Chapter 534: Jealousy is My Power (34)
Chapter 534: Jealousy is My Power (34)
The impact of the heatwave that had swept through the room was profound.
Shattered furniture lay scattered in splinters, and I stood leaning against the wall, gasping for breath. It was the result of squeezing out too much power in such a short time.
Of course, my opponent wasn't unscathed either.
Sharp gashes were visible through the thin fabric covering the girl’s porcelain skin. Trickling blood and the blood-red threads covering the room like a spiderweb left behind the traces of a fierce battle.
It had only been a few minutes.
In a duel where lives were on the line, it was more than enough time to cross the boundary between life and death several times over. Especially if the opponent knew me well.
'Greed' seemed to already be familiar with my mental imagery.
If she weren't, she wouldn't have pushed herself so hard to stop me every time I tried to manifest my Aura.
It wasn't necessarily bad news.
Conversely, it meant that the moment I crossed the 'Boundary,' even Greed couldn't guarantee her victory over me.
It was just as the battle had entered a brief lull.
"Haah, haah... Phew! Isn't that a bit much, Oppa? Swinging an axe at your precious little sister the moment you see her...?"
"I'm just doing what I have to do."
My voice was thick with hostility.
At the same time, it was a pathetic struggle to hide my pity and sympathy. Even I have blood pumping through my heart.
There was no way I wouldn't feel sorry for my broken younger sister.
However, it was far too late to brush aside the tragic past and hold hands.
The girl before me had committed countless unforgivable sins. And she, in turn, would never be able to forgive me or the rest of our family.
We were parallel lines.
Therefore, the only atonement I could offer was to sever this horrific chain of sin with my own hands.
The girl, oblivious to my inner turmoil, merely prattled on in a nonchalant voice.
"Ah, what should I do... I dressed up so much to see you, Oppa, but now my hair is a mess..."
She sounded genuinely upset.
Nevertheless, I didn't lower my guard as I let out a hollow laugh and sneered.
"What were you planning to do by dressing up?"
"Isn't it a natural desire to want to look good for the man you love?"
She even gave me a wink.
Her attitude was so friendly it was hard to believe we had been fighting for our lives just moments ago. She remained the same even when I snorted in disbelief.
We were beyond the point where conversation was necessary.
Just as I tightened my grip on my weapon, hardening my heart once more—
"Don't be like that, Oppa... I came here for your sake, you know?"
"Do you think I'm crazy enough to believe you?"
"But you're in a bind, aren't you?"
Wearing an alluring smile, the girl’s eyes took on a seductive glint.
It wasn't a question, but an assertion.
That was how much conviction was laced in her tone.
"Where on earth could the 'Vampire' be? And where did Sister Celine go? Barriers, kidnappings, abnormal heat... there are so many mysteries, but nothing is being solved."
"...So?"
I asked back, struggling to hide the fact that I was momentarily tempted.
"Surely you're not suggesting a 'trade'?"
"Ahaha! How did you know? As expected, we're soulmates... our minds are so in sync!"
I didn't even want to respond.
My remaining hand gripped the handle of the hand axe. If she hadn't hurriedly waved her hands, the battle would have resumed instantly.
"Wait, wait! You can at least listen to what I have to say, right?"
"Is that how you've been deceiving people one by one?"
"Eliminate the 'Vampire' for me!"
It was a condition that made even me falter.
Because it was such an unbelievable statement, I had to narrow my eyes and ask again.
"...What?"
"Seriously, you don't even listen to me and just jump to conclusions... That's the only condition I want."
While making it very obvious she was offended, the girl repeated the unexpected proposal.
It was an offer I hadn't even imagined.
So, I kept my mouth shut and looked at her with suspicious eyes.
Then, it was the girl who felt wronged.
"No, I'm serious! I'm a 'Merchant' first and foremost! I don't tell lies!"
"But you're from the Dark Cult..."
