Chapter 40
Death-Wielding Blade, I’m truly angry. Although I didn’t show it in front of Lian Qi and Qifeng, I will never forgive the person who hurt Qifeng.
First, I went to the Adventurers’ Guild and told Sister Mouyue and Sister Liwei the whole story.
“Eh? General ‘Scarlet Flame’ Phylicia actually dragged you, the Saintess, along to subjugate an assassination organization?” Sister Liwei stared at me in surprise.
Sister Mouyue was even more astonished. As an elf, she had a “humans really know how to play” kind of feeling, sighing, “This… sounds even more absurd than Queen Tristina having you dress as a maid to get close to the transmigrator.”
I gave a weak smile. “Because Sister Phylicia knows my strength. And to give Lian Qi some experience.”
However, at the same time, I thought with guilt: in the end, I still caused Qifeng to nearly lose her life.
“I’ve noticed that your sisters’ approaches to your education are completely different. It must be hard on you,” Sister Mouyue said sincerely.
“Er…”
Speaking of my sisters…
Sister Mouyue, as an adventurer, pulling me in as external support is understandable. Then Sister Phylicia, as the kingdom’s general, pulling me into a war doesn’t seem wrong either, does it?
As for Sister Aijieliya, she’s the headmaster of the magic academy and likes to protect me like a greenhouse flower.
Also, I once thought That person would always protect me too… Forget it, let’s not talk about it.
“More importantly, is it true that you, the Saintess, are on their assassination list? Are these people tired of living?” Sister Liwei slammed her fist on the table angrily.
“Sister, please calm down,” I said weakly. It’s a good thing she didn’t use magic, or the guild’s receptionist lady would be demanding compensation for the table!
“Sister Kefei’er… are you really sure about using yourself as bait?” Sister Mouyue asked.
“…It should be fine.”
I scratched my cheek with a finger.
“…Although they lost a comrade, their main force is still intact. They will likely retaliate soon to avenge their comrade, so I hope you can help me.”
“No problem!” Sister Liwei slapped the table. “I’m on it. Tell me, how many people do you need? Is our whole group of forty enough?”
“Should we contact a few more Platinum-rank adventurer friends to help out?” Sister Mouyue suggested.
“No, no, no, having you is more than enough,” I said quickly. “In… in short, thank you all.”
“Sister Fei’er, we are all your solid backing. With our entire group here, we won’t let a single hair on your head be harmed,” Sister Mouyue said.
Hearing Sister Mouyue’s words warmed my heart. Thank you for being so good to me. When I walked out of the Adventurers’ Guild and stood at the entrance, I thought about who else could help.
A certain red dragon whelp who used to freeload off me at home can’t be contacted. So, the remaining candidates are…
I took out the conch shell communicator Sister Aijieliya gave me, staring at it but hesitating to use it. Even though Sister Aijieliya can hear me if I speak a single sentence into it, I feel it’s more sincere to visit her in person. After all, I hurt her feelings.
Thus, after leaving the Adventurers’ Guild, my next destination was the magic academy.
Because I was wearing the magic academy uniform, it was easy to blend in. I haven’t been back since I accompanied Lian Qi for her graduation. I’m actually a little nostalgic.
Arriving at the headmaster’s office door, I said the password “Die, Xubai” to the headless gargoyle.1 The door opened automatically. Everything was so familiar, but now that the time had come, I was cowering and didn’t dare to go in. I hadn’t prepared what to say when I saw my sister.
Can I just say “Sister, I was wrong” as the first sentence? If I confess everything that happened to her, will she, in a fit of anger, string me up and ground me? Will she lock me in the headmaster’s office from now on, never to see the light of day?
I walked in with a heart full of anxiety. As a result, I had barely taken half a step inside when I kicked an empty wine bottle. The sudden rolling sound startled me. What’s going on? I quickly bent down to pick it up, only to find another empty bottle right in front of me—no, the entire floor of the headmaster’s office was covered in empty wine bottles.
Th-th-th-this… how much did Sister drink behind my back?
“Sister, are you here?”
I asked, carefully stepping over the bottles.
Because the curtains were drawn, the headmaster’s office was very dark! I walked closer and was almost scared out of my wits! Sister Aijieliya, dressed in black, was sitting against the curtains, almost blending in with them.
“Sis… Sister…”
I had never seen my sister so decadent. She slowly raised her head to look at me, her eyes dim and dark, with heavy bags under them.
“Little sister…?” She stared at me in surprise, as if she had been in standby mode and I had just activated her. She reached out and gently stroked my face, as if she couldn’t believe I was real.
“Are you really Fei’er? Or just a magical illusion?”
“Sister, it’s really me.”
I quickly squatted down too. Suddenly, a terrifying thought occurred to me: if I hadn’t come, would Sister have just continued to waste away in this state?
“I thought… you would never come looking for Sister again.”
“H-How could that be?”
Sister gave a melancholy smile. The black curtains behind her seemed to be a reflection of her dense, inescapable sorrow.
“Because Fei’er, you’ve grown up. I couldn’t stop Phylicia from taking you from my grasp, because that was your own choice. Just as that woman said…”
“I can’t protect you forever.”
“So Sister doesn’t blame you. I really don’t blame you.”
…
I wanted to speak, but hesitated.
What’s wrong with Sister?
Is she drunk? Or?
The brief hesitation didn’t give me any answers. The only thing I could think of was to comfort her, because seeing her so broken made my heart ache.
I threw my arms around her. Even though Sister is taller than me, at this moment, I wanted to use my small body to give her as much security as possible.
“Sister, really, no one can take me away from you.”
Sister was motionless, like a statue.
“I know, everyone is very good to me. I have you, Sister Aijieliya, and Qifeng, and Lian Qi, and Tristina, and Sister Mouyue and Sister Liwei, and Sister Phylicia. …I know that you only have me, Sister. So, it’s even more impossible for me to leave you.”
As I spoke, my nose started to sting.
She really… only has me.
“Thank you, little sister. Thank you for understanding Sister.”
“Mhm! If I don’t understand, who else will?”
I hugged Sister tighter and nuzzled against her chest.
She hugged me back, gently stroking my hair.
“Sister likes you so much. I want to keep you by my side forever.”
“Haven’t I always been by your side?” I asked innocently.
“…It’s not like that. No… Fei’er, it’s okay if you don’t understand…”
“I’m sorry, Sister. I… I messed up… I caused Qifeng to get hurt.”
I finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and told her the whole story, including my plan.
“You—you—you actually want to use yourself as bait?”
Sister’s tone changed, scaring me to death! I quickly explained, “I know doing this, Sister will think I’m joking with my own life, but that’s exactly why I need your help, Sister.”
Sister’s hand reached for my face. I thought she was going to slap me for my recklessness, but instead, she gently cupped my cheek.
With tears in her eyes, she held my face and said to me,
“Sister will always be on your side.”
Footnotes
-
虚白 (Xūbái) the password is “Die, Demon King.” ↩