Lupin sincerely respected his sister Elsi.
Born as the youngest of the Rainelle Clan, he had been particularly frail since childhood. Among his robust siblings, only he and Elsi had small statures.
Despite the continuous neglect and bullying, Lupin was unable to resist at all.
Because he was weak, there was nothing he could do. It was only natural for him to be treated this way. He spent his childhood half-heartedly accepting it.
If there was a ray of light for such Lupin, it was the presence of his sister Elsi.
“Hey, did you bully my brother again?”
Like Lupin, Elsi was also small, even smaller in fact, but she was always bold. She knew well that she had no chance of winning, yet she still confronted them.
Watching her grit her teeth and try to protect him somehow, Lupin could only tremble.
The outcome was always predictable. Elsi would end up in a mess, and Lupin would approach his sister with tears in his eyes. Each time, Elsi would merely give a faint smile.
With her tiny hand resting on top of Lupin’s head.
“Lupin, why do you look so sad? Listen… In the end, the one who laughs last is the strongest. Do those thick-headed idiots think they can beat us?”
Her words felt utterly unrealistic.
Lupin was timid and had a fragile figure. He couldn’t even dare to think about beating his siblings.
Let alone Elsi, who was even smaller and more delicate than he was. While depending on her, Lupin thought she was dreaming in vain.
But Elsi soon proved her words right.
Gritting her teeth and dedicating herself to magic, she quickly rose to become a prodigy of the Rainelle Clan. Not only did she enter the Academy with high grades, but she also consistently ranked at the top afterwards.
Then, the way others treated Elsi changed.
The siblings who had bullied her before, when they saw her, would now lower their heads, looking cautious. After all, there was no point in trying to save face, as they would end up as barbecue in the backyard.
Poisonous, cruel, and strong.
That’s why Lupin respected his sister. Following in her footsteps, Lupin diligently studied magic and managed to enter the Academy after Elsi.
Of course, he started later than her, and he wasn’t as ruthless either.
He couldn’t be by Elsi, who had risen to a high position in the Academy. Nonetheless, Lupin was satisfied.
He never intended to defeat his sister, anyway. For Lupin, Elsi was the strongest and most reliable being in the world.
At least, even if he couldn’t reach her level, he wanted to resemble her as much as he admired her.
It was around this time that Lupin started to intentionally mock and bully weaker individuals. He trampled on those who couldn’t resist cruelly and coldly, just like Elsi.
He didn’t mind if it gained him the disdain of the public. For him, the standard of justice was his sister.
Aren’t you all making fun of the weak without a care too?
Lupin had seen through the dark inner workings of humans, even if they didn’t openly reveal it. In contrast, Elsi, who had once been weak but remained unbroken, was simply beautiful.
Then one day, Lupin was looking for a target to bully as usual. Coincidentally, a friend of his, seeming to have heard an interesting rumor, spoke to him.
“Hey, have you heard? That ‘Yuridina’s brat’ is supposedly being bullied nowadays.”
Lupin looked at his friend with a puzzled expression. Soon after, his brow furrowed slightly. He asked back as if incredulous.
“Are you crazy? If Senior Delphine finds out…”
But Lupin’s friend just clicked his tongue. His arm wrapped around Lupin’s shoulder, and he whispered to persuade him.
“They say Senior Delphine is ignoring it. Otherwise, those lowborn nobles wouldn’t even dare touch that brat.”
Lupin, who was about to ask why Senior Delphine would do such a thing, shut his mouth.
After all, that was how the world of high nobility worked.
There might be brotherly love, but the tendency to view each other as potential competitors was stronger. It was clear they wouldn’t dare to touch the bloodline of Yuridina, even if they were half-hearted nobles.
Delphine Yuridina had abandoned her half-brother.
Thus, Lupin mindlessly joined the ranks of violence. The feeling of bullying Yuridina’s lowborn associate was something he usually wouldn’t have dared to do.
At least, it was until a madman with a hatchet suddenly appeared before him.
In the moment his fist unexpectedly smashed into Lupin’s face, he heard the sound of his nose breaking with a thud.
His face crumpled around the point of impact as his body flew through the air. By the time his senses returned, there were already plenty of others lying around him.
