Lercier Chloe

Lercier Chloe

At the Academy, there was a tendency to resolve matters quietly due to public scrutiny.

‘Here, there’s no need for such discretion.’

The butler was causing a spectacle, as if to show off.

As soon as I contacted the butler.

As if they had been waiting for it, the entire space of the Magic Society turned ‘red’ and a loud warning siren began to sound.

While I was starting to feel a headache from the atmosphere that seemed to declare a state of emergency.

[Warning. All personnel are requested to immediately stop what they’re doing and lower their bodies as much as possible.]

[Additionally, if you refuse to comply with the inspection, a search may be conducted with the use of force. Please cooperate sincerely with the inspection.]

To make matters worse, warnings mixed with forceful voices echoed everywhere.

Combat magicians in full armor began to emerge from everywhere, be it the floor or the ceiling, and started patrolling the streets.

‘… This is driving me crazy.’

I had anticipated it to some extent.

But I never dreamed it would be this chaotic.

As I was grimly smiling at the security personnel swarming everywhere, someone spoke to me from behind.

“Are you Mr. Lercier Deren?”

A calm and gentle voice, contrary to the urgent situation.

Hearing that voice, I turned around to see a woman in a suit politely greeting me and speaking.

“I am Heara, a 6th Circle Magician in charge of the safety of VIP guests from the Magic Association.”

At the mention of 6th Circle, I could feel the people around us looking over with somewhat shocked expressions.

I chuckled at those words and recalled the content of the original novel in my mind.

[6th Circle Magicians were high-ranking magicians, also called upper rankers. Each one of them was a monster beyond the category of humans.]

When I first read this, the description of their strength was somewhat abstract.

So it was hard to grasp exactly how strong they were.

But in the next episode, when one upper ranker not only single-handedly annihilated hundreds of capable magicians,

‘But also destroyed an entire village.’

It was possible to roughly estimate the extent of their strength.

I tilted my expression while looking at the 6th Circle Magician, called a living monster.

She slowly approached me and looked at Delia and Rumi nearby while speaking to me.

“Are these two your companions?”

I nodded in affirmation, and she continued with a smile.

“Understood. Then, for the customer’s safety, I will guide you to your seats. Please follow me this way.”

Hearing that, I gestured for Delia and Rumi to follow and slowly followed behind.

*

“Our Eltrion Security has three 6th Circle combat personnel on standby at all times, including myself as the 6th Circle team leader…”

Given the situation, perhaps to reassure me,

She enthusiastically boasts about things I didn’t even ask about, repeatedly telling me there’s no need to worry.

To be honest, I was more concerned about Rumi and Delia than worried, which is why I requested help, so these words were just somewhat annoying.

That seemed to be working more effectively on Delia and Rumi than expected, so I just left them alone.

‘Speaking of which, Eltrion.’

In the original novel, I think he was part of the security personnel blocking Rumi’s path.

It’s somewhat amusing to see the opposite happening here.

While I was wondering how the Rumi from the original story would react if she saw this scene.

Hea smiles at us and says.

“Then please come this way. The escort personnel sent by the Lercier Family are in this room.”

Have they arrived already?

No, it seems that the Lercier Family members staying at the Magic Academy have come down, not those from the main house.

Thinking that, I enter the room and see a somewhat familiar face.

‘… Lercier Chloe.’

Deren’s older sister and the eldest daughter of the Lercier Family.

While I’m wearing a somewhat stiff expression, thinking I didn’t expect Chloe to be here.

Chloe looks at me and says.

“It’s been a while, Deren.”

This would be the right time to use the word ‘graceful.’

Perfectly embodying noble etiquette, she elegantly raises her teacup and speaks to me.

“I had hoped to see you at the main house if possible… but seeing you in a place like this pains my heart considerably.”

Speaking with a voice devoid of any emotion while expressing concern for my well-being.

