episode_0048

After the competitive opening ceremony was successfully completed, the group draw was held immediately. Gilbert’s group was scheduled to be held at the 3rd gymnasium.

The start time was an hour later, which was a consideration to allow time for conversation between the guests and cadets who participated in the opening ceremony of the competition. It was a consideration for the Academy’s guests who came a long way to watch the competition.

Gilbert also met with the earl’s representative from the Hart family.

When Gilbert unlocked the custom character, he was set as the eldest son of the Hart family, but originally the Hart family had one son and one daughter. The eldest was Glinda Oz Hart, now her younger brother, and the second was Dorothy Flamma Hart.

And among them, the one who came as the earl’s representative was Dorothy Flamma Hart, who was drinking tea in an elegant manner in front of him.

She was a fellow character who boasted high performance in Tactical Combat. Because he wanted to become a knight, he had been training since he was young, so his initial abilities were outstanding enough to be in the top tier.

She was also a beautiful woman recognized throughout the empire, and her blond hair, bright red eyes, and straightforward personality, unique to the Count of Hart, were attractive. At the same time, as the dating route was opened, many users targeted her.

In particular, if the main character Ian’s personality was set as fair and fair, it was easy to win her favor because she aimed to be a knight with honor. On the other hand, if you set it to a mean level, your likability will sink to the bottom and it will be absolutely impossible to recruit you as a colleague, let alone go on a dating route.

In other words, it was said that there was a high possibility that Dorothy hated Gilbert, who was known to be a mean and dishonorable son of a bitch.

Gilbert did not hastily say anything in front of Dorothy, who was drinking tea in silence. Even though he was my younger brother, I was cautious because it was my first time seeing him in person.

When he first opened his eyes in the Lithuanian estate, all he did was lock himself in his room and figure out a way to survive in this world, except for confronting the Count of Lithuania. He had never seen Glinda or Dorothy, who were supposed to be his sisters.

How much time has passed?

After the time had passed to finish the cup of tea, Dorothy finally spoke first.

“It’s been a long time.”

“I see.”

It was quite informal for something to be said to an older brother, but that was her unique way of speaking. Of course, it wasn’t that she couldn’t distinguish between public and private matters, but at least she always used that way of speaking to her older brother Glinda, her exclusive maid Anna, and Ian, whom she had grown to like.

He was a companion character that I liked quite a bit because his performance was good when recruited as a companion and he was passionate when the romance route was opened, but I wondered what it would be like when he took on Gilbert’s body. Because she really hated dishonest people.

“Looking at it again, it’s still strange.”

“Strange?”

“Yes, it’s not like you’re the eldest brother. As always, without being condescending.”

Was that the reason?

I had a vague idea why Dorothy, and not Glinda, had come as the earl’s representative. It seemed like curiosity arose because the behavior of her eldest brother, whom she sincerely detested, was different from before.

And if you think about it a little more, Dorothy had hoped to become a knight since she was a child. At first, it was just because he was cool, but after meeting Brianna, he admired her and truly wanted to become a knight.

However, if the eldest brother, who was not good enough to be the knight she wanted to be, was promoted to cadet status and became the exclusive disciple of Brianna, whom she deeply admired, it would have been rather strange for him not to come.

“So you came instead of Glinda? To check.”

“Saying both. And what is that tone of voice? It was originally very frivolous. Brother, do you know that’s strange?”

“Was it better to be frivolous?”

“No. Honestly, this one is better. But it’s creepy that the person talking like this is my brother.”

It was said with a smile and casually, but the true meaning was not like that. I felt like sighing at the sight of him not hiding his disgust.

“Is it really necessary to have tea with someone who is creepy?”

“Of course. Since I came here as my father’s representative, I have to do things even if I don’t want to do them. And I said I wanted to take on this role as a substitute, but I can tolerate that level of inconvenience.”

“Then isn’t that enough?”

“Not at all. I have a lot to ask you.”

I drank black tea. As soon as the teacup ran out, Anna, the dedicated maid next to her, naturally poured black tea into the teacup.

“Brother. How did you become a knight?”

“Don’t you know?”

“You mean your brother took out seven Resistance giants by himself? How can I believe that? An edict came from the imperial family, but I don’t know you?”

Dorothy’s expression, which had been smiling until now, hardened. The corners of his mouth lowered, his eyes rose sharply, and he glared at Gilbert. As if he was going to reveal everything that was hidden inside.

