episode_0056

What should I do?

The maid and Sally were lost in thought as they stroked the tip of the dagger outside the room.

Normally, it would have been time to secretly follow the master and escort him, but since the master had asked me to bring him a board game, I left the guard to that hateful high-ranking wizard and ended up in the room.

I knew that spiritist bitch was in the room, but I didn’t care. This bitch suddenly gets scared and locks herself in her room. To be honest, I just thought it was pathetic.

‘You were so confident in the spire.’

That’s what happens when you have to protect the master.

I thought it was just that kind of friendship, so I laughed a little and took a board game with me.

The spiritist, who was extremely exhausted, had a seizure without even noticing Sally coming in and leaving.

Seizure, then silence.

Because the sight was unusual, Sally quietly observed the spirit temple.

Eventually, I was able to realize that she was suffering from some kind of trauma.

… … … Because Sally also had that experience.

That’s why Sally was leaning against the door and thinking.

The master thinks that the spirit master stays in his room simply because he is tired. This was because the spirit master himself desperately acted in silence.

If I inform the master of the spirit master’s condition, things will go smoothly.

However.

‘In order to do that, I would also have to let you know that the spirit of the water is in it.’

Right now, the young master has no idea that there is a spiritist inside the water spirit. In fact, it was only natural, considering that ‘Synchro’ was a secret that even most spirit masters could not accomplish.

A bitch who takes advantage of that ignorance to take the seat next to the master and even dares to sleep in the same bed.

In a way, it was a bitch’s own gain. Since they took advantage of your ignorance, wouldn’t it be problematic to even tell you if something like this happened?

Honestly, how Sally feels.

I hoped that the spirit temple would be completely destroyed here. Sally’s sincere wish was for him to fall so miserably that she would never be able to surpass her master again.

And Sally, who has experienced trauma, can assure you that a spirit master in that state would self-destruct if left alone.

however.

“… … … After.”

Sally didn’t want to sympathize with anyone other than the master, but even so, something naturally came to mind when she saw the spirit master’s seizures.

How terrible trauma is, and how terrible it is.

Because I know that pain well.

“… … … This is just this one time.”

Sally clicked her tongue once.

I walked away, leaving behind the voice of the spirit master who was still crying quietly.

The only one that has the possibility of resolving the trauma of the spirit master.

To her master.

*

Roderick Byron had his face buried in his desk.

I couldn’t help but think it was something I shouldn’t have done in front of my younger brother, who was completely different from my usual appearance, much less in front of my younger brother, whom I had to be very careful with.

It’s already been 11 hours since I played this board game.

Including the past few days, it is over 60 hours. No joke, except during lectures and minimal sleep, I just played board games.

‘Does getting closer through board games mean getting closer to death?’

It’s been a long time since I gave up the idea of getting along appropriately. Roderick’s concentration was limited to three days.

The high-ranking wizard at the Arche Tower said he had been doing this for over a week, but that was because Arche’s magic required a high level of concentration to begin with.

After three days, Roderick was desperately running away from Kyle.

Not from threats or surprise attacks, but from his board game.

But no matter how genius a wizard Roderick was, there was a certain place he had to go in the end.

There was no answer if Kyle just waited in front of the classroom or in front of the dormitory.

‘How much did you do… … ?’

Now that Kyle has gone out for a moment, I have some time to rest, but the moment I come back, I’ll have to play the board game again.

I thought about ignoring him and not playing board games from the moment he entered the room, but if I did that, Kyle, who was so sarcastic, might seriously aim for the position of head of the house.

Whatever the actual possibility, Roderick was unable to do this or that due to the endlessly expanding doubts in his own thoughts.

‘I’m tired.’

During lectures, I was busy concentrating on the class, while I was sleeping, because of the doubts that kept coming to my mind, and during all other times, because I was playing board games.

Roderick’s brain could not rest. It was only natural that I couldn’t sleep properly even when I should have been sleeping because I kept doubting Kyle.

It’s been like that for almost a week.

… … rather.

Would it be easier if I just trusted Kyle?

It was to the point where even such ridiculous thoughts began to creep into my mind.

‘Is this Kyle’s plan? They’re intentionally trying to make me tired and push me… … … .’

Maybe it’s because I’m tired, but I’m starting to have strange thoughts.

