Chapter 46

“Whoa…….”

It wasn’t the time to admit it, but it was an undeniably cute sound.

Riana, who was left alone, had a sullen and gloomy expression, but after taking a sip of warm cocoa, her expression softened, and she let out that sound.

Originally, I was going to make three cups of tea, but Abelin stopped me before I could.

Then, with a ghost-like sense of smell, she found the “cocoa powder” hidden in the cupboard.

The powder had the same sweet and milky scent as the chocolate milk Abelin had shared before.

But how did she even find it when it was tightly sealed……?

In her own words:

“This glass jar with tea leaves inside, though old, is untouched and brand new. And this subtle, sweet scent lingering in the kitchen. How could I not notice?”

Anyway, it was a relief.

Sweet cocoa is much better than bitter tea for lifting the mood.

Still, just in case, I asked Riana.

“Is it too watery?”

“Kairon, what do you take me for……!”

Abelin flared up at the unexpected question.

“Yeah, not watery at all. She made it really thick!”

Luckily, Riana smiled brightly, praised Abelin’s skills, and took another sip as if to prove it.

But suddenly, Riana’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the cocoa cup.

“Abelin, you know this, right? This powder is really expensive.”

“……I know.”

“Then, that means…….”

As Riana stared sharply at Abelin, Abelin subtly avoided her gaze.

“Why are you avoiding her gaze? Everyone knows you grew up in a wealthy family.”

“Where does that show?”

“It’s obvious at a glance.”

When I gestured toward Abelin, she flinched and tried to act nonchalant.

The problem was that her posture looked even more awkward.

“First, your face.”

“My face?”

“Yeah. Your skin tone is different. Unlike me, who’s been rolling around outside since I was a kid, you’re pale white. Even without makeup. Proof that you lived like a greenhouse flower.”

“What, a greenhouse flower? Ha……. Do you think you can train in swordsmanship in a greenhouse?”

“Totally possible. Just bring in a skilled swordsmanship instructor and train indoors, right?”

“Ugh, not wrong, but……. I was definitely not a greenhouse flower. Remember that.”

“Alright. Whatever. I’m not saying you’re wrong. Now we’re in a position to fight demons in the coldest place on earth, covered in their blood.”

“Kairon oppa.”

Riana called me quietly and added.

“It’s not that level.”

“Not a greenhouse flower level?”

“I think it’s a matter of class.”

“Class, class.”

I looked at Abelin carefully after hearing Riana’s words.

“Hmm……. Definitely.”

What I’ve felt being with Abelin so far is a sense of elegance.

Her posture, her walk, the way she moves her hands while eating.

Thinking about it, there wasn’t a single thing that wasn’t refined.

A prime example is how she fights.

Unlike me, who thinks it’s fine to be rough and brutal as long as the enemy is defeated, Abelin attacks with sharp yet graceful movements.

“What, what are you looking at! With those weird eyes!”

Abelin, feeling uncomfortable under my gaze, blushed and covered herself with her arms.

“No, Abelin? I wasn’t looking with any impure intentions. I don’t even have those kinds of feelings for you.”

“Just saying that is rude! Anyway…….”

Abelin coughed once and turned her gaze to Riana.

“Has the tension eased a bit now, Riana?”

“Hehe……. Huh?”

She changed the topic too well.

Riana, who had been giggling while watching Abelin and me bicker, finally remembered why this situation had come up.

“Tension? I wasn’t tense from the start. It’s nothing, so don’t worry.”

“Then tell me, Riana.”

I gently asked Riana, who was shaking her head and trying to act fine.

“If it’s nothing, you can tell me. I asked if there was another place where we could talk comfortably, and you seemed troubled by that question.”

“……It’s really nothing.”

“A close and beloved younger sister’s worries can’t be nothing. If it’s really hard to say, I won’t push. But…….”

I added with a bit more sincerity and weight.

“If I find out later that the worries you’re holding now were not small, I’ll be really heartbroken too.”

“Umm…….”

Riana slightly furrowed her brows.

Not because she was upset, but with a deeply thoughtful expression.

Then, Riana suddenly gripped her cocoa cup tightly and……

Gulp gulp-

“Ri, Riana? That’s really hot…….”

“Haah, it’s hot!!”

Abelin, quick on the uptake, hurriedly went to the kitchen and brought cold water.

Riana gulped down the cold water Abelin handed her and slammed the cup on the table.

“Haah…….”

Having just gulped down freshly boiled cocoa, the feeling of cooling it down quickly must have been thrillingly refreshing.

As refreshing as that, I hoped she’d pour out her worries too.

“Kairon oppa.”

“Yeah, I’m listening.”

“Then promise me one thing.”

“What promise?”

“……Don’t be disappointed when you hear my worries.”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t do that. Unlike narrow-minded Abelin.”

“Why am I suddenly being brought up? And where am I narrow-minded!”

“Hehe…….”

Riana laughed again at the sudden bickering, her expression softening.

Abelin, knowing I had deliberately poked her to lighten the mood, made a pouty face for just a moment before exchanging a glance with me and letting it go.

“Again, I won’t be disappointed. So tell me.”

“Okay. It’s just that, actually…….”

A relaxed expression, a relaxed voice.

I was pretending to be very calm on the outside, but inside, I was extremely anxious.

Because of the demonic energy I had felt earlier, and it was very strong.

Right now, Riana wasn’t emitting any disgusting energy directly, but I knew she had it inside her.

It seems it doesn’t come out when she’s not using mana.

But I couldn’t be sure.

The Riana talking and laughing with us now still looked like an innocent child, even though she’s a bit older.

But she could be a demon.

No, maybe even this friendly conversation is an act…….

“……I’m being bullied.”

“Huh?”

I messed up.

Lost in serious thoughts, I didn’t hear Riana’s words properly.

“Sorry, what are you being?”

“Bullied…….”

Riana, embarrassed and angry to even say it again, made a pained face instead of answering.

“No, no. Riana, I’m not trying to upset you. It’s just hard to believe…….”

“Bullied.”

Abelin cut in, emphasizing clearly.

“Riana said she’s being bullied by the other candidates.”

Abelin’s voice already carried a hint of anger.

“Bullied? Bullied how…….”

Actually, I had sensed a subtle atmosphere since coming to Riana’s accommodation.

It felt like the other candidates were blatantly avoiding her.

But I thought it was because they were jealous of Riana’s talent and the attention she was getting.

Moreover, Riana seemed quite composed and cheerful around them, but bullied?

‘How dare they?’

I couldn’t understand it at all.

Candidates lacking talent and skill daring to bully Riana, a high magician candidate?

But the next thought that followed was…….

‘How dare they……!’

It was a thought that came straight from the heart, not the head.

My kind and cute younger sister, whom I’ve looked after since she was little, how dare they!

“……I want to kill them.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

Oops, I messed up again.

The anger boiling inside me at the thought of Riana being bullied made me miss her words.

“What did Riana just say, Abelin?”

I looked up at Abelin to ask again.

“Ah, well, um…….”

But for some reason, Abelin’s eyes were shaking as she looked at Riana.

“What’s wrong? What did Riana say……. Whoa.”

At that moment, I felt a murderous aura.

And the source of that sharp, eerie aura was…….

Turning my head, I saw a purple energy oozing from Riana, who had buried her face in her knees.

“Riana. What did you just say?”

“……I want to kill them.”

Riana raised her head, clenched her teeth, and said clearly this time.

“I want to kill them all!”

As she said that, Riana’s eyes…….

Her eyes were burning with a strange purple light.