Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Reincarnation Means a Cute Little Sister is Standard (Light Revision)
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After a bout of commotion, night had fallen.
I said I wanted to rest alone, so Father dismissed the others, and Lily escorted Mother out.
I had no idea which palace this was.
The room, which should have been bathed in a soft glow under the moonlight, was drowned in gray.
The only color visible was the mana swirling around me.
Something felt empty, but I couldn't pinpoint what was missing.
I was loved by my family, hailed as a magic prodigy by those around me, and kept up well in my lessons.
Born into wealth, I'd never known hunger or cold, yet I felt drained, like my feet were dangling over a cliff's edge.
As lethargy pulled my eyelids shut, the assassin's fierce glare kept flashing in my mind.
The cold sharpness of the glass shard in my hand, the unyielding killing intent even as I stabbed his throat.
The foam bubbling up, the blood soaking my face—its scent and taste lingered, refusing to fade.
'Like a damn dog...'
In this colorless world, that vivid crimson blood was etched clearly in my memory.
Sticky and clinging, like the blood that had smeared my neck—it haunted my thoughts.
Even with eyes closed, beggar-like thoughts resurfaced, stoking my rising anger.
'They really messed me up. What did this body ever do to deserve dying?'
After fuming for a while, a single thought surfaced in my mind.
'If I'd just reached the 2nd Circle a bit sooner, would this have happened?'
My head spun with "what ifs," lamenting my own weakness.
Then came a grim realization.
'Ah! I should've just been strong from the start!'
It wasn't my fault the assassin got in, but having lived weakly and cautiously, I couldn't blame others—I always turned inward.
Yet this simple self-answer cleared my mind, like some grand epiphany.
'Yeah, thinking about it, I haven't even tried that hard. I'm just lazy, that's all. If I go all out and get strong, most problems will solve themselves. First, I need to fix my eyes. Can't have colorblindness as a stain when I become Crown Prince.'
I racked my brain, outlining future plans.
'To train, I need to catch up on lessons first. For more practice time later, magic only at night. Mornings... yeah, exercise for growth! After swordsmanship and conditioning, just eat and study! The assassination failed once, so things should stay quiet for a bit. The faster I progress, the more training time I'll free up.'
With plans calmly set, I closed my eyes—but the assassin reappeared.
I ignored it, shutting off my thoughts for sleep. Gotta sleep early to grow tall!
A few months later, the Empress's palace buzzed with busy servants and priests scattering holy power everywhere.
Mother's pained screams echoed from within, while Father and I paced outside, arms crossed.
"Your Majesty, I fear the gazes of your subjects may ripple through waves of fair maidens wherever your footsteps tread."
[Why are you pacing around like this? People are staring.]
"Yet behold them fulfilling their duties with such dignity. The citizens of our empire, blessed by the Great God, are not so frail. My prince seems unusually light of step today."
[What are they gonna do about it? You stay still.]
"Perhaps the radiant gaze of the Great God has turned elsewhere, stirring waves in my humble heart."
[You're just anxious...]
"Through our long history, His boundless grace has ever watched over our imperial house. Compose yourself, my prince."
[Quit the ominous crap. Then stay still.]
What a clown show...
As their silent quiz-show banter continued, the door opened.
"Your Majesty! It's a healthy princess!"
We rushed inside in an instant.
Mother, drenched in cold sweat, cradled a tiny baby with a smile.
Father wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You did well..."
"Hehe, would you like to hold her?"
Father took the princess, a faint smile on his lips.
I swear it's been ages since I saw that guy smile.
"Mama, you must be exhausted. Are you alright?"
"Hehe, I'm fine, my prince. Come here, hold her."
Since that incident, Mother hugged me more often.
"Here, you hold her too, my prince. Your pretty little sister."
Little sister... The words stirred old memories.
[Aaaah! This shitty dump! Just die already! Hurry up and croak! Waaah!]
Lost in thought, Father held the baby out to me.
"Hold her carefully... That's it."
The wrinkly little bundle settled softly into my arms.
I panicked—it was my first time holding a baby.
A miracle born of our parents' love.
I must've come into the world like this too.
As vague emotions stirred, the baby reached out.
Blind as she was, she grasped eagerly at nothing.
Would my finger break if she squeezed? I timidly offered one.
