-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Jealousy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mother gazed at the two of us with a serious expression.
Lily's cheeks flushed as she clenched her fists tight, and I desperately racked my brains for the answer.
"When was the first Clean spell discovered?"
"Uh, um, I don't... remember...!"
"32 years and 2 months ago."
"Correct. That's Theo's win."
Mother smiled.
"I lost!"
"...I, I won."
With a sharp cry, my sister flopped face-first onto the floor, while I collapsed in a heap right after.
How did it come to this?
We were originally supposed to study together under Mother's guidance, but out of nowhere, she suggested a quiz battle.
Thanks to that, we ended up in an impromptu history quiz showdown—something neither of us had ever bargained for.
I turned my gaze to Lily, who was still sprawled on the floor.
Going head-to-head in that quiz had made it clear.
Lily was a genius.
From how quickly she absorbed knowledge to how effortlessly she applied it, she was on a level no child her age could touch.
If she'd been born in the modern world, she'd have been prime material for some industrial powerhouse, making real contributions to society.
Of course, I was the one who'd won.
"Theo, you're so smart!"
Lily shot her head up and threw her arms around me again.
A weight too much for my four-year-old body to handle.
I hit the floor with a grunt, lost in thought.
I had my pride, too.
No way was I losing a quiz battle to a preschooler.
As I lay there enduring Lily's head-rubbing assault on my chest like a madwoman,
"...Theo."
Mother's soft voice snapped me back to reality.
Right—in front of Mother.
"Yes, Mother."
Thud.
I straightened up in a hurry, and Lily tumbled off my body.
"..."
Mother watched me quietly before breaking into a gentle smile.
She looked pleased, which was a relief.
"You and Lily get along so well."
"Uh, yeah. Well..."
"It's probably because your sisters have always taken such good care of you since you were little."
"..."
"It makes me a little jealous, even."
Mother was scary.
I had zero memories of that.
As I thought that, my eyes met Lily's. She was sitting there with her upper body upright, legs splayed out like a V, staring at me.
Suddenly, her face turned deadly serious as she looked my way.
What was she staring at me like that for?
While I puzzled over it,
"Ah, Mother!"
"Go ahead and speak, Lily."
At Mother's words, Lily furrowed her brow and looked up at her.
"Did Ravire come to see you, too?"
"Ravire?"
Who was that?
I glanced back and forth between Mother and Lily, and Mother shook her head.
"No, Ravire hasn't come yet. You're the first one, dear."
"...Right!"
Just like that, a bright smile bloomed across Lily's face, as if the frown had never been there.
Was it that great that someone hadn't shown up?
And before I could even say a word,
"Eek."
She hugged me again.
"Theo! Let's play with your sister!"
And so, Lily and I kept playing together.
Once evening rolled around, though, Mother's order to leave had her pouting as she got chased right out.
Still, it was a relief that my sister liked me.
The fewer enemies in this world, the better.
"Wanna come read books together tomorrow, too?"
"Yeah, sister. Sounds good."
Plus, she was the clingy type.
I nodded to myself as I thought it over.
And if she was willing to stick around, I had zero complaints.
I'd read her some super tough books.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Starting the next day, Lily dropped by my room as regularly as she ate her meals.
"Theo!"
She always came with the maids, bearing snacks.
But even better than that...
"Here!"
Something was thrust right in front of my eyes.
No way...
I jerked my head up, and there it was: the title Basic Theory of Magic.
"I got an earful for sneaking it from Mother!"
Lily beamed at me as she spoke.
"Thanks, sister!"
She'd actually brought it.
I'd been wondering how to get my hands on one since there wasn't one in my room, so I'd asked her—and here she was, delivering.
Very promising.
As I reached out to take it, the book vanished in a flash.
"No!"
I locked eyes with Lily, who was pouting at me.
What the heck.
Without a word, she spread her arms wide.
"Theo, you're too... heartless!"
"Heartless?"
"You never do anything nice for me!"
Lily glared with wide eyes.
"You gotta be nicer to me!"
"Uh, well..."
Wasn't I already nice?
I thanked her for cookies.
I thanked her for books.
I played with her and said it was fun.
What more did she want?
Treat her to a meal or something?
No corporate card here—I'd have to hit up Mother for some pocket money or dinner.
As I stared at Lily in silence,
"So say thank you properly!"
"Thanks, sister."
"Not like that!"
The moment she said it, Lily flung her arms wide open.
"I always have to hug you first! This time, you hug me!"
"..."
That was it?
Her eyes squeezed shut, arms out, up on her tiptoes as she waited.
She'd even peek at me now and then...
I sighed inwardly, stepped forward, and wrapped her in a tight hug.
About five seconds later, I pulled away.
"Here! The book!"
Her voice pitched up an octave with delight as she handed it over.
