I Accidentally Saved The Male Lead’s Brother Chapter 158

The Marquis Petrian took Lionel to a villa located in the Petrian estate. There, he assigned a man called a “Suitable One” to teach him magic.

From that day forward, his mother no longer drank alcohol or hurled abusive words at Lionel.

Instead, whenever he used magic, she would smile brightly and praise him. His father, the Marquis Petrian, would occasionally visit and compliment Lionel on his progress.

Everything had changed. His mother even mentioned that if he mastered magic properly, he might one day become the heir of the Petrian Marquisate.

To meet those expectations, Lionel worked tirelessly.

One day, however, his father brought home a child.

The child had black hair and purple eyes and looked a little younger than Lionel. The child wore an expression of sheer terror.

The Marquis Petrian grabbed the child’s face roughly and said,
―”Look, Lionel. If you fail to improve, this will be your fate. Worthless, like this Rosito scum.”

The Marquis then kicked the child in the stomach. A gag in his mouth prevented the child from making much noise as he collapsed to the ground, convulsing.

Even amidst the pain, the child’s desperate gaze turned to Lionel, as if begging to be saved.

Lionel coldly avoided that gaze. A random child his age had nothing to do with him.

If he rashly stepped in to help, it would only draw his father’s ire.

The Marquis kicked the child a few more times before finally dragging the limp body away.

Was the child dead?

That thought crossed Lionel’s mind for a brief moment before he shook his head to dismiss it. It wasn’t his concern.

That night, before going to bed, Lionel clung to the window and stared at the distant mansion of the Petrian Marquis. It was a habit he repeated every night.

“If I try a little harder, one day I’ll live there too,” he thought.

It was at that moment that the mansion exploded with a deafening roar and burst into flames.

The mansion of the Petrian Marquis burned a vivid red, lighting up the night sky.

Everything he had ever desired turned to ashes and vanished.

From that day forward, Lionel was consumed by a blind thirst for vengeance.

He swore to destroy the Heinest family, who had taken everything he dreamed of, just as they had destroyed him.

Now, the time had come to end it all. Whistling, Lionel made his way to the Heinest estate.

Wherever he walked, crimson flames erupted.

****

Carcel swung his sword at the legs of the man charging toward him.

The moment he cut into the man’s thigh, the man’s form vanished. All that remained was the clothes he had been wearing, torn and lying on the ground.

Carcel steadied himself, his eyes on the shredded black garments now strewn on the floor.

Soon, the black clothes began to writhe, shooting up into the air and reforming into a human figure.

Cut them, and they disappear. Cut them again, and they reappear. This was the third time already.

Beside him, Sir As adjusted his grip on his sword and clicked his tongue.
“This is maddening.”

Carcel didn’t respond, instead thrusting his sword precisely into the man’s solar plexus.

Once again, the figure dissolved, leaving behind only the black garments, which fell silently to the floor.

Sir As stomped on the clothes in irritation.
“What the hell did that bastard Lionel Wisner do? Are we fighting ghosts? How are we supposed to deal with this?”

Even as he grumbled, the clothes began to swell and reform into a human shape.

Sir As plunged his sword into the figure’s throat. Once more, the man vanished, leaving only the clothes behind.

The same situation played out everywhere. Not only Carcel and Sir As, but the other knights were also struggling to deal with the endlessly regenerating intruders.

Since the intruders couldn’t be killed, the fight seemed like it would never end. If Lionel’s goal was to exhaust their forces, his plan was succeeding.

However, the real problem lay elsewhere. Sir As glanced at the wound on the back of his hand and muttered in disbelief.
“We can’t harm them, but they can harm us. What the hell is this?”

The intruders were immune to attacks, yet their swords inflicted real wounds.

Carcel looked at the injured knights before signaling to Ain and Sir Morris, who had been providing support from the rear.
“Sir Morris, Sir Ain.”
“Yes.”
“Did you call for us?”
“Burn those clothes to ash.”

The two exchanged glances before nodding in understanding.

As Carcel severed the arm of an approaching figure, Ain set the discarded clothes ablaze.

