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Chapter 30 - Brother
“I should’ve killed him after all.”
I left Sirius to deal with Ace’s end.
It’s not that I felt sorry for him when I saw that he was about to die. The anger and resentment still smoldered in my heart. If Sirius had not called out to me at the time, I would have killed him.
But at that moment, Ace looked as small as if he was looking at himself in the mirror. As if. A small man throwing a tantrum. He was just a small vessel that tilted and overflowed.
“Maybe we were just like each other.”
But we would never speak to each other again.
Sirius would have killed him. There was something I wanted to ask him. The reason for my mother’s death. Whether or not there would be assassins from the palace. And many other things. But I didn’t think that guy would tell the truth so easily. He might just say something at the moment of death to mislead me.
I took a deep breath and cleared my mind.
I needed to think about the future.
“… Sareha”
I’m going to meet Sareha now. Will I be kind to him? He’s a half-brother I’ve never spoken to before, and he’s got Boesheit blood in his veins. Ace, Sareha, and I.
I walked through a narrow tunnel-like path. Torches illuminated the damp walls and indicated to me where to go.
After a few minutes of walking, I found Sareha there.
He was lying on the rocky ground, holding his knees.
“Are you okay?”
I ran over to him and lifted him up. He looked so different from how I remembered him. His light brown skin was characteristic of people living in the desert. His black hair was stretched out to cover one of his eyes.
“Ah, ni… -sama”
“Yes, don’t talk too much. Drink this potion. Drink it slowly. Don’t drink it all at once.”
“Y-yes…….”
I opened the potion and put it in his mouth. He tilted it slowly and drank it, gulping a little at a time. His complexion, which had been deathly pale, gradually regained its blood color.
“You’ve come…… after all. Nii-sama.”
“No…… I missed your call for help that night…….”
It wasn’t that I missed it, it was that I didn’t want to hear it. Sheila heard Sareha’s voice calling for help, but I didn’t want to hear it from the beginning.
“I’m still glad.”
“Ace is finished. As for the time being, I’m getting out of the dungeon.”
“Beastmens’-san village…… is destroyed because of me. I’m sure they’re all very angry.”
“Don’t worry about it. It was Ace’s fault.”
“But……”
I silenced Sareha’s grumbling and carried him on my back. I’ve carried many people on my back since I left the palace, but Sareha was the lightest. The hand on my chest was shaking a little. I wondered if he was feeling cold.
“Let’s go home, Sareha.”
“…… I’m going home. Does nii-sama have a place to go home to?
My territory was my home now. At first, there was nothing but grass, but now there was Gabriel the wolf. And the elves Thor and Sheila. There was also a golem, Golemus. It’s small, but there was a house, a field, and an alchemy workshop.
“G-golem!? Why is there a golem?”
“I’ve been through a lot…… I don’t know how many times I’ve died……”
I couldn’t even say that the skull Will that I picked up was still there. When I think about it calmly, it was insane to hang a skull on the wall. But because I’ve been with him for so long, I’ve become strangely attached to him, and I left him there without making an offering.
“I envy you. I’m……”
Sareha’s grip on my back became stronger.
“If you don’t want to go back to the palace, come with me.”
“Eh……?”
I said as I walked. I still had some thoughts about Sareha. But if my mother was still alive, she would probably say this. The mother I remembered was always kind.
And who would want to go back to that filthy palace? No, no one. If I get the power, I would evacuate everyone who didn’t relate to that place and then burn it.
“There are few people in my territory. It’s more fun if it’s a little more lively. If you don’t like it, I won’t force you.”
“I-I’m coming! Please, nii-sama!”
“Whoa! Stop shouting near my ear!”
My ears were ringing.
“I’m glad, I’m so glad. Nii-sama, please take care of me.”
“Ah, yes…….”
And there was one more thing I would like to ask..
Ace was probably already dead. If that was the case, we could expect an all-out confrontation with the royal palace forces. It would probably start on a small scale since it would be treated as a civil war if exposed to the public eye.
My brothers with rare skills would attack again. In order to protect the territory and the people, we needed strength. There were many who were stronger than Ace.
