War Between Evil Gods
"Shh. Be quiet. You'll wake Julia."
"Huhuhu. Got it. Julia really, at this age still can't sleep alone."
Giggling with her mouth covered, Charlotte quietly slips into the office. This kid... Every time she runs into me she blushes and bolts, but right now she just looks mischievous, like she's only here to tease Julia.
"If you just wanted to hold hands and sleep, you could've told me..."
"Your hand probably won't work. It seems she can only fall asleep holding my hand."
"H-huh. I see. I've been holding hands with Julia to sleep since way before we met you, you know."
"...Is that so."
What am I supposed to say to that? Charlotte plants her hands on her hips and puffs out her chest. She gently strokes the sleeping Julia's head as if declaring, "Julia was mine first."
"It's been so long since I've seen her sleeping this soundly..."
"She was suffering from insomnia."
"Hehehe. I'm glad she looks comfortable. Thank you, Mister."
"..."
Charlotte wears an expression of genuine relief, as though it were her own problem. She usually seems thoughtless, but it turns out she's been quite worried about Julia. They're really close. Maybe because in the orphanage they had no one else to rely on. The thought makes me feel a little sorry for them.
"So. What brings you here in the middle of the night?"
"Ah, right. The Super Strong Sword... I came to get it back..."
"Fine. Since you came in person, I should return it. Silvia."
"Yes."
Silvia emerges from the darkness, cradling the Super Strong Sword. When she readily hands it over, Charlotte's face turns slightly puzzled. Her expression seems to ask, "Is that really it?"
"You may go now."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then..."
"Is there something else you want to say?"
Charlotte freezes at the door, then quietly closes it and turns back.
"That slash that split the mountain. What exactly was it...?"
"You're only asking now. Honestly, if you'd left without asking, I would've been disappointed."
"It was a test...!"
"Power is dangerous in itself. To those who don't think deeply enough, it's nothing but a luxury. Only by understanding the power you possess and constantly reflecting on it can you truly make it your own."
"Ah...!"
She stole Silvia's line from the end of the first chapter. Being innocent is fine. But when it comes to using power, she needs to be serious. Especially since Charlotte's strength is on the level of 120 explosions, or roughly thirty Silvias. If someone with that kind of power went astray... just imagining it is terrifying. Charlotte herself has a responsibility to fully understand and restrain her power, but I also have a duty to guide her down the right path. That's what an adult does.
"So? What was it?"
"After examining the Super Strong Sword following the slash, we found traces of a massive amount of energy being released from the blade."
"Magic...?"
"I can't say. It definitely burned mana to release energy, but whether it was magic or not is unclear. So until we identify it, that technique..."
"Thunderclap!"
"Until we identify it, Thunderclap is forbidden."
"...!"
Charlotte collapses to the floor with an expression like the world has ended. She looks deeply hurt.
"Don't worry. It probably won't take long to figure it out."
"You have a way? You're smart, so you'll figure it out right away! Right?"
"No. I'm not the one who'll figure it out..."
[Evil God, 'Kali' growls.]
...This is much earlier than I expected.
"Charlotte! Get behind me—!"
BOOM! The office wall suddenly collapses. I scoop up Julia and roll to safety. Charlotte has already darted to a safe spot on her own.
"Eek!? What's going on...? Yo?"
Rumble. A black shape forces its way through the broken wall. The round form unfurls, and from within emerges a familiar woman with long black hair scattering around her.
"Irene..."
"Why the face? Like you've seen something you shouldn't have?"
"..."
"Look down."
Irene Belmont. I knew she'd come, but I never expected such a flashy entrance.
"Y-Young Master... Run away..."
"Realistically, do you think she'd run? You just stay quiet."
"Kgh...!"
Crunch. Silvia, covered in blood, has her neck gripped in Irene's hand. Our mansion's strongest fighter has been subdued in an instant. Irene casually tosses Silvia into the office and steps inside lightly.
'This is the fifth floor...'
She didn't fly up five stories. That massive black shape that carried Irene here is clearly the Evil God Laura. No... a clone of Laura. Even a clone can easily overpower Silvia and destroy the mansion. Can Kali do something like that?
[Evil God, 'Kali' glares fiercely at Evil God, 'Laura'!]
Damn it. Kali is completely useless. I grit my teeth and meet Irene's eyes as she slowly approaches.
