Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Sisters' Gratitude and a Shocking Letter
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1
The untouched wardrobe slowly creaked open.
At this horror-movie-level event, not only I but Choco too fixed our gazes on the wardrobe.
Reflexively, I deployed mana.
I warped the coordinates to summon Deathwise, which I'd leaned against the wall, straight into my hand.
I drew Deathwise from its sheath right away.
At the same time, the wardrobe door swung fully open.
My eyes met Felt's, frozen in an awkward pose as if she'd failed to grab the door from inside.
Crouched beside her was Rui.
“…….”
“…….”
Felt awkwardly tilted her head.
Was it a greeting, or did she just want to bow her head? Hard to tell.
“…Why are you two coming out of there?”
I sheathed my sword first.
Choco and I stood up, and Felt and Rui hesitantly emerged from the wardrobe.
“Well, my little sister insisted on thanking you in person….”
Felt said, looking embarrassed.
In the meantime, Rui toddled over and held out a crumpled paper flower.
“Thank you for saving me.”
“I only did what needed doing.”
I knelt down and took the paper flower from Rui.
This kid must have folded it diligently while thinking of me.
It felt wrong to refuse, so I accepted it quietly and stroked Rui's head in return.
Up close, Rui looked much healthier than before, with some meat on her bones.
Felt seemed noticeably healthier too.
Of course, before they'd been so skinny it was hard to guess their ages.
Ethan had told me Felt was 14 and Rui 10.
They were still a bit short, but growing closer to their age-appropriate sizes.
“Why don't you sit for a bit since you're here.”
“Oh, no. We've said what we came for….”
“It's fine. Kids don't turn down snacks.”
I rummaged through the cupboard and found berry cookies.
Tea might be too much for kids, so I poured milk into teacups and lined them up on the table.
Rui climbed onto a chair right away.
Felt ended up sitting beside her too.
“How have things been lately? I heard from Ethan that you entered the orphanage, but I don't know the details.”
I sat across from the two kids and asked as gently as possible.
Rui was focused on the cookies, so Felt answered.
“I've made a lot of friends. At first, some were wary because I'm a beastkin… but now we're all close.”
“Gaitan and Billy are the closest!”
Rui added after devouring one cookie.
I pushed the remaining cookies toward Rui.
“And you, Felt?”
“Haha… I'm friendly with everyone. Most are younger than me anyway. Honestly, I might have more friends outside the orphanage now.”
“Outside?”
“I'm working. The orphanage director introduced me to a shop owner she knows, and they let me do cleaning and stocking shelves. I want to pull my weight and repay the debt soon.”
Was she already dreaming of independence?
Calling it admirable might be too harsh for a kid.
Felt had basically survived alone until now.
“If it's someone the director knows, that's fine… but hide your ears when you're out.”
Beastkin still drew stares.
At that, Felt perked up her fox ears and picked up a hat.
It was big enough to cover them completely.
“Looks like you're handling it well. No worries needed.”
She probably managed herself better than anyone.
But that wasn't my real concern.
“If you want to repay me, you don't have to.”
“Huh…? But….”
“I never expected or wanted repayment. If you really feel indebted, take care of yourself first. Do what you want, play when you want to. Demanding repayment from a kid makes you a lousy adult—steer clear of those.”
I patted Felt's head like a drum.
Meanwhile, Choco hopped onto the table and snatched a cookie from in front of Rui.
Even though it was stolen right in front of her, Rui's eyes sparkled with fascination at Choco instead.
Rui poked Choco's fluffy tail with her fingertip.
Choco immediately swatted Rui's hand away with her tail.
But Rui liked the reaction and stroked Choco's head.
Choco looked grumpy but, aware her opponent was a kid, turned her back instead of striking—fatal mistake.
Rui hugged Choco's exposed back.
Clutched like a stuffed toy, Choco flailed and pleaded with me for rescue.
But Choco, this is karma for stealing Rui's cookie.
Karma must be paid someday, so give in quietly.
Choco's face screamed betrayal.
I left them to play and turned back to Felt.
“Ethan brought you here?”
“Yeah, Rui wanted to say thanks, so he did.”
Felt nodded.
After dropping them off, where did Ethan go…?
“Oh, Uncle Ethan said he had something come up and to wait in the lobby… but Rui wanted to surprise you….”
“That makes sense. Sure does.”
But some things didn't.
“…How did you get into my room, though?”
Esterro Academy was the kingdom's top educational institution.
It got attacked and robbed often to advance the main story, but….
Its thorough security meant ordinary kids couldn't just wander into the dorms freely.
Pure curiosity.
Still, Felt hesitated before awkwardly pointing to herself.
“I've got some… street skills from the back alleys…?”
Not every door had barriers, but the locks were special—hard even for experts.
No way "street skills" covered it.
Her moves in the Corbus Family hideout, fooling the academy's security….
“Impressive.”
