OBWESB 02

Chapter 02

So, what did I do after that…?

I put in an insane amount of “effort.”

I don’t know why, but it was practically a given that I would receive the “No Trait” appraisal.

If you’re wondering how a mere mob character could be so certain about something like that, well…

It’s precisely because I’m suspected of being a child of infidelity who lacks a Trait that my younger brother ends up inheriting the title of Duke. And then, my younger brother—the capture target who looks down on his older brother—turns into an arrogant, narcissistic lord, while my younger sister, the villainess, becomes a spoiled, selfish princess. That’s how it goes.

To be perfectly honest, I have zero interest in the ducal title.

I mean, sure, before I got my memories back, I naturally assumed it was something I would inherit in the future. But now that I’ve remembered my past life? A peerage? What’s that? Is it edible? That’s basically my stance now. If anything, it just sounds like a huge pain in the ass.

My yet-unseen little brother, feel free to inherit the ducal house and do a splendid job of it!

I have no interest in the title… but that doesn’t mean I intend to spend my life wallowing in self-pity over not having a Trait.

Since I’m in a fantasy world, I can’t say I didn’t want to try using some kind of special magic, but I was originally a human living in a world where supernatural powers didn’t even exist.

Even if I am “Powerless,” Kaiser’s base stats aren’t bad at all. In fact, they’re excellent. There’s no point in crying over what I don’t have; I might as well maximize the incredible stats I do have!

…By the way, the name Kaiser is a little embarrassing. Sure, it sounds cool, but it literally means “Emperor”… Right now, everyone praises it as a fitting name, but back when I was an innocent kid, I used to get super depressed thinking about how they’d completely flip the script and mock me the moment I was branded as Powerless.

At any rate, I resolved not to lament my lack of a Trait and threw myself entirely into working hard.

“Teacher, please bestow all manner of knowledge upon me.”

Clutching several heavy books to my chest, I begged my tutor for lessons.

“Master, please teach me swordsmanship and martial arts that can be utilized in actual combat.”

No matter how many times I was bitten by the dirt, I spent my days standing back up to face a massive, heavily trained warrior.

If I didn’t possess any special talent, my only option was to work harder than anyone else.

Besides, I had something to look forward to. While I had plenty of thoughts regarding my own role and this otome game world as a whole, that was a separate matter. Ever since my past life, I had always, always wanted a younger brother or sister!

It’s not that I had any complaints about my older siblings from my previous life. Even though there was a slightly insurmountable power dynamic, I didn’t hate my sisters. My brother, who was my only fellow guy, was always nice to me and gave me allowance money. At the end of the day, both my brother and sisters spoiled and protected me since I was the youngest by a wide margin.

But that was exactly why.

I had always yearned for it. A younger brother or sister whom I could spoil and protect…!

Furthermore, the little brother and sister who appear in this otome game possess top-tier visuals. In the game, because of their older brother’s worthlessness, my yet-unseen siblings turned into an arrogant prince-type and a villainous, spoiled princess.

But if it’s now, I can make it in time! Even without a Trait, I will become a splendid older brother and raise the siblings who will eventually be born to be proper, upstanding people!!!

Especially my little sister. Even if my brother turns into an arrogant narcissist, a future where he can find happiness still awaits him. But the same can’t be said for my sister, the villainess. Granted, because the game was for all ages, there were no death endings, but I still have absolutely no intention of standing by and letting her become miserable.

With that hidden resolve in my heart, I completely monopolized the title of child prodigy.

And then__________ the fateful day arrived.

The verdict of “No Trait” delivered at the temple. While everyone else on the spot turned pale and fell into an uproar, I alone maintained a quiet, serene smile.

And just like in the game’s story, the appraisal result—which was supposed to be kept strictly confidential between the individual and their accompanying family—spread to the public. However, the “Kaiser” of this reality did not become bitter and turn into a dropout like the story dictated.

Though, there was just one thing. I think it might have been for the best that Mother wasn’t present at the venue when the verdict was handed down. Mother, the Duchess, passed away last year. She and Father were incredibly close, so if rumors of me being a child of infidelity had broken out while she was alive, she would have been deeply saddened.

Well… actually, contrary to her fragile appearance, she was a rather boisterous person, so she might have just flown into a raging fury instead…

To be honest, even now, I don’t believe for a second that I might not be their child. That’s how deeply the two of them loved each other.

In fact, Father is absolutely furious about the rumors regarding a child of infidelity. Thanks to that, the rumors have died down a bit. As expected, very few people are willing to pick a fight with a Duke to his face… though I doubt the rumors will ever completely vanish beneath the surface.

For the record, my facial features strongly resemble Father’s. Our eye color is different, but our facial structure—especially the shape of our eyes and mouth—is a dead ringer.

For my power-hungry relatives, it would probably be ideal if I were a child born between Mother and some other man, meaning I didn’t inherit the Duke’s bloodline. But because I look so much like him, they can’t outright deny my connection to the ducal blood. Too bad for them!

Thus, without losing heart over the dramatic about-face of the people around me, I continued my efforts.

And then, I finally experienced a fateful encounter.

When I was 9 years old.

My younger brother was born.

Who the hell called him an arrogant, narcissistic capture target? He was a literal angel.

My stepmother, who married into the ducal house as a second wife, despised me terribly, but I couldn’t care less about that. It’s only natural to love the child you gave birth to more, and I completely understand her desire to make her own child the heir over someone else’s.

It would be one thing if she subjected me to cruel harassment, but as a highborn lady through and through, the most she ever did was throw sarcastic remarks my way.

Don’t underestimate the potential of someone raised in a female-dominated household. I can effortlessly dodge petty sarcasms like that with a smooth smile.

If anything, as far as I’m concerned, my stepmother is a holy mother who delivered an angel to me. Is there a problem?

He possessed beautiful blonde hair matching my stepmother’s and burning red eyes.

His name was Garnest. His Trait was “Fire.”

Deeply moved by this fateful encounter with an angel, I almost blurted out, “Garnest!” right then and there.

Dangerous, dangerous. I wasn’t supposed to have heard the angel’s name yet. The charm of an angel is truly terrifying!!

And then, another fateful encounter.

When I was 10 years old.

My younger sister was born.

Who the hell called her a villainess and a spoiled princess? She was a literal angel.

Yes, she’s absolutely adorable! Placing her next to Garnest doubles the cuteness.

Sure enough, she had beautiful blonde hair and round, innocent eyes like transparent citrine.

Her name was Beatrix. His Trait was “Charm.”

Once again, upon meeting this angel, I nearly blurted out, “Beatrix!”

That was a close one. I was supposed to have kept the lesson from last time firmly in my heart, and yet she brought my walls down so easily… Impressive…

Wait, what?! Could it be that she has already mastered her Trait? I might already be under her spell! Angels are truly terrifying!!

Thus, I successfully pulled off a magnificent job change: from a “Powerless” and invisible mob character…

To a “Powerless” mob character with a massive brother and sister complex.v