10
Chapter 10
"......"
"Butler."
"Yes."
"Starting today, select employees to manage the annex, and furnish everything inside with the highest quality items."
"Ye-e-es......"
Then, she slowly walked in front of the lined-up employees and said in a very meaningful tone.
"From now on, you'll have to choose your sides carefully. Who knows? If your efforts to assist me are commendable, you might even receive some old trinkets."
Finally, Belinda's steps stopped in front of Leo, who was standing at the very end of the line.
"Acorn mouse."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"You, follow me. And you."
"Yes, yes, yes?"
"Have a carriage ready."
"Uh, where should I tell them to take you?"
Belinda tapped her chin with the end of her fan as if pondering for a moment, then answered with a cool smile.
"To the most bustling street."
It was a little later that the employees heard the detailed contents of the will.
* * *
According to the lawyer, the inheritance I received as my marriage dowry amounted to a whopping 40% of the entire Blanche family fortune.
Moreover, the wise Marquess had added a truly ingenious special clause.
The marriage partner is to be determined according to Belinda Blansche's wishes, and the dowry inheritance will proceed if the marriage lasts for more than one year.
Also, if Belinda Blansche loses her life in an unforeseen accident before inheriting the dowry, all of this property will be returned to society.
Thanks to that, I could also guarantee my own safety.
'But why didn't Belinda take advantage of this good opportunity?'
Given her personality, I thought she would have immediately picked someone to her liking and gotten married.
I, too, seriously considered a marriage I hadn't planned for as soon as I heard the will.
Perhaps if I didn't have memories of my past life, I wouldn't have hesitated at all about a loveless marriage.
'I should probably meet with a legal advisor soon.'
But before that.
I took a light breath.
I've always wanted to say this line.
"From here to here."
The end of my fan pointed to the far left of the display case, then stretched all the way to the right.
"Wrap it all up."
If you're going to be reincarnated, shouldn't you enjoy spending money like crazy?
Starting with the most famous Pastry shop in the royal capital, I began shopping in earnest.
"This is the new item that came out this quarter."
None other than Leo's clothes shopping!
The owner of the clothing store that Belinda frequented was also skilled at making children's clothes.
I was almost driven out of my mind by the cute and adorable children's clothes she kept bringing out.
I've never seen clothes like this, even in the Cash Shop!
"Okay. Let's have him try that on too. Acorn mouse."
"Yes, yessir."
Leo diligently changed into the clothes I handed him, not knowing why.
Every time Leo peeked his head out from behind the curtain after changing and twisted his body as if embarrassed, I couldn't help but shout the same words.
"Calculate."
"Next is an outfit made to be worn at a simple party. It features eleven layers of frills."
Eleven layers of frills? I can't resist this!
"Acorn mouse."
"I'm all dressed. Um, Belinda?"
"Okay. Calculate this too."
Ah, I can feel my sense of money is gradually becoming numb.
The gold coins slipping out of my hand feel like virtual currency in a game, not real money.
"What's this?"
"It's children's silk pajamas."
Sleep is medicine. Therefore.
"Calculate this too. Acorn mouse!"
I calculated before trying it on, but it's okay. Anything looks good on Leo!
'Hoo, I've satisfied my desire for material possessions to some extent, so I should stop buying now.'
The moment I smiled contentedly, Leo peeked out from behind the curtain.
"I'm, I'm all dressed."
"Wrap that up too."
I should stop buying now, but Leo, who perfectly pulls off any clothes, is so cute that I can't stop at all.
"This is a newly released children's hunting outfit. It comes with a set of long leather boots and gloves."
The madam's eyes sparkled as if she thought she had finally caught a big fish.
Hmph, what do you take me for? It's a hunting outfit, but there wasn't much difference from the riding suit I bought earlier.
......Except for the set of leather boots and gloves.
I can't resist a full set.
"Wrap it up."
The moment I fanned myself and handed the hunting outfit to Leo.
"B-Belinda. D-Did I do something wrong?"
Synchronization rate has increased by +1.
Screech.
