I Became the Younger Brother of the Female Protagonist in the Novel

Midwinter with a bitter cold wind.

As the temperature dropped below freezing, people slowly began to return to their homes.

Meanwhile, Serma was lying on the floor and not moving.

He slowly opened his eyes as someone violently shook his body.

His body did not move properly, as if his body was frozen and frostbitten.

“I, please… … . Only my brother… … .”

A voice that uttered with difficulty.

The blurry existence in front of him stopped for a moment.

“… … Yes, I will help you and your brother. Then what can you do for me?”

it’s a boy’s voice

Is it a little devil from hell?

Serma struggled to open her mouth.

“radish… … uh… … Either… … . Even death… … .”

Serma’s voice was hoarse as if choked by the cold.

At that moment, the existence that was hiding the whole body with a cloak. Kayneth smiled contentedly.

and… … .

“good. Then your life… … I will take it.”

She took out a small glass bottle from her bosom and poured the red liquid into Serma’s mouth.

Episode 13

13. Ardennes (2)

“Okay… … .”

Serma raised her upper body while scratching her messy hair at the warmth she felt after a long time.

“… … .”

He looked around for a moment, then slowly awakened his drowsy mind.

“Ugh… … ?!”

Have I regained my sanity?

Shocked, Serma tried to stand up on the bed, but ended up tumbling to the floor.

Courage!

“Keugh… … !”

He stroked his reddened knee and looked around hurriedly.

“Hey, this is… … .”

Serma slowly rose from her seat.

He found a small note on the table.

-Let’s put an advance on the table. If you want to fulfill your contract with me, come to the building called ‘Arden’, located at number 7 of the 12th district, from January 2nd to 5th at 10:00pm.

“What is this… … .”

After reading the memo, Serma immediately looked at the small leather pouch on the table.

The heavy pocket contained three silver coins.

The voice of the little devil who had been talking to him. He recalled vague memories that were like dreams, and soon opened his eyes wide.

“A dream… … wasn’t it? furthermore… … .”

A body that has become light like a miracle.

The ribs, which were thought to be broken, no longer felt any pain.

He swallowed, checked the clock on the wall, and quickly ran out of the inn.

He thought of his younger siblings who were waiting for him.

But before that… … .

He went to a fruit shop he had never visited before. And I bought seasonal fruits that are sold only in winter and ran home.

Soon, Serma found her younger siblings sleeping in front of the front door.

“Erin, Ethyl!”

Serma called out her two younger siblings by name and ran.

Brothers who are frozen cold.

He was breathing, but his entire body froze and his face flushed red.

Even frostbite on the fingers and toes.

Serma ran out of the house looking restless with her heart pounding.

A pharmacy located near the shopping district.

“Even, the younger siblings caught a cold and frostbite! please take the medicine… … . If it’s money, it’s here!”

“If it’s frostbite and a cold… … . You can use this medicine.”

Serma paid 30 Dong coins and purchased medicine to treat her younger siblings.

Serma pours out tears when she sees her younger siblings in pain.

“because of me… … . i yesterday… … . big… … .”

He held his younger siblings’ hands and cried while muttering that he was sorry over and over again.

Life is hard like hell every day. Wanting to feed at least as much as his younger siblings, he took out a small note from his pocket.

‘If I can protect these kids with my life… … .’

Despite not being connected by blood, the three siblings have a bond stronger than blood.

Serma stayed by his side until the children woke up.

and… … .

“Yes… … .”

“Are you awake?”

Erin, her sister, groaned and lifted her upper body.

Serma then put the washed fruits on an old plate and handed them over.

“This… … .”

“I’ll put the fruit here. And I bought some medicine, so make sure to take it.”

“uh… … ? brother… … . Where?”

“My brother got a job. From now on, both Erin and Ethyl will be able to live happily.”

Erin didn’t believe Serma’s answer easily.

Although she was only 7 years old, she was able to mature considerably mentally, probably because she grew up watching Serma get beaten up by the rice cake party.

Erin couldn’t help but worry about her brother, Serma, who even did dangerous things for them.

“… … don’t go.”

Erin grabbed his sleeve with a teary face.

Seeing her little sister like that, Serma smiled a little and stroked her hair.

“Don’t worry, take your medicine. never go outside got it? And I put the fruits there, so you can eat as much as you want today.”

“Am I really coming back?”

Seeing Serma talking like a condemned prisoner on the brink of death, Erin’s concerns grew even more.

“of course. As early as dawn… … . If it’s late, I’ll be back by tomorrow morning. So, I am taking a good rest today. Did you understand my brother?”

“… … huh.”

Erin nodded.

Serma looked at her little sister and smiled a little.

Serma turned her head away from her sister and left the house… … .

‘… … District 12.’

I was standing in front of a huge building located at number 7 of the 12th district with a note written on it.

