Case 89: When something unpleasant comes up.

The Syrus Academy's entrance exam was quite literally exaggerated.

It was still the usual 'written and practical' structure, like one would imagine, of course. However, there was an audience and a public leaderboard—the whole thing was almost like a spectacle.

I mean, they probably did that to encourage competition and fuel interest, but in my eyes... well, the developers definitely wanted a way for the heroine to shine. They wanted the players to show off the efforts they had put into raising Lyra.

Either way, I wasn't worried about my little sister in the slightest. Even if something really went wrong as a result of my transmigration, no cadet at this point could hold their ground against her—not even the most well-trained prodigies across the continent.

''Hmm...''

As I scanned around the main arena, I couldn't help but notice many familiar faces from the game. Since the number of participants was so large, numerous preliminary screening stages had already been done prior, which took over a month.

Obviously, Lyra didn't need to go through those thanks to a recommendation from none other than Jeanne. Others who also got a similar opportunity or those who overcame the tests all gathered beside the arena—a few hundred of them.

Having settled closer to the front, I could spot Lyra right away. She looked particularly out of place, bored, uninterested, and somewhat annoyed compared to the anxious faces around her.

My little sister was also a great beauty, so it shouldn't be a surprise that gazes were pointed at her. Was there a better feeling than this? The world could finally witness my prized little sister.

''I've meant to ask this before, but... how does she act at home?''

''...''

That was, if Jeanne didn't sit right beside me. Not only was I uncomfortable around such a character, but she ruined my plan of laying low.  Why did she have to stick with me this much? It couldn't because she was attracted to me somehow, right?

No, it wasn't anything like that. The emotions I felt from her were closer to 'suspicion,' which remained the same even after two years. All because her damned instinct...

But even if I cursed in my mind like that, I still had to answer Jeanne.

''She's well behaved.'' I truthfully replied. ''Lyra listens to me well, and she is studious. As a big sister, I can't help but feel proud.''

''Is that so...''

Why, skeptical? Hmph. Of course, Lyra would cherish me.

But as I endured small talk with Jeanne for a while, the exam finally began. Despite the atmosphere teetering on a tournament, it wasn't too interesting for me. I'd seen and played through this event countless times, and I already knew who was going to win.

There were around a dozen booths for each test, all physical and magic-based, and after a short break to clean up the whole arena, a dueling event would be commenced. The last one didn't count for the leaderboard, and only those who wanted to would participate, but it made for a nice show-off, so why not?

Nonetheless, drowsiness washed over me like a tsunami as I watched Lyra ace literally every test available, putting her name squarely in first place. Since it was so one-sided, I was just as bored as Lyra was.

Physical strength, mana command, weapon mastery, monster simulation... as creative as some of them were, nothing caught my eye.

''...Huh?''

Yet, along the rivers of swirling emotions, I felt something drastically different—something unusually unsettling and... familiar. It was a deep-seated type of malice, most definitely non-human.

Dangerous.

Something unexpected had come up.

''Lady Orleans?''

''I want to buy something for my little sister.'' I stood up and smiled at Jeanne. ''I'll be back before the duels.''

Already an expert in making excuses, I quickly left the area and chased after the malice. Along the way, Lucy popped out and pointed at its live location for me, so I didn't need to worry about getting lost. There wasn't much time until the final event, though, so I had to speed up.

Prying my way through the crowd, I soon arrived at a rather empty alley, slightly short of breath. Although it was dark, I couldn't have missed this... stench.

Snuffly hidden in the shadow was a human figure—a middle-aged male wearing ordinary clothing and carrying a tray of food. However, I instantly recognized the sort of equipment the man had on his body, which was cleverly hidden under all those facades.

A demon scout.

''Yes, she's still alive and well... hm?''

The figure subtly turns to me.

''You are...''

''...''

The man squinted at me, perhaps sensing something intriguing, but I was smelling trouble. Because of my intervention, something like this had happened, so... I had to take responsibility and solve it.

Slowly, I approached my target, ignoring his widened eyes.

*****

''Phew...''

Having finished the various tests flawlessly, Lyra glanced in a specific direction where her sister's seat was. Yet, the only woman she could spot was her boring teacher.

'...Where did she go all of a sudden?'

More than wanting Cecilia to witness her strength, Lyra was worried. That sensation amplified as time went by, and at the end, she directly skipped the dueling event and rushed toward the audience's side.

After confirming with Jeanne, an unpleasant premonition fell upon the heroine.

Somewhere in her, just an irk, but it was noticeable.

''...''

Lyra knew she was not like others. Since a child, she could hear and see things none could, forming a sort of sixth sense. It was akin to an instinct, and she tended to trust it.

Following the marker in her mind, Lyra moved her feet.

Passing along the faint traces of her big sister, almost as if following a trail, Lyra eventually saw the familiar silhouette in the distance. No, it wasn't that far away.

Just... it felt like so.

Clenching her fists, Lyra approached Cecilia. She was quietly sitting on a bench, her legs neatly folded, head hanging low.

''Ah... you're here.''

Lyra almost felt like her palms would crush themselves any moment. Her big sister was somehow seeming worse than ever, with trembling, ragged breaths, a thin coat of sweat on her deathly pale skin, and two unfocused eyes that stared at something other than reality.

Like she was a person already on the other side.

In that state, the woman slowly raised the colorful box she held in her lap, smiling foolishly, ''Look... I brought a cake for you...''

''Tch!''

Finally, something snapped.

The heroine quickly scooped Cecilia up, hugging her tightly, ''Let's go back.''

''Stay still. Rest.'' She added before the other person could say anything. Perhaps thanks to her stern tone, Cecilia didn't retort. Maybe... she didn't have the energy to.

Such thoughts haunted Lyra's mind as she hurried back to their car—as she felt her big sister's weak heartbeat and fading warmth.

She didn't know what happened. She couldn't care all that much.

All she cared about was her big sister—the terrible woman who took over her life and drowned her in this abyss of worries. Amidst the boiling silence, she bit her lips.

That day, Lyra ignored the glowing foul blood splattered carelessly over the alley... and that stuck onto Cecilia's arm.