Na-Isekai Ako
Chapter 35: Wait, My Brother Was How Famous?!

Chapter 35: Wait, My Brother Was How Famous?!

The morning air was crisp as Katherine made her way to Professor Sophanes’ office. She had made up her mind last night—she needed to know more about her brother. This mysterious figure, Jonathas, had not only lived in Albania but had thrived here before vanishing into the unknown.

And yet, she knew so little about him.

Professor Sophanes had mentioned knowing him, and that was all the excuse she needed.

The academy grounds were still quiet when she arrived. The receptionist at the front desk had told her that professors typically arrived at their offices by seven and left for classes by eight. Now, she had been waiting for nearly fifteen minutes, fingers absently tracing patterns on the armrest of her chair.

She had woken up early again.

Lately, even the softest sounds stirred her awake. Maybe she was still adjusting to this unfamiliar world. Maybe she was... homesick.

Her stomach twisted at the thought.

Home.

She had always been fine traveling alone, always fine with distance. But this time, there was no home to return to.

Her thoughts scattered when a shadow passed before her.

"Good morning, dear lady." A warm voice greeted her.

Katherine looked up to find Professor Sophanes, dressed in scholarly robes, his kind eyes crinkling at the corners.

She blinked and quickly rose from her seat. "Good morning, Professor. I’m sorry to take up your time, but... would it be alright if we had a small chat? I have a few questions."

The professor smiled and nodded. "Of course. Please, follow me to my office."

Katherine trailed behind him, eyes immediately drawn to the controlled chaos of his office. Shelves lined with thick tomes, scrolls spilling over desks, odd-looking herbs in glass jars, powders shimmering in the sunlight—

—wait. Were those potions glowing?

Her gaze snapped to the window, where vials of colorful liquids pulsed faintly in the light.

She blinked. Is Professor Sophanes...

"I am a professor of potions and basic alchemy," he said, as if reading her thoughts.

"Oh!" Her eyes flicked back to the odd tools scattered across his desk. "That explains a lot."

He chuckled, gesturing toward a chair. "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you, Professor Sophanes."

She sat, clasping her hands together before diving straight to the point. "Professor, can you tell me more about my brother?"

Sophanes’ expression softened. "Jonathas... yes, he was a bright student."

"Bright student?" Katherine echoed, leaning forward. "He studied in Athens?"

"Yes. If I recall correctly, he entered the academy at the same age as you—fifteen."

Katherine froze.

Fifteen?

But I’m fifteen now. If he was already that age when he arrived here, then—

Her stomach dropped.

Professor Sophanes watched her reaction carefully, then smiled as if he had just dropped a casual bomb into the conversation.

"Hmmm... but if you are fifteen, and he was fifteen when he arrived... well, that doesn’t quite make sense, does it? You wouldn’t have been alive then, dear lady."

A chill crawled up her spine.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

"I..."

Sophanes let out a soft laugh. "No worries, I won’t pry. You may have met each other at some point, who knows?" He winked before continuing, as if he hadn’t just casually shattered her entire perception of time.

Katherine swallowed hard, but forced herself to focus.

"Your brother, Jonathas, was full of vigor," the professor continued. "He was adopted by House Sylvaine and sponsored by their family to study here in Athens."

Adopted... right.

"Everyone was surprised by him. No one knew who he was, yet he held the title of a Baron from the East. He excelled under the guidance of Antennor, but only stayed under his mentorship for two years."

Katherine’s breath hitched.

"Two years?"

"Antennor was..." Sophanes chuckled. "Old-fashioned. Your brother was more innovative, always searching for new ideas. He was diligent, bright—much like you."

Katherine barely registered the compliment. Her mind was spinning too fast.

"He studied potions under me as well," Sophanes went on. "Since he couldn’t wield magic, he sought alternative knowledge. He was relentless, always wanting to learn, always asking questions. Eventually, he became known throughout the academy and the kingdom as the Father of Innovation."

Katherine’s breath stalled. "The... what?"

