Bedtime with My Reunited Big Sister (2)
As darkness slowly settled in, I slipped out of my room in secret and headed to Serdi's room. Mom looked exhausted today, so she probably wouldn't come to my room. This was my chance. I wanted to hear all sorts of stories from my sister, who'd graduated from the academy early. In my past life, the game never really showed academy life. My curiosity was through the roof.
"Kael…? It's bedtime now…"
"I snuck in to see you, Sis! So you gotta keep it a secret, okay? Hehe."
"Uh…"
My sister looked down at me, rolling her eyes in confusion, unsure whether to scold me or be happy that I'd come to see her like this. That dumbfounded expression was hilarious. In Kael's memories, Serdi was always so cheerful—she never made faces like that.
"Do you not like me, Sis?"
"N-no?! It's not that I don't like you, it's just…"
"Hehe, I like you a ton, Sis. Let's sleep together."
"Uh, okay… sure."
Worried sound might leak through the door crack, she carefully closed the door. Then she let out a big breath and gently scooped me up into her arms.
"…Kael, you're still so light. You aren't being picky with food, are you?"
"N-no… I've been eating lots…"
"Hmm, well, okay. Before the academy, your ribs were showing. You've still got those baby cheeks, though."
Serdi softly stroked my cheek. The warmth from her touch felt gentle and cozy. We had the same hair color, but her bright crimson eyes—like the Demon King's—were a bit scary. Still, the affection in them made me happy. I wrapped my arms around her neck in her embrace and let out a goofy grin.
Staring at me like that, she chuckled and patted my butt lightly.
"Sis, Sis. I got questions."
"Yeah? What?"
"The academy—what's it like? What'd you do there? How was it? I'm super curious!"
"The academy? Hmm, depends on the person, but I liked it. Lots to learn."
"Whoa…! Then tell me tons! I wanna hear everything."
Snuggled in her arms, I kept tilting my head cutely, begging for stories. I was dying to know about academy life, and about our third sister there too. Above all, I just wanted to spend time with Serdi. Watching me bounce excitedly on her lap, she scratched her cheek for a moment before speaking.
"Well… truth is, I don't remember much about you. I know you're my little brother, but we were kept apart, like you know. Last time I held your hand was when you were a baby…"
"Huh? But why?"
"Just… how to put it. You don't really feel like a little brother to me."
Choosing her words carefully, she added softly,
"You're a boy, after all. Clinging to women like this might be kinda dangerous."
"Oh."
I see. She's not used to me yet. Makes sense. I was so sickly, Mom probably blocked out anything risky. I blinked for a second, then smiled faintly and burrowed deeper into her embrace. A sweet pine scent tickled my nose, making me feel all fuzzy.
"Then we'll just get used to each other from now on. Right!"
"Huh? It doesn't work that simply…"
"If you keep holding me like this, you'll get used to it."
"But I'm a girl. Boys like you clinging so tight to girls is dangerous."
"It's fine. You're super pretty, Sis. If I don't cling to a pretty sister like you, who should I cling to?"
She's family, and this pretty—what's there to refuse? Gazing at my innocent expression, her cheeks flushed a little. She looked away, breathing a bit hotly, then met my eyes again.
"…You're such a little fox. Gonna be a player when you grow up? Seducing your sister already."
"Huh? Fox? Player? What's that?"
"Uh, you don't need to know. Too young for that stuff."
What? I'd never heard those words even in my past life.
"Anyway, you were curious about the academy?"
"Yeah!"
"I went the mercenary route, like Mom and big sis. Basically…"
She shook her head lightly, took a breath, and continued. It's a four-year program, with twelve major events per grade, and higher years have totally different classes.
"Arnea and I graduated early after third year, special conditions."
"Whoa… Skull Teacher said that's super hard!"
"Skull Teacher…? Anyway, even with the pact between monsters and humans, some factions still hate each other. I racked up merits there… and got early graduation."
"Uh… so, like, killing monsters and people…?"
"No, no! More like… talking it out? Haha, super peaceful resolution, don't worry."
Seeing my face suddenly chill, Serdi freaked out, patting my back to calm me.
In my past life, I'd seen tons of monsters and humans dying in the game—it was familiar. But in reality, so much death… it'd be terrifying. And she endured it all. Made her seem even cooler.
"…But Sis, are there lots of monsters at the academy?"
"Huh? Of course. The family head made it that way. After marrying our Demon King dad."
