Well, to celebrate the 100,000 points, I'm updating twice today.
After all, I have to respond to the voices of the long-time fans, right? Haha
Mizuki, take responsibility and enjoy it! ('ω)
"Nice room you've got here. Just as I'd expect from a prince."
"Thank you. Now, let's get to the point. Why are you in such a state?"
While Feine started preparing tea, I asked the crucial question.
In response, Sieg looked down with a serious expression and then said,
"The incident began about half a year ago. I met a woman deep in a certain forest."
"I see. It's your fault."
"I haven't even started explaining yet!?"
"You don't need to explain! I can guess! You must have made a move on her!?"
"I haven't made a move yet! I was turned into this form before I could!"
Sieg pounded the table in frustration.
His sense of regret was palpable.
Just how much of a womanizer is this guy?
"Hmm... So, did that woman do this to you?"
"No, it was her sister..."
"Of course, if a bad guy approaches her sister, the sister would defend her, right?"
"That's not it! I was given a strange potion and turned into this form! I thought the same thing! But the sister said she thinks this form is cuter! That's why I ended up as this cute little bear!!"
Sieg started crying, but from the way he's calling himself cute, I suspect he kind of likes his current form.
Still, to turn a person into a bear just because they think it's cute... What kind of sister is this?
"So, which forest did you go to?"
"That's... a secret. I went there on a request."
As a high-ranking adventurer, he's pretty reliable in such matters.
Personal requests often come with a request for secrecy.
Having reached S-rank, he knows where to draw the line, even if he's a womanizer.
"Ah, Feine's tea! Here's to it!"
"Yeah! I can eat too. Only my appearance has changed."
"So you're not a stuffed animal."
"Just looks like one. Ow! Blow, blow."
When Sieg tried to drink the tea, he grimaced and quickly blew on it.
I tried it too, but it wasn't particularly hot. Maybe that's a bear thing. It might be more troublesome than I thought.
"Let's look for a way to change you back."
"Silver might know something."
Sieg stopped blowing on the tea and looked at me in surprise.
Well, I am Silver, but I can't say that.
"Sure. Silver has been helping me and my brother. I'll consult with him, but don't get your hopes up. Given that it's a potion, it might be outside his expertise."
"Still, I appreciate it! That masked adventurer might know something!"
"Alright, Sieg. Let's confirm. We'll protect you and contact Silver to see if we can change you back. In return, you'll help us. Is that okay?"
"Sure! No objections. So, take this collar off right away."
Sieg pointed to the collar around his neck.
But I had no intention of removing it.
"To make sure you don't do anything strange, you'll keep it on."
"That's not fair! Feine, help!"
Sieg tried to jump and hug Feine, but he fell straight down.
"That's why you need the collar to prevent such things."
I made the collar heavier.
This caused Sieg to hit the floor.
He managed to lift his head and glared at me, showing his teeth like a fierce predator.
"If you're going to do that, I'll do it too! Give me the key!!"
Sieg ran towards me and clung to my arm.
He looked more like a koala than a bear.
"...Huh? It's not heavy?"
"It's only heavy enough to stop you from moving. You can feel the weight, but it's not that heavy."
As I said this, I increased the weight.
It felt like a child hanging from my arm. Sieg started to slide down.
He tried to hold on, but his arms were trembling, so he was probably reaching his limit.
"Damn... Don't think you've won! I'll get the key back and avenge this, argh!!"
While saying this, Sieg's arm slipped from mine, and he hit the floor face-first.
He tried to get up, but I increased the weight even more.
"Sorry. Make it lighter."
But Sieg, as if he had been waiting, jumped at me.
Sieg, who had jumped from a higher position, hit the floor with a strange sound and stopped moving.
He stayed like that for a while.
"When you need help, call out. Until then, behave."
After this exchange, I moved on to organizing documents, and Sieg tried to crawl back to his chair.
When he tried to peek under Feine's skirt, I tripled the weight, and he screamed in pain. As a punishment, I left it like that.
Even as a bear, Sieg is an S-rank adventurer and a formidable force, but he's also a troublesome guy.
As long as I use him right, it should be fine.
While thinking this, I drank the tea Feine had made.
"Hey, kid. I was called because I have work, right?"
"Yeah, that's why I gave you a job."
"Ku-chan! This bear can talk!"
"Amazing texture... feels so good."
"Is this my job, babysitting!!"
Sieg made a slightly scary bear face to protest.
But seeing him being played with by Ritta and Krista, he didn't look scary at all.
Ritta and Krista had come to play, so I assigned Sieg to be their playmate.
Sieg isn't interested in just any woman; children are definitely out of bounds. So, when Ritta and Krista touched him, he just looked bored. He didn't get angry, so he probably doesn't hate children.
"Hey, girls. I'm human, you know?"
"Ooh! Ritta wants to be a bear too!"
While being pulled and petted, Sieg desperately tried to get through to them, but they showed no signs of listening.
They're kids. A talking bear that looks cute and feels good to touch—of course they'd want to touch it.
"I'll finish work soon. Can you keep him company until then?"
"Work... aren't you called the 'useless prince'? They say you're incompetent and lazy. Hey! Don't pull my ears at the same time! Let go!!"
"The rumors aren't wrong. But lately, I've had a lot to do. I can't afford to be lazy anymore."
"It's not that you can't do it, it's that you don't. What a life, really."
"Being a prince means you don't have to do anything. Since I was born into a good family, I'll take full advantage of it. Sure, I will."
While saying this, I processed the various pieces of information Sebastian brought me.
Most of it wasn't significant, but sometimes such information can be useful.
From now on, the struggle for power will be from the shadows, alongside the search for Rebecca. Information is key.
I can't slack off on this.
"To work so hard to make your brother emperor, you're a good brother. Hey! Stop with the eyes! The eyes!"
"I'm not working that hard. I'm just putting in a moderate effort. If the others win, I might be executed."
"Why don't you just run away? You have plenty of options."
"I would if it was just me."
I looked at Krista and Ritta.
If I were to run, I'd have to take these kids with me. My influence is growing, and so are the things I need to protect.
Running away is no longer a realistic option.
"I see... You're a softie."
"I don't hate you. Just remember, if you give me a job, I'll do it my way. No complaints, got it?"
I tried to look cool, but Ritta and Krista were pulling my ears, making my face stretch in a ridiculous way.
"Alright, I'll leave it to you. I'll take responsibility, so do as you please. If you get results, I won't complain."
"Sure. I'll do as I please. Hey! Stop with the ears! At least go for the hands or feet!"
"However, don't cause any problems with women."
"With this form, it's tough. But at my level, a few women might fall for me, but it won't be my fault."
Sieg, with his hands pulled and floating in the air, said this.
Of course, no one would fall for Sieg in his current form.
"Don't worry, I'm not concerned about that. Alright, I'm done. Krista, Ritta, what do you want to play?"
"Ritta wants to play tag! Sieg will be it!"
"Fine! I'll end it in a second! Hey!? Making me heavy is cheating!!"
"Playing with kids, show some restraint."
"Or you're running too, aren't you!? That's cheap!!"
With Sieg stuck to the floor due to the weight, I ran away with Krista and Ritta.