A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 116

• Chapter 116 : A night with Satis and some alcohol

As Seto returned to the mansion in the evening together with Nashia, Deirdre continued to give him “that look” as she watched him from the school building’s window.

???? Scrape, scrape scrape scrape, crack crack crack…

[Seto… Your fate belongs to me…] (Deirdre)

???? Scrape scrape scrape scrape scrape!! Snap!! Creak creak creak!! Crunch, grind!

She was biting her fingers with such force that it seemed she might tear them off, yet she stared intently at Seto’s back as if she felt no pain at all.

Naturally, Seto could sense the eerie gaze directed at him, but it went without saying that he remained silent on this matter the entire time.

She didn’t seem like a bad person, but that madness in her eyes… He wanted nothing to do with it.

A crimson-tinged breeze slowly rustled the trees as it passed between Nashia and Seto on the stone-paved road.

As the sun sank, shadows stretched, and his feet were completely swallowed by Nashia’s shadow as she walked ahead.

The wind that carried the night gradually cast a veil over the town from beyond the horizon as the two made their way back to the mansion.

[Hey, Seto-kun.] (Nashia)

[Hm?] (Seto)

[Did something happen with the vice president? You two came back together after that, and even in the student council room, she kept glancing at you.] (Nashia)

[…No, not particularly.] (Seto)

[Really? The vice president didn’t say anything to you?] (Nashia)

As Nashia voiced her concern, Seto recalled their exchange.

In his memories, Deirdre’s presence felt all the more unsettling, blending into the hues of the sunset.

Shaking his head as if to dispel the thought, he made sure not to worry Nashia unnecessarily.

[Everything’s fine, really. We didn’t talk about anything unusual.] (Seto)

[Hmm… If you say so, then alright. …Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.] (Nashia)

[Right now, I’m your bodyguard. No matter what happens, you don’t have to worry about me that much.] (Seto)

Even though the Cryfano family was hosting him, Seto believed that as long as he was working, he had a duty to fulfill his role.

Deirdre had pointed it out in the student council room as well—Nashia, as a member of a prestigious family, had yet to develop the resolve and dignity expected of her.

In short, she was still green.

She had the skill, but inwardly, there was still a childish softness to her.

Because of that, even though Seto was of a lower status despite being the same age, she couldn’t treat him coldly.

She empathized with him too much, as if his troubles were her own.

For Seto personally, it made things easier since she treated him kindly, but even he could see—Nashia was simply too kind.

[Let’s hurry back to the mansion. Lord Adams is waiting for you.] (Seto)

[…Yeah, you’re right.] (Nashia)

A lukewarm breeze brushed against their cheeks, tinted by the evening glow.

As they walked, Seto briefly wondered if it might rain.

Upon their return, Adams himself welcomed them in the entrance hall, visibly pleased by Nashia’s arrival.

Nashia, too, smiled brightly, bowing as she greeted him.

[Seto, you have done well in guarding my granddaughter Nashia. Rest well tonight.] (Adams)

With that order, Seto decided to stop by the dining hall to have a meal before heading to his room.

A meal after a long day of work always tasted exceptional—exceptional as it was, though…

I wonder if Satis is still caught up in her research. (Seto)

Normally, they would share a meal, laugh together, and then relax in their room.

But as work grew more demanding, those moments became increasingly rare.

It felt as though that daily life had been slipping away from them for years now.

Lost in thought, Seto stepped into his room—

[Oh, Seto, welcome back.] (Satis)

[Satis!]

To his surprise, Satis was home early for once.

His heart leaped with joy—

—At least, until he noticed the bottles of alcohol.

[You’ve been drinking? And you’ve already emptied four bottles?] (Seto)

[Well, I just felt like drinking, you know~?] (Satis)

[That’s surprising… I didn’t expect you to drink this much on your own.] (Seto)

Satis sat on the sofa, a glass filled with ice in one hand, completely lost in her intoxication.

Seto knew she drank — He had seen it back in Hopi Mesa.

But he had never known her to drink from such large bottles.

Her face was flushed, a deep, rosy hue, and a thin layer of sweat clung to her skin.

With a hazy, dreamy smile, she gestured for Seto to sit beside her.

He had always been aware of Satis’s alluring presence up close, but tonight, there was something different about her — Something far more intoxicating.

Like a flower in full bloom, drawing in all who approached, she exuded an irresistible charm, the kind that could bring a kingdom to ruin.

Seto swallowed his spittle hard before cautiously sitting beside her.

[Oh my, Seto, you’re all tense, aren’t you~? Hehe, you remind me of how you were in the beginning.] (Satis)

[Y-Yeah, I guess so… Anyway, Satis… why are you drinking? Did something good happen?] (Seto)

[Fufufu~! Do I look like something good happened~? Well, I suppose you could say that, but before that, things weren’t going well at all.] (Satis)

When Seto asked, thinking there might be some deeper reason, her answer turned out to be surprisingly simple.

