Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Exciting Picnic (4)
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"Mm..."
I finally returned to the provided tent only in the early morning, and as soon as I lay down, I passed out.
...Have I been sleeping all day?
When I opened my eyes again, the sun was already setting in the late evening.
It must have been a dream, right?
Thanks to that, I rubbed my eyes with a dazed expression and scratched my head as dreamlike scenes suddenly popped into my mind.
My big sister wearing a bear apron and actually helping pack a picnic lunch... what a weird dream.
But no matter how I thought about it, it didn't make sense, so I shook my head and got up.
For some reason, my body feels a bit sore...
Right as I stood, my joints creaked, making me tilt my head in sudden suspicion.
- Rustle...
Suddenly, there was a presence at the tent entrance.
- Shh!
I turned toward the sound, and whoever was at the entrance swiftly ducked to the side.
"Come in."
But her black long hair fluttering in the wind gave her away completely despite the quick move. After scratching my head and hesitating, I mustered the courage to speak.
"......"
The next moment, my big sister peeked around cautiously and stared at me silently.
"Why are you hiding like that?"
Her face and eyes still radiated chilling killing intent, but the way she crouched by the tent wall, only her head poking out and tilted, oddly reminded me of some animal.
"It's time."
Before I could pin down the animal in my mind, her voice came like an ice block.
"Ah, yes..."
I hurriedly erased the mental image, ignored the growing suspicions, and followed her as she walked toward her tent.
What the hell is going on?
At first, I thought it was some kind of test or evaluation from her, since I was an unfamiliar rival candidate.
I started sensing something off last night, when she dropped the 65th egg and slumped down with a sullen face.
Simply put, maybe she really can't cook and wants to learn from me.
Hard to believe, but thinking of the piled-up ingredients in her tent yesterday and the cuts on her fingers, it was the most likely conclusion.
But why?
The problem was, if that was true, I couldn't fathom her intentions at all.
Why would someone who raised an army for rebellion sincerely try to cook for a picnic lunch?
Was it a message that rebellion was no big deal compared to a picnic? Or a deception to mislead the surveillance?
"...Ah."
As I pondered while entering her tent, I was greeted by a mountain of discarded ingredients at least three times bigger than yesterday.
"......"
And beside that hill, a similar pile of fried eggs—the result of my five-hour supervision where I barely taught her the basics.
Definitely not some hidden message or deception tactic.
No need to be this obsessive and diligent in secret where neither subordinates nor guards could see.
"Look."
As my mind grew even more chaotic, my big sister pointed at the fried egg mountain and spoke.
"My victory."
She whispered with a cold smile, then strode to the simple desk in the tent.
- Shing...
She swept aside the strategy map on the table and pulled out a box from the drawer containing sinister-looking blades.
"...Come closer."
She sat, patted her lap, and whispered while rummaging through the tool kit of blades, her eyes glowing red.
"Th-this is sudden, but..."
"......"
"...That's my specialty."
I knew it would come to this. Good thing I didn't hold out false hope.
Anyway, even after joining the Monster Ducal House, life had been too easy compared to Opstein, so no real complaints.
Still, I didn't want to feel that chilling touch of cold metal on my skin again...
- Tremble...
With a pale face and head bowed, I obediently sat on her lap without resisting, waiting for the impending pain.
"Uh, go ahead as you wish."
"......?"
"Just... please don't scar my face..."
As I desperately lifted my head to plead, remembering my strongest asset, I froze.
"...Huh?"
I tilted my head at the sight before me.
- Tremble...
Her hand holding the kitchen knife trembled as much as my body on her lap.
Under the knife was a carrot, much longer and thicker than yesterday's.
"What are you doing?"
After staring blankly, I noticed her tense expression and cautiously asked.
"Are you... trying to cut this?"
She nodded silently, glancing at my pale face with a puzzled look amid her tension.
"Then, just press down firmly and slice..."
Relaxed now, I gave a casual explanation.
- Crack!
Immediately after, a sound utterly unfit for cutting a carrot rang out as her knife gouged deep into the table.
"Uh..."
I gaped, and her hand trembled even more violently.
- Tremble tremble...
At this point, it wasn't just poor control—it seemed like trauma...
"Ah, I have a good idea."
After pondering, I grabbed her hand with both of mine and spoke brightly.
"Just place the knife on the ingredient and let go."
"......!"
"You're so strong, it'll cut itself."
As I gently held her hand and positioned the knife over the carrot.
- Tatatatak!
The massive carrot—clearly prepared for practice—sliced perfectly at astonishing speed and precision.
"......"
She stared at the perfectly cut carrot with cold eyes.
- Swipe...
Then she carefully set the knife down, caressed my cheek, and spoke.
