ATHO Chapter 39

Chapter 39 – Lyle: Miscalculation

Lyle: Miscalculation, Part 1

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*

֍֍֍

Rewinding to a few weeks earlier…

Learning about Charles’s planned inspection, I decided to head to town and lie in wait for him. While I had acquaintances in the town, they all averted their eyes and pretended not to know me when they saw my ragged appearance.

“Damn it, why does this have to happen to me…? It’s all because of those two devils. That so-called money-making scheme only left me with more debt!”

Muttering curses under my breath, I waited for Charles.

My once-promising life had come to an end, thanks to the two devils—Jade and Lien, the stepchildren of Cain. They had drawn me into an investment scheme that ruined me.

Now, I was burdened with debt so massive that I couldn’t repay it in a lifetime. Cain had stopped lending me money, and I had no other way to borrow. But I still had Charles.

Charles, my only blood relative.

I had always doted on my nephew, who bore a striking resemblance to my sister. Little Charles had grown into such an admirable young man. Surely, if he learned of my suffering, he would lend me a hand.

While I waited, the Wahlman family’s carriage arrived. But the ones who stepped out were those two devils. When I tried talking to them, all I got were irresponsible replies. Then, someone appeared from behind them.

It was Charles—the one I’d been waiting for.

But my voice didn’t reach him.

Threatened with slavery, I narrowly escaped when the debt collectors tried to catch me.

What I needed was money. I desperately needed money. Otherwise, I’d truly end up as a slave.

Charles was my only hope. If I could get him on my side, I’d be free.

With that in mind, I headed for Einther, the eastern village Charles frequently inspected. Blending in with the villagers, I planned to wait for Charles and plead for his help.

Upon arriving at the village, I wandered around, looking for someone good-natured who might help me.

I soon spotted a young man with a sunburned, sturdy build, working hard at farming. Nearby, a man who seemed to be his father was watching.

―――People like this tend to be compassionate and can’t ignore someone in trouble.

Sensing an opportunity, I staggered toward the young man and collapsed dramatically. The young man noticed the sound and rushed over to me.

“Are you okay?! Dad! Someone collapsed!”

The young man helped me up and called out to his father nearby.

“What’s going on, Matt?”

“This man just collapsed suddenly.”

“Let’s get him to the house for now. Hurry.”

As the young man carried me, I smirked internally, confident these two were my ticket.

At their home, they took care of me. I spun a tale of fabricated misfortune, and the young man and his father looked at me with pity.

“I’m so sorry. Just for a little while, please let me stay here. Please, I’m begging you…”

One last push… I didn’t care about the humiliation. I pressed my forehead to the floor in desperation. If groveling would secure their help, I’d do it as much as needed.

“Mr. Lyle, please lift your head. We can’t do much, but we can take care of you for a while. There’s a guesthouse next door you can use.”

“Oh… thank you! Thank you so much!”

I bowed repeatedly, relieved to have secured a place to stay.

For now, I was safe.

All I needed was to catch Charles during one of his visits. Once I did, my life would be free again.

A chance soon presented itself. When Charles was alone, I cornered him in a deserted alley. I told him about my plight and asked him to co-sign for my debts. He took the document but, for some reason, suddenly said, “Uncle Lyle… you are not my family,” and refused.

Enraged, I lashed out at Charles, vowing he wouldn’t escape. But he fled.

“Damn it… That traitor. Why won’t he listen to me? I should’ve forced him to sign. Well, next time I’ll punch him first, and he’ll do as I say. Ugh, I have to keep living in this miserable village until then…”

Grumbling, I turned to head back to the guesthouse, but someone blocked my path.

I looked up to see Matt staring down at me.

“Mr. Lyle…”

“Hm? Oh, Matt. Do you need something?”

When I asked, Matt glared at me and suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Matt? What are you doing? Let go of me!”

Instead of letting go, Matt tightened his grip and began dragging me along.

“Let go… Hey… HEY! I said let go!”

I struggled to break free, but Matt’s strength didn’t waver.

“Mr. Lyle, you have a visitor. They’re looking for you and asking you to repay your debt. We shouldn’t keep them waiting, so let’s head back to my house.”

A visitor…?

Repay my debt…? No way!

Matt gave me a chilling smile as he dragged me along. Realizing who might be waiting, I broke into a cold sweat.

“Please! Don’t take me to them! I just managed to escape! I’m begging you! Please!”

I pleaded desperately, but Matt’s grip and pace remained firm. As we approached his house, I remembered the faces of the debt collectors and shivered.

“Please, Matt. If they catch me, they’ll enslave me. I have a way to get the money!”

“You mustn’t be selfish, Mr. Lyle. Your guests are waiting.”

“Damn it! My debts are none of your business! You’re not a debt collector—why are you doing this?! Just let me go!”

I shouted and resisted, but Matt only stopped and looked down at me with cold eyes.

“I cannot let someone who poses a threat to Sir Charles roam free.”  

“W-what!?”  

With those words, Matt began walking again. No matter what I said, Matt ignored me and eventually threw me in front of the debt collectors.  

The slender debt collector, who wore a sinister smile, took one look at me and ordered his rough-looking subordinates to tie me up.  

“Apologies, Chief. It seems our slave has been causing trouble.”  

As the debt collector spoke, Matt and the village chief nodded in acknowledgment.  

“No! No, no, no! I don’t want to become a slave!”  

“Ah… still clinging on to hope, as always. It seems you’ll need a proper punishment when we get back.”  

The debt collector laughed gleefully and gave the order to take me away.  

“No! Let me go! Damn you all… I’ll curse every last one of you!”  

I hurled curses at the village chief and Matt, but they paid me no mind. I was dragged away and thrown into a wagon. Even as I struggled with my hands and feet bound, the debt collector returned.  

“All this thrashing is just a waste of energy.”  

“Shut up! All I need is money, right?! My nephew is a lord—he’s rich! If I ask him, he’ll…”  

“Oh, we can’t accept money from him. That’s part of the agreement. If we take his money, we’d be breaking our contract. Unfortunately, your fate won’t change.”  

The debt collector smiled at me as I turned pale with despair. Without hesitation, he gagged me.  

Unable to move or speak, all I could do was tremble in fear of the misfortune that awaited me…

֍֍֍

*Translator’s Note: Now he will face the fate he deserved. -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: 2025.10.02

֍֍֍