Sister, Don’t Marry That Guy – Chapter 22

Chapter 22

At that moment, the face that was smiling at me began to gradually grow younger.

It was similar to how the wandering magician Theodore Romo, whom I had met briefly, had grown younger, but it was even more dramatic.

The old man, who looked to be at least seventy? No, over eighty, had disappeared, and before I knew it, a handsome young man with a refreshing vibe, who looked to be in his early twenties, was smiling brightly.

“Th-that, uh, appearance…”

『Ah, this is my original form. Are you surprised?』

The man, who now held a wooden staff in one hand, smiled even more deeply.

『There are always some foolish guys who look down on you when you appear in a young form.』

Then he added.

『Originally, transcendents don’t age. Isn’t your grandfather the same?』

“I’ve only seen him in portraits!”

『You’ll see him later. He’ll be disgustingly young.』

No, it’s not that I particularly want to see him. More than that, I stared blankly at Braham.

Snow-white silver hair, and very light sky-blue eyes that reminded me of a clear, clean lake.

It was like, if you were to make ‘winter’ into a person, this is what it would feel like.

Ah, so that’s why my guardian was a snowman?

『Now, shall we proceed with the ritual?』

“Ritual?”

『Ah, it’s simple. It’s a ritual to completely hand that guy over to you. Let’s just call it a kind of succession.』

Braham twirled his staff around and then slammed it down on the floor.

At that moment, a huge magic circle was drawn on the floor, and a blue light sprang up.

The golden light flowing from the staff mingled together.

『The power this body holds is a huge amount of mana and the ancient power ‘Pryuna’. It’s a power that can become anything. My guardian’s name is ‘Ice’.』

The staff was pointed directly at me.

『You, Leia Blackwinter, will you inherit this power as it is?』

“I will inherit it.”

No sooner had I nodded than the snowman, who had come running with a flutter, pressed its head against my forehead.

Along with a cool sensation, I felt something enter my body.

Strangely, it was very cold… but it gradually became warmer. It was a subtle sensation.

It felt like a solid string had formed inside my body. When I opened my eyes, I saw the snowman floating in front of me.

“Hello, ‘Ice’.”

When I called its name, the snowman’s expression once again formed a ‘:D’, as if it was happy.

『Good, the guardian succession has been successfully passed on…』

I swallowed hard at Braham’s voice, which was full of determination, as if he was about to say something amazing.

『Go home. Come back tomorrow.』

“……Huh?”

『I said, come back tomorrow.』

Braham tilted his head, pretending to pick at his ear.

“Th-that, uh, is that it? There’s nothing more?”

『Why wouldn’t there be? But you’re too young to do more. Kid.』

“No, so you’re just giving me this one thing?”

『Who said that?』

Braham floated into the air as if he was done with everything. He hugged his staff as it was.

『I’ll teach you the rest directly. You’re becoming my disciple, you know?』

“Ah…….”

『But are you just going to be learning all day? Someone must be looking for you by now, if you’re at your level.』

Braham spoke as if he had accurately seen through the fact that I had come here without telling my close aides.

It was true. I never thought I would end up in a place like this.

『Come tomorrow, tomorrow. You can make time, can’t you? I need to prepare a little too.』

“Prepare? It’s not like you need to prepare…”

I glanced around. There was nothing there.

Braham answered casually.

『My mental preparation.』

“…….”

『What, what is it? What’s with that look? I need to prepare my mind because I’m nervous, you know?』

…he said. The Archmage, who was practically lying down in mid-air, spoke indifferently.

『This body is taking on its first disciple in 70 years, you know? It’s a disciple I’m receiving after death, so how nervous do you think I am?』

Unlike the content of his words, his appearance was completely lacking in dignity.

“Ah, okay…….”

I hesitated for a moment and then opened my mouth again. It felt like I was getting through this a bit dazed.

But I still had to make sure of the important things.

“Then, from now on, am I going to be learning magic from the Archmage?”

『Of course, shouldn’t we start with the basics? No matter how talented you are, if your foundation is a mess, having a lot of mana will be useless.』

It sounded like he was warning me not to think about using ultimate moves from the beginning, but I was happy.

It wasn’t that I was thinking that and asked, I was just curious if I was really going to be learning.

“Yes! Everything by the book! Starting with the basics! Yes!”

『It seems that even a knight family knows the importance of the basics.』

Before he kicked me out again, I quickly opened my mouth.

There was something I had wanted to ask since a little while ago…

“Um, Archmage. I’ve been wanting to ask since earlier, but where exactly is this place?”

