The Villainous Noble Son Wants to Capture His Stepsister! - Chapter 8

Several months had passed since I was reincarnated into this world.

It would take just under three years before my favorite character, Primeria, became my stepsister. To transform from a villain into the ideal older brother, I had been working hard every day.

My fusion-failed-looking, overweight body had also improved significantly—to the point where my parents mistakenly thought I had a severe illness. Every time they saw me, I had lost more weight, which understandably made them worry.

But seriously, even if they were concerned, could they please stop trying to feed me an absurd amount of sweets?

However, I had now encountered a major problem. No, I had always suspected it deep down. I had just been desperately trying to look away.

I knew. I should have known. And yet…

“My stats as Kraut are way too low!!”

That’s right. Despite being a mid-boss, I was the weakest of the weak. Kraut, whose combat skills were barely on par with a goblin, had zero talent for battle…!

“If you gain more experience, your movements should improve somewhat…”

Heliotrope—formerly a slave, now a beautiful combat maid, and currently my sword instructor—tried to be considerate with her words.

But her hesitant tone and the awkward smile on her face were way too honest.

Since she was usually strict with me, that rare kindness stung even more. Like salt in a wound.

“No, I know it myself. I have absolutely no talent for the sword.”

Kraut had never wielded a sword in his life. And in my previous world, I was just a former otaku who had lived a peaceful life in Japan.

Weak plus weak equals… even weaker. No matter how much I tried, the outcome was the same: I’d get crushed.

I refuse to be humiliated like this.

“Would you like to try other weapons? A spear, perhaps? Or a bow?”

“…I mean, I won’t say it’s impossible, but I doubt it would make much of a difference.”

I already knew Kraut’s stats in this game world, Swords, Magic, and Flower Crowns. Whether it was a sword, a spear, or even a club, the results wouldn’t change.

If I were the protagonist, maybe there would be some hidden potential. But I was just a mid-boss—no hidden abilities, no demand from the players.

As it was, I already took way longer than most people to learn even the basics. Switching weapons now would only lead to the same outcome.

This was real life, not a game with alternate CG scenes. No point in wasting time.

…Wait. Learning just one thing…?

“That’s it! This might actually work!”

“Did you think of something useful?”

“Not exactly a brilliant idea, but… I might have found a way out of this.”

The real issue was whether that thing existed in this world. No, if this world was truly based on a game, then it had to exist!

For now, I’d ask Sebastian to look into it.

◇

The next day.

“Young Master, here is the item you requested.”

Before me was a long, narrow wooden box, about a meter in length.

Sebastian, my highly capable butler, had wasted no time in tracking down the object I had asked for.

As expected of Sebastian. Sasuga, Seba. But seriously, could he please stop calling me Young Master?

“Thanks, Sebastian. I didn’t expect you to find it this quickly. Also, I’d really appreciate it if you stopped calling me that.”

“Please check the item.”

He ignored me! What is with this guy and his weird obsession with calling me Young Master?

“Is this the solution you mentioned yesterday?”

Heliotrope, who rarely showed curiosity, was now eyeing the box with open interest. Damn you, Sebastian. I refuse to give up on this fight.

Well, I was eager to check it out myself.

“Yeah. If this works, I might be able to establish my own combat style. This—”

I lifted the lid of the wooden box.

Inside lay a single sword, completely black from hilt to scabbard.

The blade had a slight curve and was significantly thinner than a typical Western sword.

In other words—

“—It’s a katana!”

Yes. The staple weapon of every otherworld fantasy setting: the katana.

Not just beloved by Japanese people, but admired even by foreigners—and in this case, otherworlders!

I knew it had to exist. In Swords, Magic, and Flower Crowns, you could literally buy them from any weapon shop!

As for why katanas existed in a medieval fantasy world? Who cares! Just toss that logic into the trash where it belongs!

Suppressing my excitement, I slowly drew the blade from its scabbard.

The moment the polished silver blade emerged, my reflection appeared on its flawless surface—showing a grin I quickly wiped off my face.

It was my first time holding a katana, but it felt much lighter than I expected. Even though I still wasn’t particularly strong, I could wield it without much trouble.

Sebastian, noticing my surprise, offered an explanation.

“The sword you are holding, the katana, is made of mithril.”

Mithril!!! The legendary fantasy metal had finally appeared!!!

Holy crap, a genuine mithril katana!? This was way too much for my eternally middle-schooler soul to handle.

I was absolutely thrilled.

My excitement levels were off the charts!

“So this is a katana. I’ve heard the name before, but this is my first time seeing one. …However, even if you use this so-called katana—”

I understood what Heliotrope was trying to say. She was implying that since I had no talent for swordsmanship, switching to a different type of sword wouldn’t make much of a difference.

And fundamentally, she was right. Whether it was a sword or a katana, as a hopeless swordsman-in-training, I would still struggle just to learn a single technique.

But that’s exactly why I chose the katana.

If I couldn’t master multiple techniques, then I would have to focus everything on just one.

And the technique I had chosen—

Was Iai.”