Chapter 77

"Ah, I did it.

...But Allen, are you really losing to this kid over and over?"

My older sister tilted her head in confusion.

"Even if it's Rio, it's impossible to match your speed on the first try.

Moreover, it seems that in the capital, it's considered polite to announce something like 'I'm going to punch you now' or a starting signal before attacking?

It's also common to move to a spacious place before starting."

"Really?!

I'm sorry, I didn't know."

My older sister hurriedly apologized to Rio.

"No, it's fine.

This is the Lovaine family.

I'm here to learn the way of this house, so I asked to do this—"

Rio, who had stood up, suddenly delivered a right roundhouse kick to my older sister's torso while blood dripped from his nose, which was perfectly straight and aristocratic.

"That's why!"

Hehehe.

I know better than anyone how stubborn and competitive Rio is.

I might as well ask my older sister to play with him and help him vent.

My older sister received Rio's kick by clamping his leg between her knee and elbow.

Crack.

"Ugh!"

"Oops, I'm sorry, the power was incredible, so I instinctively clamped it, and his leg broke.

Take a rest, okay?

Allen? Allen?"

...Rio, to be eliminated in 10 seconds is not just talk!

You neglected the magic guard on your kicking leg.

Because of his genius-level output, his defense is too sloppy.

It might work against me, but against someone like my older sister, it ends up like this.

"Al... my older sister wants to play with three people."

"What?!

I'm fine, I'm a mage!

There's no way I can do anything against my older sister who can instantly kill Rio!"

"Shut up!

As the president of the External Magic Research Club, how can you say such a thing!

Mages can also be forced into indoor combat!

This is a direct order!"

"Are you telling me to use magic in your own house?!

What are you thinking?!

The house will be destroyed!"

"Idiot, it's fine to have holes in the walls when playing with my older sister!

Don't worry, in this small house, there's no way Al's slow magic can be activated in front of my older sister.

While Al is being beaten and crushed, I'll look for an opening.

This is the only way!"

"That makes me just a punching bag!

Isn't that the role of a tank, as Allen says?

Why am I, a mage, the one being hit!"

"Because the stupid Rio was instantly killed!"

As Allen and I were arguing, Jue, who had gone out at some point, returned with a staff about a meter long.

Approaching Rio, she quickly recited a prayer in an undecipherable ancient language and pointed the staff at Rio's leg.

At that moment, a golden light enveloped Rio's leg.

Rio stood up as if nothing had happened.

"Wow, I'm surprised.

Jue, can you really heal broken bones with holy magic at your age in an instant?

That's terrifying."

Furi-senpai praised Jue wholeheartedly.

Rio himself was surprised, and my older sister was saying, "Jue, that's amazing."

Jue smiled shyly.

"I'm a member of the External Magic Research Club that Allen started!"

"Ahaha.

I've collected most of the rumors about my little brother at Rosa's request, but I didn't know the skirt-flipping club was actually active.

It's hard to gather accurate information within the school.

I thought it was just a joke club created as an afterthought to the Slope Club."

...I wondered how this lazy older sister had collected rumors about me, but it was because of this person's cooperation.

However, it's a huge misunderstanding to think the External Magic Research Club is just an afterthought to the Slope Club.

"The Slope Club was created as an afterthought.

That kind of thing is just basic training, which I can do on my own if I want to.

My main focus is the Magic Research Club, which Al is leading as the president."

"Hmm?

That's surprising information.

So, Al, who I only recognized as one of my little brother's classmates, isn't just an ordinary person."

I smiled.

"Al is just an ordinary person, senpai.

However, the Magic Research Club, which is led by this guy, is full of troublemakers like 'the Demon Vice President, Rudolph Austin,' me, Rio, and Jue.

Only this guy can lead them...

He's that kind of man."

"Hmm.

Today is a blood service, isn't it?

Little brother."

Senpai laughed and looked at Al intently.

My older sister, who had heard my meaningful words, seemed to take an interest in Al.

Hehehe.

As planned.

Now, Al can't leave.

"Hey?!

It was just a spur-of-the-moment decision to make Al the president!"

"I'm going to punch now!"

My older sister awkwardly announced the start and lunged at Al.

I aimed to kick her just before her punch hit Al.

My older sister, who was about to follow through with her punch, stopped and countered my kick.

I barely dodged and gave instructions.

"Rio is the 'tank'!

If you're easily taken down by my older sister, the battle line will collapse easily!

Receive her attacks carefully!

