"Well, aren't you popular now, little brother?" I smirked as I watched how my dear sibling occupied by two beautiful women.
"How is this popular, big sis...?" The redheaded boy exasperated and drooped his shoulders dramatically.
Unfortunately, his words didn't convince me when Anise poked Leon's cheek from the side with a mischievous grin while Lily was flustered as she squeezed the hem of his uniform.
To be honest, I never thought Leon has a wide range of strike zone. Here I thought he preferred mature women resembling his mother but...
"Hn. Since I haven't heard of the details, would you like to explain, Leon?" I asked while leaning my head forward.
The boy gulped in trouble. As I thought, he's hiding something... How suspicious! You look like a diet member trying to put up excuses when found out having a scandal!!
"......I... prefer to protect my privacy." Leon finally said the cliche answer.
"Oh my, is that so? Then..."
But when I was about to drop a bomb, Alia patted my shoulder and shook her head in resignation.
"It's a bit complicated, Charlotte. Also, I do not believe this place is the correct place to discuss about it."
Huuh? Really? I glanced at the Water Mage who upgraded her spells to ice and then to the trio in front of me.
"...if you say so then. But tell me the truth or I will have to reprimand all of you. Without exception."
I put an emphasis on the last line, causing the temperature to drop a few degree and capable of causing the quartet having goosebumps.
Hmph. Do you think I don't know your effort in diverting the topic, Alia? You kids are ten years too early to belittle adult.
Now that the matter is settled for now, time for breakfast~!
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Once I ate my fill which I was grateful for the heck of it, I went out together with my friends and brother. It had been a while ever since I went to school again so the exhilaration couldn't be stopped.
I nearly skipped along with a bright smile but I must hold back. Can't allow myself seen in such a shameless state...
"Big sis, you look so happy." Leon suddenly commented.
"True. I wonder what happened?" Alia tilted her head.
"Must be her boyfriend!" Anise nearly shouted.
"B-b-boyfriend...?! Onee-chan's boyfriend... then..." Lily stuttered with beet red face.
Hey! These quartet sure are easy to mislead things! I didn't even say anything and the topic escalated like wild fire!!
I lowered my shoulders and sighed, tired of the usual antics but also relieved.
Hn. As expected, living a normal life is the best. I really must cherish these kinds of days. To be with my family and friends, chatting leisurely as the season passed...
Honestly, I'm so grateful I returned alive. I know that facing adversaries is a must for me to be stronger but I have to never think twice to run away if I met another Demon General.
Against Vladimir, I was lucky he did not use his real body. A corpse is nothing more than a corpse. Even if the physical strength was powerful, magic and soul protection is impossible if it doesn't have soul.
"Staying away from troubles is the best, after all..." As I muttered, a wind blew from behind.
Of course, we(the girls) naturally tried to protect our dignity, especially when a boy (Leon) is around. But as the shrieks were brought away by the wind, I sensed presences from behind.
Err, this... is... I turned around only to be stupefied by the over-the-top scene unfolding before my eyes.
Two youths, one was a boy with pale silver hair with gentle demeanor, then a boy with delinquent looks. Other than their contrasting features and demeanor, their uniforms had wing badges on their collars with several feathers colored in blue, showing that they were upperclassmen like Fei.
But if lined up together, they were bishounens! Honestly, the sight is making me red in fury as they could flaunt and have leeway in getting women. It must be easy for those who don't have to work hard.
"Oh my. Charlotte, your face is red. Are you okay?" Alia came over to me and I snapped back to reality.
"Nnh... I'm fine." I answered. "Probably."
Anise and Lily stared at me with eyes saying 'Is that seriously 'fine'?' but time waited for none as the two male upperclassman arrived in front of us.
"Ah. What a fine day it is to be able to see you again, Miss Charlotte." The silver haired boy - Senior smiled at me.
"Hooh, so this one is the one who cleared the S-Rank Quest..." Commented the delinquent taller than Senior. "She looks, like, super weak."
What...? Is he picking a fight? I was surprised by his words but Senior reprimanded him.
"If that is not so, the Academy will not accept transfer students from other Territories so openly, Acro."
"You serious? So this girl did something like that? Like, letting those filth enter the kingdom?"
Filth!? I was even more startled by that remark which was so casually thrown out! But then I realized a surge of killing intent beside me.
"Ah? It seems that there really are scums like you around." Leon said, his eyes were seething red with anger!
"And what does this relate you to, brat?" The delinquent replied with a mocking grin.
Geh, this is bad...! The air is distorting around! I have to stop them before others get caught by the storm!!
Just as I was about to enter the fray, Alia sighed and said.
"According to disciplinary rules clause 13, All fights are prohibited unless a teacher approved of it as a legal match. Please do not cause any trouble to the others."
Her calm voice was like cold water poured on everyone. Leon and Acro glanced at Alia then back to each other.
"...Tch. You got a chance to live for now, bastard." Leon grunted before walking away.
