Riru Cardia Suits Her
"Riru Cardia suits her." "You really thought this kid was mine?? Are you insane?" Their sibling spat overlapped with a real-life brother-sister fight. One was on the verge of unleashing blazing magic from her hand, while the other gripped a sword bigger than my entire body.
"You might've."
"You think I'd stoop that low?"
She looked over 2 meters tall—taller even than Young Master Monte, the biggest woman I'd ever seen in my life. The moment I laid eyes on Rudmila, my breath caught in my throat.
She looks like she won't listen to reason...
To put it nicely, she had the air of someone who'd cling to her convictions till death. To put it bluntly, she struck me as a lone wolf. She'd been silently cornering her brother when her gaze shifted to me. I awkwardly met her eyes.
Since I didn't look away, Rudmila expressionlessly sheathed her sword. It was so enormous that just watching her slide it into its scabbard made my bangs lift in the breeze. She brushed back her hair and muttered to herself.
"Right. Speredo brought her himself, didn't he?"
I recalled why Speredo's name had come up. Monte, who'd nearly been sliced in half by her first strike, had bellowed it out. Not that I'd brought the kid from somewhere, but that Speredo had! He'd flailed about insisting on it. It was a hilarious yet terrifying scene that popped back into my mind.
But still, why does she keep staring at me...?
Rudmila stared down at me in a rigid stance. The height difference was insane—even if I climbed onto a chair, she'd still tower over me. A chill of tension ran through my body.
"......"
Rudmila fixed me with a steely gaze, then dragged over a chair beside me and sat down. With her heavy, intimidating presence, she began scrutinizing me intently. Her lips trembled as if she were about to say something momentous. Young Master Monte and I held our breaths, waiting.
Finally, her lips parted.
"You're so thin."
That was it—the only words after all that buildup. She just clicked her tongue at my scrawny arms, nothing more, served plain and simple.
"Damn it, I forgot your personality since it's been so long since I last saw your face."
Young Master Monte scowled, looking like he'd been tricked. He'd probably expected something profound, just like I had.
Rudmila seemed the taciturn type. I watched their exchange like I was in a sitcom, inwardly amused.
"But."
Her low voice rang out again. Rudmila turned to Young Master Monte, her tone almost accusatory as she asked curtly,
"Why'd you bring such a scrawny kid here?"
Monte rubbed his forehead.
"If you hadn't drawn your sword, I could've explained ages ago."
He sighed deeply and slumped into a chair, massaging his temples as if shaking off exhaustion. Then he addressed the servants bustling around.
"Everyone, out for a bit."
They all looked puzzled, unaccustomed to the order. Monte had to repeat it before they bowed and filed out.
Why the weird reaction? Isn't a noble ordering servants around normal? Apparently, not for Monte.
"Worried about prying eyes...? This must be important."
"Thanks for noticing."
Once the last one left, Monte closed his eyes briefly. He glanced between Rudmila and me, then spoke gravely.
"I'm no good with words, so I'll be direct. Riru, listen up."
I straightened up. Seeing that, he nodded, satisfied I was ready, and continued.
"I want to study you."
His blunt words startled me. No—not startled, just caught off guard because it was so unexpected.
Not 'be my apprentice' or something like that?
I knew it. Smashing that statue had been a huge deal, which was why Young Master Monte was being so nice. You don't get free pancakes without strings attached. He seemed obsessed with magic itself. I'd figured he'd take interest in me and want a master-disciple thing, but nope—my assumption flipped.
"......"
Rudmila's eyes turned fierce beside me. Guess it wasn't just me who found it creepy. Monte, catching her vibe—like she might decapitate him any second—hurried to clarify.
"Not dissection or anything rude like that."
He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a worn, grubby notebook crammed with equations and spells. Flipping through pages, he explained.
"What I want is simple. Record the magic you use, your mana, your incantations—and study them."
"Ah."
His voice carried genuine passion. I nodded. Rudmila seemed accepting too. I'd braced for something scary with "research," my gut twisting, but relief washed over me with a long exhale.
"In return, I'll provide food, lodging. And, obviously, a lot of money."
Monte named a specific sum to win me over. Rudmila tilted her head, still baffled why her brother was going this far. I glanced at the figure in his notebook and nodded.
...Enough to live modestly alone. No, pretty lavishly.
The amount was huge, and room-and-board sealed the deal. Monte tried locking eyes with me, then extended his hand to seal it—a handshake. I pondered silently.
Grab that hand, and I'd live worry-free. Do whatever, live ordinarily.
But what was my goal? Number one: stuff myself silly. Sleep like a log in a fluffy bed, snoring away. Simple, ordinary dreams.
And why had they become so vital? Memories flooded back—abandoned by the Collodic family, trembling on the brink of death. My grip tightened.
"If I help with your research, how strong could I get?"
"...Get strong?"
"Exactly."
Monte's face shifted, surprised by the unexpected reply. After pondering, he answered honestly.
"You could toss around 6th Circle magic like it's nothing. I'm no teacher, but you're so gifted, it'd be a breeze."
Snap! Rudmila, who'd been listening silently, shot him a shocked glare.
