Pov Kylo Stromcrest:
"Then... does that mean the magic training is next?" Adelina asked, right next to me.
"Yes," I replied, bored.
*Trot trot trot
(Damn it, I have to spend four days in this cursed carriage... couldn't Mom just come to the capital?)
*Trot trot trot
That's right, I was currently in a carriage heading to the Stromcrest duchy. Why? Well, I suppose it's for my birthday, or more specifically, Kylo Stromcrest's birthday.
As usual, Adelina was coming with me too; after all, she is my servant. She took this moment to ask about what was coming next.
"After some lessons that don't matter much, comes the magic training, which isn't very long and takes place in a specialized magic field in the capital," I added to my response.
"And after that?" she asked once more.
Clearly, Adelina didn't know what would happen next. This was because she was currently taking Adam's place in this part of the story.
"Adventure time. You'll have four years to have fun solving side quests and increasing your power," I replied.
(This is where I have to increase my power, my influence, and also get some dogs.)
I already had in mind what I'd do after ceasing to be Elara's social friend.
The first thing is to create a pseudonym, a new identity, because as Kylo Stromcrest, my movements will be monitored by my stepmother Arabella.
(It's not hard, I just need to put on some clothes I have in the inventory and create a new identity in the adventurers' guild.)
Second, with that identity, I will become a powerful adventurer by completing special requests. After all, I know many of Adam's optional story events that will be very helpful to me.
(If I use that influence correctly, I can avoid some unpleasant things.)
Powerful necromancers, psychopathic dark wizards, the transformation of a certain person into a horrific monster... etc.
Third...
(An orphanage would be ideal...)
By now, some members of the golden generation should have been born, and as usual in this life, some will have very bad luck. With this orphanage, I aim to create a sense of gratitude and maybe form a force with them for when the multiplayer era begins.
I'll use my other identity to meet them in case they're reincarnated, as I already suspect.
And fourth... make Adelina useful.
Needless to say, Adelina is quite important to this world, so it benefits me to make her powerful, especially when it comes time for her to face her final boss.
(After all, I can't help her, not directly...)
"Will you come with me?" Even though I already knew the answer, I wanted confirmation.
"Of course, of course! How could I leave my wise, powerful, and handsome master alone?" she replied in a flattering tone.
(As expected...)
*Trot *trot *tro-
Just as Adelina was about to start flattering me even more, the carriage stopped.
(And now what? Weren't we supposed to stop at sunset?)
*Peek out.
I peeked out the carriage window, where I could see the blue clouds of noon.
"Hey, you! What happened?" I asked a nearby knight why the carriage had stopped.
We were currently being escorted by four five-star knights, or level 50, so there was nothing to fear, especially because the carriage bore the Stromcrest crest.
(Who would be stupid enough to mess with the Stromcrest?)
"Don't worry, young duke, it's just some clowns blocking the road," the knight said as he looked ahead.
"Clowns?" I asked and, this time, fixed my gaze forward.
I managed to spot four idiots who looked like vagabonds holding swords, probably bandits.
(This must be Adelina's fault), I concluded immediately.
I looked at her.
"Is it dangerous?" she asked me, tilting her head slightly, lazily.
This is obviously an opportunity to showcase her skills; it wouldn't even be surprising if a capture target arrived and 'magically saved' her.
I fixed my gaze on the four 'clowns' and shouted, "Hey clowns! I don't have time for your act! Can't you see this crest?" As I said that, I pointed at the stupidly large Stromcrest crest.
"HA? What is this brat say-" One of the four clowns was about to insult me. This clown had red hair and seemed to be the leader of the gang.
He was interrupted by one of his lackeys, who whispered something to him while pointing at the carriage.
(It seems the stupidity effect is limited, or at least not as strong as long as they don't see Adelina...), I analyzed these idiots' behavior.
*Tremble
The moment the lackey finished whispering, the red-haired leader started trembling, and with a completely non-threatening posture, said:
"Oh, I didn't realize we were in the presence of your excellency, Stromcrest! I apologize; we were just practicing our play." This time, he used a humble tone and even bowed his head, recognizing who he was dealing with.
"Oh?! A play? And what's it called?" I asked, a bit amused, in an innocent tone while my knights were getting ready to act.
*Tremble
*Tremble
*Tremble
Upon hearing my words, all the 'play' members started trembling, clearly nervous. Besides, the intimidating faces of the knights accompanying me didn't help much.
