Editor 103

Kleio, Asser

“My little brother, have you been well?”

With a broad smile, Vlad spread his arms and pulled Kleio into a quick hug, then let him go carelessly.

Kleio, staggering from the rough touch, barely managed to regain his balance by grabbing the centerpiece.

Last time, since it was essentially their first meeting, it was hard to read his intentions, but seeing him a second time, it became clear.

‘He’s asserting dominance right from the start. As if we’ve met enough for this.’

“It looks like you’ve been well too, brother. You look bright.”

Kleio’s sarcastic tone, loaded with the meaning, “your face is really shameless,” was well understood, but Vlad pretended not to notice at all.

“Haha! I’m always healthy. Of course, I’m not like you.”

“This year was especially cold, so I’m glad to hear you even avoided a cold. How is father’s health?”

“As always, he finds it a bit uncomfortable in winter. Colpos is much warmer than Lundane since it’s by the sea, but I handle most matters in the capital unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Yes, you must have a lot on your plate.”

Gideon Asser was originally from Lundane. Though he moved his base to Colpos for trade, he had lived there all his life until marriage—how could he not come to work just because it’s cold?

Kleio figured it was all arrangements to pass the business to the eldest son.

‘But why is he bragging to me about that now?’

The tea Mrs. Canton brought cooled, untouched by either of them.

Since they were outside of Gideon’s sight, it seemed Vlad didn’t feel the need to even pretend to be a friendly brother—his attitude was downright poor.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Kleio also didn’t bother to feign courtesy or sociability.

With legs casually crossed, Vlad shoved a box wrapped in luxurious silk in front of Kleio.

It was large enough to fit a human head, so he couldn’t even guess what was inside.

“You’re so sensitive to the cold, aren’t you? Father’s been very worried. Just as the technical officer from the Krater Principality, who wanted to exchange magic stone rubies and the latest ether batteries, happened to be in Lundane, father put me on the express train.”

“So?”

“As usual, he didn’t give detailed instructions, but this time it’s easy to guess. He wants me to give this to you.”

Vlad unhesitatingly undid the clasp on the box. Inside, it was filled with only one type of magic stone.

“Ruby of the Dove

: Magic stone of heat.

*Note: Top quality”

The surface of the gems, revealing countless facets of the promised message, shone with an incredibly vivid red.

Kleio recognized the magic stone.

‘Before entering the dungeon, even the bracelet Professor Zebedee lent me had a thumbnail-sized magic stone ruby set in it.’

Even a tiny one like that, when combined with [Cold Protection] magic, was quite warm. With this amount, you could easily make several large heating pads.

It was a tempting treasure, but Kleio quietly placed his trembling hands on his lap.

‘Who knows what consequences might come from taking this so suddenly.’

There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

That single principle applied across both worlds; even the powers the author had given him were granted for the sake of maintaining the world.

‘If God acts like that, what need is there to say about this man with a nasty personality?’

Vlad watched Kleio, who didn’t lay a finger on the magic stones, with a look of surprise.

Ignoring the dissecting gaze, Kleio spoke up.

“Though I don’t know the exact market price of magic stones, these are far too high-grade and numerous to be wasted on personal winter gear or student experiments. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to accept them.”

“Why so stingy with family? Father may not say much, but he worries about you a lot. If it’s something on his mind, it’s my business too.”

Kleio narrowed his eyes, examining Vlad’s insincere smile and the cold look that didn’t match it.

Even at this moment, Vlad was thoroughly evaluating Kleio’s words and actions.

‘So much for loving family.’

“Jeongjin” knew well that being born of the same parents didn’t mean all siblings cared for each other. Sometimes siblings were worse than strangers.

‘It’s not just Arthur’s family that’s a mess.’

“I see you’re under some misunderstanding, brother. But I’ve never written to father complaining about the cold or asking for magic stones.”

“But the tutor who cares for you so much writes letters regularly. Did you perhaps whine in Lady’s arms? It made me worry. Father was also quite concerned. Since you seem to be doing better in the capital than when you were in Colpos, he couldn’t call you back, but he’s been anxious. It’s a gift with that meaning, so you shouldn’t refuse.”

From Kleio’s perspective, a father who just dumped his kid in a distant boarding school and tried to patch things up with money wasn’t likely to be soaking his pillow with tears over his youngest, but he couldn’t be bothered to argue and glossed over it.

“I didn’t know father thought that way. I’ll try to contact him more often.”

“No matter what you’ve done or how you’ve changed, father’s always been soft on you and especially affectionate. People say he has a model made of lead in his chest instead of a red heart.”