Monte shrugged and pressed on.
"You'd surpass me for sure. Might even make history in the Empire."
I mulled his words. Like he said, some mysterious power had awakened in me. No clue why, but it could upend my life. And I wanted to use it for revenge.
"Could I take on the Collodic family alone? If I grow under you through the research."
Silence fell. Monte broke it.
"...Ah, right—you were abandoned."
He smacked his forehead, remembering. Rudmila's face lit with understanding.
"Collodic family... A proper magic lineage. Their power's grown unnaturally lately."
Monte glanced at Rudmila, hesitating, then confessed openly.
"Under me? Honestly, no. Alone? Impossible."
"Not a lie, but you're nervous. Spill the rest."
Rudmila pierced him with sharp eyes. She knew something. I recalled a line from a book.
The Empire's Eye discerns lies from truth—none judge better.
Rumors said the Cardias could detect truth. Was it real? Monte smacked his lips, sighed, and scratched his head.
"I don't know your limits either. You're a genius, sure, but wiping out Collodic alone? No idea."
"One word from me: Collodic's one of the Empire's powerhouses. A lone mage? It's a mountain."
They advised me gravely. Fair enough—I'd felt their vast, filthy, no-holds-barred might firsthand. Memories soured my stomach.
—Come on, time to wash up? Come here?
I squeezed my eyes shut. Unwanted memories resurfaced. My gut ached. So much.
"...What about Cardia? If we go full war with Collodic?"
Rudmila answered instantly.
"We win."
"Ignoring our losses and the honor of Empire's Eye? Sure."
Monte chimed in. Harsh reality—no toppling a house overnight.
"Then."
I voiced the fantasy I'd dreamed nightly, a bedtime wish finally spoken aloud.
"While I handle Collodic alone, Cardia helps out. How's that?"
Rudmila's eyes widened; Monte looked baffled. They spoke over each other.
"She's serious..."
"No way... Hah."
They eyed each other, silence stretching as they deferred. Even a kid's nonsense—they pondered seriously.
"Damn, it could work if played right—no objections."
"Talent for 6th Circle magic? She could face Collodic head-on for a week. Guerrilla? Harass long-term."
Monte couldn't deny the logic; Rudmila analyzed tactically. They were listening. Good.
I restated my thoughts.
"This huge power hit me suddenly. Didn't know at first, but I'm strong. I want to crush Collodic with it."
Rudmila spoke first, listening intently.
"Collodic—one of those scum families dumping kids via the Empire's vile laws. As Empire's Eye, I've thought we should deal with them someday."
Her face cold, she nodded at me.
"We've raised our voice: scrap those evil laws now. Value kids' lives."
She said it, then ruffled my hair with her huge, callused hand, engulfing my head.
"As Empire's Eye, we need to make examples of law-abusers. So if you face Collodic alone, I'll lead troops without hesitation."
She'd hated them from the start—her chill turned icy cruelty now.
"Mom's temperament? One justification, and she'd smash Collodic on the spot. But."
Monte probed deeper.
"Leave Collodic be, and you could live ordinarily—do what you want."
That clinched it. Memories surged.
—Boil in hot water, cures sickness.
—You're germ-ridden, so boil and...
—You'll be clean, right?
I hopped off the chair, fiddling with my ragged clothes.
"I don't want to leave them be."
I yanked open my pants and shirt. Pale skin bared, my flat little navel hit the air.
"......"
"...Holy."
My burns showed.
—Boiling water kills, right? So I'll wash you like this.
Traces of scalding kettle water. Rudmila gaped in disbelief, a hollow laugh escaping, then pulled down my clothes herself. Monte stared, pained. They watched silently, waiting for words.
I stated my true goal.
"I want an alliance with the Cardia family... Help me get strong enough for revenge on Collodic."
They fell silent. We stayed frozen till a servant peeked in for cleaning, mistaking the room empty, and backed out. Otherwise, we'd have iced over right there.
Didn't fit the mood, but bladder full, I stood first. Speredo was outside; I asked him to show me the bathroom. My chest felt lighter.
In truth, Cardia had no truth-reading ability. Instead, they could read emotions. No matter the ploy, emotions couldn't lie. Currently, only Mother and Rudmila possessed it.
And thanks to it...
Rudmila knew what life Riru had lived, what resolve she'd made.
"Monte."
"...Yeah."
Rudmila closed her eyes, recalling Riru's face. Fear and anxiety lingered, sure. But clearer: that tiny girl was determined to push forward, admirable and brave.
An ordinary life?
She scoffed at Monte's words. Eyes like that—betrayed by family, world—yet unbreakable will, pressing on alone. How could a child evoke awe?
I thought my emotions were dull.
A warrior's forgotten heart thumped. Awe from a child sparked one thought in Rudmila's mind.
"Riru—real name Riru Collodic?"
"...Probably?"
Rudmila frowned. Collodic, Collodic... Muttering the name, she drew a deep breath.
And declared firmly.
"Riru Cardia suits her."
Monte nodded absently, then gawked, glaring at his sister.
What the hell did this bloodkin just say?