51 - The Brave, Taking a Hot Spring with My Brother

A few days after I defeated the demon Alpher.

Holiday.

I went for a run with my brother today.

"The air is so clean in the mountains."

"Whew! ......!　Huh ......!　Geez ......!"

My brother Gaius is lying on the ground in a big heap.

"What's wrong?　Are you already exhausted?"

"You're right ...... per ......!　Do you ...... know how long I've been running!"

"Well, we started early in the morning and it's noon now, so about six hours?"

We are in the mountains of a neighboring country.

The trees are thick.

"I'm going to die ...... if I don't get out of here."

"Well, how can a person die from such light running?　You're exaggerating."

"Your brother should ...... be more aware ...... that he is not a human being. ......"

Somewhat.

My brother, who has recovered his strength, and I are walking in the mountains.

"Where are we going? It'll be dark if we don't go home now.

"You're sweating. I'm pretty sure there's a ...... somewhere around here."

We went deeper into the forest and arrived at an open area.

"Is this ...... [hot spring]?"

A bathtub about 5 meters long.

There are rocks on the edge.

The greenish water smells of sulfur.

"Why ...... so deep in the mountains?"

"What, I dug it?"

"I'll be d*mned!"

I take off my shirt and create a towel.

"What?　What the hell are you doing?　I can't believe you took your clothes off outside!"

"Well, you're supposed to take off your clothes when you take a bath. Isn't that common sense?"

"I don't want my brother to question my common sense!"

Soon after, we're in the bathtub.

"Why are you sitting so far away from me?"

"Shut up. I don't want anyone to see me naked."

"We're brothers, don't worry about it."

I'm gonna get close to my brother.

"f*ck!　Cover your front!　Get a towel!"

"Well, it's bad manners to put a towel in the bathtub, isn't it?"

"Why do you have to be so sensible only in these situations!"

I sit with my brother.

"You don't look funny naked. What are you hiding?"

"Shut up!　I'm embarrassed even between men!　Get a clue, you idiot."

Gaius has been working out lately, and although he is slender, he has really good muscles.

"............"

"Hmm?　What's wrong?"

"I was just thinking how long it's been since I've seen you. I took a bath with my brother like this."

That being said, this is the first time I've ever taken a bath with Gaius.

"I was five years old, I think. That was when we all went to the villa together. At that time ......"

In the memories Gaius recounts, [I] am not there.

The brother he knew is gone.

"So ...... where the hell is the real [Julius]?"

We get out of the tub and wash our hair.

"Speaking of which, Gaius, who decides who gets into the academy?　Is it the headmaster?"

No, the president of the school is just a person who has autonomy within the school, so it's not the same. I think it's probably [the Chancellor]."

"The chairman of the board of trustees ....... Did he help you get ......?"

One of the students at the academy was a demon tribe.

This is a school for noblemen. Their origins will be thoroughly investigated when they enter the academy.

But the fact that there were demons among the students makes it reasonable to assume that they were guided by the upperclassmen.

"...... I'll go see him sometime..."

I scoop up a tub of hot water and pour it over my head.

"Ow!"

"What's wrong?"

"I have ...... bubbles in my eyes ......."

Gaius tries to pick up the tub.

But he can't see it and overturns the pail.

"Don't move. I'm going to wash you out."

"Fine!　I can do it myself!"

"Don't be shy. Come on, let's get you washed up."

I scoop up some hot water and pour it over his head.

"Thanks for the help, bro. ...... pfft."

"What? What's wrong?"

"No, ...... says it's really the same as when I was five. You know, the last time we took a bath together, I got shampoo in my eye, and my brother ...... took it out of my eye."

Gaius happily talks about his memories of his older brother Julius.

For his brother, it must be a common memory.

But I .......

"Are you okay?　Brother, are you sure you didn't catch yourself in hot water?"

Gaius looks at me anxiously.

"Uh, no, ...... I'm fine."

"Really?　Are you sure you're not overexerting yourself?"

"Oh, I'm sorry to worry you."

"Nah!　Who the hell cares about that!　I've got to get out of here!"

He gets up and moves to where his clothes are.

I wipe myself off and ask him a question.

Gaius. Am I ...... your brother now?"

Gaius says with a doubtful look on his face.

"What are you talking about? Well, it's ...... unorthodox, unconventional, and infuriating, but ...... it's still ......."

Pfft ...... and his brother laughs.

"[My brother] is much more like my brother now than he was before."