Home Sweet Home
Thud—
Laward bowed at more than a ninety-degree angle, then straightened back up.
"In that case, I'll take my leave first. If I increase the intensity of the training regimen you gave me any further, Eunsanim, I'll need to treasure every single minute and second."
"…Right. I'll be looking forward to it."
I had no desire to keep talking to Laward when his eyes had already spun off the rails, so I left at once.
I had to hurry if I was going to catch the train bound for Hasgard County.
"I-I'm so sorry! Rebecca se— my roommate kept packing things for me, so I ended up a little late…!"
Some time later, I boarded the train with Ester, who had finished packing her travel bag.
A rabbit doll, crammed in by force, had only its head sticking out and looked for all the world like it was being tortured.
The train ride was as dull as expected.
"I've never been in a private cabin before…."
The only thing that made for a somewhat refreshing spectacle was Ester, wandering around the car like an excited child.
—More time passed.
Back in Hasgard after so long.
I gave Ester an empty room and reunited with my family.
Father, in particular, was overjoyed to see me.
He said he had something important to discuss, so I should rest well today and see him tomorrow.
Well, of course it would be about the Subjugation Festival.
"Young master, the bath has been prepared."
That was Steward Paris.
I enjoyed the welcome bath the servants had drawn and flopped onto the bed.
Ahh.
Clean body melting into soft blankets brought back the lazy days of the past.
How nice it had been, just lying in my room doing nothing.
Home sweet home.
"I've decided we'll participate in this year's Subjugation Festival."
Breakfast.
The head of House Hasgard—my father—opened the topic.
Here it comes.
"There hasn't been a Subjugation Festival for the last three years, so this one will be quite large."
At those words, the three brothers—including me—stopped with utensils in hand.
"What do you three intend to do?"
When Father looked around at us, we answered in birth order as if we had rehearsed it.
First, Diar Hasgard.
"Of course I must participate. I will support you to the best of my ability, Father."
Second, Romons Hasgard.
"I've been waiting for the Subjugation Festival and nothing else! At last I have the chance to show the skills I've honed for years."
"Oho, is that so. Admirable, all of you. Then Daywin, what about you?"
And third, Daywin Hasgard.
"I…."
"Ah, Daywin. I would like you to join as well, but… there is no need to force yourself. I will not press you."
Father?
I hadn't said a word yet.
"You've been pushing yourself lately as well. You've only just returned from your journey, so you must still be unsettled."
That was true.
The youngest son, Daywin Hasgard, occupied the position of the precious one, despite his trained body.
"And your body still isn't fully recovered."
Before I possessed him, Daywin had apparently been so ill he looked ready to die at any moment.
Of course, there were no symptoms or aftereffects now.
The strange part was that no one still knew what the illness had been or how it had been cured.
So of course they always fretted over me, Daywin Hasgard.
"I…."
"Father, Daywin is still too young and inexperienced to take the field."
The eldest cut in before I could finish.
"I agree, Hyungnim. I would love for our youngest to grow into a reliable man quickly, but… it would be better to wait for the next one."
The second chimed in.
Both of them had openly blocked my words.
Their intent was obvious.
My brothers were blatantly trying to keep me from the Subjugation Festival—
Wink.
Both older brothers blinked at the same time and winked.
Their expressions said, I did good, right?
Not blatant obstruction at all.
They had simply stepped forward to cover for me, fully expecting I would refuse.
It was a little embarrassing to say this late, but I was loved.
Not only my parents—my two brothers poured out more than enough affection as well.
When I first arrived in this world, and when I realized I was the third son of a noble house, I had been anxious.
I had imagined the usual game or novel setup—blood brothers plotting assassinations or snatching power from each other.
It had all been fantasy.
The three Hasgard brothers got along well.
Especially the affection the two older ones showed me was considerable.
The reason I had been able to loaf around in my previous life was because my family understood whatever I did.
The precious youngest.
A flower raised in a greenhouse.
"Oho, is that so? Daywin, what do you think?"
Father set down his fork and looked into my eyes.
"My thought is…."
I swallowed hard and decided to state my ambition.
My brothers had cheered me on, so I ought to answer them.
The moment I slowly opened my mouth—
"Father, I believe it would be more than enough for Daywin to simply observe this Subjugation Festival and take his formal debut next time."
"Observing—truly an excellent idea. Hyungnim, then I will take responsibility for ensuring our youngest can safely follow me. Youngest, don't worry about a thing. This brother will protect you."
You bastards.
Let me talk too.
"Oho, is that so?"
And why does Father keep saying the same thing….
"Daywin, your thoughts…."
"The Subjugation Festival! I will participate!"
I finally managed to say it properly.
My voice cracked a little in the middle, but that wasn't the important part.
Father and my brothers.
The three men all turned their heads at once and stared at me.
Disbelief painted their faces.
"Yes, Father. I said I would participate."
"A-admirable. Daywin…."
Father was moved enough that his eyes grew red at my decision.
Just how much of a washout had Daywin been before I possessed him?
"A fine resolution. Daywin, this observation will be a valuable experience for you. This eldest brother will work hard so that I may serve as your example. Mm, good. I feel my fighting spirit rising."
"Hyungnim is right a hundred times over, youngest. I too have long wished to become a brother you can look up to. Just trust me and follow! It has been my dearest wish that you would grow your dreams while watching this broad back of mine!"
Ah….
I wish both of them would just shut up.
At some point I hadn't been able to touch my plate.
The urge to leave the table right this second rose sharply.
Even so.
Even so, I still had to say what needed saying.
"It is not an observation."
"Hm?"
Father, eldest brother, second brother.
The three Hasgards asked in perfect unison, stacking their voices like a chord.
