Chapter 27
As the time spent inside the carriage lengthened, the time I spent with Rua naturally increased.
This was the first time in my entire life that I had spent so much time with Rua.
We talked about trivial topics and exchanged empty chatter, and we also discussed serious topics.
She kept urging me to play chess, and eventually I ended up playing it too.
This was the second game.
Check. No, checkmate.
Heeey… I lost again.
Luckily I won this time too.
Knowing that I would lose the intense gaze in my sister’s eyes and let her play one more game, I had already prepared a strategy in advance.
Is this what experience is?
The moment Rua suffered checkmate, she began to review the game without hiding her defeated look.
Oppa. Why did you play it like that here?
Because if even a single point here collapses, it can’t be covered. All the other pieces that are coming to block here will be eaten one after another.
You accurately understood my intention. Uuu…
Rua chewed her fingers and nodded.
I never thought the day would come when I would talk about chess with Rua like this.
Rua fell into deep thought based on the stories I had told her.
Her eyes were sharp, focused completely on something.
I couldn’t properly hear what she was saying if I spoke to her at that moment.
I also planned my next moves while Rua was focused.
The Imperial Academy allows students to freely choose lectures they want to attend.
However, choosing lectures can only be done after enrollment.
When enrolling, one must prove that they have something outstanding or the potential to develop in a specific field.
If they cannot prove it, they can still enroll but must enter as a first-year student.
However, I, along with the examiners and the Empire’s people, did not want them to see me as an ordinary student.
At the enrollment exam, I would show that I had manipulated the mana in my body and reached not just three circles but four.
That alone would be enough to skip the first year.
What are you thinking?
Rua, who had already cleared the chessboard, was staring at me intently.
I was thinking about the enrollment exam. What should I show them there.
You’ve already decided, right? Showing swordsmanship alone would be enough. I’m the one who’s worried.
Me? Do I have anything to worry about?
I don’t even know what I’m good at.
What is Rua good at?
The first thing that came to mind was intrigue and cunning.
But how can I show that in the enrollment exam?
Governance, administration, command…
Rua’s governance was perfect.
One of the most revolutionary aspects was that the moment she became queen, she completely changed the Empire’s ruling structure.
Opposition was fierce, but no one dared to defy the queen’s orders after she had shed so much blood and ascended the throne.
She even weakened the emperor’s authority while strengthening it, creating chaos among the opposition forces.
In my opinion, Rua is too smart for her age.
What do you mean?
I mean exactly that. How about this? Propose a solution that can cleanly solve one of the many problems the Empire is facing right now.
But I don’t know much about what problems the Empire is facing.
I had forgotten.
I had been too preoccupied with how smart Rua was and kept confusing her with the past Rua Queen from my previous life.
Then I’ll throw one at you. You know the eastern front of the Empire is currently stalemated, right?
Yes. I knew that much.
What do you think is the reason the stalemate is continuing?
There are several reasons, but the biggest one is that the Empire’s forces are divided across multiple places. That’s why we couldn’t easily wage war with Solea.
I said I didn’t know much, yet when asked, she answered perfectly.
Large common sense means they know almost everything.
Do you know why Parta is holding up well?
There’s a capable commander, right? They’re excellent in tactics and strategy, and they’re also good at fighting.
You know that much? Then I think you can come up with a good solution.
It’s simple. The fastest and most economical way is to focus on defeating that commander.
I clapped for Rua.
If I clap now, what will I do? I haven’t given a solution yet.
We’ve been having a very high-level conversation. If I told an eleven-year-old girl about this, no one would believe it.
Moreover, Rua’s atmosphere was completely different when she was serious and deep.
It wasn’t just her eyes that changed; it was a product of profound thoughts. Anyone who could see it could tell.
Keep the solution in your head. Your own innovative method will lose its innovation the moment anyone else knows it. So think and think again, and make it more attractive. Then it will be given to you at the enrollment exam.
Oppa, hearing what you said, I think I was overthinking it.
Yeah. The Imperial Academy’s enrollment exam method is famous for being strange, right? But we are the students who even admire those strange examiners. Let’s be confident.
