Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Power of Love! (2)
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The resentment she felt toward her older sister had been building up from some point she couldn't quite pinpoint.
-Really going to leave?
Looking back, it probably started when her sister first declared she was leaving.
-No one's going to blame you. Dad's death was an accident!
-Indeed, it was. No issues will arise from that.
-Then why leave home all of a sudden? We were supposed to study magic together!
Back in their much younger days.
She remembered saying those words to Siona, who wore the exact same half-lidded smile she did now.
-I have no talent for magic. Rather... there are quite a few spirits who want to get close to me.
-⋯⋯
-Sorry I couldn't keep my promise, Leona. I'll keep in touch from time to time.
Clutching the worn-out magic tome her sister had given her as a first birthday gift.
Leona bit her lip.
Magic was fun. She had talent for it, too.
But more than that.
She loved being praised by her sister.
⋯⋯That's why she'd started with magic in the first place—because this person acknowledged her.
-Even if I beg you not to go, you'll still leave?
-⋯⋯Yes. I've made up my mind.
-⋯⋯.
After fidgeting with her lips for a long while, Leona bowed her head.
Her sister was always like that.
Kind, supportive no matter what she did, indulging her every whim.
But once she decided something, not even a blade to the throat would change her mind.
That must have been why she'd shut her mouth before she could say more to persuade her.
-I'll keep in touch often, Leona.
-⋯⋯.
-Stay healthy—
Even so.
Interrupting Siona as she tried to say her farewells, Leona hugged her tightly—that was probably the strongest way she could express herself.
If those words really came out.
⋯⋯It would make her sister's departure feel all too real.
-Don't go.
So she'd begged through choked sobs.
-Sister, don't go. Sister....
-⋯⋯.
-I'll be good. I won't act spoiled anymore, I'll act like a grown-up....
-Leona.
-Let's stay together from now on, please....
-⋯⋯Leona.
Her sister.
Who gave a wry smile and said those words.
Roughly.
Pushed her away like she was discarding her—that memory was still vivid.
Leona sprawled on the floor, staring up at her sister in shock.
⋯⋯This was someone who'd never treat her so harshly.
Someone who'd always reach out a hand to help her up if she fell.
Instead, what fell from her lips was a cold voice.
-No more acting spoiled.
-⋯⋯.
-I told you, I'll keep in touch occasionally.
-W-What, Sister...?
-Well, if you come find me somehow, I'll treat you well enough. I've still got that much affection left.
-Why are you looking at me with such a scary face...?
-Well, you could call it fed up.
-Fed up...? With me...?
Leaving Leona stammering in shock, Siona shrugged her shoulders.
-⋯⋯You need to grow up. At least learn to stand on your own.
That was the last thing she'd heard from her sister before centuries of silence.
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“⋯⋯Hmm.”
Carlyle let out a nasal breath amid the wind slicing past his head, one foot on each of the two dragons' heads.
'Fucking hell.'
⋯⋯What a sight this must be.
He felt like dying.
Anyone watching would see exactly how pathetic it looked.
And with the dragons staggering through the air like they were drunk, it only amplified his self-loathing.
“Ah, this feels good⋯⋯”
“⋯⋯.”
The fact that he couldn't even hide such sentiments, mumbling them aloud, meant it was already hopeless.
[⋯⋯So, how exactly is this supposed to drive off that Black Omen?]
What kind of power of love is this? Lucky if they don't get arrested for public indecency.
Fortunately, Carlyle had a clear plan for that part.
-Quest Info
■ Family Issues
The Libel dragon bloodline, which has endured for ages, now has only two descendants left. But they don't seem to get along. The older sister avoids the younger, and the younger fears the older.
What on earth happened in the past?
⋯⋯Mostly on this side.
Truth be told, he'd spent days grinding down their reputations to make these two perverts compliant—all for this.
“Now, shall we have a little talk.”
Therapy time. A family counseling session.
At Carlyle's words, Leona—who'd been wobbling drunkenly—suddenly looked straight at him.
“⋯⋯Counseling? What counseling out of nowhere?”
“Shut up and answer.”
“⋯⋯Ah, yes⋯⋯!”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle gazed at the sky with eyes full of regret as Leona's voice instantly turned flirtatious.
How did this woman end up like this?
Why was he here doing this with her?
“Leona. Answer honestly.”
“W-Why so formal all of a sudden⋯⋯?”
“⋯⋯You oversized useless beast bitch. Speak plainly.”
“Yessss⋯⋯!”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle took a deep breath and continued.
“Honestly. You don't hate your sister that much, do you?”
“⋯⋯Yeah, Sister, well, I don't hate her⋯⋯”
The dazed response slipped out.
“Not just blurting it out because you're out of it?”
“Yeah— so, could you step a little harder—?”
“⋯⋯.”
Her words made the man's face, pressing down on her head, contort horribly.
And as Leona received that garbage-tier glare, her eyes glazed over even more.
The chill in Carlyle's eyes grew in proportion.
⋯⋯A beautiful synergy.
