Book 4: Volume 9 Chapter 3, Brother and Sister, Sister and Brother

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

Two small tents stood on compacted snow. The people using these tents possessed status far beyond what their size suggested.

 

One of them tended a fire set up before the tent. Despite surrounding snow and occasional falling snowflakes, the person’s clothing was incredibly thin. Thin enough to make immediately clear that she was a woman.

 

A pot simmered over the fire she tended. As she watched it, thinking “It’ll be ready soon,”

 

A man’s voice called out.

 

“Sister. Isn’t it ready yet?”

 

“I’m getting really hungry.”

 

Around the two speakers, a recently hunted deer lay neatly butchered. Several wolves gnawed on raw meat nearby.

 

“Not yet! Please wait a little longer! …Honestly. What would the retainers think if they saw my Brother’s attitude now?”

 

A small chuckle reached the woman’s ears. It came from another woman also tending a cooking fire.

 

“…What is it?”

 

“Nothing. I just think your current appearance isn’t exactly presentable either, Lady Mia.”

 

“We promised not to talk about that, Mikage.”

 

Mia, about to retort but stopping herself, averted her gaze as she spoke.

 

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The two men present besides Mia and Mikage were, as might be expected, Towa and Riku. They were currently in a corner of the fifteenth Floor that Mia managed.

 

Leaving Riku aside, Towa, who already held the throne, was here simply because he was on vacation. Having some free time, they thought about doing something together as Siblings and decided to camp on one of the Tower’s Floors.

 

Initially, Towa, who had conceived of the idea, thought their Mother, Floria, would refuse to give permission. He was surprised when Floria readily agreed, laughing as she said, “Those who hold the throne rarely get to take a vacation. So, why not enjoy yourselves a little?”

 

“Well, that may be true, but don’t you think it’s dangerous?”

 

“Haha. Unless it’s a high Floor, do you really think something will happen on a low Floor?”

 

Anyone uninformed would have paled at Floria’s words. The Tower’s Floors were dangerous zones where monsters appeared. Naturally, accidents were to be expected. However, Floria had good reason for her confidence.

 

“What? We can just ask Kousuke to have Nana come along, right?”

 

That answer completely convinced Towa. Certainly, with Nana’s presence, at least regarding monsters, no accidents would occur. Towa briefly wondered if Kousuke would so easily lend Nana to them, but he readily gave permission.

 

Because their Parents gave permission so easily, Towa briefly wondered if they did not care, but he quickly dismissed the thought. If they did not care, they would not lend Nana in the first place, who was basically the third strongest among Kousuke’s forces.

 

And so, having easily obtained parental permission, Towa and his Siblings were camping on the fifteenth Floor managed by Mia.

 

The ones devouring deer meat were Nana and her wolf companions. Kousuke had given only a brief explanation, but Nana, who had prepared so thoroughly, could only be described as excellent. Thanks to her, Towa and the others could camp in this harsh environment with peace of mind.

 

Incidentally, the meal being prepared was not Mikage’s work but properly made by Mia herself. A true lady from a privileged background, Mia had been thoroughly trained in all aspects of housework according to Floria’s policies. When Mia, after growing up somewhat, asked Floria the reason, Floria replied, ‘So you won’t make the same mistakes I did’.

 

Of course, this was a secret known only to the two of them.

 

After opening the pot lid to check the food, Mia called out to the two who’d finished butchering the deer and were playing with the wolves. “It’s ready!”

 

In response, Towa and Riku approached the fire.

 

“It’s finally ready!”

 

“*Phew.* I’m really tired of just cutting up meat.”

 

Mia inwardly chuckled at their contrasting responses, then served portions onto plates Mikage provided. The two immediately took bites and expressed their thoughts.

 

“Wow. Food tastes so much better when you eat it in nature!”

 

“That’s right. And it’s been a while since I’ve had Mia’s home cooking.”

 

“Ah, I suppose that’s true for you, Brother.”

 

Mia had learned to cook because Floria told her to, but she rarely cooked while at the castle. However, whenever Riku was with Mia on the fifteenth Floor, he usually ate her home cooking. Therefore, it was not particularly unusual for him.

 

“What? Do you have any complaints about my cooking?”

 

Riku vigorously shook his head at Mia’s sharp look. “No, no, not at all! I always enjoy your cooking!”

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve had it, but Mia’s home cooking is still delicious.”

 

Towa interjected, smoothing things over for Riku, who looked ready to break into cold sweat despite the chilly surroundings. He wanted to avoid mediating another Sibling quarrel during their precious vacation.

 

Mia wasn’t really angry, so she continued glaring at Riku playfully while quickly responding to Towa. “Thank you.”

 

She smiled slightly and bowed her head to Towa.

 

Watching this exchange, Mikage thought to herself that this scene really showed the power dynamics between the three, but she would never actually voice that observation.

 

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Although they could mitigate surrounding temperature with magic while awake, that wasn’t possible while sleeping. While using magic during sleep wasn’t impossible, they preferred not to, wanting proper rest.

 

That was where the tent already set up by Towa and Riku proved invaluable. Perfectly designed for cold weather, this tent was, of course, a magical item created by Kousuke. It looked completely ordinary, which made its high performance all the more surprising. If ever sold commercially, it would undoubtedly sell out instantly.

 

Unfortunately, due to the materials used, Kousuke had no intention of releasing this tent publicly. In that sense, it was truly one-of-a-kind.

 

Having spent the night without incident in this technologically superior tent, Towa and the others spent the next day hunting animals. After enjoying the day fully, the three returned to the management area before sunset.

 

Incidentally, on the night Towa and Riku returned to the management team, they did not return to the castle but instead stayed at the Management Floor.