episode_0055

Roderick Byron was alone at the Academy.

In fact, it was a natural thing. He doesn’t talk much or at all, he doesn’t approach others first, and even if someone talks to him, he mostly ignores it.

However, thanks to his tall height, appearance, and genius magic skills, he was considered a noble crane rather than an outcast.

Natura’s senior and overall senior, and the only genius in Natura, along with the student council president, who can use death magic.

Roderick Byron is treated specially by professors, and students either look at him with awe or look at him from afar, calling him a being above the clouds.

now.

“Hyung, board game.”

“… … … Go.”

“Hyung, board game.”

“… … Go.”

“Hyung, board game.”

“… … … … … … .”

I was suffering to the point where my head was pounding.

After Kyle saw through his acting yesterday, Roderick was able to fall asleep only after building his own magic barrier and preparing to escape even if Arche’s high-ranking wizard attacked.

Even after that, I couldn’t sleep deeply for fear that the maid would assassinate me.

Because of the water spirit, I skipped washing my face like I always did in the morning and washed it with cleansing magic. Originally, cleansing magic was convenient, but Roderick avoided it because it did not give the feeling of being washed at all.

I left the dormitory like that, keeping my guard up.

Without a maid, a high-ranking wizard, or a water spirit by his side, there was nothing he could do about his younger brother, who was clinging to him with several board games under his arms.

‘I’m going crazy.’

Since there are so many eyes on him, he cannot be openly hostile or attack him, but those guys who are obviously guarding Kyle somewhere are too threatening to take him to a dark place.

So it was best to just ignore it and not respond.

Things changed when Kyle continued to invite board games not only on the way to class but also during break time after lectures.

“I was wondering if it was the same Byron? oh my god. The older brother is the head of the Academy, and the younger brother is the producer of Monopoly? Two brothers are crazy.”

“I saw Kyle Byron at the club yesterday and he came with Roderick. He has a cheerful personality, and he and Roderick seem to be on good terms.”

“But Roderick doesn’t even pay attention? Aren’t you ignoring me?”

“Maybe it’s because he’s my younger brother that I can get so close to him.”

“Amman, but it’s a bit… to keep ignoring it like that. … … .”

Likewise, it was because he had eyes to see.

Roderick is somewhat unconcerned about his reputation within the Academy in that he refuses to approach others, but if it becomes infamous, it becomes a pain. Especially when it comes to the feud with Kyle, who is arguably the most famous person in the Academy at the moment.

The professors who accommodated him may be displeased in many ways, especially since Professor Lukesil, the person who invited Kyle, does not view Roderick favorably due to what happened last time.

Kyle approaches him first, smiling, holding a board game, but what happens to Roderick’s image if he coldly rejects it?

More than that, wouldn’t Kyle be able to have a good image as a younger brother who tries to take care of his older brother?

‘… … Kyle.’

As expected, I should have done well in my first acting. But were honorifics such a big problem?

To be honest, since Roderick had very little personal relationships and had never been close to anyone, he himself did not know what was wrong with acting.

He was an auror and a magic genius, but he was a man who had no acquaintances, let alone friends.

Anyway, since it was a past incident, Roderick let it go with a sigh and thought about it.

‘What should I do?’

In the end, if you agree to play the board game, you are doing as Kyle intended, and if you refuse, Roderick’s image falls and Kyle’s image rises.

If you think about it, it was Kyle’s perfect move. In the end, isn’t this all Kyle’s plot to take over the position of head of the family?

At that moment, I began to wonder whether yesterday’s board game rhyme was all a lie and whether becoming the head of the family was Kyle’s sincerity.

“If you don’t like the ones you’ve played so far, how about a completely new board game? There are more board games made by the imperial family. Or, there’s a strategy game that your brother might like, but if he prefers aggressive attacks like Monopoly, it might not be a good idea. Then Bang… … No, should I give it a different name? Anyway, there are many other board games. If not, how about trying a different genre altogether? Kyle Galli was physical, Spirit Poker was psychological warfare, and Monopoly was strategy, so board games like guessing and puzzles were also available───”

“… … … … .”

… … As expected, that didn’t seem to be the case.

In fact, Roderick couldn’t have known Kyle’s sincerity. Long ago, when I made a dice game called Yacht, I vaguely realized that my younger brother had a talent for board games.

It just bloomed late. Kyle Galli’s work, Abracadabra’s work. If Kyle had really used the board game as a means to become the head of the family, he could have used it more efficiently.

But it didn’t happen. Kyle really wasn’t interested in being the head of the family.

‘For now.’

But how long will such feelings last?

It would be okay in a year. There should be no problem even after 3 years. So what about 5 years from now? What if 10 or 20 years from now?

A person cannot remain the same throughout his or her life. It was a lesson Roderick learned from watching his mother.

How did my mother, who was so noble, change after giving birth to Frederick and Kyle, and what kind of end did she face?

Roderick was afraid of Kyle’s change of mind.

You never know when your younger brother, who has the power to become the head of the family, may become interested in the position.

Therefore, Roderick hoped that Kyle would show his ambition now. Even though the current Kyle has grown tremendously, he still lacks strength. Because Roderick could have won now.

But if time passes, the story is different.

‘Because Kyle is a genius.’

As Roderick already acknowledged, Kyle was a genius in a different field than him. I don’t know when Kyle will have influence and connections beyond Roderick.

That’s why Roderick couldn’t stop being on guard for the suspicious disease.

Unless you really look into Kyle’s mind, you won’t be able to stop doubting him.

Nevertheless.

“Brother, let’s play a board game.”

“… … … … .”

Kyle got to the end.

With a dream-like sound of becoming closer through a board game.

… … How long did you walk?

