Chapter 13 - Drake Crimsonheart
-
(8:00AM)
"Master, it's time."
I was woken-up by constantly tapping of Luna who was firmly done with her preparation.
I would normally act like a stubborn kid and persistently get back to sleeping but this time is different. I can't be too lax for this is my Big Brother's visit. I immediately rose out of bed and starts to fix myself before I head down to meet with the others.
While I'm fixing myself—buttoning my long sleeve, I shot a look at Luna and noticed her paled looking expression and is in the state of overthinking something.
"What's wrong, Luna?" I asked.
"Eh? N-nothing...! Don't worry about it, Master."
Luna stammered in anxious as she respond. She might try to lie to me, but her expression didn't convince—trying to force as smile.
It was obvious that Drake and Luna had something in their past that made her react like that. It was very concerning but I'll hope to see it until the end.
* * *
Everyone including my Family and the Maids are patiently waiting at the entrance gate of the Mansion. As for me, I'm located at the edge of the group—beside me is Luna who was still looking awfully pale and restless.
Quite the extravagant welcome for a Family member... Well, I heard my brother has quite a reputation in our family, so I guess they considered him special, I guess.
Based on what I heard, it looks like my brother is the reason the Crimsonheart Family started to prosper more and became more known at the Capital during his debut.
He probably is carrying quite a strong weapon and equipment. What about his stats? Was it higher? How should I fight him if ever? Such thoughts eerily came to mind.
While I ponder, a horse-drawn vehicle starts to appear on our vision approaching us at quite the hasty speed.
"My son is here everyone, treat him with your best hospitality." My Father declared.
After a moment, the carriage stops its tracks near the entrance. Then, a red-haired guy wearing a light green military attire went down the carriage with an eerie smile that emanates something.
What stood in more attention beside his stud appearance is his sword that's visibly on her waist. A familiar sword for me, I see that's...
A broad sword that looks like it was made from a bunch of grasses turned into a blade. It was called a "Grass-cutting sword" due to its appearance and the materials need to create it—the (Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi) or in short, the 『Kusanagi』.
It is one of the 4 necessary swords in the game if you were playing as a Melee Loadout—as it is one of the key ingredients needed to Craft a certain strong sword that would be needed until endgame.
As for the weapon, it certainly can dish out a high early game damage which can also inflict poison to the enemy if hit.
"He's strong..." I mused, as I coldly stared at him—eyes narrowed. "And what about his stats?"
I look at him directly and concentrated my mana into my eyes. After a moment, the ⟨⟨Appraisal⟩⟩ skill then activated.
『Drake Crimsonheart』
『HP: 300』
『MP: 20』
『DEF: 20』
『AGI: 150-300』
『DEX: 26』
『ENDURANCE: 35』
His stats were pretty normal except for his agility. It's my first time seeing the agility status, but I can guess that he is wearing a "Mobility type accessory" in him. As for his armor... It has 20 DEF which I can only think he is wearing the 『Platinum Armor』.
His stats were so-so, but his items were worrying. I can't fight him head on sadly, neither is Luna especially when she's not herself right now. I'll need to think of countermeasure, I guess.
"I'm back everyone." Drake waved his hand to us—smiling.
After giving his greeting, Drake starts to approach towards me—No, at Luna. Drake crouch for a bit—placing his palms on his knees and brought his face close to Luna.
"I'm back, Luna." Drake showed a creepy smile on his face. "You've become beautiful, haven't you?"
"Eek...!" Luna shrieked in fear in response to Drake and made her tear-up a bit.
Of course, I'll never let something continue so I put my hands at the center of those two to cut-in which the two shifted their attention to me.
"Welcome back, Big Brother Drake." I told with a smile coupled with a cold stare.
"Well, well, if it isn't my brother Sai." Drake wears a sarcastic smile. Though, visibly irritated. "You looked so uninteresting that I didn't notice you."
"Big words," I spoke as I look down on him. "You look smaller than the last time I saw you."
I'm actually a bit taller than him. Maybe its thanks to the 『Mana Essence』 that I grew a few inches and bulked up a bit trying to adjust to my strength—such as every Man's dream.
"Heh?" Veins started to pop-up to Drake's forehead. "You sure can talk back now, eh?"
