The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed - Chapter 504



505 – Side Story – To you who are waiting at the beginning (Finished)

From noble mtl dot com

Personally, I really dislike the ending that says ‘It was all a dream!’ I don’t want all the stories I’ve had so far to be fake and the relationships I’ve built to be nothing. As someone who prefers to immerse myself in the main characters of novels, dramas, and movies, I didn’t want to feel this sense of loss even in places other than reality.

But this time is different. When it’s your turn and you point your finger and wonder if you’ve changed your mind, you have a lot of excuses to make. It’s not that I’ve been dreaming until now, but that I’ve been given the chance to start over thanks to living for everyone.

It can often be seen as close to the regression that appears at the beginning of the novel. Even twisting the cliché, not only was I the one who regressed, but her beloved Luna was also there… I quite like it.

“… … “Ross, if you wake up, eat.”

huh?

Suddenly, I lifted my head up from my thoughts when I heard an unfamiliar voice. It’s an unfamiliar place to my eyes, but I know where it is. The room where Ross lived. And the middle-aged man with a beard staring at me was Ross’ father.

I remembered. For some reason, I felt a sense of déjà vu. What did they say next… ? It happened so long ago that I can’t remember it easily. As he scratched his ear, his father sighed.

“How old are you? “Do you still have to tell me to eat?”

Ah, that’s right. This is what it said. As I nodded, my father looked around the room to see if he had anything else to point out, then turned and left the room. Even if you start over, your relationship with your parents seems to be the same. Well, being friendly all of a sudden would also go against probability.

I left the room just like before. I headed to the table where my parents were sitting and sat down in the empty chair. As before, today’s menu was stew. I looked at my mother who first served the stew into her father’s bowl.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t often thought about this day. Because it wasn’t a day I really wanted to remember. I didn’t think there was a need to get depressed thinking about my parents, whom I met for the first time, giving me a cold look as if they were looking at someone else.

So I had a hard time remembering what we talked about. I also wondered if there was a need to talk. No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to have a good relationship with your parents.

“You didn’t forget to enter Transcendence Academy in three days, right?”

My mother said, holding out my share of the bowl full of stew. Yes, I clearly remembered the next words. She remembers that when she entered the academy, her parents continued to give her harsh warnings not to avoid Roel for no reason.

“… “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go.”

huh?

There may not be an error in memory. Because it was the first time I felt Ross’s extreme inferiority. As I was perplexed by the situation that had changed from what I remembered, my mother took a quick look at her face and spoke bluntly.

“You don’t have to follow your brother in anything.”

“… .”

The coldness in my mother’s eyes that I had seen before, as if she were looking at someone else, was different now. I feel awkward and reluctant… It is not the way you look at others.

“Okay, if you don’t want to go to the academy, go to work at your dad’s store starting tomorrow. “If you learn a skill, you will be able to eat wherever you go.”

I felt the strength in my hand holding the spoon go away. Because a thorn that had been stuck inside me for a very long time fell out. It was all the more unexpected because I thought I could never get it out, so I chose to just ignore it.

“What are you going to do?”

My parents see me. Directly, without contempt or disgust… With dissatisfied eyes looking at the poor child’s choices. But even that made me strangely happy. I feel like a bad relationship that cannot be changed has become a relationship that can be changed.

Maybe I, Ross… Didn’t you want to have a good relationship with your parents? What you thought was impossible might be possible this time. Because everyone can start anew.

I felt like my voice would crack if I continued like this, so I ate the stew a few times before opening my mouth.

“… I will enroll as scheduled. “Don’t worry, I won’t be an embarrassing little brother.”

There was no pressure or persuasion from my parents regarding my choice. There was only an uncomfortable silence and the sound of bowls and spoons touching the table. But I wasn’t uncomfortable.

Because my mother’s stew was very warm.

***

“Oppa Roel!”

Roel, who was sitting at the second grade table and talking with his friends, heard a happy voice coming from somewhere, looked around, and found Ellie waving enthusiastically.

“Ellie! Congratulations on entering Transcendence Academy. He’s also the head of the Ministry of Magic! Oh, are you here with Ross?”

When Roel asked while looking around with a smile, Ellie pouted her lips and shook her head at the sight of Roel not focusing on her.

“No, he suddenly left for the academy without saying anything. baddie. So I thought it would naturally come first, but no matter how hard I searched, I couldn’t see it.”

When Ellie answered by tidying her hair with an irritated hand, Roel scratched his eyebrows and answered in a worried voice.

“okay? What should I do? It’s almost time for the entrance ceremony to start. There is also a strange rumor that if you are late for the entrance ceremony, you will have a very difficult life at the academy… “It won’t be too late, right?”

“I’m 100% sure he got lost. Ross, unlike his brother, is seriously stupid. He’s such an idiot that he even gets confused about the way he came.”

