Asel family dinner (1)

The identity of the annoying smell was quickly identified as he noticed Arthur’s sword was broken in its sheath. The training sword couldn’t withstand his ether. The sword’s handle and the sleeves and collar of his robes remained dry, but the stains were so dark that he hadn’t noticed them right away. Arthur seemed tired and exhausted once he scanned him with Perception, and Kleio noticed his breathing was irregular.

“Hey. Another assassin attacked?”

“Haha, you look like you saw a ghost.”

“Did you get hurt?”

“…No.”

Kleio continued to scrutinize Arthur quietly.

‘If he was seriously injured, the world would’ve shaken again, so it’s not that. Is that all blood from his attacker? The smell of blood is so vivid.’

Even after his grand failure, Aslan still seemed to be sending assassins, even though Arthur was now a level 5 swordsman. Even in the Capital Defense Force, the strongest in Albion, there weren’t many swordsmen of that level. A simple assassin wouldn’t be able to cut it.

“Even those we ran into during the summer couldn’t kill you now. Hasn’t Aslan figured out that it’s useless to send a bunch of assassins?”

Arthur returned a bomb-like answer to Kleio’s suspicions.

“Aslan already knows that the assassins he sends won’t kill me.”

“What? Then why doesn’t he quit?”

“To make me kill those weaker than me, so that I suffer from shedding pointless blood. It’s an honorless fight.”

The situation had been worse than Kleio thought.

‘This Aslan is awful. He can’t kill his younger brother, so he’s going to destroy his mentality.’

It would’ve been better if it had been done because he wanted to take Arthur’s life, but his malice was more twisted than that. At the same time, he realized that Kleio was convinced of another fact.

‘He also remembers the previous manuscript. Otherwise, he couldn’t bear such a grudge against a seventeen-year-old.’

“Where did you hear that information?”

“From the royal maid, Hilleyda.”

Hilleyda had also been featured in the last manuscript. She was there for the birth of all three princes and helped raise two of them. In essence, she was a woman who knew all the secrets and tragedies of the Riognan royal house.

“Can you trust her?”

“As far as I know, Hilleyda has never told a lie. She would rather be silent for things she couldn’t answer.”

She behaved like one loyal to the royal family.

“Today’s attempt took place right outside the outer castle of the palace. Hilleyda saw it and finally spoke up. It sounded like the most convincing explanation in this situation.”

Kleio wondered if she had even known it was happening.

‘It’s not like you could tell a person below you who believed in and followed you about such a thing.’

“Aslan must’ve noticed that my level has risen, so I thought the assassin would’ve stopped now. But, on the contrary, these attacks are becoming more frequent. Where does he get those assassins? They don’t care about their own lives, so they attack without defense. Each one has red eyes that I see in my dreams now.”

Even before he was officially appointed, Arthur was a knight by nature. Would Isiel be with him for no reason? Justice and honor were his most important values. It seemed difficult for him to accept a situation where he had to kill opponents weaker than himself.

‘Aslan is only thinking about wearing down and devouring his younger brother.’

The fact that the hero’s mental state was being worn down wasn’t a good sign for this world’s future. Kleio got out of bed and moved closer to Arthur. His long hair was a tangled mess, and his pajamas were wrinkled, but now wasn’t the time to worry over that. He could see Arthur’s expression in the dark as he drew closer; he could plainly see the cold regret on his face.

“Wake up. What does his intent matter? The fault lies with Aslan. What sort of human is an assassin that rushes for the life of a ten-year-old for money? If you were weaker than those guys, you would’ve died. Don’t start feeling guilty over that.”

“It’s guilt… or maybe disappointment. It feels like something is missing.”

“The more you live from now, the shorter the lives of people like that will be. It’s something you didn’t even choose, so why do you regret it?”

Did Kleio’s affirmation affect him? Arthur’s blurred expression became a little clearer. Without waiting, Kleio unfolded his circle to its smallest size. That alone caused the room to brighten up.

“Stay still..”

It became more apparent now that the blood was darkest on the upper part of his left arm. Kleio grabbed Arthur’s shoulder tightly like he might escape.

‘The arm’s intact.’

Shamelessly, Kleio decided to plagiarize Zebedee’s mantra a little.

‘It just needs to be one word different, right? If it works, then it’s okay.’

“[Stop life’s leaking.]”

Ether, like molten gold, quickly wrapped around Arthur’s arm. Covered in Kleio’s ether, Arthur looked like a god of fire, manifesting the power he controlled. The ether wasn’t as finely tuned as Zebedee’s, but the effect was straightforward. The metallic smell began to fade from his Perception as the wound healed. Arthur seemed surprised as he checked out his arm, now made whole once more.

“It doesn’t matter if ten or a hundred assassins die; you have to live and watch. There are weak people that aren’t evil that need your protection.”

‘Also, if you behave poorly because of your pointless guilt, the world will die!’

As a landowner, he hoped that the world would never perish. Arthur, not knowing Kleio’s true feelings, had a lighter expression than before.

“…Okay. Thanks.”

Perhaps the thanks were for healing his arm, but Kleio didn’t ask any further.

“I’m going back to sleep. Don’t come back at a time like this.”

.

.

.

Thanks to that visit, he was tired even after oversleeping. The constant ringing of the phone finally interrupted his sleep as he desperately tried to dig his head into his pillows. Kleio gloomily asked Mrs. Canton to unplug the phone line.