Think of a million people behind you!

Al and Faye, stop Furi-senpai!

Kate, support Jue, the 'healer,' and give overall instructions!

I'll move as a roaming attacker!"

"What?!

Why are we fighting—"

"It's not a fight!

It's a playful greeting!"

Kate was shocked, but I ignored her and lunged at Furi-senpai.

I judged that the best way to create more opportunities and speed up the process was to involve everyone in a chaotic battle.

The influence of rough adventurers, but it's indeed effective.

"That's great!

I was just feeling envious of your fun, and collaborating with Rosa is exciting!"

Furi-senpai, who graduated top of her class from the Royal Academy, easily caught my punch and said,

"I'm going to punch now!"

◆

Furi-senpai was tougher than I expected.

I thought she might be weaker because she's a magic artificer, but in terms of raw strength, she's probably on par with Justin, who graduated top of his class from the Royal Academy, one year below her.

My older sister and Furi-senpai didn't have much coordination, but they overwhelmed us.

Every time someone dropped out of the battle, Jue's healing magic kept us going, but eventually, Jue's magic power ran out.

"I'm sorry, I can't do any more...

I don't have enough magic power to heal any more injuries."

Jue knelt down, her breathing heavy.

My older sister smiled and said, "Thank you, Jue!

Thanks to you, I got to play with Allen a lot.

That last magic was really interesting!"

My older sister wiped the blood from her forehead, which I had inflicted with a right hook enhanced by Jue's buff magic, and laughed.

Of course, she was immediately blown away by a counter kick.

My older sister was in high spirits, saying, "Ah, I feel so much better!"

In the end, the only hit we managed to land on my older sister was that one.

But, considering the close quarters and the fact that no one was seriously injured, it was a decent outcome.

"That was fun.

As expected, you guys are all top-notch.

Your individual strength is already on par with our generation's third year, and your stamina is even better.

Moreover, despite the fact that you're only in your first year and haven't had much training, your coordination is quite advanced.

The activities of the Slope Club and the communal living in the dorms are not for nothing."

Furi-senpai also laughed and added,

"Well... how do we clean this up..."

The room was a mess, and the first floor was flooded and partially destroyed by Al's magic.

Rio, gritting his teeth in frustration, said,

"Complete defeat...

I'll take responsibility for everything that was broken in this game.

I started it, so it's my responsibility."

"No, don't worry about it?

Even without you suggesting it, I knew a fight with my older sister was inevitable."

After all, I was already planning to get beaten up, and this guy took some of the hits for me.

It would be too much to make him pay for it as well.

"Don't worry?

I'm sorry for involving you in our sibling fight.

Besides, I have a lot of money I don't know what to do with."

Eh, why does my older sister have so much money?

"Rosa earns tens of thousands of reals every month from patent royalties alone.

It will probably increase in the future."

Tens of thousands of reals from passive income?

Is that how much a magic artificer can earn...

How enviable.

"No, this is a matter of principle, so I'd like to pay for it.

And one more thing..."

Saying this, Rio knelt on one knee, placed his right hand on his chest, and extended his left hand to my older sister.

"Roselia Lovaine.

I would like to ask you to consider dating me with the intention of marriage."

...

Eh?

◆

Everyone froze at the sudden turn of events.

Even Kate, who usually loves such stories, was confused.

"Jue, it seems Rio hit his head hard.

Can you use healing magic?"

"...I'm out of magic power."

I shook my head.

We need to call a doctor.

"I'm serious."

Rio looked straight at my older sister with a determined gaze.

My older sister, who had no immunity to such things, gasped and said with a red face,

"Um, well.

I'm sorry, I'm not interested in weak people, so it's probably not possible."

That's not the point!

"No, my older sister.

Rio is the eldest son of the Zeitzinger family.

One of the three ducal families in this kingdom, the main branch of the Zeitzinger family.

He's not someone who can be matched by a poor viscount family like ours, regardless of strength."

My older sister visibly relaxed.

But Rio showed no signs of backing down.

"In this day and age, social status is not an absolute issue.

Let me repeat.

I'm serious.

If I become stronger than you, Roselia-senpai, will you consider this proposal?"

"No, um, Rio doesn't have much talent, so it's probably not possible..."

My older sister said this to the prodigy of the century in this country.

Rio smiled slyly and stood up.

"So, you're saying I can't even get to the starting line yet.

But I won't give up.

I will definitely become stronger than you and make you nod your head someday."

"...I don't like calling you 'big brother'..."