Chapter 22: For My Sister (1)

Chapter 22: For My Sister (1)

“Ronan.”

“Huh?”

“Did you comb your hair?”

“Do you have a problem with it?”

Ronan shrugged dismissively. Aselle quickly averted his gaze.

“Oh, no... Not at all.”

The cool air of the refreshing morning surrounded them. They were waiting for Iril at the carriage station on the west side of the island.

Aselle continued to glance at Ronan’s hair.

If Ronan’s hair was usually a crow’s nest, today it seemed to be neatly braided into a bun. His clothes were also different from usual, looking considerably cleaner.

-Thud!

At that moment, a carriage stopped in front of the station. It was a high-end carriage designed for comfortable stretching and resting.

The door opened, and a woman with white hair stepped out. Iril looked around with her already large eyes widened even more.

“Wow! Is this Jido...?”

“...What’s all this?”

Ronan frowned as he saw her appearance. Iril’s wandering gaze eventually landed on the two men.

“Oh! Ronan! Aselle!”

Iril shouted cheerfully. Instead of replying, Ronan extended his index finger, pointing to the bundles she was carrying in her hands.

“...What’s with all these bundles?”

More accurately, they weren’t just bundles; they were bundles ‘plural’. One in each hand, and one on her back. Iril was enveloped by three large bundles.

“Hehe, I brought these for you to eat.”

Iril opened one of the bundles. It was filled with muddy potatoes. The other two bundles contained various vegetables and things like cheese that she had personally made.

Ronan chuckled wryly.

“Damn, where are we taking refuge?”

“Hehehe, the crops did well this time. And you know how delicious the cheese is.”

Even though he had probably told her not to dig up more potatoes. Anyway, that’s the temperament of the household. Ronan was about to reach for one of the bundles.

“Invisible Hand.”

With a familiar incantation, the three bundles floated in the air. Ronan and Iril simultaneously turned their heads. Aselle had his hands slightly clasped and was giving an awkward chuckle.

“This, I’ll put them in our lodging. Enjoy.”

“Huh? Where’s Aselle going?”

“Oh...! I have something separate to do today. I’ll see you at the enrollment ceremony tomorrow.”

After finishing his words, Aselle began to walk without looking back. Ronan smirked as he watched Aselle’s retreating figure.

“Conceited brat.”

“Well... It’s a shame. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Aselle.”

“That’s true.”

“Well, we’ll see each other tomorrow!”

Iril smiled brightly again. Her words were correct. Ronan had invited Iril under the pretense of having her witness the enrollment ceremony tomorrow.

“By the way, Ronan.”

Suddenly, Iril grabbed Ronan’s hand.

“Have you been well? Did you eat properly? Why did you lose so much weight? Do you know how surprised Noona was when that strange carriage came? Where did you get the money?”

“I’ve been well, ate properly, and the carriage wasn’t a big deal, so don’t worry about it.”

Ronan said nonchalantly. The carriage fee was minuscule compared to the income he had earned so far. In the first place, he had sent that because he couldn’t get a better carriage.

“I can’t believe you... Anyway, I read your letter! You said you got a full scholarship?!”

“Yeah. Martial Arts Department.”

“Really? Are you not lying to make your sister feel better?”

“It’s true.”

Iril looked up and met Ronan’s eyes. After a long time, his sister was still beautiful. Her sunset-colored irises sparkled under the spring sun.

“If you don’t believe me, look.”

Ronan handed her the prepared admission certificate. His name was written on the elegant paper, along with the descriptor “Second place”

Iril read the certificate several times before returning it to Ronan.

“Hehe. It’s true.”

Iril smiled once and lowered her head. She didn’t reply for a while. She spoke in a slightly hoarse voice.

“You’ve really grown up, my little brother.”

His small shoulders began to shake. Ronan, as if about to say something, hesitated with his lips and then hugged Iril with a very cautious movement.

“...Sister, look up. I have someone to introduce.”

“Ugh... An introduction...?”

Tears welled up in Iril’s eyes as she looked up. Tear marks were visible on her pure white cheeks.

Her younger brother, who had just left, had regained his senses and enrolled in the continent’s top academy. Moreover, he had achieved the highest honors.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand her emotions, but this couldn’t go on forever. Today was supposed to be a joyful day.

Rolling his hand into a fist and bringing it to his mouth, Ronan shouted to the sky.

“Cita!”

“Beeeaah!”

“”Beeaah~!”