He was scared. His heart raced, sensing the crisis. But at that moment, Lupin thought of Elsi.
What would sister have done in this situation?
Lupin’s fist was tightly clenched. He shouted with all his might.
“I, I am Lupin, the third son of the Rianella Duchy!”
Golden eyes flicked toward him. Despite the overwhelming fear, Lupin forced himself to calm his trembling heart, thinking of his sister.
“How dare you touch me?! If you kneel and ask for forgiveness right now…”
“Hey.”
However, before he could finish his sentence, a hand axe narrowly brushed against his cheek, then struck the ground with a thud.
It was impossible. Lupin could no longer endure.
“Is that how the third son of the duchy wants to get hit nowadays?”
That was it. Lupin decided he could never provoke this man.
Because the golden eyes staring at him seemed far too serious.
“There won’t be a next time. You learned today that I’m a madman.”
Lupin could only nod his head frantically at the man’s warning.
That day’s memory remained a huge scar, but Lupin decided not to dwell on the event because he no longer wanted to get involved with that man.
However, Elsi’s reaction upon hearing the news was different. She frowned and exclaimed.
“What? Are you mad? That lowborn bastard touched my brother, and you want me to do nothing?!”
“Nu, sister… that guy is totally insane!”
“Ha, that’s ridiculous.”
Elsi let out a scoff, as if she had heard the most absurd thing, and wore a confident smile.
“Hey, your sister is Elsi of the Rainelle Clan. Do you really think I would be beaten by some lowborn noble? Just wait, I’ll take care of that madman.”
Still, Lupin wore a somewhat anxious expression. Elsi, sensing this as she always did, stood on her tiptoes and ruffled Lupin’s hair while bending down awkwardly.
“Don’t worry, I have the strength to protect my brother.”
Seeing her beaming smile, Lupin felt a sense of relief within, despite his verbal concerns.
Yeah, it would be okay with sister.
Because she was stronger than anyone.
But the next day, Elsi was brutally defeated.
It happened in front of dozens of witnesses. In one fell swoop, a few seniors were brought to their knees, and the man, who climbed onto Elsi’s shield, repeatedly struck down with his axe.
Along with screams and scattering particles of light, Elsi begged for her life from the man.
She was even given the derogatory nickname ‘piss pants.’ For a while, Elsi seemed like she was in a daze, hiding in a corner. Then, Lupin’s sister had to be dragged away for the Hunting Festival by that devilish man.
He should have stopped her then.
No, there was still a chance until after winning the Hunting Festival when she was trotting around with a smug expression.
However, afterward, she decided to go on the next practice deployment with that man, and despite her annoyed expression, traces of joy were apparent on Elsi’s face.
What came back was even more ridiculous.
She wore a restless expression, then at times had a dreamy look and smiled vacantly.
Seeing Elsi’s transformation, Lupin felt a twinge of anxiety. Still, he tried to brush those feelings away and gather his thoughts.
The reality that lay before him was far too cruel.
“Ma, master… you’ll forgive me, right? You won’t abandon Elsi, will you? Please!”
With a pop, another vein burst in Lupin’s wide-open eyes.
He couldn’t believe it. Right now, Elsi was rubbing her head against I-an’s arm, making sweet sounds.
To that ‘lowborn noble’ no less.
Elsi’s expression even seemed to look somewhat impatient. It resembled that of a puppy not wanting to be abandoned.
Objectively, she was quite adorable. However, for Lupin, it was a scene that felt as if the world was collapsing.
Moreover, there was a hint of genuine affection in Elsi’s eyes as she flattered that I-an.
While other people might not have known, Lupin, who had grown up with her, was aware of the true nature of that affection.
Looking up at I-an with sweet eyes, Elsi suddenly snapped back to reality and looked sad.
“Ar, are you angry? Because of Lu, Lupin…? Hey, Lupin!”
Once she had been obedient, barking or rolling over to show affection, but Elsi’s demeanor flipped in an instant when she looked at Lupin.
With her usual strict expression, Elsi exploded in anger at Lupin.
“Lupin, why aren’t you begging for forgiveness from master?! He’s angry!”
Seeing Elsi twitch and glancing at I-an, Lupin could only shut his eyes tightly.
