177 - - troubled sisters

"It's so annoying. That's enough, Nene.

The woman stretched her arms out on the couch, leaning back flexibly on the couch while clucking her tongue at the strange song coming from under the window.

Under her short black curly hair with a hint of gold, her large purple eyes, with the corners of the eyes lifted, shone strongly.

The high bridge of her nose and her canine teeth peeking out slightly from her mouth. His body is tight in every detail, and he is wrapped tightly in a black leather armor.

Though well-proportioned and beautiful, most people who see him will have a similar impression.

--It's as if a tiger is lying there, peacefully.

The young woman frowning grimly is named Kikiriri.

She is a vanguard warrior in the "Platinum Flame.

At Kiki's words, the woman sitting on the edge of the couch silently erases the pale needles protruding from her body.

Unlike her older sister, her hair is straight and parted at the neck, but otherwise she looks exactly the same.

The name of the woman who remains silent and expressionless is Nenemimi.

She is a lightning wielder of the Vajra class who serves as the rear guard of the "Platinum Flame".

"Well, for a man who talked so much, what a mess..."　

Kiki continued to mutter in disapproval at the sound of the footsteps, which echoed faintly even without the effect of the .

Their grandfather's office faced the plaza, so they could hear the commotion of the Bossalia's recapture taking place outside.

"...... That man has been put away by a curse, and the beast priestess will be at hand without any trouble."

With her brow furrowed, Kiki imitates someone else's mouth.

Then a familiar voice sings to her ears, and she grits her back teeth.

"You said so yourself, but in the end, they're the only heroes!"

With her face contorted in frustration, Kiki stared out the window, where cheers and applause rolled in.

Then her expression relaxed a little and she reached out a hand and slowly stroked her sister's hair.

"Yes, you're right. I haven't lost my chance yet. Thank you, Nene.

The younger sister remains motionless, looking forward while the older sister speaks softly to her.

Her lips are tightly sealed, and she has not uttered a single word.

"Hmm, too old is an exaggeration. But I think you might be getting close to retirement.

While the crowd cheered in the plaza, Kiki's voice kept echoing in the room where only two people were present, as if she was talking to someone.

It was evening when the commotion over the recapture of Bossaria had died down.

In her room in the temple of Dadaan, Rummella let out a small sigh.

"...... the fourth time."

Her sister Ricoli, who was sitting on her bed tending to her flute, blurted out a few words without looking up.

When Rummella pointed out the number of sighs, she turned away, puffing out her cheeks in a very unpopular manner.

The maiden, who had remained still and turned her head to the side, looks at her sister with her eyes as if to check her reaction.

She then puffed out her cheeks more when she saw that she was not interested in her sister at all.

"Do you want me to ...... tell you why?"

"Nothing."

"Talk to someone about your problems and you'll feel better. You look like you want me to say ......."

"I didn't!"

At the sight of his sister's pouting, Riccoli stopped and let out a sigh in return.

She turns her half-closed eyes to Rummella and urges her with a blatantly lazy expression.

"Come on, I'll listen to you!"

"You seem very righteous, but don't you think it's too much trouble?"

"I do."

"That's it!　I think that's your bad habit. Honesty doesn't mean you can get away with anything. Oh, you made a nasty face again!　That's enough!"

Riccoli invites her sister, who has completely sulked and fallen to her knees in her chair, by patting her on the side.

Rummella stood up silently from her prone position and approached the bed to sit down beside her sister.

She leans her shoulders on the bed and leans her weight against Licori.

She then revealed the reason for her sigh.

"............ I asked Tall-sama if he would like to join the Shirogane Flame."

"You've made a reckless offer again, haven't you?"

"I knew you'd say no. But that's what you call a bargaining chip.

So, what's the real deal?

"If you can't, I was wondering if you ...... would be willing to let me into Thor's party."

After a pause, Rummella mutters the result in a thin voice.

"It was no good. If I left, the platinum flame would be in trouble. ......"

"............ so."

Riccioli replies shortly and gently strokes her sister's loose, fluffy black hair.

Closing her eyes, Rummella relaxes her body, remaining silent.

Hey, if we can't have a party, how about a personal waterman?　I'll wait in the tent or the wagon. And when they come back, welcome them back and make them dinner. ......"

"...... heavy"

"What, have I gained weight?"

"I'm not talking about weight."

Riccoli quietly extended his fingertips to Rummella's throat as she twisted her head, not understanding what he meant.

He traces the blue part of her throat, which extends to her chest, with an entranced expression on his face.

"It's such a waste to have such beautiful scales."

"That tickles, sis."

He is the owner of a water spirit tree that grows many branches, and with his tremendous memory, he is never in danger of getting lost.

She is also lovely and honest, both inside and out.

She may be a bit young in figure, but she would never turn down an invitation from an adventurer.

Thinking of the face of the middle-aged adventurer who had played a joke on him, Riccoli clucked his tongue strongly inwardly.

At the same time, he hides his growing relief from the world.

In the temple of Auria, the god of water, there is a relic to seal the miasma.

It is called the "bitter water of sorrow.

Since it cannot be stored in a mere vessel, and can only maintain its power inside a person's body, it has a special form that has been passed down from generation to generation of vessel priestesses.

And as in the case of the fire that feeds on desire, Sujimizu also had emotions that were necessary to maintain its existence.

Suffering and sorrow.

Emotions that are not lacking in the healing temple.

However, they are only necessary for maintenance and cannot be a factor that promotes growth.

The grief of the vessel was necessary for it to become strong enough to suppress the miasma.

He lost many people close to him, and every time he looked at the ugly burn scars left on his body, his passion for that time came back to him.

Furthermore, when his sister, who was his confidant, took over the curse for him and forced him to retire, he lost the foundation of his heart.

The training of Kusui should have been going well.

However, unexpectedly, the pain is slowly easing.

At the same time, however, Licori secretly senses that a new seed of grief is growing.

For now the pain is still slow, but soon it will become a big wound.

Riccoli keeps his fingers on her neck and squints at Rummella's smile, which has regained some of its brightness.