Touch My Brother and You Die - Chapter 88

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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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I studied Aster Brown’s grave expression and found an alternative. William was rarely home, and if I took Sage along, I’d probably end up destroying the entire Duchy, and asking William… well, that felt awkward. William belonged to Father, after all.
“If it were Leon, I could rest assured.”
“Hmm? Asterion?”
“Yes. In terms of pure skill alone, he would surpass Jack. Though when Jack resorts to tricks, the situation becomes different.”
Has he grown that much already? Wow. That’s unbelievable. Just the other day he was this tiny?
I couldn’t help but recall Leon as he’d been—barely palm-sized—and found myself skeptical. No matter how much Aster underestimated Jack, this seemed like quite the exaggeration.
“Thank you for thinking so highly of Asterion.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever done that?”
Let’s just say I did.
Anyway, if it’s Asterion, he’d at least have more motivation to protect me than Quill or Karl would. After all, he has a sister complex!
Having reached a compromise with Aster, I finished my walk with the model prisoner and returned to my office. Then I gave Asterion a subtle hint—that after dinner tonight, the two of us should slip out for a bit of business. The boy accepted my proposal, declaring he’d follow me even unto death.

◇ ◆ ◇

Night has fallen. Those following, please confirm each other’s presence.
Having changed into comfortable clothes and arranged to meet in front of the stables, I spotted Asterion approaching from a distance, fully armed, and called for Elizabeth. If we delayed any longer, we might lose Jack. We had to hurry.
“You’re late. Bring your horse out quickly.”
“Pardon?”
Why was he staring blankly at me? The beautiful Asterion, who would turn twenty tomorrow, tilted his head in confusion, and I found my own head tilting in response. The man who had been gazing at me vacantly soon straightened up, scratched his cheek, and spoke with apparent embarrassment.
“That is… I don’t have a horse that I could call my own, sister.”
“What?”
Wait, hold on. Neither Father nor I have ever bought him a horse?!
I was startled and asked what he used for riding practice then. The beautiful Asterion, who would turn twenty tomorrow, replied that he simply borrowed whatever horse was available in the stables for practice, and since he had no particular reason to go out, he’d never felt the need to purchase one.
No, really now. He’s nearly twenty years old—how can he not have his own horse? What if he suddenly needed to go somewhere urgently?
“I see. I should have paid better attention. I’m sorry.”
“Not at all. It was my own lack of foresight.”
“Then for now, the Duke’s horse is docile, so you can borrow that and—”
“Aren’t we trying to follow Jack Brown anyway? Since we don’t need speed, couldn’t we just ride Elizabeth together?”
“Hmm? Elizabeth?”
“Yes. We need to tail him secretly, and two horses would make too much noise with their hoofbeats.”
“That makes sense.”
Finding his reasoning sound, I consented and ordered Elizabeth to take the bit and sit. But for some reason, the horse refused to obey.
“Sit! Elizabeth! Sit!”
Neigh.
Why was she acting like this today? I tried to soothe Elizabeth by stroking her neck, but she only continued backing away.
After retreating about six paces, she finally sat, so I quickly mounted. I gestured for Asterion to get on as well, but this stubborn horse suddenly reared up on her own.
I only took a few steps back before it finally agreed to let me sit, so I quickly climbed on, and gestured for Asterion to get on too, but this stubborn horse just stood up on its own and refused to budge.
“Oh dear, oh dear, Elizabeth. You must behave yourself!”
A soft whinny.
Why on earth was she acting like this? I’d found it odd, but now wasn’t the time to indulge Elizabeth’s whims.
I seized the reins and brought Elizabeth to a halt, then extended my hand to Asterion. At that, Elizabeth turned her head away with obvious displeasure and whinnied again.
“Don’t tell me….”
A soft whinny.
“Asterion isn’t your type?”
A sharp snort!
How strange—she’d been perfectly content carrying the Crown Prince and Glen, yet she refused this one.
“Elizabeth, just this once, won’t you carry him? The poor fellow has no other mount.”
A whinny and a click of her teeth.
“What, are you threatening me? I’ll take Glen out for a ride next time, so bear with me just this once.”
Another whinny.
“Then how about a visit to the Royal Palace? Once I go there, I’ll be sure to bring you along to see the Crown Prince.”
A soft, uncertain whinny.
So you prefer His Highness to Glen, do you? This creature judges men by their faces alone—that’s going to cause trouble someday.
I stroked Elizabeth’s neck and mane soothingly, coaxing her with promises of a palace visit before extending my hand once more to Asterion.

