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Chapter 06 …
How to Live as the Favorite of the Constellations
The Circumstances of Adults (1)
While Arvian was suffering a headache over the existence of a sibling, the Countess hugged him close and gently stroked him as she spoke.
“Are you curious about what your brother is like? Do you perhaps want to see him?”
“Uuung. Auuu.”
“Yes. Mommy misses Kael too. It’s been quite a while since I last saw him.”
“…….”
He was neither curious nor did he want to see him.
However, Arvian’s opinion failed to reach the Countess.
“Hmm. It feels like it’s about time for him to return. Should I send word?”
“Au? Uut! Bubbuuu!”
No! There’s no need!
Arvian desperately expressed his refusal while wildly waving his hands.
“Aww. Auuuu!! Auu!”
“I understand, Arvian. Mommy will ask Grandfather tomorrow.”
“Auuuu!!”
No, that’s not what I meant!
As Arvian flailed around, the Countess widened her eyes in confusion before adding with an “Ah.”
“You must be curious about Grandfather too. Your grandfather is His Grace Duke Theodore Inosilene. He’s a truly wonderful person!”
“…….”
Inosilene?
Arvian’s movements abruptly froze.
Of course he knew of the Inosilene Ducal House.
Were they not one of the founding contributors of the Empire, a family that had fought against the Demon King since ancient times and amassed countless achievements?
‘And the Fifth Hero, “Ardein,” was an Inosilene.’
When the Demon King appeared and Heroes were born, humanity organized anti–Demon King forces centered around the Hero. However, in truth, nothing had ever been properly established regarding the Hero’s affiliation or treatment.
There was not even a proper organization to oppose the Demon King’s army, so the chain of command was unclear, naturally resulting in enormous losses.
The Hero who appeared at that time was Ardein Inosilene.
Not only was Ardein skilled in both martial and scholarly arts, he also possessed cold and rational judgment. The very first thing he did was completely reorganize the structure of the anti–Demon King forces.
When people opposed him, he crushed every one of them with the authority of the Inosilene family, causing others to whisper that he was not a Hero but a tyrant.
Of course, the man himself did not so much as twitch an eyebrow.
‘But this person is……?’
Arvian glanced sideways at the Count standing before him.
“Where did Daddy go? Daddy disappeared…… and now he’s here!!”
“…….”
“Now he’s gone again…… and now he’s back!”
The man repeatedly covering and uncovering his face while completely throwing away noble dignity in order to play an utterly unwanted game of peekaboo was supposedly……
A direct descendant of that Inosilene Ducal House?
The same elite family where children learned the sword before they could even walk and joined the Imperial Knights upon reaching adulthood?
‘Did the entire Inosilene family collectively eat something strange while I was gone?’
Arvian frowned as he looked at the Count.
The Count looked so innocent and gullible that it would not have been surprising if he got scammed anywhere he went. It was impossible to imagine him wielding a sword.
Perhaps this was why he had received a separate surname and left the ducal family.
“Ubububu.”
Arvian reached out and rubbed the Count’s cheek.
He had heard that succession battles within the ducal family were extremely fierce. Honestly, the Count did not look like someone who could survive in such a place.
In that case, giving up his succession rights, accepting a title, and spending the rest of his life peacefully in a quiet rural territory had probably been a far better choice.
‘It couldn’t have been easy to give up. That was an incredibly wise decision.’
He did not feel any regret whatsoever. Arvian himself had no interest at all in the ducal family’s power or wealth.
He had already seen more than enough people fighting viciously over authority.
Now that the Demon King was dead, he wanted to live comfortably in this life. He hated the very thought of succession struggles.
In that sense, Arvian was actually grateful for the Count’s decision.
“Abubu.”
Other people might ask why he would ever give up such things.
But giving up also required courage.
From Arvian’s perspective, the Count was a very wise and upright person.
And weren’t those who had the most to lose often the biggest cowards when it came to showing courage?
‘The Count must have had many hardships of his own all this time.’
Meanwhile, whether he knew Arvian’s thoughts or not, the Count simply continued smiling foolishly at his bright and lively son.
“Yes, yes. Daddy is right here.”
“Uuung.”
“What’s that? You want me to play with you again? Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.”
The Count covered his face with both hands and once more began the completely unwanted game of peekaboo.
This time, he even started making ridiculous expressions. Watching him, Arvian let out a small laugh.
“Kyaaar.”
“That’s right. Good boy, my son.”
What an idiot.
He really was such an idiot.
One day long ago.
A blizzard raged outside the window.
Dark clouds covered the sky so completely that it was impossible to tell whether it was day or night.
Snow fell so heavily that one could not even see a few steps ahead. It seemed impossible to leave this cabin for the time being.
‘How did things end up like this…….’
I let out a small sigh.
Urgent news had reached the Imperial Capital that demons had invaded Rostel Territory at the northernmost edge of the continent, and the undefeated Border Count had ultimately died in battle.
Upon hearing the news, Hero Ardein Inosilene immediately headed for Rostel along with his family’s knight order.
