Chapter 61: Crisis of life and death (4)

What is the most important quality for a liar? Intelligence, acting ability, shamelessness—there are many contenders.

But Sion believes the top quality is ‘quick thinking.’

No matter how perfectly crafted a lie is, if it doesn’t come out at the right moment when needed, it’s useless.

In the face of danger, you need lightning-fast inspiration, the guts and courage to stake everything on that one escape route. Only then can a true master of deception emerge.

And now, at this very moment, when Exia’s bombshell comment has put her in a tight spot, this is the moment when Sion’s skills as a liar are truly being tested.

Will she panic and let the golden opportunity slip by? Or will she seize the chance flying past her at breakneck speed?

Of course, Sion had absolute confidence in her skills.

“Exia, did you just say ‘Sien’—”

“Oh, here we go again, really.”

Just as Therese was about to question Exia’s slip, Sion quickly stepped in, cutting her off a beat earlier.

Without showing even a hint of nervousness, she calmly said,

“How many times do I have to tell you? My name is Sion, not Sien.

Please stop getting it mixed up. You’re going to give everyone around you a heart attack.”

-“Huh, what…?”

Exia, now completely bewildered, stood frozen in place, her brain short-circuiting from the sudden change in direction.

But in the next moment, she caught sight of the chilling smile on Sion’s face.

A smile radiating with the clear message, ‘If you don’t go along with this, I’ll kill you.’

Exia gulped, feeling a cold sweat break out.

-“R-R-Right…! Sorry about that! It’s just… I got so used to calling you Sien before that it slipped out by accident… Haha…!”

Even though Exia’s nervousness was obvious, this time it didn’t matter.

It was easy to interpret her awkward response as someone flustered by a slip of the tongue.

Sure enough, Therese chuckled and folded her arms behind her head.

“Ah, I see~ I was so surprised when I heard ‘Sien’ out of nowhere. Be more careful next time, Exia.”

-“Y-Yes… absolutely…”

Good, they’d dodged it.

Both of them let out a sigh of relief in unison.

In truth, it hadn’t been as big a crisis as it first seemed.

Logically speaking, it was more natural to assume Exia had simply misspoken than to believe the outlandish truth—that the hero standing in front of them was actually Sien reincarnated and pretending to be a teenage girl.

The truth was so far-fetched that it actually made it easier to lie about.

So, that part wasn’t the issue.

The real problem, however, was something else entirely.

“‘M-Misspoke,’ you say…?”

That’s where the real trouble began.

“To think you still care so much about them that you’d accidentally call their name…?

A relationship where you try to forget them, but they keep popping into your mind unconsciously??

Is that what this is?? Huh?? Tell me!!”

Marianne, her face flushed with excitement, marched forward with sparkling eyes, completely entranced.

For her, a hardcore Sien x Exia shipper, this was no trivial matter—this was prime material!

Of course, Exia was horrified and immediately tried to deny it.

-“Wha-What?! That’s not—”

-“Shut up!!”

If Sion hadn’t shouted at her telepathically, things might not have escalated as they did.

-“Stop ruining everything just when it’s finally being resolved! How much more damage are you going to cause before you’re satisfied?!”

-“B-but… that person is completely misunderstanding—”

-“Let them misunderstand! After the bomb you dropped, if this is the extent of the fallout, consider it a blessing!

Or do you think you deserve to walk away from this without a scratch? Shamelessly?”

-“Ugh…”

Exia groaned, at a loss for words.

She knew it was her fault things had turned out this way, not once but twice with her careless slips.

Taking responsibility was the least she could do.

Exia, with what little pride she had left, suppressed her frustration and spoke in a trembling voice.

-“Y-you’re right… I admit it… Sometimes, I still think of that person… especially since Sien and Sion have such similar names…”

“KYAAAAAA!!?!?!”

Marianne screamed in joy, her excitement bursting forth.

“Sis! Sis! Oh my god, I can’t believe this! Exia finally admitted it! Sien x Exia is official now, she just confirmed it, right here and now! I could live off this moment for three days without food!

This is amazing! I have to tell everyone, oh no, I’m so overwhelmed I might get a nosebleed, what if I’m dreaming?

If I am, please don’t wake me! But if this is reality, oh my god oh my god—AAAAHHH!”

“Hey, hey?!”

A startled Therese grabbed Marianne’s shoulders, shaking her to snap her out of it.

