Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Siblings (2)
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Israfeel knew she was an extraordinarily rare case even within the Sun Church.
Fundamentally, without the exchange of divine constitutions, one couldn't reach a certain level in this world—that was the nature of its laws.
Yet she alone, as if it were the most natural thing, had broken free from that 'common sense' that no one else could defy.
Without ever sharing her body with a man, through sheer effort alone, she had set her sights on the realm of a Cardinal—no, beyond even that.
-You're truly an anomaly. In my two hundred years of life, you're the first child of the goddess I've ever seen like you.
To borrow the words of Adam Mayfield, the continent's undisputed strongest cleric and the Pope himself... well, a talent that might appear once every thousand years, if at all.
Thanks to that, over the twenty-seven years she'd spent in these Hespania Mountains, she'd never needed to unnecessarily share a bed with anyone.
There weren't many men her age on her level to begin with.
If she had to name a peer among fellow clerics, it would be the Special Inquisitor and Fierce Saint, Isabel Sedent.
The problem was that person was a woman, just like Israfeel. Though they were the same age.
No matter what, for divine constitutions to intermingle, there needed to be a crossing of yin and yang—how could one expect synergy from the same sex?
In the end, ever since her talents had awakened in childhood, Israfeel had resigned herself to it.
She wasn't without curiosity about sexual acts, but she had no desire to bare her skin to some stranger she gained nothing from.
Even without advancing her constitution, Israfeel could take down most powerhouses anyway.
And so time flowed on... until the day she turned seventeen.
-Hand over anything valuable, you bitch.
That was when she encountered the boy who would one day become the one and only 'family' they both cherished.
-Watch your mouth, you little punk.
Puk!
-Guhk!?
...It was right around the time Evan Lane was scraping by as a beggar in the back alleys of a remote border town in the Cabensier Empire.
The monumental moment when Israfeel first planted her fist in Evan's gut.
Such times had certainly existed. Now, they were tender memories that brought a smile every time she looked back.
"Ahem..."
Israfeel lifted the corners of her mouth with a rather wistful expression. It might look unseemly, but what could she do? Just recalling them warmed her heart.
Ten years wasn't a short time. Living so closely together, just the two of them—how could love not blossom?
She still wasn't sure if this feeling was a mother's love, a sister's love, or truly a woman's love.
But at the very least, Israfeel believed that if she ever shared her body with someone, it would be Evan.
She didn't think the promiscuous relationships of other clerics were particularly wrong, but random nobodies offered no benefit anyway.
Then at least, it should be someone who could provide mutual positive influence and with whom she'd steadily built emotional intimacy, right? That would be a proper relationship.
The only one who met those conditions was Evan Lane.
He was on her level, their ages differed by less than ten years, and above all, he was the one she openly cherished.
In the end, he was her one and only little brother.
'...Of course, she hadn't harbored such devious intentions from the start.'
At first, it was mere curiosity. After taking him in, it became a small affection.
She'd simply pitied the child who, like her, had no parents, and brought him home.
She thought those feelings—nothing more, nothing less—would never develop further.
An utterly ridiculous delusion and arrogance. It took less than five years for Israfeel to start seeing Evan with 'those eyes.'
How agonizing it had been to endure until her boyish little brother truly became a man.
Even quelling her desires every night under the covers through self-pleasure had been grueling.
This was the time she'd waited for. The fruit she'd so carefully nurtured and suppressed, saving it for the very last moment.
Evan was already suffering from a divine power slump lately.
She expected that soon enough, he'd cling to his closest confidante—the 'big sister' who could actually help him.
But... then.
"......"
The moment she returned to the Hespania Mountains after finishing a months-long mission, the news she heard was like a bolt from the blue.
A story she'd casually heard from Cardinal Leopoldt, who was like a patron to both her and Evan.
The hottest rumor in the current Sun Church. In other words, the scandal between Saint Candidate Evan Lane and Saintess Candidate Lete Heresia...
-It's probably true. I personally witnessed that Heresia girl levitating dozens of Holy Stones at once.
-Pardon?
-Evan's the same. Tsk tsk, if something like that happened, he should've told me first, the ungrateful brat didn't even send a single message...
-Pardon??
-Israfeel?
-Pardooon???
Grind. A vicious sound leaked through Israfeel's clenched lips. Her teeth ground as if to shatter, her eyes blazing fiercely.
