Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Precious Younger Brother
After Matios left for the bathroom, Ophelienne remained alone in the spacious room, lost in thought.
She sat still for a moment, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere. At the end of them, there was always Matios.
She took out an old photo album from her belongings. Turning each page carefully, she examined them one by one.
The edges were worn and frayed from being handled so many times.
In the photos, a young Matios and herself were together.
Faces that knew nothing held onto each other, smiling brightly.
“…”
Ophelienne stared at the photos without expression.
Each image brought back the moments from back then.
The time he climbed a tree and refused to come down,
The way he hugged a teddy bear as big as his body,
The moment he kissed her cheek for no reason at all.
The air of that day, the scent, the feeling of his skin—all of it overlapped with the present.
Thud.
She closed the album and placed it on the table.
“…What am I even doing.”
Reality hit her.
She let out a quiet breath, as if speaking to herself, then leaned back and covered her eyes with her arm.
“Digging through the past is the most unsightly thing you can do. Forget it cleanly.”
Her mother’s words surfaced in her mind.
To Ophelienne, her mother’s words were like scripture. A guidebook for how she should live her life.
They were indeed a perfect guide.
From how to tame people, to how to be loved, to how to destroy enemies—each lesson was too valuable to discard.
“Forget it.”
She lowered her arm.
Her previously shaken gaze steadied.
It turned cold again. Clear again.
She looked at reality.
“He’s nothing more than my rival now.”
The past was nothing but an obstacle to the present.
“But why isn’t he back yet?”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. It had already been ten minutes since Matios went to the bathroom. He wasn’t showering, so why was it taking so long?
She even checked again with a finely crafted pocket watch, just in case the wall clock was wrong. But it was the same. Matios was late.
She picked up her book.
“He’ll be back soon.”
Ten minutes later.
“Does his stomach hurt?”
Another ten minutes passed.
She bit her lower lip.
The words refused to register in her mind. Ophelienne finally closed the book and stood up.
She decided to go to the bathroom herself.
She left the room and began looking for Matios.
She checked the bathroom first. He wasn’t there.
She went to the dining car. He wasn’t there either.
As she continued searching, she reached Car No. 4.
Boom!
Just as irritation at his absence began to rise, something happened.
The smoothly running train shook violently.
Screams erupted from all around.
She sensed something was wrong. Immediately, she spread her mana outward, scanning the entire train.
Malicious energy—demonic aura—was detected in multiple places. The aftermath of battles as well.
“…An attack.”
The moment she realized it, Matios, who still hadn’t returned, flashed through her mind.
She gathered her mana.
A ring firmly embedded in her heart began to rotate. A barrier formed around her body.
Where the hell is that kid right now.
She pressed her lips together and spread her mana again like a web.
Within it, she found Matios.
“…Found you.”
Car No. 6.
Right in front of her.
Crash!
At that moment, a figure smashed through the train window.
A masked assailant, clad entirely in black, looked around before spotting Ophelienne.
“Die!”
He rushed at her, drawing his sword without hesitation.
Ophelienne simply raised a finger.
A gray bolt of lightning shot forward and struck him.
Boom!
His body exploded into pieces.
She passed the bloodstains without a glance.
With swift steps, she moved through the train cars.
The closer she got to Car No. 6, the faster her heartbeat became.
What if something happened to him.
Be safe. Please. Matios.
Creak.
She opened the door to Car No. 6.
The first thing she saw was a child collapsed on the floor.
“Cough…!”
Matios was there, coughing up blood as he struggled to breathe.
With dim eyes, he looked up at her.
Ophelienne stopped in her tracks.
Something inside her chest burned.
Hot, unfamiliar, uncontrollable.
It was the first time she had ever felt it.
Leopold’s gaze locked onto her.
The lion’s eyes narrowed.
His beastly face twisted into undisguised killing intent.
“Hmm.”
Leopold tilted his head.
“I’ve been sensing it for a while.”
He muttered.
“You’re different.”
At his words, Ophelienne slowly raised her head and looked at him.
Her gray eyes were heavy and dry.
Leopold approached, swinging his axe.
The moment he took a single step—
Crack!!
A gray-white lightning filled his vision.
Boom!!
His shoulder exploded.
Muscles tore apart, bone exposed. Blood burst out like a fountain.
Yet he did not stop.
“Heh.”
Leopold laughed.
It wasn’t pain—it was excitement.
“This is worth enjoying!”
Ignoring his broken arm, he twisted his body.
His tail lashed out like a whip, striking Ophelienne’s side.
Clang!
It was blocked by the thick barrier around her.
At point-blank range, she unleashed lightning into his face.
Gray lightning flooded the train car.
“Aaaagh!!”
Leopold screamed as his entire body seized up.
“You bitch.”
He unleashed demonic energy.
Dark power surged through his body, rapidly restoring his wounds.
In an instant, he charged at Ophelienne again, raising his axe high.
“Die!”
The massive axe came down with overwhelming force, crushing the air itself.
Yet Ophelienne’s expression did not change.
Crackle.
Lightning sparked.
A flash shot forward like an arrow, piercing through Leopold’s arm as he swung.
The bolt tore through and shot out through the roof.
“Ugh…!”
Losing one arm, Leopold also lost his balance and stumbled.
What the hell is this woman…!
Crack!
Before he could rise again, lightning struck him once more.
His lion’s mane burned away entirely.
His body convulsed under the continuous strikes.
Even with demonic energy reinforcing him, he was not invincible.
Ophelienne’s lightning shattered through it and struck his body directly.
Boom!
His remaining arm exploded.
Without pause, she drove lightning straight into his face.
Leopold collapsed, clutching his face in agony.
“Aaaaargh!!”
Ophelienne stepped forward as he retreated.
Her eyes were devoid of light as she looked down at him.
“…W-wait.”
Boom!
“Ghk—wait…!”
Boom!
“P-please stop…!”
Crack!!!
Regardless of what Leopold said, regardless of how pathetic he looked, Ophelienne continued.
Without emotion, like a machine.
Under the relentless lightning, Leopold writhed in agony.
His high stats and demonic reinforcement prevented him from dying easily, but that only prolonged his suffering.
Only after reducing him to a charred husk did she finally stop.
Sweat ran down her neck, glistening faintly.
“Matios, it’s over now—”
She brushed back her damp hair and turned—
Then froze.
Matios… was in the arms of a girl she had never seen before.
Resting against her chest, as if it were comfortable.
“Matios, Matios! Wake up. What do I do… there’s blood from your chest…! I’ll bless you first. Oh Father in Heaven…”
As the blessing settled over him, Matios’ complexion improved slightly.
Ophelienne stepped closer.
Her shadow stretched over them.
The girl with light brown hair, focused on treatment, finally noticed Ophelienne and bowed her head.
“Th-thank you. Thank you so much. He would’ve been in danger if not for you.”
The name she used bothered her.
Matios.
That name… was supposed to be hers alone.
But she couldn’t blame the one who saved him.
Suppressing her discomfort, Ophelienne examined Matios’ condition.
Fortunately, he was still conscious.
She let out a quiet breath of relief.
Just knowing he was safe made her chest feel lighter.
Without realizing it, she reached toward his cheek—
But stopped short and withdrew her hand.
“It seems everything is over.”
A voice came from behind.
She turned to see an elderly woman holding a sword.
The old swordswoman looked down at the charred remains of Leopold with interest.
“You really roasted him thoroughly. Lady Moretti. Was this your doing?”
Tiana turned her head.
“Th-the Sword Saint…?”