Chapter 105
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Gresha (5)
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Knock knock—
"Hm. Who is it?"
"It's me, Family Head."
"Come in."
The creak—
The usual scene in the study. The Family Head sat atop the impeccably organized desk like a fixture in a landscape.
It stood in stark contrast to Sion's pallid complexion.
"Family Head."
"Young Heir. What is it?"
"Starting today, I'll resume participating in the experiments."
"Very well."
Sion bit her lip in secret at the Family Head's emotionless nod in response to her report.
"For the first week, focus on grasping the overall flow of the lab's operations."
"Yes, understood."
"You may go."
"Yes."
Late at night in the study, the Family Head showed no reaction or questions whatsoever—enough to make the family tree she'd seen seem like an illusion. Sion barely calmed her raging heart and left the room.
It had been a week since she'd started her nauseating lab life to protect Mion and honor Marie's sacrifice. For some reason, the entire family gathered for breakfast that morning.
Her mother, whose words had grown fewer and fewer lately, her sisters who only appeared occasionally, Family Head Leon, Mion, and Sion—despite everyone being present, the air felt suffocating.
Even Mion, who could seem oblivious at times with her lively energy, shrank under the atmosphere and bolted for the forest the moment breakfast ended.
It had been over two weeks without a meal or even tea time alone with Mion... As Sion felt a pang of regret,
"Sion, come to the study after you finish eating."
"Yes, Family Head."
Leon inexplicably summoned her to the study and rose from the table.
"Mother."
"...What is it, dear?"
"Nothing."
"......"
Though their exchange was brief, the lifeless gaze in her mother's eyes as she met Sion's spoke volumes.
Sion lacked the courage to say more. She finished her meal in silence and left the table.
Knock knock—
"Come in."
Sion entered the study upon hearing Leon's flat, unchanging voice.
"What did you need me for, Family Head?"
"Hm... A beastkin test subject escaped the lab recently."
"...Pardon?"
Sion was momentarily thrown by Leon jumping straight to the point, skipping all context, but she quickly focused.
"Unfortunately... Mion found it in the forest during her hunter experience and cared for it until yesterday."
".....!"
Mion and a test subject—Sion's mind reeled for a moment, but she strained to hear Leon out.
"According to the maids' reports, Mion hasn't visited since today. She only goes occasionally when she has time and says she's done with the hunter experience."
"I... see..."
"Capture the test subject and bring it back to the lab as soon as possible."
"Th-that...!!"
"As you know, the Magic Tower's been short on beastkin subjects lately. Every one counts."
".....Understood..."
"The sooner, the better."
"Yes."
Faced with the Family Head's blatant intent, Sion pretended to accept the order with a bow and slipped out of the study.
Late afternoon. Bea, Mion's dedicated maid with twigs in her hair and a filthy uniform, approached her.
"Young Heir."
"Hm? Bea, what brings you here?"
"Um... Mion asked you to join her for dinner tonight..."
"Sure, and tea time after."
"Yes... Understood!!"
The Family Head rarely joined meals, and the Lady of the House kept to herself. Without special circumstances, Sion and Mion often ate together.
Sion had learned shocking truths lately and felt disoriented, but with dinner with her beloved little sister ahead after nearly two weeks, her heart warmed a bit.
From the moment they met in the dining hall, Mion waved cheerfully, greeting Sion. Sion's tense expression softened.
After a delightful dinner, they had tea time in Mion's room.
"Sis, are you feeling better?"
"Of course, no problems at all."
"Phew... It's the first time we've gone this long without eating together. I was so worried!"
"Ah... I made you worry. Sorry, Mion."
"N-nooo!! I didn't mean it like that!!"
Mion floundered at Sion's teasing remark.
"So, about this hunter experience you're doing? How long will it last?"
"Hm... Today was the last day. Thinking of trying something else."
The maids must have reported Mion quitting already.
"Sis!"
"Yes? What is it?"
"Well, um... Never mind!!"
Mion let out a mischievous giggle, hesitating and glancing at Sion without speaking.
It seemed related to the cat beastkin she'd been treating.
"If you have time, the forest... No."
"Don't stop halfway, Mion."
"I'll tell you la~ter!"
She'd probably wanted to invite Sion to see the escaped beastkin together but hesitated due to Sion's cat aversion.
Still such a kind-hearted girl.
"Sis, what experience should we try next?"
"Hm? Let's see..."
"I'm thinking of trying cooking again."