“⋯⋯Uh, eh?”
And then.
While Leona lost herself, someone else snapped to attention.
Siona looked at Leona with clear, intelligent eyes.
Even on a dragon's face, the expression was unmistakably shock.
“Why, why don't you hate her?”
“⋯⋯.”
“She forgot promises and brushed you off so coldly even when you begged her not to go⋯⋯?”
“⋯⋯Uh, yeah? But still, I like Sister⋯⋯”
Leona murmured dreamily in her hazy voice.
“So, to become Tower Lord⋯⋯ I studied hard. Practiced magic diligently⋯⋯”
If she became a cool adult like the Tower Lord, wouldn't that mean she could stand on her own?
⋯⋯Maybe her sister would take back those words about being fed up.
That's why she'd worked so hard.
Her awkwardness at their reunion was out of worry that even this wouldn't impress her sister.
“⋯⋯.”
Siona gaped in disbelief.
She never dreamed her little sister thought of her this way.
She'd assumed Leona just kept hating her.
“Now it's Professor Siona's turn.”
“C-Carlyle. I-I can talk to Leona calmly myself—”
Siona's mouth snapped shut mid-sentence.
“Who permitted that?”
Using the Hero's mana to conjure immense physical force, he'd clamped her jaws shut.
Probably felt like choking for a human. Especially with the collar already on.
“I. Ask. You. Answer.”
“⋯⋯A-Ah, understood⋯⋯♥”
“⋯⋯.”
What was that weird thing at the end?
'Get a grip⋯⋯!'
Carlyle clung to his fraying sanity.
Don't let the pervert dragons take the lead. Almost there⋯⋯!
“Why leave home despite no real opposition?”
“That one—”
Siona answered with her own dazed, glazed eyes.
“She seemed strong enough. Well-connected everywhere—no real justification, but I felt retaliation coming—”
She'd entrusted herself to Felix for that reason.
Loyalty to the powerful for protection.
“Then why not say so honestly?”
“If she got involved with me—she couldn't pursue her beloved magic research. My sister can't handle fights like that—”
So she'd kept her distance on purpose.
Left home and cut off contact.
Acted like she was disposable to her.
⋯⋯Even though it tore Siona's heart apart, she'd done it deliberately.
“How could I let my precious little sister see me like that?”
“⋯⋯.”
Hearing that.
Intelligence slowly returned to Leona's face this time.
Huh.
Wait, what.
Words that shouldn't flow so easily were just pouring out.
Leona stared blankly at Siona.
Huh.
“⋯⋯.”
Huh⋯⋯!
“I-It was like that?! Why didn't you tell me—!”
“If I did, you'd insist you were fine and come anyway—that's what I didn't want.”
“Y-You idiot—! Why not even ask me—!”
—“Good. That's enough.”
Therapy, family session over.
Yeah, that's how it always was.
These issues resolved themselves the moment people just laid it all out.
A trick he'd picked up countless times socializing the Hero.
-⋯⋯!
-⋯⋯!!
In that moment.
A 'phenomenon' was occurring around them.
Whatever Liza meant by the 'power of love' seemed real enough.
White mist billowed from the dragon sisters, drawn to the black storm overhead like iron filings to a magnet, seeping in slowly.
And then.
-!!!!!!!!!!!
Clang!
The Black Omen shattered.
Like glass smashed by a hammer, the black sky turned blue in an instant.
At the same time, the monster hordes blanketing the plains flinched.
Freed somewhat from violence's grip, regaining a sliver of sanity.
And.
To the subjugation force quietly watching, the monsters' renewed frenzy signaled their chance to strike.
As the horns blared and the force charged with shouts, Carlyle saw
-System Message
▶ You have completed ‘Quest: Family Issues’!
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle stared at the floating window with dead eyes.
He'd done it.
Got them to unpack their ancient grudges under his mediation.
The method was a bit odd.
[Counseling via collar, head-stomping, choking, coercion, and verbal abuse.]
'⋯⋯.'
[Truly admirable. A heroic demon saving countless casualties from the Death March—]
'Shut your trap.'
He snapped fiercely at the Hero, who spoke without hiding his laughter.
Fuck.
⋯⋯Fuck.
Carlyle grinned widely.
A serene self-loathing he'd never felt in countless regressions dominated his mind.
[It's kinda fitting, though.]
'What is?'
[Well, your skill's called 'Taming' or whatever, right?]
'⋯⋯Yeah?'
[Finally doing something that suits it.]
'⋯⋯.'
Does this guy think that's all it takes?
◆
-System Message
▶ Target ‘Siona Libel’ added to Taming targets!
▶ Target ‘Leona Libel’ added to Taming targets!
▶ These targets have formed a bond with you through special Taming methods.
▶ Special synergy unlocked as reward.
-System Message
▶ Synergy effect added to ‘Taming’ skill.
▶ Targets with sufficient Taming progress can develop abilities more strongly based on their bond with you.
▶ Targets ‘Gray’ and ‘Vespa’ affected!
▶ Related events unlocked!
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