No one could guess how shocked she'd been upon first hearing it.
'Evan was mine first. I marked him first. I've waited a full ten years to be the first to have him.'
Her mind went blank—no, that expression fit perfectly. Her blood boiled so hot it turned ice-cold instead.
So she strode forward. As always, she slipped silently into Evan Lane's residence using the spare key.
'...Why didn't you come to me? I could have helped you too.'
She waited to punish him for daring to choose another girl his age over her.
How outrageous. Did that mean she hadn't even been considered from the start?
The wound to her heart wouldn't heal easily. He needed punishment.
-What the fuck. Why are you barging into someone else's room, you manners-less bitch!
That was why she'd mounted him the moment he seemed to wake from entering the mental world.
Subduing him was easy. She had the strength advantage anyway—just push through.
After that, she consciously let go of reason. She let instinct guide her hands to make Evan feel good...
-Cum in your big sister's hand, you perverted little brother.
And that agonized expression of his? It had a remarkable talent for sending shivers through Israfeel's lower belly.
"...Well, that's how it happened, I guess?"
With all the explanation done, Israfeel tapped her own head lightly with a 'konk!' as if to say, what's the problem?
It was an expression that somehow provoked deep exasperation. I barely suppressed the urge to smack her again.
'This damn woman.'
Instead, I just pressed my forehead. Letting out a long sigh from the depths of my lungs, I glared fiercely at Israfeel.
So, what? All this time we'd lived together, she'd been looking at me like that?
Israfeel, whom I'd always seen as family, had actually been raising me like prey...?
"...Fuck, seriously."
A curse rose unbidden to my throat. I spat it out unfiltered, and Israfeel scolded me with a stern face.
"Little brother, didn't big sis tell you to watch your language?"
"......"
Not that it properly registered in my ears right now anyway.
I shot her a murderous glare, and for once, Israfeel seemed to read my mood, flinching and awkwardly turning her head.
"...Well, no, if that's how you want it, I won't stop you? But still, you have to speak properly for your heart to grow pure..."
"You fucking bitch."
"...Ahem."
When I vented the emotions I'd bottled up, Israfeel let out an awkward cough.
Even nonsense has its limits. How could she be so brazen after breaking into my room and sexually assaulting me?
No, why were all the women around me like this anyway?
Lete and Israfeel. Brazen thugs who snuck into my room without permission and pounced on me.
And those two were at the core of my narrow social circle.
How despairing a fact. I couldn't suppress my lamentation, but I did my best to stay calm.
Pressing my brow once, I looked at Israfeel with hazy eyes.
"...Um. You're pretty mad, huh?"
"......"
Even Israfeel, who'd been acting shamelessly, started gauging my mood.
Toward her fidgeting hands, I declared in an exhausted voice.
"Sorry, Israfeel. I see you as family, nothing more. You always say it, but you and I are like siblings."
"......"
At those words, Israfeel's lips pressed together faintly. Her golden eyes darkened with unmistakable gloom.
I hesitated at that gaze for a moment, but I had no intention of taking it back.
Ignoring the inexplicable tickle in my chest as best I could... I continued.
"So let's not do this anymore. Okay? If the way I call you was the issue, from now on I'll properly say 'big sis' every time..."
"......"
"Head back for today. I'm tired, and you just got back, so you must be too."
That ended the conversation. If we kept talking, I felt like I'd inexplicably waver, so I turned away, avoiding her eyes.
Not that there was anywhere else to go in the bedroom anyway.
'I've said this much, so Israfeel should get it. She's not the type to throw tantrums or act unreasonably; she'll probably back off gracefully...?!'
Whoosh! A sudden elastic sensation struck my back, making me widen my eyes.
The thick lavender scent that teasingly stimulated my brain wafted over again. Her watery hair brushed my cheek and nape, tickling.
"No, seriously. Big sis, come on...!"
"Evan."
And Israfeel cut off my irritated shout midway, whispering pitifully.
"...Siblings... can't have sex?"
"......"
"D-Do you... hate me...?"
The voice was infinitely precarious, achingly tender, seeping into my ears.
As if she were terrified of rejection, trembling in fear.
No, her body pressed against my back was indeed shaking noticeably.
Feeling her warmth like that, I could only squeeze my eyes shut again.
The single thought filling my mind was this.
'...Should I just bail?'
Fuck.
We're not even blood-related anyway.