Roel smiled bitterly at Ellie’s gossip, then opened his eyes wide and raised the corners of his mouth.

“No, you were wrong this time.”

“what?”

When Ellie asked again with an expression of not understanding, Roel said with a happy smile.

“Look behind you.”

Ellie turned around without thinking about Roel’s words, and her big eyes opened even wider when she saw Ross entering the banquet hall.

“Well, that’s Ross… ?!”

The Ross of today looks very different from the Ross he last saw. It wasn’t just because of Transcendence Academy’s uniform. His appearance and hair style were different. The dead eyes, which were decidedly full of melancholy, were shining so brightly that no trace of melancholy could be seen.

“My little brother has changed a lot… “I feel so many things.”

Ellie unconsciously nodded in agreement to Roel’s mumbling and raised her hand as she saw Ross looking around the banquet hall looking for someone. Because there will be no one else for Ross to look for but himself. Sure enough, Ross looked around and saw Ellie raising her hand and approached her without hesitation.

His gait had also changed, and he seemed to be more confident. Her shoulders weren’t as hunched as before, nor were her strides narrow or staggered. Ellie moistened her lips with her tongue at the sight of her childhood friend’s spectacular transformation and slowly raised the corner of her mouth at Ross, who was approaching.

“Ross, do you think you put in some effort to make a brilliant Academy debut? “It suits you quite well.”

Ellie, who was thinking about how to make fun of Ross, who had changed with a mischievous smile, was suddenly interrupted by the fact that Ross was looking straight into her eyes. She felt very strange that Ross, who always avoided or looked down when she made eye contact, looked directly at her, as if she was embarrassed. She even slightly avoided eye contact with Ellie without realizing it.

“Ellie.”

“Uh, uhm… .”

What is it? Could it be that Ross is trying to confess to himself? Ellie quickly calculated what would happen if her brother confessed to Roel in front of her that she had a crush on him. If you use this to continue the conversation with Roel under the pretext of consulting with her… .

“You are such a good friend.”

“… uh?”

Ellie’s mental calculations went awry due to the compliment without context. Ross, looking away from Ellie who was looking at her with her googly eyes, looked directly at Roel and smiled softly.

“So, bro. “Stop picking on my childhood friend.”

“… … .”

“You already noticed. “Ellie likes her older brother as a man, not just a neighborhood friend.”

Ellie, whose legs were weakened by Ross’ words, barely managed to sit down and shouted urgently.

“Wait a minute, that’s—!”

Ellie hurriedly tried to make an excuse to Roel, but Ross cut her off.

“I hope the two of you do well.”

Ellie, clenching her fist so tightly that the veins on the back of her hand were visible, realized that there was no turning back and looked at Roel, biting her lip. Roel, who was looking at Ross while touching her lips, said with a slightly surprised expression.

“… “Are you serious?”

In response to Roel’s question, Ross smiled brightly with sincerity.

“huh. I’m serious. I want my brother and Ellie to be happy. “Because I like these two people.”

Roel nodded with a puzzled expression. She couldn’t help but be happy that her younger brother, whom she had been unable to get closer to for a long time, said that he liked her and even supported her love. Still, she was embarrassed, so Roel scratched her head and then turned to Ellie, her face turning red helplessly.

“… “Would you like to have coffee after the entrance ceremony?”

“Yes, yes… ! “Drink!”

“uh… what?”

“Let’s eat! coffee!!!”

Seeing Ellie so panicked that she didn’t even realize she was giving a strange answer, Ross burst out laughing and slowly pulled back so the two could talk.

“The entrance ceremony will begin soon. Everyone sits at the table and prepares for the entrance ceremony to begin… … .”

Hearing Vice Principal Leora’s voice, Ross looked around the banquet hall once again.

“There are Lakar, Cane, and Aria… … “There’s no Luna?”

When Luna, who had promised to wait for him at the academy, was nowhere to be seen, Ross, who was scratching his chin in contemplation, turned around and left the banquet hall when a thought suddenly occurred to him.

***

I left the banquet hall and headed straight to the library, leaving behind the voice of Vice Principal Leora calling out to the new students who were leaving the banquet hall without permission. To the place where we first met.

Although the entrance ceremony was in progress, the library was operating normally as the general public was also allowed to enter. After looking around the spacious library, I walked to the place where books on mythology and artifacts were gathered without the slightest hesitation.

and… I passed the bookshelf and found a girl leaning against a window filled with sunlight, as if waiting for someone.

She was holding a book in her excessively strong left hand and smiling shyly with her beautiful blue eyes shining. I spoke softly, pretending to be as blunt as possible.

“… “Do you believe that it was love at first sight?”

I can say this with certainty.

“hmm… Yes, I believe it.”

I love you always.

“Because… .”

Luna moved her left arm, which did not rise as intended, and carefully placed it on my cheek, smiling a beautiful smile that I could never forget.

“… “I am like that too.”