25-176

EP.176 [Charlotte de Sel Oblaing Worries About Her Now-Immoral Younger Brother.] 

"Wasn't Elizabeth just a consultant for the Monster Response Office?" 

Jeanne, who had only been keeping an eye on Victoria's situation, was suddenly flustered by the unexpected intrusion of her younger sister Elizabeth. 

There were several reasons for her fluster, but the primary one was the conflict between public and private matters. No matter how hard Jeanne tried to keep work and personal life separate, when it came to her beloved little sister, she couldn't be sure of herself. 

"She was, but as you know, since the quest target was the drake, Elizabeth got to see the special quest details in advance. That's how she saw our mercenary band's name." 

"Ah..." 

Eugene calmly explained the situation. 

Jeanne had just learned the specifics of the second collaboration quest from Eugene Schneider's debriefing. In other words, she hadn't realized the close connection between the Imperial Monster Response Office, where Elizabeth worked, and the Imperial Knights' special quest team. Eugene was reminding her that Elizabeth's appearance was a special case triggered by the "drake" keyword. 

'Haa... it's hard to say anything... From Elizabeth's perspective, how happy must she have been to see both my brother's and my name...' 

As she grasped the situation, Jeanne felt a sense of awkwardness. 

Normally, Elizabeth's actions could be seen as rash. But Jeanne couldn't bring herself to see her little sister's intrusion in a negative light. Having gone to Cleopatra Academy alone at 19, Jeanne could empathize more than anyone with how lonely Elizabeth must have felt. 

With that in mind, Jeanne realized how much Elizabeth must have wanted to look after her brother, who had come to the Imperial Knights as a mercenary. 

Thinking this way, Jeanne felt her personal feelings creeping in and became even more conflicted. 

"But Elizabeth is really being recognized there. I know what you're worried about, Jeanne, but I think Elizabeth can handle herself just fine." 

Eugene had already anticipated Jeanne's reaction and prepared an answer. 

"Really? Our Elizabeth is being recognized like that?" 

"That's right. I was surprised too. Our Elizabeth is so reliable and professional." 

"Hmm... Well, Elizabeth really is smart. Much more than me. I guess I worried too much." 

"Haha! That's only natural for a big sister." 

All that was needed was to let Jeanne know how outstanding Elizabeth was as a professional. Jeanne's concerns were only due to her image of her youngest sister. When Eugene shared what he'd seen firsthand, Jeanne immediately accepted it. 

"Hmm?" 

With that settled, Jeanne suggested Eugene take a few days to rest at the ducal house. As she sat and began reviewing the Imperial Knights' materials Eugene had brought for the quest preparations, she sensed his gaze and looked up again. 

"Why? Want to have sex? Not today. It's that time of the month." 

Jeanne assumed Eugene, after being away for several days, was eager for sex, and told him it wasn't possible today. She then went back to reading. 

"Too bad. Oh well." 

Eugene expressed disappointment, but his eyes were clearly filled with other thoughts. 

'Hmm... Seeing Jeanne in person, I feel a bit guilty... How am I supposed to ease her into the situation with Elizabeth?' 

Seeing Jeanne so genuinely caring for her little sister made Eugene acutely aware of the gravity of what he had done-sleeping with that same little sister. 

[My beloved younger brother Eugene! It feels like just yesterday I heard you were working with the noble knights, and now you’re collaborating with the Imperial Knights!] 

A letter from Eugene Schneider’s loving eldest sister, Charlotte de Sel Oblaing, arrived after two weeks. 

It was a reply to the letter Eugene had sent a few days earlier just to check in. 

[Actually, I heard about it from Elizabeth as well. But since I understood what you and Jeanne wanted, I kept quiet until you brought it up. Now that you mentioned it, I can wholeheartedly congratulate you. This big sister is so happy to see all her siblings walking their own proud paths.] 

Currently, the Imperial Knights, the Holy See, and the Academy’s mage tower are cooperating on monster-related matters. Elizabeth had written to Charlotte, indirectly mentioning Eugene’s joining the special quest and that she might participate as well. 

Charlotte was proud and amazed by her siblings’ bold progress and wanted to say more, but hadn’t until Eugene’s letter gave her the chance to be chatty. 

[At least the epidemic here has been stopped from spreading by the Holy See’s manpower. Also, the elixir your mother made with local mages is starting to show results.] 

After expressing her pride for her siblings at the start of the letter, Charlotte then shared news about herself and the duchess, knowing Eugene would be curious. 

