I walked towards the corridor, i still able to hear Mark's harsh words echoing in my ears. He seemed really irritated by my provocation.
"HAHAHA! Did you see that ugly face of his? It was absolutely hilarious!" Envi laughed uproariously.
"Haha! He needed to be put in his place once in a while. Just watch, I'm going to defeat him in our duel later," I said, my tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
"By the way, I haven't seen Naoki's biological mother around. Where is she?" I asked curiously, wanting to dig a bit deeper into this family's affairs.
"Her... The First Wife of the Patriarch and your biological mother, Ayame von Blackmore, passed away when you were born. She was always frail, and her body couldn't withstand the strain of childbirth..." Envi explained, his voice unexpectedly somber as if recalling something painful.
"I see..."
I can understand Naoki's pain. In my world, my mother means everything to me, and right now her life is hanging by a thread. Meanwhile, that scumbag of a father abandoned us for another woman. It's almost as if Naoki's and my destinies are intertwined in some twisted way.
I lost my father—not because he passed away, but because, to me, he might as well not exist anymore, while Naoki here still has a father who might understand him. And here, Naoki's mother is gone, whereas my mother is still alive on Earth. I found myself slightly moved by the strange coincidence.
"Hey Nao, let's focus on making you stronger so you can save your mother instead!" Envi's sharp tone snapped me out of my thoughts, reigniting my determination.
"You're right... I'm counting on you, Envi." I felt a sense of relief knowing I had Envi as an ally, even if he could be annoying at times.
"Leave it to the great Envi-sama! >_<" Envi responded enthusiastically.
"Ha-ha-ha! For once, you're actually dependable." I said, laughing enthusiastically. "Anyway, I thought I'd take a stroll around the Blackmore mansion and get familiar with it."
"That's a great idea," Envi replied with a bit of a smirk. "It would be pretty funny if you got lost in your own house."
…
…
I eagerly began exploring the manison's endless corridors. It was a much larger place than I expected, with three expansive floors. I started on the third floor, where the Blackmore family bedrooms and dining room were located. But strangely, my room was at the very back corner. Aren't I the eldest son?
It felt a little unfair, and I couldn't help but remember my room back in Japan, which was also tucked away in the far corner of the house. Being the youngest, I had to give way to my older siblings. Still, Naoki is lucky to have such a big place; my home in Japan was tiny and old, and Mom and I did all the cleaning ourselves.
One thing I loved about this floor was the private onsen reserved for the Blackmore family and their VIP guests. I couldn't wait to try it out!
I'm honestly so grateful. Back on Earth, I had to bike quite a distance just to reach an onsen. And even then, it was a public one, always packed with middle-aged men and old grandpas. I can practically still smell that unpleasant odor. But now? No worries at all! I can soak in an onsen as much as I want!
Continuing down the hall, I stumbled upon an open flower garden with tables and chairs for tea. A small sign read that the garden was exclusively for the Blackmore family and VIP guests.
It's strange, though—I can understand and read everything here so easily. I can write, read, and speak the language fluently. Maybe it's because of Envi's influence? I thought about thanking him, but he'd just get all smug about it, so I decided against it.
I headed to the second floor, wandering the hallways and passing several maids along the way. They greeted me politely, but I could feel their cold stares. I knew Naoki wasn't exactly liked here, but seriously, what did he do to deserve this?
Once I reached the second floor, I found out it was primarily for the Blackmore family's workspaces. There was a huge meeting room, reception area, administrative offices, a library, and even the Patriarch's office. I didn't dare go anywhere near that "lion's den."
I encountered a few administrative staff handling Blackmore territory affairs. They greeted me respectfully, though still with a hint of nervousness.
"Seriously, Naoki, what on earth did you do here? Everyone looks terrified, and a few seem to harbor serious resentment!" I muttered to Envi.
"Well…he was a bit of a troublemaker. Roaming around aimlessly, drinking, flirting with the female maids, and bullying the male staff," Envi said, chuckling awkwardly.
"So that's why the maids give me such cold stares. Naoki, you jerk! How am I supposed to live like this?" I groaned internally. I wasn't anything like him!
"You did say you've lost some memories since waking up from that severe injury. Maybe they'll just assume your brain got a little scrambled, ha-ha!" Envi teased, offering me a makeshift alibi.
"That's true! For now, I'll just play the part of the clueless newcomer." I resolved to keep my innocence intact.
…
…
I reached the ground floor, which mainly held ceremonial spaces like the guest reception hall, dining areas, the servants' quarters, and kitchens. Surprisingly, this floor also had an outdoor training ground for the Blackmore family. I had a feeling I'd be training here often.
Once again, as I passed by, the maids threw me cold glances. Then suddenly—I collided with a maid carrying a bucket of dirty mop water.
"Hnng—!" she squealed, and the entire bucket tipped, drenching me completely.
"I'm so sorry, young master Naoki!"
"Eh—'Young master Naoki'?" The maid froze, her face locked in shock.
I brushed off the water, already annoyed by Naoki's lousy luck. But no point holding it against her; it was my fault for not paying attention. I offered my hand to help her up.
But before she could take it, the other maids rushed over to shield her.
"Y-Young master Naoki! Please, have mercy on her!"
"Yes, she's a new maid here. Please, don't punish her!"
"We beg you, young master Naoki…anything but making her massage you for three hours as punishment!" The maids begged, crowding around protectively.
"W-what?!" I cursed Naoki under my breath. This jerk really left me with an awful reputation! Meanwhile, Envi was practically dying of laughter.
"Listen, I would never do that!" I insisted, feeling embarrassed. "I…don't remember who I was before, since I lost some memories after that injury."
"W-wait, so it's true? His brain's…a little scrambled?" I overheard a few maids whisper.
"It's fine, really!" I turned back to the new maid, still on the floor. "Hey, are you okay?"
"Wh-what's your name, Miss New Maid?"
"My name's Mia…please forgive me, young master Naoki," she answered nervously.
"Alright then, Mia. I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention." She hesitantly took my hand and stood up.
"Ah, no worries, young master Naoki! I'm sorry for being so clumsy!" Mia replied with a faint blush.
I left them there and returned to the third floor for a bath and a change of clothes.
A few days later, I started hearing rumors that I'd "changed into a decent person." The cold stares and nervous greetings softened just a little.
However, Mark, Milly, and Lilia still looked at me with cold eyes. As step-siblings, it made sense they wouldn't warm up to me right away. In the end, they still saw me as a stranger.
Suddenly, thoughts of my mom and my two siblings back on Earth crept into my mind. Here I am, living a life of luxury—with a grand house, a team of maids, and even a private onsen. Do I even deserve all this?
Enjoying these comforts feels unsettling when I think about how my family might be doing back on Earth. Are they living comfortably? I wonder if, someday, they'll have a home of their own with an onsen inside.
If that ever happens, I know they'd be thrilled. I can just imagine the pure joy on my mom's face, finally able to enjoy a private bath without having to trek to a crowded onsen. She'd even be able to get regular therapy—since onsen baths are great for bone care, especially for seniors.
I can picture her happy smile so clearly...
I miss you, Mom.
Nana would have a more comfortable life, and Naki, with his extreme shyness, wouldn't have to deal with public bathhouses anymore.
Even though those two can be annoying sometimes, I still love them with all my heart. After all, they're my siblings.
Ahh... I really miss my family back in Japan. I just wish I could see them again someday.
That's exactly why I can't just laze around here! I have to stay focused and complete the Goddess Quest—so I can save my mom!
...
...
--Continue to Next Chapter--