Chapter 54

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Elves seem to be a race that is close to grass, trees, and soil.

When I returned with the primordial flute entrusted by the princess, the elf trio was playing in the garden, giggling and frolicking while my friend Gensan and I, along with Regulus, were tending to the vegetable garden.

While I and Regulus were visiting the princess, the elf trio had nothing to do.

Lara and Viktor were taking a walk in the garden with nothing to do, and they happened to run into Gensan, who brought them to the vegetable garden where beautiful cabbages were growing.

When the two of them said they wanted to harvest, Mr. Romanov, who happened to pass by, said it was impossible without my permission, and when they said they wanted to help with something else, Gensan, who was at a loss, decided to have the elf trio help with making compost.

"Even though you are our guests..."

"Ah... No, it's fine if they look like they're having fun."

Lara and Viktor were cheering, "There's a big earthworm!" and "The soil is fluffy!" and Mr. Romanov, who was collecting fallen leaves, was smiling.

It's rare to see the elves playing around, so if they're happy, it's probably fine.

As I was watching the three of them absentmindedly, I heard the sound of crunching leaves behind me.

Since I, Gensan, and Regulus were there, and the elf trio was there, the person making the sound must be Mr. Rottenmayer or Mr. Utsunomiya. When I turned around, there was a boy I didn't know.

He had thick eyebrows that suggested a strong will, slightly messy black hair, and almond-shaped black eyes. He was about as tall as me.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

"That's Kousuke!"

As I was taken aback by the boy's irritated face, Gensan raised his voice in a hurry.

Kousuke, who was called by that name, shrugged at the loud voice.

"My grandson did something..."

"Oh, I see. You're Gensan's grandson, then."

"What!?! Grandpa... No!?"

Gensan ran over to Kousuke with a thud and forced him to bow his head.

When I waved my hands and said, "It's fine," he loosened his grip, but Gensan's face was a bit scary.

Kousuke, rubbing his head, had slightly teary eyes, and Regulus, who was shy, stuck to my waist.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kousuke, the eldest son of Kikunoi. This is my younger brother, Regulus."

The moment he introduced himself, the blood drained from Kousuke's face.

It seems that the status in the adult world has also permeated the children's world.

"I, I'm Kousuke. I, I'm sorry!"

"Hmm? Why are you sorry?"

"Because I called you 'you'..."

"Oh! No, I don't mind. It's fine, you're older. Oh, do you think it's presumptuous to call an older child 'you'?"

"N, no, it's fine! Don't worry about it!"

"Then that's good."

When I laughed, Kousuke awkwardly laughed too.

I remember Gensan mentioning that he had a grandson who was one year older than me and another who was one year younger than Regulus.

So, Kousuke must be the one who is one year older.

"Did you come to help in the vegetable garden?"

"Um, well, it's a bit embarrassing..."

Kousuke, scratching his bald head, said he was currently running away from home.

However, he wouldn't tell us the reason for his running away.

I had heard the general story from his parents, but he didn't want to go back.

His parents, being stubborn, said it was fine if he didn't come back since they knew he was with Gensan, and they were even taking a hard stance.

"Then, it's fine if you don't go back, right?"

"Well, but... the longer it takes, the harder it will be to go back..."

"If you go back now and Kousuke's issues aren't resolved, it will just repeat. Why not let him stay until he's ready? Is there an economic issue?"

"No, no, I have more than enough to live alone. I can take care of one grandson."

Then, it's fine.

Thinking that, I started doing some warm-up exercises with Regulus.

As I was doing some half-remembered radio exercises, Kousuke, who was looking puzzled, joined in and started exercising next to me.

"What is this...?"

"Just talk normally."

"I'll get scolded by grandpa."

"Is that so? Then, do your best. I'm fine with normal, but it can be a problem."

"A problem?"

"Yes. I don't mind, but other nobles might. They might say it's rude. It's good to practice for the future."

Kousuke, who seemed to be somewhat convinced, continued the warm-up exercises.

Regulus, who was getting used to it, gradually closed the distance.

Then, Kousuke suddenly said,

"Little brothers are annoying, right?"

"Yeah... Kousuke is annoyed."

"U, um, because... no matter what he does, I'm always the one who gets blamed."

