Is that not acceptable? I responded with a nonchalant smile. 

 “I suppose why not……?”

The atmosphere became weird. The hand that Raeyan had stroked seemed to burn, creating a different sensation compared to when Leon had kissed my hand. Observing Raeyan’s uneasy gaze directed at my hand, various thoughts crossed my mind.

 ‘I know that Raeyan considers me a special existence.’

Raeyan had mentioned meeting me in the past, claiming that I had saved his past self. However, without any memories of such events, it felt like a story about a stranger.

Is the person Raeyan referred to as ‘Lili’ really me? Perhaps that’s why Raeyan’s occasional revelations of sincerity became burdensome at times.

His deep, crimson eyes seemed to penetrate my innermost thoughts. Raeyan inquired.

“Would it be burdensome for you if I express myself like this?”

 “Well……. I mean…….”

I paused, not wanting to hurt Raeyan by answering wrongly. 

 “Lili.”

Jansi’s voice voice echoed from below the stairs.

In my current dilemma, Jansi’s voice was undoubtedly a welcome sound. Jansi ascended the stairs, exchanging glances between Raeyan and me.

“What are you two doing here?”, he asked.

“We were just having a little chat.”

 “I don’t like it when you leave me out of the picture, Lili.”

“I was about to go downstairs, Brother Jansi.”

Nonchalantly stating that nothing had happened, my attention was still fixated on Raeyan’s hand that held mine. Even with a slight effort, I couldn’t escape from his grip.

‘Why? Why won’t he let go?’

In that brief moment of confusion, Jansi, ever observant, didn’t miss a beat. With a bright and lively smile, he questioned.

 “What’s going on? Did I interrupt something?”

Rayeyan and I answered simultaneously.

“No?”

“Yes.”

Surprised, I looked up at Raeyan. As always, his expression remained impassive. Although he had always been indifferent to others’ gazes, this was unusual. Why was he acting like this?

“Seems like you two get along well.”

Jansi commented with a mocking tone. At this rate, even Jansi would join forces to tease me. In the end, I looked directly at Raeyan and made a request.

 “Ian. Would you mind letting go of my hand?”

 “…….”

With the request, Ryeyan obediently released my hand. I seized the opportunity to slip away from the two of them.

 “I’m going to the Magic Tower now!”

I declared, turning around to face Greed. 

 [Too bad, that was fun].

 ‘Shut up!’

[What. Embarassed?!]

 ‘Ugh, you’re noisy. You little fox!’

I can’t seem to escape this sin of always saying something even when things are quiet. 

I hurried down the stairs, afraid of being caught up in the subtle atmosphere again.

***

Elodie descended the stairs with somewhat hurried steps.

It almost looked like she was running away.

Jansi watched her with warm eyes for a moment before turning his head. Then, as if it were natural, he blocked the way of Raeyan, who was about to follow Elodie.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“There’s nothing to discuss between you and me.”

Raeyan was firm.

“But there is for me.”

However, Jansi was even more resolute.

His arrogance as a member of House Perdia, who believed that Perdia would be everything from birth to death, was a natural attitude. Looking at him, Raeyan glimpsed a reflection of his former self.

There was a time when he believed that his family was everything and would last forever. Jansi, seemingly unaware of whether the other held such thoughts spoke with a gentle voice.

“Mercenary Ian.”

 “…….”

 “You’d better not get any more greedy than that.”

Raeyan didn’t answer. Jansi continued as if he didn’t even want an answer. 

“No matter how my sister sometimes shows an excessively cute and lovable side, occasionally clever and sometimes immature, you still need to know your place.”

Raeyan agreed with Jansi’s enumeration of Elodie’s aspects, but he couldn’t accept the last statement.

 “Why does it have to be that way?”

“Elodie’s kindness to you is genuine, but it has its limits. Don’t cross the line.”

“….Well.”

Raeyan took a step toward Jansi.

The two men facing each other couldn’t see each other’s expressions, but the distance between them was very close. Close enough that their shoulders could touch at any moment. Raeyan spoke in a low voice so that only Jansi could hear.

“You’re not even her real brother, so interfering like this seems presumptuous.”

“…..Did Lili say that?”

Today, for the first time, the smile disappeared from Jansi’s face. It was also what Raeyan had hoped for, as his intentions to mock him had been fully intentional. 

“You can understand without being told if you stay by her side. Unlike you, who can’t be trusted and is always on guard.”

With that, Raeyan strode down the stairs, as if there was nothing more to say or hear.

Left alone, Jansi wiped his face with one hand, smoothing out his expression.

A faint smile reappeared on his stiff face. This was probably the result of his attempt to act like an older brother…

 “I took a hit.”

His sister’s lover candidate1 was very harsh with him.

***

I didn’t have a specific reason for visiting Isis, just the simple thought that he might know something more since they were both magic tower masters. 

“Isis, I came because I have something to ask.”

 “You only come to me when you need me.”

“That, that’s not true.”

