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292. Siblings Ep – Candy

A lot has changed.

Lean fell into thought as he watched Reriana munching on dragée, a candy coated with sugar and nuts, for dessert.

He began to reflect on his condition and set a goal for this cycle.

[Achievement: Monster Hunt – ‘0’, a small amount of mana lingers in the body.]

First of all, I am not a Swordmaster. I’ve exhausted the monster hunt achievement in capturing Malhas.

While the rank remains the same, if I can’t output an aura, I’m just like any ordinary knight.

Weakening in power is one thing, but losing the most significant utility of the Oblivion Blade is another.

Now, proving that I am a Swordmaster has become quite challenging.

It’s a troublesome matter, but Lean calmly accepted it as a condition that constrains him. At least capturing Oriax and Astroth this cycle would be impossible.

‘Looks like Reb will have to struggle a bit.’

Currently, he’s the only Swordmaster among the Leos. It seems Reb will need to step up; as Lean navigated the complex ties of time, place, and relationships from the repeated cycles, he suddenly thought of Koko-ren.

– “Leo! Look! It’s Koko-ren!”

The animal that Reriana, his childhood friend, would clap her hands for to bring luck.

A smile spread across Lean’s face.

It was indeed a lucky animal.

Shortly after the last childhood friend cycle began, Reb had tried to use a mirror.

He hastily pulled it out to persuade Reriana, who didn’t believe him, but Koko-ren had fallen onto the mirror.

Reriana clapped her hands as usual, and the attempt to use the mirror got swept aside.

Then, a week later, when Reriana came rushing in at midnight asking what the ‘dream’ was, he finally used the mirror.

It seemed trivial, but it was immense luck. Reb would contact me tonight.

‘He took good care of my mirror.’

I don’t know if this is truly a divine arrangement.

But what’s certain is that Reb will contact me, and Reriana will awaken and contact Reb in this coming winter when the engagement scenario begins.

Since the first cycle of [Raising Reriana], Lean has been expressing his gratitude to Reriana, who clapped her hands for Koko-ren to bring luck every time.

Thanks to that, he could solely focus on making his younger sister happy.

In exchange, Reb would have a tough time… but well, it’s unavoidable. It’s for the sake of the true ending, after all. Lean wasn’t planning on going to Rutina.

At that moment, Reriana struggled to remove a piece of candy stuck to her tongue. Since her tongue wasn’t working, she resorted to scratching it with her nails, and Lean decided to help.

His sister, oblivious to her embarrassment, nibbled on his finger.

What to do with this little rascal?

No one was more challenging to handle than Reriana, who, while seeming quiet and obedient, could suddenly spring up and had grown up drastically depending on her surroundings.

Where and how should I raise my sister…

While contemplating, Lean eventually stood up.

He thanked the Chicken Shop Owner who came running to greet him and walked through the busy market. Reriana followed behind, as lively as ever.

“Oh my- look at that one. So cute.”

“…That’s beyond cute, isn’t it? Given the outfit, that looks like a beggar… Oh my, I wonder if that one’s in danger.”

With a face that was spotless, it was only natural that attention was drawn towards Reriana.

A dress full of holes, draped over her shining face. Though her prancing walk made her look adorable, her appearance did not match up.

Everyone passing by turned their heads back.

Concerned that the tiny one might be in danger, they saw the thugs sneaking up behind her.

Those guys were like, “What the hell? This is our lucky day!” scratching their necks as they pursued the girl, thinking she’d sell for a high price.

However, it was broad daylight, not to mention a busy street; kidnapping a girl in plain sight was daunting, even for them.

Even if Orberg were a careless king, the capital is still the capital.

They generally don’t patrol too much, but with soldiers around, causing trouble on the main street was bound to end badly.

Thus, the thugs hoped those beggar kids wouldn’t slip into a secluded alley and followed them, and naturally, the kids moved toward a quieter area.

Would this suffice? What about you? Aren’t you leaving? It was around the time they would start competing among themselves.

“I’ll pluck out your eyes. Hey, you brats! If you don’t walk back the way you came, you’ll be dead.”

One burly figure made the first move. But he was glaring at the thugs, not the beggar kids.

“W-what…”

“If you don’t leave by the time I count to two… Oh, you still have some awareness, huh?”

