Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 87

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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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“What exactly does this description entail….”
“Over 180 centimeters tall with a striking build, dressed entirely in black. The face wasn’t visible in the darkness, but witnesses report he’s highly skilled, wielding multiple weapon types with ease.”
Wow. That certainly does sound like Jack.
But he wasn’t caught red-handed at the scene, and I can’t simply hand him over. The Duke’s House has its own position to maintain.
“Jack isn’t the type to do something like that.”
“I didn’t expect you to hand over the culprit, given that he serves the Duke’s House.”
“Well, he’s not even the culprit, supposedly.”
“I merely hoped you might offer him a subtle warning to exercise restraint going forward….”
“Jack isn’t someone who would kill an innocent civilian!”
I slammed the table and shouted, and the Security Chief responded as though conceding the point. Yet it was clear he harbored no genuine intention of backing down—he repeatedly pressed his subordinates to deliver that warning before withdrawing.
That old fool treats Jack like a criminal through and through.
“Aster. Bring Jack here at once.”
“Should I turn him over to the Public Security Bureau?”
“No!”
Why are you so eager to send Jack away too?
…Though I suppose you two usually can’t wait to be rid of each other anyway.
“Tell him to come alone to the Printing House—this isn’t for others to hear.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Aster saluted smartly and left to fetch Jack.
I said that, but honestly, even I couldn’t think of anyone else fitting that description besides Jack. Tall, dressed in black, skilled with multiple weapons, capable of killing a Public Security Bureau agent in an instant—it had to be Jack.
“….”
Now that I think about it, Jack has been going out at odd hours lately, supposedly to walk Peter….
No, no. Bad thoughts, bad thoughts! Rosalite, don’t think like that!
I crossed into the Printing House and paced anxiously, my mind churning. I believe it isn’t Jack, but what if it really is? If it were him, there must be a reason. I haven’t assigned him any work lately, so maybe stress accumulated and he….
No, even so, he’s not someone who would kill an innocent person. What if the target was a criminal? Yes. That’s possible. He delivered divine retribution on behalf of the state. That must be it. That’s the only explanation.
“Young Lady, I’ve apprehended the culprit!”
Well, he says that even though the culprit supposedly isn’t him.
Just as I’d reached my own conclusion, the Printing House door burst open and Aster strode in confidently, gripping Jack by the hair.
Jack, who had been hurling curses at Aster, spotted me and fell silent mid-tirade, then shifted to more measured language to berate Aster instead.
“You crazy bastard, let go!”
“Shut it, you serial killer!”
“Why am I a serial killer, you pig!”
“Why are you suddenly complimenting me! How embarrassing!”
I’ve said it countless times—that’s not a compliment, Aster. Besides, I specifically told you to bring Jack alone, yet here you are in the Printing House.
“Good work, Aster. I need to speak with him privately, so you can leave now.”
“…Pardon? I didn’t catch that?”
“Get out.”
I waved my hand dismissively, and Aster’s sullen expression quickly transformed into a salute before he departed the Printing House. I wasn’t certain what had wounded Aster’s pride, but the Unknown Woman had kicked Jack’s shin before leaving, so it took considerable time to restrain Jack from lunging at Aster in murderous fury.
“Huff, huff—why, exactly, do you two have such terrible relations?”
“It’s the inevitable destiny of those who trained together, Young Lady.”
“Leon and I don’t have bad relations.”
“Then perhaps you weren’t truly trained together.”
“Hmph.”
Half-siblings or not, the boy had quite the mouth on him.
I rose onto my toes and struck Jack’s head soundly before deciding to broach the matter at hand. Glancing around the Printing House, I confirmed we were alone—Ram Bart wouldn’t arrive for some time yet.
“Listen, Jack, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”
“Yes, please speak.”
“You’ve been taking Peter out for walks every night lately, haven’t you?”
“Yes. If I took Peter out during the day, it would startle people, wouldn’t it?”
Indeed, Jack possessed such thoughtfulness for others’ sensibilities—truly a kindhearted boy. Because his consideration was so admirable, I nodded approvingly before launching directly into the matter. If Jack was truly good-natured, he would answer me honestly.
“But here’s the thing—the timing of your nightly walks coincides perfectly, almost suspiciously so, with people dying every single night.”
“Pardon?”
“The perpetrator’s description—tall, dressed in black, skilled with various weapons—when I think about it, it all seems to point to…”
“Are you suspecting me?”
Tsk. Well, it’s not exactly that simple, you understand.
After fumbling through a pathetic string of excuses, I took a deep breath and exhaled before continuing. Some of the stress you’ve accumulated is my responsibility too. So this is the best I can offer you.
“Listen well, Jack Brown. Rocksburg will always be on your side, no matter what happens. If you speak honestly, I swear on my honor that I’ll protect you.”
“That’s suspicion!”
“No, no—it’s not suspicion. Whatever the truth may be, I’m unconditionally on your side.”
“Do I look like someone who would randomly seize innocent people and kill them?!”
“No! Of course not! How many years have we spent together?!”
Why does he keep misinterpreting my words? What I’m saying is that whether Jack killed someone or not, you’ve always been my cherished guard!
Though I spoke my opinion firmly, Jack seemed to think I was blaming him, extracting only the worst implications and letting them fester in his heart. With a resentful and tearful expression, he suddenly grabbed the gas mask hanging at his waist, pulled it over his face, and let out a sharp cry.
“Young Lady, you’re an idiot! A fool! A carnivorous woman who only thinks about meat!”
Well, people have to eat meat, don’t they?!
The boy seemed thoroughly upset, looking ready to storm out of the house at any moment. Remembering the time he’d gone missing before, I panicked and called out to the back of his head with concern.
“Jack Brown! I distinctly told you never to run away again!”
“I’ll be back for dinner!”
So he’s planning to eat out this evening?!
I called after him, but Jack didn’t respond and left anyway. I’d need to inform Brown and the Brown Estate’s permanent staff about his dining arrangements.
Well… Jack would handle it properly on his own, I’m sure.
I dismissed it as unimportant and returned to work. That day, a stack of itemized bills for the alcohol I’d consumed arrived, causing Glen to suffer a nosebleed. I really ought to raise my salary.

