ATHO Chapter 11

Chapter 11 – A Charm

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Second Life, Part 9

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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“There it is again. No more ‘I’m sorry,’ okay?”  

With that, Jade gave me a soft smile.  

“Now, Charles Nii-san, rest well.”  

“Yeah…”  

As he stroked my head gently, it felt like he was the older one.  

Guided by his touch, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.  

“Goodnight, Nii-san…”  

After hearing Jade’s voice, I felt something soft lightly touch my cheek.  

“Mm…”  

The discomfort of a parched throat and damp, sweaty clothes woke me up.  

The room was dimly illuminated by a lamp, signaling that morning hadn’t arrived yet.  

As I sat up to reach for the water jug Jade had left by the bedside, I noticed my body felt significantly lighter, though my head was still a bit fuzzy.  

Even so, the sweat-soaked clothes clinging to me were uncomfortable.  

“Maybe I should change.”  

As I swung my legs over the bedside, the door creaked open slightly, and a small figure peeked in.  

“Hm? Lien? What’s wrong? It’s so late.”  

“Ah… I’m sorry for coming in uninvited, Charles Nii-sama. I heard a noise and got worried… Are you feeling alright?”  

“Sorry for worrying you. My fever’s gone down, and I’m feeling a bit better now.”  

I smiled at Lien, who looked at me with concern. I tried to stand to approach him, but my legs wobbled.  

“Ah! Nii-sama! Be careful!”  

“Oops. Sorry, Lien. Looks like I’m still not back to full strength.”  

“You really shouldn’t push yourself when you’re still recovering, Nii-sama!”  

Lien hurried over, trying to steady me, and scolded me with a worried frown.  

“Your body still feels hot.”  

“Yeah, but sweating helped bring the fever down a bit. I was just thinking of changing clothes.”  

“Oh! I’ll grab some for you! Wait here!”  

Lien quickly went to the closet, fetching clean clothes and a damp towel that Flor must have prepared.  

“I brought the clothes and a wet towel! Um, should I have warmed the towel instead?”  

“No, cold is perfect since I’m still a bit feverish. Thanks, Lien.”  

I thanked him, then began to change, wiping the sweat from my body with the towel. The coolness felt refreshing, rejuvenating both body and mind.  

When I finished wiping my front and reached to clean my back, Lien spoke up.  

“Nii-sama, let me help with your back.”  

“Are you sure? Then, I’ll take you up on that.”  

I couldn’t help but smile at his thoughtfulness.  

Passing him the towel, I let Lien gently wipe my back.  

“That feels really nice, Lien.”  

“Hehe, I’m glad.”  

With his careful touch, I felt clean and invigorated after changing.  

“I feel much better now. Thanks, Lien. Now, it’s late; you should go to bed.”  

“Okay. Um, Nii-sama? Can I do a little ‘charm’ to help you get better faster?”  

“A charm? Sure, go ahead.”  

His innocent suggestion warmed my heart.  

“Alright, close your eyes, Nii-sama.”  

“Okay, I will.”  

As I closed my eyes, Lien gently brushed aside my bangs and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.  

“The charm… is done.”  

His shy smile was endearing.  

The ticklish sensation and his care for me filled me with gratitude.  

“Thank you, Lien. I already feel stronger.”  

“Hehe~”  

A kiss as a charm—perhaps he’d read about it in a storybook.  

“Then let me give you a charm too, to keep you feeling well.”  

“Eh…?”  

Lien looked startled as I gently pushed aside his bangs and kissed his forehead in return.  

“Goodnight, Lien.”  

“G-goodnight… Charles Nii-sama…”  

Blushing furiously, Lien left the room, glancing back shyly as he went.  

Feeling both my body and spirit revitalized by his visit, I returned to bed and fell into a peaceful sleep.  

***

When I awoke to the morning sunlight, my fever had broken, and I felt much lighter than the night before.  

After changing into fresh clothes, I headed to the dining room for breakfast.  

“Good morning.”  

My parents, Jade, and Lien were already there. They immediately turned their attention to me as I entered.  

“Charles, are you sure you should be up already? You should rest more,” Flor said, concerned.  

“She’s right, Charles. You collapsed from a high fever yesterday. Don’t push yourself,” Father added.  

“Thank you, but I’m fine now. My fever’s gone, and I feel much better.”  

Though they still seemed worried, I reassured them with a smile.  

Jade and Lien, still looking uneasy, rushed to my side.  

“Charles Nii-san, are you really alright?”  

“Yeah, I’m fine, Jade. But what about your leg? You’re still limping.”  

“I’m fine. It’s just a sprain, and they said it should heal in about a week.”  

“That’s good to hear. But don’t push yourself too hard, Jade.”  

As I spoke with Jade, I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve. I looked down to see Lien gazing up at me, worry evident in his eyes.

“Lien, you’ve been so worried about me, haven’t you? But I’m really fine now. Thanks to your charm, I feel much better.”  

I smiled warmly and gently stroked Lien’s soft silver hair, which made him blush and throw his arms around my chest.  

“Charles Nii-san, what do you mean by ‘charm’?”  

“Oh, Lien came to my room last night and…”  

“Charles Nii-sama! Don’t tell Jade Nii-sama, or the charm’s effect will wear off!”  

“Lien… did you do something to Charles Nii-san?”  

“N-no, I didn’t do anything!”  

The morning passed in cheerful banter among the three of us.  

We had grown into a close-knit family, a bond unimaginable during the first life.  

***

The anniversary of our parents’ death was approaching.  

It would be my fifteenth year.  

The thought of experiencing such sorrow again was unbearable, so I did everything in my power to prepare.  

“Flor, how are you feeling today?”  

“Oh, I’m doing great as always!”  

When I greeted her, Flor beamed with a bright smile.  

“It’s getting colder these days, so be sure to keep warm,” I advised.  

“Of course. Thank you for your concern, Charles.”  

She smiled gently and patted my head.  

For now, her chronic illness didn’t seem to have worsened, and she was living her days in good health.  

The first time, Flor had been bedridden, unable to even rise from her bed.  

Back then, I had been so resentful of her that I once shouted outside her room, calling her a “useless invalid.”  

Looking back, I realized she had been mentally strained, struggling with our family dynamics while battling her illness.  

That stress, coupled with her existing health issues, had led to a rapid decline in her condition.  

Seeing her now, it was clear: I had been a major factor in her suffering.  

That’s why I resolved to act in ways that wouldn’t burden her heart.  

“Flor, if you’re ever struggling with anything, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll do whatever I can to help.”  

“Thank you, Charles. But I’m truly happy as I am now, so don’t worry about me.”  

As she smiled, I wracked my brain, desperate to think of anything else I could do for her.  

Time passed without clear answers, and eventually, that day arrived.  

The first time, Father and Flor had set off for the royal capital in a carriage, only to meet their demise en route.  

Today, however, Flor was out in the garden, cheerfully tending to the plants.  

Given her current health, it seemed unlikely she’d travel to the capital, but I couldn’t let my guard down.  

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*Translator’s Note: Lien… so young but already so cunning… By the way,  I have completed the translation to this novel (Chapter 55 is the final chapter). All chapters had been scheduled daily until the middle of October. I want to avoid spamming chapter postings and also for you guys to have something to look forward to daily. So I’d rather just schedule them. On top of that, I’m going to start with a new translation. Hope you all will have a blast reading this novel and thank you in advance. -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: 2025.09.04

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