A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 68: Secret

‘...But then again, not going would cause its own problems.’

Honestly, I’d rather just ghost them.

But the problem is—I already made a soul-bound contract with the leader of the black mages.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after getting stabbed in the back a dozen times in the game, it’s that you do not break contracts that involve your soul.

And the “contract” I made with the leader wasn’t some forced curse. It was a mutual agreement. That meant not even the Saintess’s holy power or my white magic could break it.

‘This really turned into a mess...’

The only silver lining was this: the black mage leader couldn’t get rid of me so easily, either.

The fact that they made me their proxy through a contract likely meant they couldn’t appear in front of their own subordinates for some reason.

There’s a saying—if you’re dragged into a tiger’s den, just keep your head. Since it’s come to this, I guess I’ll just be the Hero and the mastermind.

“Master! You’re here!”

“...Welcome back.”

As I entered the office, resigned to whatever may come, I was greeted by Parsha and Lunelle, who were already inside.

“Why are you both here so early...?”

“Ever since you became the Hero, the number of letters we receive has more than tripled! I’ve been sorting through them!”

“...I’ve been working with Parsha to draft a reorganization plan for the Ringaarden family’s knight order. Now that you’re the Hero, our knight order needs to reflect that strength.”

I hadn’t even noticed them return—since I passed out immediately after my bath yesterday—but they’d clearly been working hard.

“True... Our knight order was more symbolic than functional to begin with.”

Now that I thought about it, after Father took the few capable knights we had, the only ones left in the territory weren’t even fit to be called guards.

So yeah. Lunelle was right—a full overhaul was long overdue.

“The problem is... we don’t have the budget.”

Of course. As always, our family was broke.

Even now, though I’d become the Hero and people were scrambling to offer their “support,” most of it came with strings attached. Loans in everything but name.

The nobles and merchants of the Empire didn’t care whether someone was a Hero or a Demon King—they’d strip anyone to the bone without hesitation.

‘Not that the imperial court or the Theocracy are any better.’

Sure, the crown and the church are technically obligated to help the Hero. But that only goes so far.

Unless it’s an organization like Lumen Ordo—a rare bastion of virtue—help offered often becomes a leash before you even realize it.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about the budget.”

While I hesitated, Parsha spoke up with a casual smile.

“Just the people applying in your name could probably fill the entire garden.”

“That many...?”

“You probably haven’t noticed because you don’t pay attention, but you’re the hottest name in the world right now.”

Am I really that big a deal?

Sure, being the Hero comes with weight, but I didn’t expect this many people in such a twisted world to still act out of goodwill. Hard to believe, honestly.

“Once interviews for the knight order begin, you’ll probably be pulling all-nighters for several days.”

“Haha...”

“But don’t worry. I’ll be right by your side the whole time.”

Lunelle, exchanging glances with Parsha, nodded in agreement. Guess they were serious.

The formation of the Ringaarden family’s exclusive knight order... That would only further secure Cecil’s future position as the next head of house. Not bad at all.

Of course, we couldn’t just accept anyone. But with Lunelle, Parsha, and Cecil as interviewers, I might actually get a proper order together.

“Alright then. I’ll leave it to you—Captain of the provisional knight order.”

“Hah.”

Naturally, the ideal person to lead that order was Lunelle. I praised her warmly, and she drew a sharp breath, face faintly flushed with emotion.

“...This is... surreal.”

“What part is?”

“It feels like just yesterday I was a slave, waiting to die... and now I’m about to realize my lifelong dream.”

Listening to her, I couldn’t help feeling a bit moved myself.

In the original timeline, she’d have become the Emperor’s blood-soaked hound. But now—now she was smiling, radiating pure joy.

Come to think of it, even Meredia was drifting further from the cold, ruthless persona I once knew.

They’ve all been through so much. I still worry about what lies ahead—but seeing these people change so drastically from what I remember makes me feel like I’m on the right path.

“Master, I’ll continue to—”

“Oh. This...”

Just then, as I smiled softly at Lunelle, Parsha’s voice broke in from the side.

“What is it?”

“...Nothing. Never mind.”

I turned to her instinctively, but Parsha simply shoved the letter in her hand into the pile beside her without lifting her gaze.

“Wait.”

But before it disappeared completely, Lunelle swiftly snatched it from the stack.

“Lunelle? Is something wrong...?”

“Master. That’s the seal of House Mistylene.”

“...Ah.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Watching the exchange in confusion, I finally realized what was going on when Parsha hurried to my side and whispered.

‘It’s from her family.’

I didn’t know the details, but it was clear Lunelle’s relationship with her family was... not great.

“Haah... Really now.”

I didn’t know what that letter said, but—

“...Shameless to the end.”

