I Am the Hero's Immature Younger Brother

“Uuugh!”

Ren let out a painful groan as though he were about to vomit up his insides.

Someone patted his back. The hand patting his back was extremely large.

Who is it?

Since he had not eaten anything, naturally nothing came out. Ren vomited up the water he had barely managed to swallow, then finally calmed down enough to lift his head.

Sunlight poured into the cabin, bright enough that there was no problem making things out even without lighting a lamp.

And in that clear view, an unfamiliar face filled his sight.

“.......”

Pitch-black hair. Black eyes tinged with blue.

The eyes of a predator that froze you in place the instant you met them.

But instead of fear, Ren felt a strange familiarity.

“You’re awake.”

The low, cold voice woke the frozen Ren.

And the instant he heard that voice, Ren thought of someone.

Someone completely different from the man before him.

“Old man?”

The words slipped out unfiltered.

Even Ren looked startled by what he had just said.

The man’s expression remained the same as before. Cold and emotionless. A face covered by something like a veil, impossible to read.

Ren swallowed hard.

There was not a single resemblance between them, so why had he thought of the old apothecary?

The old apothecary was elderly. His hair was white, and his face was full of wrinkles. That weathered face and aged voice had absolutely nothing in common with the beautiful man before him, who barely even seemed human.

They were clearly different people.

And yet, Ren had found someone familiar.

I get it.

The instant Ren looked into the man’s eyes again, the instant he saw himself reflected in those transparent eyes, he became certain.

The old apothecary and the man before him were the same person.

There was no way another person with eyes like that existed.

Ren’s heart beat faintly.

He should have been sorting through and examining all the memories he had regained, but the existence before him was simply too overwhelming.

He could not remember when they had parted, but somehow, Ren felt as though the old man had never once left his side.

“Old man. It’s you... right?”

Ren asked cautiously, watching his reaction.

If the man said no, Ren had no intention of pressing further. He was already certain they were the same person, but if the man himself denied it, there was no need to make things troublesome.

It would be a little disappointing, but that would not erase the fact that he had stayed beside Ren all this time.

A sigh escaped the silent man’s lips.

Not understanding the meaning of that sigh, Ren darted his eyes around, only to realize the man’s hand was already resting on top of his head.

A huge hand, large enough to completely cover the crown of his head, holding a faint warmth.

“You aren’t even surprised.”

It was an admission.

“Does this face resemble that old skin?”

He seemed to be asking seriously.

“Your eyes are exactly the same.”

Ren answered without hesitation.

Even on that aged face, his eyes had always shone like a young man’s. Not everyone possessed eyes like that. Of course, the extraordinary aura surrounding him had also felt similar.

The man smiled faintly.

It even seemed as though he muttered quietly to himself.

“I didn’t expect to be recognized this quickly.”

“Actually, old man, I never said anything before.”

Ren lowered his voice as though sharing a secret. Without realizing it, the distance between Ren and the man had narrowed.

“I thought something was strange. You know, the first day you came to the royal capital....”

A thin crease formed on the man’s forehead. He looked vaguely displeased. But Ren was too excited talking to notice.

“When I suddenly saw you again, old man—”

“Wait.”

“Why?”

Ren’s words came out muffled. The man had covered his mouth. Looking at Ren blinking blankly, the man wore an unreadable expression.

“Viburn.”

“?”

Viburn looked at the pale face that clearly did not understand his meaning and spoke again.

“Not old man. Viburn.”

“Viburn?”

Ren blinked a few times, then nodded as though he finally understood.

“Ahhh! Viburn! So that’s why your name was Veron?! I see!”

Viburn let out a faint sigh and removed his hand, and Ren immediately started chattering again.

Truthfully, when they met again at the royal capital, Ren had felt something oddly strange. Because the old apothecary had weak legs and had been completely ancient—Ren looked very cautious when saying this—but the man he met again, aside from the white hair and face, had become extremely sturdy. More than anything, he had a great physique! Ren had to press his whole body against him and stretch both arms out fully just to barely wrap around him.

Listening to Ren’s words, Viburn was slightly surprised. His magic had long surpassed the laws of the world. Even simple perception magic was difficult to see through unless one possessed special abilities. Only someone on the level of the High Priest might notice something. And even then, they would only feel that something was slightly strange for a moment.

Even a “star” carrying dormant Hero authority would be the same.

Ren truly did possess a special ability.