"That's my line, you spiky ball." The delinquent snorted.
Uwah. With just her words alone, the two decided to stop? What's going on here? Does Alia has some trick under her sleeve or something? Still...
"Just... just where have my normal life gone to?" I exhaled.
*DING DONG* And suddenly, a distant sound of bell ringing could be heard and several gasps emerged from the group.
"Shit! The lecture is going to start! And it's the Killer Woman's turn!!" The delinquent dashed away like a wind.
"Uwah!? W-Wait for me!!" Senior rushed as well.
I too looked behind me but the trio had already ran off before I noticed! Wait, why's Leon towing Lily too!?
"Th-they left me behind...!?" I exclaimed in shock for the sudden betrayal!!
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I breathed out once the morning class was done. After the history and Runology lessons that I could not make the head or tail due to my absence, it was the perfect time to let out my stress in a single blow.
"Though saying that..." I tilted to the side and a blade of a sword slashed the spot I was in a moment earlier.
Once, twice, thrice. The sword was moving sporadically without any proper thought and aim. Even if I closed my eyes, I could dodge it with ease though I realized I could know detect an incoming attack from sound, vibration on the earth and the flow of wind.
...I've become more sensitive with my surrounding. Having unlocked a part of my Soul Essence seemed to improve my senses a lot.
With the practice sword in my hand, I quickly countered by sweeping the footing of my opponent. Throwing him off balance before I attacked with a blow using the hilt of the sword.
"Gah!?" The male student fell with a disappointing groan.
"Don't show your killing intent when attacking. It told me your position even if I'm blinded and deaf." I commented. "Were you even listening before?"
This makes it the 45th... Haiz. To think that even after half a year, there's no visible improvement in the class. It made me dispirited. It even caused me to look on them with disdain.
On the contrary than the boys who seemed to slack off and chasing skirts all the time, the girls are more than motivated to show off their skills. Even Leon shook his head from the sideline.
"Big sister improved again. How strong is she now?" He exhaled.
"Dunno. Maybe she's already at B-Rank in terms of swordsmanship and arts of war alone..." Anise shrugged.
Hey. I heard your conversation, you know? It's just that I have an extra set of memories helping me to polish my skills. In fact, Iris' Soul Essence has decades of battle experiences that they turned into habits.
Unfortunately, that meant her flaws were also carried over to my current fighting style. I really have to reset it back or probably combine it to erase the bad habits.
"Ga ha ha ha ha haaaaa! As expected of my best student! You never let me down!!"
Whoa, Instructor. It's been a while ever since I listened to his laughter which is at the same level with double basses. Honestly, he didn't change at all. Although it felt like I'm doing his job now.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Even his fine mustache, wild face as well as his rippling masculine figure did not change and instead, growing more manly. Honestly, are you going to be the Perfect Knight's incarnation?
"Still..." Instructor Galahad suddenly paused. "Your new stance seems familiar somehow. Where did you learn it?"
Uugh...! He dropped the bomb! As I thought, he's a terribly sharp Warrior! But as if I can answer 'It's the Warlord's Battle Style!' nonchalantly! Most adults like Instructor would definitely rage if hearing that!
"U-un... I learned it from seeing how beastmen fight." I decided to put up an excuse.
"Is that so?" Instructor tilted his head, his expression showed some uncertainty.
But it seems he doesn't intend to pursue the topic further. Beastmen are unlike humans as each of them possess a distinctive way in fighting. Although there's no official combat style, they focused in wielding and maximizing their innate abilities to the limits.
That's why as individuals, beastmen are tricky opponents to deal with. Even Gram who's said to be the weakest could overpower me once every five battles.
Well, I of course don't want to waste my time by lazing around so I trained there. But somehow, I always felt like being watched from afar whenever I sparred with the palace's knights.
"Even now, why does it feel like I'm being scrutinized?" I mumbled while storing the wooden sword into a crate full of them.
The lesson quickly ended with me as the sole winner. Leon and Anise did not participate since they said they had enough credits to pass the classes until exams.
Still... I'm doubtful if you can get stronger just by sleeping on the green lawn. Also, I feel a bit irritated seeing Leon sleeping with Anise lying beside him.
"...these two sure are going at their own pace. I'm jealous." I commented with a scowl.
"Well, unlike them, ya don't have the right talents to flourish, Lass." Instructor chimed in. "Considering your aptitude, you'll absolutely pass on being one of the strongest in this Territory but it's probably impossible if you want to win against demons and the like."
...hue? Is that so?
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-Fei's POV-
"Huff... this is bad." A whisper was conveyed to the air.
I packed up the documents already signed by me. These wretched papers truly kept me busy like no other. Even fighting against Them are so much easier than dealing with these accursed documents.
"Ah, good work for today, Felix." Rolando smiled at me.
His bright smile was innocent and his silver hair reminded me of someone. Of course, unlike That One, he's far more decent as a person. One who's even rarer than normal people in this den of villains.