Asterion grasped my hand, and with a sudden surge of strength, he sprang upward and landed neatly upon Elizabeth’s back.
…What was that? I’d only seen something like that in martial arts films…. Was that lightness of body? That technique of treading on air itself?
“I’m ready whenever you are, Sister.”
“Yes, yes.”
Yet despite his graceful mounting, Asterion clung so tightly to my back that he buried his head against me, which made me laugh. He needn’t grip so desperately—Elizabeth wouldn’t throw him.
“Now then, Elizabeth. Let’s move swiftly and quietly. We’re tailing someone, you see.”
A questioning whinny.
The mare turned her head sharply and blinked at me as if questioning my sanity. She understood my words well enough—why must she always be so contrary?
“Go.”
At my command, Elizabeth hesitated as if deliberating how to move her legs, then began trotting cautiously. Her hoofbeats clattered, but they were quieter than usual.
In any case, she always does what I ask. Elizabeth’s abilities are truly remarkable.

Leon and I cautiously rode toward the Brown Estate, and I watched Jack emerge from the house fully armed—even wielding Deathside, a weapon he rarely used—before he vaulted over the nearby wall and disappeared.
What kind of trick was that bastard pulling now? The Duke’s Residence wall stood three times a man’s height, so I doubted he could clear it, but the man took a running start with his machete against the ground, leaped upward, swung his weapon once more to embed the blade into the wall’s crest, and pulled himself up with sheer strength before vanishing in an instant.
Even having witnessed it directly, I couldn’t comprehend what I’d just seen. Were they all performing like this when I wasn’t around? Why was everyone acting out a martial arts film?
“Sister, we should turn back and leave.”
“Y-yes, you’re right.”
Snapped back to reality by Leon’s words, I turned the horse’s head and hurried toward the main gate. Karl or Quill—I couldn’t tell which—made a fuss about where I was going in the middle of the night, but I coldly brushed them off and followed Jack’s trail.
My apologies, whichever child you are. I’m occupied at the moment.
At first I ran along the wall, but the area behind the Brown Estate’s perimeter wasn’t a single path. As I hesitated at a fork, uncertain which way to go, Asterion’s voice reached me from behind.
“Let’s try the alley. Someone carrying such a large weapon wouldn’t likely stroll down the main street.”
Even being just one year younger, the boy was sharp.
I accepted Asterion’s suggestion and ran down the alley. But no matter how far I went, I found no trace of Jack. Had I lost him?
“But why are you following Jack Brown?”
Right. I hadn’t explained that when I brought him along. But I couldn’t very well tell him the truth either. It was, well, a matter of honor—the honor of both Jack and the Duke’s House.
“Never mind.”
“I see?”
“That’s right.”
Asterion accepted my answer more easily than I’d expected, then made an irresponsible remark about us finding him eventually as we went, before wrapping his arms tightly around my waist. Was this boy treating this like a casual outing?
“Could you at least try to help search?”
“If it’s merely an effort, I shall attempt it.”
“Fine. Just pretend then.”
So stop rubbing your face against the back of my head. Wasn’t this ticklish at all?
I surveyed the surroundings while carrying Asterion clinging to my back like gum. Elizabeth, who remained perfectly attuned to my thoughts, mimicked my head-turning motions while scanning the area, then suddenly perked up her ears.
Elizabeth let out a warning whinny, performed a small jump in place to make me grip the reins tightly, then began galloping urgently.
“What is it? Did you find Jack?”
Whinny!
This creature seemed eager to finish the job quickly and get Asterion off my back.
I told Asterion to hold on tight and let Elizabeth lead us in the direction she wanted. She bypassed the alley entirely, heading toward the brightly lit main street lined with gas lamps, and we emerged onto Blue Diamond Jewel Street—the third most expensive land in our Territory.
There, the sound of metal clashing rang out. And moments later, a man in a black coat wielded Deathside, cleaving a Public Security Bureau officer in two.
Blood sprayed like a fountain, and the fallen man, unable to mount even a single proper resistance, crumpled to the ground.
Did he think I’d spent money educating him to attack innocent people in broad daylight?
Furious to my core, I leaped from the horse and called out to the man in the black coat.
“Jack Brown! I did not raise you this way!”
At my angry voice, the man in the black coat’s eyes gleamed as he rushed toward me. As he ran, he shook off the blood and spun his machete to strike downward, and I realized with gritted teeth that he no longer recognized his own master.
So this is how this life ends—so pathetically.
Even as I thought this, his attack seemed to pass slightly beside me. I hadn’t dodged, nor had anyone helped me dodge, and in truth, the man didn’t appear to intend attacking me at all.
Most importantly, from the corner of my eye, the man’s features looked different from Jack’s. Jack was never that handsome! And this man had blonde hair, not dark! It gleamed brilliantly!
“Sister! Watch out!”
The man’s charge was directed not at me but at Asterion. As the man swung Deathside, Asterion drew his longsword to block, twisted the blade to deflect the attack, and pressed forward against his opponent.
I’d thought there would be an opening after such a large weapon swing, but I was mistaken. The man produced a dagger from somewhere and wielded it menacingly, creating distance between them.
The man pulled the machete from the ground and gripped it with both hands again, completely ignoring my presence behind him as he shouted at Asterion.
“I have no interest in the weak! Worry about yourself instead!”
Why does this feel so familiar? I’m certain I’ve seen this person before.

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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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