If she didn’t intervene, Marianne looked like she’d spew out every word in her body and pass out from sheer overload.

“Calm down, calm down! The Hero is looking at you like you’ve lost it!”

“How can I calm down?! This is my dreams coming true! It’s a dreams come true moment!! I could die of a heart attack right now and have no regrets—”

“Oh, for crying out loud! Stop embarrassing yourself! Follow me, right now!”

“Hup!?”

Grabbing her sister by the hair, Therese started dragging Marianne away.

Despite the painful-looking position, Marianne didn’t seem to feel any discomfort, laughing maniacally like someone who had lost her mind.

“Oh goddess, thank you for the sustenance you’ve provided me today! It really is true that if you believe, blessings will come! Hahaha!”

For some reason, behind her eyes, Sion thought she saw a dark, dangerous gleam akin to that of a demon commander.

And so, the two were finally freed from the ordeal.

It was a victory, but a hollow one.

Sion had burned her brain dealing with the crisis, and Exia had been forced to confess feelings she didn’t even have.

No one came out of this unscathed.

As soon as they returned to their room, Exia heaved a deep, weary sigh.

-“Haaaa… That conversation completely drained me. I really don’t want to face those two again… seriously.”

“…..”

Meanwhile, Sion silently removed her cape and tossed it onto the bed.

Then, she reached behind her back and grabbed Exia by the handle, holding her in one hand.

“Huh? what are you doing—”

“Telekinesis.”

Vwoom.

As the sound of magical energy gathering and vibrating filled the room, Exia’s body floated into the air.

The effect of a telekinesis spell that allowed physical manipulation without touch.

“I’ve told you before,” Sion muttered with her eyes closed, “I don’t scold someone just for being incompetent.”

-“???”

Exia looked at her, confused and unable to understand.

“Indeed, punishment should only be administered for things that can be controlled.

It should never be for conditions beyond one’s ability or external factors. If someone is assigned a task beyond their capacity, then the failure lies with the one who gave the order, not the executor.

That’s why I’ve tolerated your blunders until now, despite your poor ability to speak properly. For that, I take some of the responsibility.

After all, I was the one who gave you an ill-suited task.”

Snap.

With a snap of her fingers, Sion made Exia, who was still suspended in the air, start spinning.

At an incredible speed.

“But even I have my limits, you idiot moron!!!”

-“WAAAAHHHHH!?!!?!!?”

Exia’s sword form spun like an unstoppable windmill, creating enough wind pressure to sweep through the entire room.

Of course, her senses couldn’t handle the overwhelming rotational force.

-“Please, stop!!! My eyes, my vision is spinning!!!”

“Hmph. A punishment befitting someone who constantly loses focus.”

Sion sat down in a chair, crossed her legs, and casually continued.

“Permanency.”

With that, she cast the spell that would make the telekinesis last indefinitely without needing to concentrate.

It would continue until Sion herself dispelled it.

Summoning a cup of hot tea, Sion elegantly took a sip and said,

“Now, reflect on your actions for a while. Let’s say… five hours.”

-“F-Five hours!?”

Exia screamed in horror. She already felt like she was going to pass out from the dizziness, and now she had to endure it for five hours?

-“No! That’s impossible! I’ll die!”

“Nonsense,” Sion replied, chuckling.

“You’re the holy sword personally crafted by the goddess herself.

You won’t die from something this trivial. Stop complaining and endure it. After all, your resilience is the only thing you have going for you.”

-“AAAGHHHH!!!”

Exia’s body continued spinning at 500 RPM, an experience far beyond anything she’d felt in her lifetime.

The sensation overwhelmed her, and in between the endless spinning, she cried out in desperation.

-“I’m sorry!!! Please forgive me, Sien! No, Sion-nim! Sion-sama!!! Please stop this!!!”

Sion relaxed, letting Exia’s spinning serve as a makeshift fan.

The natural breeze felt refreshing, easing her tension.

She set down her teacup and yawned.

“Well, I think I’ll take a nap now…”

-“YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS!!!”

Exia’s frantic screams echoed throughout the room, her voice sharp and high-pitched.

Yet, to Sion, it sounded oddly soothing, almost like a lullaby.

‘As expected, I guess I can’t deny my true demonic nature,’ Sion thought with a smile.

That night, Sion enjoyed the most peaceful sleep she had ever experienced since her reincarnation.