Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 107

‘Is it possible to have fingers that don’t hurt?’

 

As Andrew has come to realize in his life, there can be. Because he had.

 

Liam, the first born, was said to be a difficult child. A rare child, born after the Baron and Baroness searched high and low and ate up everything good.

 

Andrew, the second, was said to be born by chance. They were told that they had a child unexpectedly, but that it would have been better if it was a girl.

 

“Liam is good enough for a son.”

 

They were both half-brothers from the womb of a baroness, but their mother saw the younger one as a thorn in the older one’s side. Unfortunately or blessedly, Andrew was naturally intelligent, and from a very early age he realized that his mother only loved his older brother.

 

“Mother, I passed all my math tests this time!”

 

“Tsk. You’re not going to be a merchant or something, so what’s the big deal about algebra, interrupting your brother’s nap?”

 

The words layered on top of each other in his young mind, but Andrew didn’t mind.

 

He was okay with the fact that his cleverness was always met with cold shoulders. But…

 

“Study hard, and when you become a baron, I’ll be your best ally.”

 

“I’m perfect without the help of the likes of you. Are you trying to sneak up on me and take over?”

 

“Leave as soon as you have your bat mitzvah in the spring. I’ll give you three months’ living expenses.”

 

When he realized that his family wasn’t going to stand by his side in the end, he didn’t feel okay.

 

“Did I do something wrong?”

 

Andrew muttered, uncharacteristically sobbing, but there was nothing he could do about it because it wasn’t his fault. Ever since Andrew had taken over as head of Verotanis where Liam had fallen, the stare had grown harsher.

 

Unable to bear the cold stare, Andrew made a decision. He would find a master in Verotanis and stand by the side of someone who recognized him. He decided to become a man who could be trusted beyond envy and hatred.

 

And though for now he was locked in a room all day and thrown in front of his friends in his brother’s ill-fitting clothes, Andrew knew that one day he would be.

 

“So for now, it’s okay.”

 

Ignoring the pain in his chest that stung like he’d swallowed something hard the wrong way, Andrew smiled deftly.

 

“I heard about your performance! You looked great, Laquerta, don’t you think your muscles have gotten even better?”

 

Laquerta replied, looking a little fat.

 

“My muscles were always nice.”

 

“I know.”

 

There was a moment of silence. Andrew grinned embarrassedly and plopped down in the empty seat.

 

“Well, I’d love to give you a tour of the estate, but I’m afraid I’m not in the mood for a show. I’m sorry.”

 

“Never mind. It’s nice not to be camped out.”

 

Cordelia said, and Eileen nodded vigorously.

 

“I’ve camped out and built a campfire before and thought all the bugs were twisted and crazy.”

 

“Oh, I remember. The day Cordelia got a moth on her head?”

 

Andrew spoke up again, looking at them warmly as they talked, trying to keep their voices up despite their exhaustion after the battle.

 

“You must have had a rough day, but we kept you too long. It’s getting late, so let’s get some sleep tonight and talk again tomorrow!”

 

It was now late at night, the moon waning.

 

 

***

 

 

“Hey.”

 

Liam called out as he waited in the dark for Andrew to return from dropping off his friends at their dorm. Andrew turned to him, scratching the back of his neck, knowing what was coming.

 

“Yes, brother.”

 

“You and the Gaudium wielder seem to be getting along quite well, and you didn’t tell us about it beforehand, which put us in a very funny position. What are you doing trying to set up a relationship with him?”

 

Andrew remained silent in the face of the barrage of words. Liam, his judgment twisted, was speechless, so he might as well have been holding his breath, waiting for the rain to stop.

 

“Andrew, Andrew. What have you got but a bit of brains, and even if the Duke’s hanging out with you now, when he graduates there’s going to be a line of better men lining up to be his henchmen, and you’re not going to stand a chance with a talent like yours.”

 

How long is this going to go on for? Andrew’s boredom was relieved by a slanting glance at the dejected face.

 

“Huh!”

 

Andrew gasped. Hiding in the bushes not far behind Liam were a fierce-looking Laquerta and Eileen, who was barely holding on to him.

 

‘Why are you two in there?!’

 

Eileen, who was trying to stop Laquerta, was distracted by the panicked Andrew.

 

“Hey, hey, hey. Hold on. Suck it up.”

