Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Impressive Big Brother
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Nihil was snickering to himself as he watched Lianus rave on about how incredible his older brother was. The way he chattered away was just too cute.
Nihil didn't forget to lightly tap the wall once each time Lianus hesitated over one of his own little white lies, signaling that it was all fine. With every tap, Lianus's not-quite-lies grew more elaborate, but Nihil just grinned happily, like he didn't mind a bit.
Sir Evan, who had been watching it all, felt a vague unease, as if Nihil were turning His Highness into a little fibber. He opened his mouth with a grumpy huff.
"Don't indulge him like that. If His Highness picks up bad habits, are you going to take responsibility?"
"What bad habits? Kids always exaggerate a little. He's a prince—he ought to know how to boast a bit."
"What's exaggerated about it? You're practically writing a novel! Where's this big, strong, agile hunter of a brother supposed to be?"
"You're a knight yourself. Aren't you big, strong, agile, and good at hunting?"
"......"
Sir Evan was at a loss for words. Sure, the "older brother" His Highness was talking about was that little wildcat right in front of them, but if anyone was splitting hairs, couldn't he fill that role?
'Not a bad idea.'
The older brother of our cute, adorable baby kitten? What greater honor could there be!
Sir Evan pictured Lianus tagging along, calling him "big brother," and let out a goofy grin.
"So simple."
"......"
Damn that wildcat.
Sir Evan realized he'd been teased again and shot Nihil a glare, his face serious. Nihil, clearly enjoying himself, smirked and spoke up.
"Well, I just need to make it look convincing enough."
Sir Evan narrowed his eyes at that, but then tilted his head, wondering if maybe it wasn't such a stretch.
Come to think of it, the wildcat had carried His Highness effortlessly and walked for quite a while. For a kid, he had impressive strength and stamina. Evan hadn't seen the boy in action, but he seemed nimble enough... and probably good at hunting too.
"Looks like I've squeezed all the info out of him. Time to go pick him up."
As Sir Evan mulled it over, Nihil muttered that and picked up a suitably sized stone, tossing it up and catching it a few times.
"What are you planning?"
"......"
Sir Evan eyed Nihil fiddling with the stone, half-worried he might smash a window, but Nihil ignored the question. He stared into space, concentrating on something, then glanced up at the sky before speaking indifferently.
"Can't make my little brother a liar."
With that, he flung the stone into the air.
A dull thwack echoed the moment it left his hand, followed shortly by a soft thud as something dropped.
"......"
Sir Evan stared dumbly at the fallen rock pigeon.
'...Hunting with a rock?'
Sure, you could hunt with rocks. But usually, people used tools. A slingshot, or even primitive bolas.
The wildcat rolled his shoulders, as if they were stiff, then jerked his chin.
"Fetch it, pup."
"......"
Wildcat, you little...
Nihil approached one of the guards standing watch in front of the guard post, holding the rock pigeon's wings in one hand. He'd sent Sir Evan off on another errand.
The guards looked a bit flustered to see a small boy, who couldn't have looked more than seven or eight, trudging over with his hood pulled low and a dead pigeon in hand.
Nihil went straight to the guard Lianus had spoken to earlier and opened his mouth.
"I'm looking for my little brother. Has he been around here?"
"Ah, so you're that kid's big brother."
The guard nodded, taking in Nihil's similar height and hooded figure. It had to be the right one.
He couldn't see the hair color clearly, but given the circumstances, he was convinced. Offering to guide him, the guard led the way inside.
The other guards glanced curiously at Nihil clutching the pigeon carcass as he passed, but Nihil ignored them and just trailed after his guide.
"Your brother's probably inside playing with the other kids. But... that pigeon..."
"Dinner."
"...Dinner?"
"Yeah."
Nihil stared blankly at the guard eyeing the bird awkwardly, then at the pigeon in his own hand, before thrusting it out abruptly.
"Hold it for me."
"H-Huh?"
"The other kids might get scared."
"R-Right, sure."
"It's our dinner, so don't lose it."
"G-Got it."
The guard took the pigeon in a daze, asked another to take over guiding, and headed back with the bird.
The new guide felt a bit awkward but dutifully did his job.
"Here we are. I'll call your brother for you. What's his name?"
"Ner."
"...Right."
The guard felt an odd vibe from Nihil's curt, blunt responses, but it wasn't unpleasant. Just a quirky kid, he thought, as he carefully opened the break room door.
All the kids' eyes in the room snapped to the guard.
The space, once filled with simple cots and sparse furniture, was now packed with grubby children.
The sudden hush made the guard a little uneasy, but he cleared his throat a few times and called out.
"Who's Ner? Your big brother's here..."
