Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: For My Sister (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ronan."
"Huh?"
"You... combed your hair?"
"Got a problem with that?"
Ronan growled, hands clasped behind his back. Asel quickly averted his gaze.
"N-No... Of course not."
The crisp morning air felt refreshing. They were waiting for Iril at the carriage station on the western side of the capital.
Asel kept stealing glances at Ronan's hair.
If it usually looked like a crow's nest, today it was at least neatly braided like a cozy hut. He was also wearing the cleanest clothes he had, giving off a vibe quite different from his usual self.
-Clatter!
At that moment, a carriage pulled up in front of the station. It was a luxury model designed for stretching out and resting comfortably.
Soon, the door opened, and a woman with silver-white hair stepped out. Iril's already large eyes widened even more as she looked around excitedly.
"Whoaaa...! So this is the capital...!"
"...What the hell is all that?"
Ronan frowned at the sight of her. Iril, who had been looking around, finally spotted the two of them.
"Ah! Ronan! Asel!"
Iril shouted with a bright smile. Instead of replying, Ronan pointed with his index finger at the bundles in both her hands.
"...What'd you bring so much of?"
To be precise, it wasn't just bundles—it was 'bundles.' One in each hand, one on her back. Iril was completely surrounded by three large bundles in a立体 formation.
"Hehe, I brought them for you guys to eat."
Iril untied one bundle. It was stuffed full of dirt-covered potatoes. The other two contained various vegetables and cheeses she had made herself.
Ronan let out a hollow laugh.
"Damn, you fleeing somewhere?"
"Ehehe, the harvest was great this time. And the cheese is so delicious."
He was pretty sure he'd told her to stop digging up potatoes like that. But being stubborn ran in the family. As Ronan reached for the bundles,
"Invisible Hand."
With the familiar incantation, the three bundles floated lightly into the air. Ronan and Iril turned their heads simultaneously. Asel stood there with his hands politely clasped, wearing an awkward smile.
"I-I'll take these to the dorm for you. Thanks for the food."
"Huh? Where you off to, Asel?"
"Ah...! I've got something to do today. See you at the entrance ceremony tomorrow."
Asel finished speaking and walked away without looking back. Ronan smirked at Asel's retreating figure.
"Cheeky bastard."
"Aww... That's too bad. It'd been so long since I'd seen Asel."
"Yeah."
"Well, tomorrow's another day!"
Iril smiled brightly again. She was right. Ronan had called her under the pretext of attending tomorrow's entrance ceremony.
"By the way, Ronan."
Suddenly, Iril grabbed Ronan's hand.
"Have you been well? Eating properly? Why are you so skinny? Do you know how shocked I was when that fancy carriage suddenly showed up? Where'd the money come from?"
"I've been fine, and yeah, eating well. Don't worry about the carriage—it wasn't expensive."
Ronan said flatly. The carriage fare was pocket change compared to the money he'd earned so far. He'd sent the cheapest decent one he could find.
"Hng... I don't believe you... Oh, I read your letter! You got in as a top admittee?!"
"Yeah. Martial Arts Department."
"Really? You're not just saying that to make your big sis happy, are you?"
"It's true."
Iril looked up into Ronan's eyes. His sister, whom he hadn't seen in so long, was still beautiful. Her sunset-colored eyes, just like his, shimmered in the spring sunlight.
"If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
Ronan handed her the admission certificate he'd prepared in advance. His name was written on the fancy paper, along with the descriptor "top admittee."
Iril read it over several times before handing it back to Ronan.
"Hehe. It really is."
She smiled once, then lowered her head. There was a pause before she spoke again, her voice a little hoarse.
"You've grown up so much, little brother."
Her small shoulders began to shake. Ronan hesitated, lips twitching as if to speak, then carefully pulled her into a hug.
"...Sis, lift your head. I've got someone to introduce you to."
"Hng... Uh... Introduce...?"
Iril lifted her head, her eyes red-rimmed. Tear tracks stained her pale cheeks.
Her wild little brother had not only straightened up but gotten into the continent's top academy as a top admittee.
He understood her feelings, but they couldn't stay like this forever. Today was supposed to be a happy day.
