That night, thick clouds of mid-winter covered the air.

　There was no moonlight at all, and the only thing that stood out was the orange glow of the magic light that leaked from the windows of the mansion where Lord Langobalt lived.

　On the bright red carpet that lay in the long corridor, a man walked with his back straight.

　The boy's name was Bath Langobalt.
　His golden hair, which was his pride and joy, had all been shaved off and was now a full head of hair.

　His eyes were so stern and shadowy that his green eyes looked black, and his fists were clenched tightly.
　
　There is a knock on the deep brown old brown door at the end of the hall.

　Enter. A low, heavy voice says, "Come in.

"Excuse me, sir. 'Father.'

　This is the study of the master of the house.
　A muscular man with a lion's beard, Evans Langobart.

'What do you want, this late at night?

'...... I'll be blunt. Father, will you remove Lilith and Abel from this territory?

　Too many words, Evans shook his head, speechless.

'No.'

Why?　Those guys!

I've said it before. 'I told you before, Lord Lilith is not just a maid. She is my benefactor. I cannot ignore her wishes.

So what?

　Barth shouted so loudly that it echoed in the dark of the night.
　As a matter of fact, the story that Lilith was more than just a maid was a story her father had told her when she was ten years old.

　The reason this village, with its many geographical disadvantages, has been able to flourish is largely due to Lilith's sound advice and counsel.

''We can already rule this territory by ourselves without relying on that guy. There should be no problem at all!''

...... verse. That's not true.

No?　What difference does it make!

Dad. Brother Barth. What the hell is going on here?　My voice is leaking into the hallway, though: ......

　He opened the door and Ted came in, yawning in his nightgown.
　A therapeutic cast was wrapped around his leg, wrapped around it like an iron.

"Ted," he said, "you can walk? You can walk?



Yeah. Yeah.　As you can see, I can walk normally!　I'm full of energy!

　Ted returned Barth's astonishment with a nonchalant smile.
　Evans saw that and guessed something, but didn't say the words.

'Bath, Ted. When the time came, I was going to tell you the truth about my relationship with Lord Lilith. About my relationship with Lord Lilith. And why I have such respect for Lord Lilith.

...... Father. What exactly is respect enough to make a nobleman bow?

　Evans is silent once.

　He was going to tell his two sons that Lilith was a demon and that he was hiding her because of a union.

　But Evans had a hunch.
　Barth was feeling very dimly now.

　'You may say you are my son,' he said, 'but you must not divulge your secrets to such a man.

'You won't answer me, will you?

You don't have the answers now.

'So long!　Then I'll do it!

　Barth becomes even more sullen after his father's words, which are not boiled down.
　But after a while, Barth looks like he's blown something out of the water.

'Father!　Would you give me a recommendation for the Erthrian Academy of Magic?

----?

　His father Evans slowly shook his head at Barth's words.

''That will not do. You will remain in this estate and learn to be a lord. Didn't you promise me that?''

　The Earthria Magic Academy is a prestigious school that has produced many elite magicians.
　However, because it takes at least five years to graduate, Evans was reluctant to allow his sons to enter the school.

I want to learn more powerful magic!　Stronger and sharper. I'll show you a caustic sorcery that will cut up your enemies and shake off the rest of the pack without mercy!　And to a commoner. No, I will become the most powerful sorcerer anyone has ever seen, even the nobility!

　Evans was amazed.
　In Evans's eyes, Barth was a bright, intelligent son who never seemed to show his emotions at any moment.

　The fact that his brother Ted was a yankee made him seem even more so.



...... brother Barth. You don't have to be so tense.

It's a b*tc*!　You disgraceful aristocrat!

　Then, Barth took an action that shocked his father Evans.
　It's not clear what he was thinking, but Barth followed his injured brother away with great vigor.

'Cora!　No!

Because ....... This guy is ....... It's his fault: ......!　Because you're a nobleman and you get along with a commoner!

　Evans had revised his assessment of Barth, who was repeatedly saying and doing things like a child.

　Either way, Barth in his current state couldn't be entrusted with the job of being a 'lord'.
　In that sense, Barth's hope was a favorable one for Evans.

''I understand. I'll recommend you to the Earthria Magic Academy.''

...... Really?!

Yeah. Go out of the country and see how much bigger the world is.

...... I believed your father would say that. Thank you.

　Shaking Evans' hand off, Barth walked out of the room.
　Seeing his back, Evans felt a bitterness in his chest. What had I taught him wrong?

'...... Ted. Are you okay?

Itte. But it's okay.

Okay.

　In spite of the unreasonable violence, Ted's response was calm.

　Apparently, he was blind to his son at every turn.
　He may look like a junkie, but he was mentally more 'mature' than his brother.

Ted," he said, "I'm not going to tell you the truth. I'm going to tell you the truth.

Dad?

...... Ted. I have a past where Lord Lilith saved my life a long time ago.

What?

"One snowy day. I was hunting in the woods. Suddenly, I was about to be attacked by a monster.

　A long time ago. He did not dare to tell Ted that this was the case.
　It was well over twenty years ago that Evans had met Lilith.



Really?

Yes. Since then, I've been indebted to Lilith, who has been a good neighbor and mentor to me. I've always thought of Lilith as a good neighbor and a mentor in life.

　Their relationship then was a bit like Abel and Ted's today.

　That day.
　Why do you say, 'Why do you make it better for me?' When I asked the question, Lilith's response was a surprising one: "I want an environment where I can live in peace when someone I love wakes up.

"I want an environment where I can live in peace when my loved ones wake up at some point.

　When I first heard it, I thought it was a reason that didn't make sense, but now I can understand it.

　I guess it was all for a day like today, when I was almost attacked by a demon in the forest that day, and was 'kept alive' by Lilith.

'Huh. I didn't know that. I didn't know that maid's sister had that side to her.''

Yeah. So, Ted. You don't want to end up like Barth. You'll have to get along with Lady Lillith and her sisters.

'You don't have to!　Abel is a prefect to Ole Miss ....... Not, he's a valued companion!

　Barth, who kept rejecting Abel for childish reasons, and Ted, who chose to accept him.

　The two brothers' lives are clearly divided at a turning point.