"I-it's called... 'Chronicles of Noble Life!' Yes! That's it! 'Chronicles of Noble Life!' We apologize for the confusion, your excellency Stromcrest. It's just that this carriage looked very similar to our companions'!" the leader replied, with a rather creative answer.
At that moment, all the 'clowns' bowed their heads forward, as if asking for forgiveness.
(So... they're not 'clowns,' but 'actors,' huh?), I thought, amused.
"Oh? A play? I thought you were here to rob us." At that moment, Adelina wanted to peek out to see these wonderful performers.
"Don't come out, you'll ruin it," I said.
(These idiots will lose all their brain cells if they see her.)
*Pouty face
"Hmph!" Understanding a bit, Adelina gave up, although she seemed a little upset.
"The young duke is in a hurry, so scram, clowns!" said the knight I spoke to, energetically scaring those guys off.
*Collective nod
They all nodded and ran off in case I changed my mind.
(I would have liked to see what kind of 'play' they could put on.)
"Hey... weren't we supposed to kill them?" Adelina asked, a bit doubtful.
"Let's hope that by the time my stepmother finds out, they're gone from the duchy."
Those guys have their days numbered.
--
-Four days later...
Nothing happened.
Everything was so peaceful that even Adelina took the liberty of sleeping on my lap like a cat.
*Snoring *Snoring
"We've arrived, young master," said the knight as Adelina snored on my lap.
*Snoring *Snoring
"Hey."
*Snoring *Snoring
"HEY!"
"Ah! What?! What happened?!" Adelina exclaimed, alarmed.
"We're here, get off," I told Adelina, who seemed very comfortable.
As I stepped out of the carriage, a large mansion awaited us.
(How many times have I entered here as Adam?)
I can't even count them.
"Young master, please follow me. The duchess has requested your presence in the study," a maid who was right at the door informed me that I needed to meet my stepmother immediately.
(Tsk, no rest for me.)
"Lead the way," I simply replied, and with Adelina by my side, we entered the mansion and headed directly to the study.
*Voices.
*Voices.
For some reason, the servants were gossiping as they saw me, something that, needless to say, annoyed me.
(...)
Just as we reached the door of the study, the maid signaled for me to stop and, with something that looked like a cloth, said:
"The duchess instructed me to put this on you, as it's a surprise."
I had no choice but to let her put it on me.
(Hmmm, I can't deny I'm curious. I wonder... what will it be? Should I act very surprised or shocked and grateful?)
"All set. Servant Adelina, guide the young master to avoid accidents," the maid instructed Adelina.
*Take arm.
"Understood!" Adelina exclaimed energetically while taking my arm.
*Blindfold.
(Let's see what the feared duchess Stromcrest's gift is.)
*Door opening.
"Kylo... *cough, brother."
"brother?"
Even though I couldn't see, I recognized the voice of a young Anabella and the voice of Sherry...
*Grip tightens.
Curiously, Adelina gripped my arm very tightly, as if she was shocked.
(Is the gift that good? Enough to surprise heroine Adelina? Or is it simply because you have a main heroine of Adam in front of you?)
"One, two, three, now!" said the voice of my stepmother, Arabella.
"""Happy birthday, Kylo!""" they all said at the same time.
And at that moment...
*Blindfold removed.
"I got you a fluffy one for your birthday!" The first thing I saw was my stepmother Arabella's big smile, and alongside her, my two 'sisters' were smiling too.
But right in front of me, with a pretty 'gift bow'...
(Jesus...), I thought as I recognized the being standing in front of me.
--
Luna Lestia's POV:
"A fluffy one?! She got him a fluffy one?!" While admiring the flowers of the royal garden, I heard Elara's alarmed voice in the hallways.
(Fluffy, huh... Only the princess can make that harmless word sound like a discriminatory insult.)
What's a fluffy?
A derogatory nickname for beastmen, beings that look like humans with the peculiarity of having animal ears and tails.
The most common ones are those with dog or cat ears, but they're quite diverse, and their diversity increases once you go to the Eria continent.
(In my second life, Kylo had a bunch of kids like that and quite diverse...)
"Wait..."
As I remembered that, I felt uneasy...
So I decided to follow Elara and ask her.
*Quick footsteps.
"Wait, Elara, what did you mean?" By the time I caught up to her, I also saw my aunt, Luminia Celestia, the current queen.
"Oh? My little Luna is curious too? Well, it seems that Arabella got Kylo a fluffy one as a birthday present," the queen said in a casual tone.
(What?)
"What?"