Hearing that he was a shut-in, I instinctively looked at Evia.
“That foolish younger brother of yours…”
Evia, meanwhile, placed a hand on her forehead as if enduring a headache and let out a big sigh.
“By any chance, do you know the reason why?”
In Earth, the problem of shut-ins is often discussed.
It’s usually due to human relationships; people become afraid to interact with others and end up isolating themselves in their rooms.
I suspect that the situation has become even more serious regarding the ” anal crisis” we discussed earlier…
“No, he didn’t tell us anything either.”
“Yes, when I heard Evia was coming beforehand, I was actually relieved.”
It seems he hasn’t explained the situation, as his parents also have no idea.
Now, I wonder if it’s a good idea to barge in without any information.
“There’s no time to waste.”
“I know, right?”
Not expecting Evia to stay put, I stood up with a wry smile and immediately followed her as she tried to leave the room.
Regardless of the circumstances, we can’t do anything without hearing him out first.
Assuming Evia wouldn’t do anything reckless, I followed her as she navigated the unfamiliar building without hesitation.
This mansion is a three-story Western-style building with a symmetrical layout.
Including the servants’ quarters, it seems to have nearly a hundred rooms in total.
Evia headed toward one of them without a second thought. She walked elegantly in her dress, but perhaps she would have moved more assertively if she were in her usual suit.
“This is it.”
“Ah.”
Nord-kun’s room, our destination, was on the third floor, east side.
There seems to be a room for Evia on the west side as well, but we’ll go there later. We arrived in front of a room with a magical barrier, and I understood this was it.
From its appearance, the barrier didn’t seem that strong, so it should be easy to open.
As I pondered what to do, resting my hand on my chin, Evia said.
“I’m going in.”
As if pushing it open normally, Evia placed her right hand on the door and blew it open with a forceful expulsion of magic power.
The door was pulverized to the point that even a bomb might not have blown it apart so cleanly.
The fragments were reduced to powder, so you can imagine the power.
“What the!?”
As I stepped into the dimly lit room, the person who seemed to have been fast asleep on the bed sat up, tossing the comforter aside.
It’s no wonder the presence felt so quiet.
“He wasn’t cowering and holed up?”
“He was probably on guard and vigilant until he reached his limit and fell asleep.”
“Ah.”
I muttered, thinking he looked rather carefree for someone who was supposedly on guard, and Evia’s reply made me nod in understanding.
As befitting a mansion, Nord-kun’s room was spacious.
The curtains were drawn, making the room dark, but I could see perfectly well in this level of dimness.
“Food, drinking water, a portable toilet, and is this a bath magic tool? He really intended to hole up in here. And this, a magic stone? Ah, it’s the power source for maintaining the barrier. Then this must be the magic tool that activates the barrier.”
I approached the supplies that occupied most of the spacious room and found a large quantity of food, drinking water, and even a modified toilet, bath, and kitchen.
In the center of the room, a crystal-like jewel was fixed to a pedestal, with a magic stone embedded in it. From this, I deduced it was the magic tool for activating the barrier.
“More importantly… this barrier isn’t functioning very well.”
Furthermore, thanks to my prior knowledge from looking into various magic tools when setting up this mansion, I could tell it was cheap.
After all, we have a baby.
In case of an emergency, anticipating the need to hole up in the mansion, I prepared something that would take even an instructor five minutes to breach.
If necessary, Himik can extend the barricade time even further by supplying magic power, a military-grade item that was permitted and installed.
I even tested its durability myself by initiating a trial activation once.
Honestly, I never expected it to withstand my full-power Pile Regret.
It might be a bit disrespectful to compare it to that single item, but still, if it’s meant to protect oneself…
“This is too shoddy.”
It was clearly an old, worn-out model.
It hadn’t been maintained at all.
The pedestal for inscribing the spell was tattered, and the engravings were faded in places, so the barrier could break down at any moment.
The barrier’s durability had significantly decreased from its original performance. Visually, it seemed to be a type that combined not only a defensive barrier but also concealment and recognition disruption.
If all its functions were working correctly, it would be a moderately good barrier, but it was obviously an outdated model.
Using it without proper maintenance or upkeep… it’s terrible.
It’s clear they only cared about it being functional.
“He was probably tricked without knowing anything. Those kinds of con artists spring up like cockroaches.”
“Ah, Evia. What about Nord-kun?”
“For now, I’ve entrusted him to a maid to change his clothes. This foolish brother of mine, to have fallen for such a shoddy product.”
“Well, people’s thoughts don’t function normally when they’re pushed to their limits, so maybe he was just extremely desperate?”
“Even so, this is awful. For a member of a demon clan to be scammed is clearly not good.”
As Evia looked at the item, which could not be repaired or modified by itself, with a frown, she let out a big sigh as she gently peered at the barrier’s magic tool.
“Perhaps I should tell father and move to crack down on the fraud groups in this area.”
I gave a wry smile as she naturally started thinking about work.
“That can wait; for now.”
