Reincarnated User Manual

Chapter 264: Rien (1)

Chapter 264: Rien (1)

The Apostle was killed, but it wasn’t over yet.

Perhaps due to the intense battle, Glen fainted while listening to Hugo’s scolding. Even as they waited for Seira, who hadn’t returned while they were fixing his leg, Siriel arranged transportation.

Shiron, without sleeping a wink, treated Glen.

He didn’t know how many nights he’d stayed awake, but even on the airship heading to the Empire, and in the carriage going to the mansion, Shiron didn’t stop pouring holy power into Glen.

He didn’t use Seira’s teleportation. More accurately, he couldn’t use it.

Seira mentioned that Glen’s body was too weak to withstand the shock of the massive phase change, so Shiron had no choice but to take the unconscious Glen and return last.

Glen regained consciousness the next day.

The room reeked of medicine.

Hugo, who had rushed in upon hearing that Glen had woken up, stared at Shiron with wide, surprised eyes.

“Please have a seat first.”

Shiron spoke to Hugo, whose eyes were teary, as if trying to make a fuss.

Was it menopause that made him more tearful? Or was it guilt towards Glen? Shiron pondered over it and repeated the fact he had mentioned earlier.

“Father can no longer use mana. In other words.”

“…”

“He has become a mana cripple.”

Thud.

Hugo’s face turned pale as if he’d received a death sentence.

“Glen… crippled?”

“I’m a cripple?”

“Put ‘mana’ in front.”

Shiron sighed deeply in front of the two middle-aged men. Glen was the one affected, but Hugo was the one making the bigger fuss.

“Considering his energy center has degenerated and he drew from the fundamental life force, this outcome is only natural.”

“…Is there no cure?”

“It’s not that there isn’t one. If we find an organ to replace the energy center and transplant it… But, considering his energy pathways have been frayed for a long time, rejection could occur.”

Shiron turned his head towards Glen, who was lying on the bed. Perhaps because he had rested well, he looked much better than Shiron, who had stayed up for several nights.

“Even if he wields a sword, he might only show the strength of an average person, but he won’t have any problems living.”

“…Is that really true?”

“Of course. I’ve lived well despite not being able to use mana.”

“You heard him.”

Glen, on the bed, pushed Hugo aside and added. He had always wanted to get along well with his brother, but such an excessive reaction only made him feel troubled.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal since I can still live my life normally. Rather, I’m relieved that no one died and that it ended with me just becoming disabled.”

“Doesn’t it bother you?”

“As I said, I’m fine. After all, if not me, who else would have stopped the Apostle?”

“Hmm…”

“Let me tell you something. Before I met you, I had a final prophecy. Do you know what it was?”

He had intended to keep it hidden, but now he had no choice but to reveal it.

“It was my death. I forced myself to meet you before I died. Like Father, who fought the Apostle and died as the head of the Prient family, and like our grandfather, my end would have been the same.”

“…”

“So, don’t cry. Everything turned out fine. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of your nephew.”

“Okay.”

He hurriedly wiped away his tears, but they didn’t stop easily. The various emotions he had been feeling towards Glen—disappointment, dissatisfaction… all burst out at once.

“Brother.”

Glen broke the silence after a moment.

“I have something to discuss with Shiron privately, so could you please step out for a moment?”

“…Alright.”

“Why me?”

“It’s important.”

Hugo’s steps hesitated at the word ‘important,’ but he swallowed his regret and left the room.

“What is it that you need to talk about?”

Shiron spoke after ensuring that Hugo had completely moved away.

“Shiron.”

Glen looked at Shiron with a serious expression. He had already heard about the Apostle and what had happened, so he wondered what more there was to discuss. Yet, Glen’s face was even more serious than before.

His sharp eyes glinted.

“From now on, what I say is the truth. So, no matter how unbelievable it might be, please don’t doubt it.”

“What is it that you need to be so serious about?”

“Lucia is not my biological daughter.”

“I see.”

“…You’re not surprised?”

“She told me last time.”

“…”

Was that so?

Glen stroked his chin in thought for a moment, then nodded.

“So, do you have any thoughts on marrying Lucia?”

“…Pardon?”

“I guess you didn’t know that.”

Glen smirked, as if he had won. His playful expression, unbefitting his age, made Shiron’s face turn bewildered.

“Didn’t know? Isn’t this a bit sudden? Is that why you sent Uncle out?”

“For your information, Lucia likes you.”

“…”

“I guess you didn’t know that either.”

Hmph.

Glen crossed his arms and wore a somewhat smug expression.

‘I want to smack him.’

[Me too.]

“I know she likes me…”

Shiron thought back to the recent affair. How could he not know? Lucia’s sudden confession and how she showed her affection for him clearly. Even though it was abrupt, without any sweet courtship, Lucia had certainly shown her feelings for Shiron, and he had responded.

‘But why bring this up now? If Lucia had been blabbing about it, everyone would know…’

Just as he was wondering about this, Glen’s expression became even more solemn. With a loud cough, Glen spoke to Shiron.

“Marry Lucia.”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I’ll say it again. I heard you were engaged to Siriel. In that case, Lucia will be your second wife.”

“…Did you hurt your head as well?”

