Regressor, Possessor, Reincarnator

Allen studied his father’s face, but he showed no emotion.

“Yes. As you know, Julius started being apologetic towards the servants, so the maid must have foolishly thought she could take advantage of that in order to obtain a portion of the compensation as well. I’m sure someone instigated her to do it.”

Allen smirked bitterly. What he actually meant was quite evident:

[I know you’re behind this.]

However, his father answered, unbothered, as if he didn’t catch what Allen actually meant.

“Goodness. Seems like the house staff has gone slack while I was occupied. I’ll look into it myself later.”

[I don’t know anything, but I’ll pretend to care.]

“That won’t be necessary. I already had Mother take care of the matter.”

[I already sent the maid to Mother before you could do anything.]

“Yes. I’m sure Eliza will make a wise decision.”

[Really? However, it doesn't matter.]

“Do you think there could be a force that convinced the maid to commit such a thing?”

[Are those suspicious people you keep contact with behind all this?]

“I doubt that. It’s most likely a personal motive. If such an evil force existed, it would have been reported to me.”

[There is no one behind this. This is all purely her doing alone.]

As they conversed in a superficially cordial way, a servant entered with a tea cart. 

“Doesn’t it smell unusual? It’s made of tea leaves that the elves harvested themselves.”

Gaielle changed the topic, leaving no opportunity for Allen to question him any further. 

“It does. It definitely stands out from the other teas I’ve had.”

Allen sniffed the tea’s deep aroma before taking a sip. Then, he wondered. 

‘Was the family wealthy enough to afford such extravagance?’

Allen didn’t think anything odd of the family being able to retain the knighthood, since it was necessary to protect the land and family.

The tea, however…

‘Even the meals they served were simple, so where did such money to afford tea like this come from?’

Thinking about it, there was always word that the family was failing. However, the house staff was never paid late. Moreover, there was no reduction in the number of staff.

There were only rumors.

‘Did the family ever experience any privation? …No.’

Allen realized that someone else was involved in this. 

‘I should look into it later.’

Allen sat up straight and opened his eyes. 

“So…”

“Hm?”

“What is it that you want us to do?” he asked bluntly.

“We haven’t sat down for tea for quite some time. Why not enjoy it for longer?”

“There’s much to be done.”

“Alright, then.”

Clink.

Allen placed his cup on the table and looked at Julius, who seemed to be lost in thought.

“Julius.”

“…”

“Julius?”

Julius startledly looked up when Allen tapped him on the shoulder. 

“Y-Yes!”

“Tch. I’m the only one acknowledging this tea’s magnificence.”

Gaielle gave a look of disapproval at Julius’s behavior. Julius could only chuckle awkwardly, guilty for unintentionally ignoring his father as he got too engrossed in his own thoughts. 

“What I am about to order you two is not difficult.”

Gaielle straightened his posture and hardened his expression. He wore a stern look, and his voice carried the dignity of a Lord.

“First of all, Julius. I heard you’ve ‘changed’.”

His eyes glowed as he faced Julius. Julius didn’t avoid his father’s eyes and met his gaze. 

“A scoundrel like you changed, huh…”

‘Isn’t it too drastic of a change to change completely just from a head accident?’

Gaielle didn’t even hint at that thought. 

“Indeed. It is only right for a Reinhart.”

Gaielle laughed. 

‘What was so funny?’

Allen couldn’t understand his father’s laugh. 

Gaielle’s face suddenly turned cold.

“So, I will test you.”

‘A test…’

Allen narrowed his eyes.

“I received a request for assistance from the city of Hibelle. They say that a monster that was never seen before appeared and kidnapped their citizens.”

Allen always wanted to know how their father knew of the danger that would befall Hibelle before it even happened and intended to send Julius there.

“The situation there is quite serious, so gather some soldiers and resolve this. While you’re there, renew the pledge Baron Bellourne of Hibelle made to me.”

The seemingly ‘small’ test turned out to be a greater danger than anticipated.

Yet the infamous scoundrel, Julius, would be able to resolve that. 

One case after another, like the main character of a .

“You can take a hundred men, but not any knights. You’ll have to prove yourself to me. It could be a little rough, but it could also be a good opportunity. So…”

The first step to Julius’s string of grand achievements.

“Do you accept, Julius?”

‘How was that possible? How was Julius always that lucky?’ Allen wondered, even before his regression.

“I…”

Just as Julius began speaking…

“…will acce—”

“I’ll do it,” Allen quickly blurted out.

“What?” Julius looked at Allen in bewilderment.

“What?”

Gaielle’s expression turned cold as he stared deeply into Allen’s eyes.

“…Allen, what are you…”

Allen could see the emotions on his brother’s face; confusion, anger, disappointment, and doubt.

