“Ren is My Younger Brother”
“…Ha. Are you taking your companion’s side right now?”
Coco reluctantly spoke politely with a sullen face.
It seemed like she was showing the bare minimum courtesy toward a Hero, but her tone was rough and sharp.
Ruman smiled slyly and tilted his head.
“Well… it’s natural to take your companion’s side.”
“Ha! Can a Hero do that?”
“I’m sorry, but Heroes are people too. For your information, my mission is essentially already over. If I must tell you, I’m not even in the position of a Hero currently.”
Ruman winked at me secretly behind people’s backs.
…Is he really taking my side right now?
He looked more handsome.
“Then how dare….”
“I don’t know your status. Isn’t that right? When you boldly claimed you’d give generous compensation, isn’t it embarrassing for both of us if you’re already turning red? Hahahaha!”
“…You’re right. My thinking was short-sighted. Coco-nim, please calm down as well.”
“……So annoying, really.”
“I’m annoyed too.”
“Ren!”
“Ren.”
Why do you keep calling me!
“I got it. I got it… Achoo. I’ll be quiet.”
“…Good boy.”
“What… ridiculous.”
I twirled my finger around.
When did you scold me, and now suddenly I’m good.
Strange.
When Ruman said it earlier, I didn’t feel bad. But hearing it from hyung somehow… it’s annoying.
I curled up more. It seemed to get colder as the night deepened.
Would the carriage be warm? Or would it be warm in front of the fire where everyone gathered?
My fingers hurt from the cold. I rubbed my hands together, but no warmth came. Even when I put my hands close to the fire, only the surface seemed to warm up.
Cold.
“Be careful. Your hand.”
“Ah….”
I was reaching my hand toward the fire. What am I doing….
As I blinked, Ruman grabbed my hand and let go. It was an incredibly warm hand.
Ah, I want to go in and rest alone. I hate everything. Thanks to the medicine Del gave me, the coughing stopped, but the fever remained.
I shouldn’t be like this from the first day, if I’m like this I’m really a burden. Does it matter? I’ve always been a burden to hyung anyway….
“What….”
Thud, a cloak dropped on my lap.
“It’s a cloak.”
“…Isn’t this our hyung’s?”
You gave hyung’s to Coco earlier.
I swallowed my last words and gripped the cloak Ruman handed me tightly.
Looking over Ruman’s shoulder, Coco was covered with a large blanket.
“This is better after all, right? Even if that’s warmer.”
“……Right.”
I answered as if squeezing it out.
I was upset with hyung, so I wanted to lie and say no….
But I didn’t want to tell a lie I’d regret.
Being with hyung like this also felt like a dream.
“Th-thank you.”
I lowered my eyes and said it quietly—did Ruman hear?
He was already beside Coco.
You said you don’t move without profit, so why are you being friendly with Coco? I don’t like it….
I wrapped hyung’s cloak around my shoulders.
Crackle. Crackle.
The sound of flames burning echoed in my ears.
The small sparks flying up looked just like fireflies… and the night that had only felt cold suddenly felt warm. That was probably… because hyung’s scent came from hyung’s cloak draped over my shoulders.
With my vision flickering, I dozed off to sleep.
***
“He fell asleep.”
At Del’s words, Ruman chuckled.
Because while he struggled so much when awake, seeing his peaceful sleeping face was quite cute.
‘No, he’s quite cute when awake too.’
“The young miss has also fallen asleep.”
“Haha. Indeed.”
Ren wasn’t the only one dozing off.
Coco was asleep leaning against Del. Seeing her temperament of throwing the cloak away as if it was better that he gave her a blanket instead, it seemed Del’s hardships wouldn’t be easy.
“How did you end up on this rough road, Hero-nim? And with your young brother too.”
Del’s voice was sympathetic.
“I can’t tell you that.”
Temarr said firmly.
“Ah! I apologize. It seems to be related to your mission. I was rude!”
When Del excessively apologized and bowed his head, Temarr told him it wasn’t necessary and stopped him. Ruman’s interest was elsewhere. He kept glancing at Ren’s face as he slept soundly.
“How did you come to this place with the young miss, sir?”
“Haha. Our circumstances are also complicated, so it’s difficult to readily tell you……”
“I see.”
“I sincerely thank you for sharing your warmth.”
Del suddenly stood up and showed a knight’s courtesy. When Temarr returned the greeting, Ruman scratched his head. Are we having an etiquette competition now? Certainly, the courtesy of an ordinary knight and a Hero’s courtesy were different. Though the courtesies differed, Del’s spirit was comparable to a Hero’s. Ruman whistled inwardly. That young miss, as expected…. If she travels with such an escort, it’s obvious.
“Um, Hero-nim.”
“Yes.”
Del, who had been talking about various miscellaneous matters, called Temarr and Ruman. It was truly the first time in a long while being called ‘Hero.’
“Does Hero-nim only move on His Majesty the King’s orders?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’ve heard there’s a connection between the title of ‘Star’ and abilities—is that true? Does the King designate those stars?”
Del, who poured out questions, smiled embarrassedly and quickly added.
“I apologize if this is rude. I also grew up reading heroic tales…… I have admiration for Heroes.”
Temarr unconsciously looked at Ruman.