“I didn’t know you could hear the ringing on the second floor. Those who had been refraining from contacting us are hurrying now that they heard the master has woken up.”

“No, is it someone I know?”

According to Mrs. Canton’s embarrassed explanation, it turned out that all sorts of journalists, politicians, nobles, and celebrities were setting fire to their phone asking for a visit. The entrance hall was also crowded with servants bringing messages.

‘What sort of marketplace has my house become?! Why are they trying to come here?’

Kleio let out a sigh.

“Don’t let anyone in, no matter who visits.”

“Yes, young master.”

But his peace didn’t last long. Three days later, a guest that couldn’t be stopped by her ability opened the front door of the mansion. It was her employer, Baronet Gideon Asel.

***

Gideon Asel arrived without a message. He had called the mansion, but wasn’t connected, and sent a telegram, but he had come faster than the telegram. Who else could Kleio blame but himself for the unexpected visit? Having slept until the afternoon, Kleio hurriedly dressed and rushed down to the parlor. As he made his way down, he couldn’t avoid the two giant hands that suddenly reached out to lift him up.

“Kleio, my little brother! It’s been too long!”

It had happened so quickly he couldn’t even make a sound. The man who lifted him up like a child was a tall but youthful man with a sturdy build.

“Look at you, are you a little bigger? Still light, though.”

“…Are you?”

When Kleio’s cold expression didn’t fade, the man pretended to be wounded and put him back on the ground. Seeing that he called him his younger brother, this was probably Gideon’s eldest son, Vlad Asel.

“Well, I did hear you lost all your memories when you fell into the river.”

‘Do I look like the type to play with as a younger brother?’

“Vlad, stop doing silly things.”

Gideon, having just hung up the phone, turned to the two. Even today, Gideon Asel was dressed as perfectly as a menswear model.

“Long time no see, father. Brother.”

“Yes, a long time.”

“Kleio, you’re acting older. It’s awkward, so let’s stop and sit down.”

Vlad seemed like a silly man. He had vivid strawberry blonde hair and bright gray-blue eyes that appeared to have been inherited from his mother. He looked uncannily like the portrait of Thelma in the mansion. After a moment, the three men settled down, and Mrs. Canton served a simple cocktail as they waited for dinner to be readied.

“It’s been a long time since this too! Mrs. Canton’s cocktails are the best!”

“Thank you.”

Vlad poured the cocktail himself after receiving the glass from Mrs. Canton and served his father first before turning to Kleio.

“Kleio, would you like a drink?”

“Yes. Please pour generously.”

“Is it because you lost your memory? You’ve grown up in many ways. You didn’t even mention alcohol before.”

“You said it yourself, Mrs. Canton’s drinks are so excellent.”

Once he had a drink in hand, Kleio began to feel better. Gideon called out to him once his mouth was slightly relaxed with the delicious alcohol.

“Kleio.”

“Yes, father.”

“I’ve heard what you’ve done so far.”

“Yes.”

“I wondered if you were vainly making a fuss, but in the end, you’ve honored yourself and your family.”

Baronet Asel, who barely touched his own drink, looked at Kleio with strangely complicated emotions. Feeling like his back was becoming itchy, Kleio continued to sip at his cocktail. After a bit of silence, Gideon continued.

“I will admit to you. You’ve kept your words better than enough.”

He pushed on to the main topic right away, but he couldn’t get a sense of what he meant.

‘…What did I say to this man?’

They last met three months ago, so he wondered what he was talking about. Kleio searched his memory for a while before he was able to recall the conversation at school.

‘Ah! I said I wouldn’t disappoint, yeah! So, he’s giving me a compliment for that.’

“You are the first in the Asel family to be awarded a knight’s medal.”

“I see.”

Gideon’s face remained blank, but his tone of speech had softened slightly. He seemed genuinely proud of his second son, who received the medal. In the first place, he was motivated to place his youngest son into politics. No doubt he was thinking that receiving the title of knight would make that dream come true easier. Well, if Arthur became king someday, this man’s big dream would come true indirectly, though he probably wouldn’t like the process.

‘Anyway, the atmosphere is fine now. Shall I gently ask for the mansion?’

Kleio’s head began to spin. At that moment, Vlad, who emptied his drink while standing up, intervened as he stroked Kleio’s hair. He was a very annoying child.

“The last capital defense medal was issued a century ago, and they say you’re the youngest recipient. I’m also very proud of you!”

‘This guy has yet to contact me before this, so why is he suddenly pretending to be close?’

“Be careful, Vlad. Aren’t your clothes messy?”

“Haha. Father, it’s been a while, so it’s hard not to be friendly.”

“Kleio, I invited Viscount Grayer and Dione to dinner, so get dressed and come.”

“Yes, I see, Father.”

A light flashed in Kleio’s mind as they left the parlor.

‘Vasco Grayer is coming?!’

Vasco Grayer was the representative of the Grayer Chamber of Commerce and a genius magic item restorer.

‘That’s right. The Grayer warehouses don’t store any ordinary treasures… Before Dione inherits the family business, Vasco has given her permission to work on things other than repairing magic tools.’

If he came to dinner tonight, it would be an excellent opportunity to talk to him. Kleio’s lips turned upward as he walked behind his father.