“Ah. Ah… ah…”
Irene collapsed to the floor, convulsing as her eyes lost focus. I held her, tilting her head back to open her airway so she could breathe properly. Only then did she take a deep breath, gasping for air.
It seemed like she was finally able to breathe more easily.
“Why is it that you look the most beautiful when you’re unconscious, sister?”
Look at that. You’re not angry, and your face isn’t scrunched up. You’re so beautiful like this.
Unlike usual, Irene wasn’t irritated, and she leaned on me, barely holding on to consciousness.
It reminded me of the Irene from childhood that I’d glimpsed in the floods of memories.
‘Even so, her nature is still kind.’
It took me some time to process everything, given how quickly the storm had passed. Irene’s nature had always been one that hated causing harm, a quality not fitting of a “Vermont.”
And even now, she hadn’t lost that core part of herself.
In order to survive. In order to deceive the Vermonts, she had changed, leading to the person she had become.
Always spewing harsh words and throwing punches whenever she could, she had become a typical villainess.
‘But even that was something Aslan created…’
And the person responsible for this change in Irene was none other than me.
No… it was Aslan Vermont before I inhabited this body.
Only now did I finally understand the contemptuous looks Irene gave me every time she saw me.
It wasn’t just hatred—it was filled with a deep-seated grudge.
A visceral hatred for the Vermont family.
And a deep grudge toward the person who turned her into someone she despised, someone like the Vermonts.
It was a complex mixture of emotions that couldn’t be defined by a single word.
So, when I saw how much the once-gentle Irene had changed.
How she was drowning in self-loathing and suffering from trauma…
If you asked me what I thought about that…
‘It’s not really my fault, is it?’
‘So, what am I supposed to do about it?’
This was all caused by the previous tenant of this body, not me.
If she’s upset, she should go after the one who ran away. But the world sees the former tenant and the current one as the same person, and that’s what drives me crazy.
I can fix my ruined reputation somehow, but… the relationship between siblings that has already hit rock bottom shows no sign of recovery.
In normal circumstances, I might try to make the first move.
Take responsibility for the previous tenant’s mistakes and apologize to smooth things over.
‘But Irene would know. She would know it’s a fake apology.’
Irene is someone who can see through lies.
Even a small lie wouldn’t escape her radar.
And I don’t want to pretend to apologize for something I didn’t do.
So, should I just tell her the truth?
To someone who’s spent their whole life harboring hatred, slowly transforming into someone like the Vermonts, what would happen if I told her, “Your target for revenge is no longer in this world”?
That’s not just a matter of truth or lies.
It would deny the very reason Irene has lived and fought for.
It’s the cruelest option.
She’s already so fragile that confronting the past has triggered her trauma.
What would happen if I dropped that bombshell?
It wouldn’t be strange if she chose the most extreme option.
‘I don’t want Irene to die.’
I’ve never particularly liked her, but that doesn’t mean I hated her to the point of wanting her dead.
So, I’m not going to push her to that point.
At the same time, I’m not going to allow her to continue pointing a sword at me.
Now there’s only one option left. Gradual.
Slow improvement in our relationship.
Let her hold onto her hatred, but make her grow fonder of me over time.
Eventually, her fondness will surpass the hatred.
When Irene no longer lives only for revenge.
When she finds another reason to live.
That’s when I’ll tell her the truth.
By then, she’ll be ready to accept it.
“I’m actually starting to like you. Is it possible to develop affection after getting beaten up so much?”
“Ugh…”
I brushed back Irene’s hair as she groaned in pain.
Maybe because she’d been crying so much, her thick makeup had smudged and run all over her face.
Her face, now resembling a rock band vocalist, made me suppress a laugh.
I wiped the makeup off with my sleeve.
…Strangely, my sister looks better without makeup.
Looking at her now, I can also see traces of her childhood face.
That thought stirred up some sudden sibling affection within me.
‘But isn’t it about time to get out of here?’
If we wait much longer, Irene’s condition could get dangerous.
I’d called for Kali what felt like 10 minutes ago to get us out, but there was still no response.
Is this a place Kali can’t enter?
Or is this a place where the status window doesn’t show up?
Kali’s communication has always come through the status window, so if that’s not working, it makes sense that there’s no response.
Still, even if I can’t hear from Kali, it doesn’t mean she can’t hear me.
Just as I decided to wait patiently, with some faith in her…
“Tsk. Again?”
Swoosh!
Once again, the scenery in front of me blurred and began shifting into the next memory.
