The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed

319 – Sneaky Pig

Bella left the club room with her escort knights, promising to become my companion. Originally, I had planned to recruit Estelle as a companion and then head to Modistro together to recruit Estelle, but… Unlike usual, I had no choice but to let my pale face rest.

Since she came to trade an improved portal and experienced something unexpected, it was natural for Bella to be distraught. Still, I was satisfied that I had recruited Bella as her colleague, and I massaged the back of my neck, which felt stiff.

Actually, I didn’t follow Raelan’s advice exactly. I knew that if I showed her anything related to Roel, Bella, who would do anything for Roel, would take my hand. But I intentionally put all my memories of Bella in the snow globe.

Things like being wrongly accused of Bella and Luna being bullied because of me.

It wasn’t my intention, but Bella has lived a hellish life due to an unfortunate past created by probability. I had been avoiding it out of guilt, but I didn’t want to avoid it anymore. I thought it would be more comfortable to be hated by Bella.

As a writer, I had affection for the characters in the novel. So my relationship with Bella was close to love and hate.

Because we hate each other and need each other.

That kind of relationship suits us.

A relationship that cannot deepen because they cannot forgive each other.

***

I left the academy and headed to Modest. The person who welcomed my visit was Amber. I felt glad to see Amber giving me a warm greeting. Although I met Amber in another world, the Amber here still felt like the real Amber to me.

I opened the space warehouse and took out everything I bought at the dessert shop I stopped by before coming to Modest. It was a large amount to eat alone, so Amber looked embarrassed after receiving the unexpected gift.

“I have prepared enough for you to eat with Amy.”

Amber looked grateful that I did not forget and took care of her younger brother.

“Thank you, Lily. “I will make sure to tell Amy that it is a gift from Lily.”

After chatting for a while, we headed to the guild leader’s room where Estelle was. Black cat mask and gothic black dress. Estelle, a lovely girl with purple eyes, had not changed since I last remembered her.

For a moment, I stared at Estelle blankly, remembering the Estelle I had seen in another world. I felt a variety of emotions, but the biggest feeling was joy. I guess I’ve gotten used to Estelle Mesugaki.

Estelle, who was looking at the documents, must have sensed my gaze, so she raised her head slightly to check on me, then lowered her gaze to the documents again. Then, suddenly, at a frightening speed, he raised his head and looked at me with wide, round eyes.

“W-what is that unsuitable appearance?”

He seems surprised by my sudden change in appearance. When I saw the Estelle I knew and laughed, Estelle shouted as if she was offended.

“That relaxed attitude is more annoying! “You pig!!!”

“Yes, I missed it too.”

“W-what are you saying! “Don’t you even clean your ear canals on a regular basis?”

Estelle’s disgusted expression made me want to play a prank. But now, the purpose of visiting Modest took priority.

While criticizing her long hair for looking dirty, she sat across from Estelle and spoke with a serious face.

“Estelle, I hope our common destiny continues for a very long time.”

“Gap, what’s happening all of a sudden? joy! Of course I think so too! How much I have invested in you! “Even with an improved portal, it’s still a long way to get even!”

I felt that Estelle’s attempt to avoid seriousness with playfulness somehow resembled mine. I said with a smile.

“So, I don’t want to hide anything. Even if Estelle blames me. “I think it’s okay for Estelle to be hated.”

Raelan advised Estelle to hide the fact of her possession, but I had no intention of hiding it. The guide’s advice simply gives me a choice, and there is no compulsion to follow it. Because I have no intention of becoming a puppet controlled by a trickster.

I believe in what Estelle has shown me all these years. We have a common destiny. She didn’t want to lie to her anymore. No, I didn’t want to lie to her colleagues who I would entrust my life to. Because if everything about me is a lie, it just becomes the truth.

I also needed a place where I could show my true self. To avoid being eaten by the lies I created.

Estelle shouted, chewing her lip and glaring fiercely at my face.

“You greasy pig! Do you think I’ll fall for such pork-based comments? As soon as I see it, I guess I’ve caused another accident! “What kind of accident did you get into again?”

I shrugged my shoulders and answered slyly.

“Unfortunately not yet. “I’m going to cause an accident this time.”

I quickly dodged a small fist flying at my forehead. Estelle, who must have been angry that I avoided her, seemed to be about to jump over the table, so I added hastily.

“It has to do with lilies.”

