Chapter 128

"Even so..."

Sheffy finally turned to face forward, for the first time after stepping onto the stage, meeting Belith’s similar eyes directly.

"Then—

Let’s begin. I’d really like to see what kind of childish tantrum you’re throwing by placing yourself across from me."

"Ahh... Royal Sister, don’t say it like that. Belith has already grown up, you know?"

Belith slowly raised her right hand and made a gesture that sent Sheffy’s blood pressure soaring.

—Her right hand traced a curved angle just above the subtle rise of her own chest.

At the same time, a mischievous smile appeared on Belith’s face.

"As for signs of growing up, at the very least, this... is already a bit bigger than Royal Sister’s, isn’t it?"

"You... Don’t you get all smug on—!"

Whoosh——————

Before Sheffy could finish, Belith’s figure flickered and vanished from where she stood.

She had said that line on purpose—to disrupt Sheffy’s focus and reaction.

And in the instant Royal Sister’s blood pressure spiked, that was Belith’s perfect opening!

In just the blink of an eye, the figure that had stood meters across from Sheffy had already circled behind her.

Executing a graceful spin mid-air as she stepped along the air itself.

In that single motion, Belith slashed out more than ten times!

However...

The sound of blunt force clashing and scraping rang out.

To Belith’s astonishment, there was a faint defensive magic array spread across the edges of Royal Sister’s six wings.

Her preemptive strike had yielded no results.

Despite appearing so fragile, the defensive magic felt as though her magical blade was striking the hardest stone in existence—completely ineffective.

From an angle Sheffy couldn’t see, Belith, though her attack had failed, wore a proud smile on her face.

As expected of Royal Sister... she really was incredible!

Her sneak attack thwarted, Belith shifted her stance and pulled back for now.

She skimmed along the domain’s surface with a sweep of her black wings, landing a short distance behind Sheffy.

Thus, the first round of exchange concluded.

—During that entire time, Sheffy hadn’t moved at all.

Without a moment’s rest, Belith vanished again in a blur.

As though she possessed clones, she appeared simultaneously on all sides of Sheffy.

But in reality, they weren’t clones—just afterimages caused by her overwhelming speed.

Still... the result of this round of attacks was no different from the first.

The defensive magic didn’t only cover Sheffy’s back.

Her front, her sides, her rear, even above her head—every angle was flawlessly protected.

One side remained motionless.

The other, fast as lightning.

If one didn’t know Sheffy had taken no damage, it’d be hard to tell which side actually held the advantage.

Only when the magical blade in Belith’s hand began to show slight distortion did she give up the assault, retreating a few steps to regain her stance and adjust her posture.

Visibly... Belith’s breathing had grown uneven. Her silver hair clung to her forehead with sweat, and the hand gripping her blade trembled slightly.

The recoil from repeatedly striking against high-intensity defensive magic left her fingers throbbing with pain.

"That’s enough, isn’t it?"

Sheffy was, to some extent, losing her patience. When she glanced back, her slightly furrowed brows looked just like an older sister reminding her mischievous sibling to behave.

"Stop this nonsense and return to the Demon Domain with Father and Mother. You caused all this ruckus just for me to say one thing, didn’t you? Fine, then I’ll tell you—going forward, we can get along normally, just like the most ordinary sisters in any other family. I won’t deliberately avoid you anymore, and likewise, there’s no need for you to prove anything to me."

"‘Get along normally’..."

Hearing those words, Belith pushed herself up on trembling legs. Her silver bangs hung low, obscuring her eyes.

There was a hint of self-mockery on her face, like a kitten caught in the rain.

And deep in her eyes, a faint trace of loneliness.

"Royal Sister... let’s... let’s pretend this was just a nightmare, okay...? Let’s say this was just a fight between sisters... I know I’ve made many mistakes... but... but Belith just wants you to come home... back to how we were when we were kids... This time, I’ll prove I can be a good girl... I’ll be an obedient little sister... alright?"

"I already said, there’s no need to apologize, and no need to prove anything. I’m not angry—I’ve already forgiven you."

Already... forgiven me?

But Royal Sister...

The way you’re looking at me now—your gaze feels as cold as if I were a stranger.

Royal Sister... tell me, back in that far, far-off childhood... why didn’t I commit more of your smiles to memory while I still had the chance...?

Belith reached into the pocket of her dress for the second time.

