Ch.104Chapter 104: Trigger (3)

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Setting aside the sense of accomplishment I gained from removing the impure marks that had coiled inside the fortress without incident.

I got up from bed wondering how to make the most of today, but.

Grumble

Due to the effects of last night’s “activities,” my increased physical exertion meant my stomach was loudly demanding nutritional supplies.

“Let’s eat first.”

I decided to fill my stomach first to maintain a physical state that could sustain continued contemplation.

After finishing my grooming and flinging open the door to my quarters, what I saw was the fortress’s pristine white landscape where snow was still falling, and.

“You’re up early.”

For some reason, my sister was standing in front of my door with an extremely calm expression.

…What’s this?

Why is my sister here?

Even considering we’re family, seeing my sister visiting me while temporarily setting aside her duties as the highest authority responsible for fortress defense brought me an inexplicable sense of unease rather than joy, and just as I was about to feel that—

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

With her expression still impassive, these words came abruptly from my sister’s mouth.

Normally, when someone asks you “It was you, wasn’t it?” without any explanation of what they’re referring to.

The person receiving such a question wouldn’t have many possible responses.

Well, at most, answers would be limited to affirmation or denial.

If we were to expand the range of choices, one might first ask what exactly they’re being accused of.

Moreover, when the tone used isn’t the accusatory one typically employed when implying something negative, but rather the same calm voice as usual, there should be no need to feel psychologically intimidated by such a question.

However.

“The impure marks that only a few key personnel including myself and Lord Nighthart even know about—when I went to check before dawn today, not a single one remained.”

“…”

When faced with my sister’s attitude as she finally mentioned what had happened while speaking with great certainty, even these choices became extremely difficult to make.

Beyond affirmation or denial, third options like playing dumb or feigning ignorance were even more impossible.

“And when I examined the area around where those marks had disappeared, I found traces that others might not notice, but I certainly could.”

…How could I possibly deny it when she says something like this?

I maintained silence in response to my sister’s words while reviewing whether I had carelessly left any traces during my “night activities” yesterday.

I recalled whether there were footprints or damaged clothing from moving continuously to remove the marks.

I meticulously considered all possible elements related to traces I might have left behind.

However, despite accelerating my thoughts by turning my mind in various directions.

[There shouldn’t be any physical traces like footprints left behind.]

‘That’s because I applied heat to the soles of my feet with ki energy to melt any traces in the snow.’

[Then what gave you away?]

‘I don’t know.’

[Hmm.]

Even Fafnir, who had gone out with me for the night activities, couldn’t figure it out.

Being weaker than Fafnir, I couldn’t even begin to guess how my sister had discovered what I had done so stealthily last night.

However, if nothing else, I knew my sister’s character well enough to know she wouldn’t take such action without certainty.

I could easily tell that she had come here because she had secured some form of evidence confirming I had done this.

Well, what could I do?

At this point, I should listen carefully to what my sister has to say, accept whatever mistake I made, and use it as nourishment to ensure I never make such mistakes again.

Perhaps reading the emotions revealed in my changing expression as I repeated these thoughts to myself—

“Hehe.”

A gentle laugh escaped from my sister, who had maintained a consistently calm expression since meeting me.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t recognize traces related to family, no matter how faint they might be?”

At last, her voice carried genuine emotion.

Pride, perhaps? Or steadfastness? Anyway, it was a voice with considerable warmth.

No, I’m still wondering what traces you discovered, sister, since that’s what I’m puzzling over.

“Ki energy.”

“…What?”

“Those who utilize Fricasa can recognize others who use the same Fricasa.”

“…??”

But how do you know that?

Though it was already too late to deny anything, my head was filled with incomprehensible statements, to the point where curiosity was beginning to emerge.

Even if I used ki energy, it wouldn’t leave strong traces in the surrounding environment, so how could my sister be so certain it was me?

“I was worried about who might have removed them, so I meticulously examined various spots at the scene and found traces unique to those who use Fricasa fully intact.”

“…What kind of traces were left?”

“They’re traces that some people would absolutely never detect.”

After clearing her throat with a light cough, my sister said:

“The scene was too clean.”

Words I found utterly incomprehensible came from her mouth.

