Make Dark Fantasy Great Again-Chapter 16: Im Done Being a Bastard (4)

I gently patted Roera’s back, and intended to continue until she calmed down.

She soon caught her breath, her emotions subsiding. I felt her rhythmic breathing against my arm. The last vestiges of her distress faded along with the girl’s sniffles, leaving only the soft sound of her breathing.

Roera should pull away from me soon.

“...”

“...”

Not yet?

I resumed patting again... until about 30 pats later.

She’ll probably pull away now?

“...”

“...”

Still no?

I resumed patting again... until about 60 pats later.

Surely Roera will pull away, I mean for real.

“...”

“...”

Pat, pat, pat, pat...

***An immeasurable amount of time had elapsed since the initial pat. The bastard’s arm, once thought to be capable of endless pats, had crumbled to scattering dust. As for the peacefully breathing prestigious young lady...Okay when are you gonna get off me, girl?

At this point, I was genuinely worried. Was there really something wrong with her?

Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.

“Roera?”

Fortunately, she wasn’t dead standing up. She flinched when I called her name.

“What.”

“Well, have you calmed down a bit?”

“...What.”

“Oh no! Has the shock affected your ability to speak?! Roera, could you skillfully utter a word of over two syllables to reassure your brother?”

“...Ugh, seriously!”

Roera gave me an irritable shove, as if getting rid of a pest.

“I need air, give me some space!”

“How perplexing.”

Give you some space? Had I been the kitten clinging to her chest for infinite pats?

My memories spiraled inward, my perception unraveled, and all sense dissolved into nonsense.

I was shook—it seemed my little sister was actually a Progenitor vampire. Such powerful mental manipulation.

“So sorry, my dear sister. Your brother got a bit clingy, huh.”

I was now conversing with the back of Roera’s head, as she had immediately spun around after pushing me away.

“Argh, cut it out! You’re being gross!”

Fortunately, there was no major problem communicating. I could practically see her face just from her voice, that expression which perfectly balanced irritation, displeasure, and disgust.

“What’s so gross? Your brother’s starting to feel hurt.”

“Do you mind stopping with all that brother talk?!”

“But you just said it yourself, Roera. No matter what anyone says, I’m your family. So no matter what you say now, this brother here is your brother.”

“Eugh—Unbelievable, unbelievable...Can’t believe I said that...!!!”

Plap plap plap! Roera slapped her cheeks, shaking her head in disgust. Then she finally turned to face me again.

“For-forget it!”

Roera’s face was red. As expected of a swordsmanship prodigy, just a few slaps had made her cheeks red like a radish. I nearly suspected that she caused herself an orbital fracture.

“Forget, huh. What though?”

“Everything! Everything that just happened, all of it!”

“Your brother-who-is-Roera’s-brother-no-matter-what-anyone-says does have a leaky memory, but forgetting what just happened might be hard. It was a heartfelt moment shared with none other than my lovely little sister. Your brother will probably never forget it. The world can forget, but not me, oh no.”

I recalled that moving moment, quoting Roera’s words.

Roera’s eyes gradually teared up, seeming equally moved.

“Re-really...? You’ll never forget? Okay. Then there’s no helping it.”

-Shing

The next moment, a chilling sound shattered the warmth of the moment.

“L-let’s just die. You, and me. I think that’s the only way, yeah.”

Her voice trembled as hard as the tip of her sword. A radish-faced Roera steeled her resolve.

“W-wait, Roera...! Y-you of all people can’t do this to me!!!”

“Aaaaaargh!!! Shut it, just shut it!!!”

Once again, I found myself calming Roera down—except this time, instead of giving pats, I had to dodge her swinging sword.

***Fortunately, the second phase of calming Roera ended without any casualties.

We were sitting on a bench by the manor’s garden path. Sitting beside me, she unexpectedly removed her shoes and tossed them aside. Next, she stretched out on the bench with her legs resting on my thighs.

To my left, I saw Roera’s white feet wiggling freely. To my right, I saw her blonde hair cascading over the bench, eyes unfocused as she stared at the heavens.

“Roera, are you okay?”

“What.”

“Your clothes. Won’t they get wrinkled? And dusty too.”

“Don’t care.”

“Your hair will get messy too.”

“It’s just tied back anyway.”

“Is this the confidence of a fashionista who manages to look stylish even in casual attire?”

“Oh come off it.”

Roera snorted sarcastically, yet on the other side, her white feet were bouncing excitedly.

If only my little sister were as honest and cheerful as those feet. I envy their elder brother.

“So...”

At that moment, Roera lifted her legs and adjusted her posture. I thought she was finally going to sit properly...until she flopped down again.

This time, Roera laid her head on my thighs, looking up at me from right below.

