Ch.85Cannibalism (6)

However, what I recalled was merely a hypothesis.

It was too early to be certain, just a hypothesis that needed verification.

So what should I do? I figured I needed to verify this information, and in this situation, there were about two people who could provide some insight on my hypothesis.

The alchemist Ortemilia, who I’d heard knows a lot about the Three Clans and possesses exceptional magical abilities.

But rather than going out of my way to find Ortemilia, it made more sense to start with someone closer.

I wasn’t the kind of idiot who would ignore what was right in front of me.

My life had always been about moving straight ahead.

So I immediately went outside to look for Lorian.

Blood Knight Lorian was the only person besides Rte who could provide information about the Three Clans.

My sister and Melody could offer their opinions too, but if I wanted to ask about the Three Clans, I should go to someone from the Three Clans.

I went up one floor, hoping he wouldn’t be undressed today.

A sharp metallic sound—ching!—struck my ears.

Isla covered her ears with an uncomfortable expression, and Melody made a curious sound as she jumped over my shoulder to see what was happening.

“Ah, as expected.”

As expected?

My confusion never made it past my lips. There was no need to ask.

Two silhouettes emerged through the thick dust.

Two familiar women.

One of the women quickly retreated while swinging her beheading sword. A red trajectory cut through the air, and the defensive slash naturally incorporated a thrust.

The tip was blunt, but the heavy thrust was enough to break something. However, it didn’t connect.

The woman who had emerged through the dust instead moved her clenched fists along the shortest path, her black hair fluttering.

Clang! The light metallic sound was that of deflecting the thrust.

She lightly swung her clenched fist, deflecting the sword with the back of her hand.

It was hard to believe that metal had collided with flesh and bone, but what happened next was even more surprising.

Ka-clang!

The metallic sound echoed again.

What filled my vision was simple. A series of punches, reduced in power and speed, yet still incredibly fast.

Fists repeatedly striking the blade. Light taps, not even using the full strength of her body.

Yet the result was clear. The Blood Knight hissed and flew backward about three meters.

Despite throwing herself forward, the force she couldn’t fully suppress pulled her body backward, and she barely reduced the momentum by dragging her feet on the ground.

With a deep breath, Blood Knight Lorian raised her beheading sword.

Facing her was a woman with a friendly demeanor, clenching her fists and quickly closing the distance.

I finally recognized the scene before me.

My sister and Lorian were sparring. Probably lightly.

But the impact that swept through the surroundings could hardly be called light.

She deflected the horizontally swung beheading sword with the back of her hand as she twisted her waist.

When Lorian brought the deflected sword back down, this time she pushed it away with her palm and swung her leg.

Avoiding the swinging leg by arching her back, Lorian’s sleeveless dress fluttered from the air pressure, and she jumped backward, flexing her waist with elasticity.

I saw something I shouldn’t have. It was too late to close my eyes. What beautiful trash.

Most would consider it eye candy, but I didn’t want to be like that in front of my sister. Besides, what I saw wasn’t something I could easily ignore.

I watched as Lorian landed and engaged with my sister again.

Every time she swung her sword, it was pushed back by a fist, the back of a hand, or a palm, and immediately after, a fist would shoot toward Lorian along the most efficient trajectory.

Extremely efficient yet fluid movements. Movements that seemed simple in their adherence to fundamentals.

Watching this, I immediately recognized what martial art it was.

“The martial art of the Elven Monastery…?”

It was almost identical to what I’d seen in the game. In the midst of those efficient movements that combined offense and defense, my sister heard my suppressed exclamation and looked at me with bright eyes.

Our eyes met. A flash of joy crossed her eyes. It seemed different from simply being happy to see me, somewhat ambiguous.

But there was no time to think deeply about it.

“Ah.”

Lorian didn’t miss the opportunity.

Whether due to her extreme concentration or because she didn’t hear my voice, Lorian used Moon Shadow without hesitation.

My sister’s fist cut through the air, and Lorian’s trajectory spread a red mist as she positioned herself behind my sister and swung her beheading sword toward her neck.

Huh, shit. Is this going to end badly?

Bang!

But contrary to my thoughts, Lorian’s sword didn’t connect.

My sister had already caught the beheading sword swung at the back of her neck.

The beheading sword trembled slightly in her grasp, and Lorian narrowed her eyes and clicked her tongue.

“How did you know?”

“I thought you’d aim for the neck. Was it that obvious?”

My sister asked with a broad smile.

It was essentially the same as saying it was obvious, but she wasn’t being sarcastic.

That’s just how my sister talks. Whether it’s from working all sorts of part-time jobs for a long time or from taking care of me, I’m not sure.

It felt good to see my sister’s habit after so long.

But while I was feeling good, the situation, as always, moved ahead without me.

“Are you mocking me?”

“Hmm?”

Lorian looked like she was about to get angry but then withdrew her sword with a sour expression after seeing my sister’s innocent face.

“So the rumors were true. Strong, but even more irritating than that.”

“Is that what they say in the Blood Clan? That hurts.”

“Smiling while saying that doesn’t make it convincing…”

Lorian belatedly sensed another presence.

