Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Bandit Group
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Ariel had been acting a bit strange ever since then.
Well, not strange exactly. More like... peculiar.
"Oppa. You're awake?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's go."
For example, when I stepped out of my room in the morning.
She'd stick right by my side, as if she'd been waiting for me.
Like some kind of guardian spirit.
"Oppa. Is it good?"
"Yeah. You're not eating?"
"Just watching you eat fills me up."
"Where'd you pick up such a ridiculous line?"
And when it was time to eat, she'd barely touch her food and just circle around me.
I knew she didn't really need meals anyway. She was such an odd one that she could survive without nutrients.
But circling me like she was on guard duty? That was new.
'Hmm.'
Ariel's peculiar behaviors were piling up like this.
Lately, I'd noticed a new emotion in her eyes.
Ah, sure, she was still the same blank-faced, emotionless, sensationless trinity.
But as a seven-year veteran big brother, I could see it.
'A protective instinct... maybe?'
The term didn't quite fit.
But calling it just protective instinct felt off.
From Ariel, I sensed something clingier, stickier.
Yeah. It felt more like possessiveness.
Ariel Leonhart. My little sister was boldly thinking she wanted to make her big brother hers and keep him by her side forever.
Could it be that what I said before, hinting at the final boss, had influenced her?
'No way I could've predicted it'd turn out like this.'
How was I supposed to foresee that it'd push her from protectiveness to possessiveness?
I'd always known she cherished and relied on me deeply.
But she'd never shown anything more intense than that.
Just playing and spending time with me was enough to make her happy.
What wind blew in to plant such a devious thought in her head?
Honestly, part of me thought I should give her a talking-to in advance, but I decided against it.
Ariel was changing in her own way.
If it was clingy possessiveness, well, that was a bit much, but it could still be called growth.
So I decided to let it slide.
But worries lingered.
"Ariel."
"Yeah."
"What'd you do today? Anything fun?"
"Yeah. Just played the ocarina in my room."
In the end, her world consisted of nothing but me.
Especially now that possessiveness had kicked in.
She'd started opening up a bit to the servants lately, but now she was back to square one.
I understood her uniqueness, but this was getting troublesome.
'This won't do.'
I needed to get her some friends.
It'd be good for my sister to have peers her age.
I made up my mind and proposed it to her.
"Ariel."
"Yeah."
"Wanna go into town tomorrow? Just the two of us."
"...Really?"
Ariel's eyes sparkled.
A faint glimmer of anticipation lit her clear pupils.
What was this?
Since when did she love going into town so much?
"Why're you so excited? You never cared about going out before."
"But I read in a book."
"What?"
"A boy and girl going into town alone together is to confirm their love."
"What a cute misunderstanding. Are you and I the kind of boy-girl pair you're talking about?"
"We're not?"
"Of course not."
Ariel's shoulders drooped slightly at my words.
Sheesh. What kind of weird stuff had she been reading?
How could she call siblings a boy-girl pair? Silly girl.
Still, I got it. Given her nature, she'd probably taken it at face value.
It felt like watching someone from my past life gobbling up random memes.
"Besides, you and I already love each other. No need to confirm it, right?"
"...! Right? Right?"
"Yeah. Obviously."
I emphasized our familial love, and she nodded like she'd known it all along.
Haha. This girl. Mentioning we're family makes her over the moon.
That's how siblings should be. Exactly.
"Alright, let's go. It'll be late."
"Late? For what?"
"Someone I wanna introduce you to."
I took Ariel's hand and headed out of the mansion.
**
-Take a look before you go! Fresh stock today!
-These apples are so sweet! One bite and you won't be able to stop!
Today, I'd brought Ariel to a more remote corner of the duchy.
The central areas had too many people who made it hard to hang out privately with her.
Everyone would start scheming politically since she was direct-line kin.
So we'd come to a village on the outskirts and strolled the streets.
"......"
Ariel, holding my hand, didn't look around this time.
Unlike at the Lion's Feast, where she'd been peering everywhere.
What was the reason?
She walked silently for a bit before speaking up.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Why's everyone staring at me? Is something weird about me?"
Aha.
So that's what had her on edge.
"It's nothing. They're just curious since it's been so long since you came out."
"Why? I didn't do anything special."
"No, little sis. Think back to the Lion's Feast. That impossible victory you pulled off. Doesn't that explain their reactions?"
"That was all thanks to you, oppa. It wouldn't have happened without you."
"Hmm. So humble, my Ariel."
"That's not it."
Our conversation ran parallel, never meeting.
