Chapter 32 - Omen
'...What the hell am I supposed to do with this?'
Right now, I'm in quite a bind.
"Hic... sob..."
I've just realized that my little sister, Aria Raon Starlight, is still worried about me.
'Damn it, this is the last thing I need.'
There was a reason I went so far as to let Isolet beat the crap out of me just to erase her concern for me.
In an upcoming event called the System's Trial, anyone who 'worries' about me will fall under a curse.
That's why I pulled out all the stops to turn Isolet against me... but now a new variable has appeared right in front of my eyes.
"........."
I stared silently at the variable standing there, then squeezed my eyes shut and made my decision.
"Ahem."
"......!"
I dispersed the Star Mana cloaking my body and let out a presence. Aria, who had been trembling while staring at the files, whipped her head up with wide eyes, quickly slammed the files shut, and jumped to her feet.
"Mm? Lady Aria?"
"...Shh, be quiet."
Aria whispered to Cardia, who had woken up at the sound, then crept stealthily toward the door where I was.
"Hyaah!!"
"Eek!!"
The next instant, she flung the door open at full force and lunged at me.
"Wh-what the... why are you—"
"You, you...! I told you!! Never to set foot in our room!!"
"Haa... geez."
She pinned me down and started yelling while grabbing my collar. Behind her, Cardia was trembling, clutching a pillow tightly.
I glanced at Cardia for a moment, then looked at Aria with an aggrieved expression as she gripped my collar.
"Come on, though... if you're gonna use the drug anyway, shouldn't you at least test it?"
"Please, just shut up. Please."
"Do you know how much I spent on that drug? Three thousand gold! Three thousand gold! I can't just throw that money away!"
"Stop it. Please."
"It's top-quality stuff, so it should feel amazing..."
"Stop... please stop, big brother..."
I was using the same tactic that had turned Perloché and Isolet against me, desperately hoping it would make my sister turn her back on me too. But suddenly, tears started streaming down Aria's face.
"Big brother... you're not this kind of person... Why are you acting like this...?"
Her sudden reaction nearly made me hug her like I did when we were kids. But right before my hand touched her back, I snapped out of it and quietly lowered it to the floor.
"You hated this stuff more than anyone when we were little... Don't you remember?"
"...Not really."
"I remember it clearly... You said, 'People who do that kind of thing, I'll rip off their lower halves.'"
"Huh, well, I don't remember."
Of course I remembered saying it—since I did say it—but I pretended otherwise, so Aria started shaking me by the collar.
"Are you cursed? Or being blackmailed? Or maybe..."
"Enough."
"...Urk!"
Her words were veering into dangerous territory, so I urgently shoved her away and cut her off. Then, with a cold glare, I said,
"What do you know about me to be yapping like this?"
"B-but..."
"Fine, the 3,000 gold is gone. Happy now?"
"......"
"And like I said earlier, if you keep crawling over here..."
"I'll definitely find out."
"...What?"
It looked like erasing her worry today would be impossible, so I tried to wrap things up and head to my room. But suddenly, Aria spoke with a voice full of resolve.
"The reason you've changed like this... I'll definitely uncover it."
I stared at her for a moment, her voice so earnest. Then I activated my Information Search skill to view her status.
Special: Star's Watch
Disposition: Guardian
Goodness Level: 95
Seeing her goodness level, I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I quietly turned and headed to my room.
'...This is bad.'
My sister, who couldn't forget the old me from childhood, had become a new threat.
There were so many events ahead, so many enemies to deal with... and now family was just as dangerous. It was enough to drive me insane.
—
Thud.
Barely holding my crumbling mental state together, I made it to my room and collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
300pt (Death Flag)
"...Haa."
I dismissed the ominous system window and tried to sink into thought as usual, but gave up immediately.
For some reason, my usual self-talk and rationalizations weren't coming. I just wanted to stop thinking and rest for a bit.
Screw the system, the Demon King, the Sun God—whatever. I just wanted one peaceful day...
"Meow."
"...Ah."
Suddenly, a familiar meow rang in my ear.
Understanding what it meant, I clung to my fading sanity, forced a smile, and turned my head.
—
Lick.
