Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 203

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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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“That’s right! When I was young, that was all the rage! Kehehehe!”
Good heavens, Grandmother, that was over five hundred years ago.
Our party, having carved the coastline into a star shape, moored the Saint Brilliant Lusilu Ship at the cliffs of Admé along the star-shaped coastline and discovered a village where residents had hastily evacuated.
The inhabitants of this coastal town in Largol had witnessed the terrain shifting and fled in panic, leaving only empty houses. We sought lodging, deposited payment at an unmanned counter, and rented the establishment.
While allocating budget for the crew to wait here during our audience with the Pope, and drafting contingency manuals—whether to flee from the Largol Military or seek refuge with Duke Bienar’s household—Serena drank continuously.
It was precisely because of this that I could estimate the era when the magical incantation she kept mentioning was in vogue. Throughout her drunken rambling, she insisted the Abyss was wildly popular before the Alein Kingdom was established, but given my knowledge of Alein history, how could I not understand?
“You all! You mustn’t laugh at me! It really was fashionable back then! Carrying around staffs embedded with large, crimson magical crystals! It was trendy! Those who went further than me even wore wings!”
“Good heavens, Grandmother, who said anyone was laughing? Neither Doctor nor I laughed.”
“That’s right, Serena. I would have preferred to hear more of your other repertoires.”
“That’s exactly what laughing means!”
Tch, caught red-handed. But honestly, once you hear the Abyss series once, don’t you want to check if there are other variations? Given Serena’s mana attribute and her apparent obsession with the Abyss, wouldn’t there likely be series about the Nine Circles of Hell or the Seven Deadly Sins as well?
Besides, once you grow accustomed to it, the coolness doesn’t entirely fade. Leon would certainly enjoy it. Leon and Will Brown seem like they’d absolutely love it.
“Rosie, why is that grandmother like that? She’s been guzzling alcohol since earlier.”
Oh? Mother didn’t know about this? Wow, if Mother is unaware that Serena has fallen in love with the Abyss, she must have hidden it quite thoroughly. She really did entrust me with a significant secret.
“Everyone, the manual is complete! Distribute it to the crew!”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Right, now that the crew manual is finished… it’s time to prepare the manual for the Fourth Prince’s party. This is quite the task. Father and Prince Nerva have already coordinated on this beforehand, but for the others, I haven’t yet revealed something that will likely face considerable resistance.
The fact that our esteemed Prince Nerva, who enjoys the full backing of the Zoraab Orthodox Church, knows of a secret passage connecting outside the Largol Capital to the Joraab Church Cathedral was certainly intriguing news. But I doubted Lucilucil would be unaware of it…
What I know, the other party also knows. Operating under this premise is safest. Therefore, I proposed dividing into teams. Father seemed hesitant to suggest it due to my safety, but when I spoke first, he displayed a subtle attitude of both relief and melancholy.
“Prince Nerva, you’ve prepared the wig dress, haven’t you? The wig dress?”
“I prepared it, but… do I really need to wear that?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s amusing.”
Hahahaha, this little brat is quite slow to react. I nimbly dodged as Nerva attempted to kick at my chair leg and stood up, waving the papers to dry the ink.
He’s the same height as me, but in terms of reflexes, Four Spans clearly has the advantage. That woman doesn’t even give you time to evade before she kicks.
“Papa! Leon! Will Brown! We need to discuss something, so please step outside.”
When I specifically named Leon’s trauma recovery team as I usually did, Aster and Mother clung to me insisting they come along, but I explained that this was a matter that could wound sensitive Leon, so I couldn’t bring thoughtless and dull-witted people. They grumbled but acquiesced.
Still… they do know they themselves are thoughtless and dull-witted. That’s at least fortunate.
I waved the second manual about to dry the ink, then moved to a different location. We had left Alein intending to undertake dangerous work, but Leon and Will Brown, who would accompany me, would face particularly grave peril, so consent was necessary.

