Ghislaine's arrival

"What about you, Rad?"

Paul addressed Radeus, who was silently wolfing down food at the dining table.

"Me? I'll stay home for now and go with Rudeus once he's earned enough for tuition!"

Hearing Paul's question, Radeus stopped eating.

"Not that. I mean, aren't you going to work with Rudeus?"

Paul realized Radeus hadn't understood him.

"Huh? Work? No way. I'm never working a day in my life!"

The mere mention of work had already triggered Radeus. After spending so long as a workhorse in his previous life, did he have to do it again at this tender age?

At least he'd been in his twenties when he started working before. Now he had to start at seven?

Paul, you're violating labor laws, you know?

Rudeus doesn't count as human, so that's whatever, but not me!

I'd sooner jump off here than work.

"Ohhh? That's strange. I remember Miss Roxy..."

Hearing Radeus's words, Rudeus immediately flashed a devious smile.

Radeus instantly clapped a hand over Rudeus's mouth.

"Hm? What about Roxy?" Paul asked in confusion.

"Nothing, nothing! Rudeus just misses Miss Roxy!"

Radeus hurried to answer. If his family found out he'd picked up Roxy's panties, he'd really be too ashamed to keep living.

You animal! Do you even have a human heart? Doesn't your conscience hurt?

You just called me an animal. Where would I get a conscience?

Rudeus was beyond caring about the consequences. Today, he was determined to drag Radeus down with him.

You bastard! You'd even say that just to drag me down? I acknowledge your shamelessness!

But even so, I'm not going! Being a workhorse scares me more than losing face!

"In that case, Rad, you'll stay..."

Before Paul could finish, Rudeus interrupted him.

"Father, my brother's been reading storybooks every day lately, often staying up late. If you keep letting him stay home..."

Rudeus didn't finish, but Paul already understood the rest.

My son will turn into a good-for-nothing!

The thought immediately struck Paul!

Seeing that Paul had realized this, Rudeus put on an innocent smile and twisted the knife further.

"Besides, I want to be with my brother. I've never been away from him in my whole life! You don't want to leave me either, do you, Rad?"

"If my brother isn't there with me at work and my coworkers bully me..."

What storybooks? What nonsense about not having his brother around?

It was all fake. Paul had confiscated the storybooks ages ago, and they still hadn't gotten them back.

These were all lies Rudeus had carefully crafted to drag Radeus down with him.

You little bastard, you set me up!

Radeus looked stunned at first, then furious.

He'd never imagined Rudeus would go this far.

Heave-ho! Now you're in the same boat! Enjoy your life as a workhorse, my dear big brother Rad!

Rudeus's beastly, innocent smile made Radeus want to kill the bastard.

"Rad, reading storybooks all the time isn't good for you. In that case, go with Rudeus!"

It wasn't Paul who said that, but Radeus's beloved mother beside him.

Stop! I don't want to be a workhorse!

With Zenith having spoken, there was no room for discussion.

One Radeus had lost his dream.

"That felt good. So good!"

Rudeus left the table feeling thoroughly refreshed.

Just then, Aisha slowly woke from her sleep, but she didn't cry. Instead, she looked curiously at Radeus, who was standing beside her crib.

Seeing that his little sister had woken up, Radeus complained to Aisha:

"Boo-hoo, your second brother set me up! Make sure you watch out for that animal of a second brother!"

"What kind of nonsense are you teaching Aisha?"

Rudeus quickly sensed the threat and hurried over to the crib.

"Aisha, don't believe your eldest brother. He's a complete pervert, and you can't trust what perverts say."

"You're the pervert!"

"Fine. Looks like one of us has to die today. For our sister!"

Then the two started fighting, heedless of everyone around them.

Aisha: ? What happened?

Watching this, Zenith laughed too.

"Those brothers get along so well!"

Rudeus, Radeus: How is this getting along?

The next day, while Rudeus was practicing swordsmanship with Paul, Radeus noticed a carriage approaching their home.

Is it coming toward our house?

The carriage slowly stopped outside the Greyrat family's home, and a scantily dressed beastwoman with long gray hair and two ears on top of her head stepped out.

Radeus and Rudeus had already been blinded by Ghislaine's enormous assets.

They're huge! This world even has beastgirls?

Hehehe... hehehe...

Rudeus seemed to have said nothing, but in fact, he'd said everything.

"Hey, Ghislaine! Long time no see. How have you been?"

Paul greeted Ghislaine.

"Mm! Not bad!"

Ghislaine's gray tail swayed behind her.

Is that tail real? I really want to pet it!

Radeus could barely keep his hands under control.

"Ghislaine!"

Holding a baby, Zenith also approached Ghislaine with a happy expression.

"It's been so long!"

"Mm!"

Ghislaine smiled at the sight of Zenith, her tail swishing even harder.

It seemed Ghislaine got along better with Zenith than with Paul!

"Is this your child?"

Ghislaine looked at Norn in Zenith's arms.

"Yes, her name is Norn!"

Norn reached out toward Ghislaine, who reached out too and stroked her head.

Norn looked delighted at being petted and babbled away.

"She doesn't look like Paul. Thank goodness."

Ghislaine's remark was heartfelt.

"It looks like Norn welcomes you too, Ghislaine!" Zenith said with a smile.

"Tch. Since you're here, that means that matter's settled."

Paul had already grown immune to Ghislaine's remarks.

"Please take care of Rad and Rudeus!"

Zenith also addressed Ghislaine, though she was still deeply reluctant to part with them.

Holding Aisha, Lilia also looked at Radeus and Rudeus.

"Master Radeus, Master Rudeus, we'll be lonely without you."

"Take care! We'll look forward to your return."

Tears seemed to shimmer in Zenith's eyes.

Then Zenith kissed each of them on the forehead.

Huh? What's going on?

Rudeus asked Radeus.

No idea!

Radeus looked just as puzzled. What was wrong with everyone?

"Wait, what's happening?"

Unable to hold back, Rudeus asked aloud.

"Say, Rudeus, how would you feel if I told you to keep your distance from Sylphie?"

Paul asked Rudeus.

"Obviously, I wouldn't want to!"

Rudeus didn't hesitate in the slightest.

"Is that so? Then I'm relieved."

Paul let out a sigh of relief.

Wait, relieved about what?

Rudeus suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Rad, take care of Rudeus. We'll feel more at ease with you there."

Paul gave Radeus his instructions.

"Sure, leave it to me!"

Although Radeus had no idea what Paul meant, he agreed anyway.

"Now, next..."

Your father Paul has activated the skill **Surprise attack**. Your younger brother Rudeus is temporarily offline.

"Huh?!!!"

Radeus stared in astonishment at Rudeus, whom Paul had knocked unconscious.

Then Ghislaine carried him and Rudeus onto the carriage.

"We'll be off, then. Take care, Zenith!"

Paul, Zenith, and Lilia all waved at the departing carriage.

Even after the carriage had traveled some three miles, Radeus still hadn't processed what had happened.

What the hell is going on?!