「おい、無能!」
父親の執務室から自室へ歩いていると、あまり聞きたくない声に呼び止められてしまった。
嘆息するサムの視界の先には、木刀を持ったブロンドの髪の少年――マニオンが、ニタニタした笑みを浮かべて待ち構えていた。
マニオンはサムを見つけて近づいてくると、いやらしい顔をして唇を釣り上げた。
「父上から話は聞いたようだな」
「あ、うん。後継者おめでとう。がんばってね」
「――は?」
「え? だから、がんばってね」
せっかく応援してあげたのに、マニオンは唖然とした顔をした。
サムは理解できず、首を傾げると、感情が爆発したようにマニオンが叫ぶ。
「なんだっ、それは!」
「なにって、正式に後継者になったんだから、おめでとうって言ったんだけど」
「ふざけるな!」
「えー」
なぜか理不尽に怒鳴られてしまった。
今にも木刀を振り回しそうな弟を不思議そうに眺めていると、
(――あ)
彼の怒りの理由がようやくわかった。
(俺が悔しがるとか、泣いているとか思っていたのかな? それを見て小馬鹿にするためにわざわざ来たんだろうけど......はあ、つまんない子だなぁ。もっと他にすることないの?)
腹違いの弟の幼稚な行動に呆れてしまう。
いや、むしろ、九歳の子供がわざわざ兄が嘆く姿を見て馬鹿にしようと企んでいたことに驚きさえ覚える。
(陰湿なのは間違いないけど、大人顔負けなほど嫌味な子だなぁ)
しかし、残念ながら時間の無駄だった。
サムは、このラインバッハ家に愛着もなにも持っていないので、後継者になれなかったことを嘆くことなどしない。
むしろ、今後、自分が望むままに生きれることをワクワクしているくらいだ。
もしかしたら、マニオンに仕えろと父親から命令が来るかもしれないが、そんな命令に素直に従うつもりはない。
成人したらさっさとこの家を出ていくだけだ。
「......なんだ、こいつ? 本当にあのサミュエルか? ふんっ、まあいいさ、僕が次期当主だ。お前のような、メイド風情が産んだ下賤な血を引くお前ではなく、この僕が当主なんだ」
「そうだね」
「――っ、貴様! なんだその態度は! 使用人と領民から少しチヤホヤされているからって、調子に乗るなよ!」
「あのさ、結局、なんの用なの?」
日課の魔法の訓練をしたいのに、マニオンのせいでそれもままならない。
サムは内心、イライラしていた。
しかし、マニオンはそんなサムが気に入らなかったようだ。
「――っ、貴様! その舐めた態度をやめろ!」
唾を飛ばして激昂する弟に、サムは何度目かわからないため息を吐く。
どうやら弟の感情は、瞬間湯沸かし器のようだ。
「俺がいつ君に舐めた態度を取ったっていうの? 変な言いがかりつけるなら、そろそろ行ってもいい?」
「くっ、なんだ、貴様は! この間とはまるで別人じゃないか!」
「さあね。まあ、意地の悪い弟に木刀で殴打されて死にかけたら、そりゃ変化も起きるでしょう」
サムにとって、マニオンなどどうでもいい存在だ。
家族の情なんてあるはずもなく、向こうもそれは同じだろう。
強いていうのなら、あの日、サミュエル少年の意識と今のサムが入れ替わったとき、まだ九歳だったサミュエル少年は死んだと思っている。
なので、マニオンはサムにとって、仇であった。
そんな人間に愛想良くできないし、するつもりもない。
今までは突っかかってきても放置していたが、あまりにもしつこいようなら対応しなければならない。
別にマニオンの将来などどうでもいいが、このまま彼がわがままで傲慢に育ってしまうと、将来的に使用人のみんなや領民たちが苦労するのは目に見えている。
それはサムにとっても好ましくなかった。
「貴様っ、僕を馬鹿にするなと言っているだろう!」
自分の思い通りの展開にならないことに、マニオンの限界は簡単に訪れたようだ。
手にしていた木刀を、なんの躊躇いもなくサムに向けて振るう。
だが、サムは迫りくる木刀の切っ先を、片手で易々掴んでしまったのだった。
[Hey, incompetent!] 