She was stressed because she hadn’t been able to spend as much time with him.

The more she immersed herself in her research, the stronger her feelings for Seto grew.

But by the time she returned to her room, he was either already asleep or had gone somewhere else with Adams.

[I know it’s because of work… but I want to be with you too, Seto… Geez.] (Satis)

Satis pouted like a child as she took another sip from her glass.

Watching her, Seto realized he wasn’t the only one feeling lonely.

In fact, he was caught off guard—he never expected her to take it this hard.

From what he knew of Satis, even if she did feel lonely, he wouldn’t have thought it would affect her this much.

But judging from how she looked now, she was probably even more frustrated than he was about not being able to spend time with the one she cared about.

Maybe Satis is more susceptible to loneliness than I thought… (Seto)

As he watched her cheerfully savoring her drink, Seto couldn’t help but smile a little.

[Hm? What are you smiling about, Seto~?] (Satis)

[No, I wasn’t smiling.] (Seto)

[Oh no, you definitely were. You looked at me and smiled just now. That’s it—no more mercy! You’re getting punished!] (Satis)

Just as Seto wondered what she was planning, Satis suddenly lay down and rested her head on his lap.

Seto was so shocked that his whole body tensed up.

[Hehe~ I always let you do this, so isn’t it only fair?] (Satis)

[Uh… W-Well, I mean…] (Seto)

Satis chuckled in satisfaction as she watched Seto struggle to keep his composure.

But for Seto, this was not a laughing matter.

Her sweet fragrance filled his nose.

Strands of her silky pink hair draped over his lap like the smoothest fabric, and with her lying on her back, her neckline was completely exposed—utterly defenseless.

He hadn’t felt this sensation in a while.

He had been caught off guard by her charms many times before, but since it had been so long, it seemed his resistance had completely gone down.

[Fufu~ You’re so tense. This is so amusing.] (Satis)

[Ugh… Why do I always end up being teased like this?] (Seto)

[Ahaha~ This is your punishment for making me feel lonely.] (Satis)

[Hey, that’s not my fault…] (Seto)

[Oh? Making excuses now? …And here I was thinking of letting you touch me a little~] (Satis)

As she spoke, she pressed her arms together, accentuating her cleavage.

Seto instinctively reacted.

[Just kidding.] (Satis)

[Guhhh!!] (Seto)

Once again, Seto took a critical hit to his psyche.

But still, seeing Satis in such a good mood made it worth it.

For now, he decided to just enjoy the moment with her.

[…You’ve worked hard, Satis.] (Seto)

[You too, Seto.] (Satis)

This time, Seto reached out and gently stroked Satis’s head.

He wasn’t as naturally tender or skilled at it as she was, but he did his best, making sure not to mess up her hair.

Satis accepted his touch.

In fact, she narrowed her eyes in pleasure, clearly enjoying the sensation.

It wasn’t so bad, doing something like this every once in a while.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, Satis, looking a bit sleepy, began to speak.

[This really… reminds me of when we first met. Back then, I never imagined we’d end up living like this.] (Satis)

[Satis…] (Seto)

[Before, I only ever thought about myself. The idea of supporting each other like this… It never even crossed my mind. But as we lived together… I started to see things differently. Sharing meals, working side by side, traveling together, visiting different places, meeting so many people… And to think I was once trying to destroy this world so full of light… And all the people in it…] (Satis)

Her voice took on a confessional tone, a stark contrast to the lighthearted atmosphere just moments ago.

But she wasn’t being sentimental.

Her words carried gratitude. And love.

[I want to live in this world. Together with you, of course.] (Satis)

[…It’s a little too late to say that, isn’t it?] (Seto)

[Fufufu! Yes, very much so.] (Satis)

[I want to live in it too. With you, Satis.] (Seto)

[…Only now you say it?] (Satis)

[Yeah… Only now.] (Seto)

As Seto spoke those words, Satis, as if reassured, drifted off to sleep.

He was not too comfortable with the scent of alcohol, but moving away and waking her felt wrong.

For a while, he stayed there, letting her rest on his lap.

Then, when the time was right, he carefully slipped away.

He pulled a blanket over her before quietly moving a chair to the vanity and carrying it to the window.

At some point, rain had begun to fall.

The soft drizzle streaked across the glass, distorting the dazzling lights of the city.

Seto sat down, gazing out at the view.

It had been a long day, filled with encounters with people who left a strong impression.

Even he was feeling a little worn out.

—Was someone else out there, watching this same nightscape?

As that thought crossed his mind, he narrowed his eyes.

Someone surely was. Someone he knew. Or perhaps, a stranger.

And just then, in the midst of that illuminated cityscape, a group appeared, returning home.

—The group led by Hydra and Gravis.