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CHAPTER 211: THE FOOLISH BROTHER AND THE WISE BROTHER

CHAPTER 211: THE FOOLISH BROTHER AND THE WISE BROTHER

~Alto Castle’s Forbidden Library, Fernando’s Point of View ~

Three days after that took place, I was allowed to enter the Forbidden Library once again.

The matter of my punishment was still a pending matter, but the day after I spoke with the Thunder Emperor, I met with Ruzarc, and it seemed that the Flame Princess was also present at the scene so that she could read my feelings like an open book. I felt it when I spoke to her directly, but the Flame Princess seemed to have the Skill that allowed her read what others were currently thinking, even if it was only partially.

Thanks to that, she testified that I had no intention of rebelling against them or that I did not have any open hostility towards them, which was a blessing for me, as I had no other way to prove it.

After that, I handed over the Forbidden Books I had on me to Ruzarc, and was given a full physical search and my Magic Bag was also confiscated from me, but that was only natural and to be expected.

In fact, I felt that it was a bit lenient of them to have Ruzarc and I head to the Forbidden Library all alone, but considering the possibility that the woman named Mare might have been still lurking in the shadows just as she did when we faced each other in the throne room, and the possibility that Ruzarc was also able to teleport like the members of “Seiha”, it was not impossible to think that they were letting me go and seeing what I was going to do.

But even if they did not do that, I no longer had the slightest intention of doing anything that would go against them……

Rather than that, I just wanted to head to the Forbidden Library to clean up the mess I made in the past.

「Brother, is this the last Forbidden Book you took out of here?」

「Yes, that’s right. This is the last one.」

「But even so…… This library is really well managed. I can see that you were surprisingly diligent with your work.」

「I was only fifteen years old when I was put in charge of this library. I took it as a sign of His Majesty’s trust in me, so I kept this place nice and clean ever since. I know about eighty percent of the contents of the books stored in here as well.」

「Most of these books……?」

「As for the Forbidden Books themselves, I can’t actually tell just how accurate their contents are.」

The books in this Forbidden Library were describing things in various fields, such as magic, Skills, history, literature, political science, psychology, religious studies, Magic Tool studies, and labyrinth dungeon studies. As the manager of this Library, it was my responsibility to know the contents of these books by heart.

When it comes to specialized areas, I was not knowledgeable enough to be able to tell whether the contents of the books were actually true or not, but the knowledge I gained in the process was definitely one of the factors that allowed me to shorten the preparation period for this revolution to an infinitesimal extent.

「Well, I mean, that knowledge is now completely useless, but…… I can give you the list of the banned books, at the very least. You will probably need a replacement administrator in the future to manage this place.」

「Yes…… I guess that’s true.」

It’s been a while since we were able to speak to one another as brothers. It’s been over ten years since we last spoke normally, if my memory serves me correctly. It was inevitable that there would be some awkwardness between us.

I could tell from his expression that he was trying to tell me something, but I could sense from Ruzarc that he could not bring himself to say it out loud.

「Say, Brother……」

As I put the last book I was holding away back on its shelf, Ruzarc, who was standing right behind me, tried to speak up.

However, when I turned around, I saw the floor behind Ruzarc transform into a muddy pool…… and a familiar face emerged from within it.

His unnatural smile was like that of a clown, and his inhumanity only accentuated the eerie atmosphere.

It was undoubtedly the madman himself, Joseph “Bloodstained”. He was an extremely dangerous person, but I was the one who freed him from his chains.

In a world that was moving slowly forward, Joseph’s body rose from the floor. When his upper body emerged from it completely, he was clutching several knives in both of hid hands.

What these meant was an incomprehensible reality and an easily imagined future.

The dots started to connect with lines……

— And my body moved of its own accord.

As I slid my body between the throwing knives’ trajectory and Ruzarc, I felt three thuds as the objects hit me to the chest, and after a few seconds a wave of searing pain ran throughout my entire body.

I somehow managed to put strength into my legs as I stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, and used my body to cut off the line of fire between Joseph and Ruzarc.

And then I shouted.

「Run! Ruzarc!!」

「Huh……? HUH!? Brother!?」

「Use the Teleportation Magic Tool! Get out of here, right now!」

The words that came out of my mouth as they came to mind were surprising even to me.

The person I was protecting right now was my younger brother, who I had been trying to kill just a few days ago, but……

I hated him so much, I hated being compared to him more than anything else in the world, but I truly hoped that he would accept me one day. Could a person’s feelings really change so much in just a few days?

