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 6.14

The timeline is approximately one or two years after the resolution with the Royalists.

Nina, having completed her quest, made her way to the adventurers’ guild. It was already dusk, and many adventurers who had finished their work were present, creating a lively atmosphere. Some were indulging in drinks at the adjacent tavern, adding to the noise within the guild building.

Nina didn’t mind the rough and bustling atmosphere unique to adventurers, but pushing through the crowd was a hassle. However, if she used the techniques she had learned from Zex, like concealing her presence and agile footwork, she could usually slip through the congested areas with ease. It was a bit troublesome to have to employ those techniques, but considering the population density of the adventurers’ guild, she had no choice but to give in. It was her fault for visiting without considering the time.

With a short sigh, Nina took a step forward, determined to navigate through the crowd. Soon enough, she reached the reception area, fortunate to find one of the counters vacant.

“Ah, Nina-san. Welcome back,” greeted Sara, the newly graduated receptionist who was closest to Nina’s age. They had a fairly good relationship, partly due to their similar ages. Lately, Nina had been encountering Sara more often at the reception.

“Hey, Sara. You’ve been working hard too,” Nina replied.

“Hehe, thank you,” Sara responded with a friendly smile.

“Is it a quest completion report?” Sara asked.

“Yeah. Here’s the proof of the kill,” Nina said, handing over the proof—a forest snake’s fang—to Sara.

“I’ll check it, so please wait a moment,” Sara said, taking the proof and disappearing into the back of the counter.

In less than a minute, Sara reappeared.

“The forest snake’s extermination has been duly acknowledged. Here’s your reward. Please confirm,” she said, handing Nina a pouch of money.

Nina took the pouch and quickly checked its contents. Everything was in order, so she nodded in approval.

Normally, they would engage in some casual small talk at this point, but it seemed there was no time for that now. Nina was ready to bid her farewell and leave quietly.

However, just as she was about to turn away, Sara called out to her.

“Nina-san, I’m about to finish my shift soon. Would you like to have a meal together?”

“…I understand. I’ll wait for you at that tavern.”

Nina took a moment to think before agreeing. She had originally planned to dine alone today, so it wouldn’t be a problem to share a table with Sara.

Upon hearing Nina’s response, Sara’s face lit up with a smile.

“Thank you,” she said.

“No problem. Good luck with the rest of your work,” Nina replied.

“Yes!” Sara nodded enthusiastically.

Leaving the reception counter, Nina found a seat in the adjacent tavern. The boisterous noise from the drunken adventurers was slightly bothersome, but as long as they didn’t bother her, it was fine.

It was well-known that Nina was the disciple of Six, a renowned adventurer with a nickname. Being a rank B adventurer herself, there weren’t many people who dared to bother her. Sipping on a fruit drink, Nina waited for Sara to arrive.

Ten minutes later, Sara, dressed in casual clothes, took a seat across from Nina.

“Sorry for the wait,” Sara apologized.

“It’s alright. You arrived earlier than expected,” Nina reassured her.

Considering how busy the place was, she had mentally prepared to wait for about thirty minutes. Three minutes was actually quite good, in her opinion.

Seemingly sensing that Nina wasn’t too concerned, Sara let out a sigh of relief. Then she continued with a smile.

“Well then, let’s order some food! What would you like, Nina-san?”

“I’ll have the yakitori set.”

“Th-that’s a sophisticated choice,” Sara’s cheeks twitched.

Her reaction was somewhat dissatisfied. This was a tavern, after all, and these types of appetizers were delicious. If you were going to eat, it was only natural to go for something tasty. Besides, yakitori wasn’t that sophisticated, in Nina’s opinion.

Nevertheless, she didn’t voice any objections. It would be tiring.

Afterward, Nina and Sara placed their orders and engaged in conversation while waiting for the food to arrive.

“I have something I want to ask you,” Sara spoke up during their meal, when the conversation had lulled.

Nina tilted her head in curiosity. “What is it?”

“I heard that you’re acquainted with the ‘Saintess of Sunshine.’ Is that true?” Sara asked.

“Ah, that,” Nina responded.

She had expected Sara to ask something like this. Most of the questions she received were usually about Six or Caroline.

Nina shrugged slightly. “I have to let you know in advance that I can’t reveal much about Caroline-sama.”

There had been various individuals who approached her, asking about Caroline’s private life or trying to gather information as spies. Nina didn’t think Sara fell into that category, but she wanted to be cautious and set a boundary.

Sara chuckled in response. “I understand. I’m not foolish enough to pry into a noble’s affairs. In the academy, I’ve seen many students suffer for doing so.”

Nina recalled that the academy had a mix of nobles and commoners. She had forgotten about it, considering it was a few years in the future. Upon reflection, she thought it was a system that could potentially lead to problems. Why weren’t they separated?

She had a fleeting moment of curiosity but realized it wasn’t the right time to ponder that question. She would ask Zex later.

Upon hearing Nina’s remark, Sara seemed slightly surprised. “Oh! That’s right, you were still in pre-school. You’re already rank B, and you speak so maturely that I forgot.”

