Chapter 417: Proof of Existence (5)
Chapter 417: Proof of Existence (5)
The woman’s body flew through the air, propelled by a sudden, violent kick. Before her wide, bulging eyes could even register her shock, Ria was rolling across the ground, gasping and wheezing in intense pain.
She turned a gaze filled with utter disbelief toward the man.
The screams of several bystanders echoed through the air. No one had expected such a violent outburst in the middle of the Academy.
Especially not between siblings.
Strangely, however, about half of the crowd looked as if they had expected this. It was a scene that perfectly illustrated the kind of reputation the man held within the Academy.
"W-What do you think you're...!"
"I told you to give it your best shot, Ria Percus... I’m giving you an opportunity here."
With heavy, rhythmic footsteps, the man approached and kicked the woman again.
Ria barely managed to raise her arms to block the strike. Even so, she couldn't entirely offset the momentum that sent a sickening crack echoing through her bones.
The girl’s body tumbled across the ground several times before coming to a halt.
Her mind went blank; she couldn't formulate a response. All she could do was let out short shrieks and pant for breath.
Even the pain felt distant.
She stared blankly up at the sky, which remained mockingly blue—as if the current situation were nothing more than a bad dream.
As Ria struggled to push herself up, the man drew the hand axe hanging from his waist.
As her consciousness flickered, her instincts sharpened. She could feel his killing intent as vividly as if she were touching it.
I’m going to be killed.
That vivid terror licked coldly up Ria’s spine. Instinctively, she curled her body inward.
She didn't even have the presence of mind to ask why.
Instead, Ria’s body lunged off the ground, burrowing into the man’s chest. Her suddenly accelerated frame carried momentum far beyond what one would expect.
Break his posture, then pin him down.
A runway drawn by her unconscious mind unfolded before her. Ria ran along it like a wild beast.
But in the next moment.
Before she knew it, her body was spinning through the air.
The man seemed to catch her by the elbow, then swept his arm in a dance-like motion. Immediately after, Ria was flying.
An enemy unable to control their own movement was nothing more than a scarecrow.
The man’s kick struck the girl again. She rolled across the ground repeatedly, her vision flashing with sparks and lightning.
When she finally regained her senses, the man stood before her, hand axe raised high.
Ria screamed reflexively.
"S-Stop... Kyaaaaaah!"
Thwack!
The hand axe slammed down.
Trembling violently, Ria looked to her side. The axe blade, buried deep into the ground right next to her face, reflected a chilling, polar light.
She could hear the man’s ragged breathing. He was just as worked up as she was.
"Ria Percus... I hate you."
It was an emotion worn down to its very dregs.
His voice dropped, carrying a faint heat and a trace of regret. Like pouring water onto cracked mud, the man spat out his parched, honest feelings.
"Please... don't turn the novice into someone like that."
With those final words, the man slowly stood up.
He yanked the hand axe from the ground with a thud, and it fell back into his hand.
The crowd watched him in stunned silence. Even Celine, who had been rushing over to stop him, froze in her tracks.
The man left one last remark.
"Tell the novice to handle the rest himself."
He spat the words out as he brushed past Celine.
*
After the whole story was told, none of the four people present opened their mouths.
Celine slightly avoided my gaze. Reto wiped his face with both hands and let out a long sigh, while Ria simply sniffed and dabbed at her tears.
I was equally at a loss for words.
I hesitated and hesitated.
Then, with a voice full of resolve, I declared my intent.
"……Bring me some booze."
Everyone’s bewildered eyes turned toward me. It was only natural for them to think it was strange for me to suddenly ask for alcohol.
Reto was the first to catch on to my train of thought.
"Hey, Ian. Don't tell me you're..."
"He dared to lay a hand on my sister and then just ran away?!"
Bang! My fist, fueled by rage, slammed into the table as if to crush it. Celine and Ria jumped, staring at me with startled eyes.
"I have to go... I have to go have a word with him! No! I have to give him a piece of my mind! How could he assault our Ria?! Where on this fragile girl is there even a place to hit?!"
"T-That's right!"
Ria’s eyes sparkled, even though she didn't quite understand the underlying meaning of my words.