"That's why!"
Placing a hand over her chest, the girl repeated her bold declaration.
"I'm telling you, there are all sorts of complicated power struggles within our Cult. Especially that 'Vampire'—she particularly refuses to follow Lord Delphirem's control..."
"Refuses to follow control?"
"Hmph, why do you think I came to the Academy?"
The girl walked with a haughty stride and sat on a chair that was still somewhat intact.
In the process of crossing her legs, her attractive skin was almost revealed, but I deliberately looked away to prevent any misunderstanding.
How could I have known that would be taken as a sign that I was conscious of her?
The corners of the girl's eyes curved with satisfaction.
"Let me tell you, the anomalies happening here have nothing to do with us. It's 'Jealousy' acting alone."
"How can I believe that?"
"Ah, yes, yes... I knew you'd say that. So, I'll give you a piece of information as a trial."
Winking once more, the girl spoke in a mock-cheerful tone.
"You'd better go find that junior you cherish right now."
"...What kind of nonsense is that?"
It was a suggestion I wanted to reject immediately, but the hostage was unfortunately too significant.
If it was a junior I cherished, only one person came to mind.
Seria.
I didn't want to show any hesitation. However, it was true that I was concerned about her information, so I couldn't keep my gaze fixed on one spot.
Watching me, the girl simply burst into a fit of giggles.
An ecstatic affection was oozing from her golden eyes. As if she found me absolutely adorable.
"How lovely... I love you this much, Oppa, so why would I lie to you?"
"You could be leading me into a trap."
"Maybe someday? But not today."
Should I go, or should I stay?
The conflict didn't last long. I possessed an asymmetrical power just in case.
The Sword Duke.
If it was the continent's greatest swordsman, I wouldn't have to worry about whatever conspiracy might be lurking.
Moreover, wasn't the Sword Duke currently in the form of a girl?
The chances of his identity being discovered were slim. On the contrary, it meant we could turn the tables on whoever set the trap.
Finally, a heavy sigh escaped my lips after a long hesitation.
"...If this is a lie, I will kill you."
"You were planning to kill me anyway, weren't you? Hehe, though you won't be able to as long as I keep giving you information... Ah, I love that expression. The way you want to kill me but can't, and don't know what to do with yourself..."
As I sheathed my sword, the girl snapped her fingers, clearing away the blood-red threads that had filled the room.
An uneasy alliance was born.
Even though I didn't like it one bit.
Just before I turned my back to leave, I asked the question that had been weighing on my mind.
"...You really don't need anything in return?"
"Hmm? At least for the information I just gave you... but if you're that anxious."
The girl's slender index finger pointed somewhere.
It was a cupboard that had tilted slightly from the aftermath of the battle. Inside, a few bottles of alcohol I occasionally sipped were on display.
"Can I have a drink?"
"You're far too young to be acting like this."
I clicked my tongue and strode toward the cupboard.
And just as I was about to grab a bottle and a glass—
The girl, who had crept up on me, naturally clung to my chest.
She stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Not a glass. Feed it to me, Oppa."
"What kind of bullshit is—"
"Mmm, mouth to mouth?"
Her intention as she subtly pressed her body against mine was so blatant that my fist came down on her forehead with a sharp thwack.
"...Ouch!"
"Don't talk nonsense. We're siblings—"
I was about to say, 'Aren't we siblings?'
But I couldn't bring myself to finish the sentence. Instead, I gritted my teeth and practically fled the room.
The girl stood still, gazing intently at my retreating back.
Probably for a very long time.
That night, Seria could not hide her displeasure.
The cause, as always, was a sisterly spat.
Seria had recently sensed the strange atmosphere lingering around the Academy. To be precise, it had been that way since the day after Ian's blood was scattered on the magic circle drawn in the forest.
Something was wrong.
Everyone was on edge. It was to the point where she could feel various emotions surging like waves every time she walked down the street.
