In truth, I almost blurted, "You bastard,"but I held back. I tried not to use this kind of language with my siblings. First of all, we were a family. If he was a bastard, then so was I. In short, I was being quite considerate toward Aerts.
However, he didn't seem to see it that way. His face turned red. Then he strode over and stood in front of me. "I came."
I said nothing.
"I came, so what are you going to do? Did I say something wrong?" he demanded.
The sight of him made my fists itch like crazy, but I endured it for now. I could have beaten him at any time, but the real reason that I didn't was what Hector had just told me.
"You've handled most unfair situations using brute force, but that won't work this time. Whether it's even possible or not, the family's internal dynamics won't change, even if you miraculously beat all the elders."
He was right. Some things couldn't be solved by force alone. Beating someone wasn't always the best solution. Moreover, considering Aerts' age, it could be said that he was still immature. More importantly, I didn't think I could overwhelm him with words alone.
I nodded. "All right. Let's just talk first."
"Talk?" Aerts echoed.
"I have something to say to everyone here. We can't let the family continue like this," I said.
The silent Everan finally spoke. "Do you have any countermeasures?"
She was the youngest of the Badniker siblings, aside from me. She had a squirrel-like appearance, a stark contrast to the others, who were well built. Among them, she seemed like a small animal surrounded by predators. She looked genuinely uncomfortable and kept a wary eye on everyone around her.
Still, she isn't necessarily a good person. In my previous life, she had tormented me quite a bit. She never crossed a line or deliberately sought trouble with me, but she had a tendency to go along with those around her.
"Countermeasures? I do. There's a great way to ease Father's burden without going against the elders' will," I answered.
"What is it?" she asked.
"These days, it isn't unusual for someone at fifteen to have left home and start a new family. I'm the youngest, and I'm sixteen. That means no one here is younger than fifteen," I said.
My sudden remark drew blank stares. No one responded.
Raizen poked his ears and asked, "So? Do you want to get married or something?"
"That could be one option, but it isn't the point."
I looked at each person in turn. Heero, Hector, Raizen, Aerts, and Ludwig, who isn't here. Nero, Lina, Olivia, and Everan. Finally, me. Ten in total.
"The Iron-Blooded Lord's children can be as active as their father," I said.
No one spoke.
I continued, "Since there are ten of us, a simple calculation shows that each person only needs to handle one-tenth of the Iron-Blooded Lord."
Even my miraculous calculation method drew no response.
I considered why and added, "Since I am the future family head, I can take on two-tenths of the Iron-Blooded Lords alone. The rest can split the remaining eight-tenths. So per person—"
"Hahaha!" Aerts burst out laughing like a madman.
I stared at him until his laughter subsided. Then he glared at me. "You are crazy. Are you in your right mind?"
"Why would you say that?" I asked.
"Fill in the vacancy of the family head? Take on his work? It's ridiculous," Aerts said.
Raizen nodded. "That's right. I don't want to agree with this idiot, but he's correct. If it were really that simple, a few dozen A-class heroes would've matched Father's achievements. It's impossible. That is why he is the Iron-Blooded Lord."
Even Everan agreed in a low voice. "T-that's right. Honestly, I am one-thousandth of Father... No, ten-thousandth..."
The two of them were merchants. Everan worked in the fashion industry, while Raizen owned a very large trading company. Neither would even dare set foot on a battlefield like ordinary heroes, mercenaries, or knights.
Heero listened and nodded. "Luan, your idea makes sense, but I don't think anyone here can take on Father's work. Me, Nero, and even Hector... Even if we play active roles in our respective positions, can we really ease some of Father's burden?"
At those words, Hector flinched slightly. His expression showed surprise, as if he hadn't expected Heero to include him.
"You're correct. Not everyone here can fight. Some people live comfortably while doing business," Raizen said, echoing his earlier point.
I had expected this reaction and nodded. "Then continue to do business."
"What?"
I spoke slowly. "Defeating the church isn't the only way to increase the Badnikers' status. Leading fashion trends in the capital is one option. Becoming the leader of the continent's top trading company is another. In fact, that may be even better. Those are things Father cannot do.
"We have many people. Because of that, there are many things we can do. Individually, none of us can match Father's abilities. However, if each of us excels in our own field, the sum of our efforts can surpass him."
Aerts scoffed. "How funny. If it were that simple, Father wouldn't have earned his Iron-Blooded Lord title or become the leader of the imperial nobles."
Does this fella enjoy contradicting everything? My patience started to crack slightly at his interruption, but I desperately tried to remain composed.