“Brother. Let’s be honest. What have you done? I don’t understand how someone who had never moved a giant god soldier before while in the territory could win the Demeia Academy entrance mock battle and take on seven giant god soldiers single-handedly.”

“I just did it because I could.”

“First of all, your humor has improved a lot since we stopped seeing each other. I did it because I could… Okay, okay. Let’s say that’s true. Then I have another question to ask. How on earth did you become Brianna’s exclusive disciple? A lousy person like my brother.”

For an instant, hostility soared. Gilbert seemed to be able to see the jealousy and hostility pouring out of Dorothy.

This seemed to be the most important reason why she came to serve as the count’s representative. It seemed like he was excited to be the only student of Professor Brianna, the person he admired.

If it had been someone other than Gilbert, he would have been envious, but he would not have shown such hostility. Even if she was jealous, it was Dorothy who immediately thought it was because she was inferior.

But if that person was Gilbert, the story was a little different. Considering Dorothy’s distaste for gangsters like Gilbert, she couldn’t help but feel very uncomfortable that he had become Professor Brianna’s exclusive student.

He could have seemed like a sinner who had stepped into a sanctuary he was not supposed to enter.

but.

“Dorothy Flama Heart.”

Not long ago, the sum of authority and leadership gained through subjugation battles exceeded 130. What he meant was that he could use the limited passive skill Prestige that she showed him the day he visited Seraphina to ask for permission to become Professor Brianna’s exclusive student.

He crushed Dorothy with his strength skill to the point where no physical damage occurred.

“I already know that you hate me. I have no intention of saying anything about it. Because all of that is true. But.”

“Sigh…?!”

I gave strength to the last word and raised my prestige skill even more. Dorothy, who had barely made a sound, let out a sound without realizing it.

Anna, who had been watching silently, noticed something strange and tried to move, but was unable to move as Gilbert’s bright red eyes turned to her.

“Do not cross the line. That’s all I have to say.”

Gilbert unlocked his prestige skill, got up and went outside. After Lily, I became attached to Dorothy, but I had bad feelings even before I met her. Thinking that giving up what to give up is good for one’s mental health, I headed to the 3rd training center where the preliminary round of Group 3 would take place.

But while I was on my way to the training ground, a thought occurred to me.

Don’t cross the line. No matter how much his speech changed due to the influence of the original Gilbert, the very fact that he could say something like that was so creepy.

I automatically shuddered at the fact that I had said something that made me sick to my stomach. I thought to myself that I should be careful not to say something like that next time.

***

Dorothy looked at the door to the parlor where Gilbert had left and was able to exhale comfortably only after the door closed. The pressure that felt like a tight grip around my neck disappeared, but the feeling that felt like my breathing was being squeezed did not go away.

“Lady! Are you okay?!”

“Yes. don’t worry. So calm down. Anna.”

She smiled at Anna, who was strangely trying to protect herself, and raised her teacup.

Anna may not have noticed, but her hands were shaking slightly. The black tea had already cooled down, but when I took a sip, the aroma filled my mouth and my condition felt a little better.

Is that really your first brother? Not someone else?

I saw it with my own eyes, but I couldn’t believe it.

She had seen Gilbert all her life, and although she was a family member, she judged him to be poor. There was no dignity to be found, and what he did was limited. He’s a scumbag who only knows what to do, harassing women and harassing Young Ji-min.

There were a lot of rumors about this and that, but they didn’t cross a critical line and we tolerated it as a family, but today that perception was shattered.

From the first reading of the oath to the current meeting, the Gilbert she knew was not there. As if someone else had taken over Gilbert’s body, his words and actions were filled with dignity and he was full of leisure.

I wondered if it was acting, so I persistently asked. In the end, he showed hostility, but on the contrary, he was overwhelmed. All she could do was say nothing and receive Gilbert’s cold gaze in a suffocating state.

Dorothy was very upset about that. I felt so ashamed that I had been overwhelmed by my oldest brother, whom I had only thought of as a terrible idiot.

But it had already happened. She drank the cooled black tea in one go and shook off the dull feeling. At least what I learned from this conversation was that Gilbert was not incompetent.

In that case, I had to see what my skills in handling the giant god soldier would be like this time. The outstanding skill that is said to have killed seven giant god soldiers.

“Let’s go. Anna. I have to watch my brother’s game.”

“I will take you there. Miss.”

Let’s see how well he does.

Dorothy, accompanied by Anna, moved to the third training hall where Gilbert was heading. In the living room, where both people were gone, only two empty teacups remained.