ATHO Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Kind Older Brother

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Second Life, Part 3

Novel Title: 嫌われ者の俺はやり直しの世界で義弟達にごまをする (As the Hated One, I Flatter My Stepbrothers in a World Where I Get a Second Chance)

Author：赤牙 (Akakiba)

Art：古澤エノ (Furusawa Eno)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: シャルル (Charles -MC), リエン (Lien -ML1) & ジェイド (Jade -ML2)

*Please read at freenovels.net, the original site of translation. TQ*

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Even after that, I continue trying to close the distance between us, and Lien slowly starts opening up to me. As he begins to warm up, he starts coming to me of his own accord. His small frame, silver hair swaying softly as he runs to me with a radiant smile, is truly adorable.

On days when classes at the academy end early, I visit Lien’s room.

Knocking on the door and stepping inside, I find him looking bored, playing with a servant.

“Lien, I’m home.”

“Charles Nii-sama! What’s wrong? Aren’t you supposed to be at the academy?”

“Classes ended in the morning today, so I thought I’d come to play with you.”

As soon as he sees me, Lien’s face lights up. He runs over and throws his arms around me.

“Haha, you’re so energetic, Lien. Flor is out today, so you must be bored. Is there anything you want to do?”

“Hmm… I want to go for a walk!”

“Sure, let’s go then.”

“Yay! I love you, Charles Nii-sama!”

When I hold out my hand, his small hand grabs it tightly. The overwhelming guilt rushes over me when I think about how, in my first life, I took out my anger on someone as small as Lien and scared him.

To drown that guilt, I keep playing the role of the ‘kind older brother’ Lien wants.

If things stay peaceful like this, will my life’s ending also be a bit better?

Growing closer to Lien and the others, I wonder what kind of future lies ahead for me.

Even as I spend tranquil days with my new family, I can’t help but feel uneasy about what’s to come.

***

That day, when I returned home from the academy, the estate was in chaos.

Servants were calling out Lien’s name, while Flor and Jade walked around the estate looking worried.

“Flor, what’s going on?”

“Charles, it’s… Lien. He is nowhere to be found.”

“What? Lien is missing?”

“Yes, Nii-san. When Mother and I returned, he wasn’t in his room. He was apparently playing with the servants, but when they took their eyes off him for a moment, he disappeared.”

Seeing their anxious faces brought back memories from my first life.

In that timeline, I despised Lien’s constant crying and locked him in his room. When my stepmother and Jade noticed Lien’s absence and panicked, I secretly watched them and laughed.

―――Even though I haven’t done anything this time, a similar incident is happening…?

A surge of fear grips me, and I clench my fists tightly.

“I’ll help search for Lien too.”

“Thank you, Nii-san. We’ve already searched the east wing, so let’s check the west wing.”

“Got it.”

Jade and I comb through the west side of the estate, but Lien is nowhere to be found.

Time passes, and it grows completely dark outside.

―――Lien, where could you have gone?

As Jade and I wander through the estate, I stop outside the servants’ break room. From inside, I hear the sound of cheerful voices.

“Ugh… Where’s that damn brat gone? I’m done with babysitting.”

“It’s your fault for scaring him. Although, if someone like you raised a hand against me, even as an adult, I’d be terrified. Still, that kid’s attitude annoyed me too. I bet he’s learned not to defy adults by now. Anyway, I’m sick of pretending to search. It’s ridiculous to make such a fuss over one kid.”

“No kidding. A viscount’s brat in a marquis’ household? Know your place. His mother probably seduced the marquis with her looks, anyway.”

“Yeah, and that kid’s got a nice face too. If we had some fun with him, he’d never dare defy us.”

“Gross. I’m always shocked by how low your standards are. Even a kid?”

Laughter fills the room. Beside me, Jade’s face twists in fury.

I feel my own anger rising.

“You lot. Was what you just said true?”

“C-Charles-sama…”

I slam the door open and step inside. The servants pale when they see me.

“Answer me. Did you lay a hand on Lien?”

“N-No! It was just a joke! We’d never think of doing such a thing to Lien-sama!”

“Even if it was a joke, I won’t tolerate such thoughts in this household. Pack your things and leave immediately.”

“P-Please, Charles-sama, forgive us!”

“We’ve served the marquis’ family for years!”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. I don’t want to see your faces again.”

Shutting the door on their pleading voices, I meet Jade’s eyes in the hallway.

“I’m sorry, Jade. I made you hear something so unpleasant…”

“Ah, I’m fine. Charles Nii-san, thank you for getting angry for Lien’s sake. But, was it really okay? Those servants have been loyal to the Wahlman family for many years, haven’t they…?”  

Jade looks at me apologetically.  

“To me, Jade and Lien are more important. You’re both my precious family, after all.”  

The lie, masked with a forced smile, seems to reassure Jade, who smiles back in relief, thinking it’s my true feelings.  

Being kind to Jade and Lien is partly to ease my guilt. Yet, the fear I feel toward them hasn’t completely disappeared.  

Seeing that smile only makes my chest ache, but… finding Lien takes priority for now.  

“Come on, let’s hurry and search for Lien.”  

Hiding my conflicted emotions, I resume the search for Lien. However, there’s still no sign of him, and we’ve already scoured the entire mansion.  

“Charles, do you think Lien might have run outside, scared of the servants?”  

“That’s impossible…”  

Lien is extremely timid and never goes outside without Flor or Jade. In my first life, I forced Lien to go out to play, which made him cry hysterically. Furious, I then…  

“Could it be…?”  

I recall a certain place and break into a run.  

My destination is the storage room on the east side of the mansion.  

“Charles, we’ve already checked that room…”  

“No, I’m sure he’s here.”  

When I enter, dust swirls in the air. At first glance, the dim room appears ordinary, but there’s a hidden door in the far wall. In my first life, I used this very spot to lock up a sobbing Lien.  

I open the hidden door, and in the dim light, I see a small figure huddled in the corner.  

The figure turns toward me, revealing Lien’s tear-filled eyes.  

“Lien… I’ve found you.”  

Lien’s face crumples as my voice reaches him.  

“Charles…Nii-sama….”  

“Lien, what’s wrong? Everyone’s worried about you.”  

“Charles…Nii-sama…!”  

Tears stream from his eyes as he stretches out his hands toward me. I take his hands, lift his small body, and hold him close.  

“Lien, did something frighten you?”  

“Nii-sama… um… well…”  

Through his sobs, Lien explains how the servants mistreated him and had been saying cruel things to him for some time.  

Listening patiently to all he has to say, I notice his tears finally begin to dry.  

“It’s okay now. I’ll make sure to protect you, Lien.”  

“Charles Nii-sama, will you really protect me?”  

“Yes. I won’t let anyone hurt you again. So, let’s go back to everyone, alright?”  

“…Okay.”  

Wiping his tears, Lien nods softly. Carrying him, I leave the room to find Jade waiting outside. Jade rushes over immediately.  

“Lien, you shouldn’t just disappear without telling anyone. Mother and Charles Nii-san were both so worried!”  

“I’m sorry…”  

“I’ll protect you too, together with Charles Nii-san.”  

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*Translator’s Note: And as adults, they’ll protect their Onii-san. 😉 -K

*GLOSSARY: 

• Nii-san/Nii-sama/Onii-san = (Big/Elder) Brother

☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation. Jade would call Charles ‘Nii-san’ while Lien would call him ‘Nii-sama’.

Next update: 2025.08.29

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