The Cheat Skill User’s Older Brother Is Obsessed Over
I had to pay for the bus. Working 15 hours a day, over 105 hours a week, with no lunch allowance. Sleeping at the office was a daily occurrence. I endured the "passion pay" for the sake of my dream. If I want to achieve my dream, I have to do at least this much. I just accepted that and lived on. My colleagues also worked overtime for the sole reason of "dreams."
Then, while talking about hobbies during lunch break, I mentioned on a whim that I enjoyed reading web novels. "...Do you read web novels, [Name]?" The assistant manager—a woman I wasn't even that close with—had me read the romance fantasy novel she was writing. "How is it?" "Hmm..." "I think it's fun." "Really?!" It wasn't actually that fun, but how could I tell my superior it wasn't? From that day on, I read one chapter of her untitled novel every lunch break. Eventually, I read all 130 chapters to the end.
"Do you have any feedback?" "Uh..." Should I say it or not? Still, she was an assistant manager who looked after me in her own way. Reading the novel was a bit of a chore, but it was somewhat entertaining, so I tried to give her some brief feedback. "For a romance fantasy, aren't the female characters a bit too strong?" "Is that bad?" "Not bad, but wouldn't it be better for the male leads to come and help when the heroine is in danger, like just now, to better develop the romantic tension? The fantasy elements seem a bit too heavy." She nodded, as if my words had given her an epiphany. "Oh! Thank you! I'll try writing it like that in the next one! You'll read the next one too, right, since you're helping me edit this one?" "Of course. I enjoyed it too."
Please, someone save me. My lunch break was already short enough, and I was working so much I had to shove food into my mouth while typing. How on earth does this person work like this and then go home to write a novel? She was a true superhuman. Still, I forced myself to read it, thinking of it as part of social life. On my way home, a thought suddenly struck me. Doesn't this mean I have to read the next one too? Worried that my feedback had backfired, I was pondering how to escape when my head started spinning. Did I work too much? I should go home and sleep. Headaches were a daily occurrence, so I didn't think much of it. But then, my strength began to fade, my body tilted to the side, and everything went black.
Thud—! There was no one around.
Ah, fuck.
When I opened my eyes, I was born into some grand, luxurious castle, crying. I didn't know why I was crying, but tears poured out instinctively. It might have been the natural tears of an infant, but perhaps they were mixed with the resentment of my previous life.
The family I was born into was quite wealthy. In a medieval fantasy world ruled by magic and swordsmanship, a noble family would naturally be wealthy. From the moment I was born, there were countless maids taking care of me. "The young master is so quiet. Are nobles always this exceptional from a young age?" "Other nobles weren't like this..." The maids, concerned that I didn't cry or throw tantrums, called my father and mother. "My son, is there anything you want?" "No. I'm very happy right now." "Is that so...?" In the end, I was judged to be a child who was an old soul.
The life where days passed like a treadmill disappeared, and I was given a life where I did nothing. Dreams or whatever, this kind of life is the best. Eating, sleeping, and spacing out. It was a little boring, of course, but the peace was far too blissful. A few years later, the moment my younger sister was born, I realized that this place I had been reborn into was not an ordinary fantasy world.
"It's your sister... Would you like to see her? Her name is Serian... Serian Cardion."
Serian Cardion. It was the name of the protagonist's friend in the romance fantasy novel my boss had given me to read.
I hadn't been in this world without any thoughts from the beginning. I had certainly imagined, Could this place be the one I knew? But the Cardion family—my family—wasn't a very significant house in the novel. So, even when I heard my name and the name of the Cardion family, I didn't feel much. But as my sister was born and I watched her grow, I became certain. I had possessed a character in a novel.
Serian Cardion was the character responsible for the plot's logic in that romance fantasy. She appeared as a genius mage who was moved by the protagonist's kind heart and became her greatest benefactor. She was basically a presence used like an emergency bell whenever the protagonist was in trouble. If the heroine needed martial power, she would appear in an instant and defeat the enemies. Even while reading it, I had thought, Why is she so strong...?
I had possessed the older brother of such a being. Moreover, I knew the character well because he appeared early on and was promptly discarded. Lumiant Cardion. Serian Cardion's biological older brother. Lumiant, blinded by jealousy, does the stupid thing of planting a spy in the academy to kill his younger sister. Afterward, he is "educated" by the Northern Grand Duke who fell in love with the protagonist. And so, Lumiant, who tormented Serian, dies cleanly. Moved by the protagonist who helped in that process, Serian becomes the protagonist's infinite supporter. The scene in the novel where Lumiant was executed made my neck feel cold.
"Brother, why are you stroking your neck?" "Just... my neck suddenly felt cold." "Eh?! I'll make your neck warm!"
Ever since I realized I had possessed a character in a novel, I devoted myself to training. Others might think it's admirable that I developed a sense of responsibility after my sister was born, but it was more about my own survival. One might say, "Can't you just cling to your sister?" But that's only seeing one side of the coin. This is a noble society. It wasn't rare for a good-for-nothing who did nothing to be exiled from the territory or dumped in a monastery. No matter how much you want to "suck the honey," if you do it too openly, it's an eyesore. Who would like a Nobita whining next to a Doraemon? My current training is a performance to block such perceptions in advance. It's groundwork to ensure people say, "But he's a kind kid~."