"Huh? You tried that four years ago and gave up."
"Ehehe... But... If I learn to make cookies or desserts, later for my boyf—"
"Boyf?"
"Ehehe, nothing!"
Mion twisted her body, face flushing as she changed the subject.
"Mion."
"Okay! Fine! I'm practicing so I can make some for my boyfriend when I get one!!! Happy now!!!"
"Pfft!"
Sion burst into laughter at Mion's innocent reaction. Their tea time stretched into the late hours.
"Alex."
"Yes, Young Heir."
"......"
That night, as Sion exited the castle gates, Alex—Marie the nursemaid's first love—accompanied her.
Dizzy from the malicious assignment, Sion bit her lip.
"Do you... have something to say?"
"No."
"Shall we go straight away?"
"Yes, lead on."
"Yes."
Unlike Sion, who carried only a small lantern in light attire, Alex was fully armored with a sword even at midnight and took the lead into the forest.
"......"
Rustle— Rustle—
In the silent forest, where not even insects chirped, Alex navigated the pitch-black path with ease.
"You seem very familiar with it."
"Yes. Test subjects escape occasionally, so our inner castle guards search first."
"....."
Of course. Sion gave a curt reply and silently followed Alex through the woods.
"Young Heir, Bind spell."
Alex halted at the faintest presence and requested Sion's help.
Even for a test subject, beastkin senses made safe restraint tricky, so he asked from a distance.
Concentrating, Sion spotted a small figure huddled under a tree.
"...Bind."
Wooong—
Kuuuuh!!!
"Nyaaah!!!"
Sion subdued the beastkin girl effortlessly with her spell.
Mana vines bound her tight. She thrashed in seizure-like fits, but they constricted harder.
"I'll handle transport."
"Isn't that obvious?"
Thud thud—
"Nyaa... Nyaaak!! Haa... Haaaak!!!"
The struggling beastkin child snarled at Alex's armored approach.
Grab!!
"Nyaaack!! Let me goooo!!!!"
The Bind had already released. The beastkin child flailed in Alex's grip.
Her clumsy common tongue suggested she hadn't been taught properly. Sion looked at her pityingly—until their eyes met.
"S-sis!!!"
Sion flinched!!!
"M-Mion sis!!!"
Her heart sank at the beastkin girl's cry upon seeing Sion's face, cloaked and hard to make out in the dark.
"...What?"
"S-sis, save me!!! Sis!!!"
"...Ugh!!!"
She must have bonded with Mion over days of care. Mistaking Sion for Mion, the girl's desperate pleas made Sion's gorge rise.
Thwack—
"Keng!!"
"...Hoo... Let's go, Young Heir."
Alex smirked mockingly at Sion after knocking the girl out by her nape, then headed back to the castle.
Sion followed limply, gazing at the limp golden-haired beastkin girl with her nails and claws all torn out—seeing her own fate mirrored there.
Time flows equally for all.
"Marie!! Congratulations!!! You're due soon, right? Here's a gift."
"Miss Mion, thank you."
Mion visited Marie naturally in the guest quarters for branch family, not the servants' dorms. She gifted cookies she'd baked herself and chatted.
"I thought you and Alex were totally done, but a baby on the way? Amazing!!"
"The Family Head made special arrangements. Hehe..."
"Perfect timing too. Mother just had the youngest, and Father said it'd be good for prenatal care, so you're staying in the inner castle together, right?"
Mion winked cheekily at Marie, as if bestowing a favor.
Marie smiled warmly at Mion's grin.
"Yes, it's wonderful. No nursemaid duties either."
"That's 'cause you raised Sis and me so well. So, when's the wedding?"
"Hm... After the baby's born, probably?"
"Really? Then I'll get you a gift!!"
"No need, Miss..."
Marie's face darkened briefly at the wedding talk, but Mion's excitement kept her from noticing.
"Your birthday's coming up too, Miss."
"Yeah! Can't wait to be an adult... Drink and all, hehe."
"Any word from the Young Heir?"
"Ah...! She writes every two weeks, but sometimes it's once a month if she's busy!!"
The topic shifted to the Young Heir who'd left for Labyrinth City recently.
"I can't handle Sis's boldness."
"Pardon?"
"Arguing with Father to pursue the pinnacle of magic and jetting off to Labyrinth City... She's my sis, but she's incredible!!!"
Marie stroked her swollen belly with a bitter smile as Mion beamed proudly about Sion.