“What now? What’s the plan from now on?”

Roera nudged my backpack under the bench with her foot. I had put it beside me, but she had tossed it aside saying it was in the way.

“Are you really moving? To the manor house?”

Ah. Come to think of it, she still thinks I’m moving to the manor house.

Before correcting Roera’s misunderstanding, I asked something else.

“Just out of curiousity, is there a problem if I go to the manor house? Is this some typical teenage territory marking at play? You don’t want to share the same building with your brother?”

“Stupid.”

Smack. Roera started hitting my thigh with her head.

As expected of a promising knight, her whole body was a weapon.

“It’s just, annoying.”

“That things are improving for your brother?”

“Hey, didn’t I tell you not to stop abusing the word brother?”

“...That things are improving for your male sibling?”

“Ughh, forget it. It’s not you. It’s him.”

Him. Roera often referred to the patriarch this way in front of me. Rather than being cautious, it felt more like she was expressing her true feelings in my presence.

For some reason, Roera seemed to detest the patriarch. The feeling was more intense than your typical teenage daughter rebelling.

“You know, he banished you to the annex as punishment, and now he sends you to the manor house as a reward. What’s that about? I mean—what even...”

She trailed off, shooting me a tentative look, and then pursed her lips. Smack. She hit my thigh with her head again.

“And you’re just gladly accepting that? Don’t you have any pride?”

“Then, my female sibling, what do you—”

“Stop that. I warned you.”

“What would dear Roera like me to do?”

“...”

Roera avoided my gaze. Thud. Thud. She started tapping the bench with her foot for a while.

“I’m annoying, right?”

She continued in an uncharacteristically subdued voice.

“I’ve always been telling you not to do this, not to do that, criticizing everything you do, interfering with everything. But I could never offer any actual solutions.”

“...”

“It’s the same this time too. So what? So what if you have no pride? Are you supposed to keep staying in the annex? What a riot, right. Talking smack because it’s not about me.”

Thump, thump. Roera kicked the bench harder.

I quietly waited for her following words.

“...What did you talk about with him?”

“First of all, he said he’d treat me proper if the political marriage goes well.”

“...Oh, right.”

Roera sat up abruptly as if remembering forgotten summer vacation homework.

“So-so what did you say? You didn’t just happily accept, did you?”

“Is there a problem if I have a political marriage?”

Roera scowled, flicking my knee.

“Y-y-you idiot. Of course—there’s—a problem. Are you going to let that man choose even your marriage partner now?”

“But isn’t it a common thing for nobility?”

“That’s true, but... Ah! But you’re, y’know, not a noble right?!”

“That’s what you have to say with an eureka look on your face?”

“...Well, so what. Did I say anything wrong?”

“Well, you aren’t wrong. Honestly, I am quite skeptical about this whole political marriage system myself.”

To a modern person, political marriage was a story from another world that could only be encountered in dramas or movies.

It might just feel unreal if I were to have a political marriage, but if my sibling or child were put in the same situation? Now that’d be real uncomfortable.

“Really?!”

Roera mysteriously grew excited out of nowhere.

“Wh-what’s this? I thought you’d be like, oh~ political marriage is so great~ I can’t wait to see my bride~ I need to get her pregnant quickly and present a grandchild to the family head~ That’s what I expected.”

“Just what kind of person do you take me for?”

“Then...”

Gesticulating and muttering to herself, Roera sank into deep thought for a while before turning to me with an excited face.

“Hey. Can you do as I say?”

“What are you going to tell me to do?”

“Try anything. Anything at all if it’s something that might make that Diltan wench lose interest in you.”

“Diltan wench? Are you not on good terms with Fienne?”

“...Fienne?”

Roera suddenly snorted with displeasure.

“Wow. Looks like you’ve already confirmed each other’s feelings. Yeah. When a baby bird of a girl appears outta nowhere, all clinging and affectionate, well, what can you do. Men can’t help but be smitten, right?”

“It’s not really like that. Let’s hear what you have to say first. What is it about Fienne that you dislike so much? Don’t tell me, you just want me stolen from—”

“Wh-what are you saying!!! Do you want to keep talking nonsense?! Hey, does that wench seem normal to you?! The way she acts like an airhead? Don’t you feel something’s off?”

I was impressed by Roera’s torrent of an excuse.

How’d she know Fienne isn’t normal?

“Forget it! I’m the fool for worrying about you!”

Roera irritably turned away from me.

So we meet again, Mrs. Back-of-Roera’s-Head.

“Okay. Let’s assume Fienne has lost interest in me. Well then, what’s the plan after that?”

“...Actually. I had this conversation with him. I said I’d go to Diltan instead of you.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because there’s a guy named Kalan there who’s my ideal—”

As she was speaking in a mechanical tone, Roera peeked sideways to gauge my reaction.