“Hahaha! Well done, Irene!”
“…”
The scene that unfolded next was a dark altar in the basement of the Vermont mansion.
Standing there, grinning from ear to ear, were Count Vermont and Aslan.
In his hands was a large chunk of Neomium.
Young Irene, awkwardly bound, knelt on the floor, trembling in fear as she looked up at her father.
“Ah, Father. That’s, um… it’s a very dangerous substance, so it would be best not to touch it recklessly…”
“I know. I know. Although it may seem ugly for a father to snatch away his daughter’s possession, I still intend to acknowledge your merit. Now that I have obtained the Neomium, we can proceed with the contract with the Evil God. I will grant you the first contract, especially for you, Irene.”
“…!”
Young Irene’s pupils dilated, and her face turned pale. A contract with the Evil God.
Though she knew it was not just an urban legend but something that could actually happen, having seen the results with her own eyes, she had never witnessed the act of making a contract itself.
This was a perfect opportunity to see that process firsthand.
It was fortunate that Kali had been slow to respond.
“Irene, kneel before the altar.”
“I-I don’t want to! I’m not ready yet…!”
“Do I truly need to force you down?”
“…Ugh.”
The ritual began.
The Count of Vermont, dressed in priestly robes, picked up an ancient tome and began muttering incomprehensible incantations.
Although the process seemed complicated at first glance, I quickly realized that it was merely a ruse created by the Count to deceive his children.
The ritual of the altar and the incantation were clearly unimportant.
“Both of you, close your eyes. Irene, slightly part your lips. Slowly, like using magic, release your mana.”
“…”
“Hurry!”
“Y-Yes…!”
At the Count’s bellow, Irene reluctantly followed his instructions, her voice trembling.
A chunk of Neomium was thrust toward the slightly parted lips of young Irene.
As she inhaled to release her mana, black smoke suddenly erupted from the Neomium and was drawn into her mouth.
“Huh!?”
“Cough! Yes! With this, we’ve successfully summoned the Evil God! Once it settles, return to your room! Don’t forget to report what kind of Evil God has come by tomorrow morning!”
“Gah! Hah! Haaaah…!”
Irene clutched her chest and collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.
Her face twisted in agony, but the Count only chuckled, seemingly indifferent to her suffering.
‘So Neomium is absorbed into the body rather than consumed like fuel?’
Young Irene seemed unaware, as she had her eyes closed.
However, I could see clearly that a portion of the solid Neomium had transformed into gas, entering her mouth. The Evil God she absorbed with the Neomium was probably Laura.
It was certain that the ritual had indeed summoned the Evil God.
“Aslan, it’s your turn.”
“Yes, Father.”
Aslan obediently knelt down.
Just like with Irene, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to release his mana.
He took a slow, deep breath.
“…!?”
At that moment, the Count’s eyes twisted in surprise.
The Neomium in his hand began to shake violently.
While only a tiny portion of the Neomium had visibly transformed into black smoke when it was Irene’s turn, now the entire fist-sized chunk was crumbling into smoke.
“Damn it, Aslan! Close your mouth! At this rate, we’ll lose all the precious Neomium!”
“Huh? Gah! Ugh…!”
Black smoke was being uncontrollably sucked into Aslan’s mouth.
A massive black fog enveloped his entire body, seeping into every hole—his mouth, nose, ears, and eyes.
With that horrifying sight, the scene began to disperse before my eyes.
“Ugh!? Hold on tight, sister!”
Irene and my body were being pulled away by a powerful force, akin to the sensation of first entering the shadow world.
As the dizzying feeling subsided and I regained my senses, I found myself sprawled on the familiar earth.
‘I’ve returned to the real world.’
At that very moment, I heard the sound of light, hurried footsteps.
Tatata—!
Those firm, unembellished footsteps belonged to Charlotte.
And the panting breaths mixed with the sound were likely from Julia.
[…!!]
“Mister, you’re back! The shadow world? How was it? Tell me all about it… um.”
“Aslan! Why did it take you so long to come out? I wasn’t particularly worried… but are you hurt anywhere? Hmm, seems like you’re fine.”
She hurriedly ran toward me, but suddenly slowed down, her expression turning peculiar, along with Julia’s.
What could be causing them to react this way?
“Ugh! I hate you… you b*stard. I hate you, I hate you! Huh…!”
“Ah.”
Still not fully conscious, I discovered Irene, sobbing as she wrapped her arms tightly around my waist, and I understood.
Ah. If I can’t marry one of them, my sister is going to be held responsible.
