Chapter 63 - Charles's Ability

“I have returned.”

Tina arrived while I was chatting with Charles and Leaffa.

“Tina! Welcome home!”

Charles greeted Tina with enthusiasm.

“Charles-sama, it’s been a while.”

“Yeah, it’s been ages! I heard you finally married Halt. Congratulations!”

Charles hugged Tina.

This person—won’t she be satisfied unless she clings to everyone?

“Thank you very much.”

“In the past, you always gave me such scary looks whenever I played with Halt. It’s a relief you’re together with him now.”

“Y-You noticed!?”

S-So it was like that...

“You were like, ‘I won’t let Halt go, ever!’ you know. But since you’re married, it looks like Tina’s got Halt all to herself now.”

“Yes, Halt-sama *is* mine now.”

Tina beamed triumphantly.

“Hold on, dear Tina. Since you’re married to my beloved brother, that makes you part of *my* family now. And the belongings of the family are shared among everyone. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Halt is mine as well.”

W-What kind of logic is that!?

No matter how you spin it, that’s pure nonsense!

“Hmph!”

Tina, there’s no need for that ‘hmph.’ There's no way that’s true.

“My elder sister may be considered a beauty when she keeps her mouth shut, so I assume you're quite popular. Now, could you please detach yourself from your brother?”

“Halt, you think I’m a beauty!”

Wait, that’s the only part she heard!?

Her selective hearing is quite impressive.

“I’ve already received a lot of proposals. But most were just after the Count’s properties, or they only cared about my face. The rest were trash with perverted intentions.”

“My elder sister has had keen discernment from a young age. Naturally, they couldn’t hide their motives from you.”

“Well, it’s not so much discernment as it is a skill. I know exactly what the other person is thinking.”

“!?”

What a shocking revelation!

Tina and Leaffa both looked stunned.

Wait—does that mean… you weren’t just reading my reactions this whole time?

“That’s right. I can only focus on one person at a time, but I can read what they’re thinking.”

I’ve been completely seen through.

“…Is this for real?”

“It is. It’s the [Telepathic Perception Skill]. Ultra-rare, right?”

Of course.

You won’t find psychic mind readers just wandering around.

“By the way, the only people who know about this are our parents, the kingdom’s royalty, and now you three. So keep it a secret, okay?”

Hey! Don’t reveal something so valuable so casually!

Wait… if the royalty knows, then—

“As expected, you’re sharp, Halt. I work for the National Bureau of Intelligence. Even if there are spies who resist torture and won’t reveal their secrets, it doesn’t matter to me.”

That explains why she’s treated so highly by the kingdom.

“Oh, and don’t worry, the only person in our family I’ve ever ‘read’ is you, Halt, since long ago. So Tina and Leaffa don’t need to worry.”

Wait, why just me!?

And… since long ago!?

Does that mean she knows I’m a reincarnated person?

“Ehehehe.”

Charles giggled as she leaned in and whispered in my ear.

“Don’t worry. I’ve never told anyone about *that*.”

Aahh, what the heck.

Charles has known all along.

Tina knows, but I haven’t told Leaffa yet.

For my own sister to uncover the truth…

Hmmm, what should I do?

Leaffa’s my wife now, so I don’t think it’ll affect our relationship negatively.

That’s why—

“Leaffa, I want to tell you a secret.”

And so, I told her everything.

That I’m a reincarnated person.

That the Evil God cast a curse on me.

And because of that curse, I have my current powers.

I told her everything.

“The Evil God… so he really exists. That explains your unusual powers, Halt. In fact, it could be said you have infinite mana.”

Leaffa believed me.

Well, she *has* seen my magic firsthand.

“I won’t tell a soul about what you’ve shared. But if there’s anyone else with the same [Telepathic Perception Skill] as Charles, then Halt’s secret could be exposed.”

Leaffa looked a little anxious, regretting that she had heard my secret.

The only people who knew I was reincarnated were the headmaster of the magic academy, Sage Luarno Vell Ifrus, Tina, Charles, and now Leaffa—a total of four.

Charles graduated from the academy as the top student, and she wouldn’t be captured by the enemy so easily, right? Plus, she works for the National Bureau of Intelligence, so she probably has her own security.

Out of the four, Leaffa has the least combat ability, so it makes sense that she’s afraid she wouldn’t be able to keep my secret if captured.

“No worries. Even if everything we talked about leaks, it won’t be a problem. Besides, I’ll protect you, Leaffa.”

“Halt…”

“Hyu~ Hyu~ So romantic! If I get captured, you’ll save me too, right?”

I had just said something amazing, and Charles still managed to poke fun at me.

“Elder sister, you can handle yourself.”

I said that with a bit of coolness in my voice.

“Tsk!”

Charles sulked.

Well, you reap what you sow.

“Oh, by the way, your wedding reception is scheduled for next month.”

“Is that so?”

I’m relieved it’s not happening tomorrow, like when we were in Alheim.

Since I’m the son of a Count, even though I’m leaving the family, a reception is necessary to announce it to the nobility.

It seems Charles’s real purpose for visiting was to deliver that information.

After that, she left, having given us the schedule for the dress fitting and other preparations.