“...Just because.”

“Just because?”

“Just because! I did it because I didn’t want to see that man doing whatever he wants with you. Because I didn’t want to see you living according to his will again. Why. Does it bother you?! Does it feel like I’ve stolen your opportunity?”

“...So, you were trying to sacrifice yourself for me?”

“God. What are you saying again, it’s so annoying.”

“What am I saying? I’m saying I’m touched.”

“...”

“You really are the only one who cares about me.”

“...”

Roera lay back down, still facing the other way. Using my thigh as a pillow again, she spoke up grumpily.

“If you know, then how about you behave a little. And start listening to your big sister diligently.”

“Oh but of course.”

“Hey! You just said it alright?! That you’d listen to me, okay?!”

“But will you be okay, Roera? Living as a married-in wife with your personality...”

“You think I’m the same as you? I’m the legitimate heiress of Bendel, yeah? The treasure of the family. And those Diltans? If I marry into Diltan, they’ll be so busy watching my every move they won’t be able to breathe. It’s worlds apart from you. You’d suffocate because you’d too busy tip-toeing around others.”

It was truly characterstic, the way she spoke arrogantly with that crooked attitude. Yet for some reason, it felt forced.

I barely restrained myself from unconsciously patting her head.

“So, you understand? From now on, you just need to do as I say. Not—what—he—says.”

Roera bumped her head against my thigh with each syllable of her last words.

I was honestly touched. Despite her words and actions, it seemed Roera was sincerely doing her best to improve my treatment.

Thud. I unconsciously moved my foot and touched the backpack on the ground.

I originally didn’t intend on telling Roera anything. I didn’t want to involve her in troublesome matters, didn’t want to make her worry, and didn’t think she would care about me in the first place. But now...

I made up my mind to talk.

“Roera. I really appreciate your feelings, but you don’t have to do that.”

“Uh-huh, shut it.”

“What I mean is, since I won’t be having a political marriage, you don’t have to bear with the married life you don’t want.”

“... What do you mean by that?”

I told Roera about everything I had experienced so far and what I was planning to do next.

In other words, I shared my runaway plan.

“...!”

As soon as I finished speaking, Roera jumped up from her seat.

“Then what are you doing sitting around?”

“I ran into someone I was glad to see along the way.”

“... Ah, whatever!”

Tap tap. Roera picked up my backpack and dusted it off. Then she slung it over her own shoulder.

“What’s this? Perhaps a ‘Don’t go, brother!’ development?”

Roera poked my side with her elbow. She wore a playful smile, not her usual cynical one.

“Let’s go.”

“If I may be so bold, where are you referring to?”

Poke. Poke poke. Instead of speaking, Roera repeatedly poked my side with her elbow, urging me to move.

Excitement radiated from her face.

***Goddamn it. Well of course, I should’ve known that bastard Idore couldn’t possibly be as cool as I’d hoped.

“Sir Risir.”

Urged on by Roera, I was about to leave the Bendel manor. We approached the main gate in no time...but then a man blocked my path.

“I have orders from the Patriarch. Should you, Sir Risir, attempt to go out, I’m to tell you to refrain from doing so.”

He wasn’t a trainee standing guard, as he was inside the gate rather than outside.

The man, whose polite smile suited him well, was Sir Gerhen, a knight of Bendel.

Gerhen was a full-fledged knight, not just a mere apprentice. And what did this mean?

“...What if I insist on going out due to urgent business?”

“Then I’m afraid I’d have to use force.”

It meant he possessed a level of strength I absolutely couldn’t handle at my current level.

Truthfully, even an apprentice knight was beyond me. The reason I was able to defeat apprentice knight Humton was entirely due to his carelessness. Thanks to that, I was able to exploit an opening with magic.

But now, everyone in Bendel knew I could use magic.

Humton had said it himself: if we were to duel again, he wouldn’t lose. And it wasn’t just bravado. Against an apprentice knight going all out while being careful of my magic, I had almost no confidence in winning.

And the full-fledged knight before me was even worse an opponent. Gerhen was skilled enough to subdue three apprentice knights like Humton simultaneously. And now this knight had declared he’d stop me even by force if necessary.

In this situation, what was the best course of action for a bastard?

“Gerhen. Move aside.”

Damn it, I don’t want to choose [1. Hide behind little sister’s back].

Regardless of my wishes, Roera stepped in front to face Gerhen.

“My lady...?”

Gerhen was visibly flustered when his opponent changed from the bastard son to the Bendel young lady.

“I have business outside.”

“But Sir Risir is—”

“I’m taking him with me.”

“...”

“Didn’t you hear? I said I have business outside. Move.”