A slightly resentful look was directed at Regulus, and the perceptive chick hid behind my back.

It seems Gensan hadn't told Kousuke about our family situation.

I pulled Regulus, who was trying to hide, to face Kousuke.

"Listen, Regulus and I are brothers, but it's a bit different from your situation. We only started living together recently."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because we have different mothers. Regulus lost his mother and came here. I was living alone here, so it's been fun since Regulus came."

"Living alone... Where are your parents?"

"I'm hated by both my father and mother."

He looked shocked, but it's the truth, and I don't particularly feel anything about it.

But, I love my little brother.

When I said that, Kousuke had a very serious look on his face.

"What about you?"

"M, me...? I..."

As Kousuke hesitated and looked down, Gensan and the elf trio, who had been giggling, looked over at us.

The elf trio was just curious, but Gensan had a rather serious look of expectation.

He probably wanted me to find out where Kousuke's stubbornness was coming from.

But I don't know.

If he wants to talk, he will, and if he doesn't, he won't, even as a child.

After finishing the warm-up exercises, I went to get the baskets for harvesting.

Kousuke, on the opposite side from Regulus, followed me.

He seemed to be coming with me.

"Because he... broke the wooden dog I cherished."

"Uh-huh."

"But my parents said, 'It's your fault for leaving it out,' and only scolded me!"

"Ah..."

"That dog was made for me by grandpa!"

Summarizing Kousuke's words, the wooden dog toy made by Gensan was broken by his younger brother. However, he was blamed for not putting it away, and his parents only scolded him.

He didn't realize it, but his voice was quite loud, so Gensan and the elf trio could hear everything.

"Well, if you leave it out, it will get broken..."

"But why do I have to be the only one scolded!"

Gensan, who sighed, was met with Kousuke's cry, his face on the verge of tears.

I nodded solemnly.

"Kousuke, I don't think you're at fault."

"Right!? It's Tsumugu's fault!"

Tsumugu must be the name of his younger brother.

However, I shook my head.

"In this case, the ones most at fault are your parents."

Kousuke, who was almost crying, and Gensan, who looked tired, and the elf trio, all had their eyes wide open.

"Because both should be scolded, but only one was scolded, which is not fair."

"Both... scolded?"

"Yes. Both should be properly scolded. I think your parents should scold Tsumugu after scolding you. I would do the same."

Because Kousuke not putting away his toy and Tsumugu breaking it are two separate issues.

Kousuke was told to put away his things as part of his upbringing, and it's understandable that he was scolded for not doing so.

However, "don't break other people's important things" is one of the greater truths, and breaking it should be scolded.

By bringing up the cause and effect of "leaving it out," Kousuke was only scolded.

"Well, if it wasn't left out, it might not have been broken, but that's just a hypothetical. Since it was actually broken, it needs to be scolded. Otherwise, it would teach that breaking things is okay if you can find a way to avoid being scolded."

"Huh!?"

"Because, right? This way, Tsumugu would have the experience that 'it's okay to break things that the older brother didn't put away.' A bit cunning child might use 'because it wasn't put away' as an excuse, don't you think?"

"No, no, Tsumugu is only two years old. He doesn't have that much wisdom. Besides, his parents don't scold him because he's two and doesn't understand."

"Doesn't understand, so anything is okay? Let's say your parents had a field, and it was ravaged by wild animals. I would give condolences to other families in the same situation, but not to your parents. Because you can't reason with animals, you should just give up. That's what it means in extreme terms."

Because they don't understand, they don't scold, and because they understand, they push all the responsibility and scold. Is such injustice acceptable?

My words must have been quite shocking, as Gensan gulped.

The wind rustled the trees.

I must have had a terrible look on my face. Proof of this was Regulus, who tugged on the hem of my blouse with a worried look.

In Kousuke's eyes, I must have looked gloomy.

My chest burned.

Adults are unfair. Yet, when we are treated unfairly, we blame others.

But I am just as unfair.

"...I'm sorry, Gensan. I can't do anything about it."

"What will you do, young master?"

"Kousuke's parents are not my parents. But I can't accept this unfairness. ...I seem to hate parents more than I thought."

But this is just taking out my frustration on others.

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