Ch.112112. Confirmation (3)

“How is it? Are you done checking now?”

At my master’s refreshing words, Sion’s expression visibly hardened.

Where was that smug smile from my memories?

It seems like I’ve only been seeing this stiff appearance all day yesterday and today.

Well, if the sister he had dismissed and mocked showed such mastery of skill right before his eyes after a year…

If I were Sion, I wouldn’t have been able to show any other reaction either.

I understand why he’s standing there stiffly, just clenching his fists.

“…Sister, that just now, could it be.”

“Judging by that expression, you saw it properly. I suppose that’s enough confirmation.”

“I heard it was one year.”

“Hmm?”

“The days you’ve been handling the bow, Sister.”

Sione’s eyes looked past Sion into the distant past.

I could glimpse the faint memories floating over her slightly clouded blue eyes.

Sione recalled that year again—short if you call it short, long if you call it long.

Rustle. Rustle.

With her right arm around my shoulder, leaning on me for support, she closed the distance between us even more.

The arm around my neck tightened slightly, and her hand gripping my shoulder applied a bit more pressure.

My master, who had silently bound me more securely, smirked.

“Yes. Only a year has passed.”

“But how could you achieve something like that in such a short time…”

“Didn’t I tell you? I found my talent.”

“That’s…”

“No further explanation seems necessary.”

Sione waved her hand dismissively.

“This generation is special. Although our county is a martial house that has slaughtered demons with swords and shown loyalty to the kingdom, we were far from the holy power of the gods. You were the first of our bloodline to awaken Divine Power, and that was just the beginning.”

“……”

“Now it’s simply my turn. Just as you received Divine Power that you never expected, I believe this is also heaven’s mandate—that I wield a bow instead of a sword.”

“Heaven’s mandate…”

Sion mulled over the words “heaven’s mandate.”

I too was particularly caught on Sione’s mention of heaven’s mandate.

‘A fate bestowed by the gods…’

I didn’t like it much.

If only I hadn’t been dropped here.

Having seen with my own eyes how hopeless Sione was a year ago, I knew.

If this world had followed its original course, the day when Sione would rise again and smile probably would never have come.

Maybe I’ve grown too attached. Or perhaps I’ve finally been enchanted by her daily embraces.

A world already stripped bare by demons, with nothing but monsters remaining.

Even when demons pronounced doom upon the world.

Thinking about the original fate of Sione—locked in her room, drowning in self-loathing—an uncomfortable feeling swells up inside me.

After all I’ve done to raise this kid to this point. At least in this life, I won’t allow Sione to meet such a miserable end.

‘If it’s fate—’

The princess, Adelheid, had said it.

Sione and Ainel too. Those connected to me somehow create dozens, hundreds of new branches of fate.

If I have the ability to break that meager fate.

Not just the predetermined fate of this world.

If no one else, at least for Sione’s fate, I will be the guide to illuminate it brilliantly.

Perhaps because my disciple’s arrow just now was so impressive, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

But I neatly organized my scattered thoughts at the sound of Sione’s voice beside me.

“Sion. If you’re done checking, it’s time for you to leave.”

Sione looked past Sion and quickly surveyed the surroundings.

None of the people around were managing to shoot their bows properly.

Those who met Sione’s gaze all turned their heads away, pretending not to notice. Some just cleared their throats repeatedly out of embarrassment.

No one was nocking arrows to their bowstrings.

It was understandable.

A more interesting situation was unfolding before their eyes than repeatedly shooting arrows.

After seeing the arrow Sione had shot, how could these women, each occupying a place here among those who knew something about archery, quietly focus on their own training?

After surveying the crowd, Sione let her voice drift.

“With you and me in the same place, aren’t the others finding it burdensome to shoot freely? Your business here must be finished, so wouldn’t it be better for you to leave now?”

Though phrased as a suggestion, it was clearly an order to leave.

Sion wasn’t so tactless, so after looking around like Sione had done, he nodded obediently to her words.

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

“Good. I’ll see you in the evening.”

“…Yes.”

Sion trudged out of the shooting range with reluctant steps.

As his back gradually receded and finally disappeared from the training ground—

“Hoo…”

Sione sighed deeply, as if completely exhausted.

“Are you alright?”

“…No. Perhaps because so much mana was drained at once, I feel a bit dizzy. But still—”

Sione lifted her head.

Through her gently swaying hair, I could see her beaming with a bright smile.

“It feels incredibly refreshing, like when I cut off that dry, brittle hair before.”

It was then.

One of the instructors from the shooting range slowly walked up to Sione.

Upon facing us, she briefly took in Sione’s appearance before straightening her posture with military discipline.

