“Ah. Aah, a...”

With her eyes losing focus and convulsing on the floor, I lifted Irene into my arms, tilting her neck back to ensure she could breathe properly.
Only then did Irene take a deep breath, “Thrrgh...,” as if finding it easier to breathe.

“It seems you look the prettiest when you’re in a daze, sister.”

Look at that. She doesn’t frown or get angry, making her so beautiful.
Unlike her usual annoyed self, Irene was relying on me, barely holding onto consciousness.
For some reason, it reminded me of the childhood Irene I had glimpsed amid the flood of memories.

'Despite everything, she has a kind nature at heart.'

Since the storm that hit was so intense in such a short time, it took me a while to accept it.
Irene’s nature has always been one that dislikes hurting others, a character that’s uncharacteristic for a 'Vermont.'
And she still hadn’t lost that nature to this day.

To survive.
To deceive the Vermont family, the result of her transformation was this.
She had become a typical villainess who lashed out with insults and punches at every opportunity.

'But even that was crafted by Aslan...'

And the one who changed Irene into this was none other than me.
No... it was the Aslan Vermont before I possessed him.

Only then did I understand the contemptuous gaze Irene had thrown at me every time she saw me.
It wasn’t merely simple disgust; I realized it carried a feeling of resentment.

The physiological aversion to the Vermont family.
And the deep grudge against the enemy who transformed her into someone she despised so much.
It was a complex hatred, a mixture of emotions that could not be defined by a single feeling.

So, seeing the once tender-hearted Irene transformed like this,
if you were to ask how I felt watching her suffer with her self-hatred and trauma...

'I don’t think it’s my fault?'

'So what?' It was the former tenant’s actions that caused this, not mine, right?
If she’s upset, she should go hunt down the former tenant and confront him.
It’s utterly frustrating that everyone in the world sees the former tenant and the current tenant as the same person.

While I could somehow rebuild my reputation after it had fallen,
there’s no way to resolve the relationship between the siblings that had already hit rock bottom.

Of course, under normal circumstances,
I would have to be the one to bend first.
If I apologized for the former tenant’s mistakes, it would all be resolved neatly.

'Irene would notice. That I’m apologizing insincerely.'

Irene has eyes that can see through lies.
No small deceit can escape her radar.
Of course, I also wouldn’t want to feign an apology for a wrongdoing I didn’t commit.

So would telling Irene the truth be a solution?
Would she accept that the target of her revenge no longer exists in this world,
the person who has spent her life dreaming of revenge against herself for transforming into someone like the Vermont family?

That’s a different issue from truth and falsehood.
It’s the most brutal choice that negates the reason and purpose Irene has lived for.
She is such a fragile woman that even confronting the past causes her trauma; what would happen if she hears such a bombshell declaration?
It wouldn’t be surprising if a cornered person made the most extreme choice available to them.

'I don’t want Irene to die.'

While I’ve never particularly liked Irene,
I’ve never hated her enough to wish for her death either.
So, I don’t intend to let her die.
Of course, I also won’t let her continue to point her blade at me.

Now, there’s only one choice left.
Gradual improvement of our relationship, slowly.
Irene’s pent-up hatred must remain intact,
while simultaneously increasing her affection towards me.

Eventually, her affection will overcome her hatred,
and when Irene is no longer a vengeful spirit living solely for revenge,
when she finds another reason to live,
that’s when I’ll finally tell her the truth.

By then, Irene will be ready to accept the truth.

“I'm starting to get attached. Is there really a level of affection that comes just from being beaten?”
“Ugh...”

I brushed Irene's hair behind her ear, as she moaned in pain.
Perhaps due to all the tears she had shed,
her heavy makeup was now a mess.
With a smile, I wiped her face, which had transformed into something akin to a rock band vocalist.

...somehow, I feel that my sister looks prettier without makeup.
Seeing her like this makes me think that her childhood face is showing through as well.
With that thought, a surge of sibling affection swelled within me.

'By the way, it’s about time to get out, isn’t it?'

If I wait too long, Irene's condition might become precarious.
It feels like it’s already been about ten minutes since I called Kali to escape.
For some reason, there hasn’t been any response from Kali.

Is this a place where Kali cannot enter?
Or perhaps it’s a space where the status screen doesn’t show up?
Until now, all of Kali’s expressions have been conveyed through the status screen.
If the status screen doesn’t work, it’s only natural that I wouldn’t know her reaction.

Still, while I can’t hear Kali’s response,
it’s unlikely that Kali can’t hear me.
Just as I resolved to wait patiently,

“Ugh, again?”

