Out of nowhere, the woman’s body was kicked into the air. Before the wide-open eyes could express shock, Ria tumbled on the ground, emitting weak groans and crying out in intense pain.
The look filled with distrust was directed at the man.
Some of the bystanders nearby screamed, startled by the sudden violence that broke out in the middle of the Academy.
Especially since it was happening between siblings.
Yet, intriguingly, about half the onlookers wore expressions as if they had expected this, revealing much about the man’s reputation within the Academy.
“What, what is the meaning of this…!”
“I told you to try, Ria Percus… I’m giving you a chance right now.”
Taking slow steps, the man kicked the woman’s body again.
Ria just barely managed to block the blow by raising her arms, though the penetrating impact of the kick still seared her bones.
The girl’s body tumbled across the ground several times before coming to a stop.
Her mind went blank, unable to respond. Her only reactions were brief screams and heavy breathing as Ria lay there.
The pain was growing faint.
The sky, which Ria stared at absently, was a vibrant blue, as if mocking the current situation like a mere nightmare.
As Ria tried to shakily rise, the man withdrew the handaxe strapped to his waist.
As her consciousness blurred, her instincts sharpened. She could sharply feel the man’s intent to kill.
She’s going to be murdered.
That vivid fear slithered coldly through Ria’s spine. The girl instinctively crouched her body.
No questions arose as to why.
Just then, Ria violently propelled her body from the ground, charging towards the man.
With an unexpected speed, her body surged forward, aiming to throw him off balance and take the upper hand.
Her subconscious painted the perfect trajectory: Ria ran along it like a wild beast.
But in the next moment…
Before she realized it, Ria’s body was twirling in the air.
It seemed the man had grabbed her elbow and spun her around with a dancer’s precision. In the next instant, Ria was flying toward the sky.
An opponent unable to fight back was no better or worse than a puppet.
Once again, the man’s kick struck Ria’s body, spinning her around on the ground. Flashes and flames danced before her eyes multiple times before…
When Ria regained her senses, the image of the man towering above her with an upraised handaxe greeted her.
Ria involuntarily screamed.
“St… stop… AAAAAHHHHH!”
Then the axe came crashing down with a loud thud.
Shaking violently, Ria turned her gaze to the side. The blade of the axe, embedded in the ground next to her face, gleamed coldly.
The man’s harsh breathing was audible, a sign that he, too, was excited.
“Ria Percus… I hate you.”
A withered, empty emotion remained.
The voice filled with suppressed anger and regret fell like sprinkling water on cracked mud, words of dried-up sincerity spilling forth.
“Possibly, don’t make the young one like you.”
With those parting words, the man slowly stood up.
The axe, having been embedded in the ground, was pulled out with a dull sound and fell into the man’s hand.
The crowd watched the man in silence, even Celin, who had been about to intervene, paused.
The man delivered one last sentence as he brushed past Celin.
“Leave the rest to the kid to handle as they see fit.”
After all was said and done, none of the four spoke.
Celin slightly avoided my gaze. Reto wiped his face with both hands and sighed, while Ria sniffled silently as tears trailed down her face.
I, too, was at a loss for words.
Just hesitating… hesitating…
With a resolute voice, I declared my intention.
“…Bring me some booze.”
Everyone’s curious eyes turned toward me. Asking for alcohol out of the blue was indeed strange.
Reto was the first to catch on to my thoughts.
“Hey, I-an. Surely you don’t mean to…”
“How dare you assault my little sister and run away?!”
With a loud “bang,” my fist slammed down on the table, filled with rage. Celin and Ria looked at me, startled.
“I need to go confront him… No! I need to give him what-for. How could he brutalize our Ria?! What part of this fragile girl deserves to be hit?!”
“Y-yeah, that’s right!”
Ria’s eyes sparkled without fully understanding my meaning.
Clearly delighted that I was taking her side.
“Discipline him, brother! I was in so much pain!”
With the support of my adorable little sister cheering me on, I couldn’t back down now.