"He was gifted with machines," Sophanes explained. "His ideas changed lives. Eventually, he married Marchioness Yevon and inherited the title of the late Marquis. He was admired by many."

Katherine’s throat tightened.

Father of Innovation.

He had done so well here...

And yet, where was he now?

What had happened to him?

She clenched her fists beneath the desk.

"But," Sophanes sighed, his expression darkening, "he had one regret. He longed to see his sister again. He left the academy about a month ago and journeyed north."

Katherine’s breath caught.

"North?"

"Yes," the professor confirmed. "And he was never heard from again."

A heavy silence settled in the office.

Katherine’s chest ached—a dull, twisting pain that settled deep inside her ribs.

They had just missed each other.

The realization hit harder than she expected. She clenched her fists against her lap, willing herself to breathe through the sudden pressure in her chest.

"The marchioness doesn’t like speaking about it," Sophanes admitted. "So we were left in the dark. But when I saw you, it reminded me of when I met Jonathas for the first time."

Katherine blinked, trying to shake off the lingering ache. "It’s like seeing double?"

"Yes," the professor chuckled. "When you introduced a drink no one has ever seen before, it reminded me when he showed me a new writing tool—what did he call it? Ah, a ballpoint pen."

A warmth spread through Katherine’s chest.

Sophanes’ kind eyes softened. "Ah, dear lady..." He reached for a handkerchief and held it out to her.

Katherine blinked again.

And only then did she realize—her cheeks were wet.

She swallowed, quickly accepting the handkerchief and gripping it tightly.

"You did miss each other," Sophanes murmured, "but I believe, in time, you two will meet again."

Her throat burned. She wasn’t sure why she was crying, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

She hadn’t even realized how much she wanted to see him.

Lukas... you were here.

Sophanes suddenly straightened. "I owe a great deal to your brother."

Katherine blinked rapidly, forcing herself to focus. "Hmm?"

The professor’s expression turned serious.

"My wife was terribly ill," he admitted. "No doctor could treat her. Even magicians were baffled—magic could only do so much. I, myself, am a potion master, yet I had no potion that could cure her. She was weak, fragile—her bones broke easily. We feared for her life. Then one day, your brother asked me, ’Does your wife go out in the morning?’"

Katherine stilled.

"I told him no, of course. It was dangerous for her. But he returned with a chair—one with wheels. He said, ’This is a wheelchair. Every morning, take your wife outside and let her be exposed to the sun.’"

A wheelchair? Vitamin D? No... Lukas, you didn’t—

"I was surprised," Sophanes admitted. "I asked him, ’Why would I expose my wife to danger?’"

His expression softened. "But your brother only smiled and said, ’Your wife has rickets.’"

She could almost hear Lukas saying it, his tone, the way he used to explain things to her back in their past life.

"I had never heard of such a thing," Sophanes continued, shaking his head in disbelief. "’What is rickets?’ I asked."

He chuckled, as if still astonished by the memory.

"He told me, ’She likely lacks something called Vitamin D. She needs at least thirty minutes of sunlight a day. Have her eat fish, egg yolks, green vegetables, and milk. If there are mushrooms exposed to sunlight, get a magician to enhance them if needed. If she can walk, it would be even better for her to take a short stroll every morning. I’m not a doctor, Professor Sophanes, but at least I know this much. If you notice her getting stronger, add more meat to her meals.’"

Katherine’s grip on the handkerchief in her lap tightened.

Her brother had said all of that?

"I thought he was mad," Sophanes admitted, shaking his head with a chuckle. "But I was desperate, so I followed his advice. And within weeks..."

His voice softened with emotion.

"...my wife’s complexion improved. She no longer looked so frail, and for the first time in years, she had the strength to stand on her own. She could even walk a little." His gaze became distant. "It was the first time I saw hope in her eyes."

Katherine swallowed hard, her throat tight.

"He saved her life," Sophanes said simply, his voice filled with quiet gratitude. "Your brother... was a gift to this world."

She could barely breathe.

Lukas had always been kind, but hearing how much of a difference he had made—how he had changed lives in ways she had never imagined—

It was overwhelming.

