Younger Brother (2)
Chapter 102
After cleaning himself by the stream near Phillip’s County, Ray immediately headed to the church.
Adele, who was busy with church matters, sighed upon seeing Ray’s disheveled appearance.
“Come in.”
Ray followed Adele’s guidance and lay down on the bed.
Each time Adele pressed around his wounds to check them, Ray let out a series of cries.
“AAHHH!”
“How did you get so injured?”
“I slipped and rolled down a cliff.”
“Sounds like this is the third or fourth time I’ve heard that excuse. Haven’t I told you repeatedly not to lie?”
While scolding Ray, Adele infused him with divine power.
Just as Ray’s body was about to give out, it greedily absorbed the divine energy.
Adele frowned as she felt her divine power being drained from her body.
It wasn’t an ordinary severe injury that would cause such absorption levels.
Ray subtly avoided Adele’s gaze but inwardly sighed in relief.
‘If it weren’t for divine power, I’d have been crippled long ago.’
Though Ray couldn’t fully understand the mechanics of divine power, he could roughly guess its effects.
‘It seems to do more than just activate cell division… It probably restores the body based on the information inscribed in genetic material…’
Assuming this explained why it couldn’t resolve aging or congenital diseases—it couldn’t fix inherent design flaws.
‘But at this rate, I might really die.’
Even divine power couldn’t heal the accumulated fatigue and damage his body was experiencing. Proper rest was needed for full recovery, but recent events kept piling up, pushing him further into exhaustion.
Ray absentmindedly stroked his bracelet.
“At least the defibrillator on my wrist means I won’t die in my sleep.”
Still, lending out his bracelet now felt burdensome since it essentially represented an extra life.
Nonetheless, he had to perfect the Dragon Heart transplantation method just in case.
As Ray pondered over his bracelet, commotion erupted outside.
Adele approached Ray and informed him that a knight had arrived.
Ray tapped Luna, lying nearby.
“Luna, can you move aside for a moment?”
Without saying a word, Luna, who had been trailing Ray all the way to the church, refused to budge.
When Ray urged her again, Luna conjured a magic circle and overlaid it on Ray’s forearm.
Ray held up his arm, showing the swirling magic circle to Ropheiren.
“What is this?”
“…It’s a tracking spell. It can’t pinpoint exact location, but it can determine direction.”
“Eh?!”
Panicking, Ray shattered the magic circle, prompting Luna to strike him forcefully on the chest.
The blow sent Ray gasping in pain.
“Ughhh!!”
As Ray writhed on the ground, Luna stormed out of the room, her cheeks puffing in anger.
Once Luna left, Jenkins and Didier entered the room.
“Ray! What on earth were you doing?!”
Jenkins immediately shouted.
Ray awkwardly coughed and scratched his temple with his finger.
He had acted quite impulsively this time, taking much greater risks than usual. Consequently, he hadn’t prepared any decent excuses.
After Didier managed to calm Jenkins down, he sighed deeply and looked at Ray.
“Ray, please explain.”
“Hmm…”
Ray hesitantly began his explanation.
There had been internal strife among the rangers, leading several of them to trespass into the baron’s territory. After contacting an officer-level ranger, Ray planned to assess the situation in the Sigini Mountain Range. However, he got caught up in combat and returned late.
Even to Ray, it sounded like a very weak excuse.
“At least… it seems the ranger conflict has ended. The baron’s territory should be less worried now.”
As soon as Ray finished speaking, Jenkins slammed the table beside the bed.
BOOM!!
“Ray!! Are you in your right mind?”
For Jenkins, there was no other reaction but anger. Provoking the rangers could endanger the entire Phillip’s County. Interfering in their internal conflicts and even engaging in battle was nothing short of insane.
Even if Ray had the assistance of an officer-level ranger to cover his tracks, no one could guarantee the ranger wouldn’t betray him.
“Why did you do such a foolish thing, Ray?”
Jenkins continued to press Ray.
Didier didn’t try to stop Jenkins anymore. He was seriously questioning himself.
‘Have I been too lenient with Ray?’
Although Ray had made many rash decisions before, most of the time, they turned out to be correct. This time, however, it went too far.
No matter how positively he tried to view it, Ray seemed to have acted recklessly, intoxicated by his own strength.
As Didier stood silently, Jenkins’ voice grew louder.
Ray quietly endured Jenkins’ shouting.
Any knight sworn to protect the county would naturally be enraged by such actions.
If Ray revealed that he had battled the apostles of demons, the situation might change, but he wasn’t ready to disclose that yet.
Seeing Ray remain silent, Jenkins gritted his teeth.
Jenkins knew that considering Ray’s past achievements, this impulsive act likely had a reason. However, regarding matters involving the rangers, he should have consulted Baron Phillips first.
Just as Jenkins was about to reiterate this point, he noticed Ropheiren leaning against the wall, crossing his legs, and glaring at him.
Annoyed, Jenkins confronted Ropheiren.
“Lord Ropheiren, what exactly were you doing in the Sigini Mountain Range?”
Why did he go there without permission?
Why didn’t he stop Ray?
What exactly did he do while he was there?
These questions carried multiple accusations, to which Ropheiren responded with a smirk.
“I’ve come back after preventing the world’s impending doom.”
Jenkins blinked, then furrowed his brow.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Oh dear, does it sound that way? How unfortunate.”