His surprise was clearly visible even with his pissed-off look. The same statement can be said to my Family and the Maids who was stunned and dumbfounded to the situation—especially Andrew who was gritting his teeth in extreme anger. There is also an exception, which is Luna who was inside of her own nightmare.
Sadly, they probably think of me as being ahead of myself for starting a fight with my brother. I'm the failure of this family after all. Sigh, just what did the past me did that made my reputation stoop so low...
After some intimidating silence, Drake slowly rose from her feet and quietly walks towards the Mansion, the Maids who finally regained their composure hurriedly escorted him inside. The rest of the Family came along behind him—with the exception of me and Luna who is in a state of terror.
"Luna, come here." I grab and pull Luna into her arms and sneaked at the back of the Mansion and went into my room.
Good thing everyone is in the living room that we managed to sneak upstairs successfully. I locked the door of my room and placed Luna in the bed and sat beside her.
"Well then Luna, I supposed this would be the best time you tell me what happened between you and Drake?" I remarked.
Luna remained awfully silent. When I shot a look into her, her eyes were of a dead fish, dejectedly looking down—and is playing with her hands.
Sigh, this won't work huh... Then.
I pushed Luna on the bed then grabbed both of her hands and lay on top of her. Luna who is not herself finally looks at me. Her face was awfully messy and is trying to force herself out—but conceded after a brief moment.
She turned her head sideways—about to cry and started to open her mouth.
"He..." Luna murmured.
"He?" I raised my eyebrow in bewilderment.
She paused for a moment—and after a while, made her resolve and started to speak once again.
"He... Master Drake... Killed my mother..."
My eyes widened in surprise to her answer. I expect it was something between them, but I didn't think it would be about her mother.
Luna continued her story... To be honest, it was a very depressing topic. Apparently, it all started when they start to work in the Crimsonheart residence.
Her mother and Luna started to apply here supposedly because of their huge debt and was forced to work here if they can't pay off their debt. At the start of her mother's work here, it seems like Drake took a liking to her mother.
Since then, the family's eldest started to sexually assault her everyday. It all continued until Drake can't take his lust anymore and started to r*ape Luna's mother. Apparently, it was his last day before starting his day at the Capital. Luna who was 14yo at that time was crying at her mother who was being r*ped in front of her.
My eyebrows wrinkled, gritting my teeth in extreme anger while I keenly listen to her story.
Luna continued her story without pausing.
By the end of it, her mother tried to fight back and pushed Drake away. Drake who got pushed away was greatly angered and killed her mother in front of Luna. This what made Luna's trauma worsen. And to add more fuel into the fire—
"Master Drake whispered in my ear after he killed my mother... And that is..."
Luna stops herself from talking, cannot take it anymore. She gritted her teeth as tears started to flow out of her dead eyes—shaking and sobbing uncontrollably. But she firmly restrained herself and continued the last part of the story.
"Master said that after she come back again, I will be the next person that he'll break." Luna who can't take it anymore started to weep.
I grit my teeth in anger but was surprised when suddenly, Luna whose trying her best to suppress her emotions couldn't handle it anymore and starts to breakdown.
"UWAHHH NOOOOO!! I don't want to! I'm scared!!"
Seeing the depressing sight of Luna crying in front of me, I immediately grab the crying Luna in both of my hands and put her face on my chest—embracing her tightly. The vibration from her sobbing makes me realized how frail she currently was.
"It's okay Luna, let it all out, I'll be here for you so just cry it out until you're satisfied." I mumbled to her ears in a volume she can hear and understand.
After hearing my words, the volume of her weeps became stronger. Albeit covered in my chest, it can be heard clearly that even I was getting some chain reaction. Thus, making me feel depressed also.
I also finally realized that made the edge of my eyes felt hot—is the fact that Luna don't have anyone she can share her pain with—keeping it through herself for a long time.
"Luna, from now on, when you have problems, you can talk it all into me." I put my other hand into her head and start to caress it. "I will accept your pain with me. You're not alone anymore."
She probably didn't hear it but it's okay. I will promise to myself that I'll protect this girl at all costs.
* * *
Luna is currently laying down in bed using my lap as a pillow—looking awfully tired and exhausted from all those crying. She needed to rest so I'm caressing her head for her to fall asleep. Though, Luna kept being stubborn and raised her body to stand-up.
