A short reunion wouldn't hurt, would it?

It's been a couple days since the incident at the school happened. The news is out and the entire public was in an uproar.

"Disaster unfolds at Fermone magic academy."

"The duke's youngest son and two nobles pass away at tragedy."

"More than twenty were found dead with rotten corpses."

All sorts of headlines popped up and flooded the public. The media is really having a field day with all these newspapers they are spewing out.

There was even one that read "Is stress really the cause of all this?"

After reading a few of them it seems the academy decided to keep some details from public eyes. They didn't report about the black magicians, blueprint notes or the dead chimeras.

They must be trying to protect the academy's pride as much as possible.

The academy got closed down for a month due to investigation. This meant that all students were sent back to their homes. Corn, Max and me all spearated as we left for our own territories.

That also meant one thing. The best thing in fact.

I can finally get away from that girl...

That STALKER PRINCESS!

I've just arrived home after a trip from the capital. Luckily the Raiser territory is one of the closer ones to the capital city of Rime where the Fermone magic academy is located.

It seems like mom and dad are currently out so I should head back to my room first. I open the door to my room and dive straight into my bed that was on the right side of the room.

"Ah! This bed! How I missed this fluffy bed!"

Just then.

"Zalfious you're here."

"Yes, my lord."

The curtains sway a little and from it a shadow emerges taking the form of Zalfious.

Zalfious bows as I step out of my bed. I make my way to my desk and sit on the chair..

"What's the report?"

Zalfious bows again before speaking.

"My lord, the young lady you have brought back has woken up."

"Hoh?"

"As you advised, she was aggresive after waking up and exuding strong demonic energy so we restricted her movements."

"Only thanks the lord's instructions I managed to disperse the excess demonic energy in her. She fell asleep again shortly after."

It seems Zalfious handled that part well, he has gotten more and more reliable. As expected of the first pillar.

I had to leave in a rush after dropping off the girl so I left the dispelling to Zalfious. I was expecting him to have at least some issues since he's never done it before, but it looks like it turned out just fine.

"Anything else?"

"Lady Elaine has instructed both Risa and Ries to follow her for the investigations."

Elaine really is working hard huh.

"There's also this."

Zalfious takes out a folded parchment paper from his underneath his robe.

"The map you have given us, we have uncovered the location."

"Oh? That quick?"

"Yes my lord, we have an ex-explorer named Jargon who has talent for things like these."

Jargon? Oh that's the guy who spammed hex stance against Zalfious in the previous tornament of demonic.

He also has talent for exploring? What a good future asset.

"Anything else?"

"Nothing more, my lord."

"However..."

Zalfious lowers his voice and speaks softer.

"However?"

"However, lady Elaine wasn't so pleased when she saw you brought back the dark elf young lady."

"..."

Eh.

"Oh I see."

"Well, I'll head back to the realm tonight s-"

I stop midway through my sentence and stare at the door.

[Tap tap tap]

Sound of footsteps.

[Tap TAP TAP]

They are getting louder and faster by the moment.

And just then.

"My stupid brother are you okay?!"

The door swings open and a young lady dashes into the room.

Ah I knew it.

My older sister, Charlotte is home.

It's been a while since I've seen her, the last time was around the time I entered the academy.

Luckily Zalfious hid his presence and dashed out before she came.

She pounces onto me and hugs me tight. So tight in fact that I barely have any room to breathe.

"Hey si-"

She strengthens her arms.

Is she hugging me or planning on killing me?!

"Ouch ouch!"

I do my best to replicate a whine.

"Why did you not come out to greet me? Hmm?"

She says while closing her eyes and increasing her grip on my neck.

"Ouch ouch! I really will die!"

I let out another cry for help and she releases her hold.

"Kaff kaff!"

That one wasn't me pretending, she nearly managed to choke me.

"Ahem."

"I didn't know you were coming home sis."

She proceeds to pinch my cheeks and pull on them.

Judging from her mana and that stupidly powerful strength earlier, she has certainly gotten stronger. Especially her physical strength. I could tell she was holding back so much but it's so strong. If I didn't reinforce my body earlier I might've even gotten hurt. This absurb strength that she has is ridiculous.

She should be around first rate now.

Two other people walk into the room and towards us.

"See I told you he was fine!"

The man talking had a magnificent moustache and bore a smile.

That's my dandy dad.

"Fine?"

"All you said after hearing the news was, 'He should be fine...I think.'"

"Will it kill you to be a little more caring?!"

That's mom.

"Ahh! I'm sorry!"

Mom pulls on dad's moustache.

"Ahh!"

By the way, mom holds the real power in this household. She was actual heir of my granddad, the previous count. My dad just married into the family, I heard he was the son of a now fallen baron family.

Speaking of heirs, my sis is probably going to be the next heir as well.

Actually not probably, 100% percent-ly.

Unlike some nations, in the Corsair kingdom, the heir of nobles are allowed to be women. There's no dispute whatsover regarding gender. Corsair has even been ruled by queens before.

Me and sis stare at mom still pulling dad's moustache.

I wonder if I would grow one as well in the future.

"I was on a mission so I came back as soon as I could."

Charlotte turns back to me, ignoring the scene unfolding in front of us.

"I was on a diplomatic mission at Ashelocke. Luckily I heard the news only after the mission was done and immediately rushed home."

Diplomatic mission huh? My sister is occupying a position in the first inquisitor squad, the strongest fighting force in the nation which is under the well respected golden inquisitor. Because of that, she has to take up a lot of missions.

"Alright! I have decided that you need to get stronger fast."

My sister suddenly says in a loud voice.

"Come to the backyard quick!"

"Ehhh."

I whine and sigh.

"What's with all the whining, your brilliant sister who is part of the first inquisitor team is willing to train you after coming back from a mission, don't you think you should be grateful?"

"Nah, that's fine."

The moment I say that she pinches cheeks once more. This time increasing the intensity of the pain.

"Ahh! Ses! It'z been e long tiem sinze you've been hom, zo why don't yoz juz relaz a littzle." (Ahh! Sis! It's been a long time since you've been home, so why don't you just relax a little.)

"No can do! You need to become strong faster."

"Come now."

She says while pulling my cheeks and forcing me out the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At the backyard of the mansion we stand facing each other.

Sis picks up 2 wooden swords and throws one in my direction. It lands on the floor, just short of my feet.

"Pick it up."

"Sis is this really necessary?"

I let out a sigh once more while rubbing my pinched cheeks.

"I'm heading out for another mission tonight, so you'd better be quick

Her cold eyes and firery words pierce my soul and the next thing I know, I'm holding up the sword and begrudgingly readying my stance.

"Let's begin."

Time to test my acting skills again.