I Was Reincarnated As The Older Brother Of A Villainess Destined to Die, So I Want To Change The Future By Raising My Younger Sister With My Own Hands. I Am The Strongest In The World, But My Little Sister Must Be The Cutest In The World - Volume 3 Chapter 3.8
“I believe Nina has already sensed it, but my current appearance is an illusion.”
“Yes.”
I could feel her tension. She may have been prepared for it, but hearing it directly from me must have been difficult.
Although I’m concerned, there’s no point in expressing worry at this moment. What I can do now is show her sincerity.
“I use magic to create a different appearance than my true self.”
“An unfamiliar magic.”
“It’s not widely known in the Holy Kingdom. It’s a magic that disguises only visual information by enveloping oneself in magic energy. That’s why there’s a sense of inconsistency when touched. Do you remember anything like that?”
“…Now that you mention it.”
Nina, with her gaze wandering in the air as if digging up her memories, nodded slightly.
I let out a sigh.
“Now, I’m going to show you my true form.”
“Understood.”
After acknowledging Nina’s nod, I dispelled the disguise. The magic enveloping me dispersed, and the mask called “Six” came off.
And thus, Zex’s face was revealed before Nina. It was the moment of Zex and Nina’s first encounter.
Due to the change in my physique, her gaze slowly lowered. Her eyes widened, although she didn’t utter a word.
As I transformed from an adult man to a boy of the same age, from black hair to white hair, and from a powerful adventurer to an average noble, it was only natural for her to react with astonishment. No matter how much she had anticipated the conversation beforehand, it was impossible to suppress the shock.
“Zex Levit Yu San Foranada…”
Nina uttered my name.
Well, there was no need for her to introduce me. With my white hair and being a boy of her age, there was no one else but me. Even if there were others, they would be in a distant place where rumors couldn’t reach.
Waiting for Nina to calm down, I spoke up.
“Let me introduce myself again. My name is Zex Levit Yu San Foranada. I am the eldest son of the Count’s family, who rules over the land of Foranada, and the one who holds substantial control.”
“Control?”
“The current Foranada is under my leadership,” I replied.
From there, I shared as much of the truth with her as possible. I brushed off the matter of being a reincarnated individual by saying that I had “seen glimpses of the future through divine revelation.” However, I revealed nearly all the details, including the “future where Nina dies” and the possibility of a “future purging of the nobility” as a result.
This was my answer. I believed that honest and sincere words would demonstrate my commitment to Nina’s trust.
Well, I understand that it’s not a perfect response since I couldn’t reveal everything. I feel sorry about that. Still, I wanted to provide the best possible response I could.
After I finished speaking, Nina began to contemplate. I quietly watched over her.
Before long, she lifted her slightly lowered face.
“I have a few questions,” she said.
“I’ll answer to the best of my ability.”
“Besides the Byakudai incident, were you involved in any other aspects of the civil war?”
I had already explained the situation at that time, but she probably wanted to confirm and make sure about the conflict that changed her fate.
If that’s the case, I will respond sincerely.
“Ah, apart from providing assistance to the Barony, I had no involvement in anything else. I had no association with the Monotheists whatsoever.”
“…I see.”
She simply nodded. It was evident that she carried complex emotions, but there were no words I could offer to address them.
After a brief pause, Nina returned to her questions.
“Did you save me for your own self-interest?”
She was asking if I rescued her to protect my own position, in other words, to change the future of the nobility purge.
“That’s right. To protect myself and my family’s safety. That was my motive.”
I nodded in agreement.
While protecting Caron and the others was my priority, I couldn’t deny that it was also for the sake of my own life. Since I had decided not to tell lies, I answered honestly.
“Family…”
Upon hearing my response, she seemed to have something on her mind. She stiffened for a moment, but then lightly shook her head and quickly regained her composure.
Then, she looked straight at me.
“One final question.”
There was a heightened sense of seriousness compared to before. It was evident that the next question was the most important one.
“What do you want from me?”
“I want nothing,” I replied reflexively.
Nina’s most important question. Normally, I should have taken the time to carefully consider my response, but the words came out without hesitation.
However, there was no other answer I could give. I wanted nothing from Nina. If I had to say something, it would be “Please don’t die,” but even that is something anyone would request from a living person. It wasn’t something that needed to be explicitly stated.
Nina’s true intention was to ask, “Do you have any intention of using me in the future?” I understood that intention, but my previous statement remained unchanged.
“Indeed, at first, I helped you without considering you. Even if I had any feelings, it was merely a small amount of sympathy. I even considered abandoning you after raising you to a certain extent. But now, it’s different.”
In just half a year, and yet, it was a significant half year. I spent intense and challenging times with Nina in our training. Seeing her desperately clinging to life, feeling her pure instinctual actions, I realized that I am not such a heartless person that I would remain unaffected.
“Nina, you are my disciple. We are bound by a connection of family. I have no intention of being a corrupt mentor who exploits their disciples for personal gain.”
I couldn’t help but feel that I had become unable to treat Nina as a stranger anymore.
“I understand that I’ve lied and now I’m saying convenient things. However, it is true that I value Nina. I genuinely don’t want to let you die.”
…
Nina remained silent in response to my words.
However, it didn’t seem like she was completely indifferent. She lightly nibbled her lip, and her wavering magic showed a hint of delight. Oh, her tail is wagging too.
Just as I was perplexed by the sudden change in the atmosphere, Nina cleared her throat.
“For this time, I’ll forgive you. But there won’t be a next time.”
“Thank you.”
“You should be grateful to generous me.”
As I expressed my gratitude, she pouted and turned her head away.
I couldn’t help but let out a small laughter at her unusual behavior.
Afterwards, I deployed subordinates as guards around the house, and instead of returning to Loralumbel, I went to a certain place.
That certain place was none other than the Marquis of Putepe’s mansion.