Is My Sister's Face… a Little Red?**
While Yuuki was still contemplating how to deal with the situation regarding Meath—
Elsewhere—
Inside a lavishly decorated room, an elegant carpet made of exotic beast fur lay casually across the floor. Several fist-sized magic lamps hung along the walls, illuminating the entire room with bright, steady light.
"Milord…"
The four mages who had attempted to ambush Yuuki were now kneeling on the ground, terror written all over their faces as they looked at the young man sitting in the chair before them.
"Useless trash! You can't even handle something this small! And you were scared off by a woman!"
"My money isn't something you can just take and run!"
Meath glared at the four, his expression dark and venomous. A surge of scorching flame rose from his palm, instantly raising the temperature of the entire room by several degrees.
The four mages paled as cold sweat poured down their foreheads.
"M-Milord! Please give us another chance! We guarantee we'll complete the task you assigned us!"
The eldest of the four hurriedly lowered himself flat against the ground, voice trembling.
Their employer was a noble. Even without the payment involved, a noble's displeasure was something men like them could never afford to provoke.
Meath's expression remained icy, his gaze toward them filled with nothing but disgust and contempt.
When he came to the capital for the Magic Knights entrance exam, he had been nearly certain he would make it into a squad. Because of that, he had only brought one butler with him—and no other subordinates.
Otherwise, he never would have needed to hire gutter-rats like these.
"You get one last chance. Keep watch on him. Don't let that lowborn vermin escape. Otherwise…"
Meath withdrew the flames from his hand with a flick of his wrist, his voice flat.
He never finished the sentence.
But all four mages suddenly felt a terrifying presence lock onto them, making their bodies tremble.
The eldest carefully lifted his head and glanced toward the well-dressed middle-aged butler standing behind Meath.
The man seemed completely uninterested in everyone in the room, absorbed in meticulously polishing a wine glass in his hands.
But the mage leader knew—
That terrifying killing intent was coming from the butler.
"Y-Yes, milord! We won't disappoint you!"
The leader gritted his teeth and spoke quickly.
The four mages backed out of the room and fled as quickly as they could.
Meath picked up the glass of wine on the table—a bottle that had already been properly aired. Under the glow of the magic lamps, the wine inside shimmered with a dazzling crimson hue.
"Not bad."
He took a light sip, and the tension on his face finally eased a little.
"Master Meath," the butler said softly, "that commoner's companions have joined the Black Bulls and the Golden Dawn. If he dies… will that bring trouble upon the family?"
Crash!
The delicate wine glass shattered against the butler's face, splashing him from head to toe with the blood-colored liquid.
Yet the sudden blow didn't make the butler's expression shift even slightly. He continued standing respectfully, unmoving.
"Idiot! That's exactly why that filthy insect must die."
Meath's features twisted with rage as he roared,
"Tomorrow, strike when the opportunity is right. Those four worthless rats can't handle him. I want to watch that lowborn beg on his knees before me!"
"As you command, young master," the butler replied calmly.
The next morning—
As dawn broke, the royal capital awakened once more with renewed energy.
The bustling streets quickly filled with people. As the heart of the Clover Kingdom, the capital was naturally the liveliest place in the realm.
Inside a small restaurant—
Rebecca had slipped out early while her younger siblings were still asleep to buy ingredients needed for the day's meals.
When she returned, carrying the groceries, she found her little brothers and sisters already awake and sitting around one of the tables.
"You're all awake?"
Rebecca saw her younger siblings sitting at the table. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled.
"Mm-hmm."
"Welcome back, sis."
"You worked hard."
"Sis, here—this money is for you."
Voices overlapped one after another.
"Huh? What's this money about?"
Rebecca froze for a moment. Only then did she notice the small pile of coins on the table.
"That big brother who stayed here last night left it."
"Oh! And he also took some of the lamp oil from the shop. He said if the money wasn't enough, he'd pay the rest later."
The oldest of the children quickly explained.
Lamp oil?
Rebecca blinked in confusion. She walked over and saw 100 yul laid out neatly on the table.
The amount clearly covered the lodging fee from last night, plus what he took for the lamp oil. Lamp oil wasn't worth much anyway—even giving it to him for free wouldn't have mattered.
Rebecca gathered the coins and put them away. Seeing her siblings chatting noisily beside the table, her mind couldn't help drifting to the scene of them last night—quietly crouched beside Yuuki, listening to his story.
"What a strange person…
He's obviously younger than me, but he gives off such a mature feeling. He doesn't act like someone from a remote village at all."
Thinking about how gentle Yuuki spoke, and how calm he remained even after what happened last night, she dazed out for a moment.
"Sis? What's wrong?" a small voice asked beside her.
"Nothing."
Rebecca snapped back to herself, hurriedly lifted the groceries, and rushed into the kitchen.
"Is sis's face kinda red?"
"I don't think so? Maybe she's hot."
"Oh."
"..."
On the bustling streets of the royal capital—
Yuuki walked along with a small bundle strapped to his chest, his expression full of interest as he carefully examined the shops and stalls lining the street. From time to time, he stopped to look closer.
His wide-eyed curiosity made passersby give him the same look they'd give a clueless country bumpkin.
Yuuki didn't mind. There really were a lot of things here he was seeing for the first time.
He strolled leisurely, like a genuine tourist—probably the first proper one this city had seen.
Meanwhile, about twenty meters behind him, the four mages were tailing him tightly.
"This brat's got nerves of steel… After what happened yesterday, he still has the mood to window-shop?"
"Damn it. There are too many people here—we can't make a move!"
Two of the mages muttered under their breath.
"Both of you shut it," the eldest snapped.
"No matter what, he's still someone taking the Magic Knights entrance exam. His strength definitely isn't low. Otherwise that noble wouldn't have hired us."
"Keep your eyes on him. If he slips away, you know what happens. Once there's an opening, we strike immediately!"
(End of chapter)
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