"Vil, I'm sorry. I want to break off our engagement."

In the living room of the new workshop and the couple's future home, I, Vil Craft, was told by the woman who was supposed to be my future partner, Silica Hassan, that she wanted to break off our engagement.

"What? Break off the engagement? W-why?"

I thought Silica was a very serious person. I never expected her to say something like that.

"Because I found true love."

"Huh? True love?"

Let's sum up the situation. I run a blacksmith's shop. My father, a craftsman, and Silica's father, a merchant, were friends. They decided to have their son and daughter engaged at a relatively early stage. My father passed away five years ago, and I took over the shop and the "side job." After that, Silica's father also passed away, and two years later, our marriage talks finally began to progress. We built a new shop and a new house, and just when I thought we were about to start the marriage process...

I was told by Silica to break off our engagement.

"What do you mean by true love, Silica?"

"I'm sorry, Vil. I fell in love with someone else."

As she said this, Silica looked behind her. The living room door opened, and a familiar face appeared.

"Hey, big bro Vil."

"Wha... Sechin!"

Sechin Craft, my younger brother by two years. Unlike me, he's slim and has a handsome face. On the other hand, I have messy hair, rough hands, and an average face.

"So, the person Silica fell in love with is...?"

"It's me, big bro Vil."

"Seriously..."

Wait, what? This is happening too fast; I can't keep up.

"When did you two...?"

"It's been since Silica's father passed away."

Sechin wrapped his arm around Silica's shoulder. She blushed slightly. Silica is a relatively cool woman. She didn't cry in public when her father died. And now she's blushing like a girl in love!

"When my father died, and I was lonely, Sechin comforted and supported me... unlike you, Vil."

"No, but you were the one who said it. 'I can't be crying forever. I'm fine now.' And besides..."

It's not like I didn't do anything. When Silica's father, the president of Hassan Trading Company, passed away, she took over the company.

But Silica was still inexperienced. The business was on the verge of collapse. That's when I worked hard to revive Hassan Trading Company.

Fortunately, I had many acquaintances among royalty and nobility who were willing to help, and when I asked them to buy weapons from Hassan, they readily agreed.

As a result, the Hassan Trading Company, which had been on the verge of bankruptcy, was successfully saved... however.

"Big bro Vil, Silica is a girl, right? When her father died and she was grieving in her heart... What were you doing? You prioritized your work and didn't comfort her, did you?"

"Well, I... I couldn't help it. I had more work, and there was the side job too..."

In addition to my blacksmith work, I had a few special projects going on.

They were important jobs too, so I couldn't neglect them.

As a result, the time I spent with Silica gradually decreased...

"You were so focused on work that you didn't prioritize the time with the important person in your life, and above all, you didn't put her first. It's only natural that it's come to this, big bro Vil."

...Well, Sechin does have a point.

But still…

"So, it wouldn't have mattered what happened to the trading company? If I hadn't worked hard, Hassan Trading Company would be bankrupt by now, right?"

At that, both Sechin and Silica looked puzzled.

Huh, what's with those faces?

"What are you talking about, big bro Vil? The business improved because a lot of major jobs happened to come in right around that time, didn't they?"

"W-wait, what!? It was just a coincidence!?"

Sure, major jobs came in. But that was because I had asked the nobles to buy weapons from us!

And this guy... he thought it was just a coincidence!?

"Silica... do you think so too? That it was just a coincidence?"

"No, it's not like that."

Ah, thank goodness. Silica understood... it wasn't just a coincidence.

"I lost my father, but I didn't give up. I worked hard, and that attitude was appreciated, and that's why the jobs came."

...You too? You didn't understand either...?

I mean, it's normally impossible, right?

For a major job that we've never had before to just "happen" to come along.

There wasn't even any connection, so how would they know she was working hard!?

...So, is that it?

All my efforts for her didn't get through to my fiancée?

Could it be that she thought of me as a lousy guy who neglected his fiancée for work?

That's why... Silica chose my brother over me...?

"That's too cruel... why now, of all times? The new store and the new house are already built... right?"

All that was left was to submit the marriage registration. Why now, of all times...?

"Sorry, big bro Vil, but could you leave this house?"

"What...? Hey, Sechin, what are you talking about...? Why do I have to leave the house?"

"It's obvious. This is my house with her. You can't live with your ex, right?"

Well, sure, living with an ex would be awkward, but...

Wait, why am I the one who has to leave?

"Why don't you guys find another place to live?"

"We can't do that."

"Why not!"

"I don't have any money."

...What? No money?

"The cost of living in the royal capital is high. Building a new home or even renting one would cost a lot. I don't have the money to provide a place to live."

"? ? ? ? So, you're saying you should live here, and I should leave?"

Isn't that too unreasonable...?

"If you don't have money, you could live at Silica's house. The Hassan Trading Company building is her property, after all."

"I'm going to be the breadwinner of the family, you know? I can't just freeload at my wife's house with nothing to offer; my pride wouldn't allow it."

"Huh...? Breadwinner, you say...?"

I had a terrible feeling about this.

My brother approached Silica and placed his hand on her stomach.

"Our child is inside her."

"Wh-whaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?"

You've got to be kidding me!?

Not only were they having an affair, but they even had a child together!?

What a pair they are.

While I was working my hardest, not only did they not appreciate my efforts, but they were secretly together and even had a child!

"Since we're having a child, at least give us the house as a gift, big bro Vil."

"............"

I couldn't say anything, dumbfounded.

He's way too selfish...

And so is Silica.

If her love for me had cooled, why didn't she say she wanted to break up?

Is it because I still had some value to her?

Did she want me to build the house for free?

Now that the house is built, am I just useless to her?

"...You've got to be kidding. This is a joke!"

Before I knew it, I was unleashing my anger.

Of course I would.

I had worked so hard for her, only to be betrayed!

"Don't shout, big bro Vil. You're scaring Silica."

"Shut up! Damn it! Fine, I get it. I'll leave! I'll leave, that's what you want, right?! I don't want to see your faces anymore! Do whatever you want with the house and the store!"

I didn't want to be here any longer. I tried to leave.

"Wait, Vil."

Silica called out to me.

"Don't bother trying to stop me, Silica. I won't forgive you two. I have no intention of getting back together."

"That's not it. You can leave if you want, but please don't quit the store."

"...................What?"

What did this woman just say?

"We need you to supply weapons to the Hassan Trading Company from this store."

"............"

My anger was making my head feel like it was about to explode.

Not only did this woman cheat on me and have a child, but she also drove me out of the house and...

Now she's telling me to keep working at the store.

...I completely lost it.

"Forget it! I'm leaving! I quit the job too!"

"What?! Vil, what are you saying, that's so irresponsible!"

"Shut up! I don't want to see your faces anymore!"

I opened the living room door and stormed out.

"Wait, Vil! Let's talk about this!"

"It's fine, Silica. Let's just leave big bro Vil alone. Don't worry, I'll handle the blacksmithing work myself."

My brother was saying something stupid.

There's no way he could do it.

He always skipped his blacksmithing training and never helped out around the house.

Without me, this blacksmith shop would be finished, and the reputation of the Hassan Trading Company, which supplied weapons, would plummet.

On top of that, the contracts with the major clients were made possible because of me.

Once they find out I was kicked out, the contracts will be terminated immediately.

Then, not only the blacksmith shop but also the trading company would be in big trouble.

That's not all.

I can't imagine my brother being able to handle the side job I was doing.

But!

I don't care anymore! I don't care what happens to them!

And so, I decided to leave the royal capital.