“Xiali?”
Anis waved her hand in front of Xiali’s eyes.
“Ahem!” Only then did Xiali come back to her senses.
Facing Firiya, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. “Whether it’s an apology or a thank you, brushing it off with just a couple of light words feels a bit inappropriate.”
More money had to be involved.
As a seasoned adventurer, Firiya naturally understood the implication behind her words.
“In the name of the Kafus family, I promise to fulfill one of your wishes to the best of my ability.” Firiya twirled the Crescent Moon necklace between her fingers and swore by the symbol of the Goddess of the Night.
…What was that supposed to mean? A promise?
Might as well cash it out into silver coins… No!
Xiali’s eyes lit up.
The Kafus family behind Firiya was one of the Four Great Noble Families of the Englia Empire!
Right now, the head of the Kafus family was the Grandmaster of the Night Sanctuary.
Although Firiya hadn’t yet become a true Saintess and was just a minor branch member within the family,
in the small city of Steinburg, she was practically a semi-feudal lord.
This kind of promise wasn’t something a few silver coins could buy.
“Hmm, that’s more like it.” Xiali nodded repeatedly, afraid Firiya would go back on her word.
Firiya released the Crescent Moon necklace, a hint of caution rising in her heart toward Xiali—was this woman approaching her sister just to latch onto the Kafus family’s influence?
“Sis, Xiali姐, maybe we should go back first and talk things over slowly…” Anis’s helpless voice cut through the silent calculation between the two.
“That’s true.” Firiya raised her delicate hand and began chanting a spell.
Magical power gathered into an invisible giant hand, lifting Anis off the ground and suspending her in midair.
“W-wait, sis! Are you treating me like cargo to be hauled back?”
Anis flailed in the air. “I’m a wounded mage with depleted power! At least carry me on your back!”
“You took my commission letter without permission and almost got yourself killed. Consider this a lesson. I won’t let you sneak out anymore.”
Firiya ignored her sister’s whining and struggled.
Good thing she’d left a tracking mark on Anis’s clothes; otherwise, they’d never have found this place.
“Sis, you’re so mean!” Anis pouted and turned her head. “Xiali姐, carry me…”
“I don’t mind, but your sister…” Xiali glanced at Firiya’s expression.
That cold gaze felt like a sharp dagger stabbing right at her.
This girl was an extreme control freak with a sister complex!
Sigh, Xiali much preferred the clueless Saintess in the game.
But somehow, this felt like a different kind of fun.
The little devil in her heart found a new toy.
“…Alright, just this once.”
Xiali grabbed Anis’s arm, breaking Firiya’s magical hold and pulling her toward herself, lifting her onto her back, hands resting on Anis’s thighs.
She was simply carrying Anis on her back in a perfectly normal way.
But Firiya’s eyes saw it differently.
Anis’s clothes were still torn and damaged; to be so close like this? And that ruffian’s hands were roaming over her sister’s thighs!
If eyes could kill, Firiya would have already torn Xiali to pieces.
“You—” Magical power surged beside Firiya, manifesting into a phantom light spear.
But in the next moment, she abruptly cut off the magic herself.
Acting here would certainly hurt Anis.
Besides…
“This is definitely more comfortable…” Anis wrapped her arms around Xiali’s shoulders, completely limp against her back. “Hehe, Xiali姐, you’re so nice.”
…Anis actually looked pretty happy.
“Let’s go; it’ll be dark soon.” Xiali passed by Firiya, giving her a teasing wink, quietly amused.
Pfft… This was exactly the expression she wanted to see—jealousy, that hateful look.
Who told Firiya to be so rude when they first met?
She was only teasing her a little.
Scoundrel, bastard! …Firiya clenched her fists in anger at Xiali’s provocation.
Cursing inwardly, she thought about what had just happened.
That ruffian had broken her magic with bare hands?
Even if it was a casually cast spell, it had mid-level magic strength. How could a novice adventurer break it?
She had to find out more about her situation… Firiya couldn’t let her sister be involved with such an unknown person.
……
“Xiali姐…” Anis glanced at Firiya behind them, lowering her voice to whisper in her ear, “My sister is really pretty, isn’t she?”
“That I can’t deny… Why do you suddenly ask?” Xiali asked in confusion.
“Because, Xiali姐, you zoned out staring at her several times just now.” Anis blinked her big eyes. “Do you like that kind of girl?”
“…Huh? How did you come to that conclusion?”
“If you didn’t, why would you be so dazed every time you saw her? Isn’t that love at first sight?”
“That’s because… ahem, your sister looks a lot like an old acquaintance of mine.” Xiali couldn’t reveal she’d transmigrated, so she made up a lie on the spot.
“Really?” Anis questioned suspiciously.
“Of course it’s true!”
“So you didn’t pull me over to get your sister’s attention?”
“Do you think I’m that boring?” Xiali muttered quietly, adding mentally, Although in some sense, that’s exactly what’s happening.
When she glanced back, she could see Firiya’s sullen face, exuding the aura of a “helpless big sister.”
Every time she looked at it, she had to suppress the urge to burst out laughing.
Hehe, fun. Next time too.
“By the way, are you two blood sisters?” Xiali asked.
“Of course!”
“Then why didn’t you tell me your last name is Kafus?”
“Because I don’t want to carry the Kafus family name,” Anis muttered. “Those people I met only see me as ‘Firiya Kafus’s little sister’… Xiali姐, you don’t think that way, do you?”
“I’m not that shallow.” Xiali whispered, “If I’d known you came from such a wealthy family, I would have asked for a bigger cut of the commission.”
“…Xiali姐, are you really short on money?”
“Definitely. Lucky we ran into so many monsters today; otherwise, I’d be sleeping on the streets tonight, rummaging through trash for food.”
“How tragic… Xiali姐, isn’t your home here?”
“It’s in the countryside—just a little wooden hut made of straw and timber.” Since becoming an adventurer, Xiali had no plans to return.
Anyway, the heroine had no family or assets in the countryside. Why waste 20 copper coins on carriage fares back and forth?
With the money she made today, she could comfortably spend one or two months in Steinburg.
“Xiali姐, why don’t you come stay at our house!” Anis smiled expectantly. “Our house is pretty big; you can stay as long as you want!”
“Well…”
“No way!” Firiya bit her lip and vetoed.
Xiali was still hesitating, but hearing Firiya’s words, she nodded without thinking. “Alright.”