Rebellious Phase (1)
Whoosh—! The sharply honed thin sword cleaved through the air as it fell, unleashing a piercing whoosh that stabbed at the ears. Shimmering atop its blade was a clear sword aura rippling with a faint blood-red hue. The symbol of the 5th Hierarchy. The power to infuse mana—or aura—with one's own attribute. Beatrice gripped the thin sword Kyle had gifted her in childhood and continued her sword dance. The girl who once struggled even to properly hold and swing a blade was no longer here. In her place stood only a razor-sharp swordswoman who could slice anyone daring to approach too close in an instant.
Whoosh, shinggg!! The trajectories of her actual strikes were already tracing paths too fast for the naked eye of an ordinary person to follow. Yet Beatrice showed no signs of fatigue, not a single drop of sweat beading on her brow as she mechanically swung her sword downward.
"That's quite mysterious in this lady's eyes, wouldn't you say."
"……."
Just then, another voice intruded, disrupting her training. The state of Man-Sword Unity—where body and blade became one—shattered slowly. The chillingly intense blood-red glint in her eyes faded, and Beatrice's gaze cooled to ice. She pulled a handkerchief from her bosom and wiped the blade with casual strokes, asking indifferently,
"What do you want?"
She didn't turn around. She already knew whose voice it was. Beatrice spat the words in a profoundly bored tone, and Sina chuckled softly in response.
"Oh, nothing particular. I was just... curious what the 'eldest' daughter—who's been driving nails into Kyle's heart since morning—was up to."
"Then get lost already. Can't you see? I'm practicing swordsmanship."
"Hmmm, don't be so cold. This lady's curiosity hasn't been satisfied yet."
Thud—like a true cat, Sina had been perched atop the mansion's roof. She leaped lightly into the air and landed gracefully on the ground. Beatrice shot a sidelong glare at her approaching second sister, her displeasure evident.
A year was no short time. Their relationship had progressed somewhat in that span. But even so, it amounted to little more than exchanging a few reluctant words out of pity for the fretting Kyle. If he weren't there and it was just the two of them, hardly any conversation would pass between them. That was the frigid sisterly bond between Beatrice and Sina.
Beatrice eyed Sina's sly smile and was about to fire off another sharp retort when she paused, then changed her words.
"If you have something to say, make it quick. I'll listen."
In other words, she found it odd. They usually ignored each other like chickens passing in the yard. Why had this dangerous beast approached her now? Beatrice felt a spark of interest and responded with uncharacteristic leniency.
"I'm puzzled why you're practicing swordsmanship so diligently."
"……?"
"Don't you have a more 'suitable' power?"
Beatrice instantly regretted her decision the moment Sina spoke those loaded words. It was a topic she had no desire to discuss. Her eyes turned icy in a flash.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
She snapped back coldly, making no effort to hide her hostility, but Sina didn't flinch. She merely swished her fluffy tail and pressed on.
"Isn't the sword unnecessary baggage for you? Sure, it doesn't hurt to use it, but I can't shake the feeling it's inefficient. Not optimal."
"……."
"Hiding 'that power' from Kyle and not revealing your true realm is suspicious too. That subtly oblivious man seems clueless about it."
"……What are you getting at?"
Beatrice's tone sharpened further as she demanded. Dangerous blood-red flickered once more in her glaring eyes. But Sina, who had adapted to Beatrice over the past year, merely shrugged.
"No need to be so guarded. I'm not saying this with any ulterior motive. Just pure curiosity, as I said at first."
"……."
Beatrice narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Sina's expression more intently. It didn't seem like a lie on the surface... Still, she didn't lower her guard, so Sina shook her head with a sigh and added,
"Fine, I swear. No matter what, unless you bring it up first, this lady won't breathe a word about your power to Kyle."
"……."
"You can trust my oaths. Having lived alone for so long, I don't even know how to lie skillfully."
That much was true. Sensing no changes in Sina's expression, gaze, heartbeat, or breath, Beatrice made her judgment. With a short click of her tongue, she sheathed her thin sword at her waist and said,
"……I'm not deliberately deceiving him."
"Hmm?"