Gerhen let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t know what’s come over you to make you protect Sir Risir, but I cannot allow it.”

“Oh really?”

“It’s the Patriarch’s order. Please, my lady. I sincerely hope I will not be forced to show discourtesy.”

“Sounds to me like you could be discourteous if you wanted to?”

Roera curled one corner of her mouth in her characteristic sneer. She was full of fighting spirit.

“...”

The corner of Gerhen’s eyes twitched. Though he served Bendel, he was still a nobleman in name. No one but the head of the family could treat a family retainer so carelessly.

“My lady, let me be clear. I am different from the apprentice knight Rowen whom you defeated.”

“Know my place and don’t get cocky. Is that what you’re saying?”

“I remember your duel with Rowen. It was a gloriously fierce battle where neither side gave an inch.”

This was the noble way of indirect speech. Translated, it meant: You barely beat the apprentice knight Rowen. Do you think you can handle me?

“Bull.”

Roera snorted and drew her sword.

“Very well. If that is your wish, Lady Roera. I, Gerhen, shall humbly request a lesson from you.”

Gerhen also drew his sword without backing down.

And so began a duel between the two knights.

***“...!”

A look of deep bewilderment crossed Gerhen’s face as his sword met Roera’s in their very first exchange.

It had been just a year—a year since Roera fought on equal footing with the apprentice knight Rowen, narrowly securing victory.

Now, a year later, Roera was holding her ground against Gerhen, a man who had already been an official knight for a year.

They disengaged to create some distance before making the next move. Their swords clashed several times, with harsh metallic sounds ringing out.

As a series of attacks and defenses concluded, Gerhen spoke from a distance, looking bemused.

“I can see why the Patriarch favors you so much, my lady.”

“Thanks. Does that mean you’ll step aside?”

“To achieve this much without even taking interest in the Bendel technique. What a fearsome rate of growth. I dread the day you officially inherit the Bendel name.”

“So, you’re gonna step aside for us, yes?”

“...”

Gerhen repositioned himself, taking a different stance from before. A rippling energy began to swirl around his sword.

“Are you serious right now?”

Roera’s expression froze as Gerhen began to use the Bendel sword technique.

“Lady Roera, I trust you will understand the position I’m in.”

“Why are you doing this?! The person you all despised so much is willing to leave the family on his own!”

Gerhen was shocked, as he thought Roera would back down after all this. But instead, she charged at him with full force, kicking off the ground.

At this point, there was no choice but to see it through to the end.

The young miss musn’t get hurt...!

While some damage was unavoidable, he couldn’t allow any serious injury.

Gerhen summoned all his strength, intending to incapacitate Roera in one strike. Leaving any room for uncertainty would only increase the chances of her getting hurt.

“...!”

Suddenly, Gerhen’s gaze fixed on Risir behind Roera.

This little bastard...

The knight’s heightened senses detected the bastard secretly gathering mana, but he didn’t panic.

Gerhen had also watched Risir’s duel with Humton. He knew what abilities Risir was hiding, and how insignificant that power was by his standards.

A knight’s tempered mana was itself a sword and armor. The bastard child’s petty tricks couldn’t even scratch the mana barrier currently surrounding Gerhen’s body.

As such, Gerhen immediately dismissed Risir from his mind.

He’s hiding that bead in his left hand.

He reserved just enough attention to deal with the annoying pest—Risir—buzzing around.

It was a very reasonable judgment...so reasonable that it ultimately became the wrong one.

“Huh?”

“?!”

“?!”

All three felt something was off almost simultaneously. There was something strange about Risir’s state as he gathered mana.

The heck? What’s with all this mana?

“Uh—I don’t know what’s happening?! Argh whatever!”

Instead of the left hand that had been clutching the bead, Risir extended his right. A chaotic yet flawlessly precise mass of mana coalesced, brimming with intent, and shot toward Gerhen.

The move was an unexpected gambit—a surprise even to Risir himself. How much more startling would it be to others?

Was it possible for a human’s mana capacity to increase so suddenly, and to such drastic extent?

This was something only possible when consuming rare elixirs that even the Bendel patriach had rarely tasted.

“Impossible...!!!”

Living up to a Bendel knight’s reputation, Gerhen managed to react to Risir’s surprise attack, albeit a beat late.

He tried to anticipate the trajectory and swing his sword to deflect the mana sphere. But the sphere’s path curved mid-flight.

“...!”

With all these factors coming together, the bastard’s spell ended up reaching the knight.

As the mana sphere hit his chin, Gerhen’s eyes rolled upward slightly. Before his eyes could refocus, Roera’s fist connected.

“How’d you pull that off?!”

Roera voiced the question Gerhen would have asked, had he not been knocked out.

And so the bastard and the young lady left the manor.