Case 40: For my little sister’s happy birthday.

The Elixir of Abundance.

In the game, it was the only item that gave the user a blanket boost in gaining experience, which meant that it was best to get this one as soon as possible. There was even a category to speedrun obtaining it.

''Hm...''

As I held up the small vial containing a thick, sparkling golden liquid, I couldn't help but feel the weight of it and the stress it caused to my muscles. No, not literally, but this thing was mind-numbingly expensive.

Six million. I paid six million for this thing. That amount was enough for a typical family to spend comfortably for five hundred years in this country. Five centuries.

Well, I mean, this item was supposed to be drunk toward the middle of the game, where some progressions could be stagnant otherwise. It was a special reward coming from the imperial family upon the completion of a large commission, which meant that if I didn't buy this today, it would somehow end up in their hands. By that time, its price would be even steeper.

''Uh...''

But still, six million...?

Unconsciously, that familiar sizzle, the one that always appeared when someone overspent on an item, came out... but it wasn't from me. Someone stole it.

''Damn it... is this thing really worth five hundred thousand...?''

Not far away from me, Lady Blaire of house Dreux—the game's formal villainess, together with her two friends—could also be seen cringing at a potion. It was much cheaper than mine, of course, and the liquid had a very erotic pink color.

I thought she was about to buy poison or something dangerous, but it seemed that what she looked for was some mere aphrodisiacs. What was it again? Right, the auctioneer said it was made from a true succubus's essence.

Well, if she planned to use that on Rachael, then she would be quite disappointed.

Anyway, there was a reason I stood relatively close to her instead of going home immediately. As I safely stored the elixir, footsteps began to approach us.

''I thought she went here... hm? Where did that bitch go?''

''Did you seriously lose such an important target? Fucking dimwit.''

''Aw, come on. I already said we shouldn't mess with those kinds of women. They're some sort of royals, I'm sure.''

''Argh... fuck it. Hey, at least there's still these idiots left for us.''

''You guys... who are you?''

At this point, I was already sitting on a rooftop nearby, watching as the group of seven men approached Blaire. There were about two or three different groups closing in, excluding this one, by the way. I did all of this just to avoid picking fights, yes.

Well, Blaire could handle them just fine, I was sure. She wasn't a pushover, no matter how much I liked to make fun of her.

After the auction day, nothing in particular happened either.

I was still the sickly older sister, tending to the diligent little sister bit by bit, but behind everybody's back, Mary and I were busy preparing for today, February 14th—Lyra's birthday.

''Phew... I think this looks pretty good.''

We decided to hold the party inside my room. I didn't have the capacity to move a lot of personnel inside the mansion to decorate the dining room or the guest room, and I was sure Lyra wouldn't enjoy being in the presence of those attendants anyway.

So, I asked Mary to fetch some stuff and lightly decorated my room. I also got a pretty cake ordered from Meguirine, the number one dessert paradise in the empire. With my presents prepared, I only needed to wait until her afternoon lessons ended.

''Ugh... I wonder if Lady Lyra would like my present...''

''Fufu, I'm sure she would be grateful for your thoughts regardless, Mary.''

''Is that so...?''

Well, since it was a rare book that Mary wanted to gift, which Lyra could definitely use, I thought there would be no problem.

As we rolled around in the room a bit more, the time had finally come. We neatly arranged the stuff once more, and I set out to find my little sister.

''Oh, Lyra!''

''Big sis.''

Expectedly, she was already on her way back to her room. I very naturally joined her, and we headed toward the party. As with every other time we walked together, I reached for my little sister's hand, and she also took mine.

Although we didn't utter a word, and not a sound was made, it was the kind of silence that I liked.

When I looked over to her, a sudden sense of nostalgia crept up. At some point, my adorable Lyra had grown so much that she now looked like a proper lady rather than a little miss. Would she grow to be taller than me in one or two years?

''Big sis...?''

''Ah, it's nothing, nothing. But Lyra, can you close your eyes for a minute?''

''...?''

Right when we reached my room, I gingerly covered Lyra's eyes. Thankfully, she didn't resist, and after Lucy opened the door...

''Happy birthday!'' I said once the popper cone that Mary held went off.

''...''

For a moment, Lyra appeared stunned. She stood there for a bit, gazing intently at the cake on the table. Then, her glistening eyes scanned the decorations, Mary's face, and eventually, mine.

''Happy birthday,'' I repeated the line, looking into her gaze. ''Congratulations on turning thirteen, my dear.''

''...Mhm. Thank you.''

''Well, come in. Let's take a few pictures, and then you can make your wish!''

Of course, Lyra had never experienced something like this, so her demeanor was a tad awkward, but she seemed to be happier than usual. I made sure to take a lot of photos so that I could have something to remember later, too. Although dazed, Lyra seemed relaxed, so it was easier to make good pictures than I thought.

''What did you wish for, Lyra?''

''...It's a secret.''

''That's boring~!''

In this regard, I genuinely didn't know what she wanted, so I felt bummed out. Fortunately, the next segment would ease my curiosity a bit.

''I... have a present for you, Lady Lyra.''

''...?''

''Please accept it,''

Mary said to Lyra, bowing ninety degrees. This made my little princess quite flustered, but Mary kept going on the offensive.

''I want to apologize for the things I did to you in the past. Whether it was risky for me or not, I indirectly helped those people to bully you. I am willing to receive any punishment.''

''...Okay. Thanks.''

Oh, great. By the tone of that, it seemed Lyra had forgiven my maid. It was a merry end.

But now, it was my turn.

Under Lyra's expectant gaze, I pulled out a small box from my drawer. Then, I placed it squarely on the heroine's palm and sat beside her.

''Try open it.'' I grinned.

''Mhm.''

''Heheh... what do you think?''

A pair of rings sat within the box. They both had a dark, Onyx-like surface with a smooth finish and veins-like cracks running through them.

''These are matching rings for you and me. '' I explained to a fogged Lyra. ''When worn, they absorb your mana, reserve it, and then create an emergency shield whenever you meet danger.''

''I see.''

''Quick, put it on~!''

As I urged the little lady, she finally picked up a ring and ran her middle finger through it. Needless to say, it fitted her very well. After staring at her hand for a while, she turned her attention to me.

I tucked my hair behind my ear, putting my right hand toward Lyra, all the while blooming the sweetest smile I could, ''Would you?''

I was genuinely happy.

But whether the heroine was shocked by something or not, her eyes widened, and a little rosy hue fell on her cheeks. So she was capable of expressing such emotions... wait, no. Was there something wrong with my appearance...?

''Lyra?''

''...Ah.''

Nevertheless, with a bit of nervousness, Lyra put the remaining ring on my middle finger, too.

''Now we're matching!''

''Mhm.''

I hugged my little sister closer to me, and we both put our hands forward to compare the rings. Receiving our respective mana, they finally resonated with one another, shining a faint red along the veins of the material.

From this moment onward, this would be the proof of our relationship. Just thinking about that gave me immense strength, even if the future looked bleak.

Lyra also seemed delighted. Well, there was still more I wanted to show her today, so I hoped she was prepared for that.