What does the cleanliness of the scene have to do with proving I did it…

“Places where impure energy occasionally flows, albeit very weakly, invariably affect anyone who lingers there, though the degree varies greatly.”

“And yet by dawn, not a single person had reported any aftereffects, is that it?”

“Exactly. Even if some ignorant fortress priest had gone out at night for ascetic practice and removed them in shock, they should have been bedridden for days after eliminating that many marks, yet the infirmary remained quiet.”

“I understand what you’re saying, sister, but what does that have to do with proving it was me…”

“Our breathing technique is light. The antithesis to impurity that distorts existence upon mere contact. And it cannot be learned outside our family.”

“…”

“I didn’t do it, so there’s no one else who could have.”

…I wasn’t planning to deny it anyway, but after hearing all this, it became even more impossible.

[Ah… Fricasa had that effect, didn’t it.]

Hey, if you knew, you could have given me a heads-up.

[I momentarily forgot something as natural as breathing.]

‘….’

[You seem to be thinking something quite unpleasant right n…]

‘I wasn’t.’

This dragon isn’t helpful when it matters.

Maybe I should throw the whole sword into a furnace.

[…]

‘I wasn’t thinking anything.’

[I’ll believe you.]

While I was performing this little skit with Fafnir:

“…Cal?”

Seeing my silence, my sister’s expression changed somewhat curiously.

I quickly nodded in response to my sister’s expectation(?).

“I see.”

My sister simply acknowledged my answer while maintaining the same calm demeanor she had shown throughout.

Though shortly after, that calmness transformed into an expression filled with satisfaction.

Perhaps my growth as her brother, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time due to her stay at the frontier, appeared quite admirable to her.

I was beginning to feel satisfaction at having my achievements, gained through effort unlike before my regression, recognized by family rather than strangers, but.

“So, about that.”

My sister’s words, spoken while still maintaining that satisfied expression, prevented my thoughts from continuing.

“I have something to discuss with you regarding that matter.”

“What kind of discussion?”

“You need to do some work. This isn’t the place to talk about it—let’s discuss the details in your room.”

With those words, my sister entered the quarters I had just opened up.

[Didn’t you need to eat breakfast?]

‘This shouldn’t take long.’

And so, my morning schedule, which was supposed to start with filling my empty stomach before contemplating what to do, began instead with hearing about predetermined tasks before I could even eat.

So what happened to breakfast?

I did eat.

Though there was the issue of eating in such a dazed mental state that I could hardly tell whether I was eating through my mouth or nose.

The main reason was that the task my sister assigned me was so extreme that food was the last thing on my mind when I re-entered my quarters.

What task was I assigned, you ask?

Well, it’s…

“I’m a janitor.”

“Hmm… I suppose that’s one way to put it?”

“I’m a janitor.”

“Well, I guess that’s what it amounts to.”

“I’m a janitor.”

“Since you’re being asked to secretly remove impure marks that appear almost daily within the fortress as soon as you discover them, I suppose environmental sanitation work is accurate.”

“I’m a jani—”

SMACK

“I understand you’re suddenly burdened with an important responsibility, but please stop repeating yourself like a parrot.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Good. It’s not common for a Cradle student to experience this kind of work, so think of it as valuable experience. And if you encounter any situation that seems dangerous, don’t push yourself—contact me.”

“Got it.”

“Well, that’s all I wanted to discuss. Come by my office around sunset. I’ll assign someone to work with you.”

“…Someone to work with?”

“Hehe.”

Having finished the general discussion but forcibly ending it at the most important part, my sister let out a laugh.

“Enjoy your breakfast then.”

“Wait—”

Before I could say anything more, she quickly left my quarters.

CREEEEAK!!

With the loud sound of the ebony door closing.

[Hmm. It seems like you were completely played by that young lady’s pace.]

All I could hear was Fafnir’s voice offering his somewhat admiring assessment after observing my sister’s every move, and.

“Sigh…”

My own heavy sighs, as I felt like I’d somehow gotten myself into something troublesome.

Despite not accumulating physical fatigue from any significant bodily activity today, I felt exhausted.

“Ah! It’s Cal!”

At least until I spotted Shizu, who had arrived at my sister’s office before me when I visited at sunset.

Today I hadn’t run into her at all, which was a bit disappointing, but now we meet here like this.

…Don’t tell me she’s the person who’s going to work with me?