Jobless Reincarnation: Live Seriously Even Without Transfer Events

"Ah! Master."

Leda suddenly appeared behind her, causing Izuru to stumble and almost fall.

"Did I do something wrong, Master?" Izuru asked timidly.

Leda shook her head. "A full stomach breeds desires, and one cannot master the Sword of Separation that way."

After saying that, she turned and went back to the Japanese-style room next to her.

The screen slid smoothly toward the door bolt, and a slight blush rose on Izuru's face. It seemed that her master had figured out what she was thinking before she even understood it herself.

At this moment, only one person was on her mind. Although she couldn't quite make out who he was, she also felt that he was very clear about her.

……

Fine snowflakes drifted down slowly, melting in the boy's palm. His neat, short, bright red hair was styled with fluffy white snowflakes.

"Thank you for your hard work, young master, as you return home."

Three or five maids, with smiles on their faces, came to greet him with dry towels and blankets, wiping the snow off the boy's head and draping the blankets over him.

As Albert entered the mansion, he glanced at the table in the living room where a cup of tea was steaming, clearly freshly brewed.

"Have we had guests?"

"No, young master, it's Miss Alice who's back."

"I see."

He smiled with relief, secretly breathing a sigh of relief, and was overjoyed. He quickly asked, "Is she back to stay here?"

The maid nodded, and Albert relaxed and lay down on the sofa, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders.

"Young master, the master has instructed you to go to the study," the maid added, handing over a cup of fresh tea.

Albert nodded slightly, took a sip of hot tea, and went upstairs to his study.

"Father."

He sat down on the sofa opposite James, poured the red wine on the table into the nearest wine glass, and pushed it toward James.

“News has come from the Silver Palace that His Majesty has fallen ill,” James said.

"Is it because of His Highness Halfas?" Albert asked, a hint of joy appearing between his brows.

James nodded quietly, and the father and son exchanged glances, as if it were something he had expected.

“I have something to tell my father,” Albert said, getting up and walking to the door. After making sure no one was outside the study, he returned to his seat.

“Father, Princess Ariel came to see me today.”

"Oh? What did she say to you?"

"She only talked to me about trivial things, such as the operas she often listens to and the actors she likes, but I could also hear some things in her voice. She repeatedly mentioned the opera 'Farewell My Concubine'."

"The late king bid farewell to his concubine?"

[Note: "Farewell My Concubine" refers to the opera that Halphas and Lilith watched together in Chapter 143, the Lilith Gaiden. The king in the opera is portrayed as pure and devoted, but in reality, he is promiscuous and lustful, with many scandalous affairs.]

“That’s right, Father. I believe Princess Ariel is trying to curry favor with Prince Gravel through me. The late King, with his character, was able to receive praise from his descendants only because of the favor of his ancestors; his reputation was only cultivated after he became king. But now, Prince Halphas is embroiled in a serious scandal, his reputation ruined. Like the late King, he is considered a person of moral failings. And the Princess's faction must now attack Prince Halphas to prove their innocence, so…”

"So, did Princess Ariel hint at what her bargaining chip is?"

"No."

James frowned, his hand resting on his knee as he grabbed the hem of his shirt and then slowly released it.

"Putting everything else aside, as a subject, one must be careful in everything one does. This matter cannot be kept to oneself. Tonight, Prince Gravel will definitely stay in the royal chamber to watch over His Majesty. Therefore, you should go to the Silver Palace first thing tomorrow morning, first report this matter to Prince Gravel, and then go to comfort His Majesty."

"Yes, Father."

After saying this, Albert was about to leave the room, but James called him back.

"Albert".

"Is there anything else you need, Father?"

James got up and walked to the French windows. The snow outside was falling harder and harder, and the wind, carrying large snowflakes, was relentlessly pounding against the glass.

The room fell silent, the atmosphere as cold as the temperature outside.

"Have you had enough fun with your little toy?"

"A little toy? You mean Noren?"

"Who else could it be?"

Albert lowered his head, looking somewhat timid as James spoke in a not-so-harsh tone of reproach.

Norren arrived in the capital as a hostage, yet she received Albert's utmost affection. Moreover, Norren's brother, Rudeus, was not controlled by his own sister being a hostage in the capital. Instead, he disregarded his engagement to Alice and repaid her with a scandalous affair with Lilith, the eldest daughter of the Aiolos family.

But now is not the time to settle scores with Rudius; there are more pressing matters at hand.

James felt a chill run down his spine when he recalled how Albert had pleaded for Noren's life when Gravel was about to punish him for the same offense.

"Her brother will pay for what he did sooner or later. Toys should be thrown away. Don't do anything stupid."

"Yes, Father."

Chapter 183: A Poem for Self-Defense

Jobless Reincarnation Fanfic: Live Seriously Even Without Transfer Events [Chapter 183] A Poem to Protect Yourself

Chapter 183: A Poem for Self-Defense

……

Mulgore went to jail, and Cosette, through a speech reminiscent of Light Yagami, handed over the position of student council president to me. It all happened just now, but it feels like a long time has passed.

