Chapter 14
―― What kind of person is Sakri to me? ――
Munar would occasionally think about it. Even so, the answer was always the same.
Someone Nero had ordered Munar to monitor. Nothing more, nothing less.
Help Sakri if that is in line with Nero's wishes. Report regularly. I only need to faithfully follow Nero's orders.
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Munar's memories of his early childhood were vague.
His first clear memory was of endlessly scavenging for leftovers in the filthy alleys of Blossom, the Holy Capital.
Even covered in grime, Munar's red hair stood out.
When the people of the Holy Capital saw Munar, they either frowned in annoyance or turned their faces away so as not to get involved. Some even threw stones at him.
That was why Munar slept in dark, damp places during the day, then rummaged through garbage bins in the back alleys at night, searching for leftovers. Every day was the same.
A major turning point for Munar came when Pope Linderante inspected the city.
Because of the cold rain that had fallen the previous day, Munar had fallen ill. He lacked the strength to return to his usual sleeping place, so he curled up and trembled beside a garbage bin in a back alley.
The pope had apparently been walking around that day to help the city's homeless. He therefore made a point of looking into back alleys and handing food to anyone without a home. Munar happened to be found among them and was taken in at the pope's request.
Normally, Munar should have been driven out of the Church's headquarters as soon as he recovered.
In this closed-off country, red-haired people were shunned. That tendency had become especially pronounced recently. As a result, there were even people who threw stones at Munar.
If Munar had been a little older, he might have had the option of leaving the city and heading for another country. But he lacked both the knowledge and the age to make such a choice.
But once Munar had recovered, for some reason he was summoned by Nero, one of the central figures of the True Guidance Church. At the time, he did not even know that the man he met was named Nero.
Munar's first impression of Nero was that he was frightening. His emotionless expression was frightening enough, but above all, his eyes were terrifying. There was a deep, deep darkness in them.
Nero seemed to be looking at Munar, yet Munar felt as though Nero was not looking at him at all.
...Your name?
............
If you do not answer, I will abandon you here. I will ask one more time. What is your name?
Munar.
Then do you want food? A place to sleep?
...I... do.
Then obey my orders. As long as you are absolutely obedient to me, I will provide you with food and a place to sleep.
What do I have to do?
For now, watch a man with the same hair and eye color as you. Then report to me regularly. I will send a messenger to collect your reports. Give them to that person. If I have anything else for you, I will summon you. Any questions?
...None.
Then leave. Obey whoever is waiting outside, and go to your surveillance target.
With that, Nero lowered his eyes to the documents and never looked toward Munar again.
Munar reluctantly gave a small bow and left the room. Come to think of it, Nero had asked his name but had never once called him by it.
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When Sakri first saw Munar, he looked slightly surprised by Munar's hair and eye color. But that lasted only an instant. Sakri looked at Munar with an emotionless expression much like that of the man from earlier.
The priest who had brought Munar explained Munar's role to Sakri in a condescending tone, droning on and on about how Munar would be Sakri's watcher from then on and how Sakri was not to cause trouble.
Without listening much at all to Sakri's reply, the priest left, leaving Munar behind. No one explained anything to Munar; he was simply left alone in the room.
...
......
A brief silence followed. Sakri was the one to break it.
Your parents?
I don't have any. I've always been alone.
At Munar's answer, Sakri's expression softened ever so slightly.
I see... I am Sakri—Sakri Bradia. And you?
Munar.
Munar, is it? If my elder brother has taken you on, be sure to obey his orders. If you do, you will not go hungry.
That man from before... he's your... your brother?
Yes. My elder brother is Nero Bradia.
......I see.
Even Munar could easily tell that Sakri, whose eyes were the same color as his, and Nero, whose eyes were dark as night, were brothers with some sort of complicated history.
So what am I supposed to do?
......Nothing for now.
Nothing?
We are currently in the midst of making various preparations. It will take several more years. So... for the time being, you may serve as my errand boy.
Thus began Munar's long, long relationship with Sakri.