The moon shone brilliantly, the cliffs rose sheer and majestic, the waves crashed with a rhythmic splash, and the night air was absolutely perfect for a stroll.
I called Elizabeth and Peter to join me for a walk, and we wandered near the star-shaped cliffs that Serena had carved.
My original plan was to arrive on the Saint Brilliant Lusilu Ship with a throng of Bienar people and land anywhere along the coast, ensuring word reached the Capital quickly. But thanks to Serena shaping the coastline into a star, the news would spread even faster.
“Daughter. You’ve come all this way—what secret are you about to tell me?”
“First, please accept this manual.”
I handed over the manual I’d prepared earlier, and Papa skimmed it before his expression darkened considerably.
“Wait, this puts you in danger alone!?”
Well… in trying to find the best way for us to check and protect each other, it had come to this. There was no other method.
“Jack and Leon, you two will have to share life and death with me.”
“Wow, as if we haven’t faced death together before.”
“I will follow you to hell itself, Sister!”
“Ugh, no thank you. You two can go to hell. I’m heading somewhere better.”
Sigh. Such a loyal retainer. When I go to hell, I’ll hold your hand tight, Jack Brown.
As I gripped Jack’s hand and said this, he shuddered and pulled away, frantically wiping his hand on Peter’s fur.
Hmm… yes. This is the kind of escort I travel with.
“Stop joking around! At least let me accompany you! I can’t let just the three of you go!”
“If either you or the Duchess are absent, we cannot stop Serena if she has a change of heart.”
This is a team Father and I planned together. There is no perfection beyond this.
First, to track down Celin, Mother’s ability to sense her was essential. And to support Mother’s limitations, we needed Sage and Serena. Beyond that, if Serena’s resolve weakened and she tried to protect Celin, we needed Mother and Sage’s full strength to counter her.
The Fourth Prince’s existence as material for contacting the Pope was equally essential, and to control this man, we needed Aster.
After binding together these five people absolutely necessary to capture Celin, we would use the secret passage the Fourth Prince knew of, but first send a decoy to prepare for contingencies. Once the decoy causes chaos and draws the attention of the Largol Imperial Family, our main force contacts the Pope in the confusion.
Naturally, that decoy was me. I had deliberately come on the Saint Brilliant Lusilu Ship to signal that Rocksburg was making major moves.
Our true objective was Celin, but Lusilu wouldn’t know these details and would assume I had infiltrated regarding the invasion war.
If by some chance Celin contacted the Imperial Family and joined hands with them… well, we’d deal with that then. Once we crushed Lusilu and learned Celin’s location, that would be the end of it.
Heh, I know Lusilu is extremely fond of our Rocksburg. After all, I’ve been receiving headhunting offers for the position of Empress from Lusilu for years now. They wouldn’t want to kill me if they could help it.
That’s right! I! Don’t understand why! But in Lusilu’s eyes! I’m apparently! An incredibly capable Empress candidate!
“Hey, you brat! Where do you think you’re going with just the children! Papa doesn’t permit it! Take me with you!”
“Imagine it, Papa. If you’re absent, only four people—Serena, the Duchess, Nerva, and Aster—would meet Celin alone.”
“….”
“Now, which scenario is worse?”
“Ugh… ugh…”
Yes. I understand. Just imagining it would be a disaster.
After my persuasion, Papa finally steeled his resolve, closing his eyes tightly as he handed the manual to Leon. It contained the division of our team into decoy and main force, along with contingency protocols if things failed, but Jack and Leon raised no objections. They seemed greatly reassured that the three of us would move together.
“Well, with this lineup, we won’t die.”
“I will protect you to hell and back, Sister!”
“Enough with that hell talk. It’s bad luck.”
There they go again, bickering. They’re at it again.
As the two started grappling by the hair, I moved to stop them when Papa suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. Really, how embarrassing to do this in front of my brother and my escort.
“Don’t get hurt. If it’s dangerous, run away quickly. Even if you fail and flee, no one will blame you for it.”
“I understand.”
Good grief, why does Papa keep embarrassing me like this?
But since the mood was already set that way, I embraced Papa just as tightly as he embraced me, patting his back reassuringly.
This time it will work. This is truly the last attempt, truly the final regression escape.
With that resolve, I finished the walking meeting and returned to the lodging. After a brief nap, the Largol Military had arrived with surprising speed and surrounded the village, and with Serena and Mother leading the way, we advanced toward the Capital, destroying everything in our path.
And after spending the final night with all team members near the area where Prince Nerva mentioned the secret passage existed, I departed one step ahead, bringing Leon and Jack Brown with me. I had no choice but to trust Papa and the manual’s power for what came after.