Thank you for cheering me up. It’s a relief because I have an older sister like you.
I’m glad I have a sister like you too. It’s rather unfortunate that I couldn’t be closer until now. I was an idiot for not taking better care of you sooner.
Rua’s eyes, which had been narrowed in a smile, suddenly closed.
Followed by a yawn.
You’re tired, aren’t you?
Yes. I’m sleepy now.
You used your head a lot. You talked to me a lot earlier, played chess twice, and even talked about a difficult topic just now.
Rua nodded.
She came and leaned her head on my shoulder.
It was an incredibly natural sequence after I had once allowed it.
We usually slept in the bed prepared at the back of the carriage late at night, but this was naptime.
Unlike me, who could control the body’s fatigue and growth with mana, Rua needed enough sleep time.
Just as Rua was about to fall asleep, the carriage shook violently.
It was an inconvenient time.
Rua’s expression looked uncomfortable because the carriage kept shaking and interrupting her sleep.
To solve that worry, this body appears!
‘I think it’s been a long time since the teacher felt this happy.’
When have I ever not helped? Here, it’s time to learn magic.
There was not a single wrong part in what the teacher said.
I had never done anything bad to Rua; I had only helped her.
‘If it’s about my worry, it’s about helping Rua sleep more comfortably, right?’
Of course. But I only help; the actual work is up to you. Place your hand on your sister’s forehead.
I did as the teacher instructed and placed my hand on Rua’s forehead.
But soon I pulled it back.
Why?
‘Rua is my precious little sister. I can’t use her as an experimental subject for magic I’m still inexperienced with.’
At first you were so scared, and now you’re smitten with your little sister. Let me ask again—who am I?
The transcendent who cannot be followed by anyone, the strongest magician.
Exactly. I’ll make sure that even if you make a mistake, it won’t harm your sister. So trust me. Trust that I, the one I chose as your master, trust you.
‘I will do as you say. Thank you.’
What? This is something to be grateful for. I’m just doing it because it’s fun.
I placed my hand on Rua’s forehead again.
When I gently stroked her hair, Rua’s uncomfortable expression improved a little.
Before we start, a question. Why did your sister’s expression become comfortable?
‘Perhaps because she felt comfort from my touch.’
Exactly. When your sister lent you her knee earlier, didn’t you feel a warm and good feeling? Remember that feeling.
A heart filled with no malice at all, purely caring for the other person.
Rua and I had already taken care of each other with that kind of heart.
Let your mana flow into your sister’s body. A little bit at a time, very slowly, so the child doesn’t get startled.
‘I don’t understand. What is the principle?’
It’s simple. It’s the same as when you blow mana into a sword. But don’t cut the mana threads.
When blowing mana into a sword, I quickly injected it to wrap the mana around quickly.
But that was possible because swords are metal that doesn’t feel pain and are sturdy, and Rua is the complete opposite.
She had to be handled more precious.
Soon my mana spread throughout Rua’s entire body.
Good job. What did I say magic was? Turning mana into your imagination. Then, for your sister to sleep well, how should the mana change?
I recalled the memory of Rua’s hand gently stroking my head when she lent me her knee.
Just touching with my hand, the warm and fluffy feeling that spread throughout the body.
Mana, make Rua feel the same as me.
Then the mana inside Rua slightly vibrated and turned into a warm, fluffy light, gently caressing her whole body like a soothing touch.
Soon, discomfort had completely disappeared from Rua’s expression, and her breathing had become stable.
Congratulations. Now you can properly see other people’s bodies.
Thanks to the teacher.
Just as I was about to cut the mana threads, the mana suddenly reacted from Rua’s head side.
The mana shook irregularly and something flowed out from Rua’s head.
That something entered my body through the mana threads and headed toward my head.
Oh, this is too bad. You learned it too well. It can’t be helped now. Take care.
When I was at a loss, the teacher quickly placed a hand on my head.
As consciousness blurred, strange scenes began to appear before my eyes.
A woman appeared.
That unfamiliar woman was my mother, who gave birth to me.
Mother was looking at me with an expression that said she loved the thing in front of her very much, an expression she had never shown me before.