Ronan cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the sky.
"Sita!"
"Pweaaah-!"
Sita swooped down from circling overhead and landed on Ronan's shoulder in an instant. Iril's eyes went wide. It was a creature she'd never even seen in dreams.
"Wow! What's this? So cute!"
"Ah, don't just touch it...!"
There was no time to stop her. Iril sniffled and reached out to pet Sita's head.
"Pweaaang~"
"Huh?"
But contrary to Ronan's expectation, Sita didn't resist at all. Instead, it purred contentedly.
"It's so fluffy. What kind of animal is it? What's its name?"
"Uh... Um... Name's Sita. What kind it is... no idea."
Sita even hopped onto Iril's shoulder and rubbed its face against her cheek—a behavior it never did with anyone but Ronan. Ronan laughed in disbelief.
"Pwea~ Pweaaah~"
"Ahaha! That tickles!"
...He was a bit annoyed, but it was good that they got along. Ronan led his sister toward the bustling streets.
"Let's go grab some food."
The entrance ceremony was tomorrow. Today, they planned to buy everything needed for the academy. And repay his sister's kindness along the way.
Ronan guided her to a restaurant he'd checked out in advance. It was the ox steak place he'd gone to with Marya on his first day in the capital.
"I've never eaten anything like this in my life...!"
"Good?"
Juices burst out every time she speared a piece with her fork. Iril nodded vigorously up and down.
Ronan smiled in satisfaction. He felt full just watching her eat.
"Eat lots."
"Okay! Ronan, you eat too!"
Iril neatly cut her steak and transferred pieces to Ronan's plate. Refusing was pointless. She eventually held a piece right up to her brother's mouth.
"Ahh~"
"What 'ahh'? I'm not a kid."
"Ahhh~"
Iril was stubborn. Ronan glanced around with a sigh. Fortunately, the restaurant was mostly empty.
Ronan snapped up the meat like an alligator biting prey. Iril stomped her feet excitedly.
"How is it? Delicious, right?!"
"...Not bad."
Ronan nodded reluctantly. Iril took turns feeding pieces to Ronan and Sita.
Her face never lost its smile throughout the meal. When they left, Ronan slipped a few coins under his plate.
After eating, the siblings headed to a large boutique called [Song of Silk].
It was to pick up the ordered uniforms and buy a few outfits that would suit Iril, who usually wore plain clothes.
"R-Ronan! These don't suit your big sis...! Pick something else...!"
"They suit you."
"Th-They're too frilly. I couldn't even work the fields in this...!"
"These aren't for working in. Speaking of, you're still doing fieldwork? What happened to the money I gave you?"
"Of course I used it! Spent it so well!"
Iril said she'd used three silver coins from what Ronan gave her. On seedlings for the field, a few new clothes, and raising four chickens.
"Splurged big time! Fresh eggs every morning—you have no idea how great it is!"
Iril boasted proudly, hands on hips. Ronan sighed.
How much did I give her again? Something like over three hundred gold coins.
He'd expected it, but not to this extent. Ronan clapped to summon a clerk. Everyone in the store was staring at Iril, mesmerized.
"Everything we've picked out so far."
"R-Ronan!!"
"Listen, sis. I've got scholarships until graduation as a top admittee. Plus all sorts of grants pouring in—money's just piling up with nowhere to spend it. So please, spend some for me."
He meant it. No matter how he thought about it, there was nothing to buy.
Asel had suggested custom gear like other warriors. But to Ronan, armor was just cumbersome shells, and swords were all the same. They just had different lifespans.
Iril nodded seriously and clenched her fist.
"Got it. Then when I go back, I'll buy a goose. And raise rabbits, and get barrels for brewing!"
"......"
"M-Maybe skip the rabbits?"
Ronan silently paid for the clothes. As they left, people's gazes poured like a flood. Iril in her pure white dress looked like an angel descended from heaven.
Iril linked arms with Ronan.
"Hehe, walking like this with my little brother feels so good. Where to now?"
"Hmm... Workshop street. Need a new sword."
"The one you have is broken?"
"Yeah. Some idiot picked a fight out of nowhere."