A strange power capable of involving even Viburn, who had transcended the laws of the world.

But he could not simply enjoy listening to Ren chatter endlessly.

Because Ren kept calling him “old man.”

Of course, considering the age difference between Viburn and Ren, “old man” was not even enough—“great-great-grandfather” would still fail to cover the immense span of time between them... but even so, there was nothing he could do about wanting to shut that cute little mouth.

Perhaps it was because he wanted to remain by Ren’s side across that endless stretch of time.

“Viburn. Ren, call me Viburn.”

“Okay—!”

Ren was only good at answering.

After one long struggle over names, Ren occasionally started calling him Viburn.

While talking with him, Ren soon fell asleep again. Viburn looked down at Ren sleeping soundly and brushed his hair back in frustration.

When had he ever been treated like an old grandfather before?

In this appearance, no less.

No matter what his outward appearance was, the Viburn Ren remembered seemed to be nothing more than an old man from a tiny village.

That feeling was strange and pleasant beyond words, yet at the same time, the fact that Ren could look at a body this breathtakingly beautiful and still feel no particular reaction was admittedly a little astonishing, even for him.

Was it because Aras was pure? Sometimes Ren’s eyes seemed more accurate than even his own.

Viburn rose and walked toward the cabin door.

When he opened it, Verdi was standing there. He carried a tray with light food on it. Beyond him came the noisy sounds outside. The voices of sailors busily working and people getting an early breakfast.

Verdi placed the tray on the table and quietly faced Viburn. His eyes moved desperately. It seemed he wanted to see Ren.

But Viburn was not benevolent enough to grant every wish.

Not until Ren understood everything while staying with him.

No one would be allowed to meet Ren freely.

Eyes as cold and sunken as a winter sea stared at Verdi.

The overwhelming difference in power inspired not disgust, but instinctive fear. Verdi thought that merely refraining from begging for his life was enough to preserve the dignity of a Hero of the kingdom.

“When we arrive at Eria, I’ll release you.”

“Eria?” It was a place-name Verdi had never heard before. But Viburn did not seem inclined to explain.

Once those words ended, it seemed that was all he had needed. Verdi’s body moved on its own again.

Just as his hand touched the doorknob, his body stopped once more. Against his will, Verdi’s head turned toward Viburn.

“Tell Temar.”

Some magic dragged you in before you even realized it had been cast.

That seemed to be the case now. Without even knowing what command he had been given, Verdi left the cabin.

***

“Old man! No, um... Viburn.”

Watching Viburn’s reaction, Ren quickly corrected the title. Somehow, despite that expressionless face, Ren had sensed that Viburn disliked being called old man.

The two of them were standing on the deck.

Both wore thin hooded cloaks pulled low to hide their faces. Since it was summer, the material was light, but to others they still looked somewhat strange. Why would anyone wear hoods in weather this hot? What sort of circumstances did they have?

Fortunately, there were no ruffians bold enough to walk up and ask directly or yank their hoods back. And even if there had been, they would never have gotten past Verdi standing beside Ren.

The blazing summer sunlight poured down mercilessly over the ship. People hid beneath parasols while fanning themselves. It was hot enough that sweat dripped even while standing still. Yet the air around Ren remained pleasantly cool.

Ren turned away from the horizon and asked with sparkling eyes.

“That’s magic, right?”

“Yes.”

Viburn nodded. Delight and curiosity filled Ren’s face.

“I remember that magic too. The one before.”

Ren whispered quietly.

He meant the magic that had changed the snow falling from the music box Ragniel gave him into stars pouring across the night sky, to comfort Ren after he had been hurt by it.

The black light that had shattered back then was still shining faintly inside Ren.

Viburn did not answer.

Under the sidelong gaze watching him, Ren grew embarrassed for no reason and turned his head away.

A carefree young lady who had come out to feed the birds laughed brightly as she tossed snacks into the air. Listening to the cries of the birds and the laughter, Ren pressed his lips together. His cheeks were red.

“I’m sorting through the good memories first.”

The moment he said it, Ren became embarrassed.

Even after reclaiming the name he had longed for so desperately, Ren was dragging his feet. As though he was afraid to organize all his memories at once.

It was weak of him, but Ren thought he needed to do it this way. He did not want anyone to see him collapse helplessly again.

“Wise.”

“......?”

But the answer he heard was something Ren had never expected.

When Ren turned his head, he found himself meeting eyes filled with a very warm light.

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