This couldn’t be true.
This reality couldn’t exist.
But no matter how much he denied it, the intense pain in his heart confirmed that this was indeed reality. His eyes brimmed with tears.
How did it come to this?
The once fierce and robust flower, ‘Elsi Rainelle,’ was now gone.
Only a female desperately craving her master’s affection remained.
No matter how tightly he closed his eyelids, the scene he had just witnessed played back in front of him.
The woman gazing dreamily at I-an with sweet eyes.
Lupin’s body trembled. A torrent of emotions surged up his spine.
He couldn’t stand it. The reality he faced was far too unbearable, and he wiped away his overflowing tears.
He felt devastated. The sensation of his heart being ripped apart made Lupin want to claw at his chest in frustration.
He was angry, so angry. What made it even more miserable was I-an’s attitude.
He looked uncomfortable, nothing more.
How could he do that?
Lupin’s mind heated up all at once.
To turn his strong and cunning sister into a love-struck girl, and yet sit back aloofly while she desperately fawned over him.
How could he be so cold?
This couldn’t go on. It was unacceptable.
Shaking from the intensity of his emotions, Lupin grit his teeth and opened his eyes.
His bloodshot eyes were filled with rage and enmity. He took strides forward.
By this time, Elsi was still pleading with I-an, her face contorted in despair.
“Pl, please don’t abandon me… For, for my master, I will do anything! Should I bark? Woof, woof!”
It was at that moment when Lupin grabbed his sister’s arm.
Elsi, who had been ready to throw away her human dignity, looked at Lupin with a bewildered expression at the sudden force in her arm.
It seemed she was asking what he was doing.
Actually, it was a question Lupin wanted to ask. Gritting his teeth, he tugged Elsi along.
Surprised, Elsi tried to shake off Lupin’s arm.
“Lup, Lupin! What are you doing?! If master abandons me like this…!”
“Does sister have no pride?!”
It was Lupin who shouted instead. Elsi’s eyes widened.
Under normal circumstances, she would have scolded him for talking back, saying things like “my little brother?!”, but now, it seemed she was too confused to say anything.
But Elsi was still Elsi. Fumbling, her bubbling emotions were on the verge of exploding.
“Why should I have to cling to my pride?! That lowborn brat should be the one clinging on!”
In that moment, Elsi stood still.
Her head tilted slightly, a look of complete confusion on her face.
Lupin, feeling frustrated, thumped his chest.
“Just follow me! And hey, you lowborn noble!”
The man’s golden eyes fixed on Lupin, expressionless. Remembering his former nightmare, Lupin’s body shuddered, yet he forced himself to hold on for his sister.
With eyes that looked ready to shed tears, he glared at I-an and shouted.
“…P-prepare yourself! One day, I will make you regret today!”
Dramatically reciting a typical villain line, Lupin dragged Elsi along, who was still bewildered.
He gritted his teeth as he thought.
I will have my revenge.
One day, I will make you, who coldly treated my sister, cry and regret.
Since it had turned out like this, there was no choice. Even though his heart felt like it was being torn into a thousand pieces, there was only one way to seek revenge.
It was to make I-an fall deeply in love with Elsi.
By that time, I-an would probably end up on his knees proposing to Elsi.
Lupin’s mind was filled with the desire to set up that kind of scenario no matter what.
Elsi had a confused look on her face.
It seemed like she wanted to help Lupin, but he couldn’t tell how.
At the same time, trying to cling to I-an wouldn’t make his ‘master’ retract his words about abandoning her.
There was no choice. Lupin was now the only way out.
Although he was an imperfect younger brother, if he could just connect his master and her, he would gladly accept any advice.
While still being dragged along by Lupin, Elsi spoke pitifully to I-an.
“I, I’ll see you next time, master!”
I-an stood rooted in place until the Rainelle siblings disappeared.
And after a while, when the shadows of the Rainelle siblings could no longer be seen, a chuckle escaped his lips.
“What a weird pair.”
He hadn’t said anything, yet they had come up with and acted out their own story before leaving. I-an couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.
After standing blankly for a while, he scratched his head and started walking again.
It was time to look for the Lady Virgin Saint.
After all, she was one of the few who had met ‘him’ from the future.