Kyle returned to the room with a rather serious expression on his face.

“Sorry, bro. It took a long time, right?”

“… … It was okay even if it took longer.”

“Yes, I think that will happen soon.”

“What?”

dump.

Unlike before, Kyle sat on the sofa feeling helpless.

He said his final words with a bitter smile.

“With today as the end, I plan to leave the academy.”

“… … Are you serious?”

“In the first place, I was forced to play board games with my brother. Lukesil said you could stay, but I also have some concerns.”

“Is there another reason?”

“Brother?”

“You… … There’s no way I’m leaving when the board game with me hasn’t even ended properly.”

I was able to say this because Roderick had been wary, suspicious, and thinking only about Kyle for the past week.

It is true that Kyle is not interested in the position of head of the family right now. His interest is entirely focused on board games.

Even if you look at Monopoly in front of you right now.

It was already the 11th edition. Kyle’s record is 11 wins.

However, all of those games resulted in defeat by a narrow margin. It was also the reason why I continued to play Monopoly instead of Kyle Galli or Spirit Poker.

Moreover, this game is the first time that Roderick has an advantage.

If only he knew Kyle.

‘never.’

Don’t do things like win and run away. Even if you lose, the person who sticks with you until the end is Kyle Byron.

Because I doubted and doubted endlessly. Like it or not, for this week we spent half the day talking just the two of us.

Rather, it was a belief that could be brought out.

Maybe because of the confidence Roderick first showed in Kyle.

Kyle laughed for a moment.

“… … It’s already night, bro. Thinking about tomorrow’s lecture, it’s time to finish the board game.”

“Answer me, Kyle.”

“I can’t finish Monopoly this time. Sorry.”

“Kyle.”

“… … … Something happened. It’s very urgent.”

Urgent work.

That might be Kyle’s weakness.

At that moment, Roderick’s tired eyes lit up.

‘If I tell you to tell me right here and now.’

Kyle will tell you. This is the younger brother you tried to get closer to through board games, but now you know that if you try to hide something from Roderick, all your efforts so far could be in vain.

Since they said they would build a relationship of trust, Kyle should not hide anything from Roderick.

So, just say one word.

To Kyle, who seemed to be deliberately not wanting to talk.

Just ask what’s going on───

“… … How was it, bro?”

“… … … What do you mean?”

“Board games. Meantime… … Wasn’t it fun?”

“… … … … .”

Wasn’t it fun?

It was tiring and difficult. Because I was worrying about and doubting you, I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the board game, sleep well, and focus on the lecture.

It was a very difficult week.

“… … … … If you say it’s not fun.”

“Brother?”

“That would be a lie.”

Even though it was hard, tiring, and exhausting.

Nevertheless, board games and Monopoly were fun.

Although Monopoly itself was fun.

Even more than that, playing the board game with Kyle was fun.

‘As expected, this guy.’

Roderick sometimes watches without them noticing, and when he attacks, he moves exquisitely so that the opponent does not feel offended, and when he is actually attacked, his reaction is excellent.

It’s not awkward or annoying, and I can play it because I really like the board game itself.

‘Hospitality.’

Even if it was just to get closer to him.

Playing board games with entertainment was extremely enjoyable.

Even Roderick sometimes forgot his doubts and concentrated on playing board games.

Although that fact was truly suspicious and annoying.

Roderick.

“Urgent… … … I said there was.”

“… … … Yes.”

“… … Have a nice trip.”

“Hyung… … ?”

“I have nothing more to say.”

As a result, even after a week of entertaining Kyle and playing board games, Roderick never felt trusting in Kyle.

Of course, we never became psychologically close. To Roderick, Kyle was still a threat and someone to be wary of.

but.

‘This too is close… … ‘Can you do it?’

Over the course of a week, Roderick got to know Kyle and Kyle got to know Roderick.

It was natural because even though they were brothers, they barely knew each other to begin with. When the two of us spent 12 hours a day, seven days a week, it was difficult not to know each other at all.

And that medium was a board game.

The brothers got to know each other through board games.

In some ways, you could say we’ve gotten closer.

At least much more than before playing board games.

In the first place, that was why Roderick was able to be as confident about Kyle as he was just now.

‘It’s a week-long effort… … … .’