Sheffy frowned slightly, thinking Belith had a second Reflection Demon Crystal.

But what Belith retrieved from her pocket... was nothing more than an ordinary four-leaf clover.

She had picked it from the grass at the gates of the Demon King’s Castle when she departed.

A four-leaf clover that carried the laughter she once shared with Royal Sister.

It wasn’t from the same field, but surely they had once looked up at the same starlit sky.

Belith clenched the leaf tightly in her palm. A magical blade once more formed in her hand, and traces of magic activation began to swirl around her.

"But... Belith is a greedy child, you know... if things were to always stay like this..."

"Belith...?"

"Royal Sister." When Belith looked up, a clearly miserable smile was on her face. "Let’s continue."

Let’s continue.

Belith flicked the sweat from her brow.

Like a silver-haired angel, fearless and resolute, she turned into a streak of silver light, once again charging toward Sheffy.

Even though she knew it was pointless—it didn’t matter.

Because... isn’t a fight between sisters supposed to involve fists?

Even if I can’t beat my sister, I can at least throw a little tantrum like this, right?

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

No matter how many times she attacked, every strike was blocked by Sheffy’s defensive magic.

sUntil, after an uncountable number of high-speed assaults...

—Belith dropped to one knee, gasping for breath, the blade in her hand flickering in and out of existence.

That was a sign her magic was nearly depleted.

Sheffy bit her lower lip tightly, her gaze growing colder.

"Belith... that’s enough. It’s already enough."

"Sorry..."

Belith stood up once again.

Why did she stand up again?

Because Belith had said so—she had always been a greedy child...

Once greedy for her sister’s companionship.

Then greedy for her sister’s strength.

And later, even after knowing she had hurt the person she loved most, she still dared to hope they could return to how they once were.

Belith squeezed out the last of her dwindling magic, continuing to strike at the defensive magic in front of Sheffy.

Though the process was clearly agonizing, Sheffy faintly heard a sound of release—a soft laugh—from Belith.

Belith had finally come to understand.

So that’s how it was...

The time when she ignored and “hated” Royal Sister—wasn’t out of stupidity.

Belith had only hated the weak version of herself.

She hated that self who clearly wasn’t worthy of having such a perfect sister, yet still clung to her shamelessly.

And that self she hated had ended up ruining everything...

Sheffy heard the laughter...

But at the same time, she saw tear streaks glide past her.

Sheffy lowered her head deeply,

Clenching both fists tightly with all her strength, she issued a low, warning voice.

"Belith, stop now."

"I really will strike back..."

"What are you even holding on for... Didn’t I already say I won’t avoid you anymore...!"

【Royal Sister...! Royal Sister! Uuu...! Thunder is so scary...! But now it’s much better... As long as you’re holding me, I’m not afraid at all! Hehe... I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over my fear of thunder, but with you protecting me, thunder will never be able to hurt me!】

Thunder?

...But ever since we were separated, I’ve never run to her arms again during a thunderstorm.

I never stood by her side again.

But the thunder—it kept on roaring.

How did she get through those times...?

Alone, curled up against the wall, hugging her own shoulders.

A girl trembling as she softly whispered Sheffy’s name... her voice swallowed by the rolling thunder, until the sudden downpour subsided.

The faint violet glimmers of magic that spilled out during Belith’s ongoing attacks occasionally drifted past in front of Sheffy.

Just like fireflies, they seemed to miraculously awaken countless voices from the past.

【...Didn’t Royal Sister say before that there would always be times she had to go on expeditions? It’s okay! As long as Royal Sister still wants Belith, Belith will never not want her... Hm? Royal Sister is the childish one! Hmph... If I ever throw a tantrum and ignore Royal Sister, then it must be because I was being immature! Royal Sister is the best, so she definitely won’t blame me... But don’t ever let Belith run too far, okay? If Belith runs too far away...

She won’t be able to find her way home, you know?】

Was I... always there, waiting for her on the road home?

As she searched for her way back...

Where was I at that time...?

Sheffy’s eyes opened slightly wider, surprised at how much time had slipped by in her life.

She had always believed she’d done well in this life—that she had lived exactly as she wanted.

But had she... had she really done enough?

The defensive magic, its supply of magic gradually faltering as Sheffy sank into thought, began to show faint fractures beneath Belith’s increasingly strained attacks.

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