Chapter 72

"Wait, boy.

You've got a letter."

On a certain weekend morning.

After finishing my usual, terrible breakfast as usual and about to head back to my room, I received a cursed letter from the dorm mother, Sora.

It was a cute envelope with floral patterns, and the letter inside was always three pages.

Yes, it's from my sister.

I don't need to read the contents to know what they are.

Though it's unclear what her purpose is, the latest information about me—

details about school and club activities, the Godolphen assignment, my provisional entry into the Knights, rumors about my activities as an explorer, and so on, all leading to a first page that exudes a cheerful mood with phrases like, "As expected of Allen!"

Next, the second page details her recent efforts to develop a magical communication device, similar to a radio on Earth, that would allow us to talk even when we're far apart, her boasting about me to her friends at the research academy, the scenery she wants to show me, and information about restaurants and clothing stores in the capital where she wants to take me. This page starts to hint at her bad mood.

And then, the cursed third page.

Despite understanding that the more I delay, the more energy builds up in the magma chamber, increasing the danger when it finally erupts, I still tend to pretend I haven't seen it. Before I know it, four months have passed since I entered the academy.

The letters I've received in the past month are sealed away at the bottom of my desk without being read. Of course, this one will be sealed away too.

Just as I was thinking that, Al, who was eating at the same table, said something completely unnecessary.

"Allen, you always get those cute envelopes with letters, don't you?

Do you have a childhood friend or a girlfriend back home?"

At those words, one girl's eyes sparkled.

Kate, who looks like a committee chair but is actually a gossip queen.

"A poor viscount's third son and a childhood friend from the countryside in a long-distance relationship!?

A town girl who still harbors pure feelings for her childhood friend, now a resident of a different world after entering the Royal Academy!

The once innocent boy, now corrupted by the capital's water, surrounded by many women!

But in the end, the womanizer chose the childhood friend who had been by his side since childhood, someone who gave him a sense of security...

A dark horse! A dark horse has appeared!"

Kate's face, to put it in modern Japanese terms, was exactly like an excited housewife at a neighborhood meeting.

"Allen?

I just heard something that can't be ignored. Who is this dark horse?

I thought you were too shy with women, but to think you have such a girl...

Do you prefer the simple type?"

Another noisy one came closer.

"Ha... Who's the womanizer.

This is just a usual status update from my family... my sister.

I haven't visited the viscount's mansion in the capital because I've been busy."

"Hmm?

Those cute envelopes contain letters from the 'Rage Rosa'?

It seems a bit unnatural to receive so many letters from family...

By the way, when are you going to introduce us to your sister?

You promised on the magic train from Dragoon, didn't you?"

Oh, right, I did promise that...

But introducing Faye to that sister is out of the question, even as a joke.

If she starts making jokes like, "More than a lover, less than a spouse," who knows what might happen.

If my real sister starts a knife fight with the Dragoon Marquess family, and even as a trainee, I, a member of the Royal Knights, get beaten up helplessly...

it would be front-page news, not just rumors.

A poor viscount's family could easily be dissolved.

As I was thinking of a flimsy excuse to decline, Al jumped in.

"Hey!

You mean Allen's sister, the excellent magic tool engineer!?

I'd love to meet her too.

Today's the day off for Allen's Knights training, right?

Let's go now! I'd like to hear what Allen was like when he was little!"

What is he saying...

Does he forget the Red Carpet Incident in the Endymion Marquess region?

And now?

"Me too.

It's important to foster a relationship with a talented young magic tool engineer.

I'm also curious about the secrets of the Lovaine family."

"I'd love to too!

I'd like to greet Allen's family, who have been so kind to me!"

Stop jumping in!

Why are you making it seem like a fixed plan?

"No, no, no, I'm not going back, and I'm not introducing her.

I'm busy every day, and Lio and Jue are always busy with family matters.

My sister must be busy too!

Oh, my frequent urination is acting up."

I tried to end the conversation forcefully and hurry back to my room, but my hand was grabbed by someone with gorilla-like grip.

"Why are you running away?

I think your sister also wants to see you sometimes, given how often she sends letters.

If you make such a big fuss in the capital and never show your face, my family would send an army to bring you back.

Come on, open that letter here and now?"

Faye said with a smile.

"Why do I have to open the letter here!

Just because we're family, a poor viscount's family with one foot in the commoner world doesn't report every school event to their sister!

Let go of my hand!"

As I tried to shake off her hand, Faye crushed my wrist.

"Ow!"

The letter fell from my hand.

Faye picked it up calmly.

"I've secured the evidence.

Judge, how should we interpret Allen's testimony?"

Kate made her glasses glint.

"The defendant's behavior is unnatural.

If he's too busy to introduce her today, he should suggest a day when he's available.

I must suspect that the sender of the letter is the daughter of a local bakery.

I request the opening of the evidence."

"What do you mean, judge!

There's no postmark, so she must have given it directly to the gate guard!

The only Lovaine family member in the capital is my sister!

Stop your ridiculous fantasies!"

"...This is an abnormal situation.

The defendant's excessive possessiveness towards his sister suggests a severe case of siscon, or forbidden love.

While it's not necessary to read the entire letter here, if he refuses to open it and give a brief summary, and also refuses a simple introduction, he should provide a reasonable explanation."

"Look, I'm not saying you have to read it out loud.

If you have nothing to hide, just open it and skim through it quickly.

Otherwise, the current Allen urban legend in the capital will include 'siscon.'"

"You're the ones spreading ridiculous rumors!

Cut it out!

...Fine! I'll open it, but don't exaggerate and spread it around!"

Really, what have I done...

I'm saying I won't introduce her for your own good...

For now, I'll read the first page, and if it's okay, I'll introduce a bit of the second page, and then add that my sister is busy for a while. They'll give up then.

I casually cut the seal of the letter.

Before I cut the seal, I didn't know that my sister's anger had reached an unimaginable level.