Chapter 37 – Suzuha-Kun’s Position Would Only Be Reduced to Half Instead of One Third—One and a Half Times Higher Than Suzuha-Kun Would Have (Yuzuriha’s POV)
The night after Suzuha and her brother’s date.
Suzuha visited Yuzuriha’s room without her brother’s knowledge and expressed her gratitude by bending at right angles at the entrance.
“Yuzuriha-san! Thank you so, so much for this time!”
“Just get in the room. If the Amazons find you, we’ll be in trouble.”
“Yes, excuse me.”
Inviting Suzuha into the room, Yuzuriha couldn’t help but be surprised in her heart.
After all, she hadn’t revealed the truth to Suzuha yet.
After closing the door and reconfirming that there were no Amazons or other spies present, Yuzuriha opened her mouth.
“Well, what did you thank me for? …I don’t know what you’re playing at, but it’s not going to work.”
“Of course. My date with Nii-san yesterday was arranged by Yuzuriha-san, wasn’t it?”
“I told Suzuha-kun’s older brother not to mention my name and to act as if he had thought of it himself… Did he reveal it himself?”
“No, but there is no way Nii-san could have come up with it on his own, and then there is only one answer.”
“Then let me ask you this. What would be my advantage in letting Suzuha-kun and Suzuha-kun’s older brother go out on a date?”
“Would it be…to gain my favor and increase the number of cards you can use to gamble with the Amazons?”
Yuzuriha was astonished.
If Suzuha could see that far, there would be no need to continue with the act.
“Well, that’s right—After all, the Amazons are all over Suzuha-kun’s older brother.”
“Yes. What on earth do they think they’re doing, calling Nii-san Taren-Nii-sama in such a friendly way? Only I, Nii-san’s sister, am allowed to call him Nii-san!”
“To be honest, I also didn’t expect that, or rather, I’m puzzled… Putting aside the Amazons’ acceptance of Suzuha-kun’s older brother, it’s too unexpected for them to be so friendly with him.”
Yuzuriha’s knowledge of the Amazons is not much different from that of the average senior aristocrat.
In other words, Yuzuriha does not know why the Amazons call Suzuha’s older brother Taren-Nii-sama.
She can only speculate whether it is a respectful name for defeating the general commander of the Amazons.
Yuzuriha cannot imagine that it is a title given to a man who can make all members of the Amazons submit absolutely. It’s beyond her imagination.
“…Do the Amazons want to take in Nii-san?”
“I can’t say for sure. But looking at their attitude, it’s normal to think so. And the more they find out about Suzuha-kun’s older brother, the more I’m sure they’ll want to get their hands on him.”
“Nii-san seems to think he is just a commoner, though.”
“Suzuha’s older brother is smart, but when it comes to that one thing, he’s a completely hopeless idiot… It’s too much trouble to make him aware of it, so I just let it be.”
“Yes. I totally agree.”
“Hmm? Suzuha-kun, don’t you mind if your brother realizes his ability?”
“Not really. I don’t want to be told that Nii-san’s going to marry some princess.”
“I see. That’s very true.”
Yuzuriha and Suzuha smiled wryly at each other.
It was confirmed that their interests were aligned in that they wanted to maintain a gradual status quo.
“Then I have a proposal for you, Suzuha-kun.”
“I’m sorry, but I have to decline.”
“…But I haven’t said anything yet?”
“You don’t have to ask. You want me to be on your side, don’t you, Yuzuriha-san?”
“Well, you’re right.”
“However, now that the Amazons are more favorable to Nii-san than expected, there is no need to be decisive on Yuzuriha-san’s side.”
“……”
“We are commoners, and there is a good possibility that we may choose to live in another country in the future. While I have a favorable opinion of Yuzuriha-san, I believe that for my brother’s best future, we need to weigh the Amazons and Yuzuriha-san on the scales.”
“Goodness gracious. You’re such a devoted little sister.”
“Nii-san’s my only Nii-san, I have no choice but to be firm.”
Yuzuriha is not offended by Suzuha’s crisp rejection.
Rather, Yuzuriha felt Suzuha’s resolute honesty in properly declining.
The aristocrats in their own country would be sycophantic on the surface, but behind the scenes they would make contact with the Amazons in order to make a deal with them. And in the future, they will cut off the inferior party and renege on their promises as if they had never been made in the first place.
In the first place, Yuzuriha did not expect Suzuha to simply accept her proposal, given that Suzuha possesses a strategic mind capable of taking a bird’s-eye view of the situation.
But Yuzuriha had one trick up her sleeve…
“I understand what you mean, Suzuha-kun. But I think you’re forgetting one thing.”
“…What is that?”
“That the general commanders of the Amazons are twins.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you understand yet? …I’m talking about what would happen if Suzuha-kun’s older brother were to marry those twins in the future, or if they were to become his lovers, even if it doesn’t go that far.”
“B-But even if that were to happen, I am Nii-san’s only sister, so my position is guaranteed—”
“Your voice is trembling, you know? Well, even if that were the case, I don’t think Suzuha-kun’s older brother would put his sister before his wife and girlfriend. Even if we assume they’re equal, Suzuha-kun’s position in her brother’s life would be reduced to about one third of what it is now.”
“Gah!”
Suzuha stood still looking shocked.
Yuzuriha managed to swallow her retort of “Haven’t you ever thought of that before?”
“But if it were me, Suzuha-kun’s position would only be reduced to half instead of one third—One and a half times higher than Suzuha-kun would have.”
“H-H-H-How’s that possible!?”
“It’s simple, I’m only one person, but the general commanders of the Amazons are twins. In other words, if Suzuha-kun follows me, Suzuha-kun’s position will be half—”
“I’ll be on Yuzuriha-san’s side.”
Suzuha said it once and for all.
She said it with a terribly clear-eyed look, with no thought of betrayal.
“I-Is that so… Then from now on, please take care of me.”
“Yes, Yuzuriha-san. From now on we are comrades.”
As they shook hands firmly, Yuzuriha couldn’t help but think that Suzuha seemed to be reliable in some ways but also a bit naive, which might be inherited from her older brother.
