Reincarnated User Manual

The succession ceremony at the lake had ended.

As the children departed and the demons left, silence enveloped the place.

Staring at the now-empty lake, Berta exhaled. Her red lips held a crumpled cigarette.

Originally, she would have taken a fresh one from her sturdy cigarette case. However, her disciple, the mischievous little boy, had claimed that smoking disrupted his training and had thrown her cigarettes into the trash.

The crumpled cigarette in Berta’s mouth was one of the intact items she had salvaged from the trash.

“Khek.”

She pinched her nose, irritated by the cold breeze blowing in from the lake as if it was insisting that winter hadn’t ended yet.

But no matter how strong the wind was, it couldn’t quell her urge to smoke. Berta disregarded the weather and conjured a flame.

Flurr.

The growing fire transferred from her fingertips to the crumpled cigarette.

“Hu… sigh… Huh…”

Berta savored the scent filling her lungs. Suddenly, memories of when she first started smoking crossed her mind.

She had begun smoking at the age of fifteen. As a noblewoman, Berta’s parents imposed many restrictions on her. Fed up with her parents’ rules, she roamed the courtyard garden. During one of her strolls, a servant girl she was close to had handed her a single cigarette. At first, the acrid smoke had been unbearable, but as she endured it, it started to taste sweet. Wasn’t there a saying about finding pleasure in hardship?

Even if it was for these memories, Berta couldn’t quit smoking. Now, cigarettes were her only companions and lovers.

‘How can I ever quit this pleasure…’

With a pout, Berta inhaled the smoke deeply.

On lonely or sad days like today, the cigarette smoke comforted her. She should quit for the sake of her disciple, who was with her… but…

“Hu.”

Berta exhaled smoke towards the icy lake with a cigarette between her lips.

And then, the howling wind turned the smoke back towards Berta.

“Shhh…”

Was it the pungent smoke? Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Are you enjoying your cigarette, Lady Inspector?”

“…Knight Johan.”

Berta turned her head to the voice she heard. There was Johan, his wrinkles deepened by a smile. She thought she was alone, but there were still people around… Berta took out a cigarette from her pocket and offered it to Johan with a smile.

“Would you like one?”

“No need. I was just worried about you, standing here all alone and gazing at the lake. What if a demon comes out?”

“A demon… You mean?”

“That’s right. Since this place is adjacent to the Demon Realm, it’s possible.”

Johan held up the black lump in his hand. The thing, now transformed into a sword, had an unrecognizable form, but it still pulsed as if it were alive.

“Just now, this thing tried to attack you. Don’t let your guard down near the Demon Realm.”

“…I have the skills to protect myself.”

“Oh, my. I guess I shouldn’t have meddled unnecessarily.”

Saying so, Johan threw the black lump into the lake. The lump bounced off the ice a few times and then sank as if being sucked in. Johan widened his eyes as if he had witnessed something incredible.

“Haha, it’s truly amazing. It looked like ice, but it wasn’t ice at all. Today, I’ve seen something remarkable.”

“Yes. I had an unforgettable experience today.”

However, even with Johan’s gentle words, Berta only gave brief answers. She seemed uninterested in the knight’s actions.

Johan looked at Berta sympathetically and clicked his tongue.

“Well, well, you’re still a young noblewoman who hasn’t lived her life fully.”

Johan spoke while patting his hand, and the black fragments fell from his hand.

“Really? That’s how I appear to you?”

“Of course.”

Berta said weakly, and Johan responded cheerfully.

“At times like this, I think it’s the duty of elders to listen to the troubles of the young ones. How about talking to this old knight once? I often play the role of a counselor in our order.”

Johan smiled as he stroked his scruffy beard. Berta stared at the old knight, then sighed deeply.

“These days… I just feel so wretched.”

“Why do you think that? Can you tell me the reason?”

Johan raised an eyebrow at the unexpected topic.

“At such a young age, you’ve risen to quite a respectable position. You surely have a bright future ahead of you.”

“Sir Johan…”

Berta spoke with a slight nod.

“When you serve alongside people like Sir Hugo, don’t you find yourself unintentionally making comparisons?”

“You… are you harboring dangerous thoughts?”