"If you deify a person who's still alive, then you'll never be able to do anything—"
"Cut the crap," Aerts interrupted me again. "Are you blinded just because you're the future family head? Yes, now I understand your intentions. Are you planning to make the family head retire like this?"
Everan gasped and stared at me in surprise.
Lina, who had kept quiet, also gave me a curious look.
As I stayed silent in disbelief, Aerts grew more animated. "Yes! The more I think about it, the more it fits. You're trying to push out our still capable family head and use us like chess pieces to expand your influence."
Everan covered her mouth with both hands, her reaction grating. "I-I never imagined... I never dreamed of it."
Encouraged by her response, Aerts pressed on with rising excitement. "Since you're the successor, you can claim our performance as part of your plan and take the credit in the end! Haha! What are you going to do now? I have exposed your crude scheme!"
"Father isn't capable right now. He has amnesia, and his mental age is even younger than ours. Don't you understand what that means?" I asked.
"No matter whether he is twelve or two, the family head has been perfect since birth. Our worries are just an insult to him," Aerts answered. "But I suppose that's something you, the youngest, wouldn't understand. This is pointless. You'd better be prepared. I am going to report everything you said here to the elders—"
"I failed," I blurted out.
"What?"
As soon as Aerts spoke, I slapped him. His head turned sharply, and his eyes widened in confusion. The shock faded, replaced by anger, and his pale cheeks turned red. He turned to me, eyes blazing. "You son of a—"
This time, I slapped him across the other cheek.
Both cheeks reddened at once. He tried to speak again, but I kept alternating slaps with one hand.
After several slaps, Aerts' legs gave out, and he collapsed. I would normally have stopped there, but I instead approached the fallen Aerts and started stomping on him.
"You! You son of a bitch! Born into a good family! You've been enjoying life! The whole time! Profiting! You should! Think about! Giving it back! You son of a bitch!" I spat as I beat him.
"Ack! S-stop! Stop!" Aerts cried.
"This is just the beginning! Why are you telling me to stop?" I demanded.
Aerts gasped in pain. "It hurts! It hurts! Ah! B-Brother Hector...!"
Even as I hit him, Aerts tried to call out to Hector.
I glanced over for a moment. Hector averted his gaze as if he were staring at a distant mountain, ignoring both Aerts and me.
Aerts muttered, "T-this can't be..."
"Can't be my ass, you little brat!" I only stopped after stomping on him dozens of times. "I've finally relieved my stress."
A strange sense of relief washed over me, so I broke into a wide smile. "Does anyone else want to make a funny guess like this idiot? If so, speak now. I won't say anything. If you don't ask stupid questions, I won't hit you. Really."
No one spoke.
I grinned. "No? I'm glad. That means there is only one person here without a conscience."
It was a miracle. Out of the ten siblings, there was only one idiot.
The clothes I wore irritated me, so I took off my coat. On a whim, I tossed it over Aerts, and he groaned.
I fanned myself with my shirt and said, "Being born into a good family is just a matter of luck. This family may be a bit flawed, but it isn't a bad place if you aren't greedy. You won't starve, you'll have plenty of support, and people will never overlook you wherever you go. So let me ask you plainly. Do you really think you could have achieved your current position and accomplishments without the Badniker name?"
Raizen interjected, "I think I can...?"
I leered at him. "I'm not including you, shit. Why are you inserting yourself into this?"
"Yes." At my words, Raizen pretended to zip his mouth shut.
"It goes without saying that Father is the reason that the Badnikers rose to this position. The food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the fact that we can walk around without being ignored by others. We owe everything to him, whether we realize it or not," I said.
Talking about debt between parents and children was extreme, but this was how I saw it.
I continued, "He has been running nonstop since before we were born. He worked like a machine without a break. A person like that deserves to rest. Of course, I'm not saying he should retire forever, as this idiot suggested. The empire still needs the Iron-Blooded Lord, and no one can replace him. No matter how brilliantly we perform. That won't change. I'm only asking that we give him time."
"Time?"
I held up a hand. "One year. Let's roll around like dogs together for just one year. This way, we can give our father a full year of rest."
Did they understand what I was saying? Some of the smarter ones, such as Heero, Nero, Hector and Raizen seemed lost in thought.
"Setting aside the Badnikers, will the imperial court or the Hero Society accept it?" Hector asked.
"I don't know, and it isn't something we should consider in the first place. Let's leave that kind of political maneuvering to the elders who have handled it their entire lives," I replied. "Focus on your respective fields. Raizen, triple the size of your trading company. Hector, become the youngest Imperial Knight. Heero, earn a promotion to S-class."
