I told Rune about the plan but he didn't seem to like it.
"I'll go alone." He announced and I ran my hand through my hair.
"I didn't tell you about this just for you to do it alone," I said and he shook his head.
"No, it's dangerous for you!" He insisted and I sighed, this was going to be tough.
"Same goes for you."
"You're still recovering, Reina. I'm not letting you do this."
"Then I'll do it alone," I said making his eyes go wide.
"No way!"
This was the basic reason why I didn't want to include him, I couldn't help but turn to the system, "Any help?"
[Hint: Rune loves his sister.]
"Don't give me the damn hint, help me out here!" I thought.
[Goddess of Wisdom asks you to use your charm.]
"I get that but you don't seriously expect me to act all mushy and corny with him." I thought and another notification popped up.
[Defender of Divine Glory says that sometimes it is necessary to swallow your pride and pick up whatever weapons you get for your battle.]
"Like hell!" I was exasperated at their idea but it didn't seem like Rune was going to listen without any trick.
"Besides, I don't even know how to act that way." I thought.
[Defender of Divine Glory calls you out for your false statement and says it's not good to lie.]
"Leave me alone, I'll just do it alone." I thought. It was impossible for an Otaku to not use the expressions from their cute waifus.
[Goddess of Wisdom says that you can't do it alone.]
"I won't know unless I try."
[Defender of Divine Glory is disappointed because of your stubborn manner.]
"I'm the one you chose so, don't blame me. I was a jerk to begin with."
[Goddess of Wisdom requests you to at least try it once.]
I ran my hand through my hair and sighed, we wouldn't see the end of it unless one of us gave up.
"Fine, screw it." It had to be me, like always.
[Goddess of Wisdom is happy.]
I sighed as I looked at Rune who was reading the papers with a frown on his face. I swallowed my pride as an adult and shifted to my Otaku self.
"Brother?" I called adjusting my voice to the level of a cute little girl.
Rune looked up at me and in an instant, his eyes went wide. My face reflected in his amber eyes as how I was fluttering my long white eyelashes and puckering my lips with my hands clasped together at my chest.
"I worry about you going alone so, please let's go together." I pleaded.
"N-No, wait. But you are still not."
"Please..." I pouted as I leaned in close and he turned his eyes avoiding looking at me.
I stepped in front of him again making him turn again.
He was a tough nut to crack but I did have a card up my sleeve.
Unleashing ultimate weapon: I sniffed and bit the inside of my mouth to summon tears. Rune flinched and he looked at me, I sniffled again making his face go red.
"Re-Reina!" He stuttered as he started panicking.
"Do-Don't cry. Don't cry please!"
"But you won't take me!" I started crying full throttle.
The one thing that would make the majority of the people panic was a child crying because of them.
"St-Stop crying, Re-Reina, please!"
"After all the time that we could go out together to help Daddy!" I wailed and he sighed.
"Fine..."
"Really?"
"Yes, but we will go the day after tomorrow, all right?" He said and I stopped crying.
"Thank you, brother. You are the best!" I threw my arms around him making him go stiff for a moment but then he relaxed and hugged me back.
[Goddess of Wisdom cheers for you.]
Rune left my room and I lay down on the bed feeling embarrassed. It was good that he caved in quickly or my wailing would have attracted someone.
"Hopefully, I won't have to cry every time I want something from him," I muttered as I closed my eyes and let the sleep wash over me.
The next morning, I went to the library and started looking through the books written about the geography of the specific area of the mine. If I had to go there I had to be equipped with enough information as possible.
There was a myth book which said that the place was cursed, and also the corner stone of the foundation of the kingdom. I didn't read it much as I needed practical information and not stories.
I had to read three different books to learn about the demographics, ecosystem and landscape of the place before I had a good idea of the place.
I was heading back to my room after lunchtime when I saw Rune in the yard talking to the Captain of Knights Sir Rudyard making me stop, I couldn't hear what they were talking about but Rune seemed tensed.
"What is he up to?" I wondered to myself before I went back to my room.
The evening went on in the usual fashion only that I noticed Rune behaving slightly strangely, with the way he was slightly stiff in his chair and the way his eyes avoided mine.
After dinner, I followed him quietly and saw him meeting with Sir Rudyard again.
"Are the preparations done?"
"Yes, Master Rune. We'll be leaving at midnight."
"Make sure nobody knows, especially Reina."
My eyebrows furrowed as I realised what he was doing and my jaw clenched.
"He lied."
I rushed back to my room and pulled out the clothes that I had taken from Rune earlier to disguise myself and wore them. I tied my hair back in a bun and kept a knife on me after I had changed into a simple button-down shirt and brown shorts.
How dare he go behind my back!
[Goddess of Wisdom wants you to rethink.]
"He's going without me, what other choice do I have?"
[Defender of Divine Glory asks you to be careful.]
[Goddess of Wisdom glares at Defender of Divine Glory.]
[Defender of Divine Glory blesses you.]
"Well, at least someone here has common sense."
At least there was one patron who could think practically.
"Oi, system. How am I supposed to get there though?"
[Once you accept the task you will be teleported to the location.]
"Oh, sweet." I smiled as I rechecked everything before I opened the quest notification.
[{Investigate the mine with Rune Aurelius.}
Rewards: Complete knowledge of the skill of Mana Eyes.
Failure: Loss in the business.]
[Would you like to accept the task?
- Yes.
- No.]
I inhaled deeply before I said, "Yes!"