The One Who Tries to Take, The One Who Tries to Protect

What Hassell Liard hated the most was his only brother.

It’s a truly unfortunate story, but Hassell and Kyle were like water and oil.

Their upbringing was like that, their personalities were like that, and their talents were like that.

Born into the prestigious martial arts family of Liard, Hassell showed talent with the sword from a young age, while Kyle was a younger brother who couldn’t even properly use his vast magical power and failed to become even a mediocre talent.

Therefore, Hassell grew up being loved, and Kyle grew up without being loved.

Of course, if you were to ask if Hassell’s talent was great enough to cover the world, it might not have been.

But at least he was more outstanding compared to his only rival, his younger brother, and his father, Dver, was quite satisfied.

It means he wasn’t a genius, but he was a bright student.

However, he had too much to gain compared to his mediocre talent.

With the power of the Liard family on his back, and the position of the next head of the family added on top of that, he could live lavishly wherever he went.

When he officially entered society and met the young ladies of other families, there were quite a few who threw themselves at him first.

Therefore, at some point, Hassell thought this was a natural order.

He thought that his talentless younger brother was naturally a being to be trampled under his feet, and that he was a being to fly high.

But a single defeat took everything from him.

,Something must be wrong. Damn it, how could Kyle that bastard…!,

If Hassell were to pick the most humiliating and shocking moment in his life, it would be the day he competed with his younger brother for the position of the next head of the family.

He was sure that Kyle had used some kind of black magic, that it didn’t make sense for him to lose like this. He couldn’t sleep all night, denying reality all day, and he remembers falling asleep as if fainting only after seeing the sunrise.

And after that day, everything changed.

His younger brother, who couldn’t even show his face at the breakfast table, suddenly started showing his face, and the foods that always catered to Dver’s or Hassell’s tastes were changed to suit Kyle’s tastes.

Of course, his father, Dver, would have seen that phenomenon in a good light, but Hassell couldn’t.

Everything was disappearing one by one.

The small and big things that made him up and supported him were being broken one by one.

Just as cracks were forming, an incident occurred.

One night, he happened to attend a social gathering party with an acquaintance. Hassell overheard two men talking.

,By the way, Hassell, that guy. He used to be busy bragging in front of others, but he’s been quiet lately, huh?,

,That’s right. I heard he even had the position of the next head of the family taken away by his younger brother.,

,What?,

As soon as Hassell heard the first words exchanged between the two, veins popped out on his forehead.

He had the position of the next head of the family taken away.

They had touched his most sensitive reverse scale.

,I heard too. Hehehe, even just the other day, he was saying, ‘If I become the head of the family, I will further revive the family…’ and just listing plans that wouldn’t work.,

,I guess he was relieved, thinking he would naturally take over. In the meantime, his younger brother must have caught up.,

,That’s right, Kyle-gongja is amazing. I happened to run into him in the duchy before and talked to him, and his atmosphere was very mature. I could feel him being careful with every word he said, you know?,

,The head of the family should be someone like that. To think that he has even more outstanding talent than the darling of the Drake family, how did such a rough stone get buried at the bottom? Tsk. I feel bad for him.,

Palpitation. Hassell’s clenched right hand vibrated violently, revealing its owner’s mood.

It was fortunate that it was his bare hand, but if his beloved sword had been in his hand, he would have cut off their necks in an instant.

,Damn bastards.,

Soon, the anger that had lost its destination was poured out on his innocent younger brother.

To him, it seemed that all the disgrace he was experiencing was Kyle’s fault.

After barely calming down his anger, there was a figure who approached him as he lonely moved his steps to his room after the party ended.

,…Hassell Liard, won’t you join us?,

,Who the hell are you? You look suspicious.,

Hassell showed his wariness and distanced himself from the person who was talking to him while covering his whole body with a robe and mask.

But regardless of what attitude he showed, as if it was none of his business, the man in the robe continued to speak.

,I’ve heard the story. You even had the position of head of the family taken away by your only brother, and now you’re in a position to hear people whispering behind your back, right?,

,Get lost before you want to die. I’m in a very bad mood today.,

,I have something I want to ask before I leave. Are you really satisfied with the current situation?,

,…Ha, is that even a question?,

Hassell breathed roughly, as if the question that the stranger had thrown at him, piercing the core, was not worth answering.

Satisfied? Did he say satisfied now?

There’s no way that’s possible.

In the first place, everything that ungrateful younger brother was enjoying was originally his.

