The desert where Gilbert had lived for 12 years was an isolated world.
His biological father was the king and the most diligent worker there.
Gilbertâs memory of his father was fading in his mind because they seldom spoke face to face.
At one time, his biological father went to the hatchery and brought him a child that looked like he had been knocked out.
To Gilbert, he was like his brother.
One per year. Or sometimes there were two.
But they did not all survive that winter.
The children slowly withered like a tree deprived of moisture and died complaining of pain.
Only Gilbert survived one year, two years, and twelve years.
Thus, Gilbert was recognized as a successful work.
â¦â¦ He thought he was recognized, and he thought that he would be the only one who succeeded and was to his fatherâs liking in the future.
In those days of reassurance, Regen and another child were created.
Even when he saw Regen for the first time, Gilbert had no particular emotions.
He never spared a glance at him because Regen would become a corpse like the tragic end that the other children had had to face.
But before Regen became like that, his biological father suddenly talked about the outside world.
There, his brother was living very well, enjoying the eternal youth and immortality that he had bestowed upon him.
He said that he became the lord of the castle because he had no reason to be locked up in the desert like himself.
So, he was worried.
ä¸There is no way he can be as good as it seems. There must be a problem. Of course. He was raised so that he couldnât do anything without it. As soon as he was born, I made him a sick person and took care of him with utmost sincerity. Thatâs impossible.
It was the voice of a devil with a face as gentle as an angel.
He spoke as if he would do what he thought would be good or evil, as he could not understand the feelings of beings who were like others in the end, even if they were related by blood.
âIsnât it true that he was still angry about what happened 500 years ago? After I calm him down by giving him a chance to properly express his anger, he will recognize my sincerity.
After thinking for a while, he said he would hand the children over to his brother.
âThe childrenâ also included Gilbert.
ä¸Why do I have to go, too?
ä¸Because you are a success. Itâs a waste to leave you to rot in the desert.
Gilbert at the time believed it straight up.
As his biological father said, Gilbert took it as an opportunity to prove himself.
But now that he reconsidered, his fatherâs voice was very different when he spoke to himself and when he recalled his brother.
No, even so, he couldnât accept it now.
He had already come a long way to turn back.
Gilbert felt a presence and stopped thinking.
Moments later, a man staggered toward Gilbert.
His face was bluish as if he had drowned.
âOh, donât worry about the skin. Itâs not really me, I picked it up when I came. I need to pat my childâs head.â
The corpse waved his hand in a humorous way, making a sound of bones clashing.
âArenât you glad that I didnât come personally to you? You dared to make me walk in vain and save your life? Huh?â
The body giggled.
He spoke as if he had noticed that Gilbert had lost his aura, even though he had not explained it.
Gilbert pleaded as he felt a chilling rage stab his lungs.
âPlease give me a chance. Iâll prove that Iâm better than Regen. It is not certain, but I have useful information, so please check it yourself.
The corpseâs head was bent.
âRegen? Who is that? Guyâ
ââ¦.â
The name.
He canât even remember the name.
Gilbert felt his stomach churn strangely.
Regen is a failure.
Itâs not worth remembering because itâs worthless.
So it was fine. There was no need to be surprised at all by this.
Anyway, Gilbert was different from Regen.
This unpleasant incongruity was only an illusion.
Seeing Gilbertâs eyes contorted, the body shrugged its shoulders.
âAh, you donât have to explain it. I just remember.â
âIs that so?â
âIs Regen in the castle? Take me for a moment.â
âThatâ¦â¦ It is difficult.â
The body clicked its tongue.
âSo pathetic. So, where did you leave the aura?â
âAfter being attacked by a man, I can no longer use it. No, rather than that.â
âHuh, youâre pathetic and even dull? Itâs not like it was sealed. Itâs completely gone.â
He pinpointed what Gilbert was feeling vaguely.
âSomeone with strange abilities is running around. Did I come out after such a long time?â
Gilbert recalled the presence who called out Maeviaâs nickname without hesitation.
âHe had the power to manipulate fire.â
âDonât tell me, show me.â
The corpse grabbed Gilbertâs head.
