A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 66: The Call

And with what came out of her mouth next, I couldn’t help but wear a dazed expression.

‘...Did she just call me Oppa?’

When was the last time Cecil called me that since we were kids?

Aside from when she was scared and used it out of reflex, I’m pretty sure this is the first time she’s called me that on her own.

Am I dreaming?

“...Sorry for misunderstanding you all this time.”

“...Huh?”

“From now on, I’ll listen to you better.”

Dumbfounded by a reality I could hardly believe, I subtly pinched my thigh, and then tilted my head at her following words in utter confusion.

‘Hasn’t she always listened to me pretty well?’

It’s not like she’s ever really given me a hard time or disobeyed.

Even the recent Prodigy Selection Tournament—sure, that was stressful, but it was something she wanted, so it wasn’t like she deliberately caused trouble.

“You’re a good girl, my little sister.”

Still, since her words were touching in their own right, I smiled gently and stroked Cecil’s head.

“...Hehe.”

In response, Cecil lowered her head and let out a soft giggle, kicking her legs back and forth in turn.

Okay, this is really weird now. Could it be that her rebellious phase ended after what happened last time?

“Anyway, what happened with the Prodigy Selection Tournament?”

“...It got completely canceled. They said they’ll hold it again next year.”

Feeling an odd sense of dissonance creep up my spine, I subtly pulled my hand back and changed the subject. Cecil looked at me calmly as she answered.

“Aren’t you upset about it?”

I’d already heard from the officials that the tournament was canceled entirely.

“It’s pretty much my fault that it ended in such a mess.”

Still, I was a bit curious how she felt about it from her point of view, so I asked—even if it might make things awkward.

“That’s not a big deal.”

“...What?”

But something about her response felt off.

“What’s more important is that you became the Hero, right?”

“...Huh?”

“Stuff like that tournament—I can join it next year or the year after. But a Hero? That’s a once-in-several-centuries, legendary existence.”

Sure, Cecil was a good kid, but... was she ever the type to flatter me this blatantly?

Not to mention—she saw me covered in blood in that room full of collapsed black mages, right?

And I never really gave her a proper explanation there, so by all logic, she should still be seriously misunderstanding me right now...

‘...No, I guess none of that matters now that I’m the Hero.’

Still frozen in place, I finally grasped how powerful the status of “Hero” really was.

Come to think of it, Cecil liked Hero stories almost as much as Lunelle did. If her big brother became one, she probably couldn’t see anything else.

‘Well... maybe this turned out for the best.’

All the worrying I’d done came to nothing in the end, but at least she won’t be in danger anymore. That’s a relief.

Now I’ll be the one who has to go out and fight hard on her behalf, but that’s fine. As long as my little sister doesn’t have to risk her life to save the world.

“Oppa, I’ll work even harder from now on so I can support you.”

“...Haha.”

With that thought, I awkwardly accepted it as Cecil leaned her head against my shoulder, her sudden sweetness making it all feel very strange.

“I even figured out how to engrave spells into my sword aura now... So I’m only going to get stronger from here....”

“Right...”

“So don’t push yourself too hard, okay? Promise?”

Still—what is this feeling of discomfort I can’t shake?

“.......”

And why has the Lady been glaring at Cecil, not me, this whole time?

***

—Screeeeech....

The carriage, which had been rolling along the road for quite some time, slowly began to decelerate.

“Our territory may not be much, but its proximity to the capital really is convenient.”

Even with the awkward atmosphere still lingering in the carriage, Whitney forced a smile and tried to start a conversation with Meredia.

“So, do you have anything more you’d like to discuss? Or perhaps...”

“You get out.”

“...Huh?”

“I have something to talk about with your sister.”

But before he could even finish his sentence, Meredia cut him off coldly. /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Whitney, briefly flustered, glanced at Cecil.

“Will you be alright, Cecil?”

“...Yes.”

When he asked in a voice full of concern, Cecil quietly nodded.

“It’s just something I want to ask her personally. Could you step outside for a moment?”

“Then... I’ll wait outside for a bit.”

“Sure. Take the coachman with you when you get out.”

Still casting occasional glances at Meredia, Whitney finally stepped out of the carriage with a reluctant expression.

“If... let’s say, just hypothetically...”

Inside the now-empty carriage, Meredia lowered her voice and asked a quiet question to Cecil, who eyed her warily.