Right in the age for physical affection.
"From now on, every time I give you a book, you hug me as thanks!"
"Every time?"
"Yeah, every time! You have to do it forever!"
Not so easy.
"Sure thing."
But hey, it wasn't hard.
Just a verbal promise.
Puberty would change all that soon enough.
She'd glare at me like she wanted to kill me or throw a fit.
Saying stuff like, 'Are you crazy? Hugging?'
This phase would probably fade in about three years.
With that in mind, I took the book and opened it.
Basic Theory of Magic.
I wasn't quite on Lily's level, but I had a knack for magic, too.
Or at least, that's what the Tower Lord had said.
I didn't trust myself.
I trusted the Tower Lord.
I started reading.
[The basis of magic is drawing up mana.]
Like saying the basis of swordsmanship is swinging a sword.
This world felt half-baked sometimes.
Hastily slapped together, maybe.
Especially with stuff like magic.
I kept reading.
Let's see, casting magic.
[Close your eyes and feel the mana.]
[Then, draw it up and cast the spell.]
[Gather the mana in your lower abdomen, and cast the spell with the intent to do so.]
Vague as hell.
But fine, let's give it a shot.
Close my eyes and feel the mana.
Just before shutting them...
"Sister, I'm gonna try some magic."
"Huh?"
"That okay?"
"Uh, um..."
Lily looked puzzled for a second, then nodded brightly.
"Don't worry! If anything happens, sister will protect you! No worries!"
"Thanks."
I glanced at Lily, who was gathering her own mana, then closed my eyes.
A low hum filled the air.
I focused.
Feeling the mana.
I wasn't sure what it was, but concentrating made it clear.
How to describe it? Like a martial arts master sensing qi.
As if the air itself was infused with energy.
How long did I concentrate?
Soon enough, a hot surge welled up in my solar plexus.
Is this mana?
So now I just... use it?
For what?
If it's magic, then maybe...
"..."
Heat gathered in the palm of my hand.
Let's make a tiny flame.
Just candle-sized.
I focused, drawing mana from my lower abdomen like it said.
"..."
I could feel the mana in the air.
Hard to explain how, but I felt it.
Even the sense of it flowing toward me, like guided by an invisible hand.
A searing heat pooled in my gut.
Whoosh!
The crackle of fire rang out, and
"Whoa...!"
Lily's startled voice followed.
I slowly opened my eyes.
A flame flickered in my hand, hovering in midair.
"Amazing! That's incredible!"
Lily's eyes went wide as she darted around me excitedly.
"Theo, you're amazing!"
She was hyping me up again—what could I even say?
A bit embarrassing.
As I scratched my cheek,
Lily spoke up in a surprisingly calm tone, unlike her usual self.
"Theo, you're really... different. From those boring kids."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. You're just amazing."
I looked at her, and she was smiling innocently, like nothing had happened.
Different?
What did she mean?
"It's Theo, all right!"
"Huh?"
"I'll go tell Mother!"
"Wait..."
Before I could stop her, she kicked the door open and bolted.
"..."
I just stared at the flame I'd conjured.
And it wasn't long before Mother showed up, made a huge fuss, and summoned the Tower Lord.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few hours later.
"...Your Majesty. I know this is impertinent, but..."
"I said no."
"Please, just once. Just once, I beg you!"
"I said no."
"Your Highness! The tower has candy! Cookies! Just once—just one precise examination—"
"If you don't leave, I'll kill you."
"Kill me if you must! Please! Just once! An examination!"
Bam!
"If you weren't gonna let him come, why call me in the first place?!"
"So you could see my wonderful son up close."
I watched in thought as Mother fired an ice shard and the long-bearded old man blocked it while yelling desperately.
The Tower Lord, I figured.
Guess I'd drawn too much attention.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
From then on, I played with Lily sometimes, and practiced magic alone other times.
I'd figured Mother would put a stop to the magic practice, but surprisingly, she said nothing—maybe it wasn't a big deal.
As I refocused,
Bang—the door flew open.
Lily, huh.
Pretty quick.
I looked up—and froze.
A girl with fierce, slanted eyes glared right at me.
Age... about six.
Her hair was more gray than silver, but those red eyes and sharp glare were eerily just like Mother's.
Different from Lily, but a dead ringer for Mother in her own way.
As I stared back at her,
She marched right up to me.
"Hey!"
"Huh?"
What the—
I blinked in confusion, and she shrieked.
"Sister's been waiting, and you don't come! You only play with Lily!"
"Huh?"
"You're bad!"
She glared daggers at me with bulging eyes.
I stared back.
The second princess, the continent's strongest warrior who single-handedly held off a monster horde—a cheerful idol to all, but always on the verge of tears if she missed a meal.
This was my first meeting with my second sister, Ravire.