Merchen blinked for a moment, mulling over my words, then suddenly jumped in surprise.
“What does that mean!”
“Ugh.”
He seemed really surprised and grabbed my shoulders and shook me back and forth.
“That can’t be! That can’t be!”
“Just a moment. Calm down...”
I calmed Merchen down and said.
"You said the first time you fell off a cliff, right? It would have been a serious enough injury to kill a normal person. The second time, you were hit, right? It's unlikely someone would die from a blow, so the injuries were probably less severe than the first. The last time..."
I was reminded of how my second brother's subordinate, Elliot, worked.
"The kidnappers probably didn't intend to kill the Prince. Their goal was to sell you alive, so they usually mutilate you but don't kill you. They prepared anesthetic powder and styptic."
“...?”
...Did I speak as if I knew you too well?
Merchen looked at me with slightly frightened eyes.
“...Anyway, looking at the series of events, I think the threshold for injury is lowering.”
Merchen looked unsure, but I was sure.
I went back in time, so Merchen wouldn't remember...
'Actually, you were a monster four times, not three!'
Yes, he got into trouble in Guintz, got hit on the head with a rock, and then became Ratan.
I'm not sure if his head was cracked or not, but it certainly wasn't a fatal injury.
Also... I don’t know.
“Brother David... lightly cut that man’s shoulder with a knife… and he turned into a monster.”
The eldest brother said that he summoned Ratan by inflicting a simple wound on Merchen.
What does that mean?
If you go back and forth between human and demonic states many times, you will turn into Ratan even with a small wound.
Merchen and Ratan. Ratan and Merchen.
The more they interacted with each other, the stronger they became.
Just as Merchen's ego grew and she was able to tear out her own head while in a monster state, Ratan also gradually became able to pop out from smaller wounds.
“Whew. It’s not easy.”
After I cleared my head, my mouth started to mutter on its own.
"Oh, what if that's the case? If I accidentally get stabbed or cut somewhere... I'll turn into a monster right away?"
"It's not quite there yet, but if you keep turning into a monster, it could happen someday. So please take care of yourself as much as possible."
“It’s not like things will work out just because I’m careful, right?”
“That’s true...”
Merchen stared at me and sighed.
“Well, there’s something I’ve been really curious about since yesterday.”
"Yes."
“If I become a monster, what on earth would you do for me?”
“Ah! Um, so...”
I chose my words carefully.
No, I don’t really have anything to choose from...
“...I plan to make that monster docile by making it suffer greatly, and then order it to quietly return to the Prince.”
“...”
“...”
We faced each other and were silent.
I know it sounds like bullshit.
“Who can cause a monster so much pain that it obeys orders...?”
“It’s me.”
“Not your father?”
Merchen was puzzled. Judging by his size and everything else, he seemed to think someone as big as Ryan would be able to subdue the monster.
‘It seems Ryan... can only kill someone cleanly and instantly...’
Then you die too...
“That’s all for now. The Prince will find out soon, so please wait a little longer.”
“Hey, sir!”
Then Ryan came out of the restaurant and shouted, spitting fire from his mouth.
“Did I tell you to come in after ten minutes or not?”
“Ah! It’s over, let's go!”
“What were you two talking about!”
“I didn’t say anything! Don’t misunderstand me again!”
We quickly passed Ryan and entered the restaurant.
The fountain of purification.
A top-tier attack/healing two-way blessing, currently held by the fourth son of the family, Gabriel Wassenberg.
The 'Romaier' in the southern part of the continent we are currently heading to is his territory, and the reason we are going there is to obtain the 'Fountain of Purification'.
The basic gist of this ability is, as the name suggests, detoxification. Purification of poison.
There, it is a crazy power that can treat internal injuries as poisoning, even when the organs in the human body become sick or weak.
On the other hand, it becomes a terrible attack series blessing for the demon.
Since I am not a demon, I don’t know how or where I would suffer if I were to be struck by the fountain of purification...
Anyway, the fountain of purification.
The ability to inflict pain on demons and grant miracles to humans.
It is a power that seems like it can only be used for very beautiful and good things.
In fact, my fourth brother, Gabriel, has an angelic appearance that befits such abilities.
He is praised by many as a representative of God or an angelic incarnation...
“Dad, can I ask you something?”
Inside the carriage, after lunch, we set off again.
Revan and Merchen had been asleep for a while on the other side, and I asked Ryan, who was still awake.
"What?"
“Dad, which of your brothers do you like the best?"
“...”
Ryan looked at me with an expression that seemed to doubt my ears.
I changed the question.
“Um, who were you closest with?”
“...?”
The expression became more bizarre.
“Daughter, why are you asking such a question after eating so well?”
“That’s about it.”
Of course, they're all crazy, but I asked this question expecting Ryan to say that the fourth one was better.
“If you ask me who is the most terrible, I will answer.”
“Who is the most terrible?”
“The fourth.”
“Uh... Really?”
"Yes."