I was telling her not to get up as she needed a proper rest, but she still insists to get up, saying that "Her duty is not over yet".
"Yes, I get it. But you're staying here, okay? You're still tired and something bad might happen if Drake or the others ever saw you with your eyes like that." I stated.
"Yes," Luna paused wrinkling her lips, trying to tell something. "Thank you Master for earlier. I—"
"I know, don't worry about it." I rose up into the bed. "Anyways, I'm coming down for them. It might get suspicious if I stay longer here."
I was about to reach the doorknob, but I stopped on my tracks and turned my face to Luna.
"Luna, no matter what decisions you make, I will be there for you. So, if you think it really needs to be done, then do it. I'll even help you with it."
Luna looks at me in a state of bewilderment. Though after a while, Luna finally gets what I'm saying and started to make a decision based on her expression.
"Yes, I understand, Master." Luna firmly nodded.
"Good. Now I'll be right back." I said and left the room.
I went downstairs and head to the living room where the rest of the members were currently at.
"Oya? If it isn't my brother Sai." Drake repeatedly tapped the side of the sofa he's sitting at. "How about you take a sit?"
This guy really likes to underestimate me. I ignored Drake and sat on the sofa opposite of him. I crossed my leg above the other and rest my arms at the sofa's armrest. My infuriating attitude made everyone silent.
"Did I interrupt something? If so, please don't mind me and continue." I casually remarked.
"You—!!"
"No," Drake immediately cuts Andrew whose eyebrow wrinkled in anger. "Of course not."
I like their dumbfounded reaction. Go on, this is also an opportunity for me to gather some information from Drake's mouth.
In any case, my father and mother who were on the other side of the sofa were wearing a perplexed expression—wondering if something is happening. Surprisingly, they didn't know anything...
The conversation then started to continue for an hour with Drake telling all of his story in his time in the Capital. Father, Mother, and Andrew were listening to him in an attentive and cheerful manner. Often giving him some compliment like he was some sort of an idol. Of course, I'm one of the people who was also attentively listening but for other reasons.
Thanks to Drake's story, I managed to get some information regarding the situation in the Capital. And with the conversation had finally end, everyone went their way on their own.
————————————————————————————————————————————
(At the back of the yard)
"I'm telling you; he really felt like a different person."
The two of the brothers were conversing at the back of the yard secretly. Andrew told Drake all the story that he accumulated regarding their little brother who was acting very differently.
"Continue." Drake ordered while he humps someone. A tiny cry can be heard coming from the Maid Drake is humping against.
"Yeah, I don't know when it started but the first time I noticed it is when Sai is resting under the tree with Luna."
"He's with Luna?" Drake asked.
"Huh? Y-yes, I don't know what happened between them, but it seems like they're always together." Andrew ponders. "They also seemed pretty close for some reason..."
"I see..."
"Yeah! That's why I have a favor to ask of you Brother Drake." Andrew said, clenching his fist—smiling. "I'm really pissed-off at Sai right now, and I want to do something about that smile of his. That's why, I want you to help me put that annoying bastard into his place."
"Hoh? Looks like our plan will coincide then?" Drake started to grin.
"I like that face that you're making but what do you mean by that?"
"You said they're always together, right? and pretty close too according to your story." Drake shifted his gaze into Andrew. "The thing is, I gave Luna a promise after I come back, you see?
Andrew immediately understood what his brother is saying. Knowing his older brother, there is only one thing Andrew could think of.
"I see, I guess you already have your plan huh. Hm... How do I make Sai suffer with my hands then?" Andrew raised his head—crossing his arms.
Suddenly, Drake threw something to Andrew which he catches at the last second.
"...This is?" Andrew asked.
"A 『Poisoned Knife』, it had the same component of my sword."
"Y-you're kidding right?"
"What? Don't tell me you're scared?" Drake said in a pressuring tone.
"O-of course not! Anyways, thank you for this. I'll pay you something for this later." Andrew shouted and hastily left.
"Haha..." Drake let out a laugh, reminiscing the time of what he did with Luna's mother before.
(It was very surprising, but Luna became a total beauty just like her mother... Hah~ I wonder what face she'll make when I break her.)
Drake as he ponders—let out his desires inside the weeping Maid who he's humping against.
"Luna, you better entertain me fully." Drake mused, creepily licking his mouth.