It was a strange experience.
Seria was clumsy with human relationships. Naturally, she wasn't good at reading the room either.
Normally, she would have only noticed such changes at the very end.
Yet, as if they were all collectively possessed, no one raised any questions. Feeling uneasy about that fact, Seria decided to report it to her family.
But Seria's trust was betrayed once again.
"...You want me to call Senior Ian separately?"
"Yes."
It was a voice so indifferent it felt brazen.
Faced with such coldness, Seria couldn't suppress the surge of resentment in her heart.
"I can just deliver the message, can't I? Why do you need to be alone with Senior Ian...?"
"Because it's information only the two of us should know."
The word 'us' weighed particularly heavy on Seria's chest.
There was no place for Seria within that word.
On the contrary, Delphine might even want to erase Seria's place entirely. Was that why she was acting like a stray cat, stealing her younger sister's unrequited love and spouting such undignified nonsense?
Just like when she took their mother away.
Seria ground her teeth. She didn't even know why she felt so indignant.
However, it was clear that the temperature of her heart was dropping rapidly.
"Why am I not allowed to know?"
"I don't particularly feel like telling you."
Delphine replied, asserting once more in an indifferent tone.
"In the first place, it's intelligence sent from the Elves regarding my husband. There's no reason for you to know, is there?"
"There's no reason for me not to know either."
"It's an order from the Head of Family."
Seria instinctively pressed her fist against her chest.
Her breathing grew ragged.
The emotional fluctuations were strangely large. Am I going crazy too?
Her mind went blank at the sound of her own gasping breath.
Her vision narrowed, wavered, and blurred.
In the midst of it all, only Delphine's voice was knocking on Seria's small world.
"I won't accept any dissent. Just follow my words—"
"...Like that day?"
The low murmur turned back the clock of Seria's life.
One day, two days, three days, four days...
Before she knew it, the seasons reversed several times, and the scene of a certain night formed on her retinas.
Seria had been crying that day too.
Her father had a cold expression, and her sister stood with her arms crossed, looking indifferent.
It was the day their mother was kicked out.
Delphine couldn't react properly to that sudden question.
She only narrowed her eyes and asked back as if she didn't understand.
"'That day'? What are you talking about...?"
"I mean the day you drove Mother away."
As if she had heard something she never imagined she would.
For a moment, Delphine fell silent, unable to offer a proper answer. Her crimson gaze lowered slightly, and eventually, she let out a sigh.
"Seria, that day was..."
"I will follow your orders. That is all."
With those final words, Delphine's image vanished instantly.
It was an act done without a single thought for the consequences.
Seria walked straight out of the room. She began to walk aimlessly.
To somehow calm her twisted heart.
Before she knew it, she was in the middle of the forest.
It was the clearing where she often swung her sword with Ian. Only then did Seria feel somewhat at ease and let out a faint sigh.
Why did I do that?
To Delphine, it might have felt like a sudden act of rebellion. No matter how much of a power player Seria was within the family, she shouldn't have shown such disrespect for the authority of the Head of Family.
At the end of her belated regret, Seria found herself missing her senior.
If only it weren't for the gray hair catching her eye.
Seria, who was about to turn around, froze. Her wide blue eyes hurriedly turned toward the center of the clearing.
Standing there was a woman who had appeared like a ghost.
Gray hair, blue eyes.
She looked to be in her early to mid-twenties. Her face was exactly as it was in Seria's memories.
"...It's been a long time, Seria."
She wore a gentle smile.
Seria stopped breathing, and as she took a step back—
She momentarily stumbled at the strange premonition that violently shook her intuition.
It felt like a cruel joke.
Seria didn't even know whether she should cry or laugh. She simply wore a trembling smile while looking like she was about to burst into tears.
"Mother..."
Even though it was night, the moonlight was as hot as the scorching sun.
As if voyeuristically watching the girl who had encountered her tragic fate.