TL/Editor: Butter Cat
Status: 4/week mon-thurs
Illustrations: none
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〈 Chapter 4 〉 Chapter 4. Crack.
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The family bonding ti I felt after so long was truly enjoyable.
Just like in my past lives, growing up abandoned without a family was the norm.
Even if I grew up under the care of parents, most of my childhood was spent without receiving proper affection.
And yet, to be born as a princess, even as the third child…
"What are you going to do today~?"
"Hmm... I'm going to practice swordsmanship!"
"Again?"
"Yes!"
With those words, I left big sis Remi and ran towards the training grounds. I heard Remi's calls to play more from behind, but I ignored them. Her affection is too overwhelming...!
I wonder if that sister will ever get married?
I thought as I ran.
How many tis have I reincarnated?
I stopped counting once it passed three digits, so I'm not sure.
It's been quite a while since then, so wouldn't it be at least four digits by now? Not that counting matters.
When I was just a single digit, every day was new and exciting.
Yes, it was fun at first.
It was fun to be called a genius by others occasionally, and to do things I couldn't do before without worrying too much.
Then, when was it?
I realized that my life had only been about trampling and stealing the single lives of others.
Things that should have rightfully belonged to soone else.
Using the cheat-like knowledge gained from repeated lives to steal those things, I, as a person, was rely complaining about trivial matters, like being born into a family with unfortunate circumstances, or not liking the body I was born into.
While others were working hard to live each day.
And I was complaining about such things.
Stealing the places, the food, the affection of those living a genuine life—
The mont I realized that, I hanged myself.
After that, I rember committing suicide dozens of tis due to sudden existential crises.
I tried slitting my throat, drowning in the sea, setting myself on fire, and even went mad, being treated like a lunatic and having my head chopped off by a guillotineㅡ
Well, there's no need to worry about it now. It's all in the past.
Anyway, reincarnation was truly unpredictable.
When I was just past three digits, I tried to find so regularity in reincarnation to escape this maddening world, but it was useless.
The only thing I learned was that it was completely random.
There wasn't even a glimpse of an escape route.
Now, I've just let go. And that's how I found peace.
Being reborn in a dieval world with fantasy elents twice in a row was a blessing.
I've been thrown into a world like a space sci-fi novel where my cute scientific knowledge from the modern era didn't work at all, and into a modern zombie apocalypse world. I've even been born in a world like Greek and Roman mythology.
Ah, speaking of zombies, that reminds .
Of the faces and screams of the group I was traveling with back then, through the window.
Those people, who watched being bitten alive by a horde of zombies I lured with sound after locking the door, are they still alive?
The situation of a young girl using herself as bait to lure zombies and being eaten alive right before their eyes, it was quite interesting.
Especially since the people I was traveling with were kind and naive.
I even had an older sister.
If I had to choose the most morable experience of my lives, it would probably be that one.
Ah, I got excited.
—Clang!
"Ugh—!"
"Ah! A-Are you alright!?"
Did I accidentally put too much force into it? The sword of the knight I was sparring with flew far away.
You might say, how strong could a little girl be, but—if you properly aim for the timing when the opponent starts to focus their strength and deliver a blow with good weight transfer, even a child can easily defeat an adult.
If you strike just as the sword reaches its peak, before it starts to descend, they have no choice but to collapse helplessly.
Besides, my opponent was going easy on .
It was my own unique swordsmanship, ingrained in my body after countless years that I can't even rember.
Even if it's just an imitation without a proper teacher.
If a soul exists, perhaps it's safely stored there.
"...I'm fine. However, your growth is truly unbelievable. At your age..."
"Heehee—It's all thanks to your excellent teaching."
"Humility can be a poison if taken too far. At tis like this, you should just be happy."
"Okay!"
Teacher smiles bitterly and ruffles my hair roughly. I call him Teacher Fayne. He's a retired knight who now works as a swordsmanship instructor.
Even though his touch is rough, it carries a certain affection, so I enjoyed it.
I don't like it when my hair gets ssed up, but as you get older, you tend to fidget and beco talkative, so knowing that, I should endure it.
It's been ㅡ a little over three years since I started learning swordsmanship, officially? For them, it must be quite shocking to see a young girl, without proper muscle developnt, defeat a seasoned knight.
Thanks to that, I'm playing the role of a genius that doesn't suit .
But this will all be helpful for the future.
"I should brag to big sis Anna~ I'll get head pats!"
"...It seems you're quite fond of Princess Anna."