If he said that only to prevent Julius from making great achievements, those emotions would heighten. 

He was certain of it since he did the same thing before his regression.

“Allen, you must have some solid reason behind that, right?” Gaielle asked. 

Allen recalled his past life, looking back to the actions he recklessly took just to prevent Julius from attaining honor.

‘Back then, I strongly insisted and finally got permission to follow him. If I couldn’t prevent him from achieving such great feats, I thought that I could at least sabotage or minimize it.’

“If this is because of some trivial intentions…”

Even so, Allen had failed. Despite his disruptions, Julius still succeeded, and his fame grew.

And what did I earn from that?

Did I save Julius? Had I become of any help to the family? Did I get any stronger?

‘No.’

There was nothing.

What resulted from it was innocent, irrelevant people getting hurt. It was shameful since he had abandoned the duty of a noble.

‘But now…’

“You will have to endure the weight of your own words.”

‘…It’ll be different.’

He had no intention to drag other people into his mission of saving his brother.

“Yes, first of all…”

Allen nodded in agreement. He could see Julius impatiently waiting for him to continue. In the past, what he said next completely changed the course of their relationship. However…

“I believe it is not fair.”

Not this time.

“…Not fair?”

“Yes. It’s only been a month since Julius’s head injury. He even forgot some of the court manners. Additionally, he doesn’t even know how to ride yet.”

Allen pretended to be sincerely concerned.

“…Allen, that’s—”

“Silence.”

Julius tried to say something, but Gaielle interrupted him and waited for Allen to finish.

“Of course, it’s a good thing that Julius began to change for the better ever since the accident, but…”

Allen embodied concern in his words and expressions.

“It isn’t fair to send him off to such a tough battlefield.”

“…A battlefield?”

Julius repeated his brother’s words, and Allen nodded.

“Yes, a battlefield. I got this information from a source I trust. A few unidentified monsters? There are, in fact, dozens or perhaps more that destroyed the Hibelle area. “

Their father didn’t even show a hint of surprise. 

“How could you send Julius, who is still recovering, to such a dangerous place just for the sake of testing him?”

“…Is that so?” Gaielle curtly responded.

Julius looked at Allen fondly, not having expected that his brother would go this far for him.

The negative emotions he once wore were now gone.

Gaielle admitted to Allen’s comment in a composed manner.

“…There must have been a mistake in the report I got. Alright. Let’s say you’re right. Then, Allen, are you confident in this task?”

Allen expected his father to question the source of this information, so he felt skeptical. However, that wasn’t his priority for now.

“Yes.”

He answered with no hesitation.

He had been given a second chance through a regression, so he would do everything he couldn’t back then. 

“Yes, and I don’t need any other support. If you allow me one sorcerer for the renewal of the oath along with the hundred men you mentioned initially, I will resolve this and bring honor to our family name.”

It was all the duties of a noble as well as a promise to himself as a brother.

“Fine, if it’s for that reason, I’ll allow it. However…”

Gaielle contemplated for a moment before continuing.

“…Sorcerer Prindal will accompany you for the renewal. And you must pay him respect.”

“Understood.”

Gaielle slowly nodded and faced Julius.

“Then, Julius. Go west of here to Garvia.”

“…What?”

“I was going to give this task to Allen. The people of the west have been dying mysteriously recently. There have already been five deaths in one town.”

‘The west…’

What was the task?

Allen couldn’t quite remember, since he had been too preoccupied with disrupting Julius.

‘…I should read the black book again.’

The future couldn’t be read, but there could be a clue in the past records.

“Understood, Father.”

“I’ll give you a hundred men as well. And… I can’t say for certain about a sorcerer, but I’ll try something.”

Father seemed to be full of thoughts.

“You all must prepare now. Leave for your respective tasks in three days. You will start together and part halfway through your journey.”

“Yes, Father.”

“And you, Julius?”

“Yes, Father.”

Julius answered a moment later.

‘So something called a “System” is there, huh…’

Indeed, I can’t see anything.

Gaielle then left to take care of his remaining tasks. Allen and Julius followed him out to each prepare for the journey.

Just before they parted ways, Julius spoke.

“Thank you, Allen. I almost would have gone through a whole hassle.”

“It’s only right for me to have your back as your brother.”

If he were his real one.

“Brother… Yes, of course. We’re brothers, after all.”

Julius mulled over the word ‘brother’ a few more times before smiling at Allen. Allen smiled in return and took the first step. 

“Then, I’ll see you soon.”

“Yes. I’ll see you in three days, Brother.”

Julius sent his brother off with a lively face and a bright voice.

“Alright.”

Allen’s voice was bright as well. However…

His eyes sank coldly.