Properly Educating the Reversed World's Man (2)
Renes Territory's knight order was renowned throughout the kingdom. Among them, Senya held a peerless position as a powerhouse; even within the domain, only a handful could match her in a fair fight. Though her experience was still limited for now, no one doubted that in a few years of meritorious service, she'd stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the three knights.
Having such a sister was a tremendous source of pride for Seiji.
"Feeling a bit calmer now?"
"Ugh, y-yeah... sniff."
At Senya's coaxing, Seiji tried to suppress his resentment. But the lingering pain in his face kept stoking his fury, and in the end, the stuffiness in his chest erupted once more into pitiful sobs.
"Ughh, Sis, Siiiis...!"
"Jeez, look at you crying again. You've always been such a crybaby, Seiji. All grown up in body, but still just a little kid at heart."
"I-I'm not a kid!"
"Sure you are. You'll always be a kid in my eyes."
Whenever something happened, he came running to her first—how could she not see him as childish? But he was precious family all the same, and she couldn't just leave him suffering.
"Calm down and tell me what happened, from the beginning."
"Well, it went like this..."
Urged on by her, Seiji recounted the earlier events—cleverly twisting the truth to hide that he'd approached Adrian first, while exaggerating the man's brutality.
"So, you and your friends got curious about the male warrior the three knights were training, went to check him out, and instead of appreciating your kindness, he got cocky and lashed out with violence?"
"Y-yeah! That guy's a man, but he was insanely violent! Look at this—my cheek's all swollen... I've never even gotten hit by Mom, isn't that too much?"
"...Yeah, that's pretty bad. Hard to believe a man did this."
Men were supposed to be demure by nature, yet Seiji's pretty face was brutally ruined, defying all common sense. Watching him, Senya ground her teeth and muttered.
"A vicious criminal, man or not..."
"R-right! That's why the lord shouldn't have put him on warrior duty for nothing. I heard rumors he even whored himself out in the arena to win..."
Seiji continued pouring curses and venom at the man. Senya noticed the blatant malice, but decided not to call him out on it just yet. To her, Seiji was beloved family—a boy she had to protect at all costs.
"...I can't let this slide."
"You gonna go to him?"
"Can't just sit by after you got hit. Leave the man to me, Seiji—you go get healed by a priest first."
"R-really? You promise?"
"Of course. Has your sis ever turned down your requests?"
She smiled brightly, stroking her brother's head. The tenderness on her face brimmed with genuine love for him.
"Don't worry about a thing. No matter when or where, I'll always protect you, Seiji."
True to her word, she'd always shielded him. When he'd gotten lost in the forest and attacked by wild beasts, when neighborhood kids bullied him out of jealousy over his looks as a child... In every crisis, she was there. Under her protection, he'd grown into a proper knight.
Trusting her utterly, Seiji had no doubt she'd make his wish come true.
Keh heh heh, that damn bastard. Thinks he's tough 'cause he's a man with some muscle—wrong opponent, punk.
Yes, his sister would bring the news he craved soon enough. Convinced of that, Seiji left her side and leisurely headed to the church for treatment.
And the next day.
Discharged from the church as planned, Seiji headed straight back to his sister's quarters, certain she'd have good news.
"Sis!"
"Oh, uh... Seiji. Good morning."
Senya greeted him in a hesitant voice, unlike her usual self, but Seiji didn't notice. His mind was on one thing: what happened to the man who'd ruined his face.
"What'd you do with that guy yesterday? You gave him hell, right?"
"..."
"...Sis?"
Senya bowed her head without answering. Only then did Seiji realize something was off. He scrutinized her closely. Her face was flushed for some reason, clutching his arm while averting her gaze—like she was recalling something embarrassing...
"Ahem."
As he puzzled over it, Senya cleared her throat, composed herself, and glanced at him before continuing.
"S-Seiji... I talked with that guy yesterday."
"...Talked?"
"Yeah. I couldn't just swing at a man out of nowhere, so I tried resolving it with words..."
Talk? What the hell? He'd hoped she'd wreck the guy even worse than he'd done to him.
"From what he said, he didn't seem like a bad person."
But her words dashed his hopes—worse, they hinted at sympathy for him. As Seiji's mind went blank, Senya shyly voiced her thoughts.
"The criminal thing seems like a misunderstanding too. He was a wanderer with no papers, so he ended up an illegal resident... And getting roped into warrior duty? The lord needed a male fighter and kinda forced him. Felt pretty pitiful, honestly."