“Sareha, I have a …… favor to ask of you, if you don’t mind. You can say no if you don’t want to.”
“What can I do for you…… nii-sama?”
“There’s a dungeon in my territory. I want you to go down there with me. It’s a mysterious dungeon, and even if you die in it, you can come back to life. So we can get stronger there.”
“Death and resurrection…… How is that possible? …… Have you been in there yet, nii-sama?”
“I’ve been down there more than ten times. It is more painful than death. But it’s the only way we’re going to get the power we need.”
If Sareha agrees to do this, we would have to do an experiment. If I go in there with a beast for dinner or something, and one of us dies, would it be able to revive properly? If I was the only one who could come back, there was no point.
The only concern I have is the status initialization, but I think I can handle that. There may be some items to strengthen us as rewards.
“I’m going. No, I’ll go with you even if you say no.”
“Are you sure?”
“I want to protect everyone and atone for my sins. And I’m worried about nii-sama if you go…… alone.”
“Thank you.”
Yes, it is a sin for us to be alive. What the royals took from the world, when we give it back, we can be human for the first time.
“…… Nii-sama, you have an injury on your neck?”
“Is that so? I think I scratched it with a scythe. I don’t remember.”
“Wait a minute……. Hmm…….”
— I felt a warm touch on my neck. It was soft and slightly moist. Goosebumps rose up my spine. It was lips and tongue.
“Whoa, whoa! What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry. You were bleeding.”
“That’s no reason to lick it! Leave it alone! What are you, a vampire?”
I felt like my back was going to break. I’ve never had my blood sucked. I didn’t need it in the future either.
“Sigh, Huh……? Sareha …… you seem to be glowing?”
Sareha on my back was glowing faintly. I was surprised, so it was not magic. After a little while, the light naturally subsided and settled into Sareha’s body.
“Why did you’re glowing? Are you actually an angel?”
“I don’t know. My mother was a normal person. She couldn’t have been.”
“I don’t understand. Whatever, let’s go home quickly.”
With the torch in my hand, I headed back the way I came. I met up with Sirius on the way, but then I saw Ace there too, looking completely different.
We bowed slightly to each other without saying a word.
Words would be tactless.
◇◇◇
When we came out of the dungeon, everyone was waiting for us.
When they saw us safe, they crowded around us. The first to come to me was Gabriel. She wagged her tail and rubbed her head against my chest.
“Nii-sama, is this Gabriel?”
“Yeah, isn’t she cute?”
Sirius entered the gathering of the Silver Crow clan a step ahead of me and was talking to them with a serious look on his face about something. I couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“Henry.”
“Onii-san, thank you for your hard work.”
“Thor, Sheila…… Oh, I’m back. It’s all over.”
The two of them patted their chests.
Sheila’s healing potion was a big help this time. If it weren’t for the potion, it was doubtful I could have defeated the gryphon. And the number of dead villagers would have increased.
“Thanks to Sheila’s potion, we all survived. I could do what I do best.”
“…… Yes! Onii-san!”
Sheila smiled. It was a natural smile that seems to come from within.
“It’s like the two of you are the only ones who understand each other…… I’m telling you to stop……!”
Thor poked me in the chest with her finger. It didn’t hurt or itch, but it did put pressure on me. Sheila just laughed at us, but she didn’t stop.
“Thank you, Thor. I made it back.”
“N…… un. Welcome back. So…. who’s the kid on your back?”
The two girls looked at Sareha from both sides. Sareha buried his face in my back, either embarrassed or frightened.
“He is my half-brother Sareha, and he is going to live with us in the territory.”
“Um, my name is Sareha. Nice to meet you.”
Sareha bowed his head on my back to greet them. The two of them were curious.
“Heeeyyy, Henry!!  You’re back safe and sound!!”
“Here comes the noisy one.”
While Sirius was still talking, Fayne came running towards us, waving his hands. It was an important discussion, but did this guy know he was interrupting us?
“Ohhhhhhhh!”
When he stopped in front of me, Fayne went upright as if struck by a thunderbolt.
“How lovely…… like a flower in the wilderness. The wilderness is Henry, and you are the flower …….”
“Huh?”
