Academy's Rebel (5)

Whirrrrr. I could feel the gaze from afar. It was none other than Ea. Lately, she'd been trailing after me like a shadow. Stalking, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠plain and simple. She probably thought I wouldn't notice, but she was way too sloppy for that.

On the other hand, I'd had plenty of practice shadowing people without being spotted. I deliberately led her to a secluded spot, waited around the bend, and grabbed her as she followed.

She startled for a split second, then swiftly shook off my hand and leaped back, putting distance between us. Her physical abilities were impressive, no doubt.

"Why are you following me?"

"...How did you get so strong? It's suspicious no matter how I think about it."

Ea pointed at me with her finger. She must've figured there was no way she'd lose to her worthless brother. And honestly, without Succumea's support, I wouldn't have stood a chance against her, dead or alive.

"I trained diligently, Sis. You know there's no other way to get stronger."

"Lies. You haven't shown up at the dojo once in years. No one—not me, not the servants—has ever seen you practicing."

"I did it in secret."

"Even if that's true, why hide it?"

"Because anything I do turns into a joke. I'd just get compared to you, the perfect sister who excels at everything. It's been that way since we were kids. No matter my passion or effort, only your talent shines. You know that's how it is, right?"

I deliberately poked at Ea's emotions. According to the original story's brief mentions, she felt a twinge of responsibility for her brother's downfall. Her brilliance had overshadowed him, casting a huge shadow that made his every effort invisible and unacknowledged. She'd confessed that guilt to the protagonist. So, I hit that nerve.

Sure enough, Ea's expression darkened.

"That's... but..."

"I'm not blaming you, Sis. You were just born with talent, and that's something to be proud of. It's all because I'm the screw-up."

"Then show everyone your skills now. Father would be thrilled. They'd all recognize you."

"Nah. I don't care about their approval. You're the exception."

"Me... an exception?"

I stepped close to Ea and answered not with words, but by pressing my lips to hers. Her eyes widened in shock at first, but she soon melted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into it. Truth was, she was already under suggestion. I'd planted it when I first noticed her stalking.

The suggestions were: "Easier to feel sympathy for Id", "No aversion to skinship or sex between family", "View little brother as opposite sex", and "Greater interest and pleasure from any skinship or sex with little brother". They didn't directly tweak affection, but worked indirectly.

From my experiments, direct tweaks from Bloodsucking Authority or Soul Capture snapped back when effects wore off. But indirect influences lingered, or faded slowly. I figured it hinged on "target noticing something off". If they later thought, "That was weird no matter how you slice it," it reset. But if it felt like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"Could happen," it stuck.

So I approached Ea more subtly. One of Id's few assets was his killer looks. Prime bloodline or not, he could've been a white male model: sharp jaw, defined features, that sleazy confidence with bad-boy charm, broad shoulders, perfect proportions, tall frame. Bad behavior aside, seducing women was child's play if affection wasn't rock bottom.

"I like you, Sis. You've always been my idol."

I slid a hand to her breast, kneading it, whispering seductively in a husky voice. Just days ago, this would've earned me a Wave Cutter straight to the hospital. But now...

She blushed shyly, then spoke softly, like she did with the protagonist after her flag got raised.

"What are you saying all of a sudden..."

"So I don't care if everyone sees me as a loser. As long as you get it."

"Id..."

Ea spread her arms and pulled me into a tight hug, stroking my hair.

"I'm sorry... Even as your big sis, even as family... I never noticed your feelings. I misunderstood you all this time. I'm really sorry... You were trying so hard, even in that tough spot."

Still in her embrace, I pulled out my phone to check her affection.

Her thoughts on Id had shifted too. Perfect timing.

"Sis. Let's spar."

"Again? ...Fine."

This spar was in the backyard, not the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dojo. No onlookers, wide open space, no interruptions.

"...You're serious about this."

Ea muttered, eyeing the sword I handed her. Not the usual wooden bokken, but a decorative blade in an ornate hilt and scabbard. Not a real sword, of course—a ceremonial one for show during guest visits or demos. Dull, but still a chunk of metal; a solid hit could maim or kill.

She drew it smoothly. No need to ask if she was ready—her eyes burned with resolve. This wasn't like before. She knew she didn't have the edge anymore. She was the challenger now, accepting and acknowledging the reversal. No questions needed. She wouldn't back down. This spar was part of recognizing her brother.

...Or so she probably thought.

"You first, Sis."

"If you're sure, then."

Ea stepped forward with one foot, thrusting. Like a fencer. She'd favored close quarters in the dojo before, but canonically, Ea preferred not to. The Leonin family's ultimate demon swordsmanship, perfected by Grandpa's generation, was ranged like a mage's. The sword was just a wand substitute.

"Sword Magic: Blue Flash!"

Ea thrust her sword, unleashing magic. A heavy blade aura sliced through the air. I parried with my magic-summoned sword. Golden light erupted, shattering the aura into fragments.

"You nullified the magic...?!"

Canon's saintess Anna's power: summoning a holy sword that repels all demons. This world's magic counted as demonic, per my research. Ea recovered quickly, unleashing a barrage.

Magic needed prep: chant, cast, manifest. But sword magic? Simple—infuse mana and shoot. With the stats and mana, she could storm like basic swordplay.

"Sword Magic: Azure Dance!"

A volley of blade auras. I deflected them all, then charged, closing to point-blank. My agility topped 300 now, channeling Anna and Seolwol. Stats, technique—everything outclassed her.

"...I lose."

With my blade at her throat, Ea dropped her sword, sighing lightly. No frustration this time. She'd felt the gap irrefutably—no excuses left.

"How'd you get so strong?"

"Ways and means. I'll tell you later."

I brushed it off. Ea chuckled suddenly.

"This feels... fresh. Never thought I'd learn from you."

"You mad?"

"No. Thrilled. My little bro's finally worthy of the Leonin name."

She smiled brightly. First time I'd seen it. Stunning.

"Anyway, I won, so you owe me one request. You know that, right?"

"What... do you want?"

As I closed in, Ea looked up tensely. Scared, but excited too. With Bloodsucking Authority's suggestions erasing aversion to sibling sex, her naturally lewd mind was probably racing with ideas.

I grabbed her breast and claimed her lips instead of answering. She yielded, then slipped her tongue in, tangling fiercely. The suggestion "Previous suggestions persist" kept her tongue hyper-sensitive. Her nipple hardened in my grip. Her pants were soaked at the crotch.

After a long, lusty kiss—her mind a flower field of haze—I spoke.

"Give me your first time, Sis. Everything."