When the Hero and reinforcements arrived, the morale of the Rostel soldiers soared to the heavens.
They drove back the invading demons and swiftly killed even the high-ranking demon commanding them.
However.
‘Right. A high-ranking demon. We walked right into its trap.’
Its goal had never been to seize Rostel Territory.
Its true objective had been to attack Rostel and lure out the Hero.
Having successfully drawn in the Hero according to plan, the creature released all of its power right before death.
Not to kill the Hero, but to “trap” the Hero here.
And the moment the demon released its power—
Though I possessed not a shred of strength myself, I instinctively threw my body into the vortex of power.
Solely to save the Hero.
It was an incredibly foolish thing to do.
Who exactly was worrying about whom here?
As I thought that, a voice suddenly spoke beside me.
“I gathered some branches. They’re soaked from the snow, but it’s still better than having no firewood at all.”
“……!!”
Startled, I quickly turned my head.
It seemed Ardein had returned carrying branches and wild fruits after briefly going outside to inspect the surroundings.
As he placed the fruits in front of me, he spoke.
“You must be fairly hungry. Eat.”
“What about yours?”
“I am the Hero. My body is protected by divine blessing, so starving for a few days will not harm me. But you are an ordinary person, are you not?”
“……Thank you for looking after me. I’ll eat well.”
As I ate the wild fruits Ardein had given me to ease my hunger, I felt a burdensome gaze from beside me.
I lowered the fruit I had been about to place in my mouth and asked,
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“That was a reckless action.”
I understood what he meant without needing an explanation.
Ardein glanced sideways toward the blizzard raging outside the window and continued.
“Your attempt to save someone in danger was exceedingly noble. However, that action could have taken your life.”
“…….”
“Not every sacrifice is honorable. Had you died, it would not have been honorable, but merely foolish.”
Ardein was warning me that I had acted foolishly.
Yet strangely enough, I did not feel offended.
Perhaps it was because there was not even the slightest trace of blame in his tone.
Though he spoke firmly and coldly, somehow it felt as though his words carried gratitude and concern.
‘Ah, so that’s why.’
Suddenly thinking of something, I quietly looked into Ardein’s eyes and asked.
His clear gaze turned toward me.
“Is that why?”
“……Why what?”
“The reason you devote yourself to building systems and reorganizing structures. Is it because you find foolish deaths regrettable?”
Until now, I had never truly spoken properly with Ardein.
I had never particularly felt the need to.
There were always countless people around him, and he always achieved what he desired.
Besides, interacting with nobles was uncomfortable, so I thought occasionally sorting out information about demons and passing it along was more than sufficient.
After all, as long as I fulfilled my role, wasn’t that enough?
“Concise and efficient strategy can lead a war to victory, so I am merely refining things. There is no grand reason behind it.”
“Is that so.”
A small laugh escaped me at those words that sounded so characteristic of a strict principled man.
When we were swept into the vortex of demonic power, not a single person except me had tried to save him.
And he himself considered that perfectly natural.
They believed it was more efficient for the Hero to solve everything alone than for others to accompany him and become burdens.
Had it not been for me, he would have been trapped here all alone.
‘This is not efficient at all.’
It was merely stubborn and foolish loneliness.
I rose from my seat and looked out at the blizzard still raging outside the window before smiling confidently and extending my hand.
“I also dislike recklessness, and I dislike sacrifice as well.”
Whether honorable or foolish, sacrifice was nothing more than a dog’s death.
I did not want anyone to sacrifice themselves for any reason.
That included you, Hero.
“So from now on, I’ll prove it. I’ll prove that my jumping in here was more efficient than you coming here alone. I shall deliver victory in this battle to you.”
“……Now that is something worth looking forward to.”
Ardein grabbed my hand and stood up.
A faint smile lingered on Ardein’s endlessly cold face.
He really was such a fool.
“Young Master! Where are you, Young Master!!”
And around the time the Count was happily spending time playing peekaboo with Arvian—
The Inosilene Ducal House had been thrown into complete chaos.
“Young Masterrrr!!”
A young boy sat atop a tree in the ducal estate’s garden, watching his etiquette instructor desperately search for him.
The boy snorted unhappily and twitched his brows.
“Who cares about supplementary lessons right now? It’s already been two whole months since I visited my family. Heir education, whatever—why should I care?”
If this keeps up, my little brother will become an adult in the blink of an eye, so who’s going to take responsibility for that?!
And if my little brother stops recognizing me, then who’s going to take responsibility for that?!
‘I waited because Grandfather said he’d take me home if I got a perfect score on the last exam. I was an idiot for trusting him.’
He says he’s busy because he’s a Duke or whatever, but why should I care about adult circumstances?
What kind of Duke can’t even keep a promise made to a child?!
“Hmph. Then I’ll just go myself. I have my own plans!”
Little brother, I’m coming!
The blue eyes of the boy sitting atop the tree blazed fiercely.
The boy’s name was Kaelus Dayvriel.
The eldest son of the Dayvriel County and grandson of Duke Inosilene.
