ATHO Chapter 37

Chapter 37 – Pledging Loyalty

Chapter 4: Liberation from the Past, Part 6

Novel Title: 嫌われ者の俺はやり直しの世界で義弟達にごまをする (As the Hated One, I Flatter My Stepbrothers in a World Where I Get a Second Chance)

Author：赤牙 (Akakiba)

Art：古澤エノ (Furusawa Eno)

Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)

Protagonists: シャルル (Charles -MC), リエン (Lien -ML1) & ジェイド (Jade -ML2)

*Please read at novels.space, the original site of translation. TQ*

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Then Lien spoke up.  

“Charles Nii-sama.”  

I lifted my head to see Lien approach me. He knelt down and kissed the top of my foot.  

“W-what are you doing, Lien?”  

“What? I’m pledging my loyalty to you, Nii-sama. I’ll swear it as many times as I need to for your sake. So please… Don’t leave me…”  

Lien looked up at me with his face contorted in anguish. His amethyst-colored eyes were filled with sorrow and fear.  

I couldn’t just stand by and watch him look like that. I reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace.  

“Charles Nii-sama…”  

His voice trembled as he wrapped his arms around me in return.  

“Charles Nii-san… I was such a fool in my first life. I had no idea how much pain and anguish you were going through… And it seems I’m still a fool now, unable to recognize your suffering. Truly, I’m pathetic…”  

Jade, his expression clouded, stepped closer and embraced me firmly as well.  

―――I’ve made them both this sad. This is no different from the first life…  

“No. You two aren’t to blame. It’s all my fault.”  

“That’s not true. We failed to see your pain and pushed you to this point… If I could, I’d go back and punch my past self.”  

“Me too… Just how twisted was I in my first life, making you kiss my shoes? Oh, but just to be clear, I didn’t do it reluctantly this time! I’ll pledge my loyalty to you as much as you want, Nii-sama. Right, Jade Nii-sama?”  

“Exactly. Charles Nii-san, may I swear my loyalty to you as well?”  

The two of them stared at me seriously, making such strange declarations. Unsure how to respond, I hesitated. Jade then gently wiped my tear-streaked cheeks.  

“Charles Nii-san. We can’t live without you. So please… Forgive us. And stay by our side.”  

Jade pleaded with a pained expression I had never seen before.  

―――What am I making my brothers say…?  

My muddled thoughts finally cleared, and I realized that my confession had ended up hurting them instead.  

“I’m the one who needs forgiveness. Not only in my first life but even now, I’ve made you two look like this… I’m a failure as a brother.”  

“We’re fine as long as you’re with us, Nii-san. That’s all we need.”  

“That’s right. Stay with us… forever.”  

Their kind words made my chest ache as though it might burst.  

My vision blurred again as fresh tears welled up.  

“Why… Why are you two so kind to me?”  

As I sobbed and asked, they exchanged glances and wiped my tears away, smiling.  

“Because I love you, Nii-san.”  

“Yeah, I love you too, Charles Nii-sama.”  

Their voices, as sweet as lovers whispering their affection, caught me off guard. My tears dried up in shock, and I felt my cheeks grow warm.  

“L-love? You mean… as family, right?”  

“No. When I say I love you, I mean I want to be with you as someone special.”  

“Me too! I want to love you lots, Nii-sama!”  

―――L-love… as someone special?!  

The amethyst glimmer in their eyes, which had been sorrowful moments ago, now held an ecstatic glow as they gazed at me. When their fingers lightly brushed my cheek and neck, I couldn’t ignore the warmth their touch left behind.  

Looking back and forth between them with my mouth agape, they both chuckled softly.  

“You really didn’t notice how we felt, did you? That’s a little disappointing, but it’s also one of your endearing traits, Nii-san.”  

“Exactly! You know, Charles-Niisana, I think you’ve misunderstood something. No matter how close siblings are, they don’t kiss that much. Especially not with tongues.”  

“…Wait, what?”  

“Lien… Did you use your tongue?”  

“Jade Nii-sama, why are you mad? I know you kissed Charles Nii-sama with tongues while drinking together.”  

“W-wha…?! W-when did I—?!”  

I blinked at their conversation, bewildered.  

Siblings kissing… isn’t that normal?  

Then… what about all those kisses we shared?  

As I recalled them, my face flushed even hotter.  

Jade and Lien smiled warmly at me as though watching something precious.  

“Back to the point, Charles Nii-san. Both Lien and I love you—not just as siblings or family. So please… don’t say you’ll leave us again.”  

“But… What if I make everyone unhappy again, like in the first life…?”  

“Look around you. No one is unhappy. If anything, we’re all happy because we’re with you, Charles Nii-sama!”  

“That’s right. Father and Mother are alive. The territory has overcome poor harvests and has become so prosperous. And we’ve always stayed by your side, haven’t we? Just being near you makes us truly happy. Isn’t it the same for you, Charles Nii-san?”

Hearing them say such things made me so happy that tears welled up again.

“Is it really okay? Is it okay for me to stay by everyone’s… by your side?”

“Of course, Nii-san.”

“Yes, always together, Charles Nii-sama.”

Their words tightened my chest, and I couldn’t help but hug them tightly. As I buried my face in Jade and Lien’s chests, I felt my heart overflow with happiness.

“I love you… Charles Nii-sama.”

“Charles Nii-san, I love you so much.”

Lien gently kissed my right cheek, and Jade placed a soft kiss on my forehead. 

It tickled, and my chest tightened with warmth.

“I love you too, Jade, Lien.”

And so, the three of us set off toward the estate.

As always, I sat between them, chatting and enjoying the scenery. The only difference was that this time, I held their hands the whole way. Feeling their warmth and seeing their smiles brought my own smile back, even after all the tears I had shed.

That night was the first evening of our journey as a trio.

When we arrived at an inn, we were told there was only one room available. In the small village with no other inns nearby, we considered our options. The innkeeper suggested we all share that one room. 

But the room only had one bed. I offered to sleep on the floor, but Jade and Lien opposed the idea and, instead, suggested something outrageous.

“You’re seriously suggesting… that all three of us sleep in the bed…?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what we mean.”

When I looked at Jade, he had a slightly intimidating smile. For now, I sat on the edge of the bed and decided to hear them out.

“We’ve been apart from you for so long, Nii-sama. That’s why we need to stay close, even at night, to make up for all that time.”

When Lien pouted and leaned against me with puppy-dog eyes, I couldn’t help but hold him close. Then Jade hugged me tightly from behind.

“I’ve been so anxious the whole time you weren’t with us. So please, let us stay with you tonight. If you’re troubled or sad, we want to be able to comfort you immediately.”

“I see… Thank you, both of you.”

I smiled as I said that, but they still looked worried.

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*Translator’s Note: Sleep together in one bed first to get used to it. Hehe. -K

*GLOSSARY: 

• Nii-san/Nii-sama/Onii-san = (Big/Elder) Brother

☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation. Jade would call Charles ‘Nii-san’ while Lien would call him ‘Nii-sama’.

Next update: 2025.09.30

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