What, is he asking my opinion on whether it’s okay to talk about this now?
Ruman burst into laughter seeing Temarr’s face stiffly frozen.
“Hahaha.”
“…Ruman.”
Temarr frowned. Del, who didn’t know the reason, awkwardly laughed along.
“It’s all known information, so there’s no particular reason to hide it. The problem is I don’t remember because I was too young.”
“Ah. That’s unfortunate. I’ve always been curious.”
“Hmm.”
Ruman stroked his chin. Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t given much thought to the title of ‘the King’s nth Star,’ but maybe it had meaning. Why is Temarr the seventh and why is he the third star?
“Are you heading to the capital by any chance?”
“That’s correct.”
Ack. Ruman scratched his forehead seeing Temarr answer without hesitation. He couldn’t stop his answer because he was lost in random thoughts. A Hero’s destination and mission are originally all top secret.
But it’s not wartime, and does it really matter much now? It’s ridiculous to stop him when Temarr already said it. I should give him a talking-to. No, it’s bothersome so I’ll just leave it. Ruman thought leisurely. We can just write a report together or something. Didn’t I also reveal with my own mouth that I’m a Hero? No wait, I quit now so Temarr will write my portion too.
Ruman, who was chuckling, turned his gaze to Temarr’s cloak that Ren was clutching and covering himself with.
Ah. Certainly, with seven stars attached so glaringly, it would be hard not to notice—if Ren hadn’t been there, they would have arrived already and no one else would have seen that cloak. Del’s words about admiring Heroes didn’t seem to be a lie. Don’t things you’re interested in naturally catch your eye faster? Just like how only Ren appears more vividly in Ruman’s eyes. Ruman’s mood became generous.
Anyway, Heroes are truly troublesome beings. With extensive propaganda during the long war, few don’t know of them, yet the royal family tells them to hide their identity—isn’t this exactly covering your eyes and saying ‘boo’? Ruman clicked his tongue. Not that it matters to me anymore.
Besides this, Del skillfully continued the conversation about various miscellaneous matters—asking about Heroes, neighboring countries’ situations, past wars, rumors spreading like wildfire in the capital—holding onto the taciturn Temarr, and when he showed signs of discomfort, Del skillfully changed the subject with an apologetic face.
The soup happened to be boiling nicely.
“Ah! The soup! I completely forgot. What should I do? Should I wake him to eat it now?”
“It’s fine. He’s sleeping deeply.”
“Would you like some, Hero-nim?”
“No. We only eat designated food.”
‘There’s no need to tell him even such trivial things.’
Though he probably can’t understand properly with such half-hearted answers.
Watching Temarr answer whatever was asked, Ruman thought as a final act of generosity that he should report to the King.
Temarr, who intercepted Ruman’s answer, meticulously covered Ren with the cloak. Whether he disliked or liked being touched, Ren mumbled and curled up.
“Unngh… cooo….”
“…? He’s saying something.”
Ruman perked up his ears and moved closer to Ren.
“Even one bean… don’t wanna share….”
“……Kup….”
“If you give one piece… humans will ask for ten pieces unngh….”
“Kup…hup….”
Ruman’s shoulders shook.
Is this something to sleep-talk about while sobbing?
He wanted to wake Ren and ask what kind of dream he was having.
No wait, he was undoubtedly recreating the current situation in his dream.
Temarr also heard it, his face serious.
“Huu….”
After his shoulders shook for a while, Ruman brushed off the remnants of laughter and alternately looked at Ren and Temarr.
“Ren’s right though. Isn’t it human nature to want something bigger when you help them? Temarr. You don’t need to be so strict even with your brother. You need to loosen up a bit.”
Hmm.
Is it because retirement is right around the corner? He thought it would be okay for Temarr’s strictness and obsession with a Hero’s sense of justice to loosen up. The long war already ended. Above all, the main reason for this Hero summons—border defense—was probably just an excuse. The attitude of neighboring countries stirring and digging up the land was strange. It didn’t seem like they wanted to recover territory, but like they were looking for something. The ‘real’ reason the King summoned Heroes was probably to investigate what they were looking for. It wouldn’t be a life-threatening matter like before. At least, that was Ruman’s speculation.
Anyway. So wouldn’t it be okay to let go a bit and spend quality time with your brother?
‘This meddling isn’t like me.’
“Ruman.”
“What.”
Hmm.
No matter how I look at it, those two don’t resemble each other. Rather, doesn’t Ren resemble me?
Ruman, who was chuckling to himself, loosened his eyes while monitoring Del and Coco sitting across from him.
Coco, who was definitely Duke Ganien’s daughter, and her escort knight. And the corpse Temarr said he discovered.
Should I have asked in detail about how it was?
I wonder if they’re lucky enough to survive assassins.
As Ruman watched, Del’s appearance caught his eye. The corpse Temarr found was probably their companion. Because it was the work of assassins. But for having been attacked, Del’s appearance and the carriage were too clean. Was he that skilled? Well. The aura he felt was comparable to a Hero’s.
“Hey, Temarr.”
“He’s my younger brother.”
“Right…. More than that, that Del guy… what?”
Ruman forgot what he was about to say.
“Ren is my younger brother.”
