Hellmode ~A Hardcore Gamer Becomes Peerless in Another World with Retro Game Settings~

“That’s why I am at the… Academy. It’s a long story.”

It seems that the story of what happened last year is not the only explanation for Kiel’s visit to the Academy. He asks if we didn’t mind if he talked about the past.

“I don’t mind.”

“Okay…”

Kiel said that his father, Viscount Carnell, took good care of him. It was a long time ago and he doesn’t remember much, but he remembered that he was given many servants and that they bought him everything.

However, the blessed environment soon changed. It was after his five-year-old Appraisal Ceremony.

Kiel had the Talent of a Priest.

While everyone was rejoicing over the results of the appraisal, he said he would never forget the look of despair on Viscount Carnell’s face.

Not long after that, he and a few servants left the city of Carnel to live in another city. He didn’t know for sure, but he was told that it was at the direction of Viscount Carnell.

“…”

Cecile had a look on her face that said, “How is that possible?

And after that, he lived there for seven years without receiving any education as a Noble. The living expenses sent to him by Viscount Carnell were very small.

The last time he saw Viscount Carnell was when he was five years old. Only his younger sister, Nina, adored him and came all the way to visit him once a year or so.

At the age of ten, an instructor was sent to him because he had to go to the Academy. As it is a Noble’s duty to make sure that all the Talented Nobles go to the Academy, and they have to pass the exam.

Hearing that made me realize that he was still a member of the Carnell Family by name.

Then, at the end of last year, there was an uproar.

Suddenly a group of Knights surrounded the house where Kiel was staying and arrested everyone. Without knowing what was going on, the Knights who came asked him if he was the child of Viscount Carnell.

When he replied that he was, he was taken by the Knights and kept in confinement.

One day, many days later, a Royal Messenger came to meet Kiel.

The Royal Messenger told him that his confinement was the work of the Granvelle family. And, since the Royal family was on their side, the Carnell Family wouldn’t be able to avoid being destroyed.

He said that Kiel and his sister Nina were either going to be sold somewhere or, at best, live as commoners in the city, and that he didn’t even know what would happen to them.

Kiel said that he was very desperate when he heard about it and told him that at least his sister should be pardoned, but the Royal Messenger told him that it was all up to His Majesty the King to decide.

“Not knowing what was going on, I thought my life was all over. But the story of the Royal Messenger did not end there.”

“You are a Priest, aren’t you?” he asked Kiel.

When he replied that he was, the Royal Messenger told him that His Majesty the King said that if were to fulfill his Noble’s duty for five years, he may re-establish the Carnell Family with him as the head.

“I was told that there was a dangerous area that was overrun by magical beasts and Nobles were obligated to fight for the Kingdom there for three years. My Family has been convicted of a crime, so I had to serve for five years. Then all our sins would be atoned for.”

Kiel answered immediately that he would do it. And Nina wanted to come to Academy City with him. He told the Royal Messenger that he wanted to take in the servants who took care of them, as well as the servants who had no relatives with him as well.

The Royal Messenger agreed and told him to do as he pleased. And until April, he went back to the city of Carnel and was taken care of by the Church.

It seems that the Royal Family paid for the Academy fees. The money that was given to them as living expenses at the Academy City was lost due to the travel expenses for all of them.

“… I, you know, I’ve always resented this cursed Talent, but it had a meaning. It meant something…”

Something came pouring out of Kiel. Maybe it was something he had been thinking about since the beginning of his misfortune, but had never said. Everyone listened to Kiel’s words in silence until the end.

“I must rebuild the Carnell family. I’ve decided that I’m going to be the one to take over, and I’m going to give my family back a place to come home to after they’ve followed a nobody like me.”

With these words, Kiel finished his story.

Both Kurena and Dogora were processing what they heard with a sad look on their faces.

In the midst of all this, I spoke up.

“Hey, do you know what kind of the place that is?”

“What? What do you mean?”

(After all, he has only heard that there are magical beasts. I guess I don’t have to tell him everything. He’ll learn about the history of the Demon King next year at the Academy anyway.)

“You don’t know, but it’s okay. So, Kiel has his ‘duty’ as well, huh?”