The thugs quickly fled, while a middle-aged thug with a tattoo on his neck picked up a bat.

He approached the kids in question and asked, “Are you the older brother? Look, if your sister looks like this, you should do something about it. Do you even know how scary the world is…”

“Are you Oberg?”

“Do you know me?”

Of course, I do.

I knew that, contrary to his appearance, he was a really good person and that he had been a beggar as a child, so he was sympathetic toward them.

Finding Lean, who entered the leather street through [Tracking Skill], smiled faintly.

“I heard it from the beggars. I want to find a job.”

“You want me to find you a job? You’re a funny one.”

“Should we leave then?”

“No, wait…”

Baffled. But Oberg’s eyes were inevitably on Reriana.

If I send them back, it could turn out disastrous. Hesitating, Oberg turned around and gestured.

“Just follow me for now.”

Oberg went into a building near the entrance of the leather street. It was a spot where thugs from the Rauno Family hung out, adorned with tables and chairs.

Oberg pulled a table over, intending to seat the beggar siblings and talk…

“…Brother, I’m scared of that uncle.”

“It’ll be fine.”

“But…”

The little girl hid behind her brother, peeking at Oberg. The burly thug let out a long sigh.

“Fine what? Do you even know where you are?”

“Where is this?”

“This is the Rauno Family’s… No, let’s not say anything.”

Lean allowed Oberg, who waved his hand, to continue.

He had a sword,

He’d had a proper meal,

Even if he couldn’t use an aura, his swordsmanship with {Swordsmanship 5v: Forte Style} would allow him to surpass an average knight commander, making it easy to enter the Rauno Family.

Still, he wanted to see.

He wanted to see how this person, let alone the Rauno Family, would treat them without any proof. Why they were continually intertwined with them.

If the grave of ‘Banun Rauno’ witnessed in the mysterious temple of the Antrophy Gorge was tied to them, then the Rauno Family would surely fulfill his expectations.

And indeed, his assumptions were correct.

Oberg rummaged through a drawer and gradually presented a candy bag to a gloomy Reriana.

“Here, eat.”

“…Huh? More candy!”

Reriana couldn’t resist anything sweet.

Forgetting all about Oberg’s burly and intimidating appearance, she quickly accepted the bag.

With an adorable and foolish appearance, Oberg clicked his tongue.

“Sit here. So… Huh. You said you wanted to find a job?”

“Yes.”

“What can you do?”

“Not much.”

Then what do you want me to do?

Oberg scratched his thick fingers on his forehead for a moment before speaking.

“I’ll introduce you to a person named Daroun. He’s a local entrepreneur in the leather street, and he’ll give you something you can do.”

“…Thank you. Should I go with my sister to meet him?”

“Well, of course…”

Suddenly, Oberg’s words halted. Thinking about it, what this kid needed was not simply a way to make a living.

He was in a position where he had to raise a heartbreakingly beautiful younger sister. Besides, Mr. Daroun had some issues.

He’d made excuses about his work, but he was frequenting brothels daily and was quite the womanizer, which Kasia didn’t like at all. From what I gathered, Mr. Daroun was actually quite attached to Kasia, claiming she was his first customer.

Sending these siblings to such a man?

Worrying. Very concerning.

Oberg said “Ah- wait.” and took back his words. It wasn’t even necessary to do so, but Lean was gazing intently at Oberg without the slightest intention to move.

Because he knew what kind of man Mr. Daroun was.

Leaning back, Oberg pondered.

“Hey… you two, wait here for a bit. Don’t wander off; if anyone asks, mention my name, got it?”

Perhaps needing confirmation for something, Oberg briefly stepped away. As Reriana hummed and chewed on candy, a few thugs from the Rauno Family came and went just as Oberg returned.

“Follow me.”

He led the beggar siblings to the mansion of the Rauno Family. Oberg questioned the executives who were surprised by Reriana’s presence.

“How do you plan to send her back? Do I look like someone who’s starving beggars?”

“…Alright, just stop. Ah, it’s such a headache.”

“What’s the headache? Just think of it as having a cleaning servant.”

“Honestly, you know that’s not really necessary.”

