CH 100

“He’s big …… I’m Helena. Nice to meet you♪.”

“I-I-I-I-I-I’m Luciela! Bigger is not always better!”

“Sis, I don’t understand, so ……”

Helena and Luciela, who were members of the guild club and had not met each other before, had now met each other, and Sarge was happy that he could grow bigger. Nearby, Verna-sensei and Tigre-sensei are looking at us, using a log as a chair. 

“So what’s the present?”

I asked, and Sarge lay down and brought his face to ours. I was hoping it would be smaller, but it seems it has to be this size.

“What? Me? …… So, what is it?”

When Tigre came close to his face, Sarge opened his mouth and said.

“Oh, really? …… Okay.”

“Sarge, doesn’t that hurt ……?”

Nora was worried about his unexpected remark, but Sarge answered Nora with a smile and narrowed his eyes. 

When Sarge said this, Luciel and Nora scowled.

“Hmm, then it won’t hurt too much, will it? Sometimes hair falls out naturally ……”

“D-Don’t strain yourself.”

“Yeah.”

Tigre-sensei used his sword with a brilliant hand to remove thirteen fangs and scales. It was still hard work, and Tigre-sensei was breathing heavily.

“Haa …… haa …… how about this ……!”

“Good work. Here’s your water.”

“Oh, thank you ……”

While Verna-sensei was praising us, we were holding our fangs and scales in our hands with our eyes shining. It’s like porcelain, but the fangs won’t break if you drop them, and the scales could be used as a shield.

As I stare at it, Ryuuze raises his fangs and starts shouting.

“Uuuoooooooooohhhhhhh …… Cooooool ……! I, Is it really okay!?”

“[Appraisal] …… Yeah, this thing …… seems too valuable for us to have. I can’t appraise it. It would be great if I could appraise it someday.”

Yogus also seems to have appraised it excitedly using his skills. If it’s impossible with Yogus, it’s probably impossible with me too. But if I use [Super jack-of-all-Trades] and do a lot of appraisals, I might be able to do it?

“I want to use this as a talisman. I wonder if it’s possible to process scales?”

“I think my father might know someone who can do that, so I’ll ask him next time!”

Oh, I’m sure Luciel’s company has contacts. I’d like to have them make me a weapon with this. And while I was thinking that, the older sister was sweating, clenching her fangs and muttering to herself. 

“…… I wonder if it’s okay, I didn’t do anything, though ……”

“Haha, It’s times like this that you get scared, Sister Luciela. Isn’t it okay since you get to be friends? Thank you, Sarge!”

“That would be a waste!?”

When Jack shouted with a half smile, Urka joined Kudelica and Makina in talking.

“I’ll take a dagger and an amulet, maybe? I’ve already defeated an emperor, so I’m sure I’ll be strong against evil spirits.”

“That’s just like you, Urka-kun. I think an axe and breastplate would be good for me. I’ll be an adventurer when I grow up, after all.”

“Kuderica’s equipment will be better than Mizuki-san’s, so that should be interesting!”

I’m sure Makina would be very strong if she made a gauntlet, and I’ll approach brother and Nora. 

“I don’t know what I should get. What about you, Dedite-kun?”

“A weapon for me too, I guess? When the teacher used a spear, I thought it looks good.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

“I get the impression that brother is going to be fighting from behind while ordering them, so it’s good that you can keep your distance.”

“Oh, Lars-kun. What do are you going to get, Lars-kun?”

A smiling Nora pulls my sleeve, and I put my hand on my chin and think.

“I think I’ll use a sword, but Sarge has a lot of magic power, so I thought a rod would be good. I’ll put some nice jewelry in its head.”

“Oh, you’re right. Lars-kun is a great wizard, so that would be great!”

“I don’t think he’s amazing. In my case, my efforts grew thanks to my [Jack-of-all-Trades], and I only messed up when I was small.”

“But you can fly and disappear, so you’re still awesome! Right?”

“Yes, Lars is amazing.”

Brother smiled at me, but I wondered if it was because I was being overly cautious that his smile looked so weak.

The girls play on Sarge’s back while thinking about what to do with the gift, and chat while eating Verna-sensei’s sweets.

The boys spent the rest of the day fighting each other and using their skills. Sarge became small again, and after giving the girls a ride home, we went home.

And that night–

“Dragon fangs and scales. …… How much would they cost?”

“Tigre said it was a bit much for a child to own. I’ll be careful not to show it to anyone from the outside.”

As I said this, Mom opened her mouth.

“You have a good point, Lars. You’re right, if it’s a bad adult, they might try to take it away from you, and it’s better not to show it except in front of trusted adults like the teachers. Dedite is the big brother, so you should be careful.”

“……”

“Brother?”

“Oh, what? Sorry, I wasn’t listening …… Er, thanks for the food.”

“Are you done? You’re usually quicker than Lars to ask for a refill, how unusual is that?”

He stood up quickly, and my father said to him.

“Shut up! I’m already full!”

“Oh, brother!”