I clenched my teeth and shouted.
“Yeah, that’s right. So anyway, once I drink and pass out…”
“Stop it.”
Unfortunately, my brilliant revenge plan was thwarted at the very beginning.
Reto looked at me with disdain.
“Use some common sense. The last time we paid a heavy price for overdoing it, causing disruptions in the plan. Every bit of information you give us from the future is precious to us. Even if it’s indirect assistance.”
“But does that mean I should just sit still?!”
“We’ll see his face again when you pass out later. We have urgent matters now; do you really want to jeopardize them in the heat of emotion?”
All valid points.
Still, I had to suppress the groan that threatened to escape. Logically, I understood, but not emotionally.
This was an event where my little sister was physically assaulted.
It was completely reasonable to charge in and throw punches. Heck, even a knife fight might warrant understanding from the Heavenly Deity.
That’s how a brother with a beaten-up little sister should behave. And I was no exception.
Meanwhile, Ria, who had cast aside her pride, was already deflated, observing my and Reto’s reactions.
She seemed to have noticed some flaw in my plan, although she didn’t understand the full details.
In the end, Ria gently adjusted her stance.
“Reto’s right, brother.”
“Ria…”
My shoulders dropped, losing my last ally.
A brother who couldn’t protect his little sister was worthless.
Even so, my kind little sister went on to comfort me, despite my incompetence.
“Thinking about it, what he said isn’t wrong. I am weak, so I shouldn’t wander recklessly. You can’t always protect me, even for the rest of my life…”
As she glanced at me, I immediately rejected her words.
“What are you talking about, Ria… Why wouldn’t I protect you?”
“But, wouldn’t you have to stay by my side forever for that?”
“Exactly! No, how about you stay by my side forever. Got it?”
“Y-you mean it?!”
Encouraged by my words, Ria’s eyes lit up again. Watching her face brighten also calmed my mind.
“Of course. Come to think of it, I was already feeling uneasy. There’s been talk of the Dark Cult targeting me recently. Even though it’s the Academy, I was worrying about your safety…”
“You sound ridiculous.”
It was that familiar irritated tone I hadn’t heard in a while.
Of course, the culprit was none other than Celin who rested her chin in her hand and slightly pouted.
“I-an, are you an idiot? Does that mean you will drag Ria along wherever you go? Don’t forget, we’re heading to the Holy Kingdom next week.”
I closed my mouth tight at that remark.
Now that I thought about it, she was right. Any place I went was fraught with danger.
Is it really appropriate to take Ria along?
After all, the reason I am going to the Holy Kingdom is for volunteer service, but with a letter from the future having arrived, it’s a foregone conclusion that some incident isn’t far off. There’s no guarantee it won’t happen in the Holy Kingdom.
At that, it struck me — I had to read the letter soon.
While I hesitated, still not having opened the letter, a surprisingly happy Ria turned her mood around.
“The Holy Kingdom?! I was supposed to go there anyway! I already agreed to take delivery of a monster corpse.”
“Huh, well, still…”
“I want to come too, brother! I’ll hire mercenaries, so you don’t need to worry too much!”
Celin, unamused by Ria’s stubbornness, firmly bit her lips together.
At the same time, golden eyes and tawny ones turned toward me.
Expectations that were complete opposites of each other.
Still, my decision was already made.
“…Alright, Ria. Let’s go together. Since we have to visit the Holy Kingdom anyway, it would be better if I accompany you.”
A sigh and a cheer intersected at my resolution.
Although we haven’t yet received the Lady Virgin Saint’s approval, Ria was my little sister. It shouldn’t be a problem to ask permission to bring family along when meeting the Saint’s family.
Only one thing I didn’t know.
After dismissing Ria and Celin, I returned to my room and picked up the letter.
As I read it, my eyes suddenly drifted to the back of the paper.
There, written hastily, were the words:
“Watch over your family.”
A warning that would have been far better if read a little earlier.