“Kiiiiiiieeeeeeek!”

The burning clothes emitted an eerie shriek as they flailed violently.

Though it was just fabric writhing, it gave the impression of a living, suffering creature.

The acrid stench of burning flesh filled the air, prompting Sir As to cover his nose with his hand.

The clothes were surprisingly resistant to fire. Sweat beaded on Ain’s forehead as he poured more mana into the flames.

Finally, the smoldering garments disintegrated into ash. Sir As stomped on the ash until it was nothing more than dust.

Carcel, still poised with his sword, glanced at the floor under Sir As’s feet. Nothing stirred.

“As soon as they’re cut down, burn them immediately.”
“Understood!”

Soon, the corridor was filled with the chilling cries of burning fabric.

Carcel moved swiftly through the smoke-choked hallway.

Although he had never met Lionel Wisner, years of dealing with various people had given him a good sense of the man’s character.

Lionel wasn’t the type to send his subordinates and hide in the background. He would be here somewhere.

Relying on instinct rather than sight, Carcel descended the stairs. Sensing murderous intent behind him, he twisted his body and swung his sword.

Clang!

Sparks flew as the blade intercepted a magical attack.

Gripping his sword tightly with both hands, Carcel withstood the force.

The wave of magic pushed him back slightly, but he held his ground and deflected the attack.

As sparks erupted again, Ain’s voice rang out from behind him.

“Master!”

But Carcel didn’t look back, keeping his focus on the front.

Through the hazy smoke, a man stepped forward.

Golden hair and piercing blue eyes radiated with malice.

Carcel muttered under his breath as if grinding his teeth.

“Lionel Wisner.”

In response, the golden-haired man, Lionel, smirked and twisted his lips.

“Finally, we meet.”

***

“Sister, where did big brother go? When will he come back?”

Theo trembled as he asked. Charlotte wrapped a blanket snugly around him and hugged him tightly.

“Big brother will be back soon.”

Despite her reassurance, Theo remained anxious, his eyes darting around nervously.

“Teo’s scared. I want big brother.”

“I’m here. You’re not scared.”

“Of course, young master! There’s nothing to fear!”

Emma clenched her fists and shouted, though her trembling betrayed her lack of confidence.

It was obvious that Emma was more terrified than Theo.

Celine placed a blanket over Emma’s pale head and reassured her.

“There’s no need to worry.”

Emma, now wrapped in the blanket, pouted.

“I’m not worried!”
“Sure, I understand.”
“I said I’m not worried!”
“I said okay, didn’t I?”
“Geez.”

Charlotte smiled faintly at Emma’s sulking face but soon stiffened as strange noises echoed from outside.

“Kiiiiiiieeeeeeek!”

The sound was like nails on a chalkboard—a haunting, inhuman shriek.

Charlotte quickly covered Theo’s ears, but it was too late. He shivered, lips trembling, and burrowed under the blanket.
“Sister!”

Even Emma flinched and grabbed Celine’s arm. Celine tightened her grip on her sword hilt, prepared to draw it at a moment’s notice.

“Kiiieeek! Kiiieek!”

The shrieks came from all directions. Charlotte held Theo tightly, her eyes squeezed shut.

Apparently, the room wasn’t soundproof.

‘Of course not.’

The noise had to be audible to monitor the situation outside and escape if necessary.

Charlotte strained to listen to the commotion outside.

She had promised Carcel she wouldn’t run, but she couldn’t ignore the possibility of an emergency.

If the worst happened, she had to ensure Theo’s safety.

Fortunately, the sounds gradually subsided, and silence fell outside.

Peeking from under the blanket, Emma asked cautiously,
“Is it… over?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Charlotte replied, still holding Theo tightly.

The silence was almost more unnerving than the earlier chaos.

“Should I check the situation?”

“No, let’s wait—” Charlotte started to say, but her words were cut off as the mansion began to shake violently.

White dust fell from the ceiling, and small chunks of debris followed.

“Sister!”

Charlotte curled her body protectively around Theo to shield him from harm.

Then came a low, ominous hum as crimson streaks of light snaked up the walls like writhing serpents.