Episode 19
Since her older brother wasn't giving her any attention, perhaps finding it boring, Flora's gaze had turned to the window.
Her sparkling eyes watching the snow-covered road occasionally reminded him of a curious baby rabbit one might encounter on a snowy mountain.
'She's four years old now, right?'
No matter how he thought about it, she seed too young to shoulder the na of Lucifer right away.
She fainted the mont a sword was pointed at her neck. She must be as timid and tender-hearted as she looked.
'Right. How could soone so small and young bear the duties of a Lucifer?'
Seeing how young Flora was, it was difficult to apply the sa sharp standards to her that had been applied to him.
'Anyway, once the divine power test is done, she'll start to realize the weight of the family from then on.'
Just like the unfortunate Benio Lucifer, who, even at fourteen, still couldn't manifest his divine power.
'Right. No matter how much she was raised outside, I am Flora's older brother... As an older brother, I can't bear to see my younger sibling grow up like I did.'
Looking at Flora, who was watching the outside with an excited face, Benio let out an unavoidable, quiet chuckle.
'Flora might dislike it... But since it seems I'm the only one to look after her today, I guess I have no choice but to play the guardian role.'
After watching the scenery for a long ti, Flora finally rembered that she had been looking out the window for too long.
'This isn't the ti.'
Unlike the east, the heavily piled snow was so fascinating that she had been staring at it as if srized without realizing it.
'Asking Dad for the favor was a good start, but how do I beco friends with him?'
Flora abruptly lifted her head.
Then, she made eye contact with Benio, who was looking at her, and smiled brightly, causing him to quickly turn his head away.
Benio's defenses were so strong that he remained unfazed even as Flora bead.
He was expressionless from start to finish, making it impossible to read his thoughts.
'Perhaps he's even more of a poker face than Dad.'
As if to show his displeasure at being forced to go to the town with her due to Athanas's request, his face had been full of resentnt just when they departed.
At least, as ti passed, the resentnt disappeared and he beca stoic, so she had to consider even that small change positive.
Fidgeting uncomfortably in the awkward silence filling the carriage, Flora swung her legs.
At least Athanas, despite his rugged appearance, treated her with kind words and actions, like bending his knees to et her eyes or trying to smile kindly.
But Benio showed none of that consideration.
'I knew it from the mont he pointed a sword at such a cute and lovely younger sister.'
It seed the carriage had arrived at the town center. Not expecting an escort, she was about to hop down when…
Whoosh, her body was lifted into the air.
To be precise, Flora's body was scooped up into Benio's arms.
"Huh?"
At the word that popped out in surprise, Benio's gaze turned to Flora.
"It's dangerous to get down alone."
That was the end of their first conversation.
Benio got out of the carriage holding Flora and did not put her down on the ground.
"Aren't you going to put down?"
"There are a lot of people; you might get lost."
Ah, this sense of déjà vu from sowhere.
'It reminds of my first eting with Dad?'
Benio's face was stiffly set, but the tips of his ears were tinged red.
'Was it not that he disliked , but that he was shy?'
Her previously low spirits instantly lifted.
"That first night we t."
"Yep?"
Holding Flora, Benio looked ahead as he continued speaking.
"I'm sorry about that ti."
It was a clean and honest apology.
"I was on edge right after returning from finishing a rcenary job. It was my mistake, my fault, for letting the sword co out first without even checking who it was."
Although he thought Flora's fault for not knowing about the lantern was greater, Benio didn't ntion it and simply delivered a clean apology.
"Did it hurt? I'm worried it might have left a scar."
He was a warr person than she had thought.
"Anyway, I'm sorry for startling you. You must have heard from Father, but my na is Benio. Please call comfortably."
"I'm Flora."
"You can speak comfortably too."
"Mm. My na is Flora. Benio-oppa. I'm four years old."
"I'm fourteen years old. Let's get along well from now on."
She was surprised by his age, which seed small for his build, but Flora hid her expression like a pro.
Benio, this little Lucifer, might not be as bad as he looks either.
'Well, with this much divine power flowing through his body, he can't be a bad person.'
When people are sensitive, they might see a stranger as an enemy, it's understandable.
Since it's the first ti, she, being broad-minded, would understand, and from now on, she could get angry without exception.
'But I feel like I missed sothing just now?'
Before Flora could find the answer, Benio spoke to her.
"The Lucifer territory is at the northern edge of the continent, so it's extrely cold. And the Demon Forest is larger and closer than in other territories, so monster attacks are frequent, and Father often leaves to subjugate them."
Rembering the story she heard from Daphne, Flora nodded.
"But it seed pretty peaceful considering all that."
The muttered words slipped out unintentionally, and Flora hurriedly covered her mouth.
"Is that how it seed?"
"Mm. He ca to the orphanage every day."
"He finally found a daughter who had been missing for four years, so it's natural. Normally, the territory cos first for him, but... At least Father should be like that for you."
Sohow, his words felt bittersweet.
Flora stared intently up at Benio, but his gaze never returned to her.
"But do you have to go subjugate in the Demon Forest yourself? In other territories, it seed like they just do regular patrols."
"This is the Lucifer territory."
"What's different about that?"
"...Do you know that the Lucifers are the Betrayers of Humanity?"
Despite the serious content, his voice was monotone. Flora nodded.
'Hmm, that's a bit strange. According to Daphne, the people of the territory respect the Lucifer Ducal House...'
Suddenly struck by the question, she looked around and saw that the townspeople nearby were clearly wary of the two.
To be precise, they looked more frightened.
No one was directly insulting them like in front of the orphanage, but it still didn't feel good.
More than anything, seeing Benio accept this situation as normal made it even worse.
Seeing Flora had no reaction, perhaps thinking she didn't understand, Benio added a detailed explanation.
"The Lucifers have no Executors."
"Then just call them?"
"They refuse to co."
"Why?"
"Because the Lucifers are the Betrayers of Humanity."
The weight carried by those words was heavy.
Impossibly heavy, to a degree Flora couldn't even begin to guess.
"The Lucifers must always prove themselves. That they are beings who pose no harm to humanity, that they are driving out monsters and demons."
Benio's words ant that the Lucifers had been dealing with hordes of evil that threaten humanity, with their ordinary human bodies, without the help of Executors.
"So people look at the Lucifers and sotis call them butchers wearing noble masks, and sotis murderers."
Hearing these bizarre nicknas she had never even imagined, Flora spoke with a displeased expression.
"Why butchers and murderers when they're sacrificing themselves to protect humanity? That's weird."
Benio's mouth, which had been explaining so well, suddenly clamped shut tightly.
Flora looked around at the townspeople with a pout, and when Benio remained silent for a long ti, she looked up, puzzled.
Benio was making a rare, surprised expression, different from before.
"...You're right."
The words that barely escaped his lips were short.
Yet, his confusion was palpable even to Flora.
His reaction, as if he had never once thought of such a thing, left Flora dumbfounded.
"The people who say things like that are the worst ones."
It wasn't a statent made specifically to comfort Benio.
She just felt bad hearing it.
Are the people who slander those who sacrifice themselves to show kindness really good people?
Why do the Lucifers live receiving this kind of treatnt from humans?
Overwheld by a surge of pity, Flora patted Benio's back.
"Next ti, if there's soone who says things like that, bring them to ."
"Why?"
"Why? Why? To kick the shins of the bastard spouting nonsense, of course."
"Pfft."
"Eh? You laughed."
For the first ti in half a day, Benio laughed.
And it was because of sothing Flora said.
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