Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Dragon's Nest - [1]
The day Serika was supposed to come had arrived. In other words, it was a bit scary.
Click.
No doorbell, no knock. The lock clicked open smoothly, and the door swung inward.
Magic.
Even I, who knew nothing about magic, could tell it was incredibly intricate and advanced magic.
"Uh..."
The person standing at the door was, of course, Serika. Though she had changed slightly from the cute little sister I remembered.
She wore a jet-black robe over her neatly pressed academy uniform.
It was probably the Tower's robe. The hem was embroidered with magic circles in silver thread that glowed faintly.
And instead of a small wand, she held a thick grimoire in her hand.
The most unfamiliar thing was Serika's aura.
Gone was her usual cheerfulness; a chilling coldness hung in the air around her, as if it could freeze the very atmosphere.
"Y-you're here? Serika? How've you been?"
I smiled awkwardly, and after a moment's hesitation, she spoke seriously.
"Oppa. We need to talk. How about we sit on the sofa?"
It was a little scary. Seeing her so serious like that.
What could I say? The power gap between her and me felt all too real.
Come to think of it, Serika was destined to become a great mage.
With that in mind, I had no choice but to behave myself.
Serika closed the front door (without touching it, using magic) and walked toward me.
She stopped in front of the sofa, looked down at me, then plopped down right next to me. And then...
Thud.
Unlike her cold expression, she leaned her head on my shoulder.
A familiar shampoo scent mixed with an indescribably refreshing aroma brushed my nose.
"...How've you been?"
When I asked, Serika flinched. She fell silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"Oppa. I've become the Tower's sole successor."
"...!"
"No more 'candidate.' The Tower Lord named me directly. Said my mana circuits and computation speed are the best in history."
Serika tapped near her right eye and added, 'This helped a ton.'
"O-oh..."
"Why's your reaction so lukewarm?"
I answered honestly.
"Of course it's huge, but from my perspective, I can't really grasp just how big it is. That's the feeling."
"... "
Serika sighed at my words and swept her hair back.
She tilted her head up slightly to meet my eyes.
"It's way beyond anything Rozina could dream of."
Serika cut me off and snapped.
"It's a position I earned purely on my own talent, not my family's power. Sure, the artifact helped. I admit that."
"... "
"Even so, being the Tower Lord's successor is on par with a duke."
Serika leaned her face against my shoulder as she said it.
"I heard you got a noble title, Oppa."
"Yeah. I did."
"... I accomplished something way bigger. Better than you."
Serika fidgeted with her hands, and I straightened her hair.
What could I say? In a situation like this, I only had one thing to say.
"Good job."
At my words, Serika looked up at me. Her eyes narrowed.
"But..."
A dangerous vibe. She was settling in for the real talk.
"Of course, I did tell you to serve as Rozina's maid."
Here it comes.
"How did you charm Lady Rozina in just a week to make that happen? You even told me you'd serve your 'Master' next time too. What did you do?"
"... Misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?"
"Lady Rozina was so moved by my performance... You know how artists can lose themselves when they fall for it."
Serika's eyes gleamed with suspicion.
"Lady Rozina doesn't seem the type..."
Serika still looked doubtful but didn't press further.
She leaned back on my shoulder with a sigh.
I toyed with her hair; soft silver strands slipped between my fingers.
"Serika. Remember?"
"What?"
"That day it snowed a ton when we were kids. We were having a snowball fight outside, and you fell and cried."
Serika froze at my words.
"No idea what you're talking about. Did that happen?"
She acted like she had no clue, but anyone could tell she was lying.
"You looked like a little white bird, sitting there in the snow."
"Bird?"
"Like a swan, I guess?"
I stood and walked to the piano.
"I made a piece remembering that."
"... "
Serika watched me silently. I opened the piano lid and sat on the bench.
As I placed my hands on the keys, childhood memories overlapped with the current Serika.
'She hasn't changed that much.'
Her seeking praise overlapped too.
[Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake]
The tremolo accompaniment began gently rippling like waves.
A dreamy melody evoking moonlight over a misty lake.
Layered atop it, a melancholic theme flowed.
Dee-ra-ra— dee-ra-ra—
An elegant yet sorrowful, cold yet beautiful melody.
This piece captured the tragic fate of Princess Odette, turned into a swan, and her unwavering nobility.
I played while glancing at Serika. She sat on the sofa with her eyes closed.
As the music flowed, her tense expression gradually softened.
'... Must've been tough.'
Serika had never told me how hard it had been.
So I could only guess.
Discrimination at the academy. Probably at the Tower too.
In that environment, she'd seized the successor position on her own.
'Well, partly thanks to me?'
Thinking of the artifact briefly disrupted my playing, but I recovered quickly.
This performance was for Serika.
A tribute to the beautiful swan who shone on her own.
The music built to a climax, then returned to the lake's gentle ripples, fading to an end.
Ding—.
The final note's echo vanished, silence fell. Serika kept her eyes closed for a long while.
Her long lashes trembled faintly.
"... "
Then she slowly opened her eyes. They were moist.
"... You really made it for me?"
Serika tossed out the question.
"Not for Rozina?"
"Obviously."
I closed the lid and smiled.
"I told you the title. Swan Lake. Lady Rozina's got red hair, so... obvious, right?"
Serika patted the seat beside her, and I sat.
Naturally, she leaned on my shoulder again.
Deeper and more comfortably than before.
"Fine."
She mumbled, hugging my arm.
"I won't care what that Rozina girl says. I've got you, Oppa."
Then her eyes turned serious again.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Come travel with me."
I couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"What about the academy?"
"Academy?"
Serika snorted.
"I've taken enough classes to rack up all my credits early. Missing a few days won't affect graduation."
I almost asked how many major credits, but chickened out.
"Besides, the trip's just an overnight at most. Not far—somewhere near the academy."
"Near the academy? Where?"
Serika paused, then said softly.
"Dragon's Nest."
I'd heard of it. Somewhere. But where?
"Isn't that... just an empty ruin with nothing there?"
What was it? Knowledge that felt naturally familiar? No idea how I knew.
"Huh? How do you know that, Oppa?"
"Uh... overheard it. It's a tourist spot."
"Yeah. Famous for having nothing."
Serika clenched and unclenched her fist.
"Personally, I need to check something there. For the Tower Lord... no, my research."
She stared into my eyes.
"I could go alone, but since it's like that, I want to go with you. You've had a lot on your mind lately, right? Let's get some fresh air."
"... Isn't it dangerous?"
"If anything happens, I'll protect you."
Getting protected-by-little-sister vibes. Weird feeling. Is this what they mean by raised her just for her to eat me?
Adapted to raised her and now she protects me. Lame even to me.
Anyway, this proposal felt familiar... No clue. If Serika wants to go, we go.
"You know I've got money now, right? Let's take a carriage."
Serika's face lit up.
"Ooh...! As expected of Aiman-nim! The great artist!"
"No exaggerating."
"Yep."
"Prep today, go tomorrow then."
Dragon's Nest. The name alone gets the heart racing.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ — Anna Mister, there's something I'm impressed about, right? — Anna ... — Anna You wouldn't go when I suggested it. Amazing. It's a promise, so I'll send blessings, but no calling you oppa. But really, wow...