"Brother, are you sure? I was really worried." Vaissien asked who was still in a bit frantic.
"Don't worry, I'm fine now. Big Sister Belle and Vaissien, too. Thank you!" He answered in a very low and abject tone.
"Oh. I'm glad. Please, don't do that again, okay?" Belle smiled spoke in a relieved tone. "You mustn't let them provoke you."
"Sorry. I, uhm, just lost my temper. I'll be careful next—."
When he was about to finish his apology, he felt a faint pain in his right arm.
"Idiot!! Don't make me worry like that!"
It was Vaissien who slugged his arm, and then turned his back. He was crying, and hid his face in utter embarrassment. According to his memories, he'd been like this ever since they were kids. He had always been overwhelmed and swayed by emotions.
"Hey, I'm injured here, okay? Ha-ha-ha." He forced and faked a loud laugh in order to ease the air.
Back then, the man named Shiba Tatsuya was famous for being an aloof, tongue tied, and expressionless person. He never laughed out loud like this since he was a kid. People who knew him were oftentimes intimidated by his oppressive and serious ambiance.
"Cimmy, he's right. Don't imperil yourself like that again, okay?"
"Y-Yes. I'll be careful from now on." He just nodded at them in concurrence.
"Also, you two, don't ever think of getting back at those people. Okay?"
""Yes!""
"Okay, just rest here. I'm gonna prepare for dinner."
When Belle left, the room became silent. Vaissien wanted to say something. But he was still a bit embarrassed.
"Brother," he broke the eyes, "by the way, do you still remember about what we talked about?"
"Mm? You heard her, right? We're not allowed to get back at those fools." He stretched his arm joints. "Besides, I'm not mad at them anymore. It's totally my fault. I tried to act cool when I'm not that strong enough."
"No. Not that. The one we spoke of yesterday. Don't tell me, you forgot?" Vaissien furrowed his eyebrows in frustration.
"No, actually, before I express mine, you give yours first."
He suddenly remembered it. They were talking about finding ways to help the financial problem of the family. Based on what his memory told, this family belonged to the common realm.
"I was thinking of looking for a job. I mean, we've always been in hand-to-mouth existence. We can't let this continue, can we? Or else—." Vaissien was saddened as he uttered these words.
"Or else, we'd be forever dependent on Big Sister Beatrice. That's what you want to say, right?"
Yes. While he was sorting out his memories in short time, he had realized a lot of things. First, they were orphans; their family died when they were still four years old. Second, aside from Belle, they had another sister named Beatrice—the eldest of the four—who had been the breadwinner ever since the village Chief had stopped giving them enough sustenance for some inevitable cause. She worked as a maid at the baron's household. She went home only sometimes due to her tight schedule. Third, he and Vaissien were fraternal twins. Fourth, the most interesting one, people in this new world had known how to utilize magic in some ways.
The two of them had recently planned of looking for a job to help their sisters with the expenses.
"You're right. So, please, suggest something." Vaissien said.
"What about—." He was about to utter another mistake again. Fortunately, he realized it quickly and stopped.
"What is it, brother?"
He was about to say: 'what about we steal some stocks in the neighboring village's storehouse?' He had just learned from his memory that the some other villages had good harvest this year. If it was Shiba Mitsuya who was asked, he would just have solved everything by plundering others' stocks.
Well, back when he was still in Japan, he had tried almost all illegal works just to survive and sustain his father's medical maintenance. From delivering illegal drugs, assisting bank plunderers, even bringing bombs like the cause of his death. This was how he lived his worthless life after their family lost all its wealth. Howbeit, his father wouldn't have known that these were the sources of his regular sustenance to him. Now, his guilt was starting to overwhelm him. Why? Since all these happened because he was very indolent to find a formal and high-paying job. Thanks to his shrewdness, vast underground network, and unique martial arts, he wasn't caught by the authorities. Not even once. So...
"No. No. Never mind. Let me think of everything first." He shook his head.
"Ah, yes. I'm planning to tell Big Sister Beatrice of my plan when she comes home. So, as of today, let's just to think of more options."
"Yes. That would do."