Shiron placed his hand on Glen’s head and squeezed out his holy power. The light that shone was even more radiant than when Glen was on the verge of death.

“It’s not an injury. This is something I’ve been considering since before heading to the Great Plains.”

Glen grabbed Shiron’s hand and moved it away.

“Why are you bringing this up now?”

“I’ve already come close to death once, so why wait? Just think of it as hearing a final will and let it pass.”

“…Go on.”

“Shiron, I know it’s shameless to try and play the role of a father now, but since I’ve started, I might as well say everything.”

It’s not that he intended to reveal Lucia’s true identity. He didn’t think it would be troublesome if Lucia’s identity as Kyrie were to be discovered. However,

“This is my one and only request. Marry Lucia and make her happy.”

Glen hoped that Shiron would love Lucia for who she truly was.

‘Lady Kyrie said her past life was unhappy.’

Glen recalled the time when Lucia had revealed her past life. The image of her crying and acting like a spoiled child was far from the great hero Glen had always imagined.

Shriveled, miserable, tearful.

Honestly, even if she was acceptable as a lover, she wasn’t exactly ideal as a wife. However, the Lucia he saw here in Rien didn’t show any signs of that gloom.

On the contrary, she seemed cheerful. Watching her bicker with Shiron from afar even made him feel a sense of satisfaction.

Of course, there were times when she snapped, but it could be passed off as her feeling embarrassed. Who knows? Shiron might even find that side of her attractive.

Glen crossed his arms and watched Shiron, who was groaning as he pondered.

“Are you perhaps insisting on monogamy?”

“…It’s not that.”

“Then what’s the problem? Could it be that you don’t like Lucia? I heard from Yuma that you two used to bicker as children…”

“…Sigh.”

“If you really dislike her, then there’s nothing I can do…”

Glen slumped his shoulders as if disappointed. Seeing this, Shiron made up his mind, suddenly standing up and heading to the door.

Bang!

“Eek!”

“Ah!”

The screams, almost in unison, came from Siriel and Lucia, the very subjects of the conversation. Shiron shot a cold glance at them before pointing to one.

“Siriel, come in.”

“Uh, okay!”

“Lucia, stay outside.”

“What? Why am I being treated differently?”

“No, go take Louise to the Imperial Palace or something. Why is she still lingering around here?”

“What? Aren’t I the one involved in this conversation? Why am I the only one…?”

Thud!

Shiron shut the door, leaving behind a flustered Lucia. It might seem too harsh, but there was no other choice. If he showed too much care for Lucia in front of Siriel, it was obvious what would happen.

“O-brother, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop… but Father asked me to… Uh… So…”

“Shiron, you must be tired. Get some rest.”

Glen quickly understood Shiron’s intent. Finally, he could take a break. Shiron hugged Siriel, gave her a kiss, and left the room.

Now alone together, Glen spoke to the nervous Siriel.

“Siriel.”

“Y-yes?”

Siriel, looking bewildered, flinched. Glen gestured for her to sit down and handed her a bottle of drink.

“You seem to get along well with Lucia.”

“Well, we’re friends, after all.”

“I heard from your father that you two are almost like sisters. I’m grateful that you’ve been looking after Lucia. I owe you and your family a debt I can never fully repay.”

Glen dabbed his eyes with the blanket, as if wiping away tears. It seemed like an act, but Siriel couldn’t detect any insincerity or unnaturalness in her uncle’s behavior.

“You might have overheard this at the door, but Lucia is not my biological child.”

“It’s not that I was eavesdropping…”

“Lucia was a child raised by a single mother. Helleun in the southern part of the Empire is known for its potatoes, but it’s not exactly a wealthy region. Raising a child alone in such a place wouldn’t have been easy.”

The home shown by the vision of the future was a crumbling hut. Back when Glen didn’t know Lucia’s true identity, he thought there was no way she could survive alone in that dilapidated place.

“When I visited Lucia’s home, her mother had already passed away. And as you know, that’s when I decided to adopt Lucia.”

“…”

“Isn’t it sad?”

“Well, yes, it is.”

Siriel scratched her cheek and averted her gaze. Glen’s eyes were now burning so intensely that she found it hard to meet them.

“But unlike Lucia, Shiron is ‘my’ son. He’s my biological child, born from my late wife.”

“…”

“Siriel, do you know what the term ‘primary wife’ means?”

“W-what are you trying to say?”

“A primary wife is the foremost among many wives. And…”

Siriel had a bad feeling about this.

“A primary wife exists because there are concubines.”

“…Uncle?”

“Siriel, as your father-in-law, I acknowledge you as Shiron’s primary wife.”

“Uh…”

“I don’t know what Shiron’s answer will be, but the primary wife recognized by the father-in-law is the only one in this universe.”

“…”

“So, I trust you will support Shiron well as his primary wife.”

Primary wife.

The primary wife recognized by the father-in-law…

It was too sweet a sound to refuse.

“I guess I’m not just your uncle anymore but your father-in-law. Why don’t you try calling me that?”

Glen spread his arms wide as he spoke.

“F-Father…?”

Siriel mumbled, almost unconsciously. By the time she came to her senses, she had already accepted the embrace.