Kleio found something oddly off in Vlad’s words.

“You talk about our father as if he’s someone else’s parent, brother.”

“He’s my father and your father, but was he ever truly the same father to both of us?”

“Are you saying father was an unfair parent? But the business he built will go to you, so why are you so prickly with me?”

“You may not know, but he never asks for favors, even for things he needs. In his youth, when he lacked authority and wealth, he got sick of being in that position.”

Gideon was born in the slums and became a great businessman on his own in his generation, so he must have had a hard youth.

‘But is that my fault? Why take it out on me?’

“But to get you into that school, father had to lower his head and be nice to those stuck-up knights and magicians. Do you think that was reasonable?”

Now, the emotion Vlad was showing was openly hostile. If Kleio had really been the timid, childish little brother, he would have wanted to run away in tears.

Vlad Asser, not even thirty, spoke in a friendly tone, but there was something oddly oppressive about him.

‘Well, if he’s going to inherit Albion’s top trading company, I suppose this is what it takes not to ruin it.’

He was probably raised to inherit and protect the Asser kingdom.

Given that even the weak youngest was treated strictly by Gideon, it was likely the intelligent and bold eldest had even harsher upbringing.

‘But judging by his attitude, it doesn’t seem like “Kleio” was treated much better even when they weren’t estranged.’

From the eldest’s perspective, he might resent his brother who took their mother away and seems to live more comfortably.

Gideon, as a father, at least had some duty to care for his children, but siblings have no such obligation.

‘Besides, eldest children are often born when the family is struggling, so their personalities tend to be more realistic than second children born when things get better.’

That little brother, always shrinking away, had suddenly risen up, getting talked about by everyone and even gaining father’s attention and affection—no wonder Vlad was twisted inside.

‘And a whole box of top-quality magic stone rubies is a significant sum. Maybe he wants to nip things in the bud in case father gives me more in the future.’

Kleio was worried.

He didn’t care about the other businesses, but he needed to keep this house for himself. He needed to make sure there was no backtracking later.

As always, Kleio, who had been slouched weakly on the sofa, straightened up. He braced himself and activated “Perception” of “Promise.”

At times like this, Kleio was not the “Kleio” that Vlad knew.

Though Vlad was not an ether-sensitive, he felt an intense sense of alienation from the person in his brother’s body.

“I don’t know when you ever considered me your brother, anyway.”

“What, I heard you lost your memory, but I guess you didn’t forget everything?”

Still smiling, Vlad suddenly swung his hand toward Kleio’s face as if to hit him. He didn’t seem to enjoy or get excited by violence, but he also didn’t hesitate to use it if necessary.

The strong hand came with significant force. Kleio didn’t flinch, just stared directly at Vlad.

With “Perception” on, Kleio was not so weak as to be struck by someone who wasn’t even an ether-sensitive.

He just didn’t want to appear as if he was dodging, so he held out until the last moment.

‘Fights are half about spirit. I may be weaker than him physically, but my reflexes are sharp.’

The older brother’s fist just grazed the ends of his little brother’s hair. He hadn’t really intended to hit him.

Kleio, who had been ready to use a magic shield if necessary, let the flow of power dissipate.

‘He was testing me. He’s nastier than I thought.’

Able to use magic or not, to so casually raise his hand against a frail, young brother—it was shocking.

“Jeongjin” clicked his tongue inwardly.

“You’ve managed to get rid of all those gloomy habits you used to have. You look me straight in the eye, don’t flinch at people’s movements, and don’t watch for others’ reactions or cry. No wonder father is proud.”

Instead of answering, Kleio stared at his “brother” expressionlessly. That lack of even resentment only fueled Vlad’s anger.

Unbeknownst to himself, at such times, Kleio closely resembled Gideon Asser.

“But is human nature something that can be changed just by will?”

Vlad lowered his hand and gripped Kleio’s shoulder. He didn’t squeeze hard, but it was threatening enough.

“You’re not my brother. That boy, though innocent, had a vulnerable soul.”

Vlad narrowed his eyes, as if to dig out what was hidden beneath Kleio’s pale and aloof face.

“Your soul is firm, and you know no fear even with that frail body. You’re nothing like the brother I knew.”

“What are you saying? Have you taken an interest in the necromancy that’s so trendy these days? If I’m not myself, who am I?”

‘This guy. I know he’s perceptive, but he’s trying to make ridiculous threats now?’

“Indeed, Kleio. Who are you? Unlike the boy who found everything in the world unfamiliar and awkward as if he was put together wrong since childhood, the you who woke up after nearly drowning seems truly like Gideon Asser’s son. Isn’t it strange?”