I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

As dawn broke, I returned to the mansion.

Though I yawned, I didn't feel particularly tired.

"Alphiss-sama ,should we leave the servants alive?"

"It's fine. Even if they make a fuss, no one will believe them. And if things escalate, our special cleaning team will handle it."

The special cleaning team employed by the Balfont family erases traces of murder and other crimes.

I left the bodies of the Demaseka family's security team as a warning, but by now, they should have been completely cleaned up.

They usually don't get directly involved, but if ordinary people make too much noise, they'll be "cleaned up" as well.

"Congratulations on completing your first mission! Here's a kiss!"

As soon as I opened the mansion door, Miley-neechan jumped at me.

This is the first time she's greeted me like this right at the entrance.

So, I effortlessly dodged her, and Miley-neechan ended up falling flat on the ground.

"Ouch!"

"How did you know I completed the mission?"

"Oww... Well, I knew a request like that would be nothing for you, Alphiss. So, I practiced my congratulatory kiss!"

"Maybe I should have failed."

If I had failed, who knows what this doting sister of mine would have done.

She might have flooded the Demaseka mansion and crushed it with water pressure.

"Stop doing such indecent things like kissing!"

"Oh, .Lushiel   If you think a kiss is indecent, you have no idea what else is out there."

"W-what else...?"

"Ah, your face is all red!"

Hey, there's a seven-year-old here. Have some decency.

Though expecting someone who tries to kiss her seven-year-old brother to have any sense of ethics is probably pointless.

Just as I was about to ignore her in exasperation, my body was enveloped in a water sphere.

Floating gently inside the water, only my head remained above the surface.

"Pwah! Hey, what are you doing?"

"You must be tired. I'll carry you to your room."

"Hey, stop messing around."

"Don't be shy. Oh, by the way, isn't this sword a demon sword?"

Miley-neechan manipulated the water in the sphere and easily took the demon sword from me.

Despite having easily defeated the old man of the Black Death Butterfly, I was being played with like a toy.

If Miley-neechan had been serious, I would have been dead by now.

It's nothing special. Just a little water pressure, and I'd be squished flat.

This is what they mean when they say there's always someone stronger.

It's frustrating, but I'm still no match for her.

"I won't allow any further disrespect toward my master."

"Whoa! What's that?"

Hiyori emerged from the demon sword and effortlessly split the water sphere.

The shattered water sphere turned into a dark mist and disappeared.

"You're strong, aren't you? ,Alphiss you've got quite the companion despite having a sister like me."

"You're a hundred years too early to toy with my master. Begone, you insignificant fool."

"I see, I see. Well then, let's see who can love Alfis more, shall we?"

"Hmph, how presumptuous. My master would never be swayed by a woman like you."

"Wouldn't he?"

Wait, what kind of competition is this?

It feels like sparks are flying between them.

When will they realize that it's weird for my actual sister to be part of this?

* * *

"Alphiss. Good work on your first mission. It might have been a bit too easy for you."

Leorg, whether he knew how easily I had won or not, spoke with a hint of provocation.

Did he think I struggled against the old man of the Black Death Butterfly?

Still, there's no need for modesty.

"Yeah, it was an easy mission against that kind of opponent. You're too kind, Father."

"Hmph... Good. That's the son of the Balfont family. Well, even the Black Death Butterfly must have aged."

"You're different, right, Father?"

"I'd hate to be lumped together with those who have retired due to old age."

Leorg's body was enveloped in a wave of energy.

The energy flickered like a heat haze, as if it were about to explode, just a slight hint of intimidation.

This level of energy control is something I can't achieve yet.

Leorg knows this, which is why he's showing off the gap.

Basically, he's telling me not to get too full of myself.

He wants me to become strong, but he doesn't want me to surpass him.

He always wants to remain the strongest and the ruler.

That's why he wants me and the rest of the family to stay at a level where we're just pawns.

In other words, he's a small-minded man.@@novelbin@@

He's afraid of someone threatening his position.

He's terrified of losing his standing.

This extreme mindset is what created the World King, Leorg.

"Alphiss, are you handling the energy well?"

"Not as well as you, Father."

"When did you first sense the energy?"

"Probably since I was conscious."

See? The fact that he's probing like this means he sees me as a potential threat.

In the Balfont family, aside from Leorg, the next strongest is Vaid, but he awakened to the energy much later.

If I'm already manipulating energy at seven, it's no wonder he's scared.

"Sensing energy is genius, manipulating it is a gift. There's an insurmountable wall between the two. You're a genius at this point."

"I hope to be gifted as well."

When I showed no signs of backing down, Leorg's eyebrow twitched.

There's no point in provoking each other further.

I decided to change the subject.

"Father, why did you make Bellana an illegal drug?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"It was the Balfont family that instructed the royal family to classify Bellana as an illegal drug, wasn't it?"

"You knew that much? You're truly a good son."

Leorg chuckled.

I don't sympathize with the Demaseka family, but because of this, the market must have changed significantly.

If the Balfont family wanted to, they could bring down any noble family in an instant.

The Demaseka family isn't the only exception.

"They were in the way. No one outside the Balfont family deserves to gain power."

I didn't say anything.

Pressing further would be pointless because that's all there is to it.

The people of this country blindly believe the official information and never suspect the Balfont family's involvement.

Behind it all lies the ego of just one man, something no one knows.

"Alphiss, like your siblings, you will enroll in the academy eight years from now."

"Is that also for the sake of the Balfont family?"

"Yes. I'll explain the details when the time  came . For now, focus on honing your skills."

The Royal Sailrand Academy. The reason I'll be enrolling in this academy, where both commoners and nobles study, is simple.

8 years from now is when the game begins, the start of the main story.

Until then, I'll follow Leorg's advice and continue to train diligently.