"…Truth is, I'm scared of monsters. They look different from us, and they used to be enemies."
I fidgeted my fingers and looked up at her. I just hate monsters. Because of that blood, I suffered so much, and they look nothing like me. Look—Sis looks human. I look just like Mom.
She looked down at me with complicated eyes, then nodded slightly and cupped my cheeks with both hands.
"…Kael, I'm half-monster too, in the end. You're half-monster. You know that, right?"
"Yeah…"
"If that's why you suffered, it's sad, but unavoidable."
True. So true, I just mumbled. I still hate monsters.
I shook it off and asked,
"Then, if you become a mercenary, can you get close to monsters?"
"Probably? Fighting side-by-side on the battlefield gets you close."
"Then, y'know…"
Perfect excuse. I told her about the past year: time with the monster Leaf, learning archery and magic. Ended with an admiring, dreamy look about wanting to be a mercenary like the guild ones.
"Mom was a mercenary too at first! You're in that field, right Sis?"
"…Kael."
Serdi went quiet after that. She squeezed her eyes shut, then looked down at me.
"Sis…?"
Her eyes had gone cold, her voice utterly dry.
"Where'd you learn that nonsense?"
"Huh…?"
Kael, dreaming of becoming a mercenary. Serdi, who knew the ugly underbelly all too well, decided to crush that dream cold.
"Kael, you're no ordinary kid—you're the son of the Demon King and the Hero. The family's precious youngest son. Men are rarer than fingers on one hand in this world. Nobles value you beyond measure. Got it?"
"Y-yeah…"
"And what? A mercenary? Ha. Let me tell you exactly what mercenaries do."
She listed the horrors she'd endured, seen, heard. Gruesome, wretched tales poured out, making Kael's eyes tremble.
Once, betrayed by a fellow mercenary. Battlefields reeking of blood—utterly repulsive. She couldn't let Kael dream of that. Draw the line now, or he'd stumble into that filth someday.
Look at him—pure, innocent, blinking up at her. Whatever that Leaf blew into his head, if Kael became a mercenary… unimaginable horrors.
At her words, Kael looked like he was grasping for a lifeline.
"Leaf Sis said she's a respected guild mercenary! Even scouted by the Empire lately…!"
"Nice example, huh? But who mercenaries have you actually seen, Kael?"
"Uh… Leaf Sis… Mom… and you…"
Pressing his index fingers together, voice cracking. Serdi closed her eyes, bit her lip.
"How many examples did I give?"
"…Over a hundred…"
"Yeah. That's 100-to-4 odds. 100-to-1 without family. Get what that means?"
"……"
Understanding perfectly, Kael hung his head, eyes welling up. A sob escaped as he buried his face in her chest.
'…No helping it. He's only eight. Gotta set boundaries now. Can't let him near that filth.'
Still… too harsh? Should've preserved some innocence. Especially since he wouldn't know—Mom and sisters only showed the 'noble mercenary' side.
"…Kael, my little brother."
"…Y-yeah… whyyy… Sis…?"
"……"
Her chest growing damp. Serdi squeezed her eyes shut at his ongoing sobs. She wanted to soothe him, say 'Mercenaries are great, it's fine!'—but she couldn't.
"You're Kael la Elion. Son of the Hero who shaped this empire, top noble heir."
"…Yeah…"
"A boy, with nobles' eyes all on you. Elion's only son."
With the Demon King gone, all eyes on Elion—monsters for his sole heir, humans for the Hero's. Politically, Kael needed utmost protection, farthest from 'mercenary' life.
"…Sorry. Things got heavy. Head back to your room. Can't sleep together tonight."
- Grip… clutching her clothes. Serdi glanced awkwardly down. Kael, tears brimming, holding tight.
"Yeah… wanna sleep together… Sis… wanna sleep together…"
Serdi fell silent for a moment.
"…C'mere."
She pulled Kael into a tender embrace. Lay down lightly, resting his small head on her ample chest.
"…Sleep well, little brother."
It was a somewhat melancholic, yet warm night.
The next day.
"…Serdi. Why is Kael like this?"
"Uh, well, there's a reason, family head…!"
"Why tear stains? And why from your room? I said he's still frail."
Aurelia's eyes flickered like cold flames. Serdi froze.
"Mommy… hug meee…"
Kael tottered over, arms out.
"…Serdi. After breakfast."
"…Yes, ma'am."
Serdi looked like she'd stepped on a landmine.