As he was walking from his father's office to his room, he was stopped by a voice he didn't really want to hear.
Out of Sam's sight, a sighing, blond-haired boy with a wooden sword------Manion------was waiting for him with a smirk on his face.
When Manion spotted Sam and approached him, he made a disgusted face and fished his lips.
[I take it father has told you the story.] 
[Oh, yes. Congratulations on your succession. Good luck with that.] 
[------Ha?] 
[Mm? So, good luck.] 
Manion looked dumbfounded, even though Sam had taken the trouble to cheer him up.
Sam couldn't understand and tilted his head, and Manion shouted as if his emotions were exploding.
[What the hell is that!] 
[I said, congratulations, you're officially the successor.] 
[Don't be silly!] 
[Ehh--] 
For some reason, Sam was yelled at unreasonably.
He looked at his brother curiously, as if he was about to swing a wooden sword at any moment.
(------Ah)
Sam finally understood the reason for his anger.
(Did he think I was frustrated or crying or something? I guess he came all this way to make fun of me for it... Haha, you're such a boring kid. Don't you have anything better to do?)
Sam was taken aback by the childish behavior of his half-brother.
No, in fact, he is even surprised that a nine-year-old child would go to the trouble of watching his brother grieve and plan to make fun of him.
(No doubt he's insidious, but he's as sarcastic as an adult.)
But alas, it was a waste of time.
Sam has no attachment to the Reinbach family, so he doesn't lament the fact that he couldn't be the heir.
Rather, he is excited to be able to live his life as he wishes.
Maybe his father will order him to serve Manion, but he has no intention of obeying such an order honestly.
Sam going to leave this house as soon as he comes of age.
[...What the hell is this guy? Are you really Samuel? Hmph. Never mind. I'm the next head of the family, not you, with your lowly maid-born blood.] 
[Yes, you are.] 
[------You! What's with that attitude! Don't get carried away just because the servants and the people are treating you well!] 
[Hey, what do you want after all?] 
Sam wanted to do his daily magic training, but Manion was preventing him from doing so.
Inwardly, Sam was annoyed.
But Manion didn't seem to approve of Sam.
[------You! Don't you dare take that attitude! ]
Sam lets out a sigh for the umpteenth time as his brother spits and rages at him.
Apparently, his brother's emotions are like an instantaneous water heater.
[When have I ever been mean to you? If you're going to make crazy accusations, can I go now?] 
[What the hell is wrong with you! You're not the same person you were the other day!] 
[...Who knows? Well, when you're beaten nearly to death with a wooden sword by your nasty brother, you're bound to change.] 
To Sam, Manion was not important.
He didn't have any family feelings for him, and he is sure it was the same for the other side.
If anything, when his consciousness and Sam's now were switched that day, the nine-year-old Samuel was considered dead.
Therefore, Manion was an enemy to Sam.
He can't be friendly to someone like that, and he doesn't intend to.
So far, Sam had left him alone when he came at him, but if he was too persistent, Sam would have to deal with him. magic
He didn't really care about Manion's future, but if he grew up to be selfish and arrogant, it was obvious that all of his servants and the people of the estate would have a hard time in the future.
This was not good for Sam either.
[You, don't mock me!] 
Manion's limits seemed to be easily exceeded by the fact that things didn't turn out the way he wanted them to.
Without any hesitation, he swung the wooden sword in his hand at Sam.
However, Sam easily grabbed the tip of the approaching wooden sword with one hand.
The Reincarnated Wizard Who Will Eventually Become the Strongest
いずれ最強に至る転生魔法使い　〜異世界に転生したけど剣の才能がないから家を追い出されてしまいました。でも魔法の才能と素晴らしい師匠に出会えたので魔法使いの頂点を目指すことにします〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-wizard-who-will-eventually-become-the-strongest/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Slice of Life
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Child Protagonist Childcare Cute Children Death of Loved Ones Demon Lord Demons Depictions of Cruelty Dragons Fantasy World Female Master Kingdoms Magic Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Older Love Interests Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy Reincarnated in Another World Reincarnation Resurrection Royalty Student-Teacher Relationship Summoned Hero Sword And Magic Time Skip Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1154gq/
飯田栄静＠市村鉄之助