Ronan clicked his tongue. The black iron sword he'd been using lately was ruined after the clash with Schlieffen.
The two crossed the bustling streets, arms linked. Ronan stuffed his hands in his pockets and glared murderously at the passersby openly gawking at his sister.
"What, sightseeing? Staring at someone else's family like that."
"Pweaaah-"
The cowed onlookers parted left and right. Sita puffed up its feathers on Ronan's shoulder. That's when a familiar silhouette caught Ronan's eye.
"Hm?"
The deep blue hair stood out tall even among the bustling crowd.
His instincts reacted before his eyes, stopping him in his tracks. Ronan muttered a curse under his breath.
"Fuck."
"Hm? Why'd you stop?"
The blue head stopped too. As it started to turn,
Ronan hurriedly tugged his sister's arm.
"Sis, this way. It's a shortcut."
"Oh? Sure!"
Ronan ducked into an alley. It was narrow, but still connected to the workshop street.
Why the hell is that psycho here?
Rusted pipes and torn posters flashed by on both sides. The gloomy scenery didn't dampen Iril's spirits. The moment they emerged from the alley,
"It's been a while, Ronan."
"Ha... Damn it."
Schlieffen stood there ramrod straight, as if he'd been waiting for a while. He stared straight into Ronan's eyes and continued.
"Why hide like that? You know such clumsy stealth is useless."
"You little... No. Don't go making people sweat in broad daylight—go your own way."
"Here for gear? Same purpose, then. I'm picking up my ordered sword."
"Picking up a sword?"
Schlieffen nodded. He drew the sword at his waist and showed it to Ronan.
It was the one they'd clashed with. The bluish mithril blade had a tiny nick on the tip.
"Yes. It got damaged mid-spar with you. To scar a mithril sword..."
"Damn it, you call that speck a scar? Want me to show you what a real scar looks like?"
Ronan laughed incredulously and drew his black iron sword.
The blade looked wrecked at a glance. The once-sharp edge was chipped like harvested corn, and the tip was blunt and broken.
It was only natural. He'd slammed a fast sword like that repeatedly into mithril, of all things.
"This is a scar, you bastard. Have some conscience..."
Ronan waved the black iron sword in front of Schlieffen's face. Iril, who had been quiet, tugged Ronan's arm.
"Ronan! No matter how mad you are, how can you use such foul language?"
"What? But this guy started..."
"Ronan!"
Schlieffen, focused solely on Ronan, finally noticed Iril.
"Hm?"
His brows furrowed slightly. The woman barely reaching his chest was scolding Ronan like a child.
"A-Alright. No more cursing."
Ronan scratched his head, unable to retort. It was an unfamiliar sight. Hard to believe this was the guy who'd headbutted the Grancia Duke's heir without hesitation.
Iril turned to Schlieffen.
"Sorry... I taught him cursing is always bad."
Schlieffen's time stopped.
Iril bowed once and lifted her head, rambling on.
"It's all my fault as his sister... So... education... profanity..."
It was a solid apology, properly invoking morals and responsibility. But Schlieffen's ears registered not a single word. All senses but sight shut down.
Her silver-white hair was beautiful like silk spun from starlight.
Her refined yet glamorous features held a sculptural beauty even the greatest artist couldn't replicate.
It was a feeling he'd never known. Something other than blood raced through his veins.
Finishing her apology, Iril looked up at him.
"Um... Feel a bit better now?"
"......"
Schlieffen didn't respond. Ronan spoke up.
"Answer her, man. My sister's asking."
"Sis...ter?"
Schlieffen's mouth finally opened. He stiffly alternated glances between Ronan and Iril.
It took a few more seconds of silence before he recalled how to speak.
"Ah. No. It was all my shortcomings."
"......?"
"I'll take responsibility."
Ronan tilted his head. The downward gaze lacked its usual arrogance. His speech sounded idiotic—something was off.
Iril beamed and grabbed Schlieffen's hand.
"Wow! Really? Thank you! You're such a good person!"
"...!"
Schlieffen's time stopped again. Ronan saw his ears turn red and cursed.
"What the fuck."