"I was deeply moved," Sophanes continued. "I told everyone about Jonathas’ wisdom. We asked him to write a book on it, but he refused."

Katherine exhaled shakily.

Of course, he refused.

Lukas had never been the type to seek recognition. He probably thought it wasn’t his knowledge to claim.

"So," Sophanes said, standing up and moving toward his shelf, "in his place, I wrote one."

The professor retrieved a worn book from the shelf and carefully placed it in her hands.

"This is the book."

Katherine’s fingers trembled as she traced its faded cover.

He wrote down Lukas’ knowledge?

"No one knows where you and your brother came from," Sophanes murmured gently.

She swallowed as she looked at the book in her hands.

"But for me, he was a blessing to this kingdom."

Katherine held the book tightly against her chest.

Her vision blurred, but she didn’t bother wiping her tears away this time.

Because for the first time since arriving in this world, she felt closer to Lukas than ever before.

Rickets.

Back in her old world, it was a disease barely worth a second thought—easily prevented, easily treated. People absorbed sunlight naturally as they went about their lives, commuting to work, meeting friends, playing outside. Fresh air, a balanced diet—it was common knowledge that these things kept the body strong.

But here?

In a world where noblewomen lived behind veils and curtains, wrapped in layers of fabric, where medicine relied more on magic than science?

It was an enigma.

An illness no one had even thought to name.

Her brother had seen what others couldn’t.

Katherine swallowed against the lump in her throat.

"Lukas... you did well."

She clutched the book tighter against her chest, as if holding it closer could somehow bridge the years and distance between them.

The thought of him wandering through this unfamiliar world—without family, without guidance—yet still choosing to help others...

It warmed her.

And at the same time, it ached.

He had changed lives here. He had saved people.

"I expect great things from you as well, Lady Katherine."

Sophanes’ voice pulled her from her thoughts.

She looked up to see him smiling warmly.

"When I saw you at the Symposium, it felt like seeing Jonathas again. Two people sent to bless the kingdom."

Katherine inhaled sharply.

She held the book tightly.

"Thank you, Professor Sophanes," she said, voice soft but certain. "I’m really happy to hear all of this."

Sophanes nodded. Then, as if recalling something, he let out a small chuckle.

"Ah, and speaking of the Symposium—it was also your brother’s idea."

Katherine blinked. "It was?"

"Yes," Sophanes said, leaning back in his chair. "Jonathas believed that women had knowledge men did not. That they should have a place to share their wisdom as well. It turned into something different, of course—now many attend to find future partners—but," he smiled, "perhaps it was the right decision. After all, you are here."

Katherine’s heart tightened.

Her brother had always been carefree, but even here, he had looked out for others.

"When I tasted the drink you made—the lemon juice you called an energy drink—I thought to myself, ’Ah, she is indeed Jonathas’ sister.’ A refreshing drink, perfect for those who are weary," Professor Sophanes mused, his voice warm with nostalgia.

Katherine stared.

He remembered that?

She had never thought much about the simple drinks and meals from her past life. To her, it was ordinary. But here?

Something as small as lemon juice had left an impression.

Her brother must have been the same—offering knowledge so casually, so easily—yet unknowingly shaping the world around him.

A soft, bittersweet ache settled in her chest.

The more she learned, the clearer the image of Lukas—no, Jonathas—became.

He hadn’t just survived here.

He had built a life.

He had changed lives.

And yet... he had still been searching for something.

As she stepped out of the professor’s office, the weight of everything she had learned pressed down on her shoulders.

And yet, at the same time—

She felt strangely lighter.

She had found a piece of him here.

Not just in old stories. Not just in dusty books. But in the people he helped, in the traces he left behind.

She wiped at her eyes and took a steadying breath.

She had learned three things today.

First, her brother had been around fifteen when he arrived here.

Second, he had studied in Athens under Antennor and changed lives with the knowledge he brought.

And third...

He had gone north.

"Is he still there?"

Once she returned to Albania, she would speak to Yevon.

If anyone knew more about her brother’s disappearance, it would be her.

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