If it were Roderick, would he have been able to do that?

Would he have been able to play board games or anything else for 12 hours a day, alone with someone who continued to doubt and be wary of him? And that while always smiling, keeping the tension high, and not boring the other person?

No matter how much Kyle likes board games, it must have been quite an ordeal.

So, this was a little consideration that Roderick could give Kyle.

The absurd yet pure dream of trusting each other through a board game ultimately failed.

That passion and perseverance deserved respect.

“This Monopoly is… … … Let’s come back and do it later.”

“… … … Brother.”

“Still, I will never trust you. I will continue to be suspicious and cautious. but… … … .”

Roderick hesitated for a moment.

I expressed what I was convinced of more than anything else through the board games I had played so far.

Although it is so natural.

At the same time, words were very unfamiliar between Roderick and Kyle.

“You… … … Because we are family after all.”

“… … … … .”

Coming from the same mother’s womb.

Brothers and family.

“For the first and last time, let’s do something worthy of a brother… … Have a nice trip.”

That was Roderick’s order to congratulate the guests.

Those words are also considerate at the same time.

Kyle laughed quietly and stood up.

“I’ll have a nice trip, bro.”

“… … … … .”

Is this really something I’m good at? Shouldn’t we be asking about urgent matters even now? Maybe I’m wasting the opportunity to exploit Kyle’s weakness.

At that moment, all sorts of doubts appeared in Roderick’s thoughts, but he quietly shook his head.

Because I knew that if I went further than that, I would be eaten by suspicion.

Roderick did not want to follow in his mother’s footsteps.

That’s why I sent Kyle away without asking anything, and while I was thinking that this wasn’t a bad ending either.

“Oh, that’s right, bro. Now that I think about it, I have something to tell you.”

“… … … ?”

“When I went to the imperial palace, I met His Highness the 3rd Prince, and I personally am pushing him in the race for the throne, right? Just know that in advance!”

“… … what? Now, wait a minute. Hey!”

“I’ll go!”

“Why are you saying that now? … !! Damn it, stop right there!!!”

*

“… … It gets worse day by day.”

Duke Nicholas looked out the living room window and sighed quietly.

The weather in the Duchy of Everts is sunny today and the wind is cool.

There was only one place where the atmosphere was completely different.

“More and more… … … .”

Lacia’s Spire.

No one can approach it, and there have been no incidents so far, except that only spirits wander around.

Just looking at my daughter’s spire was in an unusual state.

‘quiet.’

The tower, where the sounds of all kinds of spirits were supposed to be heard, is infinitely quiet.

Gloomy, silent, subdued.

The spire was not only quiet, but also began to emit an unusual atmosphere, to the point where many users complained of anxiety.

What on earth is going on in there? Why are the spirits so quiet?

And, what happened to Lacia?

“… … … … .”

actually.

It was not the first time Duke Nicholas had seen the tower like that.

The past is now a bit difficult to think about.

The day Lacia entered the spire and began refusing contact with people.

The tower at that time was similar to what it is now. Not long after the ‘incident’ occurred, Lacia, who was extremely unstable, entered the spire and remained in that state for almost a week.

But why does what happened back then try to repeat itself?

It’s been quiet for a few years now, but if something like that happens now…

“Your Excellency the Duke, a distinguished guest has arrived.”

“If you are a VIP?”

“Kyle Everts… … No, it’s Kyle Byron.”

“Send it in.”

──In the end, it has to be related to Kyle, who was the only person recently able to enter the spire.

Duke Nicholas sent Kyle in without delay.

I quietly opened my mouth as I looked at the spire giving off an ominous energy.

“Let’s skip the small talk. Kyle, what do you plan on doing?”

“… … … … … .”

“Kyle Byron?”

“… … Before entering the spire, there is something you need to hear from the Duke.”

“A story?”

“The reason why Princess Lacia was confined to the spire.”

“… … … … … .”

“The reason… … I think it’s time to listen.”

“… … … … .”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it. If the person who received the engagement letter still seems like an outsider to the family.”

“… … It’s going to be a long story.”

The duke frowned for a moment.

He continued speaking with an expression filled with pain and remorse.

“This… … … It was my stupid mistake for not thinking about my daughter.”

“Because it’s Lacia’s trauma.”