4 The difference between a protagonist and his brother is his overpowering skill, in which I don’t have one.

I was taken hostage.

Luckily, this world doesn't have any technology or camera. Otherwise, I might be surrounded by camera noises and flashes. But no matter what era you are in, whenever something happens, there will always be nosy people…I mean, people who care about others' affairs…in every place.

At this moment, a crowd has formed around me who is taken hostage.

Hey! Don’t gather around just for the sake of curiosity. It put pressure on the thief. Do you know how dangerous it is for a hostage like me!

I feel like the person who is lifting me is shaking…I think it is because of my weight and maybe he is also feeling nervous. Honestly, he shouldn’t have chosen a child like me to be his hostage. Instead, he should have chosen an infant…oh no, that is too wicked. Better think of something else.

“Stop!! Don’t come close!! Go away! All of you, get lost!!” The criminal yells before he aimlessly brandishes his knife. I think he is getting agitated, which is understandable when there are this many people. “If you don’t…this kid…this kid will die!!”

The knife is being pressed closer to my neck, where I can feel the blade. This is very horrible, but I think Hareve’s rainbow eyes, which are wide open, are much scarier. It’s as if his gaze is saying, 'Why didn’t you run?'

…Ah…

Cannot use magic, is uninterested in martial arts, and doesn’t often read books.

Although Gilbert is one of the dating options for Cass Bedivere, but…sorry that he is me right now. Gilbert, who doesn't normally shine that much, has become even duller. As a result, there is no ability that a half-deuteragonist is supposed to have at all…

I promise to study harder after this incident…if I survive.

Those beautiful eyes have become fiercer. As if he knows I won’t be able to save myself, a 'tsk' sound escapes his lips before he takes a step forward. The commoners already glance at him when he was standing at the back of his followers, but when he stands in front of them like this, people can’t take their eyes off him…as expected of the guy with the highest sales!!

What a shame…I also want to know the sales of Gilbert Bedivere…especially when having Nigel Gawain as a friend, he could be doing pretty well. No…maybe his sales drop dramatically due to being outshined by his friend.

While I am mumbling to myself, people around me start to make some noise as if they were awestruck when Hareve…oh god! What are these flashy effects! The luminous light wrapped around Hareve’s body combined with his beautiful appearance made others breathless. This is like a warning sign that something extremely powerful is about to appear!

If I were the thief, I would have run away while this powerful stuff was about to make an appearance since it takes some time and will allow me to escape. Meanwhile, he could also bring the hostage along with him…no, no. I should really stop thinking like a villain; otherwise, Gilbert—the owner of the immoral love route—might become the villain and eventually die at the end of the story.

I shake my head and continue to look at the scene in front of me. The light is gradually formed into a golden sword that shines beautifully. Amidst the amazement, Hareve charges towards me before raising his sword…hey! Wait a minute!

I’m still a hostage, Hareve!!

It seems like my panic doesn’t quite reach him. Hareve swings his sword so swiftly that I can see light streaks from the movement of the sword—just like in the anime. After that, the sword of light disappears, on the count of three seconds and…

Thud!

The thief falls down…easily.

Is this what we call a protagonist skill? Didn’t it end too soon?!

Is this the status difference between the most popular guy and Gilbert, whose popularity is not really high?

I blink in shock before looking at the thief, then at Hareve, who’s saying 'tsk'… With the appearance of a six-year-old, what just happened was so over the top that it’s unreasonable…

If I practice my magic and swordsmanship, will I be as good as Hareve?

I feel like…I want to start working harder now!

----------------

“Among the ducal families, the strongest one is Lancelot.”

Reality is cruel.

I smile weakly at Nigel, who smiles softly before pouring me a cup of tea. I just began to practice my magic and swordsmanship, and also read some books. My father was super happy that he shed tears. But no matter how much I practice, I still feel like I…have a very slow development. Although I start out slow, how old is Hareve even? Six years old. This could mean that he just started training not too long ago.

Thus, I came to visit Nigel and just received a cruel answer.

A person who was born to become a protagonist will always be the protagonist, no matter what.

I let out a sigh. We cannot choose how we will be born, and sometimes we also cannot choose what we will become afterwards too. However, I am not a person who stresses life. Just let the powerful people be while I return to my slow living path.

“By the way, have you come up with a name for your younger brother yet?” Nigel asks before setting down the teacup. “Only about two months left.”

“My father and mother might name him Cass.” I smile. My younger brother is going to be born soon. I glance at Nigel…one of Cass Bedivere’s routes. “Nigel…”

“Yes?” Nigel, at the age of seven, looks up at me. I feel like sighing every time I see this face…It is insanely adorable. But once he grows up, he will become a vital enemy to humanity (male).

“Have you ever thought about what your duchess would be like?”

The person who was being asked flinches a bit, then his body freezes. What I remember from the anime is that Nigel is still unable to recover from his fear of women, even when he turns twenty-two, which is his final year in the magical school. Perhaps that is the reason why he opens up to men.

“…For example…your ideal type of woman?”

Nigel looks uneasy. I know this question is too difficult for him. “Right now, I’m still young...so I don’t think I have one.”

“What about the appearance?”

“I…” Nigel looks hopeless. “…How should I say this…if I continue to be with Hareve all the time like this, I don’t even know if I will be able to see women as attractive…”

I nod in agreement. Hareve is very stunning with his long white hair and rainbow eyes. As the age of six makes it difficult to identify his sexuality, someone who doesn’t know him may mistake him for a little princess. Maybe Hareve is part of the reason why my Nigel is not attracted to women!

Or should I support Nigel to be with Hareve? Get rid of the 3P route! Get rid of the good-looking guys! Make them fall for each other!

“Also…” Nigel’s voice makes me turn to him. My eyes meet his silver ones. “When Hareve stands beside Gil…I think my standard for women would be even more difficult to meet.”

The little boy sighs heavily.

“But I’m not as attractive as Hareve.” I raise my eyebrow. If I was to compare my appearance with Hareve’s angelic beauty, I would definitely lose… This comparison really hurts me!!

“Well…it’s true.”

Hey! Bro, don’t easily accept it like that! It caused me a great deal of emotional damage!

“How should I say?” Nigel looks thoughtful. He looks at me and rolls his eyes upward. “Gil looks…soft?”

I think you mean weak.

“You always smile and have an approachable air around you?”

Innocuous, harmless, and gullible…anyway, I accept that. It’s not like I want to be strong and go around using force like Hareve.

By the way, my fujoshi sister in my past life also used to tell me that I was weak and very easily persuaded. I’m like an old tree that is being blown by the wind, and it seems like I still remain that way in my current life.

Do I ever want to change it? Not really. I have no trouble with my laid-back attitude. Besides, there are already active people around me, such as Nigel and Hareve…I don’t think I should be active at all.

“Sounds like…” I smile a bit at Nigel. “I am more suitable to be a girl?”

A laid-back and weak girl, but that comes with a duty of the males to protect her. Harmless and looking dumb…this kind of thing sounds like a typical female protagonist. I chuckle, but strangely, Nigel doesn’t laugh a bit.

“What’s wrong, Nigel?”

“Right…” Nigel, who grows quiet for a moment, looks up at me. There are some kinds of sparkles in those silver eyes which make something within me scream out loud…

“If you happen to be a girl…I would surely propose to you.”

A signal of the 3P route is blaring…dear God, I don’t want this!