◇ ◆ ◇

This was a serious problem. Jack hadn’t shown up for work in five days. According to Brown, he was returning to his room every dawn to sleep, but then he’d leave again and wouldn’t stay home.
Meanwhile, the number of victims continued to grow, so the Public Security Bureau Chief requested another meeting with me, asking if I hadn’t yet been told to exercise restraint, and he broke into a cold sweat before me.
I was breaking into a cold sweat myself. The boy wouldn’t stay home, the victims kept increasing, and if he were caught as the perpetrator in the act, I couldn’t contain it at my level—it seemed I’d have to ask Father for help in a worst-case scenario.
I flatly insisted that Jack wasn’t the culprit and sent the Chief away, then strolled down the Walking Path with a piece of bread in my mouth.
Jack hadn’t shown his face since then, Glen had been subtly avoiding me ever since witnessing the incident with the soup, and nothing was going right.
“Sigh.”
As I sat there chewing bread, lamenting the transience of all things, I heard a commotion from somewhere.
It was from the Rabbit Enclosure. Without even pressing the usual bell, Peter had opened the rectangular Rest Room door by himself and emerged into the wide Open Field, then leaped over the fence and landed before me, thumping the ground with his hind legs.
Kicking up dust, this creature.
“What is it? Have you come to argue Jack’s innocence too?”
“Squeak! Squeak squeak! Squeeeeak! Squeak! Squeeeeeak! Chirp! Screech!”
“Hahaha. I don’t speak rabbit language, you foolish beast.”
“Squeak!”
Seeing him thump the ground with his hind legs even more violently than before, it seemed he actually understood what I was saying. I really wondered where Jack had picked up such a strange rabbit.
Curious about how intelligent the creature was, I tried to pet him, but Peter swatted my hand away with his front paw. At the same moment, Aster swiftly drew his sword, so I prioritized giving an order over examining my hand.
“Stop, Aster. I told you not to kill Jack’s pet.”
“But… that creature attacked the Young Lady first.”
“I said stop.”
It was just a little dirt anyway. I pulled out a handkerchief from my coat pocket and wiped my hand, then handed the soiled handkerchief to Aster.
Aster took it and crumpled it into his pocket, then glared at Peter. His sword hadn’t returned to its sheath yet, as if his murderous intent hadn’t fully dissipated.
“You’re scaring the creature. Put your sword away.”
“If he were easily frightened, he wouldn’t be baring his teeth like that.”
“Peter, you hide your teeth too.”
With my gentle persuasion, Peter concealed his fangs while still thumping the ground with his hind legs. What kind of rabbit had such large canines? It was strange enough that rabbits were carnivorous in the first place.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find out what Jack’s been doing and come back today.”
Since I had no overtime planned today, I could spare some time to go out. I’d lose some sleep, but learning about Jack’s current situation was a small price to pay.
“Since Jack isn’t taking you for walks, run around this training ground more diligently. You’ve gotten fat.”
“Squeak?!”
Father had been giving him so many snacks that the creature had become quite plump. When I pointed this out, Peter seemed to understand and let out a shocked sound, then began hopping around the Open Field frantically.
Truly, what a remarkable beast.
“Will you be going out tonight, Young Lady?”
“Yes.”
“I shall accompany you.”
“Hmm…”
I certainly needed someone to guard me, but bringing Aster was dangerous. If I happened to encounter Jack while he was in the middle of… doing that… Aster would get excited and drag him straight to the Public Security Bureau. I couldn’t force sworn enemies to meet on a narrow bridge like that.
“No. This time I’ll take Karl or Quill instead. You must be tired—you should rest.”
“I cannot entrust the guard duty to those two. The last time they went out, they got so excited about leaving that they nearly lost the Young Lady.”
You make me feel strange whenever you say something sensible like that.

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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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