"Congratulations, Yana!"
Reo threw a party for Yana while doing an unscheduled family gathering that brought his and Freia's side into our current house.
With Yana receiving all the praise from the family relatives, I, the older brother, remained a distance from them.
'How tiresome…'
I found family gatherings tedious, to be honest.
I think it is the time when relatives tend to have a dumb competition of which side had the best sons and daughters.
However not in a moment Reo's side loses just because we have Yana.
As I have mentioned earlier, she's the gem of this family. And it was her graduation hence its obvious she's the star for today.
As I avoided being chimmy chummy with my relatives, I saw my father approach me subtly.
He looked like he was just passing by but he couldn't fool these eyes of mine.
Standing right beside me after talking to a relative, Reo suddenly stated.
"Why do you have that face?"
What kind of face was I making?
The instant I tried to reply, Reo added.
"There, that face. For me, it's the kind of face you make when you're suspicious about something. I'm guessing it's because I approached you and left Yana?"
Man, father's instincts are no joke.
Besides, have I been too easy to read lately?
Reo chuckled before ruffling with my hair.
Then he continued standing beside me while pondering something inside.
It looks like he was considering what to really say to me.
And then he did.
"Son, I'm not really asking for you too much. In fact, I liked that you're pretty mature in the kids your age. If I remember correctly, I wasn't calm and aloof like you,"
He paused.
"But Yana is different."
His gaze fixated on Yana who our relatives were surrounding.
"She's stubborn, hard-headed, and just excited. I'm sure she would make a lot of friends in the Academy... but also enemies because of her talents,"
Reo looked at me.
"Which is why as a brother, can you look out for her? Enroll at the Academy, and if you don't both pass, it's all good for me. But if she did, you have to be there for her,"
I see…
I definitely understand where he's coming from.
He wanted me to watch out for my sister when she got admitted to the Academy to learn.
A bodyguard of some sort.
It's not much to ask for, and it's definitely not a bad demand.
'I guess I can do it,'
My thoughts lingered around for a moment.
"Okay,"
Upon hearing a reply, it was as if a huge burden was lifted from his shoulders as Reo gave me a light hug.
"I'm so, so, so lucky to have you two,"
Chatter!
All of a sudden just as we finished talking, I could hear the intensifying noise coming from the front where Yana was being interviewed.
"Hey Yana, they said you're the best one in this family. I love to see it again,"
Ugh, this dumb idiot again... What the hell is he planning now?
Don't tell me he wants to fight Yana again?
He'll completely lose for the thirtieth time now.
Yana looked at the same person everyone was paying attention to before replying back with a tired sigh.
"Ken, you want to fight again?"
The arrogant Ken who was on the losing streak fighting Yana, raised his chin and snickered.
"Why, afraid to defeat you?"
Yana yawned as if the situation bore her and retorted.
"I wasn't the person who's on the losing streak,"
She then smirked.
"But if that's what you want, then I'll happily tear you apart,"
Soon, the two were led to Wellington's house basement which was only used for this kind of situation.
Everyone dropped whatever they were doing to see the match.
Reo built it, with the purpose of redirecting the children's bickering underneath.
I was also there watching the two.
However, I began to notice something amiss regarding Ken's attitude.
'Something's weird with Ken. He seems oddly confident.'
Throughout the time these two children fought, it was apparent in their skills that Yana would win. With the confidence to back it up, she will undoubtedly embarrass Ken.
Now, even though it appears that Ken doesn't have the skills, his confidence is evident in his movement.
Whether that was only a façade or not, I don't know.
'I'll keep a closer look…'
For the fight, the two picked up wooden swords.
Yana picked up a sword that had a bigger wooden blade than Ken who grasped a lower length.
These two didn't even talk.
One stared at the other before they launched their attack.
Whoosh—!
Yana went on the offensive while Ken forced himself to defend.
The wooden blade sounds much different when steel blades clash.
The intensity of their fight and the fluidity of their movements can be vividly seen in the naked eye.
But that's just it.
Yana continued pounding her sword down towards Ken mercilessly.
She didn't give any chances to retaliate while ensuring she continued to have the upper hand.
Nonetheless, Ken's face which should've shown signs of giving up from being on the receiving end of Yana's skills hasn't appeared yet.
It looks like he was luring Yana to keep closer and get closer still, waiting for the perfect chance to strike.
'What is he trying—'
My eyes slightly widened while my brows creased.
There was something in his pocket; it was sinister and more likely dangerous.
Yana couldn't have noticed it. Reo, Freia, and the rest of the family would be the same as well since they aren't sensitive to that power.
But I was different.
When it comes to magic of any kind, I'm the most sensitive out of everyone here.
And that thing can be dangerous to everyone inside.
'This bastard…'
I haven't even touched mana for all the time I've been living this second life, and I know I have become rusty.
But I have no other choice.
Whoosh—!
As Yana got closer to Ken, she saw him grabbing something out of his pocket.
A star pendant was pointed at Yana who could only do was to watch it happen before her eyes.
"Curse you, Yana Wellington!"
A sinister energy surged from the star pendant, its true terror instantly tried to wrap itself around Yana.
"What…!"
But before anything could happen with Yana, a loud, banging slap resounded from Ken.
Tak—!
A small snap of the fingers was also heard and the demonic energy that almost corrupted Yana vanished in an instant.
"Duel's over,"
Giving Ken a death glare, I added.
"By a unanimous decision, my sister won,"