Strong to the Strong, Weak to the Weak Big Sis
A calm silence hung in the family head's office.
—Chwirurur... Warm air brushed past her nose, and clear, cozy tea water calmly filled the small, round teacup.
"It's been a while, Gloria. Is the tea to your liking?"
"Yes, Family Head. It feels like ages since I've returned to the main house. Nothing seems to have changed, at least in my eyes. The tea is gently warm—quite nice."
—Pat pat
"How was life in the military? You were on the front lines for quite some time, weren't you?"
"They say humans are creatures of adaptation. At first, I couldn't adjust... but after years of repetition, it became familiar before I knew it."
—Pat pat
"I see. So... may I ask why you requested retirement?"
"...I just wanted some time to myself, even if only for a little while."
Gloria quietly lowered her gaze.
"No matter my position as brigadier general, the military is a place where you're inevitably entangled with countless others."
—Pat pat
"I see. Your wishes should be respected, then. Rest easy for now. If you need anything, just call the servants."
"...Um. May I ask you something, Family Head?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
"Th-then..."
—Pat... pat...
"...Why is Kael sitting on your lap, Family Head...?"
Gloria had returned to the main residence. She quietly took in the scenery for a few minutes before pushing open the grand door and stepping inside. It was no different from years ago. She had visited the main house a few times at dawn, timing it with Kael's bedtime, but she had almost no memories of facing him directly. In the first place, she had never felt the need to come back just to chat.
She was always the eldest daughter destined to lead the Elion family before long. Above all, she was the only one in the family with jet-black hair like the long-vanished Demon King—the one who resembled him most in appearance. Bearing that weight, she had trained until blood soaked the ground since childhood, graduated from the Academy early, and enlisted in the military right away.
She piled up dazzling achievements and meritorious deeds, rising through the ranks at an unbelievable speed. In the end, she reached the position of the empire's youngest brigadier general. It was a crucial spot in the military, yet one that drew the most threats. Those who lagged behind grew sensitive trying to protect their own seats after she had seized hers first at overwhelming speed. Political infighting like that? She could handle it easily. Holding her ground wasn't the issue.
...Or perhaps it was.
She was fundamentally different from her mother, Aurelia. She couldn't remain unmoved watching comrades slaughtered before her eyes. She couldn't become a commander coldly calculating strategy amid fields of corpses. The mental strain from outside, the growing cracks within, the mounting pressure—it all weighed heavier by the day. In that burden, Gloria craved release, even briefly. That's why she applied for retirement.
Of course, the top brass didn't want her gone. Her abilities were overwhelming. They didn't wish for her to climb higher. They just wanted their finest hunting dog to stay on the battlefield. So this retirement request was met with approval, since it posed no immediate threat to their positions. But once they felt the void she left, they'd summon her back again. For now, it was only temporary retirement. Leaving behind the military's gaze—that always wanted her yet watched her warily—she returned home.
But how...?
"Mommyyy, pet me moreee~ Why'd you stop?"
"Ah, sorry. I'll keep petting you."
"......"
...What in the world was this scene she was witnessing?
Maybe her retirement application was all just a dream. Nothing else explained it.
The mother who had trained her so harshly. Aurelia, who sometimes pushed drills until blood splattered. And now, she wore an expression so tender and overflowing with affection that she looked like any ordinary man doting on a child. It was utterly impossible.
The Aurelia in Gloria's memory wielded the whip without a flicker of emotion. An ironclad figure who bore responsibility for her seat without wavering. For that mother to dare seat her tiny brother on her lap and stroke his hair like that? If someone spread such a rumor, she'd tear them apart and call it justice.
So this scene right now...
—Slap!
It was all a dream.
"Wha—eh?! G-Gloria sis...?"
"What do you think you're doing?"
"...Huh?"
...Why wouldn't the dream end?
She must be trapped in some illusion or dream, seeing this bizarre sight. So why wasn't anything happening? Why was Kael staring at her with such an anxious face? Why was her mother wearing an expression of worry she'd never seen in twenty years of life?
