Episode 6-29: The Younger Sister and the Mage

“Igni.”

“What is it, Grandpa?”

“Little sisters… are wonderful.”

“Where is this coming from all of a sudden?”

“Little sisters… are truly wonderful…”

Igni tilted his head at his grandfather, who was wearing an uncharacteristically smug expression.

“I mean, she’s a sister, right? Is it really that big of a deal?”

“…Hmph. It is a taboo born within the blood ties of a family…! But humans only get more fired up when something is forbidden…! The more you are told ‘you mustn’t,’ the more the passion ignites…!”

“I don’t know. I mean, they’re related by blood…”

“Naïve!”

Lux roared at Igni’s skeptical grumbling.

“Blood relation is not the only thing that makes a family, Igni!”

“Wait, really!?”

“If your souls resonate… then that is family…!”

“…O-Our souls?”

Igni repeated Lux’s words back to him.

“Th-then, if our souls don’t resonate, we aren’t family…?”

“Exactly…! Do not think you become family simply by being born into it! A family is a community; therefore, it is only natural that one must put in constant effort to maintain it…!”

“Ohhh…!”

Igni was deeply moved by Lux’s words.

“In other words, the fact that I was kicked out, and you were kicked out, means we weren’t family in the first place…!”

“S-So that’s how it works…!”

“And since we’ve severed those family ties, it means we are now free to form new ones…!”

“A-A new… family…!?”

Vaguely—very vaguely—something was beginning to take shape in Igni’s mind, something he was almost able to grasp.

“A little sister…! Is not limited to those connected by blood…!!”

“N-No way…! Y-You mean a step-sister…!?”

“That is one possibility. However, in this world… unexpected miracles are waiting to happen…!”

“U-Unexpected…?”

“The chance to gain a little sister who is neither a step-sibling nor a blood relative.”

“I-Is that even possible…?”

What Lux described sounded like pure fantasy to Igni, yet it somehow carried a weight of profound reality.

“Igni.”

Lux looked him dead in the eye.

“Little sisters are wonderful.”

―――――――――――――

…S-So that’s what he meant…!!

As the brain that had broken from thermal runaway slowly cooled down, Igni began to regain his sanity. Or rather, what even is sanity? Is it thinking that being called “Onii-chan” by a classmate is strange?

Useless…!

I have no need for that kind of sanity…!

At first, I didn’t even process what had been said…!

But the reality of the moment a girl called me “Onii-chan” right before my eyes…!

The moment I understood it, something inside my chest exploded…!

If that isn’t the real deal, then what is…!

How could I possibly let this chance slip away…!!

And so, Igni cast aside his sanity. Well, it wasn’t like he had much to begin with.

“I-Igni-san…?”

Estia was still standing there, her face bright red as she looked at him.

She was waiting for an answer to her request.

Therefore, Igni opened his mouth.

I must answer…!

Actually, I’m not even sure if an answer is required…!

To ask if she can call me her big brother when it’s just the two of us…!

Is there any man alive… who could say no to that…!

No, there is not…!!

“You can.”

“R-Really!? Yay!”

Estia gave a tiny little hop. Adorable.

Then, looking at Igni, she slowly and softly let the word slip from her lovely lips.

“O-Onii-chan…!”

Gaaaaah!!??!??!??!

With a brain that had lost all vocabulary, Igni clutched the only thing still functioning properly—his soul—and screamed out to Lux.

I get it…!

I finally get it, Grandpa…!!

This is… the glory of the little sister…!!

Moreover, being called that by a classmate is practically a taboo…!

I see… because it’s forbidden, it ignites…!!

So that’s what it’s all about…!!

Igni trembled.

Still trembling, he accompanied Estia to her home.

“Onee-chan, welcome back… wait, that person!”

“Whoa! It’s Igni! Igni’s here!!”

The twins who had come clattering to the front door to greet Estia immediately dashed back into the house the moment they saw Igni.

“Rita-chan! Igni is here!”

“Onee-chan brought him!”

“Wait, seriously!?”

From deep inside the house, he could hear the flustered voice of the second daughter.

“Crap! I can’t let Igni-san see me dressed like this. This is bad…”

Her voice was so loud it reached Igni even at the entrance.

Listening to the commotion, Igni and Estia shared a wry smile.

“I’m going to tidy up a bit, so please wait here… Onii-chan.”

Estia whispered softly to Igni before heading inside. After a short wait, she returned.

“Come on in.”

“Pardon the intrusion.”

Igni stepped into her home.

This was his second time visiting Estia’s house.

He had visited the homes of Alicia and Elina before, but since they both came from wealthy families where “home” meant a mansion or a castle, he could never really relax. Estia’s home, however, had a comfortable atmosphere in the best way possible.

“Igni-san, what would you like to drink?”

“Anything is fine.”

“Okay, I’ve got it.”

Estia set about making tea with high spirits.

Meanwhile, a stiff and nervous Rita approached him.

“I-Igni-san.”

“What is it?”

“U-Um! Please teach me magic!”

“Magic? Sure, I don’t mind.”

Igni, who could never refuse a woman asking for help, nodded instantly.

“Though, I can only use ‘Fireball,’ you know.”

“T-That’s fine! Your ‘Fireball’ is special!”

As Rita pumped her fist in excitement, Estia squeezed herself between them and handed Igni a cup of tea.

“Here you go, Igni-san.”

“Ah, thank you, Estia.”

Surprised by her older sister suddenly cutting in, Rita’s eyes darted back and forth in confusion.

“Do you want something to drink too, Rita?”

“N-No. I’m good…”

The moment Rita backed off, sensing some sort of pressure emanating from Estia, the sound of the front door rattling open echoed through the house.

“Oh? I wonder who that is.”

Estia tilted her head curiously and headed toward the entrance.

Igni watched her go while taking a sip of his tea.

“I’m home! Things finished a bit early today!”

“M-Mom!? You’re early.”

“I am. They told us to head home quickly because the Royal Capital is dangerous right now.”

…Wait, Mom?

Igni suddenly remembered the original reason he had come to Estia’s house.

“Oh, right. Mom. I have a f-friend over right now.”

“A friend? Ah, the Igni-san you mentioned?”

“Y-Yes, that’s right.”

The two continued their conversation as they walked into the living room.

When Estia’s mother entered the room, she looked remarkably like Estia.

But the moment she saw Igni, she froze in place and dropped the bags she was carrying.

“M-Mom? What’s wrong!?”

“He…”

“He?”

“He’s a boy!?”

Wait, we’re starting from there!?

[End 200]