ATHO Chapter 15

Chapter 15 – The Word ‘Lord’

Chapter 2: The Truth No One Knows, Part 1

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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“Charles Nii-san.”  

“Charles Nii-sama.”  

When I woke up to the sound of two voices, I saw Jade and Lien had come to my room.  

“Huh? Oh, good morning. What’s going on so early?”  

“Nii-sama! Happy birthday!”  

“Charles Nii-san, happy birthday.”  

Oh, right. Today is my sixteenth birthday.  

“Thank you, both of you.”  

Jade and Lien smiled brightly, and it filled me with happiness first thing in the morning.  

Later, as I went to have breakfast with them, Father and Flor also celebrated my birthday.  

The first time around, at this time in my life, I was so burdened by the duties of being the lord of the estate that I didn’t have time to attend the academy. I had to drop out just before graduation. The weight of responsibility and the lonely days that followed were suffocating.  

Back then, the only one who stood by me was my uncle, though in this second life, I haven’t seen him yet. I sent him a letter once, but I didn’t receive a reply. When I asked Father about him, he always made a grim expression and avoided the subject.  

He was busy the first time around too, so he’s probably caught up in work again. I just hope he’s doing well.  

“Charles Nii-sama? Aren’t you eating?”  

Lien’s voice brought me back to the present.  

“Oh, sorry. I zoned out for a bit.”  

“If you don’t eat soon, the food will get cold.”  

“You’re right.”  

Today’s breakfast was filled with all my favorite dishes.  

Sharing a meal with everyone as they celebrated me was both delicious and heartwarming, leaving me completely satisfied.  

“Charles, you’re sixteen now. Once you graduate from the academy, it’ll be time for you to start learning the duties of a lord,” Father said during breakfast.  

The word ‘lord’ made me tense up inside.  

Could someone like me, who once failed to protect this house, truly take on such a role?  

“Yes… I’ll do my best,” I replied, trying to suppress the anxiety threatening to overwhelm me.  

Sensing my unease, Father spoke in a gentle tone and offered a suggestion.  

“Charles, how about joining me for a village inspection on one of your academy holidays?”  

“An inspection? Are you sure I can come along?”  

“Of course. It’ll also serve as an introduction for you. Don’t worry. I’ll teach you the duties of a lord step by step.”  

“Thank you, Father.”  

Father’s reassuring words lightened the burden on my heart.  

In this second life, Father is still here. I’m sure it’ll be okay this time.  

Eventually, the promised day of the village inspection arrived.  

Father and I traveled to the eastern village of Einther.  

Einther was a peaceful village known for its wheat production, surrounded by fertile lands.  

It had been a long time since I’d spent time alone with Father, and during the carriage ride, we talked while watching the scenery pass by. As I listened to Father speak, I could sense just how deeply he loved this land and its people as a lord.  

“The Wahlman estate is vast and prosperous. As its lord, you must see, feel, and think for yourself about what must be done. No matter how busy you are, always make time to visit the villages and towns in person. That is the most important duty of a lord.”  

“Yes.”  

I reflected on my former self during my first life. Back then, I had been riddled with insecurity and lacked the confidence to meet the expectations of the people. I often ran away from my responsibilities as lord.  

After my uncle stepped in to guide me, I had relied too much on him, neglecting my duties to visit the lands under my care.  

“See, feel, and think for yourself.” Those words etched themselves into my heart.  

When we arrived at Einther, villagers gathered to greet us as we stepped out of the carriage.  

“Lord Wahlman! Thank you for traveling all this way!”  

A man with sun-kissed skin and a warm smile welcomed us with enthusiasm.  

“Thank you for the kind reception, village chief. Today, I’ve brought my son Charles with me. In the future, he’ll be making more visits to the villages, so I hope you’ll take good care of him.”  

After Father introduced me, I stepped forward to greet everyone.  

This was my first time in my second life standing face-to-face with the people of the land. Determined not to make a poor impression, I forced a smile and spoke with care.  

“I am Charles Wahlman. It’s a pleasure to meet you all.”  

“Lord Charles, the pleasure is ours. Oh, and this here is my son, Matt… Hey, Matt! Introduce yourself!”  

The chief nudged his son, who quickly bowed his head in flustered haste.  

“I-I’m Matt. Uh… I-it’s nice to meet you.”  

The chief sighed at Matt’s stammering, while the boy looked down in embarrassment. Their interaction was so amusing that I couldn’t help but chuckle.  

That small moment eased the tension I’d been feeling.  

After the introductions, Father and the chief headed off to the fields to check the crops.  

Matt and I followed behind, listening to their conversation about wheat yields and livestock conditions as we toured the area.  

Seeing everything firsthand revealed so much that reports alone couldn’t convey.  

For the first time, I truly understood the meaning behind Father’s words: “See, feel, and think for yourself.”  

At one point, Father and the chief had an important matter to discuss, so they left Matt to guide me around. Matt still seemed nervous and avoided meeting my eyes, so I decided to break the ice.  

“Hey, Matt. How old are you?”  

“…I’m fourteen.”  

“You’re younger than I thought. You’re tall, so I figured we were the same age, or maybe you were even older.”  

When I found out Matt was the same age as Jade, I felt a sense of closeness to him.

Matt was taller than me, with a sturdy build likely from working on the farm. His sun-tanned, wheat-colored skin was just like the village elder’s.

As he guided me around the village, we talked a lot. At first, Matt was so nervous that he could only nod along, but as time passed, he began to speak more. By the time I was ready to leave, he was even smiling.

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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: 2025.09.08

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