Leon Greyrat: The Second Son - Mushoku Tensei OC

Chapter 50 - We Will Be Reunited: A Fallen Noble

— Leon Greyrat —

"Eris!"

The girl in question stood stock still as a pair of arms wrapped around her.

"Y-You're alive... you came back to us... I'm so glad..." Philip said, tightening his grasp as he began to tear up.

Eris turned her head to me, her confusion clear on her face as she tried to process her current situation.

Well, I had to say, I was quite surprised too.

While I always knew that underneath his cunning facade, Philip truly cared for Eris, I never expected him to be so... open about it.

It wasn't a bad change, though.

"Ahem! Sorry, I was just... I'm really glad you're okay, Eris," the man in question said, letting go of his daughter. "Ah, and you as well, Leon. Though I knew you could handle everything short of the Seven Great Powers."

...He didn't know just how right those words were.

Philip then sat back down behind his paper-covered desk as he gestured for us to sit on the couch before him, which the four of us did, though I needed to pull Eris down next to me as she was still frozen in shock.

"So... while I am curious about your story, especially after hearing that you got sent to the Demon Continent, I'm willing to answer your questions first," Philip said, leaning forward as he steepled his fingers. "Now... ask away."

With Eris still unresponsive, and Norn and Aisha not caring, I decided to speak up.

"First... I believe Ghislaine mentioned Lady Hilda being in her room, but where is Lord Sauros?" I asked.

I was a bit worried for the old man, as his unruliness had caused him problems even before the teleportation incident, which his opponents could now use as a weapon to finish him off.

"Ah, no need for the 'Lady' and 'Lord'," Philip said, surprising me. "And as for my father, he is currently out working on repairing one of the granaries."

Now that was an even bigger shock.

So much so that Eris snapped out of her daze.

That walking, punching, yelling ball of noble pride? Working as a construction worker?

That was just ridiculous.

"Umm... why?" I asked. "Why would a noble be doing such... peasant-like work?"

Philip's lips quirked up in a small grin. "What noble?"

...Huh?

"I'm just teasing you. But my words are not wrong either," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "I suppose to explain, I should introduce myself properly. I am Philip Greyrat, acting mayor of the new city of Roa and the chief of the Fittoan Restoration Project."

Contrary to what I had expected with my years working alongside the man, Philip didn't bow as he introduced himself, nor did he state the middle name that distinguished him as a possible heir.

"Philip... Greyrat..." I said, voicing out the lack of a certain name.

"Yes," he nodded. "You see... I am no longer a member of the Boreas family. Nor any noble family for that matter. This also goes for my wife, my father, and you as well, Eris. Essentially... we are now like your father, Paul. Disgraced nobles, having cast away our name and lineage."

...Wow.

"So you're a... commoner now?" I asked, slightly worried that my question would be considered insensitive.