Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Little Sister (Rejected)
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Just like that.
Spica, who'd barged into teatime, started chattering away with a beaming smile right after.
"A revolution has to be flashy and authoritative, right?"
She'd say stuff like that, rambling on about her own revolution theories.
Of course, every time she did, I felt like I was dying.
Was it because listening to Spica's revolutionary speeches made my head spin?
No.
It was because the spot she was yapping from was right on my lap.
"Spica. That's not proper etiquette. Get down now."
"No way. Sis. I like it here."
Right then, Spica leaned her back against me.
Spica, four years younger than Aila and just turning thirteen this year, was brimming with a child's boundless energy.
The problem was that she was bouncing all that energy right into me. ...Save me.
There was this old torture method called "pressing with stones." You put rocks on someone's knees and have people step on them or something...
"Spica."
"...Ugh. Okay, fine."
At Aila's next warning, Spica finally got up with a reluctant pout, freeing me at last from the 30kg torture machine known as Vice Death.
Spica hopped down with a little tap and then gracefully glided away. No actual steps, but distance appeared between us.
Similar concept to the black crystals Aila had used under her feet when carrying me earlier.
And Spica was using it casually, like it was nothing.
"Hm."
As expected of Spica Trista.
I could already glimpse the makings of a reliable Tier 1 War Mage.
Yeah. She's definitely party material.
"Spica. You get it, right? Wolfram's busy, so he doesn't have time to play with kids."
"Who're you calling a kid? Once I enroll next year, I'll be a proper lady! I'll grow at revolutionary speed!"
Sorry, but that dream ain't happening.
Even as Kelters's junior next year, Spica's on the petite side.
But she's the perfect proof that physical strength isn't true strength.
"Spica."
"Yes, big brother-in-law?"
"When you enroll next year, don't join any other division. Come to this convenience store instead. Interested in expeditions by any chance?"
"O-Of course! It's an honor! The grand revolutionary undertaking you're spearheading—your right-hand woman will be none other than Spica Trista!"
"Wolfram!?"
Hey, no big deal.
Tempering opportunities like this don't come cheap.
Spica Trista's that kind of talent.
A genuine War Mage who lives up to her Tier 1 billing.
Honestly, I'd love to raise her myself, but I don't have the confidence.
So...
"Spica. Eve's going to teach you magic soon. There's instruction sessions, right?"
"Y-Yes! Big brother-in-law."
"When that happens, resist Eve's mana control and try operating your own magic. That alone will be great practice."
"...Ah, I see. Never forget to learn, no matter the situation. So revolutionary!"
"And if Eve shows interest in you, say this."
My follow-up words made the Trista sisters' eyes go wide.
Eve von Loengrin had an insatiable hunger for talent.
She'd worked hard to shed the prejudice that talent meant perfect stats across the board and had ditched a good chunk of it, but that was entirely separate from curbing her greed.
Which was why the sprout program was a massively anticipated campus event for Eve von Loengrin.
She could catch glimpses of talent from kids whose enrollment was already locked in—future top and runner-up contenders for their cohorts.
"Using mana is like a territorial war. You compare your mana total to your opponent's—the higher one can manipulate denser, greater quantities of mana simultaneously and pressure the foe."
Eve lectured on mana usage while spreading her own mana around her.
The sprouts felt their mana get crushed in an instant and panicked.
All but one.
"I see. High mana really is power. Impressive! My Revolution Trista No. 3 is creaking from the drive system already! So revolutionary, President Eve!"
A sprout who ignored Eve's mana dominance to some degree and kept casting magic stood there.
"Spica Trista, was it?"
"Yes! President!"
"...If it's not too much trouble, could you come up front and show me your magic?"
"It's an honor! But if I may make a humble request in return!"
"Oh? Granted."
"Since I'm showing off anyway, I'd love to cross spells with you, President Eve!"
"Pardon?"
"I want guidance from the president with humanity's strongest mana reserves to gauge where I stand!"
Straight shooter who couldn't lie, with clever eyes.
Pure desire to challenge someone stronger.
Eve smiled brightly, genuinely delighted.
A kid with eyes like that still existed.
"Very well. Spica Trista. Come on up."
"Yes!"
"Wolfram. Is it true you plan to take Spica on expeditions once she enrolls?"
"Hm. Spica's excellent talent. If she consents, no reason we couldn't."
"...Ugh."
"What's wrong?"
"I rate your eye for talent extremely highly, but Spica's still a kid, and physically frail."
"Ah. So that's how you saw it."
"...Pardon?"
Spica Trista.
Just the key stats.
Mana first: 18. A genius who's barely broken human limits.
Stamina and strength on the flip side: pretty low. Stamina at 11, strength at 9.
Up to here, standard mage.
Could even call her Eve's downgrade, but she has one massive edge over other mages.
"Spica's got a really unique stat spread."
"Talent."
"Right. Her Talent stat's at 19."
That's right.
Spica Trista's Talent: 19.
So far, a Talent-focused magus. Kinda like Aila's downgrade.
"But for a mage, doesn't Talent need strength and stamina to back it up?"
"Hm. Not always."
"...Pardon?"
That's because you're one of the lucky ones born with it all, Aila.
Strength. Stamina. Mana. Talent.
With every spec covered, Aila Trista wraps her fists in black crystals when magic lags and goes Battle Mage.
But not Spica.