Was it absurd?
The three of them let out hollow laughs, but I pretended not to notice and continued, "As for the interim tally... It's April now, so let's set it for October. I may even hand out rewards depending on the results. The Badnikers are a family that properly gives out rewards and punishments."
"Do you actually have anything to give us?" Raizen asked.
"Why are you acting like this? I am the future family head. I have the authority to manage the family's assets, both privately and publicly. It doesn't matter whether it's elixirs, rare weapons, or the family's influence," I replied.
Raizen's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Does that mean you can loosen the control over the expedition party?"
"Expedition? Hmm..."
The expedition, or exploration, party referred to those who ventured beyond the empire. In other words, they explored the Wilderness, where Dark Qi overflowed and monsters and demons ran rampant. They were true experts in their respective fields, but the risks were immense. In most cases, only about half could be expected to return.
However, the profits gained from those ventures were truly enormous. Beyond priceless divine relics, they could bring back metals and herbs unavailable in the empire, traces of fallen kingdoms, records of extinct races, remnants of cults, and information about demons.
The problem was that the final authority to approve such expeditions rested with the imperial family. Organizations like the Hero Society conducted some external explorations, but strictly speaking, those operations were illegal.
Raizen's Zyren Trading Company maintained a decent relationship with the Hero Society, but it had no ties to the imperial family. That was hardly surprising, given its history of running an illegal auction in the capital. As a result, the company had no contact with expedition parties. For Raizen, who aimed to expand his business, this was a significant disadvantage. At times, the spoils brought back by an expedition party were enough to transform a trading company entirely.
"I think it's possible," I said.
"Really?"
I nodded. "Yes. I'm quite close to one of the princes, as well as His Majesty."
Raizen hummed, suspicion flashing in his eyes.
It seemed they didn't believe me, even though it was true.
"Is this a connection from the academy? I can understand Prince Glenn, but even His Majesty?" Raizen asked. "Well, I will accept it for now. Still, as you know, I have no intention of letting the Badnikers get involved with my trading company."
I nodded. "Right. Brother Raizen, just focus on expansion and occasionally lend support to your other siblings when needed."
"How?" he asked.
"For example, provide ample supplies to Brother Heero's clan or Brother Hector's order of knights. You can say you owe a great deal to the Badnikers, and that side will probably treat them well," I suggested.
Raizen's eyes lit up. "That works."
Everan raised her hand eagerly. "T-then! May I get some fabric support for my store?"
I tilted my head. "Why the formal tone, Sister Everan? Just speak informally."
"R-really?"
"Speak however you like. By the way, did you say fabric?" I asked.
"Yes. These days, fashion depends more on materials than design. Securing high-quality fabric is like plucking stars from the sky," she said.
"Really?" I turned to Raizen. "Brother Raizen, what do you think?"
Raizen nodded. "I think I can help you a bit if that is the case. Shall we discuss it later?"
"D-discuss it?"
"Yes." Raizen pulled out an item. "Do you recognize this?"
"T-that is a Zyren knife...!" Everan exclaimed. "The Zyren Trading Company?"
Unexpectedly, a sense of cooperation emerged among the siblings, many of whom had likely been unaware of one another before my regression. The atmosphere grew livelier and more chaotic than when I had first entered the dining room.
As I watched, I felt oddly flustered. For the first time, both before and after my regression, they truly felt like siblings. That made it all the more embarrassing, since none of it was intentional. It was surprising that people who had always argued could develop a relationship like this.
At that moment, Heero cautiously approached and called out, "Luan."
"What is it?"
"I understand your reasoning. There are many flaws, but I grasp the overall direction. There is just one major issue," he said seriously.
"What is it?"
"Will Father obey you?"
As expected of my eldest brother. He usually came across as dull or absent-minded, but when it came to matters like this, he was as sharp as a beast. The question arose because Heero knew more about the Iron-Blooded Lord than anyone else. Of course, I had already prepared a plan.
"Don't worry. Father will have a very good rest for the next year," I replied.
"How? I don't think he will agree with your plan. It doesn't matter if his mindset is that of a twelve-year-old. Even at that age, Father would prioritize his mission over personal rest," Heero reasoned.
"That's right. So I am going to use some coercive means."
"Coercive means?" Heero echoed.
"This is a secret..." I lowered my voice and shared the plan. "I'm going to kidnap Father."
The noisy room suddenly fell silent, and a strange tension settled over the stillness.
A loud gulp broke the quiet as Raizen swallowed the meat in his mouth and muttered, "Crazy guy."
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