Chapter 23

“If you become more proficient in the future, you will be able to stand on your own feet by making a name for yourself, even if you are not recognized as the Tower Lord’s daughter. Hmmm, if you would still be with me by then, I guess, maybe I could help you a little?”

This is the first time someone talks about her ‘future’ and tells her hope, so Jayna just stood blankly.

‘In my previous life, I couldn’t even dream of studying because I didn’t have money to buy a workbook, let alone pay for a school.’

When she heard the cheering to work hard while choosing textbooks together, she couldn’t figure out what kind of expression to show.

Michael, who was watching Jayna silently and wondering what she’s thinking about, stroked her hair roughly, scattering it in a mess.

“Michael-nim!”

“So work hard. Answer me, kid.”

It was when Jayna opened her mouth to answer.

Peuru!

A fluffy bird flew over and sat on Michael’s shoulder.

It was a bird used inside the tower for communication purposes.

“I haven’t had a cozy time with this kid in a long time. What is it?”

Michael crumpled the middle of his forehead, then glanced at the bird.

Hearing the bird chattering for a long time, he soon sighed.

“Little kid, did you know I’m stuck in this tower just because my parents died early, even though I’m a son of a Duke? ”

Jayna shook her head and pretended to hear it for the first time, but in fact, it was something she already knew after reading the original novel.

“So when I considered no one as my family, why all of a sudden a so-called family member is visiting the tower?”

“Your family is visiting?”

Wasn’t the tower a place where outsiders could never enter?

When Jayna wondered, Michael began to explain.

The tower was one of the most closed groups on the continent, originally inaccessible to others.

In contrast to its great grandeur, the reason that there is little known information about the tower is because internal information is treated as confidential.

However, only a few wizards were allowed to visit the outside world and have visitors, thanks to the consistent opinions of several wizards.

“That’s why there’s a skill supremacy here, although there are only 3 or 4 people including me.”

Michael explained that if you achieve innovative results, have an overwhelmingly high level of magic, or perform a risky mission, you can meet your family if you get a certain score based on the number of your points.

“Of course, I’m a great wizard who has no choice but to receive this ‘Family Visit Ticket’.”

Michael stretched his arms at the end of his speech.

With a bright face and a figure as dazzling as a rose soaked in rain.

“What’s the matter?” (Jayna)

“That—”

The moment Michael was about to explain, the fluffy bird that was sitting on his shoulder opened its beak.

-Big brother* Michael, hello. Long time no see.

*Brother= Hyeong-nim (형님) male to male way of calling an older brother. Oppa(female to male)

The bird seemed to play the role of an interphone to convey a human voice.

“Don’t call me big brother when you’re still weak, it’s annoying.”

When Michael fired sharply, Jayna opened her eyes wide.

-“You, in front of Mob—. No, in front of that bastard, you called me ‘Brother’ right?”

-“What?

-“Well, if you call me that, it’ll certainly be hard for the other Wizards to touch you, so call me that way from now on.”

‘You forced me to say ‘Oppa’ though’

She doesn’t know who the other person is, but she noticed the temperamental difference in Michael’s attitude toward him (the guest) and herself.

“Even though your mother is like that, it’s disgusting for you to act like we’re close.”

‘It’s disgusting?’

It was such a heart-breaking remark for the other person hearing it.

After a long time, Michael’s violent remarks towards the visitor made Jayna realize that Michael seems to have a bit of favor for her.

“Are you deaf? Go away.”

-My mother was very curious about how brother Michael made only one dress for himself and couldn’t come to the party because of his ‘Dear Sister’

“……”

-I came because my mother wanted me to come not because I wanted to. Shall I go back?

A tone that is polite but does not humble himself.

The boy was speaking without being daunted by Michael’s momentum.

-I will follow my brother’s choice.

“Argh!”

Michael made a grievous sound and roughly rubbed his head.

“Damn it, come in before I change my mind and kill you.”

Michael drew something in the bird with an unpleasant look on his face. Then, the bird flew back into the sky.

‘I’m not intimidated by Michael, who is famous for his eccentricity. But how could this person even try to coax him into doing something he doesn’t want to do’.

Jayna felt a small admiration towards the other person. What kind of environment did he grow up in to be so confident?

In terms of voice, he sounded like my age…

‘Oh, come to think of it.’

If it’s someone who can call Michael’s brother…

*****

“You’ve finally decided to let me into the tower?”

Michael looked down at the young guest of the tower, frowning his handsome brow.

Even though his arms were tightly folded to look more daunting, the child in front of him was not afraid at all.