How could this inexplicable situation keep unfolding like reality...?
—Plap plap plap...
"Gloria sis...? A-are you okay...? Why're you slapping your own cheeks...?"
"...Huh?"
Gloria, who had been dazed, slowly lowered her gaze.
"Y-you... Kael... A-are you... feeling okay...?"
"Yup! It's been five years since I got all better! But sis, it's been so long—how do I look?"
Kael spun a quick circle in front of her, then grabbed her hands tightly with his small ones. Gloria stared blankly for a long moment, her lips twitching, before nodding hesitantly.
"Uh... That's... really great... So glad... Yeah. You look healthy..."
Her eyes slowly scanned over his face.
"Already that age..."
"Thirteen!"
"Th-thirteen... Wh-when did time fly by like that...? Come to think of it, I've spent so long in the military... Yeah. Good to see you're well. We haven't seen much of each other, but let's try to get along."
"Yay! I'm super happy sis is here. Everyone says you're amazing and cool, so I really wanted to see you myself! So, sis~"
Sis. Sis, sis, sis...
...She'd never heard that title before. It felt so awkward. The way people had always addressed her was fixed: Brigadier General Elion, Brigadier General Gloria, ma'am, daughter of the Demon King and Hero. Nothing but stiff, formal labels.
Something this strangely intimate, soft, and warmly affectionate? Never.
As that unfamiliar sensation rattled her mind—
"Nngh... Hot!"
"?"
Kael tilted his head cutely as if pondering, then clambered onto her lap with a little grunt. He stretched his arms wide and hugged her waist tight.
"Ehehe."
"...!?!?!?!?"
"S-sis...?"
"W-wait...?! K-Kael...?! Wh-what are you...!!"
"Huh...? What do you mean? I'm just hugging sis, obviously?"
His eyes held no idea what the problem was. Even if they were family, he was a boy. For a boy to burrow into her arms without hesitation, tilting his head all cute like that...
...Was this why Kael's name came up so often? Did he just cling to any woman like this...?
At that thought, Gloria startled and shook her head. She hurriedly tried to lift Kael off her lap. He was so small and delicate it was hard to believe he was thirteen, and they weren't close anyway. The age gap was huge, and from letters, Kael had always been frail. In her memories, he was still a baby, and even in photos, he looked tiny and fragile.
But...
—Squeeze... flop.
"Pet me!"
"...Huh? What?"
"Pet me, sis!"
"......"
Kael grabbed her hand tight and tilted his head. Blatantly acting spoiled. Her mother watched with a pleased smile, though it irked her a bit. Feeling both their gazes, Gloria took a deep breath.
Then, as if steeling herself for some profound resolve, she slowly raised her hand.
......
"So, you ditched Kael when he asked for pets and fled to your room... That's the story?"
"...Yeah."
"Good grief."
Serdi pressed her brow in disbelief.
"Let's hear the reason at least. Why? He's just an adorable kid asking for pets—couldn't you manage that?"
"...I was scared he'd burst if I petted him wrong."
"What?"
"He looked so fragile... weak... delicate. Like he'd shatter if I touched him wrong..."
"......"
Gloria trembled, clutching her face in her hands. The empire's youngest brigadier general, dubbed the "incarnate reaper" by the hardliners. And her reason for not petting her brother? "He might burst..."
Serdi listened quietly, then stared blankly before opening her mouth in exasperation.
"Um... sis? Kael's thirteen. Sure, he's a kid and pretty fragile... but he's still human."
"I'm a half-blood. And I still can't believe he's already thirteen. He looks about eight..."
"Well, I agree on that. But saying even an eight-year-old might burst if you touch him wrong is a bit..."
"He's too cute... and too fragile..."
Gloria's shoulders shook faintly.
"T-touching him feels like he'd die... I-I can't touch him... Can't get close... D-does someone like me even deserve to touch that child...?"
"...Self-deprecation mode activated again, huh? Ugh."
Serdi sighed in exasperation, shaking her head.