She gripped it tight. So warm.
Such strength from tiny hands.
Wonder what color her eyes are... Skin like our parents', so fair. Freshly born, a bit reddish now maybe.
After zoning out for a while, Mother took her back, beaming.
A happy family smiled before my eyes.
Step in, and I'd be part of that beautiful picture.
I renewed my vow.
'I'll get strong no matter what. Fix my eyes, grow healthy. So strong no one dares look at us. I can't let anything splatter ink on that picture.'
A gentle voice broke my reverie.
"Oh, hehe, why the blank stare, my prince? Come closer."
For now, I slipped thoughtlessly into the picture.
"Mm! Time to kick off today's routine refreshed!"
Time had flown; I was now eight, sparring my mental assassin as daily ritual.
"Where to stab today? Neck? Leg? Arm?"
As I pondered, the assassin hurled a dagger from his robes. I snatched it mid-air with telekinesis, flung it back, and shredded both his collarbones.
"Gaaah!"
"Oh! Haven't stabbed there in a while? Blood pours out when you lift your arms."
Sparring, just sparring. Thanks to Assassin Bro, my magic's improved tons.
Now eyeing 4th Circle from mid-3rd. Thanks, Assassin Bro!
With his neck snapped back into place, a crimson fountain sprayed.
Beautiful color, really.
The only hue I see, gifted every morning by Assassin Bro... A tree that gives without end.
That night, Father's furious orders tracked the assassin to the Reverse Cross Cult heretics.
These lunatics brainwashed commoners over years—no magic needed—into palace servants.
Their thoroughness chilled me, redirecting my rage at the cult. Hence this.
"Thanks again today, Assassin Bro! See you tomorrow~"
Time to head out.
Eyes open for real, and our princess was crawling onto me, smacking my forehead with her palm.
So cute—until my skull throbbed. Her strength was no joke.
I wish our princess grew up a proper lady, clueless about swords or martial arts...
"Did my princess sleep well?"
"Bubba!"
-Smack! Smack! Thwack! Thud!
"Aw, my pretty princess came to wake Bubba up like an alarm clock. So energetic, hehe. But keep smacking and Bubba might sleep again—wanna get up together?"
"Ung!"
"Good girl. Oh, Lily, good morning! Could you prepare wash water?"
"Yes, Your Highness~"
I floated sis with magic and washed up.
Serena Luminaria, now giggling and yanking my hair.
Her name means calm and peace—yet energy overflows. Just stay healthy... maybe a tad less healthy.
"Bubba's off to train, princess~"
"Ung! Bai-bai!"
Sis waved goodbye, clutching my hair.
Our princess's killer cuteness.
No tantrums when parting—she'd already mastered palace survival instincts.
At the training grounds, Maxim and a boy with light purple hair and golden eyes greeted me.
"You're here, big bro!"
In the imperial grounds, this kid greeted me like a mobster underling with a flip-phone bow. Andrew Luminaria.
My one-year-younger half-brother from the First Consort.
(I never laid down the law... This punk fights like a beast...)
A can of soda to our Defense Minister, who'd been grinding out despair daily with my pathetic sword skills.
Once-in-a-century talent, they say... Jealous.
Oblivious to my petty envy, he grinned goofily.
'Brat... Worth all the playtime.'
As unexpected warmth swelled, Maxim yelled.
"Alright, let's start! Thirty laps around the grounds!"
After basic conditioning, we swung swords side by side.
Maxim watched, tasting sweet-salty hell.
(Andrew's the sweet, I'm the salt.)
I wanna ditch this for magic dev, but feeling muscle's importance firsthand, I swung diligently.
It's just like calisthenics, so drop the bitter face.
Training done, we lay side by side, catching breath.
"Haa... haa... Good work, bro!"
"Uh... Andrew... How about putting 'bro' first from now on?"
"Bro, I'll correct it, bro!"
"...Let's eat."
"Bro! Got it, bro!"
"Just... be normal."
"Yes! Bro!"
Shivering at the self-inflicted boil, I levitated Andrew with telekinesis.
Magic muscle training! Next-level beyond sword aura wraps!
"Ahahaha! As expected of bro! Doing what I can't so casually!"
"Yeah yeah, let's eat at my palace today."
Chattering nonsense, we headed off.