At the same time, the black cat plush toy—now an inseparable part of my life—began licking my cheek.
"Meow..."
It flopped backward, exposing its belly and gazing at me expectantly.
"What, you barely moved for days... and now you're lively today?"
"Me, meow... lick, meowww..."
Watching the plush's cuteness, I forgot everything and started rubbing its belly gratefully—it had helped me rest.
Looks like I'd be playing with the cat plush all night.
. . . . . .
"Young master... it's time for breakfast."
"Oh, right?"
Having emptied my mind and focused solely on the plush's reactions, time flew by until morning.
When Kania called me for breakfast, I regretted not sleeping—but seeing the now-deflated, motionless plush chased that away.
'Well, work ended at 4 a.m. anyway. No sleep beats half-asleep drudgery.'
Three hours of groggy haze was worse than playing with the plush, which had boosted my mental state by 0.3. Way better for recovery.
Thinking that, I stuffed the limp plush into my bag and opened the door for breakfast.
"...Rye bread mixed with butter. Please enjoy."
Kania, blushing for some reason, set the food down and hurried toward the door.
"Hey, Kania."
"Y-yes?"
I stopped her and asked something I'd wondered about for a while.
"Your stomach hurting a lot lately?"
"Ah... well, it seems so."
She broke into a cold sweat, avoiding my gaze. I frowned slightly at her reaction.
"That... isn't related to this black cat plush, is it?"
"Pardon?"
"I like rubbing the plush's belly... and the next day, you're always clutching yours."
"I-is that so."
"Come to think of it, this thing runs on your black magic, right? So there must be some connection..."
"No."
"Huh?"
Worried my actions might be hurting her, I cautiously asked about the cat and her pain. But Kania cut me off firmly.
"The cat plush and I have nothing to do with each other."
"But your black magic..."
"...Aside from the black magic, we have nothing to do with each other. So please... no, rest assured."
She bowed curtly and headed for the door.
"...Oh, right!"
".....?"
I stared at her puzzled, then remembered something I'd forgotten amid cat play, jumped up urgently, and said,
"This isn't the time for breakfast. We need to see Cardia now."
"Pardon? Why Cardia all of a—" She understood suddenly, brightened, and followed me out to Cardia's room.
Finally, time to neutralize Kania's curse.
. . . . . .
"What? This black tea?"
"Th-that... it was for the senior maids..."
"...You're saying you touched this expensive tea just to drink among yourselves?"
"...What now?"
I'd lured Aria out by yelling at a maid outside over something trivial. I signaled Kania to slip inside.
"S-sorry... acting head of house... it's all my fault..."
"Stop it!! Father was the one who said servants could use the tea freely!! What's the problem!?"
As the maid sniffled and cleaned the tea I'd spilled, and Aria demanded to know why I was making a fuss, Kania snuck out.
100pt (Secret Operation)
I stopped my fake rage, dismissed the villainy points window, and walked down the hall.
"Kania, did you see that maid I was scolding?"
"...Yes."
"That girl's the maid who defended the Starlight family to the end last round, right?"
"Yes."
"Then promote her position and salary. Within your authority, of course."
"Understood."
After my insincere apology to the tea-spilling maid, I cautiously asked Kania,
"So, results?"
"...See for yourself."
She glanced around, then black aura bloomed from her hand.
"...Oh ho."
My face lit up watching it.
One might think 'just black aura?' but this aura held impressive power.
If Kania clenched her fist with it active, the mansion and surrounding area would plunge into total darkness as all light got sucked in.
The point: this was mid-level black magic, not the beginner stuff she'd been forced to use due to her curse.
In other words, the curse had been neutralized far more than expected.
"...Recovered more than I thought?"
"Yes, that Elixir of Potential was more effective than anticipated. I only touched her briefly, fearing she'd wake, but the curse improved this much."
"Well, Cardia hasn't fully awakened her potential... prolonged contact won't do much. Still, breathing room from now on."
As I smiled in relief, Kania, silent for a moment, hardened her expression.
"Young master... about that. I don't think you'll need to give me life force anymore."
"Nonsense."
I dismissed it sternly.
"Even if the curse is partially neutralized, it's still gnawing at your life force relentlessly."
