The moment everyone gathered for breakfast the next morning, I decided to reveal the truth to the three who didn't yet know. I told them plainly: I was a Child of God. Even though they had likely suspected as much, my sudden confession left them stunned. All three stared at me in wide-eyed silence.
"I apologize for keeping this from you for so long," I said.
"There is no need for apologies," Reinbach-sama replied, breaking the silence. "If you had gone around flippantly claiming to be a Child of God, that would have been a far greater problem. Besides, everyone has secrets, regardless of their nature or scale. We, too, were hiding the fact that we suspected your true identity."
"To trust someone enough to reveal everything... such a relationship is a wonderful thing," Sebas-san added warmly. "However, it is only natural to take steps before reaching that level of intimacy. Please, Ryoma-sama, do not let it trouble you. We are simply grateful that you chose to share this with us now."
"Hearing you say that makes me feel much better."
It seemed my relationship with Reinbach-sama and Sebas-san wouldn't change. However, I was more concerned about Sieber-san. The former Knight Commander remained silent, his face etched with a grim, contemplative expression.
"Sieber, aren't you going to say anything?" Remily prompted.
"Ah, forgive me... I don't mean to pry, but there is one thing I must confirm. As a Child of God, do you harbor any intention of harming this kingdom or the Royal House, Ryoma?"
His voice was quiet, yet I felt a crushing weight of authority—far more intense than the pressure he had exerted during our spar. I knew he wouldn't tolerate lies or half-answers, but I had nothing to hide.
"At the very least, right now, I don't have the slightest intention," I answered firmly. "I want to maintain my current life as much as possible, so there’s no reason to pick a fight with the crown. To be honest, I have no interest in titles or power. They have nothing to do with me, and I simply don't care about them."
The oppressive weight emanating from Sieber-san vanished instantly.
"My apologies. I believed that would be your answer, but as a matter of principle, I had to be certain."
"Considering your history as a Knight Commander, I think that's a perfectly natural concern," I replied.
Afterward, Sieber-san promised not to speak of this to anyone, nor would he report it to the Royal House. Since he had already resigned his commission, he explained he was under no official obligation to disclose my status.
"However," Sieber continued, "if information about Ryoma has already reached His Majesty, then our silence won't mean much in the long run. One day, the King will likely summon you."
I suspected he was right. It might be too late for caution, but I was still curious—if the King truly could identify a Child of God, how did he do it? Not knowing the method made me feel uneasy.
"A way to distinguish a Child of God..." Reinbach-sama mused. "I have never heard of such a thing."
"Nor I," Sebas-san agreed. "If I had known of such a method, I would have used it to confirm the situation myself long ago."
"Still, when the King declared the investigation over, I found myself wondering if he had reached some sort of definitive conclusion regarding the Young Lady," Sieber noted. "The declaration was quite sudden. I suspected there might have been a catalyst."
"Was there anything unusual before the investigation ended?" I asked. "If he identified her through some means, did he ask different questions or perhaps bring a strange magic tool with him?"
They all shook their heads.
"If he had done something that obvious, we would have noticed," Remily said. "Back then, one of us was always with Elia-chan. We were monitoring and guarding her constantly, especially whenever His Majesty was present."
"Unless it was a small tool hidden in his pocket or sleeve," Sieber countered. "We check those who approach His Majesty, but no one searches the King's person."
"True, but if we consider that a possibility, then he could have done it at any time," Reinbach-sama said. "When the investigation began, His Majesty was genuinely distressed, agonizing over the documents. I cannot believe that was an act. That implies he discovered something later on..."
"The only other thing I can recall," Sebas-san said slowly, "is the time he made the Young Lady cry."
"He made Elia cry?" I repeated.
"Was it because he took a blood sample or something?" I asked.
"No, nothing like that. His Majesty has always been very fond of the Young Lady, and she was quite attached to him. They often played whenever they met. On that particular day, it seems he misjudged his strength while teasing her and poked her cheek a bit too hard. She cried, but there was no injury; she was likely just startled. It was a rare occurrence, so it stayed in my memory, but I can't imagine it has anything to do with a method of identification."
"I see..."
I wondered if they had overlooked something related to Earth or Otherworlders, but there was no point in dwelling on it. The information was too scarce.
"Thank you anyway," I said.
"Are you finished?" Reinbach-sama asked. "If we keep talking, something else might come to mind."
"The meal will be ready soon, and I was mostly just curious as someone on the 'target' list. It might have been a political decision rather than actual identification, but the conclusion was correct. Elia isn't a Child of God, so if there is a method—"
I stopped mid-sentence. I was suddenly the center of an even more intense scrutiny than when I had first confessed my identity. I could see powerful, raw emotions swirling in the eyes of Reinbach-sama and Sebas-san.
"Ryoma-kun... is that certain?" Reinbach-sama asked, his voice trembling with gravity.
I finally understood. In this country, the existence of a Child of God was a dormant bomb. Handled correctly, it brought prosperity. Handled poorly, it could cause catastrophic destruction. Because they didn't know how to identify one, Reinbach-sama and the others had no way of knowing for sure if Elia was truly "safe," even after the King’s declaration. Deep down, they had been desperate for a definitive answer—for proof that their granddaughter would not be burdened by that divine weight.
"There is no mistake," I said clearly. "It's true that King Masaharu's blood is strong in her, but that is all."
"Ryoma-sama, I do not mean to doubt your word," Sebas-san said, "but if possible, could you tell us the basis for your certainty?"
"I don't have documents to show you, but perhaps this will suffice?"
I pulled my Status Board from my Item Box, adjusted the display, and showed it to Sebas-san.
"This is...!"
"What is it? What does it say?" Reinbach-sama leaned in.