Ryan said that, clicked his tongue, and turned his head away.
“That’s a bit odd. I thought Dad would hate the oldest or second-oldest brother the most.”
“All dogs are the same. But the rest are just so blatantly dog-like, that Gabriel guy...”
Ryan seemed to recall something for a moment and then said.
“...It’s the type of person I don’t want to get along with.”
I agree. I agree unconditionally.
But.
'When Ryan last saw Gabriel, he was probably only fourteen.'
I didn't know, but it seems he was a twisted person from a young age.
“What kind of person is the fourth older brother?”
“Are you curious?”
“Hmm. If I'm curious, do I have to pay 500 gold?”
“No, I’ll just tell you. If you go to Romaier and just see that guy’s face and fall for it, I’ll be in trouble too.”
Well, I know Gabriel better than anyone, so I doubt that would happen.
“So that crazy guy...”
Ryan began to open his mouth with a disgusted expression.
Ryan, ten years old.
His mother's body rapidly weakened, and she was unable to get out of bed. The cause was unknown.
Ryan met Gabriel, who had left his mother's room that day without any results.
"Brother!"
“Hello, Ryan.”
"That..."
Ryan wanted to comfort Gabriel. He knew how much more desperately he wanted to make his mother better, yet how heartbreaking it must have been for him to not be able to do so.
"It's not your fault, brother. Your mother will get better soon because you're working hard. Don't worry too much."
"Ah?"
Gabriel tilted his head.
“I can’t heal her.”
"Yes?"
“Mother, it’s not a physical illness. It’s a mental illness.”
Illness of the mind.
Ryan had heard that countless times from his servants.
When the older sister and brother asked why they could not cure their mother, the servants said, "It is because the Duchess's heart is deeply ill."
When he asked them again how her heart hurt, they couldn't answer and just mumbled.
They said that since he was young, he didn’t need to know yet...
“Ryan?”
At that moment, Gabriel's eyes lit up as if he had discovered something interesting.
“Don’t you know why your mother is sick?”
“Huh? Yeah...”
“Wow, I see!”
Gabriel grabbed Ryan's hand.
“I’ll tell you. If I tell you, will you listen and tell me what you feel?”
"...What are you talking about?"
Gabriel said to a bewildered Ryan.
“It’s because of Father that Mother’s heart aches.”
"Father?"
“Yeah. My mother can no longer give birth to people with superpowers, so my father wants to have children with another woman!”
“...”
“What does that mean!”
“Ugh.”
He seemed really surprised and grabbed my shoulders and shook me back and forth.
“That can’t be! That can’t be!”
“Just a moment. Calm down...”
I calmed Merchen down and said.
"You said the first time you fell off a cliff, right? It would have been a serious enough injury to kill a normal person. The second time, you were hit, right? It's unlikely someone would die from a blow, so the injuries were probably less severe than the first. The last time..."
I was reminded of how my second brother's subordinate, Elliot, worked.
"The kidnappers probably didn't intend to kill the Prince. Their goal was to sell you alive, so they usually mutilate you but don't kill you. They prepared anesthetic powder and styptic."
“...?”
...Did I speak as if I knew you too well?
Merchen looked at me with slightly frightened eyes.
“...Anyway, looking at the series of events, I think the threshold for injury is lowering.”
Merchen looked unsure, but I was sure.
I went back in time, so Merchen wouldn't remember...
'Actually, you were a monster four times, not three!'
Yes, he got into trouble in Guintz, got hit on the head with a rock, and then became Ratan.
I'm not sure if his head was cracked or not, but it certainly wasn't a fatal injury.
Also... I don’t know.
“Brother David... lightly cut that man’s shoulder with a knife… and he turned into a monster.”
The eldest brother said that he summoned Ratan by inflicting a simple wound on Merchen.
What does that mean?
If you go back and forth between human and demonic states many times, you will turn into Ratan even with a small wound.
Merchen and Ratan. Ratan and Merchen.
The more they interacted with each other, the stronger they became.
Just as Merchen's ego grew and she was able to tear out her own head while in a monster state, Ratan also gradually became able to pop out from smaller wounds.
“Whew. It’s not easy.”
After I cleared my head, my mouth started to mutter on its own.
"Oh, what if that's the case? If I accidentally get stabbed or cut somewhere... I'll turn into a monster right away?"
"It's not quite there yet, but if you keep turning into a monster, it could happen someday. So please take care of yourself as much as possible."
“It’s not like things will work out just because I’m careful, right?”
“That’s true...”
Merchen stared at me and sighed.
“Well, there’s something I’ve been really curious about since yesterday.”
"Yes."
“If I become a monster, what on earth would you do for me?”
“Ah! Um, so...”
I chose my words carefully.
No, I don’t really have anything to choose from...
“...I plan to make that monster docile by making it suffer greatly, and then order it to quietly return to the Prince.”
“...”
“...”
We faced each other and were silent.
I know it sounds like bullshit.
