Sister

Meeting the girl's icy gaze, Sean knew he was in trouble.

Mentioning another woman's name in front of a woman was a major taboo. One careless slip could ruin everything.

What left Sean even more at a loss was that, in both figure and looks, she was every bit as beautiful as Saintess Oliya. The cool, noble air between her brows might even stir a man's desire to conquer her. A girl like this was unforgettable after just one glance. And yet he had no memory of her at all...

The situation at hand told him this was probably a new character card.

Most likely one tagged as a heroine, too.

Sean: "..."

This was going to be the death of him.

Fortunately, he was quick on his feet and good at making things up. He hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "You misunderstood. I wasn't thinking about Oliya."

The girl glanced at him. "Oh?"

"That's right." Sean looked perfectly serious. "What I actually meant was that Oliya once sat on a bed like this, too, but she wasn't as pretty as you."

Only then did the girl seem to realize that she was giving him an eyeful. Her cheeks flushed as she pulled the blanket up to cover her chest and gave a soft snort. "What a silver tongue."

Sean didn't know whether he'd passed, and he was still racking his brains to figure out where that familiar feeling inside him came from. But before he could find an answer, the girl's next words gave him another headache.

"Get up here."

Sean: "..."

"Get up where?"

"What do you think?"

Her tone was rather casual, but the flush in her cheeks showed that she wasn't nearly as calm as she seemed.

Sean was even less calm. The colder someone was, the more devastating it was when they blushed. Especially when the girl had her back bare, a broad expanse of smooth, snow-white skin. Just looking at it made him imagine how soft it would feel. What man could withstand that kind of test?

Sean really wanted to refuse. He did. But he also needed to find out where the "story" was headed. After half a month, he'd finally gotten a new glimpse into the tale of his previous life. He couldn't just give up now.

So, with a thirst for knowledge in his heart, Sean resolutely took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed!

As Sean approached, the girl felt the man's presence drawing closer. Her eyes rippled faintly as she turned her head away, her cheeks growing even redder. She wanted to say something to ease her nerves, but she had never been good at talking to people and couldn't think of a suitable topic. In the quiet room, the sound of their rapidly beating hearts filled the air, and the atmosphere grew intensely suggestive.

Thankfully, Sean was good at making conversation. Otherwise, things might not have gone any further.

He coughed softly twice and said, "How about we discuss the meaning of life?"

The girl didn't answer. Her beautiful, cool face only grew more flushed.

She thought Sean couldn't wait any longer and wanted to get straight to the point. She couldn't help feeling annoyed at how impatient he was.

But she had no idea that Sean meant exactly what he said by "discuss the meaning of life."

He asked, "Tell me, if I died one day but wasn't completely dead, would I still be the same person?"

The girl: "..."

What a strange question.

She didn't understand why Sean was asking her this at a time like this, but at least it gave them something to talk about. She thought for a moment before answering, "Yes."

Sean realized he might not have explained himself clearly. He carefully chose his words and asked again, "What if I really died, then reincarnated and regained my past memories?"

The girl's answer remained the same. "Yes."

Sean: "Because my soul would be unchanged?"

"No." The girl shook her head. "Because you can't die."

People were different not only because their souls and thoughts differed, but because their bodies and appearances were unique, too.

Of course, that was the more scientific, objective explanation. From her subjective perspective, or from the standpoint of the occult, Sean was right. As long as his soul remained unchanged, no matter how many times he died or what he became, he would still be the man she loved.

Still, she didn't think the question mattered.

Sean couldn't die.

No one could kill him. Not even time itself.

He was the only wizard in the world who had surpassed the tenth tier. His control over power had reached a level that ordinary people could scarcely comprehend. One moment, he might be standing right in front of you, perfectly fine; the next, his body could undergo a complete and flawless annihilation without any incantation or prompting.

In other words, the magic in Sean's body had brought about a qualitative change, making him infinitely close to pure energy itself.

Energy didn't vanish without cause, and it was everywhere. That meant Sean was everywhere, too. His life wouldn't fade with the passage of time—perhaps it could, but the effect would be so slight as to be negligible.

He was energy, and energy could become him.

When ordinary Archmages cast the forbidden Annihilation spell, they had to pay with their own lives. Sean didn't. He could draw on the energy in the world around him at any time and reconstitute his body. He was immortal and would never even grow old.

At least she and Oliya would never live to see the day Sean grew old.

"Never grow old..."

As Sean mulled over those four words, he suddenly realized he'd been overlooking something all along.

Something that seemed insignificant, but was actually important.

Elvily had said he was an Awakened One. He hadn't agreed, because he hadn't awakened his consciousness—he'd regained his memories. He thought reincarnation was more likely than awakening, so he'd always referred to Karl Black as his previous life.

But there was a problem. His appearance hadn't changed.

That was why he was so certain Karl Black had been him.

In his dreams, Sean never realized he was dreaming, so he had no reason to deliberately look in a mirror to check. But after so many dreams, there must have been times when he'd seen his own face. Sean remembered clearly that the man in his dreams looked exactly like him now. Even their height and build were almost the same.

Did that make any sense?

Reincarnation wasn't rebirth, let alone transmigration. How could he have the same face and body in two different lives?

But if he hadn't been reincarnated, then what was he?

Sean felt like his brain couldn't keep up anymore.

After chatting with him for a while, the girl's nerves had eased considerably. Some things had to happen sooner or later, she figured, so she might as well face them with a little grace. That was more in keeping with the generous manner expected of the eldest daughter of the Seraphim family. She stiffened, her expressionless face turning red, and said, "Come on. I'm ready."

Sean: "But I'm not ready yet..."

He meant it. He was a normal man, and he knew he couldn't resist this. But shouldn't he at least learn the girl's name first?

He still hadn't found a good chance to ask.

The girl hadn't expected Sean to say that. "You're not ready?"

Sean nodded solemnly. "That's right."

"Then what's that in your hand?"

"Hm?"

Sean didn't remember holding anything. He instinctively looked down and saw an iron chain with shackles in his hand. Somehow, one end was already locked around the girl's pale, smooth ankle.

Sean: "???"

He suddenly understood.

This wasn't a dream!

Or rather, it wasn't just a dream. It was also a meditation session!

He had to satisfy his body's natural needs and desires in a way that went beyond the ordinary—and these shackles had been conjured by the Spirit Potion!

Damn it!

Seeing Sean's awkward expression, as if he wanted to explain himself but didn't know how, the girl thought his true nature had finally come out. Embarrassed as she was, that only made her bolder. Between husband and wife, one was always the weaker and the other the stronger. She spoke coolly. "There's no need to be embarrassed. I already guessed you wouldn't be so proper."

"You can do whatever you want tonight. I'll go along with it, but don't keep me up too late."

"Tomorrow is my younger sister's fourteenth birthday coming-of-age ceremony. I don't want to miss it."

"Your younger sister?"

She had a younger sister, too?

The girl gave a soft "Mm." "You've met her. Elvily."

Sean: "?"

El-what-ly??