“Kirill?”
“How are you here?”
The eyes of the Pareira couple widened at the sudden intrusion of Kirill.
The Cesar Duchy was located on the southeastern side of the continent and it was very far from the Pareira estate.
It was three times the distance to Krono.
So she couldn’t suddenly come here after hearing the news about Irene.
It hasn’t even been an hour since the couple met their son.
However Kirill’s following words made the two of them confused.
“I just came.”
“Just now?”
“Huh. For some reason I had a strong feeling that my brother was coming so I set off in advance. I’m really glad that I came right away. Those damn checks in our path.”
An absurd answer. It was so absurd that Amel couldn’t even point out her daughter’s vulgar language
Harun too was at a loss for words.
However Irene wasn’t.
He had heard it from Lulu in the past.
It was said that some great sorcerers have a sense of foresight into matters which interest them.
That seemed to be the case with his younger sister.
And that meant that Kirill had become an excellent sorcerer even by Lulu’s standards.
‘… there is no need to bring up Lulu now.’
Irene looked at his younger sister he hadn’t seen in a long time.
The small chubby cheeks on her were gone her face was slimmer now and her height she had grown to the point of being unrecognizable.
Although her eyes sharpened they felt familiar so she held a different feeling from when she was younger a little bit colder.
However what caught Irene’s eyes more than her change on the outside was the change on the inside.
Swoosh!
Was it because Irene awakened sorcery?
There was some mysterious energy inside of her which he had never felt before.
Perhaps that was Kirill’s sorcery.
How great the power she held was something that Irene could vaguely guess.
His younger sister had grown up. Just as he grew.
He smiled at that fact.
“What? Are you smiling?”
Seeing that smile Kirill looked at her brother.
At her sharp eyes Irene seemed startled.
However it was too late. With a colder voice she spoke.
“What’s so funny here?”
“Nothing it’s been a while since I last saw you. I was happy…”
“It wasn’t that kind of laugh.”
“Uh…”
“What? What did that laugh mean?”
“Kirill. Why are you getting so annoyed with your brother whom you haven’t seen in so long?”
“…”
Amel who regained her composure spoke sternly and when Kirill heard that she calmed down.
This hadn’t changed much from before. This was one fortunate thing.
But that didn’t change anything.
In the same voice Kirill spoke again.
“Anyway let’s go back to what we were talking about before.”
“What do you mean?”
“The battle. You don’t have to go. I’m going. That’s why I came here.”
“Kirill? What are you sa…”
“I’m not forcing you father.”
Harun who was about to scold her went silent.
It was because of Kirill’s eyes.
A calm gaze which was different from his usually hyper and angry daughter.
Holding that gaze she said.
“Isn’t that fine? Isn’t it a fact that one of us has to participate for the sake of our family’s honor but it doesn’t have to be brother. Rather it should be me. He was imprisoned in that terrible barrier for five years. Should you send him into such a dangerous battle once again?”
“You…”
“Would it be dangerous for me? No it won’t be the least bit dangerous for me. You know that too. I am not who I used to be. I am a sorcerer recognized by Cesar.”
“…”
“Looking at my skills and growth I think that it would be right for me to go. Do you still want to go with your first decision?”
Kirill spoke like a raging storm.
Both the Baron and his wife couldn’t even ponder what to say.
Well one thing was for sure. She was as stubborn as before but unlike her forcible nature now Kirill spoke with reasonable grounds rather than being reckless.
Irene also burst into admiration as he noticed his younger sister’s change.
But he disagreed with her.
He said.
“Kirill.”
“What?”
“Should I show you?”
“…”
“What this brother of yours has been honing for the past five years?”
Woong!
It was even before Irene finished speaking. Kirill’s energy had soared.
Even their parents who weren’t familiar with sorcery could vaguely feel the change.
“Are you confident?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Then shall we battle it out?”
“Kirill!”
Amel abandoned her timid tone and scolded her daughter. However Kirill had no intention of giving up.
Feeling Kirill’s eyes Irene smiled.
His sister’s feelings may seem like anger but it wasn’t.
It was a much more grateful feeling. His eyes turned soft as he looked at Kirill.
However the answer wasn’t smooth.
Irene nodded and answered in a firm tone.
“Yes.”
“…”
Looking at the two kids who were all grown up the couple didn’t know how to calm them down.
The Pareira estate which should have been calm changed that day.
This was bound to happen. The eldest son of the Pareira family who disappeared for five years appeared.
It was a shock to those who had spent a lot of time in the mansion and to those who recently joined.
But that wasn’t the end.
Kirill Pareira who hadn’t visited the mansion in over a year suddenly appeared and moved to the training grounds with Irene.
Judging by the atmosphere it looked like they were going to battle.
The knight who grasped that Jacob Wilshere whispered.
“All these things are happening.”
“Yes. I never thought that I would get to see the young lord’s face again.”
“I thought the same. Sorcery was one thing… but I was worried that he had passed away. It must have been true.”
Upon hearing Jacob’s words Tyler Johnny nodded.
Since both of them had been knights of the Pareira family for less than three years Irene Pareira who had been trapped in sorcery was treated like a ghost story.
