Ignis (1)
Professor Joshua's research lab
A cluttered laboratory in the center of which various materials lay jumbled together.
A professor sat at his desk, diligently scribbling away.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Bang!
"Hello, Professor. It's been a while."
"...Siren?"
The professor, who had been intently writing at his desk, looked up at the woman who entered and murmured in surprise.
"Yes, that's right. Siren Perseino."
"Why on earth are you here, Siren? I heard you joined the Imperial Knights after graduation to receive lessons from the family head."
The professor looked utterly bewildered, as if a bomb might explode right in front of him at any moment.
"Yes, that's correct. But I've been assigned here as part of the Imperial Knights. I came to pay my respects."
"The Imperial Knights... I see. Right, I heard that due to last year's incident, the Imperial Knights were dispatching some members to bolster the academy's defenses. I never imagined they'd send you. Welcome, Siren. It's really been too long. I still can't forget the display of your prowess against the academy professors back then."
"Haha, you're too kind."
Siren scratched her head sheepishly.
"...Well, if it's praise, it's praise. But why did they send you, of all people? After that incident, the professors' views of you aren't exactly favorable."
The professor adjusted his glasses, asking with evident curiosity.
"Ah, that seems to be because of my little brother. The captain probably assigned me here so I could keep an eye on him."
"Your little brother? Ah, yes. I heard about him. Luke Perseino, right? The student who caused a massive stir on his very first day."
The professor clapped his hands as if it all made sense.
"...Pardon? My little brother?"
"Exactly. Don't get me started. The academy's been buzzing about him all day. It'll probably be the talk of the town for days. As expected of your brother... Hm? Come to think of it, you haven't heard about it yet?"
"Ah, no... I've been swamped with knights' duties today. I was planning to greet you first, then head to my brother's dorm... What on earth did he do? He's such a quiet, good kid..."
"Well, that's the thing. How should I put it..."
Slurp.
Having finished my meal and bath, I lounged on the sofa in just a robe, sipping a drink and enjoying some well-deserved relaxation.
Ahh.
After such an exhausting day, this hits the spot. So refreshing. So comfy.
Io's face had turned beet red for some reason, and she seemed reluctant to leave my room—but a man and woman alone in the same room late at night? No way. I sent her packing.
Her blushing was probably because she caught a glimpse of a guy's robe-clad body she didn't want to see.
Don't brothers and sisters usually bicker over stuff like that? Not that I'd know, since I never had a little sister.
More importantly, I needed to check on the salamander's changes.
After sending Io to the maids' quarters, I was resting alone in my room.
Summoning the salamander might cause a burst of flames that could draw Io running back here.
So, better to wait until she's asleep and summon it then, without her noticing...
Thud thud thud!
Suddenly, something pounded fiercely on the dorm door.
...Huh?
A visitor at this late hour?
Thud thud thud thud!
The knocking grew even louder.
Who the hell is this?
Pounding on the door like they own the place. Whose brat is this?
A student from next door?
Thud thud thud thud!
"Coming!"
The salamander can wait. I'll check later.
Tying my robe securely, I got up and headed to the door.
And the visitor standing there was...
"Siren sis?"
"Hey there, my little Luke."
My eldest sister, Siren Perseino.
"Come here, Luke! Let me hug you—I wanna see how much you've grown!"
"Mmph...!"
Sis charged right at me, squeezing me tight with my head buried between her breasts.
"Mmph! S-Sis!"
Her cleavage smelled sweetly fragrant, but the embrace was so crushing I could barely breathe.
It felt great, but... something... something about it.
"Aww, my little Luke is so cute. It's been forever, Luke. I've missed you so much."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
"Hm? What? ...Oh! Sorry, got carried away. My bad, Luke."
"Phew."
Siren sis finally released me from her cleavage's vice grip. A pang of regret hit me for no longer inhaling her sweet scent, mingled with relief at being able to breathe again.
"Sorry, Luke. Haven't seen you in ages, so I lost control. Hehe."
"...Sigh. Yeah, it happens. Come on in."
This wasn't the first time sis pulled something like this. She always smother-hugs me, but hey, I don't mind.
Sis and I sat facing each other at the table in the room.
"So, what brings you here, sis? Aren't you with the Imperial Knights?"
"Oh, that? Due to last year's incident, His Majesty dispatched some Imperial Knights to the academy. I'm one of them. I'll be stationed here for a while."
Siren sis at the academy?
In Deus ex Machina, a contingent from the Imperial Knights did get dispatched.
After that unsavory incident the previous year.
Seems that event played out the same... but sis wasn't supposed to arrive until the end of the year. Why so early?
"But why you, specifically? You're the heir getting lessons from the family head. Not a full-time knight."
"Well... yeah, but Luke started at the academy this year. The captain made an exception so I could spend time with my little bro."
Ah. Right—in Deus ex Machina, Luke died and never enrolled.
So my presence pulled sis here ahead of schedule.
Of all the things... I never saw that coming.
Even as a possessor, how many plan revisions is this?
Still, having sis at the academy is a huge win. With her strength, dealing with the 'Chaos' incidents here will be way easier.
Though, judging by Cronia Messene's reaction to me, the professors might not take kindly to sis...
"Anyway, Luke."
"The professors can be petty... Hm? Yeah, sis?"
I'd been mentally tweaking my plans now that sis was here when she suddenly called my name with a serious look.
"I heard you got into some big trouble today."
Ah, word reached her already.
Makes sense—the chancellor got personally involved, so of course it'd hit sis's ears.
"Sorry, sis. I didn't mean to get involved. You know I hate danger."
Eek. Come to think of it, sis is always sweet to me... until she gets mad. Then she's terrifying.
Time to grovel, even if it's pathetic. Survival first!
"I see, my poor Luke."
"Yeah. I just wanted to quietly attend classes, but Professor Cronia Messene..."
"I see... Cronia, huh. How dare she bully my Luke. Should I smash every last one of her golems?"
A chill ran down my spine, like when I first met Saula.
How does a woman in her twenties exude final-boss-level menace?
"N-No, sis! Professor Cronia didn't mean any harm."
Don't smash her golems! What happens to Cronia then!?
Sis could actually do it—I have to tread carefully.
Decisive, capable, and overwhelmingly powerful. Unpredictable as hell.
That's why in Deus ex Machina, she only showed up near the end of part 1.
"But a professor endangering my Luke out of personal grudge is still a fact, right? Or did you seek out that danger?"
Goosebumps prickled up my back at her words.
Eek!
I've gathered power in Luke's body, but I couldn't beat the monster before me. (Gifts don't count since I can't control them yet.)
"...I got dragged into it. Professor Cronia summoned me to show off Perseino power. Probably grudge from what you did to her?"
"Oh ho. Is that so?"
Sorry, Cronia!
Couldn't be helped for survival! Sis's wrath is no joke!
And honestly, you were petty about losing to her and took it out on me! Karma!
The next morning.
Thankfully, Siren sis just chatted, hugged me goodbye, and left. Said since she'd be at the academy, I could visit anytime.
Makes sense—she gets special treatment as an Imperial Knight, so dropping by during duty hours is no issue.
The problem is Cronia...
Eh, she's a professor; she'll handle it. Do I have to fix everything?
Anyway, thanks to sis leaving, I could finally check the salamander's status.
Who would've thought the salamander—no, Ignis—had transformed like that.
But today's tasks remained unchanged. If anything, more urgent now.
No matter what, I have to obtain it today.