“Ah, Ruwellin!”

Her voice rose. She waved her hand and approached me. Her pleased expression had a hint of disappointment.

I knew exactly what that look meant.

Ah, it would have been so cool if I had won.

That’s probably what she was thinking. I know because I’ve been there.

But I eventually realized that my teammates didn’t care about me at all, and after that, I continued my ascetic practice for my own satisfaction.

Lorian seemed far from realizing that yet.

Well, someone who hasn’t experienced being benched wouldn’t understand.

“What brings you here? Do you need something?”

“We need to verify a hypothesis.”

The one who answered was Melody, her small head popping out from behind my shoulder.

Lorian briefly made a sour expression at the girl who was smaller than herself.

What’s with her expression again?

I sensed it was time for me to step in.

“It’s a hypothesis related to my father.”

Lorian listened seriously, though with a puzzled expression.

*

What could my sister’s profession be?

At first, I thought she might be in the warrior class.

I thought she might be a fighter who was simply and powerfully strong, or perhaps an Imperial Knight, which my sister often chose.

But the fighting technique my sister just displayed seemed to suggest otherwise.

Of course, being in the warrior class doesn’t mean you can’t learn martial arts.

Even I learned basic martial arts.

If learned as a talent, even warriors can use martial arts.

Practicality is a separate issue, though.

But there was one question that interfered with that conclusion.

Whether my sister had a status window like me.

If my sister didn’t have a status window, then she learned martial arts directly, which would be impressive in its own way.

But I didn’t think my sister was a martial artist, because of what Melody had said directly.

Melody had said that my sister was better than her at handling all weapons except swords.

I didn’t think such a sister would have started as a martial artist and then acquired proficiency in all weapon skills.

Rather, it seemed more correct to assume that she was a warrior class who gained proficiency in almost all weapon skills and then learned martial arts as a talent or on her own.

If so, the profession that could be deduced was…

“Ruwellin, I’ve been thinking… Ruwellin?”

“Uh, yeah. What?”

“Are you listening?”

“Of course I was listening. So?”

In fact, I wasn’t listening.

But I couldn’t admit my guilt outright. I pretended I had been listening.

Lorian seemed somewhat unconvinced but quickly moved on to the main point.

“Your hypothesis is very disrespectful and blasphemous… but I think it can’t be ignored.”

My hypothesis.

It was simple. That my father didn’t accomplish everything solely with his own power, but received help from a being called ‘Mother’.

Furthermore, the conjecture that ‘Mother’ was a transcendent being and ‘Father’ was the first contractor.

Lorian didn’t deny these speculations.

“With more information to judge, it would become clearer.”

She seemed to be reviewing it positively. Whether it was because she became favorable due to my father’s genes flowing in my body, or because she was truly convinced, I wasn’t sure.

I figured it was probably something like that.

Like how people buy things when experts on TV say they’re good for health.

“Then indeed.”

“Lady Ortemilia would know something.”

Lorian’s thoughts had reached a similar conclusion as mine.

Although Lorian was a Blood Knight and held a fairly important position in the Blood Clan, she wasn’t at the level of an alchemist.

The alchemist was physically weak with low combat power, and as evident from being abandoned now, wasn’t something completely crucial.

But she knew more than Lorian in terms of information.

She could also help with magical knowledge.

Naturally, Lorian, Isla, and I stepped onto the teleporter.

My sister and Melody were to wait at the Temple of All Gods.

Someone had to guard the temple, and I thought it wasn’t good to let the alchemist meet the Golden Nightingale and the Guardian.

There was also no particular reason to bring them along.

The destination was the laboratory. The goal was to prove the hypothesis.

It wasn’t difficult, dangerous, or problematic.

At most, I’d hear some headache-inducing stories about thugs and half-blood vampires, and in the worst case, I might need to put on the armor hidden in my cloak.

Isla didn’t bring weapons either, and Lorian wore her beheading sword as usual but hadn’t fed on blood. There was no need to fight, so she didn’t want to waste my blood.

That’s why we couldn’t move quickly when the situation suddenly arose.

“Hello.”

It was a bland greeting. Combined with an expressionless face and attitude, it gave the impression of sparse emotions.

But I knew better. It wasn’t that her emotions were sparse; they simply didn’t show in her expression or voice.

Look closely and you can see it. I knew because I had spent nearly 700 hours, almost a month, with such a person.

The emotion hidden in that face, that voice, was pleasure.

That fucking bitch was enjoying herself.

“It’s been a while, sister.”

The woman spoke affectionately.

She had the exact same face as Isla, who was standing next to me in shock.

The shape of the nose, the form of the lips, the eyes, the color of the eyes, even the angle of the eyebrows were the same.

There were only three differences.

Her light attire, unsuitable for the still cold winter.

Her long, abundant hair tied up neatly.

And finally, the clear confidence bordering on cruelty etched on her face.

“…Selma.”

As Isla called that name, and the woman called Selma smiled brightly, it happened.

[Mourning]

[Time remaining: 60 seconds]

I kicked out my leg toward that face.