Chapter 418

“Nu, Nu—no more. I’ve had enough.”
“No, that’s half my face, and I’ve only eaten that much. Here, take your time, there’s still plenty left!”
With those words, my sister poured the stew into my bowl with a ladle.
The potato-based stew was also loaded with meat and other vegetables.
It’s clear that you’ve invested in all the food in your house.
It was delicious, but my only complaint was that I had just finished my fifth bowl.
“Ha—ha-ha—thank you.”
“Ehehe, it’s still like a dream, Ronan’s back.”
My sister’s face lit up.
She was looking at my face as if it were the most beautiful jewel in the world.
I could tell he was still wondering if the occasional poke in the nose or cheek was a hallucination.
If you tell me I can’t eat more in this situation, I can’t.
I wonder why the older beauties can’t get enough to eat.
Schlieffen, who had just emptied his bowl, spoke up.
“Thank you for your grace. I have never tasted such a delicacy—until now.”
“Oops, did it hit you in the mouth?”
The stew was also poured into Schlieffen’s bowl.
Fed up, I shook my head.
He was already on his seventh bowl.
By the way, I laughed out loud at the idea of a delicacy, albeit a delicious one.
“Isn’t this more rustic than the aperitif they serve at Grancia?”
Schlieffen didn’t even bother to respond, just started scooping up the refilled stew.
Even in the midst of all that shit, his table manners were the height of sophistication.
His chin was shining white, smooth without a single hair.
“I’m glad you like it, I wasn’t expecting Ronan to bring a friend, but you look vaguely familiar, have we met before?”
“Uh–that. That.”
Suddenly, the mood was cheap.
I forgot about that for a second.
Schlieffen was now an imperial public figure and a wanted man.
Narrowing her eyes to study his face, she shook her head.
“Hmmm, I guess not after all. I must be mistaken.”
“—that. Yes?”
“Yes, I’m sure, the man I saw on Marvas’ wanted list had a full beard! He looked like he had committed a very serious crime, and there’s no way such a nice man could be such a villain.”
“Huh.”
“Ehehe, I’m sorry I kept talking to you during your meal, enjoy your meal!”
My sister laughed.
Schlieffen’s breath caught in his throat at the fruity smile on his face.
Seven years later, not a single wrinkle could be seen on her flawless face.
Schlieffen stayed that way until his sister left for the kitchen for a moment.
“Breathe. Breathe.”
“—— saw an angel.”
“This is crazy, but it’s kind of you.”
I chuckled and finished my stew.
I felt like my stomach would explode if I went near a needle, but I couldn’t let go of what my sister had carefully prepared for me.
She was humming a tune and organizing the bowls.
‘Thank God. I’m so glad.’
I can’t tell you how many times I breathed a sigh of relief.
For the moment, neither Akasha nor baldness mattered.
Just knowing she was alive was a relief.
However, there was one serious problem.
“Ronan, where is this asshole and what is he doing?
I’m not her sister’s brother, it said.
I actually meant to tell you as soon as we met, but my mouth just wouldn’t shut.
How do I tell my sister who hasn’t been home in seven years that I’m fake and the real me is out there on the fringes, fucking around.
This was not going to happen now, no matter how hard I tried.
Looking back on my first life, if nothing else, I would still be in the North by now.
“Operation Werewolf Extermination must be in full swing.
Marja.
No, that’s where I first met Count Armalen.
It was around this time that I was about to get beaten up for asking if the bottom fur was also gold.
It’s a headache.
There are just too many people to meet.
Of course, the first person I wanted to meet was Akasha.
I was staring at the back of my sister’s head.
“——Blood Pressure.”
A stroke of genius struck me.
If I remember correctly, there was a way to go after Akasha right now.
I hurriedly looked at my coat.
There was a thick trail of blood.
Apparently, some of them were created during the battle with Akasha.
Putting down my cutlery, I jumped to my feet.
“Sister!”
“Yahhh! W-What’s happening?!”
My sister’s shoulders slumped.
The cup in your hand falls.
I ran to the moon and stretched my legs.
The cup sits exactly on the instep.
I said, grabbing my sister by both shoulders.
“I’m sorry to scare you, but I have a favor to ask of you right now. Do you have the bloodline needle my father gave me for my bat mitzvah?”
“What, what?!”
The big sister’s eyes widened.
She stammered, “I’m sorry.
“The tongue, the bloodline needle, Ronan, how did you know that—Papa told me to keep it a secret?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to explain, I really need it, can you give it to me right now?”
“——I mean, I’m an adult, and it’s Ronan’s stuff, so it doesn’t matter, but—oh, wait.”
She nodded and ran to her room.
He sounded depressed, but was it his mood?
When the visit was closed, there was a screeching sound like catching a mouse.
She soon returned, covered in dust, with a wooden box in her hand.
“Ronan, I found it!”
“Okay, give it to me.”
“Uh huh— but wait a minute. Whoa—.”
Suddenly, my sister, hugging the box, took a deep breath.
The gloom on his face deepened.