However, Isis seemed even more grumpy than I had expected. Instead of meeting face-to-face and having a conversation lately, we had been communicating through magical devices.

 “Do you even eat? Your face looks like a skull”, he asked.

“I eat three meals a day regularly.”

“Tsk, tsk. What kind of meals are you eating that you ended up like this?”

“I have a rich and glamorous menu. But haven’t I gained weight?”

 “Uh-huh. You look like you haven’t eaten anything since the day you were born. Eat this first!”

Isis fetched a huge jar of cookies from somewhere in the main hall and set them down in front of me. 

[I want cookies too!]

At the appearance of cookies, Greed, who had been quiet, went crazy, saying he wanted some.

‘I’ll give you some later, so be quiet for now.’

[Eating alone while meeting, the worst.]

‘You, who is both Greed and gluttony, is worse.’

While communicating briefly with Greed, I was staring intently at the cookie jar, but Isis urged me.

“What are you doing? Eat.”

“Well, I’ll eat.”

I thought he was just saying it, but he meant it. 

‘What is this? It feels like talking to a grandfather you haven’t seen in a long time during a holiday…?’

Only after I stuffed an entire large cookie into my mouth did Isis seem to relax.

“What do you want to know? Speak up. I’ll listen.”

“Gawwwwbe Jeewwwwwn. Dfgh yonow?” ( Gabe Jenade. Do you know?)

Although my pronunciation was a mess since I hadn’t finished chewing, Isis somehow understood it.

 “Gabe Jenade? I know.”

Gulp. I quickly chewed and swallowed the cookie, then asked again, with a better pronunciation. 

 “What’s he like?”

“I know him, but I don’t know him well. I’ve seen his face a few times. I know more about the former South tower master.”

As far as I knew, there was hardly any interaction among the towers. They would have occasional meetings every few years or participate in official events like the recent demonic beast subjugation ceremony.

 “Gabe Jenade became the South Tower master not too long ago. The previous South tower master suddenly went missing, so Gabe Jenade, the second son of the Jenade family, was selected to fill the vacancy… Well, he had sufficient magical abilities to be the tower master, and with the influence of his family, it was a natural course of events.”

I wonder if it’s just me, but Isis seems to frown strangely at the mention of Gabe Jenade’s family, and as if sensing my thoughts, he cupped his chin with one hand and spoke gravely. 

“Actually, it’s unusual for me, a commoner, to become a Magic Tower Lord. All the other masters are nobles. Well, maybe it’s because I’m just too exceptional.”

 “Wow, Isis. You’re amazing!”

It was a fresh experience to compliment him after a long time. I clapped my hands enthusiastically, trying my best to please Isis. In response, the corners of Isis’s mouth lifted slightly.

“But why are you asking about the South tower master?”

I hesitated for a moment. Whether to tell the truth or just beat around the bush. However, based on the Isis I had seen so far, I was convinced that I should tell the truth.

“If that’s true, it could cause quite a stir. Do you have any evidence?”

“I need to start looking for it now.”

Frustration overflowed within me. The problem was the lack of evidence. Seeing me bravely answer, Isis sighed deeply and lectured.

“That guy is no ordinary person. Be careful. It’s just a rumor, but they say there might be a connection between the disappearance of the previous South Tower master and the current master. If that’s true, he’s the one who pushed out the previous tower master and took his place.”

“Of course. I’ll be careful.”

 “I’ll let you know if I hear anything about Gabe Jenade or the Cult of Irkala.”

 “Wow, you’ve got my back!”

 “I’ll also let you use my magic whenever you want, so just tell me if you need it.”

 “Yes!”

As if my enthusiastic response wasn’t enough, Isis pushed me to say something more. 

 “……Why is it that every time I look at you, one more thing seems to happen.”

 “…….”

I smiled faintly.

’I’m curious about that too.’

What started as a small goal to wake up my real dad, ended up with me sandwiched between two gods and hopping on my feet to save the world.

I wondered how my life had become so complicated. When I was lamenting about my fate, Isis unexpectedly asked a question.

“By the way, why did you pretend not to know me during the subjugation ceremony? Disappointing.”

“What? Isis, were you there?”

 “They said it was mandatory to attend, so I went. Although I had my face covered.”

 “Eh……?”

Where the h*ll was he? 

When I looked at the tower master section, Isis was nowhere to be found.

 There was no way I could have failed to recognize such a tiny, cute little thing.

 Isis looked at me, still dumbfounded, and asked. 

What do you think of me?”

“You are the great magician and magic device developer, Isis!”

Now, the compliment spilled out automatically. Instead of his usual chuckle, Isis sighed with a displeased look on his face.

“…Never mind.”

I couldn’t figure out what the h*ll was wrong, and I didn’t know how to respond. 

Isis leaned back, crossed his arms, and tilted his head, staring at me intently.

Our eyes met, his large sky-blue eyes locking onto mine.

“In your eyes, I must just be a little kid.”

“What?”

“I asked an obvious question.”

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

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