Johan furrowed his brow as he spoke. He swept his disheveled hair back with his hand. He sighed with a hint of bitterness.

“I hope not, but judging by your reaction, it seems I might be on the mark.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

While Berta denied Johan’s words, he shrugged with an easygoing expression.

“Why deny it so vehemently? Just by seeing that I was brought along with you and the Commander, it seems like we’ve encountered a similar situation. Having seen countless young people, I can say it confidently. You’re jealous of the Prient. But there’s more to it.”

Johan looked at Berta with a raised eyebrow.

“Aren’t you overestimating yourself a bit too much?”

“Hmm?”

Overestimating?

Berta’s eyes widened at Johan’s blunt statement.

“What on earth are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“It’s not out of nowhere. It seems like you’re saying things that make you look pathetic as if you’re becoming the leading lady of a tragedy, not realizing your own place. You’re comparing yourself to the great Prient as if you’re on the same level.”

Berta stared at Johan with wide eyes. What in the world was this inspirational man saying? He offered to be a counselor, yet he was scratching beneath the surface of her skin.

“Sir Johan.”

Berta conjured magic and incinerated the cigarette she had in her mouth.

“Would you care to have a match against me?”

“You just said it, didn’t you? When you see Sir Hugo, don’t you find yourself comparing yourself to him? After witnessing the magnificent miracle shown by Young Sir Shiron today, it seems I should educate this good-for-nothing who feels nothing.”

“Draw your sword. Sir Johan.”

The way she addressed the elderly knight had changed from “sir” to “sir Johan.”

“Exactly. I’ll only help you to the extent that you can walk on your own.”

Berta unsheathed her non-magical sword.

---

“Shiron, wake up. We’ve arrived.”

“Mm…”

Seems like he fell asleep. Shiron yawned, rubbed his mouth with a bandage, and stretched while looking out the window. They had arrived at Dawn Castle’s courtyard without him realizing.

Shiron lowered his head at the weight he felt below.

There was Siriel, using Shiron’s thigh as a pillow, sleeping there.

“Hey, Siriel, get up. I can’t do anything with my hands like this.”

Shiron showed his hands, which were tightly bound with bandages, to Lucia.

“Sigh…”

Lucia sighed at Shiron’s cheeky attitude but did as he asked. The boy’s forehead was damp with cold sweat, and there was nothing for her to say.

Lucia carefully picked up Siriel, and Shiron exited the carriage.

“The seat’s uncomfortable. My butt’s all numb from sitting like this.”

“Master Shiron!”

As they entered the mansion, a lively voice echoed from inside.

In front of Shiron was Encia, wearing a maid’s uniform instead of a dress. It was unclear when she had arrived and changed her clothes. She quickly hugged Shiron, and her round cheeks started squishing as she inspected him.

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

Shiron was getting disgusted by Encia’s affectionate approach and tried to break free from her embrace. He struggled and flailed his arms, but the strength gap was too wide for it to be effective.

“Ah, don’t be embarrassed!”

After finishing her cheek-pinching session that lasted a while, Encia lifted Shiron up towards the sky and smiled widely.

“Young Master, I was deeply moved today!”

“…Yeah, I guess I did pretty well, huh? I couldn’t even speak earlier because I was so moved, you know?”

“Ahaha.”

After smiling brightly, Encia gently put Shiron down.

“At that time, there were too many people watching, you see. How can I make such expressions in front of everyone? And for the Young Master’s honor, I held back a bit.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Come on. Put on a better expression. I’ve prepared a bath for Young Master. I’ve also made plenty of lemonade, and tonight, we’re going to have a celebration.”

“A celebration?”

“Yes! I heard it from the head maid. She said Young Master has gained the power of prophecy at today’s succession ceremony!”

“…Yuma said that?”

“Yes! Your achievement at today’s succession ceremony! It finally convinced me. The next lord must be Young Master! To gain the power of prophecy at such a young age…!”

Encia spun around with an ecstatic expression. Shiron narrowed his eyes and exhaled sharply while watching Encia.

“What nonsense. I’m not going to be the lord.”

“…What?”

Encia froze in shock at Shiron’s startling declaration.