Chapter 343: Charles Mind Reading (6)

To conclude, I failed.

I couldn’t prevent the otherworlder from transmigrating into Halt’s body.

──＊＊＊──

Once the demon king started his reign in this world, the otherworlder destined to be the hero would come — that was what I thought all along.

Nothing changed even after Halt turned five. That’s why I felt relieved.

There was absolutely no news about the demon king appearing anywhere. I already checked this fact by listening to the thoughts of the King and his ministers whenever I accompanied Father to the Royal Capital.

Maybe something happened so the demon king didn’t appear, and in turn, the otherworlder didn’t transmigrate into this world — that’s what I thought.

Unfortunately, two days after Halt’s birthday —

“Ah. G-Good morning… Elder Sister Charles.”

I took a break from the academy of magic and went home to celebrate Halt’s birthday. I planned to return today to the academy, so I came to say goodbye, but…

It was an extremely awkward greeting.

Halt’s atmosphere changed from yesterday.

I had a bad feeling about it, so I read Halt’s mind.

…E-Eh?

Why?

I can no longer hear Halt’s inner voice.

There were still some sounds, but it was muffled. It’s as if his mind was covered, so I could no longer hear him well.

Can’t be helped, then… Let’s use that?

It’s rare, but there are some people I can’t get a read on spontaneously. Halt’s exclusive maid Tina is one of them.

Well, it’s not really a wonder, given that she’s a heroine who defeated the demon king alongside teleported heroes from the other world a hundred years ago.

But now, I have a way to read the mind of a person like that heroine.

That’s —

“Morning, Halt.”

I circled my arms around Halt’s neck in a hug and directly touched his skin.

The ability to listen to the inner thoughts of even someone like the heroine just by touching their skin — this is my ultimate mind reading skill.

I usually hear the inner thoughts of people nearby, but once I touch the other person directly, only that person’s thoughts would come to me.

And no matter how powerful that person’s spell or magic tool that could prevent mind reading is, it would be meaningless in the face of my ability.

When Father introduced Tina to our family long ago, he didn’t say it aloud, but I heard him thinking about her level.

Tina is level 250, and she’s a magic swordsman, apparently. She’s the strongest person alive in this world now that there are no heroes, it seemed.

Tina also had the blood of the elves, a race known for their extreme resistance to mental attacks.

She’s an elf, and she’s the strongest person in the world. And yet, even Tina Harrivel’s thoughts would be bared to me when I touch her. I used that skill to the fullest when I touched Halt, so I could hear him now.

“Whoa, E-Elder Sis Charles!?”

(Onee-san… Isn’t her skinship too intense!?)

Halt’s inner voice was no longer his own.

Halt never called me [Onee-san] before.

… It seems the otherworlder really did enter Halt’s body.

I felt dizzy.

My cute Halt, my younger brother who has the purest inner thoughts of all is now —

Gone.

What to do…

What should I do to get him back?

“....”

“Uh…Ahm…. Is something the matter?”

(Why isn’t she letting go? But, there’s a really nice fragrance, so maybe it’s okay to stay like this for a bit.)

Halt told me long ago that he liked the scent of my clothes, so I didn’t change the detergent I use to wash them.

Count Silveray’s family requests the maids to wash our clothes with different detergents.

It’s also to prevent mixing up the clothes. By the way, this is common among the nobilities with the rank of count and above.

“Hey, Halt.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Do you like the scent of my clothes?”

“Yes, I really like it!”

(I didn’t encounter this scent in my previous world, but… I wonder why, I really like this scent.)

It seemed he himself didn’t know the reason, but his preferences weren't different from Halt’s.

The way he addressed himself also changed from his cute ‘me’ to a more manly ‘I’, but I confirmed that our Halt was still within his body.

Father also said before that Halt’s soul will merge with the otherworlder’s soul,so it doesn’t mean Halt will completely disappear.

Then that means Halt is still here.

I was a bit relieved when I realized that, but I still needed to confirm one more thing.

“I’ll be going back to the academy by noon. It’s been a while, so… wanna take a bath with me?”

I wanted to check whether it’s a perverted goat who transmigrated into Halt’s body.

Even if my cute little brother’s soul was still within Halt’s body, if it’s a perverted bugger then I won’t like that.

If that’s the case, then I would definitely do all I can to expel that guy’s soul from Halt.

That’s why I tested Halt.

“B-Bath?”

(Ah, yeah, I’m currently five, but… it’s terrible, isn’t it? W-Well, I do have memories of taking a bath with Onee-san —)

Halt was shy.

He was inwardly flustered.

Seemed quite naive, even.

I was kinda expecting this since he merged with Halt, but I guess the person who transmigrated is also quite young?

I’m a bit relieved.

Thank goodness he didn’t immediately agreed.

“Fufufu, I’m just kidding.”

“...Ugh. Please do not tease me.”

(Onee-san is too cute, so I won’t be able to refuse if you insist, you know?)

It’s not as clear and pure-sounding as our Halt, but his inner voice was also clear.

The transmigrated guy must be a good person.

And telling me I’m cute is also a plus.

A great idea flashed in my mind.

“Halt, can I tell you something?”

“What is it?”

“When Halt is older —”

Halt maybe Halt, but he’s no longer completely my younger brother.

Besides, I really love Halt.

That’s why —

“Marry me, okay!!”

An otherworlder transmigrated into his body, so we’re no longer brother and sister.

Then, there shouldn’t be any problems if we were to marry in the future, right?