As Jenkins and Ropheiren glared at each other, Ray clapped his hands loudly.
Drawing everyone’s attention, Ray sheepishly said,
“I know it’s an unreasonable request, but could you give me a day’s rest? My body is badly worn out.”
Ray wanted to end the conversation for today.
Luna was peeking through the door, her silver eyes gleaming as she watched over the room. She looked ready to shoot a fireball at Jenkins, making Ray feel even more uneasy.
After glaring at Ray for a while, Jenkins clicked his tongue and finally stepped back.
“Fine, recover first.”
“Thank you, Master.”
“Next time, prepare a better excuse.”
“Yes.”
“Get some rest.”
Jenkins and Didier left the room.
Though they trusted Ray’s words, they couldn’t lower their guard completely. Therefore, both knights would continue additional duties for the next ten days.
Watching Jenkins and Didier’s weary backs, Ray felt a mixture of emotions.
*
After receiving treatment, Ray attended several more clarification sessions.
Given the weakness of his excuses, he deserved the criticism.
Ray certainly considered revealing the truth about the Crown Prince to Baron Phillips and the knights but decided to keep it hidden for now.
Of course, they were trustworthy individuals.
However, one clear source of conflict remained unresolved.
Bella’s child.
Because of this single issue, Ray concealed his “capabilities.”
Once the problem with Bella’s child was resolved, Ray intended to confide the story of the Crown Prince to Baron Phillips and the knights.
With a troubled heart, Ray visited Bella and Jimy’s house.
“Mom? Are you home?”
“Son!!”
Bella warmly welcomed Ray and personally peeled some fruit for him.
Her belly had noticeably grown.
Bella often caressed her stomach with a smile.
Despite feeling conflicted, Ray found solace in Bella’s happiness as he cleared away the empty fruit plate.
“Mom, have you decided on a name?”
Ray asked casually, prompting Bella to respond eagerly.
“I’ve thought about it, and if it’s a boy, I’d like to name him ‘Friedrich.'”
Friedrich?
Ray had something to say but chose silence instead.
Bella, imagining the birth of her child, smiled happily and continued.
“If it’s a girl, I’m thinking ‘Anastasia.'”
“…”
Suddenly, a flashback of content from an old book Ray had read surfaced in his mind.
[A shiver ran up her spine as Anastasia, humiliated in her exposed position, curled her toes in spasms.
“Leonthardt! Have you lost your mind?! How dare you…!!”]
“Mom, wait a moment.”
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Ray shook his head.
“A different name might be better.”
“Why? Doesn’t it sound good to you?”
“Well…”
Ray hesitated.
Even Ray found it difficult to say that his sibling’s name matched that of erotica protagonists and thus felt awkward.
He diplomatically replied,
“The name sounds too noble. I prefer something more common.”
“Is that so?”
Though disappointed, Bella understood.
The child in her womb might carry noble blood.
To avoid unnecessary attention, names that drew undue notice should be avoided, even as a precaution.
Though Bella wanted to give her child a majestic and beautiful name, she reconsidered following Ray’s advice.
“I’ll think about it again.”
Regret tinged Bella’s face.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Ray briefly stood up.
Exiting the room, he saw Jimy washing the fruit-laden plate.
Apparently, he was doing the dishes.
For some reason, watching Jimy’s back evoked pity in Ray, so he joined him in drying the plates.
While wiping the plates, Ray suddenly asked,
“What breed is it?”
Confused by the abrupt question, Jimy blinked.
“Do you keep a dog these days?”
“No, I mean the breed of my younger sibling.”
“…”
Jimy stared at Ray for a moment, realized he was dealing with a genuinely crazy person, and returned to washing dishes.
“As long as it’s not from the royal family, it’s fine.”
“It’s okay as long as the hair isn’t silver and the eyes aren’t red.”
Though the statements were similar, they weren’t entirely identical.
According to Aptel, extremely rare cases existed where royal external traits didn’t manifest properly.
Thus, as long as the child didn’t outwardly resemble royal lineage, it would suffice.
Both Ray and Jimy focused on the dishes, concealing their unease.
Bella emerged, holding her swollen belly, looking apologetic.
“If you let me, I could do it…”
“It’s the husband’s job until the baby comes.”
Jimy calmly replied.
Bella hesitated for a moment, then sat down to watch Jimy and Ray’s backs.
Even though the scene was fabricated, gazing at what she had once dreamed of brought a smile to her lips that wouldn’t fade easily.
Smiling softly, Bella lightly shuddered as she felt the baby kick inside her.
The due date was approaching.
Caressing her swollen belly, Bella muttered,
“To whom should I entrust the baby?”
“…”
Ray and Jimy simultaneously glanced at each other.
Phillip’s County had a few midwives, and people knowledgeable in medicine as well.
The problem was that Bella’s unborn child might carry royal blood.
If truly of royal lineage, the child would likely display all the physical characteristics of royalty from birth.
Both Ray and Jimy frowned deeply.
*
Two months later, Unboxing Day.
Inside the delivery room of the manor belonging to the Phillip’s County family.
Drenched in sweat from continuous labor pains, Bella cried out hoarsely.
“Hey!!!!! Hurry up and come out already!!!!!!”
As Bella panicked and thrashed around, Ray, who was observing between her legs, irritably responded.
“Mom, stop yelling and spread your legs wider.”
Watching this scene, Jimy covered his face with both hands.
