I Will Protect My Brother - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 57
Chapter 7. In the Middle of Dinner
“Rosien, have you heard that rumor?”
It was a clear afternoon in early summer.
As I headed to my room to wash up after my usual dawn training, Lina called out and stopped me.
“What rumor?”
“Lately, they keep finding decomposed corpses near the castle.”
“Huh?”
Decomposed corpses? I paused mid-wipe of my sweat-dampened chin, utterly bewildered. “A murder case? On Wynyak’s private grounds? What kind of audacious fool would do such a thing?”
“No, no. It’s not a murder case.”
Lina shook her head urgently.
“The bodies they found are beasts. The problem is there’s more than one. Animals have died in mass at the same location five times already.”
“Mass death…?”
“Yes. Not just once or twice—over the past three months, they keep appearing just when you think it’s stopped, and then again… Just yesterday, Tom crossed the gorge and saw dozens of mountain goats dead down below. He was so frightened he couldn’t even cross the bridge.”
Wynack Castle stood upon a hill. To descend to the nearby village, one had to cross a wooden bridge suspended between steep canyon walls.
That bridge was a path the servants working at Wynyak crossed at least twice daily. Below the bridge lay layer upon layer of mountains. The verdant mountain valley teemed with diverse wildlife.
‘Mass death? That’s never happened before.’
Lina was on the verge of tears.
“When disasters like earthquakes or floods strike, animals sense them before humans do, don’t they? I wondered if something like that might be happening.”
“Hmm, wouldn’t the Transcendents sense it before the animals, though…?”
I tilted my head thoughtfully.
A Transcendent’s senses surpassed those of beasts. Vision, smell, hearing—even taste and touch were honed to razor sharpness, making them perfectly suited to discerning weather patterns.
I sniffed the air experimentally. The morning breeze carried the heavy, humid scent of summer.
“There’s no moisture in the air, so rain doesn’t seem likely. I haven’t felt any tremors either. I don’t sense any particularly ominous aura.”
“Well, that’s just what I mean. It feels like an ill omen. Listen, Rosien. So here’s the thing…”
Lina suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Would you mind coming down to the village with me today?”
* * *
‘Something does feel off about this.’
Lina said she’d obtained leave starting this evening and would return home for a while. I readily agreed to accompany her as far as the village.
On my way to my room, I encountered several of Wynyak’s disciples in the corridor. Among them were Selman and Jake, who were always inseparable.
I took the opportunity to ask them as well.
“Is it true that animals have been dying in the area recently?”
“Oh, you’ve heard too, little Rosien?”
“If you don’t like being called little, drop the nickname.”
“Pfft, you’ve grown, haven’t you? You really have.”
Jake laughed and ruffled my hair playfully.
Though I pouted slightly, it felt like the teasing of a neighbor uncle—not unpleasant at all. After all, these were people I’d spent ten years with at Wynyak.
“Speaking of which, didn’t you have your birthday last month? You’re a proper adult now. Don’t you have a boyfriend? Should your uncle introduce you to a nice fellow? I know quite a few young friends in the village!”
“Now that I think about it, didn’t your birthday pass last month? You’re a proper adult now—don’t you have a boyfriend? Should your uncle introduce you to a nice guy? I know quite a few young friends in the Village!”
“R-Rosy. What nonsense are you talking about?”
Selman struck Jake’s shoulder as if he were a bashful girl. Jake chuckled without a hint of restraint.
“Nonsense? Noble ladies around Rosien’s age are probably preparing their wedding ceremonies to coincide with their coming-of-age by now.”
“M-marriage…?”
“Just tell me your ideal type. I’m quite the perfect matchmaker, even if I say so myself… Ugh!”
“M-matchmaking?!”
Selman, his face drained of color, kicked at Jake’s shin this time.
You two are talking to each other, not to me, right?
‘Why does it feel like those two are having a conversation?’
“Marriage for Rosien? What kind of ridiculous nonsense are you spouting so carelessly? How could she possibly engage in romance…!”
After watching their back-and-forth for three seconds with interest, I felt somewhat offended.
Why is that ridiculous? Am I in such a state that I can’t fall in love? Why! Is it written all over my face?!