The answer was revealed in my own actions.

「Kufufufu… I thought that Prince Ferdinand was one of our people. I guess I was wrong.」

「What the!? You!!!」

「I guess I’m pretty famous wherever I go, being recognized by two members of the royal family is truly an honor.」

「Ruzarc, don’t worry about that for now, just get away from here!!」

「B-But then…… Brother!」

「I told you to hurry up and call for reinforcements! I don’t want to die here either……」

「Kufufufu…… Please do your best to tough it out. Although, the poison I made that coats these knives is really painful and effective.」

「There’s no force in here that can possibly do anything about this guy. It’s fine, just hurry up and call for the damn reinforcements!」

「G-Got it! I will definitely be back soon!」

With that, Ruzarc’s body vanished into thin air.

It was a gamble as to whether Ruzarc had a means of teleportation from here or not, but I was glad that my prediction was correct……

Even so, Bloodstained was watching the whole thing without doing anything. Given his abilities, it should have been easy to pursue after Ruzarc without any trouble.

「What is your purpose……?」

「I told you that before, didn’t I? I’m interested in hidden history. Also, a certain person, hmm…… asked me to bring back one of the Forbidden Books that is stored in here. I have kept that person waiting for over ten years now…… but he is the one of the long-lived species, so that amount of time should not really be a problem for him, you see.」

「So, did you let Ruzarc escape from here on purpose……?」

「It wouldn’t have been a problem if I had killed him, right? It’s just that it would be better if there were no obstacles in my way while I slowly searched for the book I was looking for.」

「The reason as to why you came out of hiding at this particular timing is because…… You were waiting for the lock to open……?」

「As expected of Prince Fernando! You are very perceptive, indeed! Even I couldn’t break into this Forbidden Library by force unless it was unlocked for me. And…… to be honest, my plan included recruiting you to join us at some point, but…… I never thought you would end up protecting Prince Ruzarc.」

「Hmph…… Yeah, I’m rather angry about that, too.」

「If you were to join us…… I might be able to save you, but…… What will you do?」

I did not have the means to tell if what the bloody man was saying was a lie or the truth.

But right now, it did not really matter to me whether it was true or not.

The answer to that question has already been answered.

「I see…… Hmm, I see. It’s a really nice invitation, but I will have to pass.」

「…… May I ask why?」

「At least right at the very very end, wouldn’t it be okay to become the ideal man you have always imagined yourself to be?」

「……That’s not an answer, is it? We truly value your abilities and are inviting you to join us. There are not many people with your knowledge and military talent out there, and who are prepared to sacrifice others for the sake of their own goals. If you don’t hurry, the poison will spread all over your body and you will really die here.」

「I really appreciate those kind words, but…… My answer remains the same. However, you know…… I’m curious as to who this person you’re talking about is.」

「So, is this your usual way of stalling for time?」

「I don’t care how you take it. I’m going to die here, anyway. But it’s not so bad that my coffin is going to be the Forbidden Library itself.」

「You seem to have not changed your mind, that’s unfortunate.」

「So, will you not tell me who “that person” is?」

「Kufufufu…… That particular information has no relevance to you, a dying person. Besides, I don’t have time to chat with you that much. I have to search through all these books for the object I’m looking for, you see.」

「Hmm, I see. In that case, there’s no other way, huh?」

It was certainly information that had no value to a dying person like me, even if I knew it. Besides, if it would be discovered that I was trying to hold him back even a little, there would be nothing I could do.

I then felt the coldness of the knife gently pressed against my neck.

— I have always wanted to be recognized by someone. The goal of becoming King, which I have had since I was but a small child, may have only been a means to satisfy my desire for recognition.

However, after I lost this battle, one word from my enemy, the Thunder Emperor, gave me just that, and pulled out my sharp fangs all at once.

The Thunder Emperor was honest and simply said what he thought, so those words must have pierced my heart. Even though the bloody man in front of me had said something similar, I still could not feel the satisfaction I felt back then.

It was a little bit late now for that, but…… If I could have lived my life with Ruzarc and the Thunder Emperor without thinking of ever pulling that coup…… Thinking about it made me feel a little bit lonely.

「Is there anything else you wanted to say here?」

「My wise brother Ruzarc, I shall leave the rest to you.」

The moment I finished speaking, the knife that was placed right next to me gently stroked my neck, and blood spurted out, staining the floor red.

And then……

— BOOM!!!!

The three small bombs I had planted inside of the Forbidden Library detonated all at once.