Chapter 61.5 Extra - A fleeting...... (2)

Chapter 61.5 Extra - A fleeting...... (2)

"Besides, we would first need to take care of your marriage ceremony. It's right after we return from this territorial inspection, right?"

Sensing that the tides were against me, I tried to change the subject.

My brother's wedding was scheduled to be held when summer ended and autumn arrived.

"Yeah, I guess."

My brother gave me an embarrassed smile.

"The territory is prosperous. And Simones formal entrance into our family. Our family has been through a lot, but finally..."

Inspired by his deeply moving words, I couldn't help but think of all the things that had happened.

The sudden death of father, who ruined his health while living in luxury. A quick trip back from studying abroad. Dropping out of school to join brother in quelling internal disputes. After that, he continued to use his skill in internal affairs and ploys to get things done. And then, just when I thought we could take a break, brother, for whatever reason, fell in love with a woman connected to the centralist faction. ......Never mind, lets not talk about that. It wasnt Simone's fault. It's the fault of brother, who was usually a serious person, but doing as he pleased at a critical time.

"Yeah, a lot has really happened. A lot."

"......Oi, Tullius. Are you trying to say something about me?"

"Hehe, it's just your imagination, just your imagination."

Yes, it's just his imagination. Its not like Tullius was revealing a crooked smile nor was there any hidden exhaustion on his face. If he indeed appeared like that, it must be because Tullius was thinking about that person, surely.

As the heartwarming conversation continued,

"Alright, alright, save your breaths for later. It's not too late to continue after we enter and rest in our room."

"......Okay."

"......Okay."

We both ended up being scolded by Simone.

We were so tight-knit, really.

It became nighttime.

"......Ugh, I've had too much to drink......"

I opened the window of my room to let in the cool air, and leaned against the frame, while relaxing my entire body.

A welcome party was held by the vassals who took care of the territory in the absence of their lord. I drank too much of the famous red wine of Volden.

I am weak to alcohol, but I was made to drink nonetheless. Regardless of which world it was, it appears that there are people who refuse to start a conversation without first having a drink. Why is this so? I wish the world was kinder to those who couldnt hold their liquor.Fôll0w current novÊls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m)

I couldn't resist the urge to sigh as he shared his woes with me.

"Hah...... I've told you many times that we should stop talking about it. First of all, I can't be the head of the family. I'm a person lacking in empathy. Do you think such a person would have the spirit to take on the royal court and the various lords and their vassals?"

"And what you would always say is brother is better suited for it, huh?"

My brother looked distantly at me as though he didnt accept such a reasoning, but that was in fact, what I had always thought.

I wouldnt be able to manage villages and cities while in the royal capital hundreds of kilometers away. The same goes for socialising with nobles from other families. There was no way I could endure half an hour, much less hours of a nobles rhetorics.

What was required of those who stood above others was neither the knowledge from my past life nor alchemy. The answer was more straightforward and simple. A sense of responsibility, patience, and a little bit of tolerance. That was all that was necessary, and I lack such qualities. That's why the current situation, with my brother standing at the top and me lending a little wisdom from below, was not the wrong decision.

Brother shook his head in a pained expression.

"Even so, because of my powerlessness, your dream..."

He was probably referring to the time when I had to drop out of the magic academy after father's sudden death. The study of alchemy and my quest for immortality. That's what I've been pursuing ever since I was born No, ever since I was reborn. He must be regretting that his brothers dream had to be disrupted midway because I had to lend him a hand.

But that doesn't matter now.

"I don't mind at all. That was something I knew was coming anyway."

My voice, shivering in the cool summer night air, was dry.

The realisation of immortality through alchemy. This ridiculous ambition of mine was like a mirage that gets further away the closer I get. Learning from the wisdom of my predecessors, and with my own unique take as a newcomer, I had tried different innovative approaches but still could not find any hints to get closer. Whether I was spending all my time experimenting in the basement or studying under a professor at the academy, I could only sigh at how far off to the end goal I was.

To put it bluntly, I was tired. I'm tired of being ridiculed and despised by people, and I'm tired of achieving eternity.

"No matter what happens, I don't want to die. I'm going to reach immortality Ive been preoccupied with such foolish thoughts."

Those who are alive would eventually die. That was the unchanging law of nature even if the world was different. I was not as arrogant as to stay confident that I could overturn it just because I was able to be reborn by chance.

No, not because I lacked arrogance, but because I lacked strength.

No matter how many times I tried to break through, the wall kept getting thicker and sturdier, and I was the one who broke first.

"Tullius......"

The voice of my brother was weak.

Please don't look so sad. I'm sure I've gone back to the orthodox track.

And that's all thanks to my brother.

......It's been twelve years now. My father told me to buy my first slave, and I used it as a test subject for my alchemy experiment. Of course, my father soon found out that I had done such a thing. Naturally, father became furious. In the face of my father's anger, which I could not tell if it was because he was angry or drunk, I used to reply with my impudent arguments.

You don't have to be so angry. According to the laws of this country, slaves are not people, but objects, right?