"Yes! I really like her! She's very pretty, kind, and… well, I just like her!"
Fayne's expression darkens rapidly as I ntion big sis Anna. Ah, is it because I said I'd brag to her?
Well, as an older knight, he must be quite perceptive.
He probably noticed that my sister is feeling inferior.
Inferiority complex. Not being satisfied with one's own accomplishnts.
He's probably worried that soday, the word "one's own" will change, and she'll start comparing her accomplishnts to those of others.
Is that what they call an inferiority complex?
Don't worry, Fayne.
She's already doing a good job of that.
"Heehee~ I'm going to get praised~ Praised~"
"...Thank you for your hard work today, Princess Aris."
"Okay~ See you later, Teacher~"
Thinking about what I have to do next, a deep smile forms on my face.
What kind of expression will she make when I tell her that I beat Fayne? Will she freeze? Or will she hate ? Will she be jealous? If I lean into her, she'll reluctantly pat my head.
Ah, I'm already excited.
I want to do the sa to Remi, but… how should I put it, her aura is too bright for any inferiority complex to take root…
I think she'll probably just like more every ti I show a good side of myself.
Whenever I did sothing even slightly impressive, it was always Remi's job to brag about it.
Actually, I've helped Remi with her howork a few tis, and instead of being jealous, she was busy carrying to our parents' eting to praise .
Bursting through the door, no less.
'Momm—! Daddd—! Aris is… Aris is…!!'
'R-Remi? W-What's wrong?'
'She's a super genius—!!!!'
' '.......' '
Our kind parents quietly sent us back without a word. Dad even tried to praise along the way, but got a slap on the back from Mom.
Uh… Ever since that incident, I've just been showering Remi with affection without thinking too much.
It was so embarrassing back then.
It was a powerful psychic attack. My face turned bright red.
Is Remi a ghost type?
Since with those types, it's more effective to get hurt or take attacks in front of them.
How should I get hurt in front of Remi?
"Hum hum~♬"
I headed towards the private residence where big sis Anna was resting, indulging in fun imaginations.
Tra-la-la.
Heehee.
**
"So~ I went 'Clang' and swung my sword—"
"...Yes…"
In the afternoon, with nothing to do. In my room, where I was previewing tomorrow's lesson, as always, that child ca to visit.
Aris.
Our precious little sister, who ca into our family.
Every ti I stroke her soft and beautiful hair, like silk, a warm feeling travels from her head to my hand.
Aris loved it when I patted her head. I don't know why. She should go to a lively sister like Remi instead of a charmless sister like .
Strangely, Aris was as attached to as she was to Remi.
Thanks to that, Remi sulked for a while. Really.
"—And so, I beat Sir Fa… I an, Teacher Fayne!"
"...You beat him...?"
"Yes! Teacher said I did well~!"
At her words, I unconsciously stop my hand. My chest feels tight.
Aris is a genius. A known fact.
At a young age, she learned to read and write, to wield a sword, and the words she occasionally muttered to those with worries contained wisdom that was unthinkable for soone her age.
Our parents were surprised too.
Yes, you've already beaten Fayne.
Amazing.
How amazing.
"Yes. Aris won..."
"Heehee~ Pat my head more—"
"—Ah. Okay..."
I resu my hand movents. The small child snuggles closer to .
It feels like a lump is forming in my chest. A hot sigh, unable to escape, keeps swirling inside.
My body grows hotter, and my touch becos rougher.
Tight.
"Ah, it hurts!"
"......"
It's suffocating.
"B-Big sis!!"
"......"
I want to throw up.
Why, is this child—
"—Big sis!!!"
"....Ah...?"
A loud voice rings in my ears. Startled, I look down and see Aris, clutching my hand and shouting.
With a tearful face.
Ah.
I look at my hand.
My hand, tightly gripping Aris's hair.
Ah...?
What, was I thinking just now?
"Ah, Aris! Are you okay? Does it hurt?"
"Wuuu.... It hurts..."
I hurriedly let go of her hand. Aris was crying, saying it hurts.
My mind goes blank at the fact that a child who never showed any signs of pain, even when she was injured or had a bad cold, was now crying.
I don't rember what happened next.
When I ca to my senses, Aris, who had sohow stopped crying, was being led out of the room by Remi, who had appeared at so point.
After the two of them left, I let out a sigh of relief and leaned against the wall, collapsing to the floor.
The floor was so cold.
I stared at my two trembling hands.
"What... was I just...?"
**
Ah, this is so good.
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