Unfamiliar Space... Familiar Air
“Huhk!”
My eyes snapped wide open, and a weird noise slipped out with my sudden gasp. I whipped my head around to check my surroundings in a panic. It was a pitch-black void—no light anywhere.
...Did I die or something?
The teleportation magic had worked perfectly, which was great... but the problem was Sonia's lightning spell veering off at the last second like it hit a lightning rod and seeping right into the formula. Of course, without that, that bitch's magic would've killed me outright.
Putting that aside for now, the chill seeping from the floor beneath me meant I was probably still alive, at least.
...Gonna freeze my ass off like this.
I sat up carefully, only for a sharp pain to stab my forgotten side wound.
“Ugh!!”
The agony drained my strength on instinct. Silver lining: the bleeding had stopped. Probably used the mana I'd recovered while unconscious to heal it on autopilot.
But it was a deep gash—needed proper external treatment.
“What now? I burned through all my potions fighting that pervert bastard...”
I could use healing magic, but my half-assed spells weren't cutting it for an injury this bad.
I had a few herbs left for alchemy, but they weren't potent enough on their own to fix my side.
Anything at all? If there was just one potion stashed in my subspace somewhere, I could bail outta this mess!
Should've swiped an elixir from Luine Asphodel if I'd known!!
As I rubbed my forehead with a limp arm, kicking myself for blowing past that chance, something clicked.
Wait—huh?
I cast space magic on reflex, ripping open a small rift and digging through it frantically.
“Jackpot!”
I triumphantly pulled out a heart-shaped glass vial filled with transparent red liquid. One look and you knew it wasn't your run-of-the-mill potion.
A gift from my Witch Academy junior and potion-brewing prodigy, Luine Asphodel.
When I'd asked what it was, she'd said it was a stimulant to boost metabolism... but I never got hurt enough to need it, so I'd shoved it in my subspace and forgotten all about it.
Luine had been breathing kinda heavy when she handed it over, for some reason... but her skills were legit, so I trusted it.
Pop— Yanking the sealed cork let out a crisp sound and a fresh, tangy scent. No hesitation—I chugged it down.
Gulp, gulp.
No bitter potion aftertaste; instead, a subtle sweet-fishy tang. A milky aroma hit me, evoking the maker's own scent, but it wasn't half bad.
“Kuhhh...!”
If it wasn't so fishy and had some fizz, it'd sell as a soda no problem.
The drug kicked in hard—energy surged through me, heat building up. After about three minutes, the pain dulled enough that I could stand without trouble. Body felt mostly recovered.
No kidding she's a genius; this stuff slaps.
My lower bits were tingling a little, and I suddenly missed Luine—is that just me?
Whatever. Gotta thank her next time I see her.
Mana was only back to about 10%, but moving was fine. Lying there had let my eyes adjust to the dark; silhouettes of objects started faintly emerging.
Looked like a long corridor. Width around 10 meters, but the ceiling's height? No clue where it ended.
If the teleport worked right, this should be our baby sis's workshop...
The magic tool I'd used was one of her handmade jobs too. She'd dubbed it the “Emergency Escape Device”—stiff name—but to me, it was obviously the “Miss Big Sis? Come Quick Device.”
Told her that once, and she glared daggers like she wanted me dead... but our little sis is a total tsundere, so I get it!
Hmm... but no end in sight. This really her workshop?
Walked over 10 minutes, and the scenery hadn't budged. I'd visited her place plenty, but never seen or heard of a space like this.
Or did that elf bitch's spell screw the teleport after all?
Crunch—
Something shattered underfoot. Peering down, I made out a thin rectangular shape.
“No way, this is...?”
I picked it up gingerly—the familiar grip hit me. Cast a light spell for a better look: a glowing orb lit up around me.
A smartphone? Screen cracked from me stepping on it, but definitely one.
That sealed it: 100% little sis's workshop.
Back when she was grinding day and night on better comms than crystal balls, I'd thought of smartphones from my old world and pitched it hard. She'd griped about the weird design at first but caved eventually.
So bad at being honest.
I used to hate tsunderes. But a tsundere little sis and partner? Cute enough to drive me nuts.
Hehe, soon as I get back, time to spank that little butt~
And sneak in some gropes...
Tsk—drooling without noticing.
If I were still a guy, folks would've called the cops on sight. But I'm a girl now?
Just a big sis who loves her little sis way too much. Totally legal!
Big sis doting on little sis? Natural as breathing!
Lost in my fantasies mid-stride, a faint ground rumble cut in—like the earth was cockblocking me.
Boom— Muffled explosion followed.
Deep corridor amplified the small sound into a full echo.
Little sis running experiments? No clue how long I'd been out, but she must be back already.
After a war that huge, holing up here right away? And experimenting when her fave big sis vanished? She's so mean only to me...
Penalty: 10 extra butt squeezes!!
Fantasizing punishment for my cheeky sis, I headed explosion-ward when voices rang out.
“#@ya!! @$#$ga!!!”
Couldn't parse the words, but men's bellows froze me solid.
Men's voices? Little sis brought a guy here?!
Nah, no way. I know for a fact she's zero interest in that scene.
She even gets shy bathing with me, her own sister—guys? Forget it.
And right after the war...
…………………
Tap-tap-tap—
My heels echoed sharper as I picked up speed.
Witch Academy classmate's pre-war chat popped into my head.
“Rose, you know brothels get peak traffic before wars and right after?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Animals ramp up breeding urges in danger. Instinct to spread genes or whatever. Humans ain't exempt.”
“Huh, wild.”
“So, Rose, join us planetside for some urge relief?”
“Piss off, you nutjob. Think I'd tumble with a dude? Chick maybe.”
“...?”
Our hyper-curious, experiment-loving little sis.
Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap—
Lately, hiding something—kept blocking me from her workshop.
-Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!
Little sis, tell me you didn't.
Can't stand some guy pawing you while I'm alive?
All my mana dumped into body enhancement—I bolted at full tilt.
Ruuuuumble————!!
Explosions closing in; light flickered at the corridor's end.
20 meters to the entrance. Faint voices—three men.
I doubted my ears.
4P?!
Our little sis's tastes that wild?!
Damn near passed out.
I didn't raise you for night queen status!
But no stopping now. One grave to three? Guys are all wolves anyway!!!
“You fucking beast bastards!!! Don't you dare touch my little sis...!”
I charged out cursing—and froze at the scene.
Vast stone-brick chamber. First thing: a 3-meter bipedal wolf.
Facing it down: three near-dead men, and a presumed mage woman I'd never seen lurking behind.
What the...? Real wolf too?
Little sis swings that way also?
As I gawked, the rear woman spotted me first—eyes bugging out.
Tears streaming, face lit with hope, she yelled to the frontliners.
“Rescue team's here!! We're saved!!!”
Her words hit; I shuddered like I'd been shocked.
‘Cause she pegged me as rescue?
Nah. Voice creepy?
Nope.
I was just floored by her language.
Korean—first time in 200 years.