“Huh…?”
“Really impressive. Not many could pull that off.”
It went beyond skill into pure talent.
A good talent, as long as not used for theft.
My honest praise made Felt fidget, unused to it.
Soon after, Ethan came looking for the kids and reached my room.
Our midnight rendezvous ended there.
2
“Hey, that's wrong. This level of math is taught at the start of the semester—why can't you do it yet?”
Luis's exasperated voice made Ethan clutch his head.
Unbothered, Leon was flipping through his textbook.
It was right before finals.
In the prime spot of Minenvar Library's lounge on this lazy afternoon.
The leather sofas perfectly cradled the body, green walls eased eye strain, and soundproofing spells everywhere meant you could raise your voice without disturbing others.
Perfect study spot.
I hadn't planned to study, but Ethan dragged me in to tackle finals together.
I'd forgotten, but I was technically a failing student.
Leon joined to help.
Then we found Luis at Minenvar Library and brought him along.
That's how our table formed.
Everyone except Ethan was a key player in the Minenvar Library takeover incident.
The reading club disbanded without discrimination, but it was surprising Luis had library access.
“Ugh… Theo, my friend… can you solve this?”
Ethan sneaked the problem my way.
Math, huh? How hard could it be?
Just simultaneous equations from middle school.
“Don't sneak away—solve it yourself.”
“This senior's so strict….”
Ethan returned to the problem under Luis's watch.
Son of a tycoon, yet struggling with basic math.
Thinking about it, Ethan was more brawn than brains—no surprise.
“Can you solve it?”
Leon asked this time.
“Yeah, this much is fine.”
“Thoroughly prepared, I see.”
“More or less. You?”
“As much as I can.”
Leon's "as much" meant top-student level.
He got top grades studying mostly from textbooks.
Plus naturally sharp mind.
“Solve it then!”
Ethan shoved the problem at me anyway.
Middle school equations—easy mental math.
“Number 3.”
“Correct.”
“N-No way…! I thought you were my comrade…!!”
Ethan recoiled in horror.
Hey, even for a failing student, overreacting much?
“Shocking. Mental math…? You're smarter than I thought.”
“Senior, can I punch him?”
“Violence is a no-no.”
No, you pissed me off first.
Was this how the yellow raccoon felt staring at blue sea otters and pink squirrels daily?
I closed my eyes and deep-breathed.
Think of something else.
Written exams weren't a big deal….
Leon was more pressing now.
Thanks to the holy sword, he'd started showing his hidden strength bit by bit.
With knight-level skill unmasked plus an early holy sword, he'd handle early events solo.
Good—hands off for a while.
Please save the world and uncover plots where I can't see.
Keep me out of it.
“How about practicals?”
I opened my eyes at Leon's question.
Esterro Academy exams weighed practicals heaviest.
Had to, for game progression.
Practicals 60%, written 30%, conduct 10%—everyone bet on practicals.
Practicals were one per year, not per subject.
Same criteria for all, so written just checked attendance.
“Who's proctoring this year? Last was survival on a deserted island.”
Ethan muttered casually, ignoring math.
Luis rubbed his brow and grumbled.
“No idea on proctor. Changes per person. Brace for anything.”
“If the senior says so!”
Luis was right.
Unknown exam meant full prep.
Generally speaking.
I knew this finals practical.
And the incident no one else did.
Only I knew.
3
“Exam eve means cleaning, as always.”
Tests made even hated chores fly by.
Half-assed cleaning bugs you, breaks focus.
Especially with written exams tomorrow.
So I grabbed a broom, meticulously sweeping under the bed.
Choco helped, dusting the wardrobe.
Cute helper.
“Hm?”
The broom snagged a letter.
Sender: Theo Agrit. Recipient: Agrit Count Family.
Forgot to send? No stamp, no wax seal.
“Half-written?”
Who stashes draft letters under the bed?
What kind of guy was original Theo…?
Tossed it? No, unfolded it.
I knew nothing about Theo.
Vacation meant home—might learn something.
[Father,]
You won't believe what I saw. Still, I can't hold it in; must vent the horror somewhere, so I picked up the pen. That moment I witnessed clings to my brain like molten metal, hardened. Can't forget, ignore, or pretend. If they learn I know, I'll die. Father, please. Allow my withdrawal……
Ink smeared black at the end—pen snapped mid-sentence?
Desperation, terror, fear pressed into each stroke seeped from the page into me.
My hands trembled finely.
Breath caught; I stumbled back.
The letter fluttered down.
“What the hell…!”
Theo Agrit had reason to quit.
Something terrifying enough to fear.
The traces screamed it.
He hadn't sent it.
Couldn't.
Begging withdrawal meant something at Esterro Academy.
Anirza's warning popped up: be careful at the academy.
“Something I don't know… hidden in the academy….”
A complete unknown, unlike prior variables.
The looming possibility gripped my chest unbidden.