𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐟’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝟏
Today, the moon was bright and helpful. The road wide enough for carriages to pass, visible well without the need for lights.
As I rode for a while, I saw a magic tool placed beside the road.
ㅤ
“This is. . . the Biodul Illisia Quasar! Abbreviated as a bike, isn’t it!”
ㅤ
A bike, difficult to make, rarely produced, even seldom seen!
It has only two tires, front and rear, and while it’s hard to balance, that’s what makes it cool!
The jet-black body blends into the moonlit night! The golden wave-like patterns drawn on it are the best! An innovative vehicle whose moving speed can be changed with a button, that’s the bike!
ㅤ
“Why is there a bike here. . .?”
ㅤ
As I approached excitedly, I could see a note attached.
ㅤ
The words “Please ride, Rolf-sama” were beautifully written as if by a magic tool. The slight quirks in the handwriting revealed a human touch.
ㅤ
Is this. . . prepared by a servant? The servant, said to resemble someone called “Ninja” by Alice, I have yet to see.
Occasionally, I sense their presence; at such times, my clothes are invariably returned clean, or the things I need are placed where I can find them.
No one has truly seen them, so when I ask Edgardo,
ㅤ
“Having been trained by my grandfather, they’re in charge of this villa. Among the Valka family, their abilities are second to none. They’re intentionally letting us sense their presence as a signal. They must be adjusting the extent of their presence to match the person. I still have much to learn; if I’m deep in thought, I might not notice. Rolf is amazing.”
“Is that so. . .”
ㅤ
Although I replied, I honestly didn’t quite understand.
If it’s a servant, why not show themselves? Why try to communicate everything through mere presence?
In such moments, I am reminded that I’m dealing with a Valka family member. For nobility, their way of thinking and senses are, a bit, no, much, closer to a warrior’s. Edgardo aspires to be a genuine knight, and though Grion is also technically a knight, I suspect they’re closer to a warrior.
ㅤ
“Take care on the journey to Ouldra territory!”
ㅤ
After greeting the bike, I mounted it and sped off into the night.
The original plan was to buy a horse in town and ride through the night. I had told Alice we’d travel by carriage, but that would take too long.
Magic tools for transportation are rare, and I had confirmed they were not available in this town. I was supposed to go by horse. . . yet here was a bike!
ㅤ
I bypassed the town greatly and sped to the Ouldra territory. It takes skill to ride smoothly at changing speeds, but I got the hang of it.
ㅤ
As morning came and the streets became busier, I took a nap in the forest off the road. I didn’t forget to change the color of my hair and eyes.
As the day darkened and the crowds thinned, I mounted the bike again. This magic tool is conspicuous, so I’d prefer to avoid being seen as much as possible.
ㅤ
Two days later, after speeding through the night on the bike, I arrived in the town where Count Ouldra has his home. Riding at night strains the nerves, and staying in the same position for so long made my body ache.
But now, the relief of having safely arrived was immense. I stowed the bike in my magic bag and entered the town.
Because the Ouldra family is here, this town is the most prosperous within the territory. It’s lively and crowded, so I don a hat as a precaution before entering an inn.
ㅤ
“Welcome. Will you be staying with us?”
“Yes. I’d like the Jasmine room, please.”
“Understood. I will show you the way.”
ㅤ
Being escorted by someone, I was guided to a room. It’s a single, so it’s small, but it’s a corner room.
ㅤ
“Well then, shall I contact Eugene?”
ㅤ
It’s a method I thought up long ago to exchange secrets with my younger brother. It’s a bit of a gamble whether he’ll notice since we’ve only used it a few times before. . .
An hour later, the prearranged signal from my brother knocked on the door.
ㅤ
Three knocks, one knock, three knocks.
ㅤ
I drew my sword and hid in the shadow of the door. As I opened it quickly, a figure slipped in. The door closed, and eyes looked straight at me.
A soundproof magic tool was activated, and my brother threw himself at me with vigor.
ㅤ
“Nii-san!”
“Ugh. . .!”
ㅤ
My neck! It’s getting squeezed!
ㅤ
“Guh. . . be careful, I’m holding a sword, it’s dangerous.”
ㅤ
Still, the strength of the arms biting into my neck didn’t change. I somehow sheathed my sword, and when I hugged him after a long time, Eugene seemed to finally calm down.
ㅤ
“Suddenly you say you’ll serve the royal younger brother, then you disappear, and now you contact like this! What on earth happened?!”
“A lot has happened. When it was known I’d serve the royal younger brother, our father must have been pleased, right?”
“. . .Well, yes. Even if Nii-san said that Ouldra House is unrelated and it’s just you serving the royal younger brother, it doesn’t mean Ouldra Count House is irrelevant. He said it’s like having an additional foothold in the castle.”