However when he appeared in front of them they couldn’t help but be interested in his battle with Kirill who was said to be famous for sorcery.
Jacob Wilshere.
“Who will win?”
“Is that important?”
“It is important. Is it fun to just watch the battle? It has to be Lady Kirill.”
“Well… that is true.”
Taylor glanced at the siblings and said that.
Kirill’s achievements were often heard around them but little was heard of Irene.
The only thing they ever heard about Irene was his past title the ‘Deadbeat Noble’. Imagining Irene’s victory wasn’t easy.
There was of course a high chance of winning or losing.
Is he going to do his best whether he’s winning or losing?
Perhaps it was Irene’s intention to let people know that the eldest son of the Pareira family is still alive.
“Anyway this is a nice sight. I’m glad that they are here.”
“Right. Even if it’s obvious that people are flocking in here because of the rumor it’s rather commendable to see them training on their own. Right?”
Hearing the words of the two knights a few soldiers laughed.
If they were asked to leave the grounds everyone would have left but they had no intention of leaving the grounds on their own.
It was a rare sight to see the precious sorcerer using her powers.
Of course Kirill Pareira didn’t care at all.
She said
“I am ready.”
“So am I.”
“I won’t say this twice. But you aren’t holding your sword yet.”
“Now… ready.”
In response to his younger sister’s words Irene pretended to hold something in the air.
Then shockingly a great sword appeared in his hands.
It was unmistakably sorcery.
The eyes of the onlookers and even the couple widened.
Kirill too was shocked when she saw it but she maintained her calm expression.
Irene was a little embarrassed.
‘This is nothing special.’
After coming back from the sorcery world most of his powers had disappeared.
His only ability was to bring out the man’s sword and his will to use it.
Of course he wasn’t complaining. Rather Irene was satisfied.
An old and clunky sword but it was perfect for him.
Just having it in his hands was enough.
Irene smiled and nodded while looking at Kirill.
“… tch.”
Unlike Irene who was in a good mood Kirill wasn’t very comfortable.
She didn’t like it. The expression on her brother’s face seemed relaxed.
‘Why do you keep pushing yourself?’
She remembered the past when Irene first picked up the sword.
It was then. For the first time in his life Irene had held a sword and he overworked his body over and over again.
Even though his hands were torn and bandaged he continued to hurt his body training with the sword.
Of course she didn’t hate it.
Because she always supported him.
She hoped that her brother who was always gloomy because of the pain from his childhood would recover and smile.
And it became true when Irene returned from Krono and gave her a present with a smile she was so happy at that time.
But…
‘You try so hard and then you force yourself while you become sick… I am tired of seeing you like that.’
She later heard that her brother was insulted by the nobles who had come over for the subjugation battle.
She heard it too late that Irene had taken up sorcery and ended up being trapped in that barrier.
And she regretted it for 5 years.
She should have stopped it sooner.
‘Which is why….’
Shhhh!
Kirill Pareira pulled a sword from her pocket.
A very small model for a sword.
However when she tapped it with her finger it quickly grew.
It was much larger than Irene’s sword.
And it floated in the sky she looked ahead thinking.
‘I will do it. You don’t have to push yourself anymore.’
Wooong!
A strong wind blew. Strong energy gathered that even ordinary people who knew nothing about sorcery could feel and the sword rose into the sky.
This was made to break barriers.
However now the giant sword aimed at Irene with a different intention.
Everyone’s gaze was also directed at the sword.
It was then.
The blonde young man who had been silent till then lowered his sword.
Sush!
It was nothing special.
Vertical cut horizontal cut. And a simple stab which followed.
Just an ordinary swordsmanship movement that could be seen anywhere.
In fact most of the soldiers on the ground were puzzled. They all thought that Irene would show something greater.
However some were shocked.
Jacob Wilshere and Taylor Johnny.
‘What was that?’
‘Just now it was…’
They weren’t sure. It was just a vague sensation like a wind suddenly brushing past their hair during a deep sleep.
Or was it just a coincidence?
If not did something really change?
The two looked at Irene and Kirill.
And were convinced.
“…”
The young sorcerer was crying.
Drip…
The sword returned to its original size and went into her pocket.
The next moment Irene walked towards her.
He hugged Kirill. Strongly but not causing her any pain.
And said
“You don’t have to overdo it.”
“…”
“If you’re doing this because you’re worried for me don’t… I’m saying this because I’m really confident this time. And…”
You did well all this time.
Until Irene was done with his words Kirill didn’t say anything. She just quietly wept.
Relief and happiness.
Two great emotions the younger one was comforted by her brother for the first time.
The fight was over. It was pretty intense. Though the ending was bland.
The soldiers who watched the battle had no choice but to continue their training with an uneasy feeling.
Of course it wasn’t because of Kirill.
They knew how great of a sorcerer she was.
But now they see the bond between the siblings.
How strong Irene’s will to learn the sword was.
How strong the will was for a powerful sword to begin blooming.
“Be careful though. Because this subjugation battle is much more dangerous.”
“Uh?”
But the worries couldn’t be washed away.
Because the subjugation battle next month was different from every other year.
“A demon appeared.”
“Demon?”
“Yes. A month ago south of the Gairn estate… traces of a demon were found.”