Seeing that she was about to get engrossed in work, I put my arm around her waist and hugged her to forcefully bring her attention back.
“It’s a bit dusty here. Let’s go back to the living room.”
“Mu, yes, that would be better.”
Walking while maintaining physical closeness is quite difficult, but both Evia and I have extraordinarily high physical abilities.
This level of technique is child’s play. It’s easy for us to walk close together without putting any strain on each other.
“…”
“…” Don’t mind it.”
However, seeing that scene, a few maids suddenly took out their handkerchiefs and started wiping their eyes, and I didn’t quite know how to react.
Maintaining her smile, Evia, who understood my predicament, averted her gaze with a rare look of apology and said.
“She probably hasn’t had much luck with men. It must be overwhelming.”
Escorted by maids who were weeping tears of joy, we returned to the living room.
“So, Nord, I want to hear why you didn’t welcome your sister, even though she returned.”
Evia, with a high-pressure attitude that felt like an interrogation, made him sit in seiza to hear the reason for his seclusion. Her pressure was so intense it felt like something from a battle.
“N-no, big sister. I wasn’t secluding myself because I didn’t want to welcome you, but…”
Nord-kun, sweating profusely, clearly trying to avoid incurring her wrath. His eyes darted back and forth.
“Ho, then what were you trying to do by locking yourself in a room with such a shoddy barrier, buying almost-rotten food, and equipping it with a malfunctioning magic tool? Please enlighten your sister, who cannot comprehend.”
Fumbling with excuses would only tighten the noose around his own neck. I marveled at Evia’s observational skills, having grasped the room’s contents in such a short time, but for Nord-kun, it was a nightmarish situation.
“Eh, I bought it because I heard that if I had that, I could bunker down perfectly.”
He then let slip another bomb.
Evia, catching his voice, which was fainter than a whisper, showed her anger, a vein throbbing on her forehead.
“Ho.”
And I know this.
That a smile is originally a tool for intimidation.
If anyone saw Evia’s current face, ninety-nine out of a hundred would describe it as a kind smile.
A smile filled with the benevolence of a saint.
Only the remaining one would probably find that smile terrifying.
I know.
What Nord-kun’s fate would be after this.
He kept glancing at me and Kaden-san for help, but I could only shake my head, indicating it was pointless.
“I see, I see. It seems educating you cannot be left to others.”
After all, I could sense Evia’s anger pervading the entire room.
It’s no exaggeration to say it’s too late.
I subtly made the sign of the cross, praying for his soul.
Evia’s tone was exceedingly gentle. As if speaking to an ignorant child.
However, that gentle tone was precisely what was fueling the anxiety in this situation.
“It’s perfect timing, as you’ve received a marriage proposal. It wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to re-educate you myself to ensure you don’t offend the other party.”
She tapped her chin rhythmically with her fingers, appearing to ponder, but it was clear her decision was already made.
“Um, is it possible to refuse that…?”
Nord-kun, his instincts screaming that this would lead to something terrible, managed to eke out the words while breaking out in a cold sweat.
“You don’t have to, you know?”
“Huh?”
Nord-kun, who expected a firm rejection, let out a stunned sound at Evia’s seemingly gentle words and looked up at her.
However, it seemed to me like a condemned prisoner who had just reached the thirteenth step of the gallows and was now fixed to the chopping block.
“Although I am your sister, I do not have the right to force you. I am not a demon either; I will respect your free will. I am busy too, so if you dislike it, I will not go out of my way to educate you.”
And then, Evia let out an exaggerated sigh, as if she were a tiger preparing to pounce on its prey.
“Then, ‘however’…”
“Huh?”
Evia cut him off mid-sentence as Nord-kun, seeing a glimmer of hope, tried to grasp onto it like a spider’s thread.
“If that’s the case, then I will no longer help you find work, nor will I manipulate information for you regarding the ladies. Freedom comes with corresponding responsibility. I’ve pulled strings regarding your work history, but if you say you don’t need my help, then you’ll have to find a new job yourself from now on. Of course, since you’ll be doing it yourself, you won’t be borrowing your parents’ help either, will you?”
Then, her tone completely changed. Evia stated the facts in a monotone voice, like a machine.
“Ah, I’m happy, Nord. You’re telling me you’ll become independent. As your sister, I’m proud of your spirit. That’s right, it was none of my business after all. That magic tool, and that food, were preparations for your independence, weren’t they? My, my, it seems I’ve jumped to conclusions.”
Evia said it deliberately, as if regretting ruining a surprise. If it went on like this, Nord-kun would be kicked out of the mansion and forced to become independent.
Evia was fully aware of Nord-kun’s circumstances, which made independence impossible, but she continued her verbal assault.
Such a demon.
“Since I seem to have jumped to conclusions so easily, let me confirm one last thing.”
Mercilessly, she was about to bring down her “rod of love” upon her brother.
“Are you absolutely sure?”
I thought, while standing behind him, that given her icy gaze, he had no choice of options left for his final confirmation, where his words were carefully chosen.
Today’s Word:
The position one takes at work is their own choice.
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