 

Eileen said softly, holding back Laquerta, who was about to growl. It was almost a coincidence that they were both listening to the siblings’ conversation together.

 

 

***

 

 

Unable to sleep, Eileen spent some time staring out the window and spotted Laquerta climbing the wall from the inn across the street.

 

“Laquerta, where are you going at this time of night?”

 

When Eileen panicked and asked where she was going, Laquerta walked away, saying he had something to tell Andrew. As she’s trying to get him to leave by daylight, Liam appears out of nowhere, muttering profanities.

 

“Hide! Hide!”

 

They weren’t really in trouble for not hiding, but they had somehow gotten themselves into a hiding place and couldn’t get up until Liam had passed.

 

“But why aren’t you going?”

 

If there was a bigger problem than him not walking past, it was the fact that Liam went out of his way to reprimand Andrew. It’s no wonder Liam’s rant was so upsetting to Laquerta.

 

“How embarrassing it would be for him if he came forward now!”

 

Eileen’s struggle with not realizing that Andrew had already been found out went on for a while.

 

“It’s so funny.”

 

Andrew, who’d been watching the whole thing, smirked. Liam’s face turned bright red.

 

“Are you laughing at me?!”

 

He raised his hand to slap Andrew.

 

“Stop!!!”

 

With Eileen in tow, Laquerta rushed forward like a thunderbolt and grabbed Liam’s hand. Liam’s feet lifted for a moment, then dropped as the giant grabbed his hand.

 

“What, what!”

 

Eileen, who had been clinging to Laquerta’s right arm like a cicada to an old-growth tree, descended with a sigh.

 

“I’m screwed.”

 

Liam, who had been too panicked to speak, only making breathy noises, saw Laquerta’s gaping eye and let out a yelp.

 

“The eyeball, Suyin! Andrew, you’ve gone too far!”

 

But Laquerta’s voice was much louder than his.

 

“Shut up!!! Andrew is so much more manly, smart, and handsome than a moldy guy like you!”

 

“What?! Mold?!!”

 

“Apologize you fungus!!!”

 

Speechless, Liam grabbed the back of his neck as if to stumble backwards. A crisp laugh filled the night air.

 

“Ahhhhhh.”

 

The three turned around to see Andrew laughing, holding his stomach.

 

“Poof. Moldy, moldy puff.”

 

Laquerta, somehow energized by the sight of him laughing so coolly through his tears, pushed Liam away and clicked her tongue.

 

“I’ll see about that, you two! My mother won’t let this go unnoticed!”

 

Liam stormed off, and Andrew, who had stopped laughing, wiped the tears from his eyes. He had never been so amused by his brother’s barbed remarks.

 

“Thanks, that was fun.”

 

“Hmm!”

 

Eileen stepped forward as Laquerta continued to grunt in frustration.

 

“Well, that… is a relief for now. I was just on my way out when Laquerta said he wanted to talk to you.”

 

Eileen interrupted, glanced at Laquerta, and he crossed his arms smugly.

 

“I was going to pick you up and run.”

 

Eileen raised her left hand and slapped herself on the forehead. It felt like it, and it was. She was laughing hysterically at the sight of him, and then Andrew, who was looking at her with a gentle smile, said,

 

“Thanks. But I’m fine.”

 

“You… don’t have to be in this place.”

 

At that, Andrew slowly shook his head.

 

“I’m not lying, it’s really okay. I’ll decide where I want to be, but until then, this is just a place to stay.”

 

He had no intention of severing his ties to Roswin until his bat mitzvah in the spring, when he would be promised his independence. He still had the benefit of Roswin’s status and funding until he graduated from the Academy. He held a grudge, but he decided to take it out on the family.

 

“I used to suffer, but now I’m okay, and I have friends who tell me I’m so smart and good looking.”

 

He lifted one corner of his mouth playfully, and Laquerta snorted again. There was no lie in Andrew’s words. Now that he had found a place to put his mind, he no longer feared his family’s disapproval.

 

“So it’s okay.”

 

Andrew stared as Laquerta’s eyes returned to his, and he was about to tell him to turn back when Eileen, who was looking at them both fondly, said, “It’s time to go.” 

 

A creepy sensation quickly took over her nerves.

 

“No!”

 

Without warning, a scorpion-like creature sprang up behind Laquerta. It was Andrew who spotted it and pushed him away.

 

“Andrew!!!”

 

Blood spurted from Andrew’s back.