Standing at attention, she raised her clenched right fist over her heart and shouted.

“Salute!”

Her resounding voice began to fill the shooting range and beyond.

“Congratulations on reaching mastery!”

“Congratulations!”

The instructor’s powerful voice and the voices of dozens of archers erupted.

Their respect all converged on a single person—Sione.

Naturally, even those wielding swords came to the shooting range upon hearing the thunderous voices spreading across the training ground.

Those who arrived late could see it.

Everyone at the shooting range was bowing their heads neatly to Sione, offering her praise.

Through this, they too could realize.

The one who had reached mastery was none other than the second daughter of the county family, who until just a year ago had been known for her incompetence.

I quietly turned my head to check Sione’s profile.

“Ah…”

An exclamation escaped me involuntarily.

Sione was just staring blankly, as if this situation were a dream.

She looked awkward with everything.

That so many people would bow their heads to her and show respect.

And that so many people would acknowledge the effort she had built up.

I wondered how long she would remain dazed like this.

Before long, the corners of Sione’s lips curled up slightly.

The desire for recognition that had been lacking until now.

The girl who had dreamed vaguely of being proudly acknowledged by everyone had finally achieved her dream.

Sione’s lips moved, and she let out a small voice.

“…Thank you all…”

Her voice trembled with emotion, becoming so quiet that it was hard to hear properly even when concentrating.

But there wasn’t a single person here who wasn’t focused on Sione.

A round of applause began.

Even Flora in that corner, and Siabel and Diolia who had just entered the shooting range. Everyone applauded for Sione.

My master could only smile awkwardly, fidgeting, but well, she didn’t seem to feel bad at all.

After receiving applause for a while—

“…Let’s go back to the room.”

“Lady Siabel and Lady Diolia seem to have something to say, though.”

“I’m too tired to manage right now. I’ll arrange a separate meeting to talk with them later, but for today, I’d like to return.”

Tears were welling up in Sione’s eyes as she spoke.

While they could have any conversation comfortably seated somewhere…

It seemed she wanted to hide the tears that were about to burst forth.

“Then I’ll support you back to your room.”

I quietly began to lead Sione away.

I indicated to Siabel and Diolia with a simple gesture and look that they should step back for now.

Fortunately, they gave way without saying anything, and Sione and I smoothly left the training ground.

It was during this time.

As we entered corridors with noticeably fewer servants, Sione’s steps grew heavier.

Wondering if she was trying to make me work harder as some kind of prank, I quietly checked on her.

“……”

Sione was silently shedding tears, one drop at a time.

When she was glaring at me fiercely with that beast-like appearance a year ago, I never imagined Sione would be someone who cried so much.

This kid really cries a lot.

When I roughly wiped her eyes with my sleeve—

“Hey…!”

“Ah, ssup…”

Sione pinched my side with a bright red face and ran away.

I clutched my side and just stared blankly at her retreating figure.

The pain was sharper than expected, making me wince.

I sighed deeply as I watched Sione moving away faster and faster.

“Haah…”

…Sione. I’ll let it slide just for today.

* * *

After running away first because she was embarrassed, Sione ended up crying a lot in my arms in her room.

Having sweated so much while shooting the bow, she finished a quick bath and returned to her room all fresh and fluffy.

“Hmm.”

Now she finally looks human again.

Unlike her earlier disheveled appearance with sweat-soaked, tangled hair and a messy face with running nose.

Now she had transformed back into her usual cute noble lady self, except for her slightly swollen eyes.

I spoke to Sione, who entered the room confidently while trying to maintain my composure.

“Are you done now?”

Flinch.

“I don’t have that many clothes to change into… if I get snot on my clothes again—”

Thump thump thump!

Sione ran straight to the bed and grabbed a pillow.

Then she started mercilessly hitting me with the factory pillow.

Bang! Bang!

“W-wait.”

“What do you mean wait! I told you to stop talking about that!”

Sione continued hitting me all over with the pillow for a while.

I curled up or ran away from her attacks, which were more painful than expected.

Moreover—

“Hehe…”

Seeing her laughing like that because she’s having fun, it seems this nonsense won’t end for a while.

Only after about 10 more minutes of running around did Sione’s rampage finally stop.

Ungratefully, Sione repaid the favor of silently indulging her childishness for so long by treating me like an enemy.

Only then did I catch my breath and pinch Sione’s cheek hard.

“Eugh—what are you doing!”

“Revenge.”

“Let go!”

“Don’t want to.”

We childishly bickered for a while before finally bursting into hearty laughter.

And now, it’s time to ask how she overcame the wall.