Ch.168168. Brothers (2)

“Would you not spare some time for me, brother? Mother has given her orders.”

The appearance of a new character naturally drew attention.

After clearly taking in the cracks beginning to form in Allen Kallia’s mask,

I turned around to look at the person who had changed the atmosphere of the situation.

‘Calling Allen brother, and mentioning mother’s orders…’

This must be none other than the third son of the Marquisate.

Unlike the second son who was visibly putting on airs, the third son was different.

Unlike his small second brother, he had a tall stature and sharper eyes.

There was not a trace of the affected cuteness or pretense that could be found in the second son.

He seemed more similar in character to the eldest daughter, Eunice Kallia, than to his brother.

Despite his youthful appearance that still showed signs of adolescence, he possessed a subtle charisma and coolness.

“What do you mean mother gave orders? I haven’t heard anything about this.”

“She just issued her first command to me moments ago.”

“Hmm… Mother gave orders…”

Finally, Allen Kallia’s slightly upturned lips began to droop.

“Abel. Is this quite urgent?”

“Rather than urgent… it’s more like notification of what mother has already decided.”

Abel Kallia’s sharp gaze swept over Sione and me.

After briefly greeting us with a short bow, he returned his attention to his brother.

“Would you like to hear about it briefly right here?”

Allen took a moment to consider Abel’s question.

He eventually responded by nodding his head to his brother’s words.

Abel Kallia approached him and spoke in a noticeably quieter voice.

The brothers moved away from us to have their conversation.

I circulated my mana to capture the information passing between them more clearly.

My senses awakened, and my enhanced hearing allowed their voices to register more distinctly in my mind.

“Starting today, all of your Third Army troops stationed in the western part of the domain, as well as the knights dispatched from the First Army, must return here from the west, or to the border.”

“What?”

“That’s what I was told. I haven’t heard much detail myself, but—”

Abel’s black pupils gleamed sharply.

“Mother mentioned in passing… that security in the western region has been neglected because you haven’t fulfilled your duties.”

“Then the reason you came is…”

“Mother has ordered me to take charge of western security in your place.”

In the current situation, Sione and I could only watch them from the side.

Abel, partially hidden by Allen from our perspective, maintained the same calm expression as before, addressing Allen Kallia in a steady, even tone.

And Allen Kallia, whose back was all we could see, seemed quite displeased with what he heard from his brother.

He erased the affected, flirtatious movements that had consistently characterized his demeanor, and quietly stared at his brother.

‘Security in the western region has been neglected—’

…Indeed.

We had traveled through the western roads of the Kallia Marquisate to get here.

Along the way, we encountered no small number of monsters corrupted by Magia, more than ten of them.

And occasionally, looking out the carriage window, we could see Elisa with blood-stained fangs prowling near the carriage.

For so many monsters, especially those carrying Magia, to be so close to a carriage road used by merchants…

Rather than being neglected under the second son’s supervision, it might not be a bad idea to have the third son manage it instead.

‘…It’s a bit suspicious.’

Perhaps I’m reading too much into it.

Just now, in that fleeting moment.

Starting with the distinctive pressure I felt coming from that parasitic brother…

As Sione mentioned yesterday, there was something off and suspicious about him.

…Perhaps the monster situation might also be connected to Allen Kallia in some small way.

Just as I thought this,

Allen Kallia’s voice finally reached us.

“I think we should discuss this matter separately. Abel, would you like to come to my room to talk?”

Abel firmly shook his head at his brother’s words without a moment’s hesitation.

“Let’s go to my room instead, which is closer. A knight who received mother’s orders with me is already waiting there.”

“Then… alright.”

“Please wait for me in my room first.”

“What about you, Abel?”

“I have something I need to say to our guests over there. I’ll follow shortly.”

“Is that so? Then I have no choice. I’ll go ahead.”

Allen turned around sharply with his hands behind his back.

Feigning cheerfulness, he approached Sione.

“Hehe, this is troublesome… Things have gotten complicated. I’m afraid I won’t be able to guide you to the garden. I’m sorry, my lady.”

“It’s fine. Your work comes first. We’ll look around on our own and then return.”

“Yes! The pond in the Marquisate’s garden is quite beautiful, so you should definitely visit it.”

“Yes. I understand.”

After finishing their brief conversation, Allen Kallia turned his gaze to Chloe Anette, who had been standing like a statue near us.

The knight shifted her feet slightly under his focused attention.

“Let’s go now, Chloe.”

“As you command.”

Allen Kallia turned around sharply again and began walking away.

At this moment, only his younger brother standing face to face with him could see his expression.

Allen’s face had become chillingly cold, staring straight ahead without emotion.

Like a doll.

With an icy, expressionless face devoid of any feeling, he clearly left his position.

Finally, the third son, Abel Kallia, approached Sione and me.