“Then should I send them back? Huh? If that’s the case, you can tell me. I can’t do it; it’s obvious what will happen if I leave them alone.”

“Are there really that many people like me…”

Yet the executives eventually gave their consent.

Unless they failed to see or meet, there is no way such cruel humans would discard children whose futures seemed apparent.

If they were that type, they would have joined a family like the Korolla Family, which was involved in the slave trade, rather than the Rauno Family, which built contacts with small businesses while protecting their commercial interests.

Lean and Reriana were assigned a small room in the intricately complicated mansion of the Rauno Family.

Oberg, who followed them, said, “You’ll stay here. There’s no furniture, but—well, don’t expect too much. Rest today. I’ll let you know what you’ll be doing from tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

“Yeah… the mansion’s a bit complicated, so don’t go out.”

He grumbled yet said all there was to say before leaving. Even so, feeling something was lacking, Oberg returned with a blanket and some clothes.

It was a dusty, barren room.

Having been abandoned after being used as a warehouse, it was so isolated that only some random junk resembling ladders was left behind.

Lean took off the dirty clothes he was wearing and used them as a rag.

Seeing her brother take off his clothes, Reriana also followed suit, but Lean didn’t flinch.

“Changing clothes. I’ll go fetch some water.”

“Hey? Didn’t you say we’re not supposed to go out?”

“It’s fine. I know the way.”

Not just that. Having lived here before, he knew exactly what was where.

He casually walked through the complicated corridors. The alternating walls made of rough stone and those filled with mud brushed by him.

It was evident from the traces that several buildings had been combined and expanded. Lean soon stopped by a warehouse, grabbed a water jug, and searched for a well to fetch some water, not forgetting to bring a towel.

At that moment, he heard a delightful cheer from children far away.

When he looked back, he saw the boys and girls of the Rauno Family, including Santian Rauno, playing in the yard.

In the shade of the yard, elderly men relaxed while watching the children.

For Reriana, who needed parents and family, there couldn’t be a better place to grow up. Reflecting on the various cycles he had gone through, his sister had been happiest when she came here. She made friends her age and grew up healthily under the watchful eyes of adults.

Had she not entered as the adoptive daughter of Marquis Tatian… perhaps she would have seen the true ending then.

It’s been a long, winding journey.

Yet Lean returned to the room assigned to them through the shortcut. Together with his sister, he dampened the dirty clothes he had worn all this time and started cleaning them.

Naturally, he didn’t forget to wash his sister. As always, Lean personally bathed her.

“Brother, your back too.”

“Yeah.”

After finishing the cleaning and showering, evening fell. Oberg, who brought food, seemed surprised.

“How did you clean this place? I was just about to bring water.”

“My brother did!”

“Good eye. But be careful. Our family doesn’t know you yet. Well, everyone will find out in a few days. See you tomorrow.”

Oberg disappeared again.

Lean and Reriana spread out their bedding and lay down on the floor. Reriana squirmed beside him, overwhelmed with happiness.

“It’s soft. What’s going on? Brother, are we living here now? Is this going to be our home from now on?”

“No.”

Lean shook his head while stroking his sister’s hair. Somewhat disappointed, Reriana dozed off.

Lean continued to caress his sister’s hair, then, reminiscent of how Ray often treated Lera, stroked Reriana’s eyebrows with his thumb.

He also felt compelled to pinch her chubby cheeks, just as Reb did.

Then he whispered softly.

Surely this barren room isn’t your home. You’re not just going to eat a good meal and experience a warm blanket, that’s not all the happiness you deserve.

You need to become even happier.

More than anyone else in the world.

And it will happen.

Whether Reriana heard him or not, she smiled, “Hehe.”

Perhaps his continuous whispers tickled her, causing her to giggle. Before he knew it, night had fallen.

Lean quietly rose from his spot. Covering his younger sister properly, he stepped outside.

On the upper floor, sitting on the stairs, he stared up at the blue-hued full moon for a moment when suddenly the mirror he had placed out vibrated. Soon, a light shimmered in the mirror, revealing

“Lean, it’s me.”

It was Reb, not surprising at all. Beside him, with her eyes wide open, was Reriana, and Lean de Yeriel smiled brightly.

“Yeah, Reb. It’s been a while.”