Has Fayne gone rotten to the brain? He kneeled down in front of me and looked up at me reverently.
“Please be my wife. You with the beautiful back.”
It seems that he is confessing to Sareha. I think Fayne has his eyes on his crotch even though he is a man by all means.
“I’m sorry…… I’m a man……”
“What! That’s…… stupid……”
He collapsed forward in his kneeling position. It was creepy that he didn’t even twitch. I dropped some sand on his head, but he didn’t respond.
“Oh well. Let’s leave him alone. He’ll wake up when it’s time to eat.”
“Is that so, nii-sama ……? I pity him a little.”
“Don’t show him pity. Men are wolves. Let’s be careful. Can you walk? If so, we’re going to get everybody out of here.”
“No…… please let me stay here a little longer. I’m a little tired.”
“Okay.”
Nothing has been resolved yet.
But I feel that the stagnation in my heart has decreased a little.
◇◇◇
Sirius seems to have finished his talk with the villagers.
Next to me was Sirius. And surrounded by nearly a hundred villagers. Sirius stared at me with serious eyes.
“Henry, as the Silver Crow clan, I want an answer.”
“What is it? If it is compensation for the destruction of the village, it will have to wait a little longer. We currently don’t have the money.”
“It was Ace’s fault, it had nothing to do with you or Sareha.”
What is it, then? Will they pay for the healing potion? But Sirius and the others, who had lost their village, wouldn’t be able to.
“Ah… But first, one thing. Sirius and the others lost their village, right? It’s strange for me to say this, but if you want, you can come to my territory.”
“What……”
“It’s still an empty place, but if Sirius and the others can hunt down the beasts, we can survive for the time being. Then we’ll make some money by selling potions. I don’t have much house or anything, so you’ll have to forgive me if I have to sleep in a huddle.”
“We can make a simple lodging place out of the leather of the demons that live in the river. We’ve been thinking about that.”
“As expected of hunters. Hmm?”
A murmur spread among the villagers. The eyes that stared at me with admiration were dazzling.
“Henry, all of us saw how hard you fought during the defense. You hunted skeletons without a break and showed more strength than anyone else. We acknowledge that. There are many people around you that you have helped.”
“I see. Sirius, who was in charge, was more impressive though.”
“No…… I misjudged my opponent’s strength and failed to see his sneaky tricks. I am no longer qualified to be a clan leader.”
“You’re resigning as clan leader! Who’s going to lead them if you do!?”
There is no better clan leader than Sirius. It’s obvious to everyone.
“That’s why I want to entrust the Silver Crow clan to you. We may be a small clan of less than a hundred, but I want to offer my fangs and my pride to you.”
“I’m not that great of a person!”
“I know. But if you are the Lord, it is more interesting to be a little inexperienced. Besides, you said it. You said we could come to your territory. That means you could accept us.”
“Gununu …”
“And we haven’t paid for the potion. I’ll work for it and pay you back, my Lord.”
“Ugh……”
The villagers around me were cheering in unison. A new chief was born. The Prince of the Scythe. He threw me away. They were saying whatever they wanted, so my objections were not heard.
Originally, I had intended to have them come to my territory, but I didn’t want them under my control. I thought an ally would be the best choice.
“All right! But there are many secrets in my territory. Once you’re a citizen, I won’t let you guys go easily! Are you guys okay with that?”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The villagers cheered. They raised their spears, shouted loudly, and the air trembled with excitement. There was no turning back now.
In the midst of the loud noise, a hulking Beastman slithered to his feet. That was Fayne. Was he sleeping until now? How amazing.
“Oh, oh, what’s going on?　Hey, Henry, are we under attack?”
“It’s not Henry. Call him the Lord, Fayne.”
Fayne was rebuked by Sirius.
He was staring at me and Sirius alternately with anxiety. This was what happens when you didn’t listen.
I looked up at the sky.
The things I have to do, the things I have to carry, are increasing. But it doesn’t feel like a burden. From now on, I’ll have to dive into dungeons and die, acquire relic artifacts, work hard to manage my territory, and sometimes even take up arms against the royal palace.
But I’m glad I went out of there.
That much I can say with confidence.