Too much of an Eve clone for pure mage.
No ground to stand on against Aila as Battle Mage.
What makes Spica amazing is carving a completely different path from both in that setup.
If she pulls off challenging Eve to a duel, hope she learns well this time.
The bout stayed in Eve's favor from start to finish.
Obviously. Even now, a seven-verse Light Spear would send that kid flying.
But sparring with magic and imparting lessons meant watching for every possibility your opponent had.
So Eve had no intention of ending it quick.
Trista.
Not an imperial founding house, but lords of the west.
Pushed west for missing the top ten elders, they seized western hegemony.
They survived the vast western wilds, believing in their ideals against nature itself.
That's why they're strong. Talented. Brimming with pioneering spirit that outshines all.
I'd half-believed it hearing the name, then seeing Aila—Wolfram's fiancée—but this kid confirmed it.
Trista is the real deal.
"Go! Revolution Trista Minimum!"
"【Light Spear: Single Shot】"
So, so fun.
Spica Trista.
She's one of the rarest in this era: a 【War Mage】.
Weak up close? That's the pure mage, strongest in spells alone: 【Pure Mage】.
Aila Trista's got body skills to match melee: 【Battle Mage】.
But her? Summons hordes of golems, issues orders, handles battlefield strategy solo. That's a 【War Mage】.
Decent mana. Clan spell: black crystals. Absurdly high Talent.
Pours it all into 【Golem Crafting】, stays back reading the field and directing while golems execute.
"Trista Minimum! Fall back! Trista No. 3! Charge!"
"【Light Spear: Rapid Fire】"
Most shocking? She probably figured out War Mage herself.
You can tell from her fluid spell control and battle flow.
Talent way below mine. Versatility lacking vs. her big sis.
Transcends meager gifts that can't touch era's peak by forging her own path.
"Return! Trista No. 3! Prep's done!"
"Oh? Coming already?"
"Yes! My trump card!"
Of course, Eve knew Spica was prepping something big.
First thing she did: erect a bodyguard golem. Safest spot issuing orders—the "general" position.
Recall order? Something huge incoming.
Spica's body lifted into the air as she recovered all golems.
Not float spell. Massive black crystal golem. Unprecedented size.
At least three stories tall. Fun enough already, but get this.
The golem only had an upper body and right arm.
"Oh? Still unfinished?"
"Yes! Room to evolve even more revolutionarily! Here I go, President!"
"This'll be good."
With that, the golem's right arm rose and lunged at Eve.
Eve wore a helpless look watching the strike.
Totally the mischievous little sister vibe now.
This went beyond magic duel. Land solid? It'd sting.
Head heated, the kid pulled her final card without hesitation.
And surprisingly, it was enough to make Eve break her own rules.
"Wasn't planning two verses or more, but 【Light Spear: Barrier of Light: Physical Resistance Boost】."
A kid with overwhelmingly inferior stats.
Had to break her self-imposed duel rules against her.
Eve von Loengrin.
The stubborn girl still plagued by judgmental habits got a thrill and vitality she'd never feel again.
The world's too vast to judge by my eyes alone!
Shattered my narrow view—not by some peer, but a girl three years younger!
Eve kept smiling to the end, lightly blocking Spica's attack.
The golem couldn't pierce the Light Barrier shielding Eve.
"Hehe. I win."
"Aww. I lost."
Climbing atop the golem to pat Spica's head, she started mewling happily. Eve savored the soft grip in her hand a moment before dispelling the golem.
Thinking back, resisting mana control at 22 came from Spica's magic nature.
Her spells weren't outward-facing but inward—building her own world, completing golems. External mana barely fazed it.
Enlightenment indeed.
"Beautiful magic, Spica Trista."
"Thank you..."
Really want a good bond with this kid.
Didn't always mesh with Wolfram von Loengrin's fiancée, Aila Trista, but no hard feelings.
If those two marry? Spica becomes like my little sister.
As the youngest imperial heir, "little sister" held mysterious appeal for Eve.
Infinitely better than that "kid" up the bloodline. No—don't even compare.
"Spica Trista."
"Y-Yes! President!"
"Oh...you can call me sis."
"Th-That's too much...Fine, how about senpai?"
"Hehe. Sure. Anyway, enrollment next year confirmed? Planning for Magic Division?"
"Yes!"
"Then...how about joining the Student Council?"
"...Pardon?"
Yeah. Get her in the Student Council first.
Then bond more, hear "sis" from Spica.
Eve dreamed it up, and Spica beamed back at her.
"Sorry! I've got prior commitments!"
"...Pardon?"
"Big brother-in-law Wolfram told me to join the convenience store! Gotta keep my promise!"
"...Who now? Wolfram...?"
"Sorry! I want to honor my promise to my dear big brother-in-law! Revolutionaries keep their word!"
"..."
Spica bowed her head deeply.
Perfect rejection.
One day.
A golden flash streaked from afar toward the convenience store yard.
Anyone could tell it was Eve von Loengrin, pointing at me accusingly with teary, trembling eyes.
"Y-You always! Always hog everything! And then, that greed of yours again!"
"...?"
"Just you wait! I'll, I'll someday, someday for sure...!"
"What?"
"Y-You greedy jerk!"
Eve, who arrived like lightning, vanished like thunder.
"...This pattern's new."
Shows up out of nowhere to yell and bolt? What gives.