Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 245

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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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Good grief, what’s gotten into her now? Yuri had just finished quarreling with Leon, yet showed no signs of exhaustion whatsoever—she pointed out my behavior with a crisp, clear voice. Come to think of it, she’s a mage, yet she didn’t lose in a stamina contest against Leon? That’s impressive.
“I was captivated by Rosalite’s unwavering love for Leon! How could you do such a thing! Who are those women! Was Leon nothing more than that to Rosalite!”
Hmm… I have no idea what she’s talking about, but you must be hungry too. Go wash up and bring Magnus here.
At my suggestion, Yuri huffed indignantly before agreeing, and Jack let out a disgruntled sound.
“Now do you understand the gravity of the situation? Some innocent people tend to believe books at face value.”
“A book? What book are you talking about?”
“This young lady is going to drive me insane.”
Don’t go crazy alone—explain it to me! In my frustration, I kicked my legs at Jack, and he complained that his eyes were going to rot before finally explaining after making a fuss.
So apparently… that book about the Blue Queen that caused all that commotion before? In it, a character named Rosalita refers to Rosalite, and Leon refers to Asterion.
Readers with common sense would simply assume the character’s motif was drawn from the Rocksburg Duchy and move on, but those harboring twisted affections toward the Royal Family and the Duchy, or simple folk who struggle to distinguish between fiction and reality, believe it as gospel truth. Like elderly people cursing at actors who play wicked mothers-in-law in morning dramas.
“Why would I covet Leon! Am I insane!”
“That’s exactly why the Duke filed a defamation suit!”
There was a backstory to that?! Wow, I never imagined it. The thought that someone had written such hardcore incestuous content about me and Leon made my heart flutter with panic, and Jack clutched his chest, taking deep breaths at the realization that the young lady could be this oblivious.
“I don’t understand—you’re perceptive about other things. How can you be so blind about this?”
“Why would anyone connect me and Leon like that? You should’ve used your imagination.”
“Good heavens, that’s why so many love letters come flying over the garden wall.”
Love letters? What’s that about? When I asked back, Lucilucil grabbed a fresh towel, dampened it in water, and tortured Jack by covering his face with it, while Glen suddenly cleared his throat and shouted that it was nothing.
“More importantly, my voice is in excellent condition today. I shall perform a song for you! Rosalite!”
Oh, that’s wonderful. I welcome anything as long as it’s not a folk song. You have such a lovely voice, after all.
My, what luck today. To sit in warm water in such a scenic place, receive a table of drinks, and listen to Glen’s singing.
I enjoyed the song while discussing potential contingencies that might arise tomorrow, and before long, Leon arrived with the drinks and food.
Yuri brought Magnus as well and kept her mouth firmly shut about everything they’d discussed so far, welcoming them both and partaking of the drinks and food. Magnus apologized for the trouble, mentioning his constitution, while Yuri kept pushing Leon’s shoulder, encouraging him to sit right beside me.
When I didn’t know the circumstances, I simply thought Yuri was crazy, but now that she was looking at me and Leon with that kind of gaze… she seemed absolutely insane.

