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In the otome game, the “Magical Beast Encounter” event ended as soon as the beast was defeated. After that, the heroine and her love interests simply went back to their normal lives.
But of course, in reality, things weren’t that simple—the magic academy was thrown into chaos.

Armed units of the Imperial Capital Guard were patrolling the school grounds, giving the entire place an air of heavy tension. They were searching every corner of the vast campus—checking if any more magical beasts were lurking about, or if they could find even the smallest clue as to why one had appeared so suddenly.

All classes were suspended, and the students were ordered to stay in their dormitories. However, since Ekaterina was the only one who had witnessed the beast’s sudden appearance, she was asked to provide testimony—along with Aleksei and Mikhail, who had directly confronted the monster.
Flora, on the other hand, was taken to a different location for a reassessment of her magical attributes, and thus went her own way.

And around the topic of giving testimony, the following dispute occurred between Ekaterina and Aleksei—

.

“I’ll speak to the guards myself. You should return to your dorm and rest. It must’ve been your first time using that much magic—you must be exhausted.”

Aleksei said firmly, and Ekaterina’s eyes widened.

“No, Onii-sama. I’m fine. I was the only one who actually saw the beast appear—I must give a proper account of what I witnessed.”

By that I mean I want to know how and why that beast appeared there. If I go through someone else, the information will inevitably get watered down.
But Aleksei shook his head.

“No. You were never strong to begin with—what if you collapse again? You need to be more self-aware and take care of your health.”

Excuse me, could we please delete that frail girl setting already? The two times I collapsed, they were for a wildly special reason… not that I can ever tell him what that reason was.

“Onii-sama… I believe it’s our duty to cooperate with the investigation, so that something like this never happens again. To rest alone while neglecting that duty would bring shame upon the name of House Jurnova.”

Appealing to the pride of one of the Three Great Dukes seemed to soften Aleksei’s expression slightly.

“You’ve already done enough, Ekaterina. You stood alone against a magical beast to let your classmates escape—you showed courage and resolve. I am proud to have such a noble sister, worthy of the Jurnova name. So now, please rest.”

“Onii-sama.”
“Ekaterina.”

Aleksei’s tone hardened.

“You were indeed admirable—that much is true. But at the same time, you were reckless. Don’t you see that?”

Ugh…

“You’ve never received any formal training in fighting magical beasts. In fact, you only recently learned even basic magic control. If you’d judged the situation calmly, you would’ve realized you should have fled. There was no guarantee that His Highness or I would arrive in time.”

Oof…
W-well, that’s… true… But it’s a game *thing*, I can’t help it!
Ahhh, it’s just like what the prince said—I *am* getting scolded by my brother!
And what’s with me hanging my head like this? Even back when I was an overworked office drone in my past life, I always spoke up to my boss or clients if I had something to say!
What is this? Is it because his voice is too good? Or because every word he’s saying is painfully reasonable? No, none of those.
It’s his presence.
None of my old bosses or clients ever spoke with this kind of raw intensity. The prince once said that Aleksei had been lecturing him since childhood in place of the adults—and *this* must be what he meant! Seriously, Onii-sama, are you sure you’re only seventeen!?

“Did you… ever think about how I felt?”

Aleksei’s voice trembled faintly.

“I sensed the presence of a magical beast and looked out the classroom window. I saw it in the training field—with *you* there. While even the teachers fled, my little sister stood there, facing it alone. Do you know what I felt at that moment?”

Agh…

“I thought I was going to lose you. Do you know how terrified I was? I fear no magical beast—but the thought of *you* being hurt… When I saw that beast lunging at you through the crumbling wall of earth, I thought I couldn’t save you. I was, that moment…”

His voice was filled with pain, and Ekaterina caught her breath.

“If I had lost you, I would’ve frozen this useless heart of mine solid. I wouldn’t have wanted to go on living.”
“Onii-sama!”

To end one’s own life with one’s own magic—it was a form of death practiced by the nobility of this nation, akin to the act of *seppuku* among samurai in my previous world.

“There’s no one left for me but you. If I lose you, what’s the point of living? Just think. I told you before—if anything were to happen to you, I couldn’t go on living. You are my life. You hold my very life in your hands. Please, understand that…”

“Onii…?”

“Think about it…”

NOOO—!!! Onii-sama’s crying!?

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! It was my fault, it was all my fault! I’ll never do it again, ever! Please don’t cry!”

Throwing herself at Aleksei, Ekaterina was half in tears herself.

“You’re my life too, Onii-sama! You’re the most important person to me! I’d do anything for you! My happiness *is* you—and yet—and yet—Onii-sama—!”
“…”
“I can’t forgive myself! I’m so sorry, Onii-sama—!”

Aleksei said nothing.

Huh?

Ekaterina quickly pulled away and looked up at his face.

“Onii-sama?! You’re smiling!”
“No, I…”

Aleksei shook his head, but his face was clearly smiling—so radiantly happy.

“That’s terrible! You tricked me!?”
“I didn’t, I just—”
“You *are* smiling! You liar!”

I was *this close* to crying for real!
Waaah! How could you!

Fine then! Take this!

Ekaterina reached out and tousled Aleksei’s hair, ruffling it up into a mess.

It was such a childish act of revenge that Aleksei finally burst out laughing. And he even lowered his head a little to make it easier for her to reach—so it was hardly a revenge, if at all.

…Honestly, ten seconds of hair-ruffling was more than enough.
If anything, I can’t bear how ridiculous I feel that my hands just stopped.

“…”

Pouting, Ekaterina withdrew her hands from her brother’s hair. Embarrassing for a woman in her thirties (mentally), but sometimes, you just have to pout.

“Are you done?”

From under his disheveled bangs, Aleksei looked at her. His neon-blue eyes sparkled brighter than usual.

Why does he look so happy!? What is that faintly *adorable* smile!? Since when did your facial muscles get so expressive!? Where did your stoic setting go!? And how dare you, a man that tall, look up at me with those puppy eyes—ugh, damn it, damn it all!

“…I’m sorry.”

Ekaterina reached out and gently combed his hair back into place with her fingers. Aleksei narrowed his eyes.

“I’m sorry for worrying you. I’ll never do something like that again.”
“Good.”

Now that the heroine, Flora-chan, had awakened to her magic and cleared the event, the Empire should be safe from the chain of magical beast attacks that led to the destruction route. So there should be no need to fight magical beasts anymore.
…Probably.

“But, Onii-sama… even though the dorm is close, I’m still scared to go back alone. I feel safest when I’m with you. So, could I accompany you to the security unit’s meeting?”
“…”

After a pause, Aleksei sighed.
Yes—victory reversal!

“…You’re quite good at getting your way. Such a clever girl. All right. I’ll escort you back to the dorm afterward.”

As a member of the workforce, one must never give up after one or two rejections.
Should’ve said that from the start, though.
Lesson learned!