◇ ◆ ◇

The secret passage that Nerva mentioned turned out to be a water channel connected to a reservoir no longer in use. With a slight gradient allowing water to flow downward, it appeared to have served as an aqueduct in ancient times.
If it were still in use, I could just dunk Ram Bart in here once and the game would be over. What a shame.
“Sister, I can see the end.”
Already?
It was a good call to station Peter at the water channel entrance and have him block anyone who came. We nearly got caught up with.
Though it was early dawn, I could hear footsteps beyond the thinly constructed wall. Unlike the ancient bricks forming the water channel, the fact that only this section was made of new bricks suggested this was indeed the secret passage Nerva had mentioned.
But then again, for a secret passage… there’s nothing here that actually functions as one, is there? It’s just a new wall blocking the water flow, so we’ll have no choice but to destroy it.
“Did that bastard child lie to us? We’ll have no choice but to destroy it?”
Don’t think the same thing I’m thinking—it’s terrifying.
In any case, having come this far, we had no choice but to break through. Besides, if we collapse it first, the main force can slip in silently, which would be more advantageous.
“Wait a moment.”
I investigated the flow of mana to check whether there were any magical or divine tricks at play. For now, there didn’t seem to be anything suspicious.
“….”
Wait, hold on? Isn’t this exactly like the dungeon exploration I’ve always dreamed of? Two physical attackers and one mage—the balance is perfect. My heart is racing for some reason.
“Why are you grinning at a time like this? It’s unsettling.”
“Jack Brown, could you show me a little respect?”
“I am showing respect, though?”
“No. If you truly respected me, you wouldn’t say things that upset me.”
Don’t look genuinely confused like that—you’re hurting my feelings.
“Step back, Sister. I’ll destroy the wall.”
Oh, Leon, finally your moment of usefulness arrives!
Asterion drew his sword with flair and manifested his aura. With his blade gleaming in brilliant violet light, Leon swiftly shattered the wall to pieces, then pretended it was nothing, claiming he’d just cut down something unnecessary, and sheathed his sword.
And beyond the collapsed wall, what we witnessed was.
“….”
“….”
“….”
A multitude of priests in the process of changing into ceremonial robes bearing the symbol of the Joraab Religion.
“Pervert!”
“A-a molester!”
Who’s a molester, who! No, I mean, normally in situations like this, shouldn’t we be encountering guards or holy knights or patrol members or something along those lines?
Why is it a changing room? Why is a water channel that’s no longer in use connected to a changing room?!
“How audacious!”
Amid half-naked, pitiful men huddling to cover their vital areas, Leon’s voice reverberated through the Changing Room.
Ah, that’s right. I came here as bait. I need to keep my wits about me. This was the moment I needed to stay sharp.
『Do you know who this person is!』
Well, how would a mere priest of the Largol Empire possibly know the heir to the Duke of Rocksburg living in the Alein Kingdom, Leon?
But I chose to emulate Leon’s shameless audacity, stepping forward before Jack and Leon. With my chin held high and my posture impeccable, I gestured elegantly toward myself.
『Show proper respect. I am the woman destined to become the Mother of Largol!』

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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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