He slammed his chair down and walked out of the diner in a rag …… This is the first time I’ve ever heard a brother speak like that. Ever since we went to Luitzar, he has been in a daze from time to time.

“Me too, thanks for the food!”

Before I could hear my mom and dad’s voices, I left the diner and followed my brother. I saw him running across the hallway and tried to call out to him, but he just walked out into the garden.

“What’s wrong with him ……!”

I quickly run out into the garden.

As I walked carefully through the dark garden, I saw my brother sitting on a chair that was meant for a tea party outside. He looks up at the sky and looks like he’s about to cry.

……Ah, I’ve seen this face before …… I thought of my past, and I approached my brother.

“…… Brother.”

“…… Lars.”

When I called out to him, he turned to me, laughing with a face that looked like it was about to cry. Just as I was about to speak, my brother opened his mouth first.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I’ll apologize to Dad and the others later, and Lars should go back to your room first.”

Then he turned away. But, I wasn’t going to back down. I walked around in front of my brother and asked him.

“What’s the matter, brother? You’ve been acting strange since the other day. It’s the first time you’ve ever asked me what I thought of Nora and sounded so angry. What’s going on?”

I reached out to take my brother’s hand, but he brushed it away. This is the first time my brother, who I’ve been close to since we were little, has acted this way, and I’m confused.

Then he opened his mouth in a whisper.

“……Lars is ……Lars is great. I know. I know that …… During the harvest festival, he fought alone to reclaim the lord’s position, and when we went to Luitzar, I was too busy pulling Tigre-sensei, and Lars grabbed the spear without regard for the danger …… So good, in fact, the idea of bringing Urka-kun, or the Emperor tried to take over your body ……”

“……”

I listen to my brother’s monologue in silence.

This is probably something I can’t tell anyone. Jealousy that I don’t want to hear. But it’s a contradictory thought that only I can tell you.

“…… I can’t do anything. I can study a little better than other kids, but to Lars …… I’m no match to my little brother …… That’s why, Dad and Mom say Lars is Lars is, and Nora …… likes you and wants you …… That’s what I think ……”

After saying that much, tears start to flow from my brother’s eyes. I heard that monologue and thought it was the same.

…… What is, you ask? Of course, with me in my previous life.

My brother says that he is “not as good as his little brother”, but perhaps not. I don’t think that’s the problem, but I think he feels that the more power and recognition I have as a person, the more my little brother will move away from me.

He’s stressed about being compared to him. In fact, no one is comparing them, but he’s sensitive to the word “Lars is” as their Dad and Mom said earlier.

“…… even if I’m great, brother is still brother. Why don’t you do what you can do?”

But there is one thing that is different from my previous life. My parents didn’t look down on my brother, they didn’t abandon him, and …… that I like my brother. Then brother stood up, grabbed me by the chest and shouted.

“That’s true! But you know what? Lars is getting compliments and invitations to the Capital from all kinds of people, and all I can do is watch with my fingers crossed! Even if I’m jealous of him, I can’t reach you …… Nora always says that Lars is important to her!”

Immediately after, I felt a pain in my cheek. For a moment I didn’t know what had happened, but apparently, I’d been punched.

“…… Ouch …… It was the first time I’d ever been hit …… Nora is brother’s girlfriend, and I’m rooting for you, okay? You have to be confident in yourself–“

“You don’t even know what other people feel ……!”

I tried to talk him out of it, but he kept hitting me. I was a bit annoyed and pushed him away.

“You have to tell me, or I won’t understand! If I had known that Nora was a girl, maybe I would have fallen in love with her, too. But you didn’t tell me!”

“It’s Lars’ fault for being so dull!”

“If you’re going to say something like that, don’t bother worrying about it, just grab Nora!”

When someone says I’m slow, I lose my temper and get into a scuffle. I’ve been working on my strength and arm strength, but my brother has the advantage of being older than me, so it was a good fight. Both of us are breathing hard, my nose is bleeding, and I’m thinking in my head that my mouth is cut. If I use auto-protection, the damage will be gone, but I won’t do that. It’s up to me, his little brother, to let him get out everything he has to say ……!

“Uwaaaaaaahhhh!”

“You!”

My brother and I were both hit in the jaw by a fist, and I felt lightheaded. My brother seems to be the same way, and we both fall at the garden at the same time.

“Haa…… haa……”

“Kuh …… Ow, ow, ow, ow …… brother, are you finished? I don’t know If you’ll listen if I said it, but …… I know exactly how you feel. You work hard and don’t get much recognition, you take it for granted …… and there’s no one that will say anything to acknowledge you.”

“…… Lars?”

“But, Mom and Dad, and of course I love you too. I’m not going to leave you behind. I have the power, but there must be something that only brother can do. You don’t have to be like other people …… You don’t have to be like me, it’s okay.”

“……”

“Besides, Nora is with you because she loves you, right? I think you’re misunderstanding something, so let’s ask her next time.”

“…… But, I ……”

But still, he tried to open his mouth with tears slowly welling up in his eyes.