ㅤ
With a sullen face, Eugene looked up at me with pouting eyes. He complains about being only slightly shorter than me, but he uses it to his advantage at times like this.
ㅤ
“You decided to serve the royal younger brother because Edgardo said he would, right?”
“That’s part of it.”
“If Edgardo hadn’t agreed, Nii-san would have followed suit. No matter what anyone says, I don’t care. I will make sure you can always come back.”
“Thanks. But if I come back, everyone’s opinions will be divided. I don’t want that.”
“I’ll sort it out. So Nii-san, come back whenever you want. Even in the middle of the night, without contact.”
ㅤ
Eugene, who seems to have already been entrusted with several tasks by our father, has grown up well, but it reminds me of the times he was scared at night and slept together.
I can understand why Alice dotes on her brother so much.
ㅤ
“There’s drink and sweets. Let me take a breather and talk about what happened after I left the house.”
ㅤ
I took out coffee and cheese cookies made by Alice from the magic bag and placed them on the table. They were made especially for me, as I’m not fond of sweets.
ㅤ
While eating with Eugene, I spoke about what happened since I went to the Fourth Knight Order.
Starting from admiring the character of Prince Linus who had changed his appearance, to being asked to become a close aide when he revealed his identity, to Dyson’s plot, and the attack on the knight order.
I finished talking, albeit vaguely, about tracking down someone who seems to be making poison, having changed my appearance and hidden in a certain place.
ㅤ
“. . .So there’s a possibility that the poison is being produced in Ouldra territory?”
“Yes. Maurice Maigret has only recently emerged, but there might be a laboratory in Ouldra territory as well.”
“. . .Thank you, Nii-san. It’s better to know now and search for the laboratory than to be told after catching Dyson and Maurice.”
“Is our father, by any chance, siding with Dyson?”
ㅤ
Eugene looked up sharply.
ㅤ
“That is. . . no, surely not. . .”
“Do you have any suspicions?!”
“No, but. . .”
“So there’s nothing?!”
ㅤ
Without thinking, I lightly smacked his head, and Eugene laughed.
ㅤ
“Because Nii-san said something impossible.”
“I think so too, but without proof and just assumptions, we can’t tell that shitty father about Maurice.”
“That’s okay. Father wouldn’t bother with such unprofitable things, and even if he did, do you think he’d cooperate with Dyson on just a verbal promise?”
“I don’t think so.”
“He must be hiding the contract in a secret safe or somewhere. But I can say for sure that there isn’t one.”
“Why?”
“Because the room with the secret safe has been continuously recorded by a magic tool for a long time, ever since the past.”
“Eh. . .?”
ㅤ
Recorded? By Eugene?
The Eugene who used to cry and couldn’t go to the bathroom alone when scared of thunder as a child?
ㅤ
“If someone tries to do something to Nii-san, I have to stop them.”
“Ah. . . thank you. . .?”
“It’s okay, it’s something I want to do. Anyway, the only things in father’s secret safe are important documents and contracts about the territory. Dyson is not involved.”
“. . . . . .I see.”
ㅤ
I was overwhelmed with emotions, but unable to articulate them, I just nodded.
ㅤ
“Father has never met with Dyson or any suspicious people.”
“. . .Really?”
ㅤ
I should ask why he’s so sure, but I can’t bring myself to do it.
Just swallowing hard, Eugene saw me and laughed. His golden hair swayed smoothly.
ㅤ
“After all, father is good at his job but useless at everything else, right? He makes a profit but also earns resentment, and it looks like things won’t go well later, so he’s getting various people to cooperate.”
“How much trust does that shitty father lack. . .”
“He’s good at his job. Everyone acknowledges that and trusts him.”
ㅤ
The problem with shitty father is everything but his work.
ㅤ
I felt a bit dizzy realizing that the brother who seemed like an angel had somehow taken control of the Ouldra family.
Instead of quickly dominating the Ouldra family, he made good use of shitty father’s work abilities, occasionally working behind the scenes to grasp control of the family.
Shitty father probably noticed but didn’t care and left it as it was.
ㅤ
“Well, father has nominated me as the next head of the family. So it’s reassuring that he acknowledges my work ability. I also want to do the work that will develop the Ouldra family.”
ㅤ
Suddenly, Eugene, with a serious face, grinned and nudged me lightly.
ㅤ
“If Nii-san doesn’t come back regularly, I’ll hand over the position of head to Nii-san.”
“Please don’t.”
“After all, Nii-san is not suited to be the head. It’s not a pain for me, and I’m actually suited for it, so this is good. Well, I don’t know what I’d do if Nii-san didn’t come back.”
“Don’t threaten me.”
“All you need to do is come back.”
ㅤ
I can’t seem to win against my smiling brother. Shrugging my shoulders, I decided to discuss how to have a secret meeting with shitty father.
Leave a Reply