◇ ◆ ◇

When I woke and looked at my feet, Jack and Aster were gone. Judging by how high the sun had climbed, they’d probably gone to prepare for the contingency I’d mentioned yesterday.
Well, I suppose “contingency” sounds rather grand, but it wasn’t anything too serious. I’d simply said that if negotiations fell through, we’d need to flee for our lives.
Because of that, everyone was carefully moving their luggage onto the Saint Brilliant Lucilucil Ship. The weaker members, starting with Glen, would board first, while Jack, Aster, and Janet would remain to defend this place until the very end. Sage, Leon, Lucilucil, and I had to participate in the talks, so naturally we’d stay behind.
With Violet’s help, I changed into fresh clothes and selected the most comfortable shoes I could find before heading to the conference hall. In the meeting room where I’d personally written “Discussion Forum of the True Magic Tower Master and the Alliance Leader of the Cerepia Tower Alliance” on a placard, people were enjoying tea time and pleasant conversation.
“I apologize for being late. Thanks to Magnus and Yuri yesterday, I overexerted myself while enjoying a wonderful time.”
“Not at all. We haven’t been waiting long.”
“I found it meaningful to witness the joyful moments between Leon and Rosalite.”
“Now, that’s why reality and fiction are….”
How on earth did he manage to teach magic to someone while carrying around that nonsense all this time? Truly remarkable. This remarkableness could be compared to that of Brown, who taught Aster to read and write.
“Then shall we begin the talks? I’d appreciate it if Magnus would share his demands first.”
“There is only one thing I wish from the True Magic Tower Master. It’s something I’ve been consistently proposing since Serena was the Tower Master.”
He must be asking to lower the hurdle of the character test conducted at the Magic Tower. This could be inferred from the conversation Sage and Magnus had at the dock yesterday.
This kindhearted fellow was dying of pity for those who couldn’t escape the tower due to the stringent tests. Especially for Yuri, whom he’d raised and who’d reached the rank of Archmage, yet was destined to be bound to the tower for life—he must find it unbearable. Until now, this protest was something he could take or leave, but now that a sore finger was involved, he’d reached a point where he couldn’t back down.
“I’ve heard Magnus’s opinion well. Sage, are you willing to accept this?”
“Absolutely not! Magnus, you too, and the Doctor—you all went around with that woman Celin! Because of that woman! And because of other worthless Archmages besides her, how much did Grandmother and Maria suffer! Having witnessed that with my own eyes, you should be grateful I didn’t raise the cutoff score!”
“At the very least, consider granting freedom under guardian supervision. Yuri is far too pitiful as things stand.”
“You’re saying the same thing as Grandmother Serena! And Grandmother was so lenient, yet you don’t even know how far Celin went!”
“Celin and Yuri are not in the same category!”
“What confidence do you have that he won’t become like Celin! Don’t tell me you’ll vouch for him! Grandmother at least had the power to control others through force! You haven’t even reached that level!”
My, Papa is making such perfectly reasonable points that I find myself quite flustered.
The two of them bickered back and forth but ultimately failed to reach a compromise, so they decided to settle it by fighting and follow the victor’s opinion, then began searching for a location to use as a battlefield.
A battlefield… If it were close to Aleine’s capital, there would be casualties, which Magnus wouldn’t want either. When I suggested contacting Noitram to find completely abandoned land, Magnus calmed his anger and thanked me for my cooperation.
“That fool is causing you much trouble, Young Duke. You came all this way especially for our Yuri, and I’m at a loss for how to express my gratitude.”
“Not at all. I owe Papa much in my daily life as well. This is nothing but a drop in the bucket compared to the kindness you’ve shown me.”
Though the negotiations had failed, I hoped that if we met again in the future, we could smile and meet once more. Having set a date for our next meeting, we exchanged a beautiful farewell and concluded the talks.
“This is a modest gift, but it’s a specialty from Adelheid Tower.”
Ah, those boxes that were packed in the luggage Yuri had unloaded from the Lucilucil Ship. Did this person really bring gifts while coming to negotiate with people from an opposing faction? Just how kind are you?!
“Oh my. We haven’t prepared anything.”
“It’s fine. I’m grateful to have been able to see the people Yuri so wanted to meet.”
And you really do love Yuri. I heard you created an underworld and a salt desert for one child—you’re even more devoted than to your own son.
The souvenirs he brought were quite substantial in quantity, so I had Aster carry them all and called for Jack.
“Jack Brown, bring me that thing.”
I made a hand signal and covered my mouth, and Jack understood, quickly bringing me what I wanted.
“No, Young Duke. I prepared it of my own accord. There’s no need to feel burdened….”
Ah, I’m not feeling burdened at all.
After reassuring Magnus, I poured the drug onto the cloth Jack had brought and covered his nose and mouth. Exactly five seconds later, Magnus lost consciousness and went limp, while Yuri was simply stunned by the sudden turn of events.
This drug was the same one whose effectiveness I’d already proven through Glen. The effect was instantaneous, and it probably wouldn’t be fatal. Probably.
“Janet and Leon, hold back Yuri and buy time! Aster, move the remaining luggage! The rest of us, to the carriage!”
I didn’t want casualties either. Losing people to pointless fighting would be my loss! Whether from Aleine or Cerepia, all the Magic Tower members would ultimately become my tools, and I didn’t want a single sacrifice. So the only most peaceful method available to us was obvious.
Kidnap Magnus, the Alliance Leader! This person—the highest-caliber individual of the Cerepia Tower Alliance, the one who binds the Tower Masters together, and someone precious beyond measure to them—would become the perfect leverage once he fell into my hands.
If I act rashly, who knows what I might do to Magnus—so what could they possibly do in return? The fact that they showed up alone on enemy territory in the first place was essentially Magnus declaring that I should kidnap him, do whatever I pleased with him, and make him mine.
In a situation where victory is mine the moment I take Magnus, only a madman would start a magical duel! This is the height of foolishness!
“Magnus! Give Magnus back to me! You villains!”
Why did you come alone to this remote island in the first place?! I didn’t force you! Don’t underestimate human malice, you righteous mages! People will abandon all principles to win!
“Board! Jack, shove Magnus into the corner and load the cannon! Lucilucil, fire away to your heart’s content! Papa, open the hatch and keep watch! The driver’s visibility is limited!”
“The driving! Rosalite! The original driver has already evacuated, hasn’t he!”
“Tank driving is a lady’s accomplishment!”

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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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