Unedited

TN: I will be using ‘aniue/oniichan/onii-sama/etc' as honorifics. i.e. Westin-aniue. and I will be using Elder/Eldest Brother as t.i.tle. i.e. third elder brother. Not sure if my explanation is understandable but I hope it is. ?

65 Elder Brother

Walking around the bars downtown, giving away money and saying pa.s.swords in various places, Aleph walked in on a corner of the slum.

The slums is so dangerous, it's dirty, dark, and it stinks, and bloodstains are scattered for some reason.

I thought that a young man with glaring eyes was intently looking at us, but because a beggar child was chanting, ‘Please give me your grace' as if talking in delirium, I can't just thoughtlessly meet eyes with them.

I firmly wore my hood and followed along while hiding behind the silhuette of Ragna who has a good physique.

Before long, Aleph stopped in front of a door that looked as if it's going to be blown away once the wind blows.

[Rei, now is the chance if you want to back out. We might have made it this far, but there's a possibility that it's Egrald-aniue's trap.]

Aleph seemed to be hesitant about what's going to happen later, but my resolve hasn't changed.

[Is that so… Then make sure to stay behind me. Take care not to go in front.]

I prepared myself to be able to shoot magic at any moment and marched indoor behind Aleph's back.

Ragna and Ciel also cautiously follow behind, Dy hides his body in my bangle and sharpens his senses.

Although nothing happened in the first room, Dy sent me a message through telepathy.

{There's someone hiding behind the door in the front.}

When I also informed Aleph about Dy's message, he nodded indicating that he understood.

Taking a short pause, Aleph threw the interior door open.

*Ki~n* A metallic sound reverberates.

Aleph who caught somebody's sword attack, with a speed unstoppable with the naked eyes, attacked back and the opposing prey was sent flying.

He points the tip of his sword to the throat of the man who fell on his back as a reaction.

The man raised both hands as if in surrender, then shrugged his shoulders.

[Whoo~, I give up, I give up. Don't come any closer than that, you're going to cut my neck.]

[That voice is… Westin-aniue!]

The man named Westin hoisted himself up and lifted the hood covering him.

The light blue hair that gives a non-serious impression sprang up in various places, and although he doesn't give off an out of place feeling even after becoming dirty because of staying in the slums, his face resembled that of Aleph's.

[Hey brother, I'm glad you're doing fine.]

[It's been rumored that you're missing.]

[Aren't you the same? You didn't even bid your Onii-chan goodbye and suddenly disappeared.]

The third older brother intimately poked the forehead of Aleph who answered seriously.  

Aleph seems to be puzzled by his frank brother. It's as if he's unable to follow him.

[Well, the past doesn't matter. What's important is always the present! Isn't that right?]

While combining gestures like an actor on stage, Westin asked Aleph with a light tone.

[And so, so you guys are here to answer to Egrald's recruitment?]

[You're joking too much. The current Egrald-aniue is clearly in a misguided path.]

[Ri~ght. Well then, it's okay* to treat you as my allies?] (TN: * is in English.)

Westin ran an inspecting eye on us. Although he had an unctuos manner of speaking, he has the alert look of someone who is more capable than you'd expect.

[What does Aniue plan to do?]

[That's, I plan to stop Egrald's rampage, of course?]

[Our goal is also to stop Eldest Brother and avoid the war.]

[If that's so then there's no mistake that you're my allies. Bringing them here means that they can also be trusted, right?  We're going for a revolution together?]

At Westin's way of talking about the Kingdom's serious affair as if he's inviting us to a game, Aleph's brows furrow.

[Elder Brother… Can you please explain it to us a little more seriously from the very beginning?]

[Eh~, that's why aren't I explaining it now? Revolution, you understand, don't you? I'm going to become the King. I have no choice but to become one, he won't stop unless I do so.]

The Lord who was scratching his head didn't look like a Royalty at all. Aleph's pace was already destroyed by Westin and I who was trying to return the conversation on track interjected.

[We plan to enter the Royal Palace and meet Egrald directly. And we came here hoping to borrow your strength to do so.]

Wiston matched eyes with me and unnaturally widened his eyes.

[Are you serious? The palace right now is very dangerous, you know? It stinks more than the slums. You're finished as soon as you get captured right after going in, young lady.]

[Neither will I get caught, nor am I a young lady. I really want to avoid the war at all cost.]

[No matter what?]

[No matter what!]

Westin, who was looking down with half-closed eyes, called out behind us.

[So he says. Veld, it's a great timing so let's carry out the preceding plan. It looks like these guys will become good distraction for us.]

[Master… Even though you've told us so much to move discreetly, why are you meeting with strangers by yourself?]

The man called Veld who was dressed like a butler was trembling all over in anger. I wonder how long he's been behind us, I didn't notice at all.

[Look properly, I'm uninjured. Moreover, who I'm meeting isn't a stranger but my little brother. No problem at all, right?]

[Have you never thought of a chance that something might happen? You are very important!]

[I'm strong against bad luck so it's fine.]

[On what basis are you…!]

Vaguely sidestepping the thunder that Veld was dropping, Westin sonorously told him.

[Leave it to me. I have a good plan.]