My shopping addiction came to a halt.
Ah, this is bad. It seems Leo has begun to suspect that this shopping is a form of bullying.
* * *
The next destination was the Great Temple in the south of the royal capital.
"Wow."
An exclamation burst from Leo's mouth as he followed behind me.
I also inwardly exclaimed.
The magnificent building, finished entirely with white marble to the point that the nickname 'White Palace' didn't seem strange, was so majestic.
It was only natural that the Great Temple perfectly replicated the appearance of the illustration in the game.
Even the 'Sacred Object' placed at the entrance of the Great Temple.
The plaza in front of the Great Temple.
There, a white sword was placed, embedded in transparent ice.
The sword, which the first King of the Zenos Kingdom was said to have sealed in an eternally melting ice coffin, was so sturdy and beautiful that it was hard to believe it had a history of 700 years.
People who appeared to be tourists came and went, trying to grab the sword's hilt and pull it out, but it was impossible.
The Sacred Object, commonly called the 'Light of Blessing'.
It is an indispensable item for the protagonist of Hirome to see the hero ending.
But there were conditions to pulling out the Holy Sword.
I carefully brought my fingertips to the hilt of the white Holy Sword, which seemed to have frost on it if I touched it.
A light bell rang, and a Quest Window floated above the Holy Sword.
[Quest] Pull out the Holy Sword
The Sacred Object that cuts through evil, the symbol of the Star of the Hero.
Pull out the sacred sword left by the first King and obtain the title of hero.
*To pull out the Light of Blessing, Divinity, Stamina, and Magical Power must reach 999.
*Reward upon completion of the quest: The first King's will, the first King's hidden legacy
[Accept/Decline]
'Still crazy numbers.'
To break the seal of the Holy Sword, you need Divinity comparable to that of a cardinal.
To wield the Holy Sword, you need Stamina comparable to that of the captain of the royal guard.
To handle the power latent in the Holy Sword, you need Magical Power equal to that of the Magic Tower Lord.
That was why you had to max out Stamina, Magical Power, and Divinity to raise the protagonist as a hero.
'It wasn't even possible to do it with in-game purchases.'
At best, maxing out two abilities was the best you could do.
Moreover, Magical Power and Divinity are mutually repulsive forces, so raising those two powers together required very delicate control.
'But this time, I can raise my stats before the original story begins. Maybe seeing the hero ending is also......'
I shook my head at the sudden thought.
We're going to have to part ways in a few months anyway. No, more than that......
"Belinda?"
Would Leo want to be a hero?
It's a thought that never occurred to me when I was playing the game.
The countless endings I collected in Hirome. Among them, of course, there were things that could be called bad endings.
'For example, the ending where you become the head of the underworld.'
Leo becoming a hero and Leo becoming the head of the underworld.
In the game, it was very clear which one was a happy ending.
But now that I think about it, isn't the real tragedy that neither of them reflected Leo's will?
If Leo is happy even if he becomes the head of the underworld, isn't that the real true ending?
Not the future of the protagonist that I dream of, but the future that Leo wants to be.
'Leo, what do you want to be when you grow up?'
I somehow couldn't ask Leo, who was blinking his eyes as he looked up at me.
* * *
From Belinda's point of view, Hirome is a survival game with a pretty wicked difficulty.
Fortunately, I have a large sum of 100,000 gold and a huge marriage dowry......
'Money can buy anything.'
The Patrons who take Belinda's life are all powerful people who can make even flying birds fall.
Considering what Belinda's ending was in the original game, no matter how careful I am, I don't know where or how I'll be backstabbed.
To preserve my life from them, I should have about three spare lives to guarantee my safety, just like in the game.
"Wait. Spare lives?"
Something flashed through my mind at that moment.
"Cash Shop!"
(!Warning!) Access Denied
Temporary guardians
This feature is not available.
I wasn't disappointed even by the System window that popped up as soon as I finished speaking.
I guessed that I could only access the Cash Shop, where I could purchase paid items, if I became a formal guardian.
'But that doesn't mean there's no way.'
