Around the time Kaito departed for the Royal Castle, a man and a woman were holding their heads in their hands in a room back at the mansion.
They were Kaito’s mother, Akari, and his father, Kazuya. On the table before the chairs where they sat, a large bag had been placed.
"…Say, Mother? How much did he say was in here again?"
"He said it was about 200,000R in total…"
"1R is… roughly equivalent to a hundred yen, right?"
"That’s right."
"…"
"…"
The bag before them was filled with the money Kaito had handed over, telling them to "use it for shopping or whatever." Since Platinum Coins could only be used at the most high-end establishments, the bag contained a mix of various coins—but the total amounted to 200,000R. In Japanese currency, that was approximately 20 million yen.
"…What do you think?"
"Our Kaito… he’s simply become too incredible."
"…You can say that again."
Responding to Kazuya’s words, Akari spoke with a sense that her beloved son had somehow become a distant, unreachable existence.
"Frankly, I feel like staying like this is wrong. Living in a house our son built, receiving a massive allowance from him… Honestly, if this continues, the guilt I feel as a father will be too much to bear."
"I know. I’m also restless; I want to do something useful."
"Could you help with the housework? You know, assisting that Illness-san?"
"…I can't. That woman… that lady is the God of Housekeeping. If I tried to help, I’d only get in her way. I’d just end up making more work for her."
The problem troubling the two of them was their current situation. To put it simply, by Akari and Kazuya’s standards, the current Kaito was a multi-millionaire of staggering proportions.
Truthfully, even if they never worked another day in their lives, Kaito wouldn't mind. He would happily let them live in the mansion and provide whatever funds they needed.
However, for the still-young Akari and Kazuya, being entirely dependent on their son felt shameful. Despite their resolve, no good ideas came to mind. Seeking a change of pace, the two left their room together to head out into the garden.
As they walked down the wide corridor, they saw a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction.
"Oh? Akari-dono, Kazuya-dono… You both look quite troubled. Did something happen?"
"…Anima-chan."
"…Actually…"
The person who had approached them was Anima, the Attendant Captain and the woman who effectively managed the entire mansion. Akari and Kazuya had already been introduced to her, and their impression was that of a "highly trusted and capable confidant" of their son.
Since Anima treated them with utmost courtesy as Kaito’s parents, they found her easy to talk to. They decided to consult her about the concerns they had been weighing.
After listening to their story, Anima placed a hand to her chin, her expression thoughtful.
"…I see. I understand the situation. However, fulfilling your wishes would be difficult at this time."
"Ugh, I figured as much."
Since they hadn't been able to come up with any good ideas themselves, Anima’s response was precisely what they had expected. Akari’s shoulders slumped.
"If it were merely a matter of finding work, there would be any number of ways to manage it. However, neither of you has fully acclimated to this world yet. I believe a certain amount of time is necessary to grow accustomed to the differences in social common sense. Master himself mentioned that it took him quite a while to adjust… Under the current circumstances, going out to work would likely result in an excessive amount of unnecessary stress."
"…"
"As for working within the mansion, that was one of the suggestions, but… so long as Illness-dono is here, I’m afraid it would be unavoidable that you would end up as a burden, just as you feared."
"…Yeah."
Anima explained the situation logically, leaving them no room for rebuttal. The couple nodded, their shoulders drooping in unison.
Seeing them like that, Anima gave a troubled, wry smile before continuing.
"…That said, I do understand how you feel. While I cannot think of a solution myself, Master might be able to suggest a way forward. I will consult with him on your behalf."
"A-Anima-chan… thank you!"
"No, please, don’t mention it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must be going."
"Are you headed out?"
When Akari thanked her for offering to talk to Kaito, Anima smiled gently and turned toward the entrance. She paused to answer Kazuya’s question.
"Yes. There are several merchant guilds and shops within the Royal Capital requesting financing, so I am going on an inspection tour to determine their eligibility. I intend to return by the time Master arrives back from the castle, so I will bring up your situation then. Farewell."
Akari watched Anima’s departing figure as she walked away with a polite bow, murmuring to herself.
"…Wow. Anima-chan is so cool. She really has that 'capable professional woman' vibe. And to think, she’s younger than me."
"Indeed. I can see why Kaito relies on her so much."
While his parents were having that conversation, Kaito was inside a carriage bound for the Royal Castle. As was his habit, he spoke to Alice, who he knew was likely nearby.
"…Hey, Alice."
"What’s up?"
"I’ve decided to live in this world permanently, so… I was thinking, maybe I should get a job or something?"
By sheer coincidence, his thoughts were almost identical to the concerns his parents had brought to Anima.
Hearing this, Alice materialized beside him, wearing a smile so gentle she looked like a Holy Mother.
"Alice-chan is entirely on Kaito-san’s side, and I fully intend to support and affirm your wishes to the best of my ability. However, if I were to give my honest opinion on the matter…"
"If you were to give it?"
"…It would cause 'unprecedented global chaos,' the 'world economy would likely collapse,' there is a 'possibility of a horrendous death toll,' and I would be so busy that 'Alice-chan would be headed straight for a death from overwork'… so, seriously, stop with these idiot thoughts."
"………………Eh?"
Serious-senpai: "…Hey, get to the party already… Well, putting that aside, wait—was Anima always such an intellectual character?"
???: "Actually, over the past twenty months, Anima-san is the one who has grown the most. By the way, she’s currently a rising star being watched by the entire financial world."
Serious-senpai: "…Wait, really? Isn't that a bit too much growth?"
???: "…Let me reveal the secret. While Kaito-san was away, a certain someone—who happened to have her nights free because she was waiting for him, who has trained countless superhumans including world-class elites, and who absolutely loves cultivating talented children—had far too much time on her hands… and well, there you have it."
Serious-senpai: "…Okay, I think I get the gist of it."