Chapter 4: My Beloved Little Sister
On the morning of my First Campaign, I stood on the balcony of Ortenatris Castle, idly watching the military officials and soldiers bustling about in front of the castle gates.
They were all soldiers entrusted to me by my father.
Gazing at each of their faces, I steeled myself for the battlefield ahead.
“First Campaign, huh?”
It had been twelve years since I arrived in this world.
In my previous life, I was a mere office worker whose only hobby was browsing science magazines. But one day, I suddenly collapsed at work and, before I knew it, I was a baby, suckling at the breasts of a JK Mom.
I probably died from overwork.
In my final years, I found happiness only in throwing stones into the river, my mental state was so far gone. I never imagined I would be reincarnated into another world after death.
The fact that I, of all people, would end up on the battlefield was quite moving.
“Sharka.”
I didn’t have any great talents, but I seemed to have a knack for pushing my body to the brink of death.
Born into a noble family, I was taught the tragic history of the House, learned about Magical Power, physically mastered magic, and even learned how to kill people while spitting up blood.
I was thoroughly indoctrinated into the Ortenos way of life, and a sense of belonging was successfully instilled in me.
I might be too simple-minded.
I could have refused if I had said I didn’t want to, but because I accepted everything so readily, my father, mother, and grandfather probably thought I was someone who could handle anything.
“Hey, Sharka.”
That damn black company that stole my prime thirties was unforgivable.
The crime of instilling such pain tolerance and mental abnormality tolerance in me was severe.
They would continue down their path of carnage without ever bearing the burden of my death.
But there was no point in dwelling on the past.
Although I could no longer avenge myself, I had to overcome this anger and step up to become a new version of myself.
“Sharka, are you listening?”
That’s why I decided to live for love and happiness.
Since I had the chance to start over in a new world, I resolved to fulfill the things I couldn’t in my previous life.
That was to spend my life with a lovely woman who would give me a kick in the pants, so to speak.
And to live happily with that lovely bride.
My marriage prospects weren’t going well right now, but there was still time.
I had already obtained my father’s approval to look for a bride at the academy, and my future was bright.
I wanted to finish my First Campaign quickly and make plans to navigate the academy successfully.
“Hey, you! Can’t you hear Lady Elmia addressing you!”
“Huh?”
I seemed to have been daydreaming, and I didn’t realize I was being called until a man grabbed my shoulder from behind.
Turning around, I saw a group of nobles and their attendants in ostentatious attire.
(Hmm, there’s someone I’ve never seen before.)
Except for one person, all the nobles were familiar faces.
That one person was a young man in his late teens with unfamiliar orange hair.
(Well, since he’s allowed in Ortenatris Castle, he must be related to some family.)
In the center of them stood a lovely girl with long, white hair, as if she were the master of them all.
The girl spoke to me with a slightly sulky expression.
“What are you daydreaming about when you’re about to go on your First Campaign?”
The girl’s name was Elmia la Ortenos, my beloved little sister.
She had the same gold eyes as me, long, fluttering eyelashes inherited from our mother, and a clean, sharp jawline for a girl who was turning thirteen this year. Her pristine white skin peeked out from between her black miniskirt and long socks.
The white, knee-length robe embroidered with gold thread gave her an almost clerical air.
“Ah, my apologies. I was lost in thought.”
“I see. More importantly, Sharka, don’t you have something to say to me?”
Her tone was a bit sharp. Elmia didn’t seem to be in a good mood.
With her left hand on her hip and her right hand twirling a strand of her pure white hair, she looked at me with dissatisfaction.
I wracked my brains over Elmia’s issue, but I couldn’t figure it out at all.
“I’m sorry, Lady Elmia. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Try to think about it properly. Why do you think I came all the way here, huh?”
“Um, Lady Elmia, are you angry?”
“If you think so, try to figure out why I’m angry.”
Her attitude was a bit haughty, but she’s my little sister, so she’s cute and I can totally forgive her.
…No, that’s not it, is it?
What on earth was Elmia so angry about?
After much thought, my gray brain cells came up with one answer.
“Ah, could it be…”
“You’re going on your First Campaign, so why didn’t you come to report to me?”
Ah.
I had considered telling Elmia, but I thought it wasn’t a life-or-death battle, so it didn’t really matter, and I didn’t report it.
In fact, this First Campaign itself wasn’t a big deal.
“I apologize, Lady Elmia. I thought it unnecessary to trouble Lady Elmia with something as trivial as my First Campaign.”
“Oh, really? I’m the next head of House Ortenos, you know? Sharka has a duty to report to me.”
“I’m sorry, Lady Elmia. I was completely unaware of such a thing. I will report to you in the future, so please forgive me.”
I had no idea there was such a duty.
I bowed deeply to Elmia.
Elmia blushed and raised the corners of her mouth as she looked at me.