Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 190

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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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The Duke’s voice grew louder. The young lord standing behind him gasped and swallowed his exclamation. These war-crazed gentlemen certainly knew how to appreciate walkie-talkies. He was already making a fuss about sending samples home immediately… Oh dear. I’d only given him an excuse to return home.
“Anyway, we’ll hold a formal meeting again once we arrive in Noctram later, so don’t worry about losses and head back today, you brat. I don’t know what your circumstances are, but compose yourself.”
You should have told me that from the start! From the very beginning! Then I wouldn’t have bothered coming all this way and could have just sent someone to exchange documents…!
“….”
Wait a moment. Did Father anticipate this and decide not to go because Noctram, the main force of the war, hadn’t arrived yet? He figured a formal meeting would be held later? If so, that explained why Father had been so composed.
Who was it that said we should communicate first? How could he keep his mouth shut about this!
“Then. Since you’ve been so considerate, I shall take my leave.”
“Ugh, look at that Rocksburg fellow. The moment I say he won’t lose anything, he turns right around.”
Ha, feel free to gossip all you like. It won’t affect my wealth and power one bit.
The King said he would elevate Diana and Prod’s names, and it was obvious the walkie-talkies would be distributed throughout the army via Duke Bienar. I thought I’d clean my hands of this and head home. Just as I was about to rise from my seat, the King had something more to say and delivered shocking news.
“Hey, you stubborn young fool. Wait a moment. There’s someone you need to take with you.”
“Pardon? Who?”
“The Fourth Prince Nerva.”
“…?”
“Yes, that one from Largol. Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
Why would that tiny, insignificant brat come to our house! Why is he even in Aleine in the first place?!
When I retorted in exasperation, the King covered his ears in distress and explained that Nerva had fled to Aleine just yesterday and was now hiding in the Royal Palace.
“With the First Prince becoming Crown Prince, do you think he’d have any chance of keeping his head in that Imperial Palace? Of course he’d flee.”
“But why come to Aleine of all places? And why to our house?!”
“I don’t know, damn it. That pink-haired girl showed up yesterday and immediately proposed a deal—if Aleine wins the war and the current Crown Prince is deposed, she’ll return to her country and establish a non-aggression pact with Aleine first. And she’s been desperately searching for your Aster Brown. She said she’d rather hide in the Rocksburg Mansion even if it killed her.”
Oh no, how am I supposed to explain this to Aster? The girl will be shocked enough when she hears about me. Hearing about me and then Nerva on top of it? And if Lucilucil fails in his invasion and is deposed, the Fourth Prince would be the leading candidate for the next Crown Prince.
If Nerva goes through with this, he’ll actually become Emperor, won’t he? Didn’t he boast about making Aster his Empress if he became Emperor? Should I start preparing to erase Aster’s identity right now?
I can’t forcibly take away someone who’s dead. With Aster Brown declared dead and her identity erased, unable to leave the Mansion, I was turning the problem over in my mind when I saw Prince Nerva rushing out of the conference hall with his guards in tow.
The little brat looked delighted to see me at first, but when he confirmed that Aster wasn’t by my side, his expression hardened.
“Where is Miss Aster Brown?”
“Start with a greeting. Is it a tradition of the Largol Imperial Family to have no manners across generations?”
“You’re one to talk about manners. That’s hardly the proper respect shown to the legitimate heir of a great empire.”
“Wow, to a defeated prince who fled to our country after losing to Lucilucil. I’m not sure what courtesy I should show.”
“You bastard…!”
Hmm… it would be better if he didn’t attack.
The defeated prince of the great empire was fuming, so his guards stepped forward with threats, and since I was being threatened, Jack and Leon naturally stepped in.
Oh dear… oh dear, I’d rather not see this…
The moment the prince’s guards made their threats, Leon and Jack lunged at them, and as I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away, I heard bones cracking—crack, crunch, crunch.
Screams erupted. Low, thick screams burst out simultaneously. Then came the panicked shout of Prince Nerva.
“Stop! Stop it! You there! Make your guards stop at once!”
“My, calling me ‘you’—I’m afraid this dull and ignorant person has no idea who you mean.”
“Rosalite Rocksburg!”
“Children, seeing you in such a state is causing me considerable shock. Stop this at once.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
“Yes, Sister! You should only see good and beautiful things, but I was shortsighted!”
Leon, your flattery skills are truly first-rate. You’re unmistakably Rocksburg through and through. If this isn’t Rocksburg, then what in the world is?
“You brought the priest, yes?”
“Of course! How could I forget that!”
Then I needn’t worry about treating the guards’ wounds. Let’s just share a carriage and be on our way.
Good heavens, I thought Princess Natalie had finally left the Mansion, but now another royal has moved in. What strange ley lines flow through Rocksburg Territory? Why do royalty and imperial princes keep settling here and leaving?
I need to explain about the prince, prepare for Aster’s shock, prepare even more for the war, worry about whether Sage and Serena are doing well at the True Magic Tower, and manage countless other concerns. But most shocking of all is the news that Marius is no longer in this world.
When I get home, I’ll pull out that shirt Marius gave me and cry my heart out. Though I hate to admit it, if that brat managed to flee Aleine itself, Lucilucil’s forces must have grown tremendously. If Marius’s death weren’t certain, they couldn’t have gathered so many people. And since the opponent is Aleine, the resentment accumulated from the seas must run deep.
…Come to think of it, isn’t the explosion of Largol’s populace Duke Bienar’s doing? Next time we meet, I’ll needle him about this. Since I only suffered through it without retaliation, my frustration has been building. Once I finish this wireless business quickly, I’ll need to scratch that itch. I should have William get me materials showing how Duke Bienar caused chaos among innocent Largol citizens. We can’t shoulder all the responsibility just because Glen’s staff made things worse.
Let’s fall into the abyss together, Duke Bienar. We’ll repay the national-scale compensation jointly—Bienar and Rocksburg together. That was the best revenge I could manage.