“...What would you do if your brother turned out to be a Demon King who’d bring ruin to the world?”

And then—an eerie silence.

“Can you take responsibility for that question?”

“...Ha. Cute. You even know how to radiate killing intent already.”

Like a cat arching its back in front of an enemy, Cecil bristled and growled, and Meredia chuckled as she continued.

“From what I heard, you and Whitney weren’t exactly on the best of terms.”

“.......”

“So what changed? Why are you suddenly so close?”

Her tone was gentle, but the pressure Meredia exuded was far beyond what a first-year academy student like Cecil could handle.

“And why should I tell you that?”

Even so, seeing Cecil force herself to stand firm against her, Meredia made an odd expression and quietly rose to her feet.

“Did you, by any chance, feel unwell at all in the days after the tournament ended?”

“What kind of question is that all of a sudden...”

“Just answer mine.”

As she approached and sat beside her, Cecil froze up and darted her eyes sideways, confused by the unexpected question.

“My neck ached a little a few days ago...”

“...Hah. So that’s it.”

“W-Wait. What are you trying to do—”

At that moment, Meredia reached into her coat and extended a hand toward Cecil.

“It’s fine. I’m not going to eat you.”

“.......”

“I’m just going to shine a mirror that stores reflections against the back of your neck.”

Startled, Cecil flinched slightly, but still let out a resigned sigh and quietly lowered her head as Meredia brushed back her hair.

“There. Do you see it?”

“...This is—”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“A Mark of Subjugation. It doesn’t outright force behavior like a Slave’s Brand, but the ways it can be used are virtually endless.”

And a few seconds later, reflected in the mirror Meredia held out, the exact same symbol that had been engraved on the princess’s stomach earlier flickered into view.

“If I could’ve branded that bastard Maier with something like this, I’d have paid a fortune.”

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

“......”

“I actually tried a few times. But for some reason, it failed every single time.”

Still staring at the mark with intense curiosity, Meredia’s voice turned noticeably colder as she asked her next question.

“What if it was your brother who branded you with this, and you’re under his influence?”

“There’s no proof my brother did it.”

“For something with no proof, it sure reeks of his magic.”

At those words, Cecil’s body trembled briefly—but then she glared at Meredia directly, growling once more.

“Stop insulting my brother.”

“Is this just denial? Or do you actually have a reason to be saying that?”

“...Of course I have a reason.”

Though Meredia remained relaxed, as if watching a small animal bristle its fur, Cecil gritted her teeth and handed the mirror back, speaking up.

“You could interpret this as a Mark of Subjugation, sure. But you could also interpret it as a blessing, couldn’t you?”

“...A blessing?”

“If a black mage inscribes it with ill intent, it’s a curse. But if a white mage inscribes it with goodwill, it becomes a blessing. I’m sure you know that.”

Another silence followed—this time longer.

“Brother and sister both, bold as ever.”

“......”

“But... that’s a valid theory.”

Breaking the silence at last, Meredia murmured with a note of satisfaction, prompting Cecil to mutter irritably in response.

“...It’s not a theory. My brother is a white mage.”

“Yeah, a white mage is technically still a white mage...”

At that, Meredia muttered with an exasperated tone, slightly puffing her cheeks.

“...Even if he emits weird gray resonance, controls monsters, and corrupts saintesses.”

“...What?”

“No, never mind. Just talking to myself.”

She paused mid-thought, then quietly rose from her seat.

“Anyway, sorry about the little test earlier. In my world, family means people desperate to devour one another.”

“...What?”

“I assumed you were the same kind. Guess I was wrong.”

With all the killing intent gone from her voice, Cecil finally relaxed, her expression easing slightly.

“This much is enough for me to not take any action personally.”

That the name Cecil was momentarily erased from Meredia’s mental kill list—that was a secret known only to the Lady herself.

“So, are we done here?”

“No. I’ve still got one more thing.”

“What is it? I really just want to go home with my brother now.”

Just as Cecil was about to make her escape from the terrifying presence once as fearsome as Whitney himself, Meredia suddenly stepped in her way again.

“...What does your brother like?”

“...What?”

But that confusion lasted only a moment—Cecil quickly softened her expression as she heard Meredia’s question.

“Even if this is the first gift I’ve ever received in my life... I still know basic etiquette means giving something in return.”