The signboard of the five-story building had the name ‘Arden’ written on it.

The building looked old, at least as if it had been built decades ago, but the signboard was as clean as if it had been made yesterday.

smart smart

Serma knocked on the front door of the building.

Then a child covered in a cloak opened the door and greeted him.

“I’ll check the notes first.”

“ah… … .”

Serma was startled by the young boy’s voice and handed over the note she was holding in her right hand.

“Yes, that’s right. Come on in.”

The moment she entered the building, Serma frowned.

‘why… … What are you doing here?’

Like the exterior, the interior also showed a rather dated appearance. Even the inside of the building was clean without any furniture.

but… … .

“Ah, those people… … .”

Serma flinched as she looked at the dozen or so men and women gathered in the central hall on the first floor. Everyone was dressed in shabby, worn-out clothes like the poor, and their skinny bodies looked like skeletons.

Well, in the eyes of others, you will see yourself as well.

“It will be difficult to wait any longer.”

Serma pricked up her ears as the little boy climbed onto the crate.

“nice to see you. My name is Kane and I am currently working as a mercenary. The reason I brought you here is very simple.”

While everyone held their breath.

“It is to create an organization in this large city, Karvan.”

People’s faces contorted at the word ‘organization’.

Because in the slums of Karvan, criminal organizations that extorted money from the poor and did not hesitate to assault and murder were widespread.

“It’s a little different from the ‘organization’ you have in mind. I am giving you a chance to become self-reliant, and also to help those who live in the slums here… … We intend to expand the size of the organization.”

Serma was startled as if she had revealed her thoughts.

And it was the same for everyone else.

“so… … What do you get?”

“This organization will later be reorganized into a merchant association or a mercenary group. Of course, you will be hired to receive your salary while doing various chores in this building, but someday I will help you live on your own, and I plan to receive an amount equivalent to 30% of the profits made by the merchant association and the mercenary corps.”

The poor looked at the boy, frowning suspiciously.

“I will give you six months. I will provide food, clothing, and daily necessities for six months. And in advance, I had a conversation with some of you who say you are in debt. I will repay that debt as well. finally… … All of you must have signed a contract with me.”

The faces of the people in the left hardened.

The boy laughed a little and took out a mana contract that was said to be traded for 10 silver coins at the magic tool shop.

A contract that could absolutely enslave the beings below the 4th Circle.

“Everyone, please choose here. Will you sign this mana-cursed contract, or… … Are you going to return like this?”

“The contract… … .”

“Those who joined this organization cannot leave. You can think of it as some kind of secret organization. Merchants and mercenaries are merely activities to secure external funds.”

“why… … What do you want from us?”

“I don’t want anything too great. And I think you know well about their abilities.”

A contract with life as collateral. But if only the family can live to their fullest from that… … .

The poor, without any hesitation, took the contract and began examining each clause one by one.

but… … .

“Okay… … this… … What word was this?”

Poor people who did not learn to write properly.

They frowned and stared at the contract.

did you see it?

Several people began to recite the contents of the contract one by one.

Apparently they know how to read.

In this way, provisions that seemed to absolutely deny the betrayal of the organization were listed for them.

‘All my life… … That means it has to rot here.’

‘I’d rather starve to death in that shack anyway… … .’

31 men and women who completed the contract like that.

Afterwards, the boy took off his cloak and sat down on the wooden box.

dump.

“ah… … .”

People’s eyes widened.

Yeah, I definitely thought he was young. But he was a boy who seemed to be barely in his early teens?!

People couldn’t help but be greatly surprised by the boy’s appearance.

However, despite such a gaze, the boy, Keynes, looked at people with a calm expression while resting his chin on his face.

“Hey, everyone, please take your seats. From now on, I will explain in detail what activities this organization will do. Oh, first… … .”

Keynes immediately began asking about poor people’s former careers.

And the middle-aged Albert, who was in charge of the accounting of a fallen noble family in the past, was instructed to be in charge of the upper house, and Fade, who was a soldier, was given the position of mercenary leader.

Next, Kaynes explained each of their responsibilities and roles.

“From now on, I will leave the management of Ardennes to Mr. Albert. and… … .”

Keynes handed Albert the heavy coin pouch from his chest.

“I have prepared 10 gold coins and 500 silver coins just in case. Albert, please use this money to pay off the members’ debts and use it for living expenses this week.”

“ah… … .”

Albert, with gray hair, lost his mind for a moment at the heavy money bag.

“And you can bring your family and live in this building. We assign rooms according to the number of people living together. and… … .”

Keynes gave Albert an additional money bag containing 10 gold coins.

“Use this money to remodel the interior of this building. Shouldn’t we also prepare furniture such as a bed and a desk?”

Albert took a look inside the pocket. And after checking the glittering gold coins, I put the pouch on the floor for a while.

“I am… … Don’t you think you’re embezzling this money?”