Ch.75Honest Conversation (2)

My patience had reached its limit.

My patience had always been racing toward its limit, but Rahilt attached a nuclear fusion booster to it.

Yes, I admit it.

Rahilt is certainly capable of digging all the way to Earth’s inner core with his shovel. He was probably in the middle of building thick walls around his heart, not for himself but for me. I couldn’t just stand by and watch such pointless digging anymore.

That’s why I proposed something to Rahilt, attempting to make the impossible possible.

I told him I needed to meet Tesser.

Rahilt questioned my proposal.

“You mean Serin’s younger brother?”

“Oh, why so formal? Just call him Tesser.”

“Hmm, understood. Somehow, since he’s Serin’s family, I feel confused about the proper distance.”

“Ah, about that.”

He’s your brother-in-law. So I’d appreciate it if you got along well with him.

…… Unable to say that so directly, I just brushed it off.

“He can be difficult to understand. It’s hard to know what he’s thinking. He’s quite peculiar.”

That was somewhat sincere.

Looking back, Tesser’s presence in the original work was incredibly minimal. If someone hadn’t read the prequel, they might not have known about Tesser’s existence at all.

So even after being reborn into this world, I never paid more attention to Tesser than necessary. Since he was rarely mentioned, I assumed he would grow up just fine without my interference.

‘It was also difficult to get attached to this world’s family…’

Just because I experienced death once doesn’t mean I could forget my mom who used to smack my back every day or my stoic dad—those memories remained too vivid. Besides, I was an only daughter in my previous life, so I had no experience dealing with younger siblings.

How could someone like me casually get along with others?

If I didn’t have Rahilt as my purpose, I would have felt a great emptiness in this world’s life.

“Serin.”

After I had rambled on with what might have sounded like complaints, Rahilt spoke after a brief pause.

“…… Such words… are not good.”

“What…? Rian?”

I looked up at him with confusion.

I never expected Rahilt to offer advice at this moment.

It was rare for him to speak up unless something really bothered him.

“… I apologize for interfering and then being at a loss for words. It’s difficult to express precisely, but… I don’t think you should speak about Tesser that way, nor think of him like that.”

Rahilt’s lips trembled slightly before he continued.

“He’s… family. Even if he seems peculiar on the surface, he’s someone precious who deserves your effort to understand him. Of course, I don’t deny that there are blood relatives in this world who aren’t worth understanding. But I don’t believe Tesser is such a person. At least, the Tesser I’ve observed as a professor has been nothing but a diligent and kind young man.”

“…”

“I’m aware I’m overstepping. I just… worry that you might regret this someday. If you wish to reprimand me for my inappropriate meddling, I’ll accept it. But… I hope you’ll consider what I’ve said.”

“No, no. Reprimand you? Rian.”

I flinched as Rahilt hit the nail on the head. I was also surprised that Rahilt, who usually seemed oblivious, could be so insightful about people.

“You’re not wrong.”

His words felt like someone poking at my unguarded side.

In truth, I had never tried to understand Tesser. The same applied to my current father and mother.

I maintained an appropriate distance, playing the role of a reasonably good and capable daughter as I put down roots in this world.

Though I’d realized it many times, until now I had treated my life as merely a tutorial to meet Rahilt. I competed mechanically, sealing away any leisure to care about other aspects of life.

And now that I had met Rahilt and formed a deep connection…

I had adapted to a life of ignoring my surroundings, and because such a life was too comfortable, I never looked back.

My life philosophy might well appear unstable in Rahilt’s eyes.

For Rahilt, who only realized what was truly precious after losing his everyday life, my careless attitude might seem like an unbearable luxury.

‘The problem is… that might actually be true.’

My life in this world would still be long. Throughout that extensive time, small blemishes could easily become fatal regrets. People’s values and feelings change like flowing water.

‘Family…’

A concept I’m now embarrassed to even contemplate.

A word that makes me feel shameless.

I felt my breath catch, and I exhaled deeply.

“Haah…”

“Serin?”

“It’s been a while since I found something so challenging just to imagine.”

Who would have thought there would be such difficult tasks even after inheriting the body of the emperor of the era? The hidden obstacle was of exceptional quality.

I pulled Rahilt’s arm tightly into my embrace.

“Rian. Somehow I’m feeling quite embarrassed… when we find Tesser, could you just keep holding my hand?”

“Ah…”

Rahilt let out a surprised gasp. After that momentary lapse, he gave me his usual warm smile and a firm answer.

“I will do so anytime.”

“Thank you.”

Though it was due to Rahilt’s persuasion, I was suddenly going to treat Tesser as a real brother. Me, going to see that child whom I had ignored for so long.

