Chapter 9: Ho Sweet Ho
Snap─
Raword bent his waist more than 90 degrees, then returned to an upright position.
"Well then, I'll be heading off first. Once I increase the intensity of the training regin ntor gave , every single second will be precious."
"...Right. I look forward to it."
I didn't want to keep talking with the Raword who had lost his mind, so I left imdiately.
I needed to hurry to catch the train heading to the Hasgard Earldom.
"S-sorry! Rebe—my roommate kept fussing over and packing things, so I ended up a little late...!"
Ti passed, and I boarded the train with Esther, luggage in tow.
Her stuffed rabbit, which had been cramd into the bag by force, was being tortured with only its head poking out.
The train ride was as boring as expected.
"This is my first ti in first class...."
Only Esther, bouncing around the train car with the excitent of a child, provided a rather refreshing sight to watch.
─More ti passed.
Back to Hasgard after a long while.
I gave Esther an empty room and reunited with the family.
My father in particular welcod warmly.
He said he had sothing important to discuss, so I should rest well tonight and et him tomorrow.
Well, it's obviously going to be about the Subjugation Campaign.
"Young master, your bath is prepared."
Head Steward Paris's words.
I enjoyed the welco bath the attendants had prepared and flopped down onto the bed.
Ahh.
A clean body lting into a warm blanket brings back mories of those lazy days in the past.
It was really nice, just lying in my room doing nothing.
Ho sweet ho.
***
009
"I've decided to participate in this year's Subjugation Campaign."
Breakfast ti.
The head of Hasgard—that is, Father—opened his mouth first.
It was only a matter of ti.
"Since there hasn't been a Subjugation Campaign in the past 3 years, it seems this one will be quite a large-scale affair."
At those words, all 3 brothers including myself stopped our hands holding our utensils.
"What do you all plan to do?"
As Father asked, looking around at each of us, we answered in birth order as if it had been arranged.
The eldest, Diar Hasgard.
"Of course I must participate. I will assist you to the best of my abilities."
The second, Romance Hasgard.
"I've been waiting for nothing but the Subjugation Campaign! The opportunity to show the skills I've honed over years has finally co."
"Oh ho, is that so. You've all done well. Then, Daywin—what about you?"
And the third, Daywin Hasgard.
"I...."
"Ah, Daywin. I would like you to participate too, but... there's no need to push yourself. I won't force you."
Father?
I haven't even said anything yet.
"Haven't you been pushing yourself hard lately? You've just returned from a journey, so you must be disoriented."
That was true.
The youngest son, Daywin Hasgard—despite his trained body, he was in a position that received precious treatnt.
"Besides, your body isn't fully well."
Before I had possessed him, Daywin had apparently been ill as though he were about to die at any mont.
Of course, there are no symptoms or aftereffects now.
The strange thing, however, is that the nature of that illness and how he ca to recover are still unknown.
So I, Daywin Hasgard, had no choice but to always be a source of concern and consideration for others.
"I...."
"Father, Daywin is still young and inexperienced to be entering combat."
Before I could even finish my words, the eldest cut in.
"I agree, Brother. I'd like the youngest to quickly grow into a man and show us a reliable side of himself, but... it's better to plan for next ti."
The second added.
Both of them openly interrupted what I was about to say.
Their intentions were obvious.
The brothers were blatantly trying to block from going to the Subjugation Campaign─
Wink.
Both brothers blinked at the sa ti, winking.
It was an expression of "I did well, right?"
They weren't blatantly blocking ....
They had simply stepped forward to speak on my behalf, assuming I would say I wasn't going.
It's a little embarrassing to be saying this now, but—I'm loved.
Not only my parents, but both brothers too had shown more than enough affection.
Even when I first ca to this world. And even when I realized I was the third son of a noble family.
I had been anxious.
Like it typically goes in gas and novels, I had imagined a setup where blood-related brothers plotted each other's assassination or seized each other's power.
But it was a delusion.
The 3 Hasgard brothers got along well.