Considering I am 10 years old and Serian is 5, by the time I turn 10, it would be revealed that my sister's talent was beyond outstanding—it would be a talent to rule the continent. My own body, tested a while ago, had not even a speck of magical talent. I had already drawn the big picture in my head. I would keep my sister as my benefactor and live out a peaceful life. Even if I secretly ride the bus, I should at least pretend to tap my card. This novel had a high proportion of fantasy for a romance fantasy. Since the ending wasn't the wedding of the heroine and the male lead, but defeating the Demon King. So even when I was reading it, I wondered if it was really a romance fantasy. If I didn't enter the academy and stayed away from the novel's progression, I wouldn't get involved. Plus, Serian and I were five years apart. If I was just a little careful, the chance of meeting the characters from the novel was zero.
"Brother, why do you train so hard?" "I can't become a Nobita, can I?" "No-bi-ta? What's that? Is it a snack name?" "There is such a thing." "I don't know about that, just stop training and play with me!"
Of course, Serian would cling to me whenever that happened, but I continued my training regardless.
"This is...! A talent that will shock the world!" "No way!"
It was fortunate that it was exactly as I expected. When I turned 15 and Serian turned 10, the Magic Tower dispatched mages to test Serian's talent, and her genius was revealed. A rainbow light sparkled in the crystal ball. The crystal ball, which had shown no light when I touched it, shook tremulously like a puppy meeting its master. "This is clearly the aptitude of an Archmage!" "We must take her to the Magic Tower immediately! No, let's have her enter the academy early!"
The mages who visited from the Tower shone their eyes like believers who had received a revelation. Serian, who had been happy at first, felt a bit afraid after seeing those gazes and hid behind me. "I understand how you feel, so all of you, step back." "But, Count!" "Immediately!" With my father's command, the mages, who had been shining their eyes, retreated, closing the door and leaving the room.
"Ha..."
Clearly, the appearance of a genius with the aptitude of an Archmage in the family was a joyous occasion that the entire house would celebrate. If it had been me, the eldest son, it would have been natural. Perhaps if Serian had been born with moderate talent, I could have entrusted the headship to her, given her the role of supporting me, and it might have led to a happy ending. But now that her genius talent had been revealed, that happy ending no longer existed. If I didn't give up, the future of this family would be blood-stained. Perhaps predicting such a future, my father grabbed both my shoulders and Serian's while looking at us. "Why such a thing..."
No matter how bloody the future might be, there was no reason for this reaction if it were any other mage family. Whether it was the eldest or the youngest, the aptitude of an Archmage had appeared, so there was no need to consider the eldest son's feelings. In such a result, the unhappy role was ultimately mine, the eldest son. The fact that my father looked at me and Serian with such a resentful and pitiful reaction meant that, unlike typical nobles, he was a man who had much affection for his family. "Father, it's okay." "Lumiant..." "I am truly okay. Why are you making such a sad face? It's a joyous occasion for our family." "..."
My father wiped away tears with a pained expression, looking at me and the pitiful child. I understand your heart, but I am truly okay. If only I give up, everything will be happy. If I just treat my sister well and live moderately kindly, it will be a happy life; what is there to be so sad about? My life's goal. A peaceful and serene life. How beautiful is that? I am tired of living fiercely like in my previous life. From this moment on, my life became about taking care of my younger sister. Clinging to her is just a bonus, of course.
After that day, the atmosphere in the house became busy. Everything began to revolve around Serian, for Serian. Although the succession of the heir hadn't taken place, many began to treat Serian as the next head of the family. Half of the maids who used to be with me moved to Serian, and tutors began to teach Serian instead of me. Of course, this wouldn't have happened without my permission, but I had identified the points the family wanted and suggested them first. "Serian will be busy from now on. How about assigning my maids to Serian?" "But, Lumiant..." "I am truly okay." "..."
After that, of course, they didn't ignore me, nor did the servants become rude to me. Everyone was rather cautious of me and avoided my surroundings, but that was their way of being considerate while protecting themselves. Because there was no good in standing out to me in this situation. It wasn't rare for people to go blind after watching their talented younger siblings, beating servants to death or causing harm. No matter how close I had been to the servants, my status was ultimately a noble, and they were commoners. It couldn't be helped. "Young Master... are you okay?" "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" "If you have any hardships, please tell me everything." "Don't worry. It's not a lie."
May, my only dedicated maid, looked at me with pity. Since the number of dedicated maids had been reduced from two to one, perhaps it was a situation where the young master's pride would be hurt. Even more so since that maid had been assigned to his younger sister, who was younger than him. If I were the Lumiant from the novel, it would have been the perfect situation to become a good-for-nothing, but not for me.
Bang! "Brother!" "Serian!"
Magic lessons and history lessons. Exhausted from various other educations, Serian opened the door and rushed at me. "Young Lady! You shouldn't do this!" "Why not!" "But... Young Master Lumiant..." "Everyone keeps me from being with my brother! What did I do wrong? If it's because the crystal ball shone back then, I don't need it! I don't need that kind of light!"
Serian rubbed her face against my stomach and clung to me, while May stood by, sweating and glancing at me nervously. The servants were trying to separate me and Serian. They must have thought that no matter how much I pretended to be okay, I might lose my mind if I saw Serian in front of me. And that wasn't a wrong judgment. Because it really happens in the novel. But that was a story in the novel. It was a story completely unrelated to me. There was no way I would kick away such a precious younger sister. If I carried my genius sister on my back, there would only be a rainbow-colored future in my life. If Serian works hard, I just need to silently smile behind her. Cheetah is smiling? I will really just be smiling. Run hard, Serian. I will sit and cheer for you diligently. If she succeeds as an Archmage and leads the family, the unhappy future where my head falls off won't exist. I just need to manage the Archmage's mental health and suck the honey from the sidelines.
Hug—! "Eek!" "Serian! You worked hard! Was studying difficult?" "Brother!"
Serian. I will take care of you diligently. In return, please protect me well.