For some reason, they seemed reluctant to give me the box.
I shook my head.
“What’s wrong?”
“—Ronan. You do know what a blood needle is, right?”
“Yeah. It’s a magic tool that points to the owner of the blood.”
“Right, and do you know if there’s any blood here—whose blood?”
“Of course my dad——no way.”
I had an ominous feeling.
My sister shook her head.
Upon receiving the box, I carefully opened it.
I raised an eyebrow when I saw the needle.
“Damn.”
The needle was cold and hardened.
There was only one reason the needle, which should have been following its blood master, stopped.
Death of the pursued target.
My sister, her head bowed, pursed her lips.
“Ronan. Dad is—”
“No, you don’t have to explain.”
This is within the expected range.
I put the needle down and hugged my sister.
Her slender shoulders were shaking.
“Sis, Sis, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t do that. You had no choice.”
“Da, I missed you all so much—I took it out once, even though I knew it was for Ronan—but he’s already turned into that—.”
Transparent tears were dripping onto the wooden floor.
I muttered with a bitter smile.
“—— You’re not even here.”
Seven years was a long time for Cain, who was severely injured.
Once again, my father left without fulfilling his dream of a family reunion.
Once again, I realized what an asshole I was.
I can’t imagine what she’s been going through.
“I’m sorry, I should have come sooner.”
I gritted my teeth.
The reason she secretly opened the box was because she couldn’t stand the loneliness.
Suddenly, my mind flashed back to the dinnerware I’d seen when I walked in the door.
At first, I thought I was preparing it for a guest, but I wasn’t.
The bowl and spoon I’d just scooped up the stew with had been my own since time immemorial.
“Fuck.
It was old, but well-maintained, so it wasn’t collecting dust.
She waited, polishing it day after day.
The day your beloved brother comes home.
The moment you’re eating together again.
“—Ms. Eileen.”
Schlieffen stared at his sister with a world-weary look on his face.
I’m guessing he didn’t look like that when his own family was failing.
Taking a deep breath, I leaned in and whispered to my sister, our foreheads touching.
“Everything will be fine now, I promise.”
“Uh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh.”
I will do everything I can.
Like the last parallel world, this one is just experiencing a passing rain.
It was also part of my mission to prove it.
Carefully separating myself from my sister, I took off my coat.
He opened his mouth, his eyes fixed on the blood.
“Rin. Is there Akasha’s blood in any of this?”
“Hmm. Let me take a look.”
A white blade glowed in response.
I swiped my sword across the coat three or four times at Lin’s request.
It would have been much more comfortable to have a sitar, but my companion could do this simple task.
It didn’t take long for the answer to come back.
“Yes. The blood on your left lapel is all that wizard’s blood.”
“Good.”
Clench your fist.
I didn’t want to have to open the blood for the trip home.
I grabbed a glass of water from the table and poured it on my lapel.
I squeezed it and it oozed red liquid.
Hastily opening the lancet, I smeared blood on the needle.
Parrrr—!
The needle, once a neutral color, turned bright red.
It started to idle, but not for long.
The tip of the spinning needle is now anchored to the east.
“Found.”
I muttered to myself.
It was like discovering the light of a lighthouse through a thick fog.
The subtly moving acupuncture needle pointed to Akasha.
It meant that no matter where he was, if you followed it, you would find him.
“Bar, what did you just do, Ronan? Whose blood—.”
“Hold on a second, sis.”
“Oooooh, I just touched my sister’s hair!”
I stroked my sister’s hair and sobbed.
My brow was furrowed with thought.
Part of me wanted to sprint down the needle right now.
But there was still so much more to this world to protect.
“I can’t lose more.
The number of people alive right now was different.
If Nebula Clasier had gotten into the act while I was away, a terrible tragedy could have happened.
That wasn’t a very good flow.
In the end, evil would be driven out, but not at the cost of unnecessary sacrifice.
We needed to find the safest and most efficient way to do this.
I looked back and forth between Schlieffen and my sister, trying to decide.
Thump!
Suddenly, a knock sounded from beyond the front door.
“Huh? Who is it?”
“——!”
My sister’s ears perked up.
Schlieffen reflexively put his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Distracted, I glared at the door.
“What’s up all of a sudden, Sis. Is anyone coming?”
“Ooh, well, I don’t know, I didn’t have an appointment, but did Mr. Ringel from the next door come by to pick up sweet potatoes again?”
“Wait.
I’ll go out.”
I didn’t detect any flesh.
I kept my sword, though, just in case.
I walked over and tugged on the doorknob.
A black wall stretched out in front of me.
“Huh?”
The black walls were metallic.
My face was stretched across the bulging griddle.
It took me a moment to realize that it wasn’t a wall, but armor worn by a person.
In his right hand, the black-haired giant clutched a pillar-like unyielding sword.
“——!”
When I looked up, I saw the head of a tiger.
The Common Weartiger’s eyes blazed red like a giant’s.
My brows narrowed.
“Zaifa?”
“Right.”
The answer was simple.
Zaifa slashed at the Unwaldo she was holding.