“I am honored to meet the distinguished guests of the Sianella County. I’ve heard much about you from Friel Arielt.”

It seems he has some connection to Friel Arielt as well.

Sione and I spent a brief moment exchanging formal introductions with him.

He said he had heard about us from Friel. He must have heard quite good things, as his demeanor was much more friendly than when he was dealing with his brother.

I had thought he was a boy with an infinitely cold impression.

Seeing that he could smile a little, it seems he doesn’t possess a completely frozen heart.

In the midst of our conversation,

As the talk was drawing to a close, he said with a cold expression:

“Lady Sione, Sir Ray. Please be wary of my brother.”

It was Sione who responded to the third son’s words.

“When you say be wary…”

“That is—”

Abel looked around.

Fortunately, there was no one else in the corridor besides us.

He carefully opened his mouth.

“You’ve probably already heard about my brother from Friel, but… so far, anyone who has become unnecessarily deeply involved with my brother has not fared well. Especially in personal matters.”

His voice carried deep sincerity.

“Even my sister and I, who should be his closest family, cannot trust him. Please keep this in mind. Especially—”

Abel closed his eyes for a moment, recalling something.

When his eyelids lifted again, his pupils contained the past he had witnessed.

“You must never enter my brother’s room, even if invited. Everyone who has entered and left my brother’s room has either become a fervent follower… no, a fanatic of my brother, or has met an unfortunate end.”

* * *

“Well then, Abel. Shall we discuss the western security management that mother ordered? Of course, the person there—”

Allen’s eyes rolled to stare intently at the knight standing beside Abel.

“First Army Vice-Captain… Irina as well, right?”

She was the Vice-Captain of the First Army.

Unlike the Captain, she was a knight Allen had not yet been able to win over.

When Allen glared excessively at the Vice-Captain, Abel spoke in a flat tone:

“Is there anything to discuss? We brothers are simply following mother’s orders.”

“…That’s right. We must follow the head of the family’s orders.”

“In the western area where you were in charge of security, more than 60 monsters have appeared in just a few days.”

“……”

“They weren’t ordinary monsters, I hear. All were corrupted by Magia. Moreover… quite a few monsters were also discovered near the village located at the midpoint of the western mountains. Surely your troops are stationed there.”

“……”

“If you were conducting regular patrols or paying attention to security, you would naturally have known about this. With so many monsters appearing, it would be difficult not to notice. And yet.”

Allen pressed his lips tightly shut, and Abel dominated the atmosphere.

“You didn’t submit any reports to central command. This makes it seem like you’ve been extremely negligent with the security and defense of that area. Sir Chloe Anette?”

“Yes, Lord Abel Kallia.”

“Were you aware of this situation in the west?”

“……”

“Unlike our Vice-Captain, I heard that you, like my brother, have recently been focusing on maintaining security in the domain rather than at the border. Especially in the west with my brother. Did you truly not know about this either, Sir Anette?”

“……”

A heavy silence fell.

Both Chloe Anette and Allen Kallia showed signs of not wanting to speak further.

The small ripple of silence they created had now become a large wave sweeping through the room.

In the room filled with stillness,

It was again Abel Kallia who opened his mouth first.

“Monsters contaminated with Magia openly roaming the mountains. If it hadn’t been Friel and the guests of the Count who passed through that carriage road this time, and if they hadn’t informed the Marquisate about this, it could have escalated into a much bigger problem.”

“……”

“Therefore, mother has ordered that I, along with Sir Irina here, take charge of western security instead of you who neglected its management—”

“…?”

“With this opportunity… starting with the deployment of troops from the First Army, I have now been granted the partial military authority that was previously only allowed to the eldest daughter and second son. Cleaning up the west will probably be my first achievement.”

“That means.”

“Yes. Abel Kallia has finally, belatedly, entered the competition for the position of family head. Brother.”

At Abel’s words, Allen’s eyes narrowed.

“Then… it seems we won’t be able to keep smiling at each other from now on, Abel.”

Allen did his best to hold up his drooping lips.

Abel slightly raised the corners of his mouth as he looked at his brother.

“Then I’ll ask you to hand over matters concerning the west, brother.”

Abel Kallia.

His role, with Eunice Kallia stationed in the Great Forest,

Was to check and prevent the second son Allen Kallia’s solo run.

With Friel Arielt and other allies from the Great Forest supporting Abel from behind,

He would become quite an irritating obstacle for Allen.

* * *

In Allen Kallia’s shadow-filled room.

Burying himself in his armchair, he whispered candidly.

“Abel…”

After saying this, Allen Kallia began to stare intently into empty space with eyes full of madness and malice.

“The western region is essential for the divine task bestowed by God—”

His eyeballs rolled.

“This has become quite troublesome.”

He was clearly seeing something in the empty space, reading and understanding it.