I Was Reincarnated As The Older Brother Of A Villainess Destined to Die, So I Want To Change The Future By Raising My Younger Sister With My Own Hands. I Am The Strongest In The World, But My Little Sister Must Be The Cutest In The World - Volume 3 Chapter 6.11
After the incident at the royal palace was resolved, Foranada entered a period of tranquility. The peaceful atmosphere was further enhanced by the arrival of spring. Even I, Orca, felt a sense of relief and enjoyed a more relaxed state of mind. With the completion of the Foranada Enhancement Project, there was a decrease in the workload, which contributed to the overall sense of calm.
However, suddenly and unexpectedly, that serene atmosphere was shattered.
“Aaaaarrrggghhhh!!!”
The loud voice reverberated throughout the castle, causing everyone in the room, including myself, to jump in surprise. The volume was so intense that some people even became disoriented.
While making sure that my colleagues who worked with me were unharmed, I established a telepathic connection using a magical device. Naturally, I connected with my older brother, Zex.
“Zex, did you hear that loud noise just now?”
“Yes, I did.”
“There was a man who arrived at the castle gate and shouted at the top of his lungs. The gatekeeper suffered some ear injuries but is not in critical condition. The rest of the staff is unharmed. The castle guards are handling the situation.”
“At the castle gate… Such a loud voice, isn’t it?”
Upon hearing Zex’s report, I couldn’t help but be astonished. Foranada Castle, as the residence of nobles, is quite spacious. If the voice from the gate could reach this far, it must have been as loud as an explosion caused by fire magic. It seemed to surpass the range of what a human voice could normally reach. Fortunately, the gatekeeper escaped any serious harm, which I considered quite lucky.
“So, who was the culprit?” I asked.
That explosion-like noise was almost tantamount to an attack. Even with some luck, it wouldn’t be surprising if they ended up as a slave.
It was a rare occurrence for someone to be arrested for shouting at the top of their lungs. I was merely curious about the person’s name, but the situation took an unexpected turn.
“Well, that is…” Zex responded with an unusually hesitant tone.
I tilted my head in confusion and waited for a few seconds. Finally, in a subdued voice, he declared the answer.
“It’s Gad Zaush’s Byakudai. He claims to be your brother.”
“What!?”
This time, my frantic voice echoed throughout the room.
I immediately headed to the castle gate.
After being apprehended by the guards, the person claiming to be Gad-nii was taken to a waiting room near the gate. I needed to confirm as soon as possible if it was really Gad-nii!
Normally, one wouldn’t think that someone who pulled such a foolish stunt could be their brother. But I believed it was possible with him.
Gad-nii is the second son of the Byakudai family. He’s the younger brother of Kaiser-nii and my older brother. Unlike me and Kaiser-nii, he’s more of a warrior type – or rather, I hate to say it, but he’s incredibly simple-minded. He casually makes statements like “Muscles are power,” and his lack of intellect is quite pitiable.
Thanks to attending the academy during the civil war, he wasn’t caught up in it. Kaiser-nii instructed him to continue his school life until graduation, so Gad-nii followed those orders. That’s why we hadn’t seen each other until today…
“Come to think of it, he graduated last year.”
Last year was so busy that I completely forgot about Gad-nii’s existence. I think Kaiser-nii, who works as a bureaucrat, is probably the same. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
Calling out my second brother’s name, I rushed into the waiting room.
“Haa, haa… Gad-nii!”
“Orca! My beloved little brother!”
“Hey, don’t just move around freely! And… you’re surprisingly strong?!”
There was no mistaking it. Gad-nii was in the room. He recognized me and tried to come running towards me.
Of course, as the culprit, he wouldn’t be allowed such freedom. He was being restrained by two knights standing beside him. If those knights hadn’t been taught “Body Enhancement” by Zex-nii, they probably would have been brushed aside.
As mentioned before, Gad-nii is a full-on warrior. Unlike me and Kaiser-nii, who have slender builds, he’s a muscular, well-built man. It’s frustrating how no matter how much I train, I can’t seem to gain any muscles. I can’t help but feel a little envious.
…But now is not the time for idle thoughts. Gad-nii seems to be forcefully trying to break free, as he has been shouting angrily since earlier. I hope he doesn’t escalate the situation any further or add to his crimes. Please, have mercy.
Suppressing my complaints, I approach Gad-nii and the others. The knights were concerned for my safety, but I apologize; this person is my family.
With an overwhelming sense of apology, I call out to Gad-nii.
“It’s been a while, Gad-nii.”
“Oh, it’s been ages, Orca! I want to celebrate this heartwarming reunion with an embrace, but I can’t seem to shake these guys off. These knights here are exceptional to make me, of all people, struggle!”