"I mean that I will personally command troops and subjugate the monsters."
If this had been a comic, my speech bubble would have gotten emphasis effects right about now.
Bold font, size cranked up for full impact.
"W-what did you say? My son, is that true?"
"Daywin, you've already grown this much…!"
"Youngest. Come hug this brother."
"N-no thank you."
"Just once. Let me hug you."
I fled, but Second Brother's thick hand ruffled my hair mercilessly.
"Father! Please stop him!"
"Romons! Mind your dignity! Hahahaha! I said mind your dignity! Ohohoho!"
Father roared with laughter as he mediated the breakfast table.
Even after being away so long, it was the same old Hasgard.
Big Hasgard, Diar.
Middle Hasgard, Romons.
The two brothers believed that little Hasgard Daywin's first Subjugation Festival would end in failure.
There was no need to doubt it—it would fail for certain.
They had been the same their first times.
They had voiced support for Daywin at the breakfast table, but their true feelings were different.
Both assumed Daywin would accomplish nothing and collapse.
"Hyungnim, look at this. I'm going to secretly put these in the youngest's pack. He won't notice a thing. Kehehe…."
In the end Second Brother Romons even meddled with Daywin's backpack.
"No, that's… little brother, even so…."
"Yes, you saw correctly. Top-grade recovery potions obtainable only in the capital. Potions that can revive even ruined organs. Keh, heh-heh…."
The second brother grinned villainously as he stuffed the potions deep into the pack.
"Little brother, how on earth did you obtain those…?"
"Nothing special, Hyungnim. The moment I heard the youngest would join the Subjugation Festival, I unleashed the funds and people I'd been sitting on. Reliable people, so the quality is guaranteed."
Potion bottles filled with red liquid crowded in one after another.
"With these, even if great danger befalls the youngest, we need not worry. With these, he couldn't die even if he wanted to. Kukukuk…."
He gazed proudly at the swirling liquid.
"I can't even imagine how grateful the youngest will be when he discovers these later. Kuk… Hyungnim, forgive me, but I suspect I will become the brother the youngest respects most."
"As expected of my little brother. But Romons, that alone will not be enough."
"Not enough?"
Second Brother's face twisted as if his pride had been scratched.
"Mere stamina recovery potions—I could bring as many as I like. No, they may already fall within Daywin's expectations. The boy is sharp, after all."
"Hyungnim… are you saying my scheme will be found out?"
"You should have taken a little more care. You're rather… sloppy."
This time First Brother Diar began to chuckle.
"I've made a few adjustments to Daywin's troop composition. That's all you need to know."
"Hyungnim… just what did you…!"
"Nothing much, Romons. I merely mixed in a few retired royal knights… is all I'll say."
"Former royal knights!"
"They're a bit older now, but the royal knights were geniuses drawn from every corner of the nation. The wrinkles may have deepened, but those wrinkles are filled with just as much rich experience."
The eldest stared fixedly at the red potion the second still held.
A recovery potion the color of wine.
"If one were to compare it to liquor, it would be the finest wine aged for thirty years."
"Hoho… as expected, I can never match Hyungnim's wisdom…."
"Hahaha, you're no slouch yourself!"
The Hasgard night grew deep.
Of course, it was the same old Hasgard.
"What the…."
While packing my bag I found potions I had never seen before.
The color was unusual enough for "Second Brother," but the bottles themselves glowed.
Father?
Or Mother?
Or maybe….
No need to think—definitely the brothers.
"Useless meddling…."
Just how little did they think of me?
I used to be the captain of the Holy Knights, you know.
I ate meals with the Pope and went to saunas with the Sword Saint.
At this point I felt like showing them something.
I was walking with renewed resolve when I heard murmuring voices.
Troops had been gathering at the Hasgard manor in preparation for the Subjugation Festival.
Those were the soldiers' voices.
I too had been granted a portion of the forces by Father—
"Oh, Third Young Master! Good day to you!"
…Why are there faces I don't know?
When I last met them it had been nothing but young men.
Yet men who looked well on in years, who even carried an air of seasoned authority, were greeting me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
What is this now…?
Meanwhile Second Brother's soldiers jogged past, tossing comments as they went.
"Hahaha, Third Young Master! Those gentlemen will definitely be better than the Academy students you brought along!"
"That's right. Youth may be best in general, but for a Subjugation Festival, old men beat kids any day!"
Somehow they had picked up on Ester's existence and tossed a few remarks about her too.
They talk well while running.
Good stamina.
"Young Master, don't overdo it—just stick close to their backs! Or shall I come along and protect you?"
It didn't stop there; they even mixed in words that treated me like a child.
If the upper waters are clear, the lower waters stay clear—I could guess why the soldiers following my brothers were like this.
I'm starting to get annoyed….
The thought that I would have to go all-out rose once more….
The night before the Subjugation Festival.
Daywin could not sleep.
Thinking of the incident that would destroy the family soon approaching, he felt, rather unsightly, a little tense.
In the forest of Hasgard County, under the pretense of a stroll, he tested his power in a place where no one was around.
A short while later.
When Daywin raised his head and looked around, the forest that had been dense with trees and undergrowth had become as barren as a desert.
Except for the spot where he stood, every blade of grass and tree around him had been swept away in an instant.
Ancient trees decades old snapped like matchsticks.
The ground inverted; the lake boiled and evaporated.
It looked as if an invisible giant had seized the entire forest and crushed it.
Scorched earth as though a meteor had fallen.
Trees, rocks, even the lake.
Everything was erased and the very terrain altered.
Daywin had altered it.
Not quite what it used to be.
Standing in pure-white armor, Daywin clenched and unclenched his fist.
"…Still, about half of it has returned."
The armor forged of holy power quietly faded away.