With a cold sigh and a harshly wrinkled expression, Lunelle didn’t look at all pleased.

“Lunelle, are you alright?”

“...Ah. My apologies, Master.”

Worried, I asked gently, and she snapped out of it—forcing her expression to soften as she quickly handed the letter to me.

“I’m sorry for reading it first without permission. I’ll accept any punishment.”

“Hmm.”

Caught off guard, I took the letter. After a brief pause, I smiled faintly and opened my mouth.

“A pesky fly has landed, I see.”

“Ah—”

I said, tearing the letter cleanly in half.

“Blood really is thicker than water.”

“......”

“Which is exactly why, when you need to sever it... you do it cleanly.”

Honestly, I was a little curious about the contents, but more important than that was keeping Lunelle at ease.

I’m just a half-baked white mage who became a Hero by accident. From now on, I’d be relying more and more on Lunelle’s strength.

Sure, she’s pledged her loyalty to me now, but you never know how things might change. Better to make a show of solidarity while I can.

“Would that... be too difficult for you?”

“M-Master...”

“Ahaha. I understand completely.”

With that in mind, I proceeded to tear the letter to shreds in my hands, putting on the softest smile I could to show Lunelle I was a good boss.

“Everyone’s got at least one weakness they just can’t help.”

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“......”

“For you, Lunelle... I suppose that weakness is family?”

Making eye contact and showing empathy—that’s what Alfred said was the best communication method in the guidebook he gave me.

“So if it’s difficult for you, you can always come to me...”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure it’d work. But the moment I showed her real sympathy, it seemed to take effect. I felt relieved.

“...I—I’ll sever it!”

Then, just as I was wrapping up, Lunelle suddenly shot to her feet, face pale, and knelt in front of me.

“I’ll take care of it with my own hands—soon. I swear it on the name Lunelle and the blade you’ve given me!”

“...?”

“Please, just... grant me one chance to make things right...”

I was as stunned as she was desperate.

‘I knew trusting Alfred was a bad idea...’

Apparently, her trauma regarding her family ran deeper than I thought. I’d better handle this fast.

“No, no, take it easy. I meant I’d help you if you wanted.”

“...If that’s your wish, Master, I shall obey.”

“Still, for now... do it your way first.”

Watching her reaction carefully, I added that last bit—and her trembling lips eased just a little as her face lit up again.

“Th-Thank you for this chance!”

“...Haha.”

Right. When it comes to family, even your closest friends shouldn’t butt in.

...Unless your family’s the kind of person like Lady Meredia, who constantly thinks about how to kill you.

“Man... This is the kind of stuff I only ever dreamed of seeing.”

I scratched my head awkwardly, but just then—Parsha, standing off to the side and shivering with a horrified expression, muttered under her breath.

“...If I’d known I’d witness something this spine-chilling ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) the moment I arrived, I’d have come later.”

And then, from by the window, a deep voice full of exhausted disgust chimed in.

“Bergen?”

“Ah—my bad. This place is non-smoking, huh.”

Without me noticing at all, Bergen had perched himself on the window frame, cigarette halfway to his lips before sighing and putting it back in the pack.

“Damn it. I really don’t want to be doing this kind of tightrope walking again.”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

“...Well, as long as our agreement from that day still stands, I’m willing to go further.”

Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, I blinked dumbly—then offered a quiet smile in response to his thinly veiled complaint.

“That part... I can guarantee.”

“Can I ask why?”

“I’m going to attend the Shadow Council soon.”

And just as I thought, Bergen—legendary information broker that he was—immediately grasped everything I meant from that one sentence.

“Ha. Got it. I’ll start preparing too.”

The exhaustion in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by a razor-sharp gleam.

“It’s not much, but I brought a letter as repayment.”

“A letter?”

As I watched him, still processing everything, Bergen pulled out a folded envelope and held it up with a flick of his wrist.

“The sender’s someone you know well.”

Someone close enough to entrust Bergen with a letter, and someone I knew personally? Who the hell could that be...?

「Something has come up again, and it seems I won’t be able to see you for some time, young master.」

“...Alfred?”

Reading the first lines, the neat and familiar handwriting told me exactly who it was.

「Given my current situation, I must take the liberty of writing to you about the secret I intended to share when the time was right.」

And before I could even question how he and Bergen had grown so close—

「Let’s start here. Yes, this must come first.」

As I read the contents of the letter, cold sweat began to bead on my brow in disbelief.

「Parsha is not actually my biological granddaughter.」

A behind-the-scenes revelation that never once appeared even in the game—written right there in black and white.

「She is, in truth, a clone of the so-called Great Shadow—the leader of the black mages.」