I saw her victory itself as an incredible feat, but she didn't.
She kept insisting I was the amazing one. Trying to hype up her big bro, maybe.
So I just took her into a nearby shop.
To get her talking to people.
"Uncle Hugo. Got any good fruit?"
"Oh! Young Master. Out for a stroll?"
"Yeah. Brought my sister too."
"Miss Ariel's here too! That duel last time was incredible, miss. I was shocked watching it!"
Hehehe— Uncle Hugo from the fruit stand laughed heartily.
Ariel's expression didn't change at his words.
Still awkward, I guess. She wasn't used to chatting with people.
"Come on, Ariel. Say thank you."
"Thank you."
"Heh! Young Master, don't push her too hard. She'll grow into a fine lady in time."
"More importantly, how about these apples? You recommended them earlier."
"Of course. Specialty of the shop. Want to try one?"
"Oh, really? As expected of Uncle Hugo."
"Haha! No big deal. You're the only one who remembers even us fringe villagers' names, Young Master Kline. It's the least I can do."
Was that such a big deal?
I'd just put in the effort. They're my people; I wanted to at least remember their names.
Uncle Hugo looked deeply touched.
"What's this? It's the Young Master? Coming all the way out here?"
"And with the young lady too. What a sight, those siblings."
As we chatted, other villagers joined in.
They all smiled warmly, praising me and Ariel.
Especially Ariel, who drew the most attention.
She rarely went out, after all.
"Miss, try this apple? It's delicious."
"Miss! Want to try this accessory? It'd suit you perfectly."
"How can she be so cute? Young Master, you're blessed."
Ariel looked lost, unsure how to handle the barrage.
She glanced up at me with a 'What do I do?' expression, and I just shrugged.
She had to figure it out herself eventually.
"......Thank you."
In the end, that's all Ariel mustered—a thank you.
The villagers seemed satisfied anyway.
Alright, this much chatting should be enough. Time for the main point.
The uncles and aunties were all nice, but they weren't my goal.
I was here for the kids. Specifically, girls Ariel's age.
That way, my sister could make a friend.
"Uncle Hugo. Where are Mari and Sofi? I wanted to introduce Ariel to them."
"Ah, Young Master. About that......"
I named the girls I remembered.
They had kind hearts and would be good company for Ariel.
But Uncle Hugo's face hardened.
The other villagers too.
What?
Why the sudden heavy mood?
"Young Master, I hesitate to say... but Mari and Sofi aren't in the village right now."
"What? Those kids have nowhere to go. Where'd they head off to?"
"......They've gone missing."
"What?"
My eyes narrowed.
Missing?
Our duchy was famous for its maintained public order.
Missing persons, especially kids? That didn't happen.
"What do you mean? How'd this happen?"
"We don't know... They went outside the duchy to pick flowers and vanished. We searched, but no sign."
"Did you contact the ducal house? We need to find them now!"
"Of course we did, but most knights are dispatched north, they said. So we're just waiting."
"What about the village guards? Did they investigate?"
"They did, but our guards couldn't uncover much... Nothing we could do."
"Damn it."
What kind of shitty situation was this?
The timing was too perfect.
Right when nearly all our family knights were called away by the empire.
It didn't add up at all.
"How many have gone missing so far? Not enough to pull remaining knights, you say?"
"Just Mari and Sofi, the two. That's why the ducal house said no need to deploy knights......"
"Tch."
Yeah. I got it.
Smart move, you criminals.
'Kidnapped kids in numbers the ducal house wouldn't bother with.'
"......"
I clicked my tongue, deep in thought.
What to do? Should I go look for the kids myself right now?
No. Too risky. No idea how strong the culprits are; charging in would be reckless.
But if time drags, who knows what'll happen to those kids.
"Sigh."
I scratched my head and decided to head back to the mansion first.
Talk to Father. He might have a way.
"Let's go back, Ariel."
I said goodbye to the villagers and took her hand.
But Ariel didn't follow right away and asked,
"Oppa. Are you mad?"
"Huh? ...Yeah. A little."
"Then. You'll go chase the ones who took the kids?"
"Eh? Well... Honestly, I'd like to. But I need to talk to Father first."
"I see."
Ariel nodded.
"Then. I should help you, oppa."
"Huh? What'd you say?"
"Nothing."
Ariel took my hand again and followed quietly.
What was that? Couldn't read her intentions, unlike usual.
Well, she wouldn't do anything bad.
I held her hand and returned to the mansion.
Clueless about what my little sister was thinking.