With a rustle!
The scenery before me began to blur and waver once more,
and I started to transition into the next memory.

“Ha ha ha! Good job, Irene!”
“...”

The scene that unfolded was
the dark altar set up in the basement of the Vermont mansion.
And there stood the Count of Vermont and Aslan, grinning from ear to ear.

In his hand was a huge chunk of neodymium.
The young Irene was bound and kneeling,
looking up at her father, trembling with fear.

“Ah, Father. That’s a very dangerous substance; it’s best not to touch it recklessly...”
“I know, I know. Though it may look ugly for a father to take his daughter’s thing, I still intend to acknowledge your contribution. Now that I have the neodymium, I can proceed with the contract with the evil god. The first contract will be specially granted to you, Irene.”
“...!”

The young Irene's pupils widened, and her face turned pale.
The contract with the evil god.
Knowing that it could actually happen, not just as an urban legend, and seeing the result with my own eyes,
yet I still hadn’t witnessed the actual scene of the contract being made.

It was a prime opportunity to see that process.
It was fortunate that Kali was slow to respond.

“Irene. Kneel before the altar.”
“I-I don’t want to! I’m not ready yet...!”
“Do I need to force you to kneel?”
“...Ugh.”

As the ritual began,
the Count of Vermont, dressed in priestly robes, started to chant incomprehensible incantations from an old book.
Though the process seemed complicated at first glance,
I quickly realized that this was just a device the Count of Vermont had prepared to deceive his children.
The ritual involving the altar and the incantations was clearly not of much importance.

“Both of you, close your eyes. Irene, open your mouth slightly. Slowly, release your mana as if casting a spell.”
“...” “Quickly!”
“Ah, alright...!”

At the Count’s booming voice, Irene followed the instructions, crying.
As she opened her mouth slightly, the chunk of neodymium was pushed toward her.
And the moment Irene inhaled and released her mana,
the black smoke that erupted from the neodymium was sucked into her mouth.

“Ugh!?”
“Ha ha! That’s it! We’ve successfully summoned the evil god! Once you calm down, return to your room! Don’t forget to report in the morning what kind of evil god has come!”
“Gah! Hah! Aahhh...!”

Clutching her chest, Irene lay on the ground, moaning.
Her face was twisted with veins from the pain, but the Count merely chuckled, seemingly unfazed.

'The neodymium isn’t consumed like fuel, but absorbed into a person’s body?'

It seemed that the young Irene, with her eyes closed, hadn’t realized this.
I clearly saw how part of the solid neodymium transformed into gas and entered Irene’s mouth.
At that moment, the evil god that Irene absorbed was likely Laura.
At the very least, it was certain that the ritual just now had summoned the evil god.

“Aslan. It’s your turn now.”
“Yes, Father.”

Aslan obediently knelt.
Just like with Irene, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to release his mana.
Slightly inhaling, Aslan took a breath.

“...!?”

At that moment, the Count’s eyes twisted.
The chunk of neodymium in his hand began to shake violently.
With Irene, only a tiny portion of it had turned into black smoke without making it obvious.
But this time, the entire fist-sized chunk of neodymium shattered into pieces, turning into smoke.

“Damn it, Aslan! Close your mouth! If you do this, we’ll lose all the precious neodymium!”
“Yes? Gah! Gahh...!”

The black smoke was uncontrollably sucked into Aslan’s mouth.
A massive cloud of black fog enveloped Aslan’s entire body.
The fog seeped into all the openings on Aslan—his mouth, nose, ears, eyes, and every hole.
With that terrifying sight, the scene before me began to scatter.

“Ugh!? Hold on tight, sister!”

Irene and my body were being pulled away by a strong force.
It felt like the sensation I had when I first entered the Shadow World.
As the dizzying feeling faded away, I found myself collapsed on the familiar dirt ground.

'We’ve returned to the real world.'

At that instant, I sensed it.
The sound of footsteps came running toward me.
The light, energetic footsteps belonged to Charlotte.
And the hurried, panting footsteps were likely Yulia.

[...!!]
“Uncle’s back! The Shadow World? What was it like? You have to tell me... uh, hmm.”
“Aslan! Why did you take so long to come out? I didn’t really worry... but still, are you hurt? Ugh. It looks like you’re fine.”

They hurriedly ran toward me,
but suddenly slowed down, their expressions becoming strange.
What were they acting like this for?

“Ugh! I hate it... You bastard! I hate you! Ugh...!”
“Ah.”

Not yet fully conscious,
I noticed Irene, still sobbing and tightly hugging my waist, and I understood.
Ah. If this continues, I won’t be able to marry those two.