(I wish he had said that earlier.)

“What? What’s okay!!!?”

“There are two types of people in this party besides Kiel.”

Cecile, who was born a Noble, and Kurena, who is a Master Swordsman, and both of them must go to the battlefield. And Dogora and I, who are planning to go to the battlefield that is overrun by those magical beasts with them.

“It’s…, so what?”

Kiel glared at me and questioned the truth of my words.

“It looks like we have the same destination. Let’s go together.”

“Idiot! Did you not hear what I said? …I am Viscount Carnell’s son.”

“I don’t care about any of that.”

“Oh, huh…?”

He was shocked, surprised and dismayed by my words. He wondered what all his explanations had been about.

As such, I was comfortable with the situation.

(Then again, I’ve been wondering, haven’t I? It’s usually like this. It’s not like we’re going to have a perfect match on purpose right away.)

I remember that in the game that I played in his previous life, I found friends quite easily. I remember that in the early days, the number of friends increased rapidly. In some cases, when I went to a tavern in the first town, I somehow found as many friends as I could.

I had always wondered. Why is it so easy for others to share determination and risk their life to defeat the last boss?

I know from living in this world that this is never the case.

In front of my eyes was a boy of only twelve or so, who was trying to revive his Noble House for his sister and their hapless servants.

His main’s goal was never to defeat the Demon King.

“In case you haven’t heard, the place where you will be sent to, half of the people die in three years, and in five years it’s more like 70%. Most of the magical beasts are B-rank or higher. What did the Royal Messenger say about that? Did he say it would be easy?”

Kiel’s eyes widened and he gasped in astonishment, a B-rank magical beast is a threat to everyone.

Five years is the heaviest term of servitude imposed on a Talented criminal in Latash Kingdom.

(He probably didn’t know. He has only heard that there are a lot of magical beasts and that it’s dangerous. Of course, he hasn’t heard about the Demon King either.)

Kiel’s surprised expression returned to normal.

“What does it matter? It doesn’t change what I have to do.”

(It has.)

Kiel, who was willing to spend all of his Academy life for his family, had more determination than anyone else.

“We go to the dungeon because we know we need to go to a place like that in the future, we know how dangerous it is. These three years will fly by in an instant.”

“… Is that so?”

Kiel must also be wondering why we were so obsessed with the dungeon. It was to prepare for the battle that would begin after we graduated from the Academy.

“Come with us, Kiel. Come fight with us. We need to fight together. What if we have some different goals?”

(Fighting the Demon King’s army is the same as fighting the Demon King. I’m not fooling you at all. In fact, it might even speed up the rebirth of the Carnell Family.)

It would be too complicated to talk about the Demon King’s army here, so I’ll save it for another day.

“Different goals and fight together?”

“Yes. You should fight for your cause.”

After hearing that much, Kiel was not sure what to do. It would be easy to get out of here. But what would that do to Nina and the servants? They would be back to being poor again.

As the future head of the Carnell Family, he has to do whatever is needed to revive the Family, not what he wants to revive the Family.

“…I’ll even use the Master Swordsman for my own purposes. I’m saying that I’ll also use your strength for my own goals. Are you still okay with that?”

(That’s fine. You don’t have to bother putting it into words. You’re a sweet guy.)

“Yeah, let’s fight together!”

Kurena reacted to the word “Master Swordsman” and reached out her hand to Kiel.

“…Why?”

Kurena’s words stung Kiel’s heart. She had a guilt-ridden, carefree smile on her face.

“It’s settled. Keep up the good work. That’s fine with you two, right?”

I’ve never decided on important things without asking my friend’s opinion on it.

“Well, yes. I never thought I’d be living with a Carnell. Aren’t I the first of the Granvelle Family doing this?”

“No problem. Kiel is one of us now. Honestly, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

Dogora didn’t seem to understand about the Family disturbance.

“Well, we’re still eating. I’m sure you haven’t eaten enough yet, so let’s continue with the welcome party.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll go get everyone!”

“What the hell is …?”

Kurena smiled at Allen’s words and headed upstairs. Kiel couldn’t keep up with the scene at all. Cecile sighed and said, “I hope you get used to it soon too.”