Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Reason for Existence (5)
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Justina sat in the carriage with a look of extreme tension that was rare for her.
The carriage, prepared by the Lebedev main house, had exceptionally high-quality suspension, so it didn't shake at all, but this was her first time standing by her brother's side and deceiving their father. She couldn't calm her pounding heart.
The Lebedev territory was located in the southeast of the Imir Kingdom, which itself was a bit east of the continent's center.
Naturally, summers were extremely hot there, and it was very close to the plains that had been contaminated and were still awaiting purification.
To prevent incidents like the lord being assassinated via teleportation, most territories—and especially areas around the lord's castle—were equipped with jamming devices that made teleportation impossible or extremely difficult.
Because of this, people visiting a territory would contact them in advance, travel via official teleportation gates supported by the Imir Kingdom itself to a location near the territory, and then proceed by carriage or on foot. This was the standard procedure.
This rule applied without exception, even to blood relatives, so Justina was traveling this way as well.
During the last vacation, the atmosphere hadn't been great because they couldn't properly track her brother's whereabouts, and this year too, they hadn't officially found him, so she was sure she wouldn't hear anything pleasant.
And if word got out that she, of all people, was holed up in the library searching for something, there would definitely be some kind of talk.
"Sigh."
The carriage was soundproofed, at least, but considering her father's meticulous personality, it wouldn't be surprising if listening devices had been installed as insurance.
Her father trusted no one. Except for her brother, who had excelled in administration.
Unless her brother returned before their father passed away, she probably wouldn't be recognized as a proper heir.
In the midst of that, their father had relentlessly whipped her brother to make him even more outstanding, so it wasn't strange that he had left the family.
Clutching her still-throbbing chest, she stepped down from the stopped carriage. Only a few servants had come out to greet her.
He's still so cold to his own child. After the series of events with her brother this year—especially seeing how he would become gentle like coaxing a child when she cried or lost control of her emotions—Justina's thoughts had changed.
There were things more important than ability or power. If she had treated her brother like family, rather than just idolizing him from afar, their relationship wouldn't have been so bad from the start.
Maybe her father would have been a little different too, if they had been close and encouraging.
"It's too late for that now, though."
Her brother despised their father. Unlike her, the academy people, or anyone else who at least voiced complaints despite hating it, he didn't even seem to want to meet their father.
There was no point in wondering where it went wrong. It had been that way from the moment he was a father and his son a son.
With a slightly melancholic mood, she entered the castle and unpacked in her room. Her brother's room next to hers was still impeccably tidy, not a single item discarded, just as it had been.
...If that's the case, why not just cling to his leg and beg.
Taking the opportunity of being home after so long, she slipped into her brother's room as usual, took out a coat and some underwear one by one, draped the coat over her shoulders, and put the underwear on her head.
Hmm. It's been a while since I felt this sense of security.
She knew the servants looked at her strangely, but did they think she didn't know that the young female servants in the Lebedev household had been scheming since childhood to catch her brother's eye?
Lying neatly on the bed in that state and passing the time, Justina realized it was about time her father would summon her and quickly put the clothes back in their proper places.
At the same moment, a servant's message reached her, and Justina, already acting the part of a prim and proper noble lady, headed to her father's study.
She knocked four times. Anything less than that would surely earn her mockery for lacking manners, so she waited for permission before opening the door.
"Come in."
"Yes. Yustina Lebedev. I have come on a brief errand during the semester."
"I see. What brings you here? This is the first time during the semester."
Her father's attitude was the same as always—not even glancing at her face while responding. He always looked at documents with a slightly stern expression, which might seem like that of a competent administrator at first glance, but it was a kind of mask.
He held final decision-making authority on all matters, but that didn't mean he knew everything happening in the territory.
The only flaw as a noble was that he hated studying and paperwork.
He simply reported out of duty, understood as much as possible, and made decisions—that was his best. But her brother not only handled clerical work well but also voluntarily went to sites to deepen his understanding of duties.
That's why her demanding father had placed all his expectations on such a brother.
"Demons have infiltrated the academy."
"I know."
"And there's no guarantee it won't happen again, so I judged that I need materials on demons, especially the core of the Demon God Cult."
"I see. You, who never cared about others."
"Yes. I'm certain my brother would have done the same."
"Acting like Julius. Well, not a bad idea."
Despite this reaction, only mockery was visible on her father's face, which held a hint of sincerity.
"So, what do you plan to do if you master the materials on the Demon God Cult and gain information?"
"...There's a person at the academy called the Saintess of Light."
"Ah, you mean the one who caused trouble trying to approach Julius."
"...Yes. But her abilities..."
"Nonsense. I've already received reports on that woman's capabilities. She's fine for purification and healing, but not suited for combat. If you and that woman challenge the Demon God Cult together, it'll just end up with two corpses to clean up."
Justina couldn't find any grounds to argue back.
Because it was right. Because it was true.
She was no different from a commoner against strong demons, and she couldn't expect offensive capabilities from Ermina.
"Stop with the reckless ideas."
"Don't you think it's better to prepare knowing than to be caught off guard?"
"I don't. Even if you investigate, you'll just choose to run, and running away isn't hard even if you don't know how. I forbid it."
"Father."
"Drop it. Have you found any leads on Julius?"
"No. But I've become certain of something recently."
"What?"
"Even if I find my brother, as long as you're here in Lebedev, he won't return."
Hearing that, he chuckled and turned back to his documents.
"I see. Then it would be right for me to leave. If he says my presence is the problem, I'll convey that I'm stepping down from the castle and family to live as a commoner."
"Really...?"
"Why would I lie here? The important thing is for Lebedev to stand firm against any threat with its capabilities and environment. If I'm a hindrance, remove me."
Justina was at a loss for words.
She valued the family highly and had sometimes seen Julius more as the one to inherit and revive it than as her brother.
But not to this extent.
No, actually, maybe her father had changed after her brother left.
"Father."
"Yes."
"Don't you want to talk with him not as nobles or heir, but as father and son?"
"There's nothing to say. I already know what complaints Julius has. And I have no regrets about my actions."
Justina lowered her head.
Seeing her behavior, her father spoke in an indifferent tone.
"Enough. Use the library as you wish, and if you want to take anything out, record it in the ledger and check it out."
"...You're allowing it."
"Yes. Ah, right. Starting from the week after next, I'll be away from the castle for three weeks. The servants will be working, so use them as needed."
At the news that he would leave home right at the start of vacation, Justina understood his intent, clenched her fist tightly, then released it.
Yes. She had already let slip a bit that she was talking with her brother. So, he'd vacate the premises since he knew she hated seeing him, letting her tour the territory and judge for herself.
The attitude of treating even himself as a family cog. She couldn't voice a single complaint about it, having done the same until recently, so Justina silently saw her father off as he left the room.
"Hoo."
After her father left, she stood there thinking of her brother.
Certainly, Imir and Lebedev would gain something great at the cost of her brother's freedom.
But was that right? Now, it didn't seem entirely good.
Yeah.
And I...
What is the reason for my existence?
Unsuitable as her brother's spare, lacking combat ability, clumsy at acting for others, and so fragile that she burst into tears in front of him.
From a perspective not fixated on the person named Julius, it was more painful than expected that no one held any expectations for her.