‘When I return to Kirges, I’ll get myself a lover right away.’
Selman was now mercilessly tugging at Jake’s earlobe.
“And don’t ask such old-fashioned questions! The Young Master would be displeased if he heard!”
“Ah, right. Y-yes, that’s true. Isn’t it?”
Why does Kalian keep coming up?
I became irritated and clapped my hands sharply.
“Ah, stop getting sidetracked. Focus, focus! So is that rumor true? About the beasts dying off in this area?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
Jake answered while rubbing his shin. Only then did the conversation return to its original track.
“It’s true. I received a report from the Investigation Team, and there weren’t any obvious external wounds. It looked like their internal organs had all rotted as if they’d eaten something toxic. Since it wasn’t just one or two beasts, there must be poisonous plants in the vicinity.”
“There weren’t any traces left behind? No signs of being ambushed by something?”
“No? If there had been traces, a detailed investigation would have already been launched. Someone’s been harming beasts, after all. If dozens of beasts are being slaughtered like that, who knows when they might turn on humans…”
Jake suddenly stopped speaking. Selman was staring at him with wide eyes.
The glances exchanged between them in the air felt strange.
“When they might…”
“Turn on humans…”
Selman swallowed hard. In that brief moment, both their faces had turned pale.
‘What? Why do they look like that?’
The air grew eerily heavy. I was bewildered by the sudden shift in atmosphere.
“Selman? Jake?”
“Huh? Oh, Rosy…”
When I finally called out their names, they snapped back to attention.
“Of course they could turn on humans. That’s obvious. Both people and beasts are animals, after all. But you said there were no visible wounds on the surface, right?”
“Right, that’s true.”
Selman nodded awkwardly.
“What was I thinking just now? There’s no evidence at all.”
“…?”
“Don’t worry about it, Rosien. Since the Family Head doesn’t seem to be taking it too seriously, he must have his reasons for letting it be. I’ll let you know if any more evidence surfaces.”
“Well, yes. The servants are apparently afraid to cross the bridge because of that incident, so if you see anyone struggling, please help them out.”
“Alright, I understand. You should hurry and go see the Young Master.”
Jake gave my back a subtle push.
“He’s been openly irritable lately. You should stay by his side.”
“I was planning to go anyway.”
But had Kalian really been acting irritable recently?
I turned to leave, then glanced back at him.
“Jake, what do you mean by the Young Master being openly irritable? He seemed perfectly normal until yesterday.”
“….”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jake and Selman were observing me as though I were the rarest creature in the world.
“I just… sometimes wonder. Which one is really the impressive one?”
【It’s definitely this one!】
A bluish fairy poked her head out from the sword hilt hanging at my waist. The Sacred Relic, Great Annihilation, was pointing at me frantically.
【He has no sense whatsoever! Even though I keep telling him not to forget that he was once the incarnation of a Lost Soul! And I’ve warned him countless times not to be completely swayed by that pretty exterior!】
I let out a dismissive snort. That was rich coming from someone who carried around a collection of beautiful boys in her heart.
Jake muttered timidly.
“A gentle lamb… Well, Great Annihilation always stays with Rosien, so she might never have witnessed it directly. Perhaps this isn’t Rosien’s fault, but rather the truly frightening one is….”
【What?】
“Oh, no, never mind. We should be going…!”
Selman linked arms with Jake and they bolted down the opposite end of the corridor.
“Hey, why did you stop talking?”
I watched their hurried retreating figures with bewilderment, then turned around and resumed walking.
‘Irritable? Kalian’s been cooped up in the study every day lately.’
I heard he was reading some humanities book. The title of the book I’d glimpsed yesterday when bringing him tea came to mind.
Was it 【Patience is My Strength】?
It seemed he was quietly building his inner fortitude, so I’d left without disturbing him.
‘I should wash up first, then go wake him.’
Kalian usually woke around seven in the morning. For ten years, his waking time hadn’t changed. So I’d gotten into the habit of rising at five, completing my light training, then splashing cold water on myself before waking him to start the day.
I wiped the sweat beneath my chin with the back of my hand as I opened the door to my room.
“Huh?”
A bewildered exclamation escaped me. Someone was already in the room.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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