Regardless, she seemed overjoyed that I was taking her side.
"Punish him, Brother! It hurt so much!"
With the support of my adorable younger sister, there was no turning back.
I gnashed my teeth and shouted.
"Damn right! So, first, I’ll drink until I pass out, and then—!"
"Stop right there."
However, my grand plan for revenge hit a snag from the very beginning.
Reto was looking at me with an expression of pure exasperation.
"Think rationally. Last time, the price you paid for overdoing it messed up our plans, didn't it? One way or another, every piece of information your future self gives us is precious. It helps us, even if indirectly."
"What, so I'm just supposed to sit quietly?!"
"You're going to see his face again the next time you pass out anyway. We’re busy right now; are you really going to ruin everything by getting emotional?"
Every word he said was right.
Despite that, I couldn't fully accept it and let out a frustrated groan. My logic understood, but my heart absolutely did not.
My sister had been beaten.
It wouldn't be strange for me to run over and start a fistfight right now. Honestly, even if I drew a blade, wouldn't the Heavenly God understand?
An older brother whose sister had been assaulted was supposed to be out of his mind. I was no exception.
Ria, who had been all fired up, was now dejectedly glancing between Reto and me.
She didn't know the full details, but she seemed to realize there was a flaw in my plan.
Eventually, Ria timidly corrected her stance.
"Reto is right, Brother."
"Ria..."
My shoulders slumped as I lost my last ally.
An older brother who couldn't protect his sister... I had no reason to exist.
Yet, my kind sister even went as far as to comfort her incompetent brother.
"Thinking about it, he's not wrong. I'm... fragile. I shouldn't just wander around recklessly. It's not like you can stay by my side and protect me forever, Brother..."
As she spoke, Ria kept stealing glances at me. I immediately denied her words.
"What are you talking about, Ria... Why wouldn't I be able to protect you?"
"But, you'd have to stay by my side forever for that."
"Then I will! No, better yet, you stay by my side forever. Got it?"
"R-Really?!"
Ria’s mood seemed to lift instantly, and her eyes began to sparkle again. Seeing the color return to my sister's face, my heart naturally felt more at ease.
"Yes, of course. I was actually getting worried. There’s talk that the Dark Cult has been keeping an eye on me lately... Even if this is the Academy, I was worried about your safety—"
"Oh, look at you two making a scene."
It was a sharp, irritated tone I hadn't heard in a while.
The speaker was obvious. It was Celine, leaning her chin on her hand with her lips pouted.
"Ian, are you an idiot? So you're going to take Ria with you everywhere from now on? You said you have to go to the Holy Kingdom next week."
I shut my mouth at that point.
Now that I thought about it, she was right. The places I went were always fraught with all kinds of danger.
Was it right to take Ria to such a place?
The reason I was going to the Holy Kingdom was for volunteer work. However, now that a letter from the future had arrived, it was a foregone conclusion that an incident would occur somewhere soon. There was no guarantee that place wouldn't be the Holy Kingdom.
Come to think of it, I needed to read the letter.
While I hesitated, not having read the contents yet, Ria actually brightened up and argued her case.
"The Holy Kingdom?! I actually need to go there! I’m supposed to take delivery of some demonic beast corpses."
"No, but still, that's a bit..."
"Brother, I want to go too! I’ll hire mercenaries, so you won't have to worry too much!"
Celine kept her mouth shut, looking displeased at Ria’s stubbornness.
A pair of golden eyes and a pair of amber eyes turned toward me simultaneously.
Each held completely opposite expectations.
However, my answer was practically already decided.
"……Fine, Ria. Let’s go together. If you have to go to the Holy Kingdom anyway, it’s better if I’m with you."
My decision was met with a mix of sighs and cheers.
I hadn't received permission from the Saintess yet, but Ria was my sister. If I told her I wanted to bring one of my family members since I was meeting hers, that would be that.
Only, I didn't know.
After seeing Ria and Celine off and talking with Reto, I returned to my bedroom and unfolded the letter.
My eyes happened to scan the back of the stationery.
There, as always, was a line written in a hurried scrawl.
‘Beware of family.’
A warning that would have been much better if I had read it just a little bit sooner.