“It isn’t like I’m letting you in with a smile.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve come a long way.”

The boy smiles gently, and Michael messes up his golden hair as if he’s having a headache.

However, the other person did not stop smiling.

‘Oh? This kid’s….’

Jayna pondered over the familiar boy, looking at his face.

‘Isn’t it the boy who gave me a cloak at the market?’

She didn’t expect to meet him again here in the tower. She didn’t leave the tower that often so she was really surprised to see him here.

“Huh?”

The boy must have recognized Jayna, he opened his eyes wide and approached her with quick steps.

“You’re snitching agai— What is it?”

As the distance between the two neared, Michael stopped what he was saying and made an absurd expression.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we? The cloak…”

“Yes. You remember?” (Jayna)

“How could I forget such a lovely lady? And it seems that you’re using well the cape I gave you. I’m a little proud.”

“Yes, it’s very comfortable.” (Jayna)

Jayna was about to take off the cloak and return it.

But he held Jayna’s hand and dissuaded her.

“It’s all right, I gave it to my benefactor as a token of gratitude.”

A brilliant smile.

He was a remarkable outstanding beauty, he was no doubt a relative of Michael.

‘But maybe he’ll be even more handsome than Michael.’

Overall, he seems to have a neat appearance, but had a dignified atmosphere due to his curved eyes and tear mole.

Seeing the boy in front of her, Jayna was already curious about how he will grow up.

‘It was Rosian.’

Rosian bent his knees a little to equalize his eye level with Jayna and smiled.

“So I forgot to ask the name of my benefactor.”

“Ash— No… I’m Jayna.”

“Jayna. Miss Jayna…”

Rosian rolled Jayna’s name in his mouth a few times and laughed, saying that it suits her well.

“Jayna. It’s a name I don’t think I’ll forget.

“Huh?”

Michael was dumbfounded by Rosian’s friendly gesture while calling Jayna’s name.

‘You said you came to see me, your cousin, but you didn’t even throw a glance at me?’

Aside from being rude, he can’t believe Rosian is acting like he’s close to the kid. And he didn’t like it.

‘Because as far as I know, this little kid lived in the Dragon Village all her life before coming to the tower. So how could she know someone other than the Tower wizards?’

Somehow Michael felt something unpleasant in his heart.

Michael deliberately spoke without hiding his irritation.

“Hey, have you forgotten that I’m also here? It’s a cheap and rude action “

“Michael-nim.” (Jayna)

“Hey, try another title except for the Nim.”

Some ‘people’ call him brother (Hyeongnim) even if he didn’t permit and want it. But this kid doesn’t want to call him ‘Brother’ (Oraboni*) even if he has already permitted her to do so. What a life full of undesirable things.

*Oraboni is the honorific term of Oppa. Oraboni was automatically translated (here in the novel) to Brother while I’ll leave Oppa as it is.

‘I shouldn’t have let it go the other day.’

When Michael’s expression became dissonant, Rosian asked

“If she can’t call you by that name, then, Does she have to call you a wizard-nim or something?”

“Don’t cut in on a subject you don’t even know.”

When Michael retorted at Rosian, Jayna felt uncomfortable.

‘I’m fine with this kind of treatment because I’m already used to being treated coldly and harshly since I was young. However is it okay for him (Michael) to treat his cousin (Rosian) this way?’

But as time went by, Michael’s heart sank further.

“Hey, kid. How do you get to know him? Have you encountered him or anything?”

“That—”

At that time, Rosian hushed Jayna smiled mischievously, and told Michael.

“It’s a secret.”

“What?”

“Have you ever heard that you should not interfere with a relationship between a man and a woman?”

“Argh!”

When he heard the words ‘relationship between a man and a woman’, Michael became furious then screamed in anger.

“Are you crazy? What are you talking about when you’re still a kid?”

Michael rushed in with a flush, but Rosian didn’t care a bit.

Quietly, but with a voice enough for Michael to hear, he said with a bloody smile.

“You look like you’re driven to death by a child words.” (Rosian)

“What? What did you just say?” (Michael)

“What? What did I say?” (Rosian)

When Rosian asked again with a pure, innocent face, suggesting that he knew nothing, Michael trembled and fell.

“You seemed very scared. Would you let me do the honor of getting you out of this tower crawling on all fours?”

“That would be good for me. It would be nice to have an excuse to take a break from my mother’s sword training.”

“Are you hiding behind your mother now? The little emperor seemed to be scared.”

The conversation, which began with a joke at first, gradually grew violent…