My resolve was firm.
I would go to the battlefield as well. Father had given his approval, so the matter was already settled.
“W-What do you mean!?”
But when I told Sister Shia, she objected vehemently.
“N-No…! I won’t allow it.”
“No one from House Willard is on the battlefield now. In a national crisis like this, our house can’t leave the fighting to everyone else.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to go! Y-You’re still young.”
“I’m already fifteen. I’ve come of age.”
In this country, adulthood came earlier than in Japan, at fifteen. I was already legally a grown man.
“In other countries, adulthood begins at eighteen. Even here, many believe you aren’t truly an adult until eighteen. And a fifteen-year-old going to war…”
“It’s uncommon, but not unheard of. I can enlist without any problem.”
“…Y-You’re a clod…! Noah—there’s no way you can manage it!”
“I will.”
“…You can’t. No… I won’t let you…!”
Sister Shia shook her head.
“…Ha… Haha.”
Then she laughed.
“I-If I burned off Noah’s arms and legs, would you stay with me? …Yes. I could protect you for the rest of your life, and together we could go anywhere…!”
Her emotions erupted.
There was no defined spell. Her magic simply raged in response to her feelings, and flames rushed toward me.
“…Phew.”
But a single spell erased every flame before it could reach me.
The fire that had once been considered a certain killing blow—strong enough to burn a person away and brilliant on the battlefield—left nothing behind.
“…Ah.”
Sister Shia stared blankly as her magic vanished.
“…An anti-magic barrier. It truly is powerful.”
“Ah—no… This is…!”
Her expression changed as she watched the fading magic. Shock turned to confusion, then to stunned remorse and guilt. Her face grew steadily paler, and tears filled her eyes.
“No… That isn’t what I meant! I would never hurt Noah…! Never!”
“It’s all right. I don’t mind.”
I gently embraced my trembling sister.
“It’s all right. I’m fine… Just as you returned to me, Sister Shia, I’ll come back safely too.”
“Uah… I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”
For the first time, she apologized to me.
My sister had always declared herself superior and right. She had stood before me, proud and strong. Now, without her arms, she trembled in my embrace.
“…It’s all right.”
I held her tightly, as if repaying everything she had done for me.
“…This is my fault, isn’t it?”
Her voice trembled again.
“There’s talk of my marriage, isn’t there? They want an ally to protect House Willard’s position and gain even the slightest advantage… You’re going in my place, aren’t you?”
“……”
“Because of me, Noah has to… even though I swore I would protect you.”
“……”
“Y-You were so adorable. More adorable than anyone… and yet no one tried to love you. But you always smiled at me. I thought I had to protect you—that as your big sister, I always had to stand in front of you! I had to love you and keep you safe…!”
“…Thank you for loving me.”
“I-I…!”
“This time, I’ll protect you. I promise I’ll, including repayment for everything you’ve done for me.”
“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry I can’t be a strong big sister anymore, that I can’t protect you. I’m weak…!”
“It’s all right. You’ll always be my strong, wonderful big sister… So wait for me. I promise I’ll come back.”
I would keep fighting on the battlefield.
I would fight to protect my family. As long as I did, Sister Shia would be protected.
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