The secret she'd kept hidden from everyone—the root of her inner turmoil, her 'blood' talent. She wasn't sure of the exact trigger, but it had awakened naturally one night as she slept in Kyle's arms: the powers of a vampire. Perhaps because her relationship with Sina was so poor, she could confide in her easily. Once she thought that, the words flowed naturally.
"There's no way I'd deceive Dad... He's my lifelong benefactor. No matter the secret, if it's him, I'd tell him everything."
"……."
"……The reason I haven't told him about this power is just... I'm a bit worried. That's all for now."
She would reveal it eventually, when the time was right. Beatrice added that, her gaze clouding, and Sina raised an eyebrow.
"Worried? About what?"
"……."
Beatrice fell silent for a moment. Should she answer or not? She seemed to ponder it, but the pause didn't last long. Growing impatient, she blew a breath that tousled her bangs and replied in a troubled tone.
"Dad... I don't know for sure, but it seems like he doesn't want me to awaken this power. Probably because my talent is dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
"Yeah. I heard it's strong enough to destroy a nation. Maybe that's why he took in a stranger like me as his daughter..."
She trailed off, but Sina got the gist. Glancing at the white tiger that had scampered over from playing in the yard and was now rubbing its head against her ankle, Sina countered skeptically,
"I get what you're saying, but do you really think Kyle is unaware you'll awaken that power? This lady doesn't buy it."
Beatrice's mouth shut again. Sina studied her closely and continued.
"It'll come out eventually. Better to confess everything to that Kyle you trust so much and ask for his help, no?"
Those words must have irked Beatrice. She clenched her fist subtly, glaring at Sina with twitching eyes.
"Shut up. Even without your nagging... I said I'd tell him eventually."
"……Such fierce eyes. No need to get mad. I won't say more if you don't want."
Sensing her prickly reaction, Sina backed off. She gently stroked the white tiger cowering behind her in fright and spoke. Beatrice, noticing the tiger spooked by her own aura, reluctantly reined it in despite her sour expression. She roughly swept back her bangs with a sigh, and Sina curved her lips in a faint smile.
"Alright, shall we change the subject? I've got another curiosity brewing."
"……What now."
Beatrice's voice now dripped with annoyance, signaling she was done entertaining Sina.
"Nothing major."
This would probably be the last question she could ask. Sina chose her words carefully inwardly, then broached it with a sly glint in her eyes.
"Lately, haven't you been especially prickly toward Kyle? From what you just said, you care for him deeply."
"……."
"It's curious how you only bristle when he's around. Is there a reason?"
Beatrice didn't answer. This time, it wasn't hesitation—she had no intention of satisfying that curiosity. Her gaze turned chillingly cold. Sina picked up on it but smirked mockingly anyway.
"If you won't answer, shall this lady guess? The reason for your sudden rebellious phase."
"……You."
Beatrice's expression darkened further, and the white tiger, sensing the ominous auras of the two superiors, fled into the yard's bushes. Regardless, the girls slowly raised their energies, facing off in earnest as their conversation continued—mostly driven by Sina.
She sneered and pressed on.
"Getting confused, aren't you? You treasure Kyle, sure, but about how you really see him."
"……Shut that mouth. I won't say it twice."
"Kyle's too dense to notice, but this lady sees it. That fresh anguish you're harboring."
Shing—! As promised, no second warning. Beatrice drew her sword with an icy expression, cloaking the thin blade in blood-red sword aura. Sina sharpened her gaze in kind, ears perking rigidly, ready to unleash her Monstrous Strength Chaos God power if needed. Her golden eyes narrowed like a beast's as she nailed down her suspicion.
"Shall I say it bluntly? Beatrice, as you shed your girlish shell bit by bit, you've started wondering inwardly."
Like this.
"……'Do I really see Kyle only as my father?'"
"──."
"'Or if not... then I see him as...'"
Boommm!! And the conversation ended there. Beatrice's eyes rolled back in fury before Sina could finish. She swung her sword, shattering the ground. Sina hopped back just in time to avoid being bisected, twisting midair with a light laugh.
"……You're impressive, but you still can't beat this lady."
"Just die, you beast."
"Time to show you the gap in our levels. Come at me, 'eldest sister'."
It had been just a year since the two girls began living under one roof. This marked the start of a monumental sisterly clash between the two disasters.