In the corridor outside, the sound of Teacher Mary's footsteps gradually faded away.
Once he was sure the two of them had really left, Ansu let out a long sigh of relief.
At last, he didn't have to keep pretending...
[System reward generating...] [You made a critical change in reality, but you have strayed too far from the world you know. The road ahead will be full of unknowns...] [Chosen One, you still haven't averted Fated Death. Keep trying!] [Reward: 40 points] [Remaining points: 48]
Ansu read the system notifications over and over. It seemed that he really could earn points by changing his fate.
Though his particular "change" had been a little suicidal.
After all, playing hypnosis games with the Witch of World Destruction was like dancing wildly on the King of Hell's head...
A commotion outside the building interrupted Ansu's thoughts.
The sound of carriages.
Ansu quickly got to his feet and went to the window, carefully pulling the curtain aside a little.
In the direction of the academy's entrance, three silver-white carriages bearing the Church of Holy Light's insignia had just pulled to a stop. A crowd had gathered around them, and the vice principal was greeting an elderly man who had just stepped down, his face wreathed in smiles.
Judging by the old man's clothes, he was probably an archbishop. It looked like he was the "high-ranking Church official" mentioned in the intelligence.
The vice principal's welcome was impeccable, but Ansu was sure he was completely bewildered, with no idea what the bishop had come for.
Ansu's gaze searched the crowd, then settled on a few unassuming female clergy members.
The Saintess had to be disguised as one of the people accompanying the delegation.
Given her status, everything she did carried enormous weight. She couldn't afford to attract too much attention.
But Ansu had no intention of going to see her.
The Church's sudden arrival had interrupted Cecilia's plan to take him back to the Order. That was enough.
Otherwise, Ansu wasn't sure he could keep from giving himself away. If some old monster from the Order showed up to "test" him, he'd be done for...
Ansu sighed to himself. Things had already gone far beyond anything he'd expected.
He could only take things one step at a time. For now, he couldn't go see the Saintess. He was worried about the Order's other spies.
The Saintess would probably spend the next while fretting every single day...
But there was nothing for it. He'd have to stand her up for now.
Avoiding the Church's carriages and the crowd of onlookers, Ansu lowered his head and slipped out of the academy.
He gave himself the day off. He needed to go home and sort out his thoughts.
Of course, this wasn't skipping class. His substitute teacher was "one of their own," after all. He was sure Teacher Mary wouldn't mind.
After walking through the bustling streets, Ansu boarded a steam-powered public conveyance. In the stuffy carriage, filled with the mingled smells of burning coal and sweat, he watched the scenery slowly slide past outside the window.
Compared to the clean, well-kept wealthy district around Benalu Royal Academy, the Black Port District, where he lived, was filled with factories belching thick black smoke. Machines and furnaces roared day and night, and both the living conditions and air quality were appalling.
After getting off at his stop, Ansu passed rows of low, dilapidated tenements, then crossed a pothole-ridden alley and stopped in front of 221A.
This cheap little house in the city's poorest district was his home now.
He took out his key and opened the door. The aroma of food greeted him.
"Big brother? You're home!"
At the sound of the door opening, a young girl in a plain dress and apron hurried over to greet him.
"Hm?" The girl blinked her bright blue eyes, curiously looking at Ansu, who hadn't even brought his bag home.
"Big brother, why are you home so early today? Isn't school just letting out around now?"
"Yeah... Teacher Mary gave me the day off." Ansu replied casually, then took in the lovely girl standing before him.
Her clothes were plain, but they couldn't hide her natural beauty.
Her pale blond hair fell in soft curls, tied back in a ponytail. Her features were delicate and gentle, and when she smiled, her eyes curved into lovely crescents, like an angel who had fallen to earth.
[Hunting the Darkness—Vera]
If he didn't know the story, who could have guessed that this sweet, gentle girl would grow into the ruthless demon hunter of the future?
All those changes would happen because of his death.
Thinking of that, Ansu sighed to himself.
He hadn't been transported from another world, nor had he suddenly appeared in this family. He still carried the feelings and memories of both his lives. Ever since they'd met in the orphanage when he was seven, he and Vera had relied on each other for years. He didn't want his future little sister to become that...
A blade in the hands of the Church.
A wretched soul walking the line between life and death, constantly fighting her own madness and Corruption...
"Oh, I see." Vera didn't ask any more questions. "Then go rest for a while, big brother. School is tiring. Dinner will be ready soon!"
"Okay." Ever since their adoptive father had passed away, his little sister had taken charge of the housework. Ansu nodded and sat down on the old secondhand sofa in the living room, which he had no idea how many years old.
The house was old and shabby, and all the furniture was worn, but his little sister kept everything neat and tidy. The place was filled with the warmth of home.
Ansu had been sitting in the living room for a while when he suddenly smelled something burning.
He thought his sister had burned the food, but when he looked more closely, he saw her squatting by the fireplace, lighting what looked like a letter.
"Vera, what are you burning?" Ansu asked, puzzled.
Vera looked a little displeased and pursed her lips. "A love letter."
"A love letter?"
Ansu froze. His little sister had already dropped out of school, so how could she be getting love letters? He walked over, puzzled. "Did someone write it to you?"
"It was written to you!" Vera glanced toward the neighboring house. "Joanna next door is trying to get her hands on you again! I told her you wouldn't be back until late, then sent her on her way. She gave me this before she left."
"Ah, I see..." Ansu remembered what the neighbors' daughter looked like.
Ever since they'd moved here, she'd stopped by every so often to chat about this and that. She was always especially attentive toward him...
"Hmph! That girl has no sense of modesty. You can tell she wasn't raised right!" Vera said irritably. "Big brother, don't you dare fall for a woman like that!"
Ansu's eyes stayed fixed on the love letter as it burned. He seemed lost in thought, and Vera puffed out her cheeks, looking even more displeased.
"Big brother, don't tell me you're wondering what the letter said?"
"No." Ansu was a little curious, but he didn't want to upset his sister. "Schoolwork is so demanding. I don't have the time to think about that sort of thing."
"Good..." Vera relaxed. Then she glanced toward the neighboring house again, her cute little face full of disdain.
"Hmph, her? Good enough for my big brother?"
"She should take a look in the mirror..."
Ansu laughed at her expression and teased, "Then who do you think is good enough for your dear big brother?"
"Well..." Vera's lively blue eyes rolled as she stroked her chin, pondering.
"Only the best, most perfect woman could be good enough for my big brother! But... your main priority right now is studying! Don't go thinking about all that other stuff. If that day ever comes..."
She flashed Ansu a sly smile. "I'll make sure she passes my inspection. Don't worry!"
"Oh, really..." Ansu looked at Vera in silence. It seemed that at some point, she really had begun to "deliberately" manage his social life.
She also paid special attention to the female classmates he got along with at school...
Ansu frowned. Only now did it dawn on him...
Was his little sister a bit of a "brother-obsessed" type?
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