A year passed since Arlott started attending the academy. His birthday was five days ago, so he was officially a six-year-old and became first year Junior-grader while Iris was eleven years old, a medium-grader.
The siblings were usually together in the academy except in the classes and other activities.
As Arlott left his class, he ignored other kids because he couldn't stand playing with them as a six-year-old.
[It looks like Iris wants something from you.]
Arlott had just left his class garden when he saw a thirteen-year-old girl with reddish-orange hair wearing a floral dress.
She looked cute, but her expression was impatient, and her eyes showed worry and anger.
'What happened to her?' Arlott wondered.
Immediately after Iris spotted Arlott, she rushed towards him and grabbed his hand, "Arlott, you have to do something for me."
"What?" Arlott asked, doubtful.
Iris looked around before taking Arlott to a bench outside the garden classroom and sat down with him.
Afterard, Iris looked at Arlott, her eyes serious and a bit teary. "I want you to beat some classmates who always harass me even though I've never done anything to them. They…"
The more Iris spoke, the more she felt indigent, and her eyes turned watery.
[Must be kids of some people who don't like your mother or father.]
'Probably, or some random kids. I don't care either way, but I don't have anything against this sister of mine, so It wouldn't hurt to help her.'
Arlott internally chuckled and added, 'It would be great if she grows to depend on me, and for that, I'll have to take the first step today.'
[Indeed. You can also enjoy other shenanigans while plotting. Two birds with one stone.]
'Indeed.'
"And today, one of them even spilled water on me during Alchemy class, but it was ACCIDENTLY she said!" Iris angrily hissed. "But I know she definitely did it deliberately!"
"Why don't you complain to your teacher?" Arlott asked and pouted. "I am your little brother. What use asking for help from me?"
"Teacher only tells them to stop it, but they never stop!" Iris stomped her feet and clenched her jaws. "And I can't fight them because if I use magic and they get hurt, things can become big!"
"And you…" Iris gently pulled Arlott's cheeks and cutely snorted as her rosy cheeks pouted, "I know you are powerful, you rascal. You can even beat them with your physical strength alone, so come and help your big sister."
"Pretty please," Iris pleaded with puppy eyes.
"You're hopeless," Arlott shook his head and sighed, "Fine, I'll help you."
However, Arlott's antics were unusual for a six-year-old, so his sighing and shaking his head made Iris laugh at his cuteness.
"Hehe, my brother is the best. Come, I'll take you to them."
…
Arriving in one of the many small training grounds littered in the academy, Iris and Arlott walked towards a group of five thirteen-year-old kids.
Three boys and two girls. The school had ended for medium graders, but three to five students could use the academy's training grounds to train if they wished.
"Hoho, look who is here," one of the black-haired boys said while laughing like a bozo. "Iris, what panties did you wear today?"
"Don't ask," one of the dark blond hair sneered," She will reveal it when she falls down again."
Her gaze at Iris was filled with childish jealousy.
"Hahaha…"
"Humph, shut up!" Iris shouted and crossed her arms with a stern and angry expression. "My brother will teach you a lesson today."
"That little kid?"
"…"
All five of them were dumbfounded for a second before they burst out laughing again.
'Kids these days…' Arlott sighed before disappearing from his spot. A second later, the laughter of those five people ceased.
With speed unable to be perceived by these kids who hadn't even started refining their physical bodies or practicing any Geno Arts, Arlott squarely landed a soft punch on their stomach as he sent a force into them, causing all five of them to puke whatever they ate this morning.
The pain also made them groan as they fell down while clutching their stomachs.
Of course, Arlott made sure not to leave any mark of his punches on their stomach with his masterful control.
"Y-you, what did you do?!" A brown-haired boy managed to speak while enduring the pain as he looked at Arlott and Iris.
The others also looked at them with horrified faces as they couldn't even see how they were attacked.
"I didn't do anything," Arlott said, her eyes pure and expression innocent.
However, he exerted a bit of his soul force on their consciousness and knocked them.
On the other hand, Iris was grinning from ear to ear.
"You're awesome, Arlott!"
Arlott smugly smiled at her. "I know."
"Cutie pie, thank you."
Iris hugged Arlott and snickered. "Hehe, now if they dare to harass me again, they'll have to think twice."
"Don't worry, I'll help you if they do anything funny," Arlott said with a puffy smile. "After all, you are my beautiful big sister."