âUghâ¦â¦!â
Soon, he felt pain as if he had been hit with an ax dozens of times.
But the father warned him in a voice full of pity.
âIf you canât stand this much, I will be really mad?â
He rummaged through Gilbertâs memories as if he were turning the pages of a book, finding the part that Gilbert mentioned, and twisted his lips.
âThatâs not a person.â
His hand fell.
Gilbert let out the breath he had been holding back.
âCo, cough!â
âThe Grand Duchessâ¦â¦ So, my sister-in-law must have good abilities. How did you get such a pet?â
Slowly feeling his mind clearing again, Gilbert asked.
âYou saidâ¦â¦ itâs not a person?â
What came back was not an answer, but a murmur with gloomy meaning.
âAs expected, itâs a waste to go back like this.â
âIf you want to enter the castle, I will guide you.â
He thought that the moment he had been waiting for had finally arrived, but his father only sneered at him.
âI canât go in. Even if I attacked it with a little bit of magical power from the main body, the result would be obvious.â
âButâ¦â¦â
âYou go and get Regen out.â
Gilbert said again.
âAs I said, as I am nowâ¦..â
âWhy? You donât have an aura?â
ââ¦.â
âItâs okay, Iâll do something for you. Thatâs what I came here for.â
âReally?â
Unknowingly, Gilbert gave a doubtful look.
It was an opportunity he wanted to get even by sacrificing himself, but he was so reluctant that he wanted to lose it.
The corpse had a pale face and smiled with its mouth open.
âThen. But it may not be the shape you want? I donât have the talent to bring back the aura that has completely disappeared.â
âWhat ifâ¦â¦â
âHmm. A big guy would be better if you want to break through the castle.â
âPlease explain so I can understand what you mean.â
âAnyway, youâll realize it naturally soon, so why are you bothering me? You just make a big fuss and get Regen out.â
Gilbert could barely stand the desire to grind his teeth.
âWhy do you need Regen?â
âYou are no longer useful.â
It was a light and plain word like a feather. With the worst assumption imaginable, Gilbert didnât completely lose patience.
âI swore to give my body to Father. And I think it was still worth using.â
Then the body of the corpse twisted greatly.
There was a limit to dealing with the magical power that had been forced into the body.
Eventually, the pale face of the corpse melted, and the damp hair was dyed silver.
The magical power that appeared as the body disappeared was similar to the form of a human.
The eyes were as gentle as an angel, and they had a beautiful but twisted face.
Lifeless red eyes looked down at Gilbert.
âEven if you donât emphasize it that much, I plan to use your body well. I can use it as bait.â
Shrookk.
Black blood flowed from Gilbertâs mouth.
His biological father laughed pitilessly.
âDid I give you too much? But what to do? Isnât it you who asked first? In the first place, there are side effects when you want to get stronger quickly~â
Gilbertâs body began to swell, not knowing the limits.
He whistled as he watched his son transform into a beast.
âOh, I did it without any preparation process, but it holds up pretty well, right? Well, your body is strong, so you havenât died yet. I meant to use it for this purpose.â
And then there it was.
He completely turned away from Gilbert and focused his attention to what Gilbert had referred to as âuseful information.â
âWhere is our sister-in-law, who has a special pet and special abilities? Is it that room with the lights on over there?â
He was completely unaware that the sister-in-law he was looking for was always watching.
***
âXXXX XXXX.â
As I furrowed my eyebrows and watched the situation, I couldnât stand it anymore
âCalling me sister-in-law, sister-in-law makes me feel dirty.â
Currently, Aedis and I were watching the reunion between father and son, hiding under the roof of the castle.
Gilbertâs biological father kindly informed us when and where he would appear a week ago, so we didnât have to wait long. The problem is that for 500 years in the desert, the only thing he learned was how to keep barking.
And Gilbertâ¦â¦ thereâs no real answer.
He said not to touch Maevia yet he sold me in less than a week.
No, of course, at the time when his aura, the biggest reason for such momentum, disappeared, I knew that would be the case.
âAedis, I am strangely not angry. Rather, I feel something beyond scorn.â
I observed the situation with my eyes wide open.
And Aedisâ¦â¦,
âHuh? Aedis?â