"But if you keep giving me yours, you'll..."
"I recover fast. Bought recovery skills with the system. But you can't recover."
"...Once a month, then."
"Every three days."
"Too much."
"It's your life on the line."
After bickering, we passed an ornate door and halted, staring at the nameplate together.
[Abraham Raon Starlight]
"Still, should see his face before we go?"
"........."
I gave a wry smile at the plate. Kania stood by the door quietly.
"I'll watch if Aria comes or not. Say hello and come out."
"...Thanks, Kania."
I thanked her softly, opened the door carefully, and entered.
"...Father."
Inside, Father lay on the bed, eyes closed. I took a deep breath, then spoke quietly, suppressing emotions—no more melodrama.
"No long speeches."
"...After I defeat the Demon King, I'll definitely return here."
With that short farewell, I left. Kania raised a brow.
"...Back quicker than expected?"
"Tired of the drama."
"I see. Aria's coming, was about to call you. What now?"
Hearing Aria was coming to see me, I squeezed my eyes shut and quickened my pace.
"Let's get out fast."
"...Yes."
I headed straight to the exit and boarded the carriage Kania had waiting by the road.
"Young master, Aria's coming out."
"...Drive."
The carriage lurched forward. Ignoring my sister's desperate calls of my name, I leaned back and asked Kania beside me,
"Kania, mind using regular magic instead of black?"
"...Pardon?"
"Aria's crying keeps echoing... no soundproofing on this carriage? Hang in there and cast some?"
"Young master..."
Her crying was too heartbreaking; I asked despite the imposition. But Kania paled strangely.
"Crying?"
".....?"
Puzzled by her reaction, she grabbed my hand worriedly.
"Aria opened the door, glanced at us, and went back in. Now, aside from the rattling, there's no sound."
I stiffened, then asked cautiously,
"Hey, Kania. No black magic to erase or blank memories temporarily?"
"Why..."
"Maybe shut off my brain for a bit and fix it?"
Plugging my ears, I muttered,
"No, sleep spell. Can you control dreams? No... just make the crying stop. I'm going crazy."
"Young master...?"
"Kania... why am I like this...?"
Panicking from the unprecedented horror—even from past loops—my head suddenly cleared. I blanked out, then smiled.
"Ah, good. The sound stopped."
"......."
"What magic? Did I faint and wake? Or is this a dream? You're showing illusions to heal me, right?"
"Young master..."
"Thanks, Kania. Can't do without you... haha... ahaha..."
Shaking her hand, I noticed her sad expression and tilted my head.
"Kania? What's wrong?"
"When... did you endure such a mental state?"
"Mental state? I'm fine. Mental strength 9.3, remember? Minor issues don't stick, serious ones self-heal after minutes. See? Back to normal now..."
"...You don't seem sane at all."
She stated firmly. My fake cheer faded; I muttered emptily,
"Sorry... even high mental stats have limits..."
Kania bowed deeply, mumbling,
"I'm sorry... all my fault... if only I were more capable..."
As our self-recriminations filled the carriage,
"Guess I need... secret mental treatment... find a good place..."
—
Flap! Flap!!
"Eek!!!"
A familiar white owl flew to the window, flapping vigorously.
"...Gugu!"
It dropped a letter on my lap, soared up, and vanished into the sky. Kania and I muttered simultaneously,
"From Serena."
"...Serena, yes."
Silence fell. I opened the letter on my lap, frowned, and muttered,
"...Has she remembered past loops and lost it?"
"Pardon?"
"Check it."
I handed it to her with a baffled look.
"No idea what, but... another thing to worry about... haa... how do I fool the one I went nuts deceiving last loop..."
"...What's this?"
"Hm?"
She tilted her head at the contents. I scratched mine.
"Uh... her handwriting's awful for her, but still readable...!"
Peeking again, I froze, mouth agape.
"Some code you two use? I can't make it out..."
Because it was written in Hangul.
I'll come see you soon.
P.S. I love you. (Probably?)
— Serena Luna Moonlight
Staring blankly at the letter, I sighed and muttered,
"...Fucking trash game."
At this point, no new variables would feel right.