I nodded down, handing him the documents. The boy accepted them with both hands but only to stagger while his eyes trembled in panic.
"Careful." I said, even though I did not even try to help him.
Besides, even if I helped, the boy would not want it as he had quite a selfish pride to not let others be burdened by the task given to him.
Yes. He is a foolish and naive person. Just like a certain someone.
As the light streaming through the window dimmed, in the student council office, only three persons were still remaining. I who was stuck dealing with the work left by Renleina, Acro who's trying to test my patience by sleeping and Rolando who's busy handling three different works at once.
As a student, I am astonished by this boy's determination. But as a person, I noticed he's overworking himself. The reason being he had to deal with the demands of students while taking half the work of his family.
Not to mention he's trying to accommodate me for my Quest.
"You are extremely diligent, Rolando." I complimented.
"Eh? N-no... all I can do is only this much." Rolando said, trying to be humble and reserved.
Still, I could see the exhaustion catching up to him. But when I heard he wants to work harder, I could only sigh and shake my head.
It would be rude if I pestered him any longer.
"If that is what you want," I said. "So? Have you found anything regarding the Ascheral Ruin?"
Rolando shook his head in response. It seemed that he truly did not know anything.
"All I know is the basic knowledge and that the kingdom mined rare ores in it. But it was supposed to be abandoned for years ever since the previous king was Enthroned."
"I see. What about Them?"
"Nothing at all. Even though I went to the Laughing Wisp, he did not give me any helpful information."
"...so even the underworld information broker does not know. I have to rely on myself then."
How troublesome. The Ascheral Ruin is probably my only lead to overcome Lagnaris. That ruin must hold a prominent role in the kingdom's development. At least having clues to suppress its influence.
Alas, the search might result in complete failure as long as I have no way to defeat Them. Those enemies of mine brought too much of a hassle with their numbers and their reckless hunting methods.
"I'm sorry I am of no use..." Rolando cast down his gaze.
"No. Knowing that it is a former mine might actually assist me in finding Their weakness." I waved a hand.
Although it might take longer time. Now that she is here, all I hope is that she won't pry on my matter...
"Heeh, that's some pretty words coming from an Empty like you."
It wasn't until that moment that I flicked my gaze to the source of voice. It was high pitched, almost like a bell's ring but my heart shook just by hearing it.
I knew. I knew this voice, but...
"Who's going there!?" Acro jumped off from the couch and drew out a short sword.
"Dumbass, don't approach Her!!" I shouted out but it was too late.
With a flash of light, a shadow flew past above Rolando's head, crashing against the wall and sliding down. Acro was coughing blood and he passed out.
Just like that. The one who could defeat his peers with one hand, was knocked out in one hit. I glared at the figure who's standing in front of us, the black sword ready to be unleashed.
"Stop that, Empty. You're not even my match." She said.
Yes. She. As I observed her action, she lowered her right hand and placed her left hand on her waist. Her bright honey brown hair flowed down and her condescending gaze seemed to pierce my soul.
Silence went on for a while until I growled.
"...what do you want, Eliza? I thought you're already exiled by Luna."
"My feeling's hurt. How could you say that to your own sibling, Empty?"
I grit my teeth. That name... the resurfacing memories...
As if I forgot. As if I will ever forget. This bitch... Why did she return?
Rolando was shaking in fear in front of her. Acro is out and I'm stuck in a side where I have to protect two lives. In this enclosed space, anything could happen and there won't be any trace left if I clashed against this woman.
"My, don't show such a scary expression. Barking is all you can do after all." Eliza sneered and smiled. "Besides, I'm just here as a messenger."
...messenger...?
"Hmph. This me who's supposed to be the rightful ruler of the Throne has now been reduced to this state. It is such a shame that I can't even behead that little sister of ours."
Her dress fluttered as she moved forward. No matter how one sees it, she's showing too much skin that it barely crosses decency. Even more, she slid her fingers into the tight space between her breasts, taking out a letter.
Rolando was flushed red and agape at her behavior. As a noble, that is yet another quirk of his that doesn't exist in this kingdom. Even so... this woman has always been the same.
"No wonder. A whore like you is better suited to obey orders." I snorted in disdain.
"Oh shut up. Do you want me to behead you too?" Eliza retorted but the letter was still held in her hand.
It was then that I realized. She showed the letter as if trying to hand it to me.
"Take it," She ordered.
I did not listen at first. Yet, upon seeing the letter's seal, my eyes widened and Eliza's smile deepened. Her eyes displayed voracious hunger, her tongue stuck out before licking her lips with an indecent sound and she chuckled.
"That's right. It's an Order from the Ruler since you failed your latest mission. Empty, you're going with me at the end of this month. Bring along your Oratoria too."
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A/N: An S-type character appears! And she found out! Will she obstruct Charlotte's love conquest? Also...
Answer: The Chaos God saw ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)