"Thank you."
A brief silence followed.
"Um..."
Gazing up at her still icy expression, I gathered courage and voiced my inner doubt.
"Are you really planning a picnic?"
"......?"
"Like, actually spreading a mat and eating lunch outdoors?"
She opened her mouth as if to speak.
"Ah..."
But after fumbling silently, as she tried to close it, I raised my voice urgently.
"It's fine! Tell Kairen!"
"......"
"I want to hear your pretty voice, sis!"
How many more minutes passed?
With my brightest smile and utmost patience.
"Already doing it."
She finally spoke, thawing slightly as she hugged me.
"Picnic with family."
And right then, a system message appeared before my eyes.
Astridje Nox Belverk
#EldestDaughter #Misunderstanding #InnocentGirl #LargeDogGirl #[Unreleased Tag]
I read it slowly, then gaped as if hammered on the head.
"...First time."
Suddenly, she turned her gaze aside and whispered softly in my ear.
"Talking this long..."
Staring at her unusually soft expression, I completed the animal image from earlier and swallowed dryly.
How did things end up like this?
A golden retriever who thinks she's still a puppy... no, a wild tiger cradling me while tilting her head.
"Our lord is making a major announcement."
That night, in the Mist Forest where war clouds had gathered for days.
"Assemble everyone."
"O-orcs absent from roll call will be orc-style excused!"
The knights, standing rigidly at attention, rushed out at the captains' emergency call and snapped to salute.
"All present?"
In under a minute, the assembled knights came into view, their lord exuding her usual chilling aura.
"Kairen. Your turn."
Beside her stood Kairen, eyes glowing red.
"Yes, then..."
"......?"
"Kairen here, now in charge of the 'picnic' starting today!"
Everyone looked baffled, then Kairen suddenly raised his voice confidently.
"Please take care of me!"
As he bowed instinctively, he flinched, straightened, and continued.
"From now on, I'll direct all 'picnic' matters, so bear with me!"
Suspicious stares poured toward him instantly.
"Dismissed."
But those gazes vanished the moment the eldest daughter spoke those short words.
"Young Master Kairen."
"......"
"May I ask your first order?"
In the ensuing silence, the 3rd Knight Order Captain stepped forward.
"Hm..."
Kairen frowned briefly, then spoke lowly.
"Prepare the communication orb."
The captain's face brightened slightly, suspicion lingering.
"This morning, we'll officially declare the picnic to Mother!"
The captain forced down his rising smile, bowed solemnly, and replied gravely.
"As you command."
A smile finally graced his lips.
"...Haha."
Chuckling briefly at their lord's overwhelming power, he turned to the morale-boosted knights.
"Our lord's most dangerous rival has become one of us."
The knights murmured in unsurprised agreement.
"Still lasted longer than the Heavenly Demon of the East Continent."
"Against Belverk blood, no less. Impressive."
"Even so, no match for our lord..."
As the murmurs faded, the 3rd Captain drew his waist sword and bellowed.
"Infinite glory to our lord's victory!"
And then, their massive roar filled the Mist Forest.
"“Waaaaaaaaah!”"
Kairen clapped with innocent joy amid the cheers, then glanced sideways at his big sister.
At least got them to prepare the orb...
Her face remained coldly expressionless, but now Kairen could clearly see pure anticipation sparkling in her eyes.
Somehow, I have to convince the mansion of the truth!
Thus, he resolved to persuade the estate by any means to fulfill his pitiful big sister's picnic dream.
Time passed, to the late pre-dawn hours just before sunrise.
- Shh...
A black shadow darted swiftly through the silent Mist Forest, conserving energy in the deep quiet, heading somewhere.
- Peek...
Arriving at Kairen's tent, the shadow revealed itself as the eldest daughter.
"Little brother."
She poked her head timidly, calling softly in case he startled, then crept inside.
"......"
Exhausted, she squatted before the soundly sleeping Kairen.
"Cute little maknae."
She poked his cheek gently with a finger, murmuring.
"Hehe..."
Feeling the soft texture, she giggled unwittingly, but it was time to wake him.
"Let's cook together."
Before inviting family to the picnic, she desperately wanted to improve her skills.
"......?"
Shaking him carefully, she tilted her head.
"Hm?"
On Kairen's pajama chest—a mark utterly unfit for her cute little brother.
Staring puzzled, she slowly unbuttoned his pajamas.
"Uh..."
How much time passed?
"......"
Her eyes grew blanker with each reveal of his bare skin, losing all light at the final button.
"How dare they."
Something shattered inside the tent.
"...Touch my little brother."
Crushing a pajama button unwittingly, her gaze fell on the horrific scars—too vast and numerous to look at.