“Ah.”

“...So I was hoping you might help me out a little.”

Cecil was, by nature, a very smart girl.

“That’s what this is about...”

And so she immediately understood that the power dynamic had just shifted.

“What the heck. I thought you were scary like the rumors said, but turns out you’ve got a girlish side too, huh?”

“......”

“Well, alright. If that’s the case, I’ll help you out. This kind of thing is my specialty.”

Now fully in control of the conversation, Cecil boasted with a grin while Meredia, visibly irritated but keeping quiet, listened closely.

“Listen carefully. My brother actually...”

“...Likes origami. I already knew that.”

“Ah. W-Well... I mean... Uhm...”

“...You weren’t bluffing when you said you were an expert, were you?”

“N-No! Just give me a second!”

As Meredia gave a faintly disappointed look, Cecil began to panic, cold sweat forming as she scrambled to come up with something else.

“Let’s see, uhm... What my brother likes is... Oh! Right—homemade cinnamon cookies!”

“That’s... for sure?”

“Yes! Definitely. It’s a top-tier secret only I know.”

Proudly shrugging her shoulders after finally recalling something, Cecil saw Meredia murmur to herself with a surprised expression.

“Between origami and this... my fiancé really has childish tastes for someone who looks so serious.”

“Excuse me? Could you not talk about him like that?”

Cecil snapped a little at that remark.

“Our mother used to bake those for him before she passed, you know.”

“...Ah.”

At that, Meredia flinched just slightly and went quiet.

“Hmph. Maybe you’ve never cooked a day in your life with those noble hands of yours, but if you want to replicate that flavor, it’ll take you years to—”

“...Sorry.”

“Wha—!?”

Cecil froze mid-rant, stunned as Meredia averted her eyes and apologized.

“What is it?”

“...It’s just—you really don’t seem like the kind of person who’d apologize. It caught me off guard.”

With that, the atmosphere in the carriage turned awkward once more.

“So... when exactly did you and my brother start... being like that?”

“......”

“I mean, at first you two looked like it was just business. But now... you both seem really serious. H-Haha...”

Trying to steer away from the awkwardness, Cecil changed the subject—but quickly regretted it, worried she may have stepped into something too sensitive.

“...Is that how it looks?”

“Whoa. No way.”

Still looking away, Meredia asked in a soft voice, her cheeks slightly flushed. The sudden tenderness made Cecil shiver with goosebumps and mutter under her breath.

“Everyone said she was ice-cold and wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed, but... I get it now. There’s a reason my brother likes her...”

“......”

“Um, Lady Meredia, about what I just said—wait, mmph!?”

But as she babbled thoughtlessly, Meredia suddenly and forcefully clamped a hand over her mouth, making Cecil’s eyes go wide.

“Mmmph...!”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

At first, Cecil thought maybe she had said something out of line—but soon realized that wasn’t it.

“Something’s approaching....”

Meredia’s jeweled eyes were not on Cecil, but turned sharply toward the carriage window.

“It’s dangerous. Stay here and keep quiet.”

“Mmph...”

Leaving Cecil seated, Meredia quickly gave her a warning and rushed out of the carriage.

“...What’s going on?”

Now alone, Cecil tilted her head, murmuring in confusion.

“Saintess said that if Oppa’s ever in danger, this mark would let her know...”

In truth, without even Parsha realizing it, Cecil had already quietly pledged herself to the Saintess’s side as one of her loyal subordinates.

“...If someone really is coming, then I’ll just kill them.”

Her values may have shifted to be just as warped as the Saintess’s—but at least for now, that was probably a good thing.

***

“You’ve gotta be kidding me...”

Standing outside the carriage as instructed by Meredia, I suddenly spotted a pigeon circling above—wearing a tiny eyepatch—and felt a chill race down my spine.

“Am I hallucinating right now?”

There was only one person in the entire world who’d send such a bizarrely dressed carrier pigeon.

The current leader of the White Magic Alliance, Lumen Ordo. Youngest in history, most powerful white mage. A third faction so independent that even the Empire and Holy Theocracy tried not to interfere.

“That insane, chuunibyou-obsessed psycho brat... What the hell does she want with me...?”

Tiffany Astellade’s carrier pigeon was casually circling overhead, a letter tied to its leg.