ATHO Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – An Incident

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Second Life, Part 7

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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The fourth summer of my second life arrived.  

Even now, at fourteen, my relationship with Flor, Jade, and Lien remained strong.  

Since remarrying, Flor’s health hadn’t deteriorated, and she got along well with my stepbrothers.  

For the most part, everything was progressing smoothly. Yet, there was something I had noticed.  

Some events from my first life were repeating themselves. Although my circumstances and surroundings were vastly different this time, certain situations eerily mirrored my past.  

And the recurring events were always moments where I had hurt someone in my first life.  

When Lien disappeared or when he dropped the pendant—though not entirely the same, these events seemed to echo moments from my first life.  

Was it a warning not to forget my past sins?  

―――What did I do to the three of them when I was fourteen…?  

After dinner, as I sat lost in thought, Jade approached me.  

“Charles Nii-san, would you like to go hunting with me this weekend?”  

Normally, I would have eagerly replied, “Sure!” But his words brought back memories of my first life.  

“Oh, um… I’m not very good at hunting. Sorry.”  

I lied on impulse, turning down Jade’s invitation.  

In the summer of my first life, when I was fourteen, I forced Jade, who was reluctant, to go hunting with me.  

Caught up in the excitement of the hunt, I didn’t notice Jade nearby, and the arrow I released struck the horse he was riding. The horse, startled and in pain, reared up, throwing Jade off before bolting deep into the forest. Jade injured his leg when he fell, and though I managed to promise him I would get help, I left him alone in the forest to return to the manor.  

On the way back, the weather took a sudden turn for the worse, and heavy rain began to fall. By the time I reached the manor, the rain had turned into a storm. After explaining what had happened, Father immediately gathered some servants and went into the forest to search for Jade.  

But they couldn’t find him.  

With the weather so treacherous, continuing the search was deemed too dangerous, and it was postponed until the following day.  

Flor looked pale, Lien was sobbing uncontrollably, and everyone prayed for Jade’s safety. I, overwhelmed with guilt for leaving him in the forest, could do nothing but stare at the stormy darkness outside.  

The next morning, after the rain stopped, Father and the servants resumed their search. They eventually found Jade collapsed in the forest and brought him back.  

Having spent the night in the dark and stormy woods, Jade developed a high fever and was bedridden for a week.  

Terrified of what he might say to me, I never apologized to Jade for what had happened.  

Recalling this incident, I hesitated to go hunting with him again.  

What if something similar happened?  

Though I knew I would never leave Jade behind this time, I couldn’t bear the thought of him getting hurt again. That’s why I turned down his invitation, but seeing the disappointment on his face made me feel guilty.  

“…I understand.”  

Jade’s dejected expression made my chest ache.  

In my first life, the incident started because of my arrow startling the horse. If we avoided hunting, perhaps the problem wouldn’t occur.  

“Hey, Jade, how about this instead? We could ride horses and explore the forest together. I think I’d enjoy that.”  

“Really? That would be great!”  

Jade’s face lit up at my suggestion.  

“Alright, then. Let’s look forward to the weekend.”  

Seeing his delighted smile, I resolved to make our outing different this time, a fun and safe experience for Jade.  

***

On the weekend, Jade and I rode our horses into the forest. Jade had been smiling more than usual since the morning, clearly excited. As we entered the forest, I was glad I hadn’t turned him down.  

Without needing much instruction, Jade skillfully handled his horse.  

“You’re really good with horses, Jade.”  

“My father taught me when he was in better health. We often went hunting together, and he taught me how to ride and handle horses.”  

“That’s impressive. Father tried teaching me a few times, but I never got the hang of it. Sometimes the horse just moves on its own…”  

“Understanding a horse’s feelings can be tricky.”  

We chatted idly as we explored the forest.  

The weather was pleasant, and as we rode along the trails, the cool forest air brushed against our cheeks.  

“It feels nice, doesn’t it?”  

“Yes, I’m so glad I could come with you today, Nii-san.”  

Jade’s heartfelt smile warmed me, and I returned it with a gentle one of my own.  

However, as we continued through the forest, the once-clear sky suddenly darkened.  

I felt a pang of unease and called out to Jade.  

“Jade, it looks like it might rain. We should head back soon.”  

“You’re right…”  

As Jade and I turned back, a rustling sound came from the bushes, and a wild animal darted out.  

Jade’s horse, startled, reared violently. He lost hold of the reins and was thrown off.  

“Jade!”  

I rushed to his side to find him grimacing in pain.  

“Are you hurt?”  

“My right ankle… I think I twisted it.”  

“Your ankle…”  

In my first life, Jade also injured his leg.  

Was it happening again? No, I couldn’t think about that now.  

The memory of that first life flickered in my mind, but I shook my head to dispel it.  

When I lightly touched his injured ankle, Jade winced in pain.  

“Jade, can you stand?”  

“I… I think so.”  

Though his horse was still skittish, mine remained calm. If we both rode it, we might manage to get back.  

“Jade, let’s ride my horse together. Take my hand…”  

When I tried to help Jade, the surroundings suddenly flashed with a blinding light. The next moment, a deafening roar of thunder shook the air, followed by a torrential downpour that drenched us in an instant. 

The horses, startled by the thunder, grew agitated. Within seconds, we were both soaked to the bone. Walking through the forest with an injured Jade in this storm would be far too dangerous. 

Scanning our surroundings for shelter, I spotted a cave a short distance away.

“Jade, there’s a cave over there. Let’s take shelter there for now. Hold onto me,” I said.

“Thank you, Charles Nii-san,” Jade replied, leaning on my shoulder. Supporting him as we were battered by the relentless rain, we made our way to the cave.

Once inside, I helped Jade sit down and went back outside to calm the panicked horses. After a struggle, I managed to lead them into the cave. 

“Jade, how’s your foot?” I asked.

Although Jade smiled and said he was fine, it was clear he was trying to hide his pain. The cold rain had left us both shivering, with our wet clothes sapping our body heat.

“You should take off your clothes to stay warm,” I suggested.

We both stripped down to our upper bodies, wringing out the drenched fabric before spreading them out on rocks to dry. Using a towel from my bag, we dried ourselves as best as we could, but the early summer forest air still carried a lingering chill.

The rain continued to pour outside, accompanied by thunder that made our escape seem impossible. As I stared out at the storm, trying to figure out what to do, Jade spoke up.

“Charles Nii-san, let’s start a fire for now.”

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*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: 2025.09.02

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