No matter how much I try to imagine it, I only become more aware that I’m not exactly the affectionate type.

I realized I knew nothing about what Tesser liked or enjoyed.

Upon this self-reflection, I truly was a terrible sister.

‘Honestly… though I understand and accept Rahilt’s position, I can’t fully empathize with it.’

Still, I believe that advancing family relationships, even belatedly, can’t be a loss. Perhaps someday this effort will come full circle and eliminate one regret. From that perspective, there was no reason not to try.

Only… I felt shameless for trying to care for my family just now.

With complicated feelings, I parted ways with Lady Narin and the Second Prince’s group to find Tesser.

◇

“This… isn’t easy.”

“Are we just missing each other by chance?”

A considerable amount of time had passed as we searched for Tesser, yet we hadn’t even caught a glimpse of him. I didn’t mind walking indefinitely, but I felt slightly sorry for Rahilt who had been dragged into this situation.

‘I hope he’ll be kind to his future brother-in-law?’

That Tesser, he seems to have done quite well with his image. For Rahilt, who is strict as a professor, to evaluate him as diligent and kind—as his sister, I felt proud of that much at least.

“I heard he was going around with Eshtiel, so I thought he would be easy to find.”

“Ah… if he’s with Tiel…”

While Tesser is rather taciturn, Tiel has a striking presence wherever she goes. Her mischievous features were full of energy that could make even quiet places lively. That innocent aspect might be slightly overwhelming for Tesser.

“Could they be inside the Academy building?”

“Inside…”

“Even though Tiel is energetic, she’s still a child… they might have found a quiet place to rest.”

“That makes sense.”

“If we think about the quietest place to rest…”

“Hmm…”

Now it was Rahilt’s turn to offer an opinion.

“I think it would be the library. It’s the place furthest from the festival, isn’t it?”

“If that’s decided, let’s go!”

“Hmm.”

“Rian?”

Rahilt’s mind had wandered elsewhere. When I called his name to hurry him along, his stalled footsteps became dynamic again.

“Ah, I apologize. I’m somewhat afraid of what Eshtiel might be doing in a secluded place.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Yes, after all, it hurts around my chest when I have to scold her.”

“Are you already certain that Tiel is misbehaving…?”

“Most regrettably, from experience, yes.”

“Ahaha…”

Rahilt’s distrust of Tiel was firm. From another perspective, it meant Rahilt understood Tiel very well. Unlike me, who knew little about Tesser, he was clearly a good brother.

‘Tiel might complain that he’s a bad brother…’

After all, I still vividly remember Tiel wailing that she hated Rahilt because he wouldn’t give her more candy. She said she preferred Duke Rupenter’s elderly butler. That was so cute and funny in such a serious situation…

“Honestly, I’m a bit scared.”

“Why?”

“She’s such a bold child that I worry what disrespect she might show to Prince Tesser… Whew!”

“Pfft, hahaha… Rian, you really have it tough.”

“That’s hard to deny.”

“But she’s cute, isn’t she?”

“She is cute, but I think ‘precious’ suits her better.”

“Hehe, is that so?”

At times like this, I fall for Rahilt all over again. Unlike me, his way of cherishing family makes him shine even brighter. Thanks to that, a subtle guilt seemed to pile up above my navel.

As we approached the library, the crowd thinned, and soon it became quiet. It was as if the door to the library was the entrance to some massive dungeon.

“Shall we go in?”

Creak.

Rahilt opened the library door for me. Encouraged by his gentlemanly behavior, I stepped into the silent library.

The Academy’s library was vast, so our search naturally took longer.

Then, as I turned a corner and discovered a long oval table.

“Huh?”

I couldn’t help but voice my shock.

… And right after that.

I became afraid of Rahilt seeing what was inside the library.

“Serin?”

Rahilt whispered to me from behind. Even though there was no one around, he was being cautious since we were in a library.

It was fortunate.

The sound I accidentally let out didn’t reach anyone, and neither did Rahilt’s whisper.

“Rian… here, um, there might be nothing… or there might be something…”

“Serin? What do you mean?”

“Well, you see…”

My stammering had the opposite effect.

Rahilt pushed past my restraining efforts and looked around the corner,

and somehow expressed his chilly determination with an extremely heavy silence.

“…”

“…”

Tesser sitting on the table.

And Eshtiel lying sprawled on the table, using Tesser’s lap as a pillow. Additionally, Tesser was calmly stroking Tiel’s head.

Judging by the girl’s purring breaths, she had firmly secured a ticket to dreamland.

“… I don’t know about this.”

A sudden hard-mode final quest.

And the moment when Tiel’s limited edition final boss manifested.