Especially the affection the 2 older brothers showed was considerable.
The reason I had only played and eaten in my past life was because the family understood whatever I did.
The youngest, raised preciously.
A flower in a greenhouse.
"Oh ho, is that so? Daywin, what do you think?"
Father set down his fork and looked into my eyes.
"What I think is...."
I decided to swallow hard and state my ambition.
Since my brothers had cheered on, I should respond in kind.
The mont I slowly opened my mouth—
"Father, I think it would be more than enough for Daywin to just observe the Subjugation Campaign this ti and save his official entry for a future opportunity."
"An observation—what a splendid idea. Brother, then I'll be responsible for making sure the youngest can follow safely. Youngest, don't worry about a thing. This brother will protect you."
You little....
Let talk too.
"Oh ho, is that so?"
And why does Father keep saying the sa thing over and over....
"Daywin, what do you think...."
"The Subjugation Campaign! I'll participate!"
I finally managed to say it properly.
There had been a pitch break in the middle, but that wasn't what mattered.
Father and my brothers.
All 3 n simultaneously turned their heads to look at .
Their expressions were ones of disbelief.
"Yes, Father. I said I would participate."
"Well... well done. Daywin...."
Father was moved enough to redden around his eyes at my decision.
Just how much of a disgrace was Daywin before I possessed him.
"Well decided. Daywin, this observation will be a good experience for you. This eldest brother of yours will work hard as well, so that he may be a model for you. Mm, good. I feel motivated."
"Brother's words are absolutely right, youngest. I too have a strong desire to be a brother you look up to. Just trust and follow along! It has been my wish for you to nurture your dreams looking at my broad back!"
Ah....
I just wish both of them would shut up.
Before I knew it, I hadn't been able to touch my plate at all.
The urge to leave this dining table at once rose up suddenly.
Still.
Still, I had to say what needed to be said.
"It's not observation."
"Hm?"
Father, the eldest, the second.
All 3 Hasgards asked simultaneously, as if building a harmony.
"I an that I will directly command troops and subjugate monsters myself."
If this were a manhwa, my speech bubble would have had an emphasis effect by now.
Bold text and an enlarged font to express it properly.
"Wh... what? Son, is that true?"
"Daywin, you've already grown up this much...!"
"Youngest. Give this brother a hug."
"N-no."
"Just once."
I tried to escape but the second brother vigorously rubbed my hair with his thick hands.
"Father! Please stop him!"
"Roman! Act with dignity! Hahaha! I told you to act with dignity! Ahahaha!"
Father laughed heartily and diated the dining table.
Even returning after a long ti—it was Hasgard as usual.
***
The eldest Hasgard, Diar.
The middle Hasgard, Roman.
The 2 brothers believed the youngest Hasgard, Daywin's first Subjugation Campaign would be a failure.
Without any need to doubt—it would absolutely fail.
The 2 brothers had also been that way at first.
Though they had said at the dining table that they were cheering Daywin on, their true feelings were different.
Both suspected Daywin would do nothing and fall out of it.
"Brother, do you see this? I'm going to secretly slip this into the youngest's pack. The youngest won't notice at all. Hehehe...."
Eventually, the second, Roman, even went so far as to tamper with Daywin's pack.
"No, that's... brother, even so...."
"Yes, as you can see. It's the highest grade recovery potion available in the capital. It's a potion that revives you even if your organs are destroyed. Hehehe...."
The second laughed slyly as he packed the recovery potions deep into the bag.
"Brother, how did you get your hands on that...?"
"It's nothing special, Brother. When I heard that the youngest was going to the Subjugation Campaign, I put the funds and people I'd been holding in reserve to use. They're trustworthy people, so the quality is certain."
Potion bottles filled with red liquid were packed in one after another.
"With these, even if the youngest faces great danger, there's no need to worry. As long as he has these, he won't be able to die even if he wanted to. Hehehe...."
He gazed at the sloshing liquid with pride.
