Namgung Se-ga, the warrior, was reincarnated in Romance

There were three people, but the huge round table in the center of the greenhouse was large enough to comfortably seat ten. The white tablecloth on top made the blue-painted plates stand out.

Various dishes were piled high on large, wide plates, and each dish had a serving tong stuck in it like a flag so people could help themselves.

The most eye-catching dish was a whole roasted pig, carefully scored and crisped to a golden sheen. There was also tenderly boiled, thinly sliced venison topped with a white sauce rich in spices. Small croquettes filled with unknown bird meat were also present.

The table was filled with over ten different dishes. While there were some greens, there was an overwhelming amount of meat.

Michael, who loved fruits and vegetables, was still drowsy, rubbing his eyes.

The child’s remark was a masterpiece.

“Whose birthday is it today…?”

“It’s because our eldest young master is home for the first time during the vacation. The kitchen staff must have missed him greatly. They said they’ve been preparing these dishes for a long time to serve when he finally returns.”

“Aah…! Right! Duck roast is my favorite.”

“It’s something I like too, and our little young master likes it as well. Should I serve it on a plate?”

“Yeah!”

Instead of answering for me, Sir Ventus took care of Michael’s meal. I had expected a modest meal, so I had told the staff not to worry about serving me, thinking I would take care of it myself, but I awkwardly placed three glistening ribs on my plate.

I was used to sweet, tender food. The food at the Siron Academy had been delicious, but it couldn’t compare to the home-cooked meals I’d had for years. As I ate, my hand naturally moved faster.

The bowl beside my plate was already piled with carefully stripped animal bones.

Tough cuts were slowly cooked until tender, while tender cuts were blanched lightly and then topped with hot sauce to finish cooking. The vegetables were fresh and suited my palate. A salad made of fruits and vegetables soaked in a lemon-scented dressing was refreshing.

I felt grateful once again for the people who knew my tastes so well.

When I was in the Central Plains, I often felt uneasy eating such fine food, thinking I was the only one enjoying such luxury. But today, I didn’t feel that way. Unlike the Central Plains, Siron had fertile land and fewer people suffering from hunger.

I ate heartily and chattered on. Michael, who had a limited idea of what the Siron Academy was like, seemed to enjoy listening to me answer Sir Ventus’s questions.

I told him about my friends and their families, the games we played together, and how we practiced rain magic with the prince and princess. I also talked about my professors, all of whom had unique ways of speaking, and my favorite professor, Maelo Sanson.

Then, naturally, I was asked a familiar question.

“You learned magic? But didn’t you go to learn swordsmanship?”

“I just wanted to see if I had any talent for it. I learned how to guide mana, but there’s a lot of formulas and calculations involved, so it didn’t quite suit me.”

“Big brother, I want to see you use magic!”

“Now? Hmm…”

Had Professor Angela Sting anticipated such a request? I was sure that she had taught me a spell that would allow me to demonstrate without causing any trouble at the dinner table. I gladly drew upon my mana.

I focused and followed the formula while holding the grape juice in front of me.

Convergence, heat dissipation, submersion, cooling, reduction… and Alpha.

The mana I summoned from afar glowed blue and flowed through my lower abdomen before merging into a deep purple liquid. Ice crystals bloomed in the middle of the grape juice and spread outwards.

The simple appearance of the spell made it easy to recognize the effect.

I stirred the chilled grape juice with a dessert spoon and placed it in front of Michael.

The child’s face lit up with a bright gleam as he took the ice cream in the middle of the meal.

“Wow! Wow! Are you a sword magician?”

“I can only do this one spell, but if you want to simplify it, I suppose you could say that.”

“…Wow, the speed at which you cast the spell just now was really fast, wasn’t it?”

“Well, it’s a simple spell. I’ve practiced this one a lot, so that’s why.”

“What if you become a great magician before becoming a sword master…?”

“Stop joking.”

Michael gasped, holding the dessert spoon in his mouth and looking up. His face seemed desperate, as though he was saying that his brother must become the greatest knight in the world.

It was amusing how seriously both of them took teasing the child.

“I’m not interested in that. I met a great professor and made significant progress in swordsmanship. I just hope I can teach the knights of the Magnolia Order some of what I’ve learned.”

“Congratulations on your progress. It’s truly an honor for the young master to be taught by you.”

The overly polite tone made it clear that Sir Ventus was teasing me.

I sighed, skillfully separating the meat from the bone and placing it on Michael’s plate. The child, looking relieved, eagerly devoured the meat and nodded his head.

“I’m honored too.”

“Why?”