Slowly rising from her seat and approaching me, she roughly patted the back of my head while speaking.

“Then, I’ll protect our lovely youngest sibling. Stay here safely and play with your friends.”

“……”

I felt a strong aversion to being treated like a newborn and pushed her away.

However, Chloe smiled at my reaction, ruffling my hair as if I were cute, and said.

“See you later then, my little one.”

“……”

As I was standing there bewildered, watching her disappear.

A voice full of laughter came from behind.

“Pfft. ‘My little one,’ she says.”

Wondering who it was, I turned around to see Delia looking at me with a face trying to hold back laughter.

Then, with a mischievous expression, she approached me and repeated what she had just heard endlessly.

“Deren is the little one, the little one.”

“……”

It wasn’t even worth responding to, so instead of answering, I flicked her forehead to shut her up.

Delia pouts and starts whining alone.

As I was shaking my head, thinking that she must grow thorns in her mouth if she doesn’t get hit at least once a day.

Rumi cautiously speaks to me while looking around.

“Um… will it be okay? Maybe it’s not safe here either…”

It seemed that Rumi was worried, probably because she had seen all kinds of atrocities committed by the Heaven God Cult.

I was about to tell Rumi that it would be fine.

But before I could, Hea, who was standing next to me, answered on my behalf.

“Customer, you don’t need to worry too much. Even if enemies invade this place, it’ll be fine because I’m here. And even in the unlikely event that I’m defeated, the boss and team leaders will be summoned here immediately. You can put those worries aside.”

“Ah, I see…”

Hea nodded with a bright smile, then returned to her expressionless face as she opened the magic book.

As I watched this, I thought that despite being a high-ranker, she had quite a good sense of service.

Rumi clung to my side, grinning and saying,

“That’s right, Deren… She says it’s safe!”

“I heard.”

“Yes!”

I fell into thought for a moment, leaving Rumi, who seemed strangely excited, as she was.

For now, Rumi and Delia’s safety was guaranteed, so the biggest concern was gone.

However, I was somewhat disappointed that I couldn’t directly deal with the Heaven God Cult members who had tried to kidnap me.

‘Maybe I should have handled it myself after all.’

If I had, the problem probably wouldn’t have escalated this much.

I sighed as I sat down on a nearby luxurious sofa, thinking that I wasn’t sure.

* * *

… I don’t know if this should be described as fortunate,

But the plan to return to the Academy the next day was canceled.

Instead of everyone staying at the “lodging” on the day of the incident, it was decided to extend the magic society field trip by one more day.

‘In other words, it changed from a 1-night 2-day trip to a 2-night 3-day trip.’

Actually, this decision unexpectedly included the opinion of Deren’s sister, ‘Chloe’.

The reason was that she didn’t want to send her brother away so soon after meeting him after a long time.

According to the butler, the principal used his discretion to forcibly extend it.

‘As a result, Rumi, Delia, and I…’

I was invited to the largest mansion on the third floor of the Magic Academy.

Unfortunately, I ended up staying at Chloe’s mansion for a day.

‘What a headache.’

Actually, staying itself isn’t a big problem.

As seen earlier, perhaps due to the significant age difference, Chloe seemed to treat Deren like a youngest sibling and found him quite adorable.

So this aspect itself wasn’t a big issue.

The problem is that ‘I’m not Deren’.

‘Even though I tried my best to act like Deren, I’m still being told I’m not Deren-like.’

I sighed inwardly, thinking that it would become troublesome in many ways if a situation arose where a relative was openly attached to me.

‘I hope I won’t be discovered if possible.’

Or even if discovered, I hope it could be naturally overlooked.

After preparing for all possible scenarios, I finally participated in the banquet Chloe invited me to.

“My little one, don’t you need to give your big sister a kiss?”

Because an even more shocking situation than I had anticipated unfolded.

For the first time in my life, I couldn’t help but fall into despair, judging that I didn’t know how to resolve this.