The words "Ner's big brother" had every kid peeking past the guard despite pretending otherwise. They were all curious.
"Ner, your big brother's here to get you!"
"Yeah!"
When Kane stepped up to relay it, Lianus beamed and jumped to his feet. Nihil peeked his head around the door, hood still deep over his face.
The other kids, seeing Nihil, were stunned—he looked nothing like the impressive big brother they'd imagined—but Lianus, oblivious to their reactions, charged straight in and threw himself at Nihil.
"Big bro!"
"Wh—hem! Uh..."
The guard startled at Lianus's sudden rush and moved to intervene, but seeing Nihil catch him effortlessly, he awkwardly withdrew his hand.
Nihil chuckled lowly and patted the clinging Lianus. The child's warm little body felt wonderful. Before long, the cat leaped up onto Nihil's shoulder too.
"Ner, came to get you."
"Yeah!"
As Lianus and Nihil savored their reunion, Kane cautiously spoke up.
"Ner, uh... is this really your big brother?"
"Yeah! He's my big brother!"
Lianus rubbed his face against Nihil, proclaiming it proudly no matter how the others stared. Nihil, figuring it was time to give the pup his errand, turned to the dazed guard.
"Guard bro."
"Y-Yeah? What?"
"Can I hang out a bit?"
"Uh, sure, go ahead."
It wasn't a request to babysit, just to play, so the guard was a little thrown but happily stepped aside since he wasn't about to stop kids from having fun.
Lianus felt a flicker of curiosity about Nihil's actions but shrugged it off, figuring he had his reasons.
The break room door closed again, and Kane approached cautiously.
"H-Hi. I'm Kane."
"Nil."
Nihil replied curtly, still holding Lianus.
Kane blinked, puzzled by the short response, then realized it was a name and his eyes widened slightly.
"Oh, Nil's your name."
"Yeah."
"Ah, haha, hahaha..."
Kane laughed awkwardly, struck by how grown-up and gruff Nihil was compared to the bright, bubbly Ner.
Despite the awkward air, oblivious Lianus rummaged in Nihil's bag from the safety of his arms and pulled out a packet of cookies.
"Kane, have some."
"H-Huh? What's this?"
"Cookies. Not many, but share 'em with everyone."
"Th-Thanks."
Kane wanted to ask where such a luxury snack came from but suspected the answer would be "Big brother got them," so he just accepted.
It came from "Ner's big brother," so he glanced nervously, worried about repercussions, but "Ner's big brother" didn't care, just kept patting Ner's back.
'Not heavy?'
Kane stared at "Ner's big brother," who was two heads shorter than him, feeling strangely unsettled. He might be a big brother to Ner, but to Kane, he was just a kid. Yet there was this heavy aura that made him untouchable.
Catching the rushing kid so easily, holding him without strain—it did seem like Ner was right about the strength.
"So where's this big, strong, agile hunter big brother you kept bragging about?"
The freckled boy who'd argued with Lianus earlier sauntered over, cocky. Nihil's small, shabby appearance made him look like easy prey.
"I figured since the little squirt bragged so much, it had to be someone impressive, but..."
"......"
"Looks like big bro here's just another loser runt."
The boy sneered down at Nihil and flicked his forehead with a finger.
Fuming, Lianus swatted the hand away and yelled.
"My big brother's not a loser!"
"Shh, good boy, Ner. No need to get mad."
Nihil chuckled lightly at Lianus's outburst and patted his back to soothe him.
But Lianus, frustrated that Nihil wasn't snapping back, reached into the hood and pinched his cheek.
"But it makes me mad! Why aren't you mad, Nil?"
"Ner, do you think I'm a loser too?"
"No way! Nil, my big bro—he's amazing!"
"There, that's all that matters. My worth isn't decided by trash like him. Dealing with every little thing like that just wears you out."
"Yeah!"
Lianus calmed down instantly, as if his anger had never been.
The stark shift left the other kids staring in bewilderment, but oblivious Lianus didn't pick up on the mood.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Ignored, the boy grabbed Nihil's shoulder and spun him around.
"You ignoring me right now?"
Lianus and Meow showed signs of bristling at the rough handling, but Nihil soothed them both and addressed the freckled boy.
"I've got a kid in my arms. What if he gets hurt?"
"You're a kid too—what's with the crap? Quit acting like some grown-up!"
"Okay."
"......"
"What?"
An awkward silence blanketed the break room. The boy hadn't expected that response and flushed with embarrassment.
As Nihil kept brushing him off, Meow got fed up and patted Nihil's head, gesturing for him to deal with it. Anticipating possible violence, Nihil set Lianus down and handed him the cat.
"Guard him well, Meow."