"...What do you want."
"What do I want? You weren't planning to hide it, were you? After wrecking an entire mountain like that. Playing dumb, are we?"
"The back mountain has always looked like that. Maybe you're misremembering, Sister."
"Ahaha. My adorable little brother. Your shamelessness has improved, but your lying hasn't at all. Give it up. I've already seen everything. Why don't you just confess?"
"...I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Are you going to keep your mouth shut until I say it myself?"
Irene's expression hardens. A chilling aura brushes past my ear. But I have to endure. As I remain silent, Irene grinds her teeth and brings her lips close to my ear.
"If a Sword Master had been born in our family, you should've come tell me right away. Are you joking? I saw it all. I saw the black Sword Aura split the mountain with my own eyes. So how about we stop this stupid staring contest?"
"..."
Sword Master. Sword Aura. Thanks to her, I now have all the information I need. I was inside during Charlotte's slash, so I didn't see it, but the thing that split the mountain was Sword Aura—an energy wave released through the sword that only Sword Masters can wield. But usually Sword Aura appears as something overlaid on the blade, right? How can it get big enough to split a mountain...?
I have many questions, but in front of Irene I have to pretend I know everything.
"I kept quiet because I figured you'd react like this. A Sword Master appearing in the family is a joyous occasion, isn't it? Why are you causing such a scene on such a happy day?"
"Ah, right. It is joyous. As long as that Sword Master isn't under your command. I know you well, Aslan. You're destined to ruin everything around you, whether you want to or not."
"..."
"There's no way that half-wit suddenly became a Sword Master. So the one who fired the Sword Aura was that little brat? How absurd. Even talented knights need decades of training to experience Sword Aura, and at that age? Just how much of a genius is she?"
"She's very much a genius. So much that it's a waste to keep her under me."
"If you really think it's a waste, why not entrust her to this big sister?"
"Nah, not that much of a waste."
"..."
Grind. Irene's teeth scrape together as her expression twists. Last time I couldn't stand up to her, but this time the situation is different.
'If I back down here, everything I've built will collapse...!'
The blacksmith, the security business, Julia and Charlotte—I've started too many things. Letting Irene interfere now would ruin all my plans. Looking at her high heels makes my groin tingle with dread, but I push past the fear and face her.
"I'll say it once. Hand over that brat. She was mine to begin with."
"If you want her, take her."
"Oh my. Then I won't hold back..."
"Of course, the moment you do, I won't hold back on using force either."
"..."
Thud. I take a step forward and warn her. What's my basis for acting so bold?
[Evil God, 'Kali' is furious and preparing to descend!]
Kali. I'm staking everything on Kali alone. Honestly, considering her usual behavior, I don't think she's very strong, but it's also true that Kali is the only trump card I have right now.
"To be honest, I'm already furious that you stormed into my mansion and turned my guard into pulp, but I let it slide out of generosity. However, if you cross the line any further, it'll be all-out war. A war between evil gods."
"...!"
Irene's eyes, which had been unwavering, finally waver for the first time. No matter how weak Kali is, an evil god is still an evil god. Even if it's just clones, a war between evil gods won't be small in scale. Victory or defeat doesn't matter. It's fine if Kali gets utterly crushed. What's important is that if a war between evil gods breaks out on this land, it'll be like advertising to the whole world, "We made contracts with evil gods." Can you handle that, Irene? I won't die alone.
"Aslan. Your bluffing has improved. Your legs are shaking while you act cool. But it seems too early for war."
"..."
Irene lightly caresses my cheek, then scratches a thin line across it with her sharp nails before stepping back. She leaps lightly through the collapsed wall and lands on the black shape.
"Don't forget. You're my brother. I hate you enough to want you dead, but we're connected by blood. If your existence ever blocks my path, I'll come back to kill you, war or no war."
"Do as you like..."
Rumble. The black shape moves away. Once it disappears over the mountain into the night, I collapse as my legs give out.
"Mister! Sword Master, was it? What's that?"
"It's... really strong..."
"...!"
Something's wrong. I clearly drew the winning lottery ticket, so why don't I feel happy at all? Why does a peaceful future without threats of murder seem to be drifting further away?
"Sword Master... Sword Master... Sword Master..."
Meanwhile, Silvia's expression has gone blank as she keeps repeating the same words. Is she okay?