the moisture within my own body.”

“W-water…? You don’t mean—”

“That’s right. That bl00d coating you? That’s mine. And I used it… to restrain you.”

“…!”

“I can’t manipulate bl00d once it leaves my body very well, but I can make it cling to something for a brief moment.”

“I… see… Just… a moment’s hesitation… was all you needed…”

“I had experimented with it, but this was my first time using it in actual combat. Honestly, it was a gamble.”

While developing Chikara Mizu, I had also tested whether I could control my own bl00d.

I had figured it might be useful someday.

But I never expected it to save my life here.

“You… intentionally… let me cover myself… in your bl00d…?”

“‘Intentionally’ might be a stretch. More like—I didn’t have much of a choice. My attacks wouldn’t land, but yours always did. So all I could do was endure—until I could take you down in one strike.”

“…Hah… In the end… I walked right into it… Well played…”

“The End of the Duel”

The light in Orelian’s eyes faded.

It seemed he had finally succumbed.

With that, the duel was over.

I turned toward the referee. He had been frozen in shock, but upon meeting my gaze, he quickly snapped back to reality.

“This match is over! The victor—Kraut von Wertheim!”

His voice echoed through the training grounds, followed immediately by a deafening roar of cheers.

“An Unruly Objection”

“Quick! Tend to Kraut’s injuries!”

“Y-yes!”

At the king’s command, the healers rushed to me, casting healing magic.

Ahh… That feels amazing. Pure bliss.

Still, even though my wounds were closing, the bl00d I had lost wouldn’t return.

If I bled even a little more, I’d probably black out.

“This is foul play!”

The joyous atmosphere was shattered by an irritating voice.

The culprit? My half-brother, Nameless-Gonbe (temporary alias).

Yeah, I figured as much.

“Your Majesty! There is no way someone like Kraut could have defeated Orelian! He must have cheated!”

Seriously?

You watched the entire duel, and you still say that?

I mean, I did get lucky—but you’re the last person who should be complaining.

Take a look at the king’s face.

See that throbbing vein?

He looks ready to explode.

“Oh? So you’re saying that we, standing here, were too incompetent to notice foul play?”

“Hii—! I-I would never imply such disrespect—!”

“If anything, it is you who resorted to underhanded tactics. …Bring it forth.”

At the king’s words, a man stepped forward carrying a stack of documents.

Sebastian—wait, Sebastian!?

Why is Sebastian here!?

The king took the documents and held them high for all to see.

Gonbe and his cronies turned pale.

What is that?

“This contains evidence of every act of deception and foul play uncovered by our ‘ears.’ And if we investigate further, even more truths will come to light—including what transpired today.”

The king’s gaze shifted toward the three nobles who had voted against me in the inheritance hearing.

They, too, had gone deathly pale.

A purge within the royal castle might be imminent.

…Wait.

Am I leaving a trail of purges everywhere I go?

No, no!

I’m not some tiny detective kid who solves cases wherever he goes!

…I’m not. Right?

Also, Sebastian is part of the royal intelligence network?

I had suspected ‘ears’ had infiltrated our household, but I never expected it to be him—my most loyal retainer.

No wonder he was so ridiculously competent.

And the thugs who attacked me on my way to the capital?

They must have been fed false information.

That was probably Sebastian’s doing, too.

Our eyes met, and he winked at me.

Wow.

A dandy old gentleman just winked at me.

…No, that’s not the point!

Why is he acting playful at a time like this!?

Well, whatever. I’ll deal with that later.

“T-that’s all part of Kraut’s conspiracy! He fears me and is trying to frame me!”

Fear you?

Dude, I still can’t even remember your real name.

Getting pushed to the brink by such a small-time schemer is the biggest embarrassment of my life.

Though, I’m sure the one behind this plan wasn’t actually you.

“Enough! You and your ilk will be judged accordingly. Seize them!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!!”

The knights practically leapt forward to restrain the traitors.

Why are they so enthusiastic about this?

Gonbe and his group looked terrified.

“An Unexpected Invitation”

“Kraut-dono.”

A deep voice called out to me.

Turning around, I found myself facing a man clad in an imposing suit of armor.

Oh, wait—wasn’t he…?

“It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Rhodanthe von Merseburg, Commander of the Royal Knights. Your performance in battle was truly commendable.”

“…It is an honor to meet you, Commander. I am Kraut von Wertheim.”

The Commander of the Royal Knights!?

The kingdom’s strongest military authority!

I vaguely remembered seeing him a few times in the game.

While I was still processing his presence, he casually continued.

“My subordinates were deeply moved by your fight. That is why they cannot abide those who would defile a duel.”

“Ah… so that’s why they were so eager…”

“For a young noble such as yourself to embody the pride of the aristocracy—yet for our kingdom’s high-ranking officials to disgrace themselves so utterly… how pitiful.”

“Haha…”

“…That said, with your skill at such a young age, and the strength of will to overcome adversity—what do you say? Would you consider becoming a knight under my command?”

“Uh… I’m honored, truly—but I already serve as the acting governor of my territory.”

“I see… A shame.”

He genuinely looked disappointed.

I appreciated the offer, but no thanks.

I do want to get stronger—but I have no intention of making battle my profession.

“A Moment with Family”

“Master.”

That familiar voice made me turn.

Heliotrope, Laps, and Enzi were there.

Their eyes looked a little red.

The maids stepped aside to clear a path.

And standing there—

“Onii-sama!”

The moment our eyes met, Primelia ran toward me.

I could already see where this was going.

So, before she could reach me, I held out my hands to stop her.

She froze, her expression turning crestfallen.

“Onii-sama… Why?”

“Well, you see…”

I glanced down at myself and shrugged.

“I’m covered in bl00d. If you hug me, you’ll get stained.”

For a brief moment, Primelia blinked in surprise.

Then—her face broke into the brightest smile.

And she threw herself into my arms.

“Primelia!? I just said—!”

“Fufu, I don’t think of it as dirty. After all, it’s your bl00d, Onii-sama.”

…Wait.

That sounded a little yandere.

Was that always part of her character?

Before I could dwell on it, she lifted her face from my chest.

As expected, her cheeks were now smeared with bl00d.

“You fought to protect our territory, the orphanage, and me. How could I ever think of that bl00d as anything but an honor?”

“Primelia…”

…Damn it.

My vision blurred.

Ever since I reincarnated as Kraut, I had struggled endlessly to make sure my most beloved character—Primelia—could be happy.

In this life and the last, I had never worked so hard for anything.

I never needed anyone to acknowledge my efforts.

And yet…

At this moment, I felt like everything had been worth it.

I pulled Primelia into a tight embrace.

My bloodstained body no longer mattered.

“…Thank you, Primelia. For becoming my little sister.”

For a moment, she stiffened.

Then—after fidgeting slightly—she lifted her head and gazed at me.

With a bashful smile, she softly whispered:

“I am the lucky one, Onii-sama. …I adore you.”

…

…

…

BLOOSH! (Nosebleed)

“Onii-sama!?”

Already weakened from bl00d loss, that final nosebleed became the last straw.

And so—

I passed out.

…Now that I think about it, I got cut all over, but my nose was completely fine.