"...Ryoma-sama possesses the title 'Favorite of the Gods,'" Sebas-san whispered. "And he has the 'Oracle' skill."
"What? Then, the fact that Elia is not a Child of God..."
"It was revealed to me through an Oracle. Do you remember when we went to the church to make this card shortly after we met?"
"Yes, I remember it well," Reinbach-sama said. "You received an Oracle then?"
"I was told that meeting all of you was a good omen, and I learned a few things about the family at that time. Furthermore, as a general rule, there is only one Child of God at any given time. I was told that while there have been exceptions in the past, right now, it's just me."
"So that was it..."
Overwhelmed by relief, Reinbach-sama's face crumpled, and his eyes grew misty. Sebas-san quietly offered him a handkerchief, though he looked ready to burst into tears himself.
"Also," I added, "I apologize for being blunt, but is your greatest fear King Masaharu’s 'Disaster Magic'? The fear that Elia might manifest it?"
"That is part of it, but it's hard to explain in a single word," Reinbach-sama replied. "Ryoma-kun, do you know that King Masaharu was remembered as a Tyrant?"
"A Tyrant?" I asked, surprised.
"It happened long ago, and it is a dark chapter for the Royal House, so it isn't something people discuss openly. It's no surprise you haven't heard it."
Reinbach-sama began the story from the beginning. King Masaharu had not been born into royalty; he was an orphan, much like me. However, the kingdom had been desperate during a losing war. Masaharu’s overwhelming magical power had caught the King’s eye, and in the chaos, the crown falsely claimed he was a royal bastard to bind him as a military asset.
Making an orphan a prince was unheard of, and the King likely never intended for Masaharu to inherit the throne. However, through a series of tragedies—betrayals, deaths on the battlefield, and assassinations—every other true heir perished. When the King himself died shortly after the war ended, Masaharu was the only one left to wear the crown.
"I imagine there was significant opposition," I said.
"Naturally. Historical records suggest some even accused Masaharu of orchestrating the deaths. On the other hand, the common people saw him as a Hero who had saved the nation. The nobles decided it was easier to let him take the throne than to risk a popular uprising by deposing him."
"To put it bluntly, the nobles thought they could control him," Remily added. "Masaharu had immense power, but he was reportedly a coward at heart. Before he became King, he was a timid man who never dared to defy his superiors."
However, once he achieved absolute power, there was no one left for Masaharu to fear. His behavior became increasingly selfish. He hoarded treasures, monopolized magical knowledge, and enacted laws on a whim. Whenever anyone protested, he used his magic to silence them with a display of terrifying force.
"The nobles who intended to use him as a puppet found themselves with no choice but to obey," Reinbach-sama said. "They were facing a Hero who could single-handedly annihilate an entire army. But to return to the point... we do not want Elia to become like him. Disaster Magic is a threat, yes, but as her family, our greatest fear is that she might become isolated—a girl who cannot trust anyone and knows only how to rule through fear."
Reinbach-sama’s expression was more pained than I had ever seen it. I didn't fully understand the feelings of a grandfather, but I knew I could ease his burden.
"Please, rest easy," I said. "There is almost no possibility that Elia can use Disaster Magic."
"What?"
"Elia likely cannot use Disaster Magic. In the first place, it isn't a special category of magic that requires a specific bloodline. It’s no different from the ordinary magic you all use. Technically, anyone with the aptitude for magic could use it if they had the power."
"Disaster Magic... isn't special?" Reinbach-sama looked bewildered. "But the legends say it carved this entire canyon. The records describe feats far beyond human comprehension."
"That is simply a matter of mana scale. I've heard that among the Children of God throughout history, King Masaharu possessed an exceptionally massive amount of mana. If the legends are true, then even I can't hold a candle to him. I don't believe I can reach his level, and Elia, whose mana capacity is similar to mine, won't either. She simply has more potential than an average mage, that's all."
As I explained, avoiding any ambiguity, Reinbach-sama finally broke. He pressed the handkerchief to his eyes and bowed his head.
"Forgive me. I must... excuse myself for a moment."
"I shall accompany you, milord," Sebas-san said.
His voice was trembling. The two of them hurried back toward the tent we hadn't finished packing. A heavy silence hung over the rest of us until Sieber-san finally spoke.
"You have my gratitude. Even as a friend who witnessed the investigation, I feel a weight has been lifted from my soul. I can only imagine what Reinbach and Sebas are feeling."
"I’ve been looked after by them as well. It’s the least I could do," I replied.
"Even so, this is information we could never have found on our own. You could have stopped after revealing your identity, yet you shared the secrets of your Oracle and the nature of Disaster Magic."
"I didn't expect that much, either," Remily admitted. "The fact that you were a Child of God was more than enough."
"Perhaps," I said. "But knowing that the people who helped me were suffering because of information I happened to have... keeping quiet would have made me feel sick."
I would have lived with that regret forever. I might even have spiraled into self-reproach, blaming myself for being too self-absorbed to notice the pain of others. In my past life, when my mental health was in tatters, I definitely would have.
But I’ve changed. I’m more positive now, and I owe a lot of that to the kindness of the Jamil family. Repaying them in this small way was the right choice.
Sieber-san and Remily seemed to understand my reasoning.
"Well, it's a happy outcome for everyone," Remily said. "As long as you have no regrets, Ryoma-chan, then all is well."
"Indeed," Sieber agreed. "However, you must choose your confidants carefully from here on. If anything should happen, know that we are here to help."
"I pray it won't come to that, but thank you."
Later, when Reinbach-sama and Sebas-san returned from the tent, they offered their heartfelt thanks and swore their unwavering support.
I don't know what the future holds, but I have people who are willing to lend me their strength. As long as I cherish these bonds, I’m sure everything will be all right.