"W-what the hell are you saying, Sis?"
Unable to take more, Seiji blurted in shock.
"You forget what I told you yesterday? You saw what he did to my face!"
"T-true... But still..."
"But what? Your little brother's beaten, and you're not even mad?"
He deserved his limbs torn off, yet here she was pitying him. Outraged by her incomprehensible behavior, Seiji hoped it'd snap her back— she'd always taken his side, never refused him.
But...
"...Seiji. From what he said, you and your group ganged up and picked a fight with him first, right?"
"Sis?"
"Come to think of it, I've heard bad rumors about you since joining the knights. Skipping training, making other women do your work..."
"S-Sis, what are you talking about? Why bring that up now?"
"Maybe your behavior was the problem, so he only fought back reluctantly."
Problem. A word she'd never uttered to him before. The moment he heard it, a rift tore through his reality, spiraling into rage at the absurdity.
"Sis, what's wrong with you today?"
This wasn't right. She'd always protected him alone—now she was scolding him?
"Normally you'd have thrashed him right away, but instead you ignore me and let him convince you? This is weird. Not like you at all!"
"Not like me? I love you, Seiji, but does that mean I have to do everything you ask, even if it's wrong or unjust?"
"O-of course! No matter what, you're supposed to be on my side!"
She'd always protected him. Even if the world turned against him, she mustn't betray him.
"...I get the picture. I know who's in the wrong."
But contempt crept over her face toward her brother—an emotion she should never feel for him, one she'd never allow in her life.
"I thought you'd grow up eventually, but maybe I spoiled you too much."
"S-Sis?"
"Fine. I'll talk to him again today like you want, so go wait at home."
"No, not talk—I want you to teach him a lesson..."
"I'll handle it. You gonna disobey your sis?"
For the first time, his own sister snapped at him. Stung, but unsure how to respond in this unfamiliar situation, Seiji stormed out.
Even after time passed, the confusion lingered.
What the hell? Why's Sis taking his side over mine?
Did that bastard pull some trick on her? Seduced her with sweet talk and badmouthed him?
I need to check this out.
It involved his family—no delegating this. Seiji hid near her quarters, watching. When she left, he tailed her stealthily. She headed straight for that loathsome man's place. Maybe she'd finally confront him seriously this time—but upon arrival, her demeanor was oddly cautious.
"Uh, Adrian. You here?"
"Oh, it's you, Senya."
They called each other by name, familiarly, like old friends. Seiji was stunned, but unnoticed, they chatted casually.
"Get home okay last night?"
"Yeah, pretty much. You in the middle of training?"
"Yep. Gotta prep as much as I can—who knows what'll come next. Hey, since you're here, mind spotting me today too?"
"S-sure, if you're okay with me."
Senya blushed deeply, as if embarrassed before him. To Seiji, it was a reaction all too familiar—the one women showed when smitten with him.
S-Sis? No way?
No, impossible. The guy who'd beaten her precious little brother—a blood enemy. His pride and joy couldn't possibly fancy him.
"Gonna do sit-ups—can you hold my legs?"
"Uh, sure."
Against expectations, she cooperated with his training. As he sat up, baring his abs, she startled and yanked his clothes down.
"W-what are you doing!? Have some modesty, man!"
"Oops, wasn't thinking."
"Jeez, be careful. I'm a woman too, you know."
She acted bold yet shy around men. As Seiji watched anxiously, Adrian smirked playfully at her.
"What's it matter? You saw everything last night anyway."
Saw everything? What?
"Th-that was just the booze talking, in the heat of the moment..."
Heat of the moment? What the fuck?
A barrage of incomprehensible words. Confusion and dread washed over Seiji as Senya glanced nervously and spoke strainedly.
"Um... Adrian."
"Yeah? What's up?"
"I don't remember last night well... Mind if we, uh, do it again?"
Do what again?
"...Let's move somewhere private."
Bad vibes. Unable to intervene, Seiji watched as Adrian led Senya to his quarters.
S-Sis...
A horrifying possibility flashed in his mind. Seiji desperately denied it. His revered sister, his pride— she couldn't be toying around with some man.
Please, no...?
To confirm, he snuck to the back of the quarters and peered through a door crack. But inside, shattering his hopes, unfolded something that should never happen.
His sister, stripping off her armor before him, shyly baring her naked form as God made her.
"D-don't stare so much... it's embarrassing..."
Thump, thump.
Seiji's heart pounded wildly as he watched.