“…Do I look old?” Nina asked, a bit shocked. If that were the case, it would be quite disheartening.

Sara hastily waved her hands. “No, no, no, not at all! Absolutely not! It’s just that your demeanor gives off a mature vibe, but you don’t look old. Please don’t worry!”

“I see. That’s a relief.”

“Um, can we get back to the topic?” Sara asked.

“What were we talking about?”

“It was about your connection with the ‘Saintess of Sunshine,’” Sara reminded her.

“Ah, right.”

Nina understood what Sara was looking for and responded with the answer she was seeking.

“We are indeed close. I consider her a friend,” Nina replied.

Caroline had a different charm from pure innocence. She exuded a forcefulness that didn’t feel intimidating. It was something distinct from being obedient. Whenever Nina was around her, she found herself drawn to Caroline’s brightness. The time spent with Caroline was something Nina quite enjoyed.

Upon hearing Nina’s words, Sara let out an impressed “Wow” as if moved.

“So, you’ve also visited the castle?” Sara asked.

“Yes, a few times,” Nina confirmed.

The truth was that Nina actually lived there, but that was a secret. If it were to be revealed, it would cause a big commotion.

“Th-then, when you visit the castle, do you also meet other people?” Sara inquired.

“Yes, sometimes,” Nina replied.

“For example, Lord Zex?” Sara pressed further.

“Well… yes,” Nina admitted.

Not only did she meet Zex during her visits, but she also saw him every day. Although recently she hadn’t accompanied him on missions, their grueling training sessions continued without interruption. She wished Sara had asked about something else.

Nina couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Sara wanted to know. Her enthusiasm seemed to be building up gradually. Her eyes sparkled brightly.

Unable to discern Sara’s intentions, Nina decided to probe further.

“What exactly is it that you want to ask, Sara?”

She took a direct approach. Nina wasn’t particularly skilled at beating around the bush. She believed that being straightforward was much better than going on a roundabout path.

Sara showed a strange behavior in response to Nina’s question. She looked around, checking her surroundings, then leaned closer to Nina.

“I’m asking how you feel about Lord Zex,” Sara said in a slightly raised voice.

“What do you mean?” Nina asked, still confused about the nature of the question.

Unable to contain her frustration with Nina’s perplexed state, Sara exclaimed, “Come on!”

“I’m asking if you have feelings for Lord Zex!” she clarified.

“Huh?” Nina exclaimed, caught off guard by the unexpected question.

Ignoring Nina’s bafflement, Sara continued.

“Just think about it. Isn’t it wonderful? A noble lady and a commoner adventurer who became friends by chance, then one day the lady’s older brother has a fateful encounter, and eventually, they fall in love with each other. Isn’t it like a dream?”

As Sara spoke, her eyes sparkled brightly. She looked delighted, as if she had finally found what she had been searching for.

So this is the kind of person Sara is…

Nina responded with exasperation, “Reality isn’t that sweet.”

Having experienced the depths of becoming a slave, Nina couldn’t help but view Sara’s dream as nothing more than a story. She knew about those romantic tales, and it was fine for Sara to dream, but she didn’t want to be involved in it.

However, Sara wasn’t discouraged.

“That’s not true. In the academy, there were several children who caught the attention of nobles,” Sara insisted.

Being presented with precedents made it difficult for Nina to deny. However, she didn’t think the same applied to her and Zex.

“I don’t think Zex and I will have that kind of relationship,” Nina stated.

“Eh? Can’t you at least consider it a little? Please share your feelings with me, even if it’s just your own!” Sara pleaded.

She was quite persistent, driven by a strong interest. At this rate, it seemed impossible to change the topic.

Nina had no choice but to go along with Sara’s hobby. With a sigh mixed in, she pondered her thoughts.

Zex was her savior, her mentor, a peculiar person… someone she could trust. Although he had deceived her about his identity, she had forgiven him. Probably, he was the person she could trust the most in the world. So, if it came down to liking or disliking him, there was no doubt that she liked him.

But Sara’s “like” referred to romantic feelings, and that’s where Nina’s answer became unclear. After all, until now—no, even now, Nina couldn’t afford to be lost in love. She was still a slave, and according to Zex, the “fate of death” was still looming over her. She couldn’t afford to be distracted.

Still, if she had to define his existence…

Expressing their relationship was a difficult task for the verbally challenged Nina.

She racked her brain, thinking and pondering—and suddenly, Caroline’s face flashed through her mind.

Ah, that’s right.

“I think he’s like a ‘brother.’ Yeah, that fits him the best,” Nina concluded.

Although Nina only had a younger sister, she believed that a brother would be someone like him.

While Nina felt satisfied with her answer, Sara displayed a dissatisfied reaction, but there was nothing she could do about it.

Finally, the conversation about Zex came to an end, and they returned to their casual chat.

Although the adventurous life could sometimes feel tiresome, the joy it brought surpassed that feeling.

If these days could continue like this, Nina would be happy.