Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: My Brothers Aren't Villains!
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“Praying for Aiel's luck and then fighting against it with human strength? What kind of stunt is that? I'm not two people.”
“It's a battle against yourself. Even you must have moments like that sometimes, brother.”
Mayches spat it out curtly over Bamper's refreshing laugh.
“Just think of it as teaming up with Aiel. One turn for the two of you.”
Daluh nodded slowly, ah.
Then he took the paper from me, still dazedly handing over the prayer slip.
He crumpled it up like an empty soda can and tossed it onto the table.
“Aiel, let's give it our all.”
“I'll pray hard too......”
“No. You're blessed with prayer luck by nature. Don't strain yourself.”
“Pardon?”
It felt like the first religious-sounding words I'd heard from Daluh since meeting him.
If anything, it was more like the type of street Taoist who approaches saying, 'You have a good face and aura.'
Anyway, the game began.
Trying to compete against a genius mage's spells, a genius swordsman's physical prowess, and a genius spirit user's spirit arts with this sham prayer felt a bit unscrupulous, but I had no other choice.
Daluh told me not to bother, but I clasped my hands, trembling them desperately, praying to the gods of this world for the first time that I wouldn't go bankrupt first, and pressed the dice button.
“R-rolling the dice!”
...But what was this?
All the goldmine properties were mine, and upgrading to three-story buildings happened in a flash.
I scooped up every welfare fund someone had offered, and while others wasted three turns on a deserted island, I alone lapped the board twice.
Chance overseas trip, move with the lucky key, go to start and collect money from the bank, and so on......
In the end, with everyone else bankrupt except me, the game ended in the 'Aiel Mega-Rich Ending,' and Calipan and Yan looked utterly scammed.
“Didn't Brother Mayches help you? Brother, even for your sister, did you have to win this dirty?”
“I didn't do anything.”
“Daluh, what about you? What did you do?!”
“Some things can't be helped. Accept it humbly.”
“...As expected, the White Flame is something else. I lost!”
Only Bamper, who had resisted our rampage to the very end, accepted the result with a bright smile.
I'd felt it during the game, but he really was an incredibly positive guy. To say that so cheerfully even to a prayer scammer like me......
Anyway, my luck-exploding Buruma ended in that bizarre fashion.
The kids, who looked less like villains and more like game party members risen from hell, immediately started picking the next game. They were like maniacs......
Exhausted, I turned my head to the opposite side.
And unexpectedly locked eyes with someone.
Surprisingly, it was Jayhan, who had been sitting next to us the whole time without saying a word.
“Ah... hello.”
Jayhan stared at me blankly for a moment with an emotionless face. He belatedly muttered a low hello.
I'd wondered why he had such low presence in the novel despite this face—turns out it was because he barely spoke......
Up close, he had an undeniable presence even if he did nothing, but in a novel described only in text, it made sense he'd get buried.
Seeing me awkwardly lift the corner of my mouth, Mayches cut in.
“Jayhan's always like that. He prefers spectating over playing. Does it bother you?”
It bothered me for a different reason. He already looked slothful enough to be accused of sloth!
I answered with another awkward smile instead. But Jayhan tilted his head slightly and asked.
The perfect angle made even the light seem to tilt with it—an illusion.
“Why does it bother you.”
“No, it doesn't...... Just relax......”
Mayches glanced back and forth at us on the verge of awkwardness overload, then suddenly rummaged in his inner pocket.
“Want to try this? Aiel.”
Two sheets of paper and a ring sandwiched between fell out of Mayches' pocket. The ring also had a paper attached via a loop.
Mayches handed me one familiar-looking paper—torn notebook practice sheet or something.
Bewildered, I unfolded it.
There, in what was clearly Daluh's handwriting, it read:
Possesses the world's best shell and luck, plus intuition when needed. Keeping him nearby should smooth out even stubborn problems. I wrote this on my own, so Jayhan might refuse.
I looked up at Jayhan in a daze.
Th-this was Jayhan's gift......? Then, could it be......?
No way, I denied it, and blankly unfolded the other papers from Mayches' inner pocket.
But I can only use it after I become emperor. Sorry about that!
Press the gem hard and I'll come. Call me in danger and I'll fight with you. But please don't use between 7 and 8 PM—bath time, brother.
But you're on your own for their personalities.
“......”
It felt like all the blood drained from my body.
Mayches, why are you carrying around these dangerous substances next to your heart......?
Separately from Bamper's personal gift, the Orelot Imperial Family sent the Imperial Orchestra to celebrate Count Rudelriz's birthday.
Mayches couldn't refuse the imperial goodwill entirely, so he reluctantly agreed to let them in only during dinner.
The instruments Aiel had spotted in the parlor while touring were theirs.
After playing until Aiel's soul was barely hanging on, Mayches and his friends finally folded up the games at the news of the orchestra's arrival.
As Calipan put the games back in the display case, the orchestra members entered the parlor.
“Ah, I'm beat.”
Yan said, rubbing his shoulders.
The orchestra members tried not to show their curiosity, but their sparkling eyes gave them away.
They watched intently from the corners of their vision, pretending to look straight ahead, as the boys stretched one by one.
'What happened? Why are they so tired?'
'They're all so handsome....... And who was the one Daluh just draped his robe over? ...Ah, must be Lord Jayhan!'
'To enter this mansion—it's like a dream. I really made the right choice joining the Imperial Orchestra.'
The orchestra members pressed down their swelling hearts, vowing to give the performance of their lives today.
And the conductor at their forefront approached Mayches straight away, just as he'd simulated dozens of times before the parlor doors opened.
He greeted him with the utmost courtesy and respect.
“It's an honor to meet you, my lord Count!”
Until a few years ago, the conductor had been wandering on the brink of death.
Ignorant of real estate, he'd bought land poorly and built a house on a spot saturated with magic, contracting severe magic beast addiction.
But like many in Ilenaias, the conductor had been saved by Panraia, the masterpiece of Count Mayches Rudelriz.
Thus, he truly respected and thanked the Count from the bottom of his heart.
However, after finishing his proud greeting and straightening up, the conductor flinched and shuddered for a moment.
'I've heard he draws lines well, but he's even colder than I thought......'
Count Rudelriz was staring at him with icy eyes.
The Count gazed at the conductor like that for a moment, then glanced back.
There sat a young girl who looked just like the Count, sipping purple liquid from a glass vial with a dazed expression.
The conductor realized who she was.
'The famous Lady of House Rudelriz. Rumors say the siblings look just alike......'
At that moment, the Count's shadowed eyes turned back to the conductor.
The conductor flinched like a man caught thinking.
“Looking forward to the performance.”
“...I-I'll give it my all!”
“And......”
The Count said in a voice only the conductor could hear.
“After it's over, come see me for a bit.”