The epidemic was so widespread that healing with holy power alone had its limits. So Duchess Marianne de Sel Oblaing had resorted to additional methods. That included working with local mages. Normally, the Holy See’s priests and local mages would have a lot of conflict, but in this disaster, and with a duchess who had both a mage and a high-ranking nun as daughters mediating, such an alliance was possible. 

[But there are still concerns. Summer is starting now. This area is especially affected by summer, so both the Holy See and Mother are worried about what might happen.] 

Thanks to their efforts, the rapid spread of the epidemic was stopped, but Charlotte and Duchess Marianne had no time to rest. There was a growing possibility of seasonal diseases. 

[And though it’s not certain yet, I wanted to mention something I heard about the drake, Eugene...] 

Near the end of the letter, Charlotte hesitated a bit, wondering if it was right to mention something uncertain to a brother about to embark on an important quest. 

[Some ancient records being unearthed mention a correlation between the appearance of outlier monsters and miasma-based epidemics. So, the western Enclema cliff region where the drake appeared may have had an unreported epidemic. That means we should keep those records in mind here as well.] 

The Empire and Duchess Marianne had already begun linking the current epidemic to the outbreak of monsters. As the Holy See got involved, access to ancient records increased. Fragments of information suggested that, in ancient times, mysterious epidemics often preceded the appearance of outlier monsters in those regions. 

[This is too long to explain in a letter, so I’ll stop here. Elizabeth knows about it too, so she can explain more.] 

In other words, the Enclema region where the drake appeared could have many more variables. Charlotte, as a bishop and nun, was giving Eugene an early warning. As a sister, she wanted to explain more, but in the context of a confidential official mission, she felt it would be overstepping. 

[Once your quest with Jeanne and Elizabeth is over, and things settle down here in the fall, I hope our family can gather together again. Until then, please stay healthy and look after Jeanne and Elizabeth, my beloved brother Eugene. That’s all for now. -From your proud big sister, Charlotte de Sel Oblaing-] 

As always, Charlotte ended her letter wishing her siblings happiness, health, and a future reunion. 

'Ahh... Our Charlotte is truly unchanging...' 

Eugene was moved by Charlotte’s unwavering warmth and love. 

'And yet this brother has become a man who’s even slept with Elizabeth... tch...' 

He felt it all the more, having become so thoroughly immoral. 

"Wow!!!! That’s amazing!!!" 

Early summer ended and the height of summer arrived. A pure, innocent exclamation rang out. It was the voice of Margaret, the slum girl. 

"To think I get to live in such a wonderful place with my brothers, sisters, and the mercenary uncles and aunts!!" 

The place where Margaret was standing was none other than the Red Fox Mercenary Village site. Eugene Schneider, Marie, and Mina had brought several slum children to visit the Red Fox Mercenary Village site. 

"The house is so nice! Are we really going to live here?" 

"Of course, Margaret! It’ll be even better when it’s finished!" 

"Wow!" 

"It’s really spacious...!!" 

"It doesn’t even leak when it rains???" 

While Eugene was away at the Imperial Knights’ arena, Jeanne had overseen the construction of the mercenary village. About 40 percent was already complete. It looked like it would be finished by autumn. 

Though called a village, it was more like a camp, which is why it could be built so quickly. Still, to slum children like Margaret, Michael, Charlotte, and Jonathan, it looked like a hotel. 

"Alright, you must be tired from coming all this way, so let’s rest and have lunch, kids~!" 

After touring the Red Fox Mercenary Village with Eugene Schneider, the children were called over by Marie. Lunch was ready. 

"Yay! Let’s eat! It’s going to be so delicious!!!" 

"I’m going to get there first~~!" 

Thudthudthudthudthud!! 

The kids, who had been so excited they forgot their hunger, immediately ran to Marie when she called for lunch. 

"Captain, you come too." 

Eugene, who had been clearing building materials off the ground, slowly walked over. Mina approached him. 

"Yes~ I’ll be right there, Mina!" 

Eugene replied with a bright smile and strode over to her. 

"By the way, Marie said you were secretly preparing something for me, Mina. Can you tell me what it is?" 

"Oh my, did Marie spill the beans already?" 

Walking alongside Mina, Eugene asked about what Marie had mentioned. 

"I was planning to show it to you anyway, Captain Eugene." 

Smile...! 

Though a little flustered by Marie’s spoiler, Mina soon smiled brightly, confident about the present she had prepared for Eugene.