The Impact of the Author's Intervention on a Blank Page - Chapter 11
Ja-hyun decided to put the option of ‘returning to the original world’ on hold for now. Though the situation wasn’t good, it was too early to make that decision. He hadn’t even met his brother yet.
‘Hah….’
By the way, where was his brother really?
His brother had said he would also be given a role that suited him. Until yesterday, Ja-hyun had thought he might become an advisor or a wealthy merchant, but seeing his own current state, he couldn’t let his guard down.
This world might have suddenly thrust upon his brother the role of an archmage or even an emperor, claiming it ‘suited’ him. If that were the case, finding his brother would be a problem from the start. This wasn’t their world, so he couldn’t even send system messages.
‘If that’s the case, it would actually be fortunate, but if he’s fallen somewhere strange as a commoner or lower class….’
What if his brother had been given such a role and was suffering hardships he didn’t deserve? The thought of his brother being mistreated, rolling in the dirt, desperately searching for him somewhere unknown – just imagining it made his heart feel like it was being torn apart.
There were experience-based reasons for worrying about his brother this much. His kind and thoughtful brother tended to hide his struggles, burying them inside so as not to worry Ja-hyun. Even if they met after he’d been dropped in some strange place, working himself to death like a slave while waiting, his brother would surely whisper that everything was fine, that he was just glad Ja-hyun was doing well.
Such thoughts made his heart feel like it was being shredded….
He couldn’t tell if the pain in his chest was from physical illness or heartache.
‘With this body, I can barely walk five steps. How am I supposed to go searching?’
Feeling helpless, Ja-hyun rolled his eyes around the large, luxurious room. It was comfortably warm, as if they had burned plenty of firewood for the patient. Still, maybe something could be done with money….
While a servant was changing Ja-hyun’s bloodstained upper garment, there was a sound from outside the door.
“Young master. It seems the master has arrived.”
A servant who looked young and innocent said with a smile.
…Master? Someone important? Who could it be? Was it that Grand Duke he saw earlier in the status window?
How should he act? Should he behave the same way as he did with the butler? Could he get by with that? Still, considering how they had brought him here and were treating him, they might have a friendly relationship.
‘First, I need to figure out why they brought in a seemingly useless, sickly illegitimate child.’
He racked his tired, foggy brain. After all, he had things he needed to do for his brother once he returned home after resolving these matters.
With a clunk, the massive door slowly opened, followed by steady footsteps. He felt an instinctive sense of déjà vu.
“Master, the young master has just awakened.”
The servants bowed respectfully and cleared the way. Only then could Ja-hyun properly see this ‘Grand Duke’ who had approached.
Black hair slicked back to reveal his forehead. The man wearing a classical and luxurious suit with a dark navy scarf tie had a familiar face. While others might find him intimidating, to Ja-hyun, he had the same gentle appearance as always.
“…Brother?”
When Ja-hyun asked dazedly, Grand Duke Izatrix lowered his head toward him and answered briefly.
“…Yes.”
It really was his brother Kyung-woo. Just seeing his brother, whom he’d been wondering about, standing before him made him feel his tightly wound nerves beginning to relax.
He tried to express his surprise but held back since there were still others around. At the same time, Ja-hyun recalled his thoughts from moments ago. The person before him must be this place’s master and Grand Duke, who had brought him in from outside and made him family.
‘…Brother is the Grand Duke?’
Ja-hyun stared at Grand Duke Izatrix with surprised eyes, never having expected this development.
* * *
The majority of Ja-hyun’s reasons for coming here were related to his brother Kyung-woo.
“You said you’d give ‘Modification Points’ if the contract is successfully completed.”
[That’s correct. With ‘Modification Points’ that can alter the world settings, you can do quite a lot.]
“For example?”
[Well, as an example… it only takes 30,000 points to make a tacky red floral parasol into the latest fashion trend used by celebrities worldwide.]
“What use is something like that….”
Ja-hyun frowned irritably as he imagined himself walking down the street with a floral parasol.
[Similarly, it takes about 2 million points to add an ‘inventory’ function that doesn’t exist in this world.]
That was a bit more enticing. Ja-hyun had been secretly disappointed that this world didn’t have an inventory function. It was rather inconvenient….
[However, if you contract with me and help save the incomplete world EN-967221, you’ll get…]
The operator raised their small, cute finger. Resisting the urge to grab that hand, Ja-hyun waited for the rest.
[10 million points!]
“300 million.”
[Pardon?]
“I said give me 300 million.”