Upon arriving at Rocksburg Mansion and stepping down from the carriage, Aster came rushing toward me with pitiful sobs, exactly as I’d anticipated. And just as expected, I caught sight of Prince Nerva smiling brightly, and my expression became strange.
But Aster didn’t stop. She rushed straight to me, scooped me up in her arms, and whisked me away.
“Aster! Aster! Where are you going!”
“Hey, you pig! How can you just leave without a word!”
“Sister! Aster! Where are you going! I’ll accompany you!”
“Glen, grab my shoulder quickly! Let’s go!”
“Must I be carried again?!”
Well…, to keep up with Aster’s pace, there’s no choice but to be carried, is there, Prince?
Moreover, Aster seemed completely out of her mind, tears streaming down her face as she ran at full speed while holding me. Where on earth was she taking me? Leaving the house behind, where could she possibly be going? Curious about her intentions, I kept watching, but it seemed she had no particular destination in mind either—she was just running in circles around the Mansion.
Nerva had already exhausted himself and fallen behind, and only Jack and Leon were barely visible beyond my line of sight, when a familiar voice called out to me.
“Rosalite! Rosalite, over here!”
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Wait, aren’t those Lam and Peter, the ones who were supposed to be talking? Did they finish their conversation? They seem to have business with me.
“Waaaaahhh! Waaaahhh! Waaahhh!”
“We found it! We found it!”
“Found what?”
“Sniff, sniff, sniff, waaahhh!”
“The rebooting location!”
“Sniff, sniff, waaahhh!”
“Aster. You fool! Stop this! I can’t understand a word you’re saying!”
Unable to hear Lam’s words over Aster’s crying, I scolded her, and the woman bit her lip hard, stifling her sobs.
Phew, finally some quiet. So, what’s this about?
“The rebooting location! The rebooting location!”
That sounds like some Microsoft window nonsense.
Unable to understand Lam’s words, I simply tilted my head in confusion, and the woman grabbed Aster to drag her somewhere. Of course, Aster didn’t budge an inch, so only after I gave the order did she follow Lam along.
“This place is….”
The spot where the corrupted Excalibur had been planted, wasn’t it? With the night deep and no workers passing through, the open field in the middle of the construction site was desolate beyond measure.
“Yap. Glimmering!”
First, I needed to illuminate the surroundings. As I arranged the small light orbs around me in a sweeping motion, a single chain became visible in the otherwise empty basement—flickering in and out of sight.
“….”
Huh? Was it always this faint? When I checked earlier, I could grip it firmly in my hand.
I wanted to grab the chain and examine it more closely, but I was bound so tightly that I couldn’t move an inch. Aster had me stand with my feet planted on the ground so I could observe, but when I asked him to loosen the restraints, he refused point-blank.
Hmm… The fact that he wouldn’t budge even when I was wailing about the world falling apart suggests he did hear the news. But more importantly, I still don’t understand. What on earth is a reboot?
“Ahem. You see, dark magic can form new contracts depending on the circumstances!”
Ah, so now you’re showing off your knowledge when you finally get the chance? But I just heard something deeply unsettling. Renegotiate contracts depending on circumstances? And didn’t you just call it a reboot earlier?
Reboot… reboot. The word itself has a terrible ring to it.</
As the uneasy feeling that had been pressing down on me before the noose tightened around my neck resurfaced, the chain on the ground finally vanished completely.
And remarkably, something that looked like a gleaming Excalibur appeared in the empty air!
"?!"
What is that! Why are you appearing again! I thought you disappeared! No, wait—compared to this morning, your form is definitely different!
And the moment the sword materialized, a phantom-like figure appeared. The phantom had the form of a woman, with hair the color of liquid mercury—a sickly hue—and eyes that gleamed with an equally sickly golden light.
That phantom, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Rosalite Rocksburg, gripped the sword and brought it down upon me.
"You idiot!"
A sharp metallic clang rang out against my head. I nearly cried out from the pain.

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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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