He lost all of that, so if there’s anyone who’s satisfied with their current safety and lives like a loser, they’re just a piece of trash that’s worse than a loser.

,Well, that was a foolish question. Then I’ll ask the question again.,

Hmm. The man, who paused for a moment between the story, cleared his throat and continued.

,Then don’t you want to get everything back? I mean, don’t you want to tear down that wicked younger brother with your own hands, who dares to try to move forward alone, surpassing his brother without even knowing his place?,

,Are you telling me to betray the Liard family? You’re a funny guy.,

Hassell’s first words to that were, like before, in a tone as if it wasn’t worth answering.

That’s because Hassell only had hatred for Kyle. He didn’t hate or loathe the entire Liard family.

Although he might not be as great as his father, Dver, who thinks of the family more than his own safety, he wasn’t such a fool that he would forget what he had enjoyed because he was ‘Hassell of the Liard family’.

Also, what he wanted to achieve was always within the Liard family.

But are you telling him to betray such a Liard family with his own hands? That’s a joke that even a passing dog would laugh at.

,I guess you didn’t understand. When did I ever say to you, ‘Abandon the Liard family’?,

,Then do you have another meaning?,

,Yes. All I want is the heads of Kyle Liard and Sylvia Eleanor, whom he protects. If that’s the case, there’s no need to abandon the name of the Liard family, right?,

,That’s a ridiculous sophistry.,

To kill his younger brother with his own hands, that’s the same as abandoning the name of the Liard family.

Although Hassell hated Kyle enough to kill him, he wasn’t crazy enough to carry out such a heinous act without hesitation.

But the man’s following words kept seeping into his ears like the temptation of the devil.

,Then are you going to fall into a loser, having everything taken away by your younger brother like now?,

,……,

,Think about it, Hassell Liard. You’re just avenging your younger brother who took everything from you, and that’s never a heinous act. Does heinousness exist in getting back what you were supposed to have in the first place?,

,…Get lost, you bastard.,

It’s so absurd that it’s an outright sophistry. Hassell knew that fact better than anyone else.

But he kept touching his reverse scale, and the tone that seemed to say that he could get everything back if only Kyle disappeared from the world tickled his insides.

,As I said, I have no intention of harming you. No, rather, if you become the next head of the Liard family and continue to cooperate with us, we will gladly lend you our strength.,

,Strength, what the hell are you guys that you can put those words in your mouth so carelessly?,

,We are light and truth. We are the beings who will one day hold this empire in our hands.,

Showing his fist and saying that firmly, he would have snorted and turned away in general.

But seeing him utter absurd words in a voice filled with firm will, as if he truly believed it, Hassell felt his heart move.

,…Even if I cooperate in killing Kyle, that bastard. Can you really promise that there will be no disadvantages for me?,

,That’s obvious. No, rather, we are hoping that you will rise to the position of head of the family. Hassell Liard.,

He wants him to become the head of the family.

That one word struck Hassell’s heart.

After having everything taken away by his younger brother, the story that he had never heard from anyone was whispered in his ear again.

,Okay, good. I’ll play the puppet role as you guys want. Instead, give me the sure power to defeat him.,

,The deal is done.,

In that way, one man followed the same path that his younger brother had walked before, and was stained with evil.

***

Kyle’s gaze, which was coldly examining the black figures scattered on the floor, eventually reached Hassell.

There were many things he wanted to say.

Why did you fall so far, why did even you become stained with evil?

Even if Kyle remembers the oppression and humiliation he had received from Hassell, it would be absurd to even feel this pitiful feeling.

Nevertheless, is it inevitable that they are blood relatives?

Or was it because he was regretting his mistakes and trying to find the light again, and he felt sorry for him as he followed the path he had walked?

He couldn’t know the reason.

,…Hyung-nim, why are you even trying to be stained with evil?,

,Stained with evil, that’s a funny thing to say. Younger brother. Does that mean that the things you took from me were not evil?,

,Is that all? Is it because I took the position of head of the family from you, because I received the applause that you should have received instead. Is that all you’re trying to harm me and Sylvia for?,

,Yes, why? Is that not enough?,

Goooo.

Looking at Hassell, who was taking provocative words, Kyle closed his eyes tightly.

The overflowing magic power was gradually taking shape, and as if revealing Kyle’s inner self, it began to surge and fiercely glare at Hassell.

,Whether it’s enough or not is not a matter for me to judge. However…,

And when he opened his eyes again, only coldness lingered in Kyle’s eyes.

,…If that’s the whole reason for trying to harm her, don’t expect me to have mercy.,