Gad-nii continues to resist with laughter, showing no sign of remorse.
Letting out a sigh, I point out the situation.
“It seems like you don’t understand the situation, but Gad-nii, you’re a criminal.”
“What?! What do you mean?”
He exclaims, completely caught off guard. It was a bit of a shock, even though the volume of his voice was less intense than when he caused a disturbance at the castle gate.
Wow, has he become even more of a musclehead than before I attended the academy?
I’m taken aback, but I can’t let myself be swallowed up by this. I need to explain it to him.
“You injured a knight affiliated with Foranada and caused chaos within the castle. That makes you a proper criminal.”
“I just greeted them!”
“That greeting was a weapon…”
He’s completely oblivious. It’s surprising.
As I contemplate how to find a resolution in this headache-inducing situation, Zex-nii finally appears.
“It looks like he really is your older brother.”
“Yeah. Well, better late than never.”
“I was reviewing the extent of the damages in various areas.”
“Sorry about my idiotic brother.”
“There wasn’t much significant damage, so no need to apologize.”
As I bow my head, Zex-nii smiles and forgives me. It’s a stark contrast to some other idiotic brother.
After a brief conversation with me, Zex-nii turns his attention to Gad-nii.
“Nice to meet you, Lord Gad. I am Zex Levit San Foranada, the ruler of this earldom and Orca’s brother-in-law.”
“I-I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Lord Earl Foranada. I am Gad Zauschus Byakudai. I apologize for the improper introduction in this state.”
“W-Who!?”
Wait, wait, did Gad-nii just use polite language!? Is he going to swing a spear tomorrow or something?
In the midst of the unexpected situation, Gad-nii narrows his eyes.
“I can use polite language too, you know. It’s a necessary skill in school.”
Oh, so he does have the capacity to learn and grow. What a groundbreaking discovery.
“Mmm… I feel like you’re thinking something very rude.”
Considering his usual attitude and the current situation, I think it’s understandable.
“Now, let’s get back to the topic.”
Zex-nii speaks up.
“Even though he’s Orca’s brother, there has been actual harm caused, some form of punishment is necessary.”
“…”
Both Gad-nii and I couldn’t say anything. As former nobles, we understood the danger of being too lenient in such situations. There was no room for us to interject with Zex-nii’s decision. We had to hold our breath and wait for the judgment.
Then, Zex-nii smiled warmly.
“Lord Gad is said to be one of the top ten performers at the academy.”
“Y-Yes. I’m not good at magic, but I have talent in swordsmanship.”
“However, I received a report that you turned down the path of the Royal Knights. Is this true?”
“You’re correct.”
“What!? Is it true!?”
I learned about Gad-nii’s achievements for the first time. I knew he was aiming to become a knight, but I had no idea he was talented enough to aim for the Royal Knights.
Or rather, is my actual brother in his right mind, rejecting that elite path?
Receiving my incredulous gaze, Gad-nii turned away with a sulky expression.
“They call me an idiot, right? But I’m fine with it. It’s my own fault for working in the capital while Kaisel-nii and Orca are in Foranada.”
“Gad-nii…”
It seems that Gad-nii gave up on the path of the Royal Knights because he wanted to stay by our side.
Should I be happy that he’s liked so much, or should I be sad that his bright future has been closed off?
As I grapple with these conflicting emotions, Zex-nii, still wearing a smile, announces:
“Well then, I’ll hire you in Foranada.”
“What!?”
Both Gad-nii and I let out bewildered voices at this unexpected statement.
Seeing our reactions, Zex-nii bursts into laughter.
“You both have such similar surprised expressions. It’s clear that you’re brothers,” Zex-nii remarks.
“Um, wait a minute. Wasn’t the discussion about punishing Gad-nii?” I interject.
Why has the topic of punishment shifted to a job offer?
Nonchalantly, Zex-nii responds, “It’s a punishment. Gad-nii will work without pay for the next year. We’ll provide the bare minimum for his basic needs, but that’s it. He’ll be almost entirely focused on work. It serves as both a punishment and a way to secure excellent talent. It’s killing two birds with one stone, isn’t it?”
With that, he concludes that having his brothers by his side is a benefit.
After listening to Zex-nii’s explanation, Gad-nii’s face is filled with overwhelming emotion.
“Thank you for understanding my feelings! I, Gad, will serve with utmost dedication!”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you.”
“That’s great, Gad-nii,” I say, congratulating him on the seemingly heartwarming turn of events.
Well, he’s happy, and his request has been granted, so I suppose it’s fine.
However, I know. I know about the Earth Spirits who worked tirelessly without breaks for a year.
Gad-nii, who has been declared to be almost entirely focused on work, his fate… only Zex-nii knows.