Passersby moved aside hesitantly. Cita on Ronan’s shoulder puffed up its fur, looking as if it would explode. Just then, he caught sight of a familiar sight out of the corner of his eye.

“Hmm?”

The deep blue hair stood out prominently amidst the bustling crowd.

The intuition that reacted faster than sight halted Ronan’s steps. He muttered a curse under his breath.

“Damn.”

“Huh? Why did you suddenly stop?”

At that moment, the blue-haired figure also came to a halt. It was as if he was about to turn around. Ronan urgently grabbed his sister’s arm and pulled her away.

“Noona, let’s go this way. It’s a shortcut.”

“Sure?”

Ronan turned into an alley. It was a bit narrow, but it connected to the artisan district.

“Why is that lunatic here?”

They passed by corroded pipes and torn-off posters on both sides. It was a gloomy scene, but Iril was even enjoying that. It was the moment they left the alley.

“Long time no see, Ronan.”

“Ugh... Shit.”

There, Shullifen stood, his head held high. His tone seemed to imply that he had been waiting for quite a while. He stared directly into Ronan’s eyes as he spoke.

“Why hide like this? You must know that feeble attempts at hiding are useless.”

“This damn... I mean, no. Don’t cause a scene in broad daylight, just go your way.”

“Did you come here to prepare equipment? Our goals are the same. I’ve also come to pick up the sword I ordered.”

“To pick up a sword?”

Shullifen nodded and drew the sword hanging at his waist, showing it to Ronan.

It was the same sword that Ronan had clashed with. Made of mithril, it had a tiny scratch on its gleaming blade.

“Yeah. The blade got nicked during our last bout. To think a mithril sword would get scratched...”

“Such a pain... You call this a scratch? Let me show you what a real scratch is.”

Ronan laughed as he drew his black iron sword.

A seriously looking swordsmanship was revealed in front of Shullifen. The sharp blade looked like it had been used to cut through thick corn stalks, and the tip of the sword was blunt.

In a way, it was only natural. After all, he had relentlessly struck the mithril sword repeatedly.

“So this is what you call a scratch, you bastard? Show me what a scratch really is.”

Ronan laughed as he shook the black iron sword in front of Shullifen.

Just as he was about to respond, Iril, who had been quietly standing there, grabbed Ronan’s arm and shouted, “Ronan! Even if you’re angry, you shouldn’t use such harsh words!”

“What? But this guy started it...”

“Ronan!”

Shullifen, who had been focusing solely on Ronan, finally noticed Iril’s presence.

“Hmm?”

His brow furrowed slightly. The woman who barely reached his chest like a child was now standing before him, lecturing Ronan as if she were calming a child.

“Okay, fine. I won’t swear.”

Ronan scratched his head while still holding the black iron sword. It was a strange sight. He couldn’t believe that the person before him, who had given him a swift slap, was the heir to the Grasia Dukedom.

Then Iril turned her head toward Shullifen.

“I’m sorry... My sister taught me that swearing is always bad.”

Shulifen’s time seemed to stop.

With a slight bow of her head, Iril began to speak.

“It’s just that, as his elder sister... I feel like I’ve been lacking... so... education... Swearing... it’s...”

It was a decent apology that mentioned morality and responsibility appropriately. However, Shullifen’s ears couldn’t catch a single word. All of his senses except sight seemed to be blocked.

Her snow-white hair was as beautiful as silk drawn from starlight.

Her delicate yet vibrant features possessed a beauty that not even the most skilled sculptor could mimic.

It was an emotion he had never felt before. It felt as if a liquid other than blood was coursing through his veins.

After finishing her apology, Iril looked up at him and said, “Uh... Have you calmed down a bit?”

“...”

Shullifen remained silent, prompting Ronan, who was at a loss for words, to speak up.

“Answer, damn it. My sister is asking.”

“Sis...ter?”

Finally, Shullifen’s mouth opened. He stared back and forth between Ronan and Iril with movements as stiff as a log.

It was only after a few more seconds of silence that he seemed to recall how to speak.

“Uh... No. It’s all my fault.”

“...?”

“Because I was arrogant. It’s my responsibility.”

Ronan raised an eyebrow. His usual air of authority wasn’t present in the downward gaze. The change in his demeanor and speech was somewhat strange.

Iril giggled brightly and reached out to shake Shullifen’s hand.

“Wow! Really? Thank you! You’re such a wonderful person!”

“...!”

Shullifen’s time froze once again. Seeing his ears turn red, Ronan cursed under his breath.

“Damn it.”