“Who can cause a monster so much pain that it obeys orders...?”
“It’s me.”
“Not your father?”
Merchen was puzzled. Judging by his size and everything else, he seemed to think someone as big as Ryan would be able to subdue the monster.
‘It seems Ryan... can only kill someone cleanly and instantly...’
Then you die too...
“That’s all for now. The Prince will find out soon, so please wait a little longer.”
“Hey, sir!”
Then Ryan came out of the restaurant and shouted, spitting fire from his mouth.
“Did I tell you to come in after ten minutes or not?”
“Ah! It’s over, let's go!”
“What were you two talking about!”
“I didn’t say anything! Don’t misunderstand me again!”
We quickly passed Ryan and entered the restaurant.
***
The fountain of purification.
A top-tier attack/healing two-way blessing, currently held by the fourth son of the family, Gabriel Wassenberg.
The 'Romaier' in the southern part of the continent we are currently heading to is his territory, and the reason we are going there is to obtain the 'Fountain of Purification'.
The basic gist of this ability is, as the name suggests, detoxification. Purification of poison.
There, it is a crazy power that can treat internal injuries as poisoning, even when the organs in the human body become sick or weak.
On the other hand, it becomes a terrible attack series blessing for the demon.
Since I am not a demon, I don’t know how or where I would suffer if I were to be struck by the fountain of purification...
'Even the mindless monsters would tremble in fear the moment they saw my fourth brother's face—their instinctive terror had been learned.'
The ability to inflict pain on demons and grant miracles to humans.
It is a power that seems like it can only be used for very beautiful and good things.
In fact, my fourth brother, Gabriel, has an angelic appearance that befits such abilities.
He is praised by many as a representative of God or an angelic incarnation...
“Dad, can I ask you something?”
Inside the carriage, after lunch, we set off again.
Revan and Merchen had been asleep for a while on the other side, and I asked Ryan, who was still awake.
"What?"
“Dad, which of your brothers do you like the best?"
“...”
Ryan looked at me with an expression that seemed to doubt my ears.
I changed the question.
“Um, who were you closest with?”
“...?”
The expression became more bizarre.
“Daughter, why are you asking such a question after eating so well?”
“That’s about it.”
Of course, they're all crazy, but I asked this question expecting Ryan to say that the fourth one was better.
“If you ask me who is the most terrible, I will answer.”
“Who is the most terrible?”
“The fourth.”
“Uh... Really?”
"Yes."
Ryan said that, clicked his tongue, and turned his head away.
“That’s a bit odd. I thought Dad would hate the oldest or second-oldest brother the most.”
“All dogs are the same. But the rest are just so blatantly dog-like, that Gabriel guy...”
Ryan seemed to recall something for a moment and then said.
“...It’s the type of person I don’t want to get along with.”
I agree. I agree unconditionally.
But.
'When Ryan last saw Gabriel, he was probably only fourteen.'
I didn't know, but it seems he was a twisted person from a young age.
“What kind of person is the fourth older brother?”
“Are you curious?”
“Hmm. If I'm curious, do I have to pay 500 gold?”
“No, I’ll just tell you. If you go to Romaier and just see that guy’s face and fall for it, I’ll be in trouble too.”
Well, I know Gabriel better than anyone, so I doubt that would happen.
“So that crazy guy...”
Ryan began to open his mouth with a disgusted expression.
***
Ryan, ten years old.
His mother's body rapidly weakened, and she was unable to get out of bed. The cause was unknown.
Gabriel, the fourth child who could have treated the internal injuries, was frequently sent to his mother at his father's command, yet for some reason, there was no improvement.
"Brother!"
“Hello, Ryan.”
"That..."
Ryan wanted to comfort Gabriel. He knew how much more desperately he wanted to make his mother better, yet how heartbreaking it must have been for him to not be able to do so.
"It's not your fault, brother. Your mother will get better soon because you're working hard. Don't worry too much."
"Ah?"
Gabriel tilted his head.
“I can’t heal her.”
"Yes?"
“Mother, it’s not a physical illness. It’s a mental illness.”
Illness of the mind.
Ryan had heard that countless times from his servants.
When the older sister and brother asked why they could not cure their mother, the servants said, "It is because the Duchess's heart is deeply ill."
When he asked them again how her heart hurt, they couldn't answer and just mumbled.
They said that since he was young, he didn’t need to know yet...
“Ryan?”
At that moment, Gabriel's eyes lit up as if he had discovered something interesting.
“Don’t you know why your mother is sick?”
“Huh? Yeah...”
“Wow, I see!”
Gabriel grabbed Ryan's hand.
“I’ll tell you. If I tell you, will you listen and tell me what you feel?”
"...What are you talking about?"
Gabriel said to a bewildered Ryan.
“It’s because of Father that Mother’s heart aches.”
"Father?"
“Yeah. My mother can no longer give birth to people with superpowers, so my father wants to have children with another woman!”
“...”
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