When Roderick realized that there were many people following him and Kyle even though they had walked a long way, he had no choice but to open his mouth.

In fact, the way to destroy this strategy(?) of Kyle was simple.

“Okay… … Let’s go.”

“Okay, bro!”

You just have to get along.

All you have to do is play board games appropriately and let Kyle know that his thoughts are just a dream.

Then his own image will not suffer.

In the end, there was the problem of being caught up in Kyle’s intentions, but Roderick scoffed.

It is true that board games and Monopoly are fun.

Because that would never make him and Kyle trust each other.

“Then should I just do it for about 10 hours?”

“… … … … What.”

“Last time I tried it with Adella, I heard that high-ranking mages only need to concentrate for 10 hours. Is it possible for you too? Anyway, you know that this is the end of the lecture, right? Let’s do just that for today, and let’s go even harder tomorrow!”

“… … … .”

Can the words ‘today’ sound this scary?

Roderick seriously wondered if Kyle was trying to kill him by playing a board game… …

*

Four days have passed since then.

“Brother, let’s go for 12 hours straight today… … !!”

“… … … … Kyle, how long are you going to do this? … ?”

“Huh? Until my brother and I become closer?”

“… … Rather attempt an assassination… … … .”

Around this time, Kyle, who was always looking for his brother and playing board games like crazy, and Roderick, who was becoming increasingly haggard, became a regular sight at the academy.

In the meantime, Sally and Adella followed them from afar in case of Roderick’s surprise attack or to protect Kyle.

This was the result of Kyle’s earnest request that he and Roderick should play board games alone.

Sally and Adela nodded to that request.

There was one person who refused.

[…] … … … … .]

A water tiger, to be exact, Princess Lacia who is synchronized with a spirit.

She couldn’t possibly grant Kyle Byron’s request.

To be exact, in the first place, I couldn’t see Kyle and Roderick, whether it was a board game or an escort. Lacia was confined to her room.

‘… … … why? ‘Why are you doing this?’

That’s because people try to trust people.

It was a sight that Lacia could not bear to see, as she had come to believe only in spirits and not in people due to an incident from her childhood.

Because every time I see that scene, it reminds me of my past trauma.

Those who reject it, those who try to get closer.

Roderick, Kyle.

Lacia, and───

──Sam&%chon$?

[Aaaah!!!]

In the room left alone, Lacia went crazy. It bounced around its body made of water and ran wild with a sharp scream.

Memories are like arrows. Like an arrowhead, once a memory is deeply embedded, it is difficult to get it out again.

Even with good memories.

The same goes for trauma.

───%3@#$chon!*&don’t$#^!

[no… … no… … … .]

Lacia desperately resisted the memories that pierced her like an awl. It was also a struggle at the same time.

Kyle Byron is a ‘friend’. A friend made of pure friendship, not disgusting emotions like love. Lacia’s only friend.

What Kyle Byron is trying to get closer to is only a superficial resemblance to that memory. The intention is completely different. Only the actions are similar.

All Kyle Byron does is try to get closer to Lacia through board games, just like he did. That’s it.

Even if you repeat and persuade yourself and talk to yourself like that.

Lacia, who had become unable to trust people, was the only friend she could trust, and the only friend whose trauma did not come back when she talked to him.

It was disappearing.

[ah… … … .]

So far so good. No matter who Kyle met, he was friendly towards him, and they easily became friends through board games. If I felt like a trauma would come to mind, all I had to do was turn off the synchro and take a nap in the spire with the spirits.

However, Roderick is hostile to Kyle and does not want to get close to him.

Kyle tried harder than usual to become close to Roderick.

Paradoxically, that ‘effort’ was stimulating Lacia’s trauma.

──I am%$your*&!uncle&%$.

──#@Friend!*≥^%*Jinnae@#$ja.

──Because I&^%love$^@!!!

[Oh, no. no… … !!]

Lacia had a hunch. I felt like if I ran into Kyle now, I would remember the trauma of that time.

If that happens, it’s over. Lacia will no longer be able to be friends with Kyle or be connected through friendship.

Just like it happens to other people, you will continue to think about the trauma.

I’ll be stuck in the spire again.

[I don’t like that… … !!]

I was finally able to come out into the world. I was able to come out of the spire because of the medium called Kyle.

I was able to talk with the maid and the high-ranking wizard about anything related to Kyle. I was able to have a conversation without being reminded of the trauma.

Is that even disappearing now?

[Kyle, Kyle… … … .]

Just don’t do it.

Don’t try to get close to that Roderick guy.

The other person rejects it. You say you don’t want to get closer.

So let’s give up.

I can protect you anyway. No matter how hostile he is to you, I can protect him.

therefore… … …

[…] … … … … .]

But Lacia also knew. That Kyle Byron doesn’t give up.

Just as it approached Lacia who was inside the spire.

Although it may seem dull and stupid.

Stick to the board game until the end and never give up.

Isn’t that why Lacia was able to become closer to Kyle?

[hurry… … … .]

Rather, Lacia hoped that Kyle would quickly become closer to Roderick.

In the end, it is Kyle’s effort to get closer to Roderick that causes Lacia’s trauma.

If you see two people who are already close friends, no trauma will come to mind. Lacia desperately believed that.

Even though it was an unfounded belief.

Lacia clung only to that belief.

In the form of a water tiger, I stayed in a corner as much as possible and could only think of the board game I played with Kyle.

A princess who doesn’t trust people.

I struggled to trust people.

Even though I recall memories with Kyle that were always warm and enjoyable.

… … While somehow ignoring the trauma that came to mind little by little.

continue.

I trembled quietly.

And that look.

“… … … … … .”

A maid was watching quietly in the dark.