[Note: Light Yagami is the protagonist of the Japanese anime *Death Note*. In the story, he is exceptionally intelligent, athletic, a superb actor, and possesses extremely strong mental fortitude. He is a near-obsessive perfectionist driven to madness by his pursuit of a twisted sense of justice. He feels suffocated by the "boredom" of the world, believing it to be decaying, and hopes to create a new world without crime. He accidentally finds the Death Note and uses it to kill criminals, thus beginning a confrontation with L. He successfully kills L and L's successor, M, but is ultimately defeated by L's successor, N.]

He is referred to by his followers as "kira" (derived from the English word "killer").

If I remember correctly, I was probably the first person, besides the first president, to become student council president in my first year.

At this moment, I am holding Sylphie's hand, walking on the way to the prison to visit Mulgore.

Those slender hands were always so cold.

"It must be because the weather is too cold."

I grabbed her and put her hands into the pockets of her cotton coat.

"Um……"

She pursed her lips, her pinkish face perhaps a result of the frost and snow blowing in her face.

"Rudy's pockets are warm."

"I thought my abruptness would offend you, but since that's the case, let's stay a little longer."

Saying things like that makes it sound like I'm considering Silphie's feelings, but it's really just talk. I just wanted to try putting her hand in my pocket.

Perhaps Mulgore would be a better fit for her than me.

But this "if" route can no longer appear in my visual novel.

Upon entering the prison, the dark ground was already frozen, with ice shards scattered all over the ground under the haystacks. Mulgore, wearing only a thin school uniform, huddled in a corner, clutching his filthy cotton coat. Just a few days ago, he had been making outrageous statements at the election rally, confessing his love to Sylphie. Now, he was a disheveled figure, his face pale from the cold, covered in mud, and his clothes in disarray.

“Silphie...you’ve come…”

His unfocused eyes looked at us, lingering on Sylphie.

I looked at Sylphie, and there was a different glint in her eyes. Even though she didn't speak, I could tell that she seemed to have come to regard Mulgore as an ordinary friend. That look in her eyes was like the one I had when I visited my friends during my stay-at-home period—that pity and sympathy…

...It's disgusting...

"Didn't you ask your sister when she's going to pay back the money you owe?"

I gestured to the jailer to open the cell door, then walked over and squatted down in front of Mulgore. Looking at him shivering from the cold, I didn't feel anything special, neither pleasure nor joy. I didn't feel any of those feelings.

"Hmph..." He glanced to the side, annoyed.

I pulled open his shirt collar and saw stripes of red swelling on his chest, marks from being whipped. I guessed he had misbehaved in the prison and had been beaten by the guards.

"It must be cold here."

"What...what are you going to do!?"

Mughal struggled desperately to push me away, but he was completely powerless and could only let me pin him against the wall.

Immediately afterwards, I used a fire spell on my right hand—Fireball—and slowly moved it toward Mulgore.

"Of course, it's to keep you warm."

"Ahhhh!"

"Ahhh!"

As the fireball pressed against the swollen wound on his chest, Mulgore's heart-wrenching screams strangely brought me a sense of pleasure.

I continuously infused my palm with magic, raising the temperature, and the stench of burning meat mixed with specks of blackish-yellow smoke rose into the air.

"Uh……"

About five minutes later, he passed out, and I stopped.

Seeing Mulgore lying unconscious on the straw mat covered in ice shards and mud, motionless with only weak breathing, his chest charred black from the burns still steaming, it was clear that if things continued like that, he might die. However, that might not be too much to ask. But never mind, let's treat him...

"Silphie, heal him..."

"..."

I didn't get a response to my words. Did she not want to treat Mugore?

When I turned around, I saw that Hilfi was pressed against the wall, her dilated pupils trembling slightly. Was she afraid of something?

"Silphie?"

I asked tentatively.

Are you feeling unwell?

"Um...no..."

She stammered as she spoke, her eyes trying to avoid my gaze.

"Rudy... um... I'm going out for a bit."

After saying that, she turned to leave.

Is she uncomfortable with this scene?

No, she had seen far more bloody scenes than this, and had even taken other people's lives with her own hands. Besides, this scene couldn't really be considered bloody.

So, what caused her reaction?

I looked at Mulgore and reached out to touch the charred, hardened chunks of flesh, a sense of unease rising within me.

Is it because of him, Mulgore?

"No, Silphie, you stay here."

"Rudy..."

"What? Sylphie, you don't want to?"

"No, it's not..."

"Never mind, I'll treat him myself."

I placed my palm on Mulgore's wound. The hard, charred chunks of flesh seemed as if they would fall off with the slightest touch, which reminded me of the time I lost my right arm and the pain of being torn apart.

"May divine power transform into fragrant food, granting those who have lost their strength the power to rise again -- [healing]."

The charred remains fell away, revealing new flesh, and Mulgore's breathing became even, as if he were resting.

"Shh!"

I gave a wink to the jailer beside me, and a bucket of cold water was poured on Mulgore.

"Cough...cough..."

After catching a chill, he opened his eyes instantly and hugged his dirty, damp cotton coat, like a frightened chick that couldn't find its mother's protection and could only huddle in the corner.

"Rudius".

That was Lilith's voice. I stood up and looked at the woman behind me. She was wearing a striking black fur coat.