"I can't even imagine how grateful the youngest will be when he finds these later. Hehe... Brother, I'm sorry, but it seems the brother the youngest respects most is going to be ."
"As expected of my brother. However, Romance—that won't be enough."
"Not enough?"
The second frowned as if his pride had cracked.
"Recovery potions—I can bring as many as you like. No, it might already be within Daywin's range of expectations. He's a clever fellow, after all."
"Brother... are you saying my sche might get found out?"
"You should have paid more attention. You're sowhat sloppy."
This ti, the eldest, Diar, began to chuckle.
"I've made a few arrangents with Daywin's troop formation—just know that much."
"Brother... what on earth have you done...!"
"It's nothing, Roman. I've mixed in a few retired Royal Knights... that's all I'll say."
"Forr Royal Knights!"
"They may have aged a bit, but the Royal Knights are geniuses gathered from every corner of the nation, are they not? Their faces may be wrinkled, but those wrinkles are filled with an equally deep wealth of experience."
The eldest stared at the red potion the second was holding.
A recovery potion the color of wine.
"To use liquor as an analogy—it's like a premium wine aged for 30 years."
"Hehe... as expected, I cannot keep up with Brother's wisdom...."
"Hahaha, you're no small matter yourself!"
The night in Hasgard grew deep.
Of course—it was Hasgard as usual.
***
"What's this."
While organizing my pack, I found a potion I had never seen before.
Setting aside the unusual color of the potion, the actual potion bottles themselves glowed.
Is it Father?
Or Mother?
Or could it be....
No need to think about it—it must be my brothers.
"What a needless thing to do...."
Just how little do they think of .
I was the Commander of the Holy Knights Order.
I've had als with the Pope and gone to saunas with the Sword Saint.
At this point, I found myself wanting to show them sothing.
As I walked, steeling my resolve, I could hear murmuring voices.
The Hasgard manor had recently gathered troops in preparation for the Subjugation Campaign.
Those were the soldiers' voices.
I too had been granted a portion of troops by Father—
"Oh! Third young master! Greetings!"
...Why are there unfamiliar faces.
I was certain that the last ti I'd t them, it had been only young n.
But n who looked quite seasoned—and even carried an air of deep experience—were greeting as if it were the most natural thing.
What's this now...?
anwhile, the second brother's soldiers jogged by, each throwing in a word as they passed.
"Hahaha, Third young master! Those n are certainly better than the Academy student you brought along, young master!"
"That's right. They say youth is best, but in a Subjugation Campaign, the old ones are better than the young ones!"
They had apparently picked up word of Esther's existence from sowhere and added a few comnts about her.
They sure talk well while running.
Good stamina too.
"Young master, don't push yourself too hard and just stay right behind those n! Or should I tag along?"
And it didn't stop there—words that seed to treat like a child were mixed in too.
As the saying goes, water flows down from the top—it made sense why soldiers who followed my brothers would end up like that.
Getting a little annoyed now....
The thought of giving it everything I had ca to once more....
***
The night before the Subjugation Campaign.
Daywin could not sleep.
Thinking that the event that would destroy his family was soon approaching—embarrassingly enough—he was a little nervous.
In the forest of the Hasgard Earldom, he went for sothing like a walk and tested his strength in a place where no one was around.
A little later.
When Daywin lifted his head and looked around, the forest that had been dense with trees and undergrowth was now laid waste like a desert.
Except for the spot where he stood, the surrounding grass and trees had been swept away in an instant.
Ancient trees decades old snapped like matchsticks.
The ground was overturned, and a lake boiled and evaporated.
As if an invisible giant had grabbed the entire forest in its fist and crushed it.
As if a teorite had fallen and scorched everything to nothing.
Trees, rocks, even the lake.
Everything had been erased, and the very terrain had changed.
Daywin had changed it.
Not as good as before.
Daywin, standing in pure white armor, opened and closed his fist.
"...Still, about half has co back."
The armor forged from Divine Energy vanished with a soft shimr.
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