『Where else, it’s where my legacy is left.』

“No, I understood the meaning, but…”

『Well, in the world’s terms… I guess you could call it a ‘ruin’?』

Originally, the entrance that Braham had arranged was in a very remote place, he said.

So he also said that to get here, you had to go through countless traps, illusion magic, and various other trials.

At the same time, what Theodore had said came to mind.

“Your family’s mansion has a very wonderful and grand ruin. It’s presumed that the essence of ancient magic is sleeping there.”

“Huh? Our family is a family that handles swords, though?”

“That’s why I find it strange. The Head of Family might know something.”

The entrance I came through was a passage that my grandfather had created a long time ago so that he could visit this magician’s space, who was his friend, he said.

And I happened to use it by chance.

『Strictly speaking, it’s not a coincidence. Would I have let just anyone enter that passage?』

Braham, who was explaining, yawned and said.

『I made it so that only those with a certain level of power or mana could enter… but in reality, no one but Cronos could use it? His sons all failed, too. Only geniuses could enter, that’s what I wanted.』

That was unexpected.

Because my dad, Titan Blackwinter, who is currently the Acting Head of Family, was a hero with great abilities.

『And they had to get my approval, too.』

“Ah, I see.”

The snowman flew over to me with a whir, as if it had been waiting, and stuck to my forehead.

It seems like it likes sticking to my face.

『Do you understand how great of a choice you’ve been given?』

The questions I had were answered, and I nodded.

Then, Braham yawned and waved his hand as if he was done talking. As if to tell me to leave now.

『Come tomorrow, tomorrow.』

* * *

“Young Lady!”

When I came back out of the library through the snowman ‘Ice’, I heard a voice calling for me not long after.

I soon faced Rainante and Calidupen, who had come looking for me.

Rainante had a surprised look on his face, unlike his usual stoic expression.

“You were here? I’m glad.”

Rainante knelt down in front of me.

Then, he looked me over, as if checking to see if I had been hurt anywhere.

What could I have possibly hurt myself doing in the library? Of course, I acknowledged that he was worried.

“You said you would be out within an hour, but you didn’t come out, so I was worried.”

“……Has that much time passed?”

“Yes, three hours have passed.”

I was shocked.

I thought I had walked quite a bit in the ruins, but to have walked that much. There’s no way my stamina could have held up.

Could it be thanks to ‘Ice’?

“Anyway, I’m glad we found you. This Calidupen helped.”

“Ah, thank you. I also lost my bell…”

I bowed to Calidupen, and Calidupen chuckled.

“I did find the bell first, but I was surprised when you weren’t there, Young Lady. Especially Sir Rainante here was worried.”

At those words, I looked at Rainante anew.

His serious eyes were fixed on me without wavering.

“I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried.”

“Ah, uh-huh…….”

Somehow, my cheeks felt ticklish.

It’s strange. Other than my Aunt, there weren’t any adults who worried about me in my life…

Even my Aunt was a rough person, so this direct kind of worry was a first for me.

It was unfamiliar.

“Thank you both.”

I followed the two of them, walking briskly. No, I tried to walk.

But then, Rainante suddenly.

“Didn’t you wander around the library for a long time? I heard that this place is far from where you went at first.”

Therefore, he said that he would carry me. If I didn’t like that, he would piggyback me.

Why? I’m perfectly fine, but Rainante insisted when I refused.

Then, Calidupen, who was watching, asked if I wanted to ride in the cart, so I cleanly decided to be carried.

‘This is awkward, really.’

But since I was being carried anyway, it was comfortable, so I quickly fell into thought.

‘To have been inside for three hours. It didn’t feel like that long.’

Also, my lungs aren’t good, so I get out of breath even if I walk for a short time.

So, I usually walk carefully… but I was fine even though I walked for quite a long time there?

‘I thought it earlier, but is it thanks to ‘Ice’?’

『Affirmative.』

I was startled. Rainante asked what was wrong, and I quickly waved my hand.

Then, I saw the snowman floating in front of me.

‘It followed me?’

『Affirmative. Recognizes new user as ‘Master’. Your guardian.』

‘Ah, it’s my guardian now. So it can read my thoughts like this?’

『Affirmative.』

The snowman stuck to my finger and rubbed its cheek against it.

It was a little cold, but it was so cute that I burst out laughing quietly.

It was as if it was shouting that it was my guardian now.

‘Okay, I look forward to working with you.’

It seems that after my third older brother Roy, who went from being a former future final villain to a cute black puppy, my second companion will be this small snowman.

I smiled brightly.