“It’s okay, I’m the one who stands out now, but when you grow up, your charisma might come in handy. It’s not about ‘me’, it’s about ‘you’ doing what you want to do and what you like to do with confidence, that’s what I think ……”

“Lars ……”

While he was down, I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. 

“…… I won’t abandon you, and I’ll always help you if you need it. So if you have any concerns, please let me know.”

He then blinked his eyes and started laughing.

“You’re one to talk? Even though you made a ruckus to reclaim the lord’s position without consulting me? Pfft …… Ahahahaha!”

“……That’s enough of that. ……That’s something I’m going to have to deal with ……”

“…… Yeah, you’re right. I’m sure that Lars was also troubled by it …… and you think that you can do it because you have the power, but it’s not always a good thing …….”

The hand that had been grasping me was getting stronger.

“…… Lars is strong. That’s why I thought that it would be better for Nora to be with Lars, and that Lars would be the one who could protect her.”

“But you like Nora, don’t you?”

“…… Yeah.”

“That’s fine then. I’ve decided to support her.”

“Thank you, Lars. I’ll try to find something that suits me.”

I smiled at that and my brother smiled too. Then…

“There he is! There you are, Sir, Madam!”

I heard Nina’s noisy voice. As we sat up, Mom, Dad and Nina bent over in surprise.

“What? Did you have a fight? …… That’s unusual, you haven’t had a fight since you were little, though ……”

Mom said, and Dad’s mouth dropped as he noticed us holding hands.

“I don’t know what happened, and it’s probably hard to say, but by the look on your face, it looks like …… you’ve gotten over it, doesn’t it? It’s good to have a fight once in a while. I never had a brother, so I envy you guys.”

“Yeah! …… Mom and Dad, who do you like better, brother or me?”

“What? What are you saying all of a sudden. Of course, I like you both equally! Alright, I’m going to put some medicine on you guys, so let’s go back to the mansion …… Wait, Lars is getting heavy now, huh.”

I squirmed in Mom’s arms, but I was too tired to resist at all. I looked over and saw that my brother was also being carried in the arms of my father.

“I can walk by myself!”

“I’ve been so busy lately, I didn’t think I could take care of you. Let’s go shopping together next time we have a day off!”

“Oh, that’s nice. I might need some new clothes.”

“You have so much of it, though ……”

“That’s the way it is, right, Nina?”

“That’s how it is with girls, Dedite-sama. That’s what’s going to happen to Nora-chan too!”

“Ugeh, I want Nora to grow up staying the same ……”

We laughed at the brother who said that.

It may still be a long way from a solution, but I feel like we’re closer than ever. I’m not going to let my brother keep me from getting stronger, so I’m going to keep my head up. 

With these thoughts in my mind, I headed for the academy, covered in scars.

I arrived at the class and while my brother was there, I said to Nora.

“My brother is Nora’s boyfriend and fiance. So Nora better not hold hands with me or hug me or anything.”

“What! I care about both Dedite-kun and Lars-kun, though!”

“No, that makes me happy, but ……”

“Because you’re going to marry the person you care about, right? That’s why I’m going to marry Dedite-kun and Lars-kun when I grow up.”

At that moment, the class went silent.

Then, Makina and Helena walked over with difficult looks on their faces, put their hands on Nora’s shoulders, and opened their mouths.

“…… You know, Nora-chan. It’s not wrong to marry someone you care about, but…”

“You can’t marry Lars-kun if you marry Dedite-kun, you know ……?”

“What!?”

When they said that, Nora put her hand over her mouth and was surprised. Apparently, she didn’t know it ……

“You know, because Dedite-kun is a nobleman, he can marry Nora-chan, …… or for example, Luciela-chan, but a girl can only marry one boy.”

“W-What? R-Really ……? Even if it’s the person you care for ……?”

The two of them nodded their heads. Nora’s face turned red and she put her hand on her cheek.

“Ahhhhhh …… S-So that’s how it is? I, I thought that all the people I care for will get married!?”

“…… Well, it’s Nora-chan we’re talking about, so It can’t be helped, I guess ……?”

“W-We can fix that from now on ……”

When Luciel said that with a wry smile, Nora came over to us, clenched her fists and said.

“I’m sorry, Lars-kun! But, I’m going to marry Dedite-kun because he’s the one who’s going to be with me forever!

She declared, and we all puzzled for a moment. But then I burst into laughter and I tapped my brother on the shoulder.

“See, it’s brother’s misunderstanding! Nora is looking at you right now!”

“Y-Yeah, you’re right …… Thank you, Nora.”

“Good for you, brother.”

“Yeah …… Oh, but I’d rather not have Luciela ……”

“Why!?”

Luciela, who was with Luciel, was shouting.

I’m sure brother is feeling a little more at ease now, I think? 　

This is how my brother and I ended our rivalry and quarrel.　

Yes, so the matter is settled! I tried not to make it too long, but in commemoration of the 100th episode, it’s just under 7000 words ……

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“I’m running out of time ……”

Ahhhh, the objective is!?