At those words, Estelle lowered her fist, which was raised higher than her head, and asked with a dissatisfied look on her face that she had not been able to hit him.

“What is that?”

In response to Estelle’s question, I raised my magic power and created a snow globe in the palm of my hand. Estelle, who had been observing my actions with interest, hit the table with her hand and shouted.

“This is Principal Nelson’s magic, right? I guess I have no intention of hiding it… “He’s Principal Nelson’s secret son?!”

“It’s a misunderstanding. “It’s just similar magic.”

I spoke in a serious voice as Estelle winked at me and the snow globe, snorting as if to tell me not to lie.

“This is about conveying memories. What kind of person I am, what kind of future I know, and what lies I told Estelle… “It’s all a dangerous memory.”

I know this memory could end our relationship. But I thought it was okay as is. Not bragging, but sincerely.

This means that if a relationship ends here in the first place, it is destined to end at that level. I just try to make the best choices I can so that I don’t regret each choice.

Estelle, who had been staring at my serious attitude in silence, smiled.

“Isn’t it too late to bring a self-introduction letter? “We already have a common destiny.”

Saying that, Estelle placed her hand on the snow globe. Light emanated from the snowglobe, and Estelle closed her eyes.

After a while, Estelle slowly opened her closed eyes and smiled softly, contrary to what I expected.

“Ross.”

It was a voice filled with softness, unlike usual. When he gently motioned me to come closer, I unconsciously leaned my upper body towards the table.

At that moment, a spark flashed in Estelle’s eyes.

“You bad pig!!!”

Estelle hit my head with her fist, then jumped over the table and grabbed me by the collar. As I was trying to pull Estelle away, I lost my balance and fell backwards along with the chair.

Estelle, who was on top of me, was unable to control her emotions, was shaking, and was strangling me when the door suddenly opened. Estelle and I turned our gazes towards the door at the same time.

Amber, who was coming in carrying a tray filled with tea and dessert, quietly dragged her foot back into the room, nodded at us with a faint smile, and quietly closed the door.

“Sleep, wait! It’s a misunderstanding, it’s a misunderstanding! “Who’s with a pig like this!!!”

Estelle urgently shouted towards the door, but Amber had already walked away a long time ago. Taking advantage of that gap, I strongly hugged Estelle with both arms. It was a desperate action to avoid being hit further.

This is an action that is far from affection. If you look at it from the side, it will look like a UFC fighter’s effort to avoid being pounded.

I said, hugging Estelle tightly so as not to let her go as she struggled violently to get away from me.

“I’m sorry for lying to you all this time.”

Instead of answering, Estelle strongly pinched my side. It’s a pain that feels like your flesh is being torn off.

“But I didn’t want to fool Estelle. Because we have a common destiny. So please give me a chance to make up for my mistakes.”

The hand that was pinching my side stopped. We were silent for a moment, catching our rough breaths. Estelle stopped struggling, buried her face in my chest and spoke in a low voice.

“… I understand that you did not intentionally harm our clan. I never expected that you, too, would be possessed by a novel you wrote. And not as a main body, but as a copy. In the end, you are just like me, a character in a novel.”

Perhaps because they were so close to each other that they could feel each other’s heartbeats, Estelle could smell a nice scent as she gently gave a nudge. Estelle slightly raised her head from my embrace, made eye contact with me and said.

“If you work hard to help us defeat the cult and retrieve our scattered clan… I will forgive you. “Well, try hard to win my heart.”

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Estelle smiling slightly as she said that. I felt like if I said that I didn’t need to worry about it, it would ruin the atmosphere that had just been established, so I swallowed it down.

Estelle pouted her lips.

“I will also take a look at the fact that I have memorized Raelan’s advice. “I’ve known for a long time that you’re a sneaky pig.”

I looked like I had been caught. Despite Raelan’s advice, I trusted Estelle! That’s what I put in there, but the guild leader of the information guild was quick-witted.

Estelle, squirming and getting closer to the masked face, suddenly smiled ominously.

“But you can’t forgive me for discarding an attractive character like me? “You stupid pig!!!”

Estelle’s head hit her chin. She hurriedly tried to separate Estelle from her, but Estelle, who had already taken a stance, pinched her armpits and swung her head.

“asleep! asleep! asleep! “You stupid pig!!!”

With a headbutt full of sincerity, I desperately tried to remove Estelle’s mask.