“Because I get to be taught by you, big brother.”

I was momentarily stunned and lost for words.

I had taught people in a harsh way that didn’t suit Siron at all.

I couldn’t possibly make Michael, who was still struggling to keep up in the training hall, hold a horseback stance for hours or teach him the three-sword technique.

He was already quite strong, and comparing him to knights who had the stamina to follow my rigorous training would only hurt him.

Moreover, what I wanted to teach him wasn’t the way of a knight but the skills of a manager who handles the affairs of a great house, so I hesitated.

“They say one should start learning swordsmanship by the age of eight.”

“But you started sword training when you were five, right?”

“Well, I… as you said, I was a genius. I decided early on that I couldn’t master anything other than the sword, so I focused on it. But I don’t mind if you learn swordsmanship, or distinguish grapes, or even get good at math. I don’t want you to rush into choosing just one thing right away…”

Michael looked momentarily thoughtful.

As I placed the well-carved meat onto his plate, I subtly gestured to Sir Ventus.

Having understood my intent, he scratched his cheek awkwardly, gave a brief chuckle, and shrugged.

“You seem to be afraid that the younger master will surpass you, big master.”

“Hmm?”

“Huh?”

I narrowed my brow, and Michael shouted in surprise.

“What?! That’s nonsense!”

“What’s nonsense? Little Master Michael can already do addition up to five digits. Big Master should be worried. If you start learning swordsmanship too, you might become a sword master before your older brother. It’s always good to pick things up quickly.”

“No! I want you to teach me!”

“Maybe little master could teach big master instead?”

I only heard Sir Ventus’s words as teasing, but surprisingly, it worked. Michael immediately lost interest in swordsmanship.

However, seeing the child turn away, I felt strangely perplexed.

I couldn’t understand why Michael didn’t seem at all interested in surpassing me.

Brothers were supposed to compare themselves to each other, measuring themselves as both teachers and rivals from the moment they were born.

It was only natural to regard each other as the best allies and the greatest opponents.

It was fine that he followed me, but the idea that he didn’t want to surpass me felt awkward.

As I chewed on the lamb chops I was preparing for his plate, I thought deeply and then spoke.

“Why not? Michael, you could become an expert before me.”

“But I don’t want to take your place. I want to stay close to you, big brother.”

My nose stung.

I turned to look at the child in surprise. His cute, flushed cheeks hid a deep emotion I hadn’t expected.

I was startled to feel how cold his hand had become, and I rubbed it gently to warm it up.

“No matter what, we’ll always be close. Who said we wouldn’t?”

“It’s not that anyone said it… I just know that you love me so much, but I don’t want to take what you have. I just thought… if I do what you like well… you’d love me even more, so I wanted to try.”

It was a statement no seven-year-old who was already receiving so much love from both parents should have made.

Sir Ventus seemed just as surprised as I was, unable to continue his words.

Noticing the strange atmosphere, Michael quickly placed a boneless piece of meat on his plate and awkwardly cut it with his knife, avoiding eye contact in a way that reminded me of his father.

“So, big brother, you should know too. Even when I get older, I won’t take your place.”

“What if it’s not mine?”

I decided to firmly respond this time, quickly retorting. Michael blinked his round eyes and turned his head. I gently held his hand and continued softly.

“If I only want to learn swordsmanship and nothing else, and then cry, wanting to run away and leave everything behind… what would you do? You’d have to inherit the family, wouldn’t you?”

“…No, big brother, you can’t go. What if I can’t see you anymore? Is that okay?”

“It wouldn’t be okay. But eventually, it’ll be fine. As time passes, things will settle down.”

“…!”

The child fidgeted awkwardly and, in the end, tears welled up in his eyes. I wiped them away gently, adding a few more words.

“If you take over the things I find hard, maybe we can stay together forever.”

“…”

I wanted to pass on the family legacy and the name of Ernhardt to Michael.

I had always felt that way. Since I couldn’t truly regard my parents as my real ones, I often doubted if I was truly an Ernhardt.

I was afraid that, because I was born first, I would end up taking away what Michael should inherit.

I thought for sure he would nod right away after hearing that.

I had underestimated him, though. Instead, Michael, with a determined voice, placed a piece of meat he had cut onto my plate and said firmly.

“I don’t want to answer right now. Both you and I are still too young to say anything. If you change your mind later, then I’ll listen.”

Sir Ventus, who had been open-mouthed in surprise, closed his mouth and looked at me.

When our eyes met, I saw his broad shoulders shrugging up and then down.

I remained silent for a long while before pulling Michael into my arms and holding him tightly.