153

“I wrote it down because I was afraid I’d forget.”

Olgard took an envelope from his chest and handed it to me. I hurriedly checked its contents.

Destroy the corrupted Blessing of the God.

Become a true helper as a Messenger of the God.

It was short and straightforward.

I had secretly worried that it might be full of metaphors like religious texts and take years to interpret, so I was truly relieved.

“The corrupted Blessing of the God must be the relic used to worsen Rio’s illness.”

Olgard nodded as if in agreement.

“If it’s the Messenger of the God… it’s you, Olgard, so does it mean help me the same as last time?”

“I think so too. But seeing the phrase ‘true helper’ made me think I didn’t properly play the helper role when I met you in Yuno.”

Granted, it did help clarify the reason I experienced possession, but it didn’t directly help me live practically here. Lemer appearing in my dream was less Olgard’s help and more because of an expensive candle given by a priest I met while walking.

“I don’t see the dove?”

“It often flies out like this and returns much later. It comes back as if it knows exactly where I am.”

There didn’t seem to be any additional message conveyed through the familiar.

“Even without the oracle’s content, to save Rio we have to find and destroy the relic.”

The oracle only reaffirmed that destroying the relic was important. It was something Olgard’s diagnosis would have revealed even without the oracle. Ren, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, spoke up.

“Then first we must find out exactly what that relic is and where it is.”

“We should ask Priest Nora to search through the temple library.”

Nora… he was being used like a slave.

‘If I can just solve this, I’ll definitely repay your kindness!’

“I’ll ask the senior deputy priest. He might be more accurate than books.”

Olgard said this. The deputy priest of Yuno was the one who gave me the candle that made me dream of meeting Lemer in Yuno. Feeling its efficacy, I trusted him.

“Use the Duke family’s intelligence service to gather anything that could be a clue. Once we know the relic’s location, we’ll ultimately have to infiltrate it ourselves.”

I’m not confident in physical tasks. I worried I’d be a burden to others. Sneaking into the temple to quietly take the relic… Without information, plotting a direction felt overly complicated.

‘Let’s take it step by step. One by one. Use my strengths.’

Although my physical ability was lacking, I was relatively methodical and strategic.

“Let’s start with a reconnaissance.”

After all, strategy comes from research.

Since going in a group would arouse suspicion, we decided each of us would visit the temple separately. It was the most likely place the relic would be hidden.

“You can stay here until this is finished. It will be safer for Rio too.”

Olgard also decided to stay at our house. He accepted without refusal. The Rusera temple wouldn’t know he came here. I thought it was better to hide it rather than announce it. Who knew what the Crown Prince might do. Fortunately, he wasn’t one to enjoy going out.

“I was really busy in Yuno. I just want to sleep and rest here.”

“I hope you remember you’re not here on vacation.”

To be so calm while Rio’s life hangs in the balance isn’t ordinary human behavior.

“With me here, it won’t worsen. We’ll have enough time until we find the relic.”

Thus began the cohabitation of the five siblings.

But I had overlooked one thing.

‘Uh… why is the atmosphere like this?’

At dinner, there was silence and awkwardness.

At first I thought it was because it had been a long time since they saw my face and it was awkward. But this state had lasted nearly a week. To be precise, one side was being unilaterally defensive.

“Marcella, have you been well? I heard you’re training to become a knight. Wow, you’re cool.”

“Uh, yeah. Something like that.”

“Julie has suddenly become such a lady. Don’t you have any questions for your brother?”

“…No. Not really.”

“Rio, are you feeling okay? If anything hurts even a little, tell me. This brother will make you better right away.”

“Thank you.”

Instead, my relationship with Olgard seemed friendlier.

“Cornelia, what on earth is going on…?”

Olgard grabbed my shoulder from behind with a terrible expression, and I genuinely felt goosebumps.

“W-well…?”

“I thought you said you were worried about me…”

“Seems like your feelings changed, huh.”

“R-really?”

“Well, how quickly people’s hearts change. Seeing your face now, you seem to be doing so well I might be holding back the urge to punch you.”

“…That’s about you, right?”

“Oh my, you caught me.”

“Sigh… what should I do.”

I was surprised to see Olgard wipe his face like that.

When I raved and cursed that our eldest brother hadn’t even been regretted, the three hadn’t even shown anger. They instead expressed concern about whether he was suffering far away, wishing only for his health. Their excessive kindness made me feel like the devil.

Still, since he came all the way here and treated Rio, it felt odd to keep acting like this.

‘I’ll make something the kids like to ease the mood.’

But that choice took a completely unexpected turn.

“Oh, what’s this?”

Marcella, Julie, and Rio’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar dish. Having sent away the butler and servants, they spoke without restraint.

“It’s something I used to eat in the world I lived in.”

The three who half-heartedly accepted my claim of being the transmigrator seemed to have grown fairly used to the repeated indoctrination. They really understand… right?

It had been a long time since I properly cooked a dish from my past life like this, ever since I made it for Ren.

“Oh, it’s delicious?”

Olgard kept exclaiming as he ate the bulgogi.

“It’s really good, sister!”

“You’re actually pretty good at cooking—!”

“I’ll have another bowl!”

In the pleasantly rare good mood, I watched them eat with satisfaction.

“Cornelia, really delicious. Can you make it again tomorrow?”

Olgard’s words were the signal. In an instant the atmosphere turned cold. He was as puzzled as to why it happened suddenly. So was I.

“What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the food? You don’t have to force yourself to eat…”

At that moment, Marcella loudly set his spoon down on his plate.

“What the hell are you, brother…?”

“Huh?”

“What’s so great about you that you’re having someone who has to go to work tomorrow cook for you? There’s a cook in the mansion; they could just eat what’s given.”

This was getting serious. I tried to stop it before it got worse, but Marcella was quicker.

“I’ve been waiting for you to say something. Why did we have to wait? Why did you have no contact with us all this time? Why didn’t you come to our parents’ funeral?”

“Marcella.”

Ignoring Olgard’s call, Marcella roughly pulled out his chair and stood up.

“We wanted our brother to be healthy. We didn’t hold resentment. We hoped you’d achieve the dream you wanted there and come back so we could live happily together, or even if you didn’t succeed, at least meet later with smiles. But seeing you returned, I realize how wrong I was all this time.”

“Hey.”

Marcella scoffed at Olgard, who raised his voice slightly.

“What’s so calm about you? What’s so great? Look at this mansion. Is the environment we’re in obvious to you? Do you know how we lived? The oracle. Yes, the oracle. If it’s an oracle that says don’t contact or visit even if family dies, I don’t believe in such a god.”

“…!”

It was quite a bold remark in an empire that believed Lemer as the Lord God.

“Um, brother…”

“When Coco said you’d been seen by the envoy and had become a deputy priest, I didn’t show it but I was incredulous. They must have been told Rio was ill, so how could you not come even after becoming a priest! If Coco hadn’t become Chancellor, if she hadn’t become a Count, Rio would have been surviving on painkillers until now. Do you know how doggedly she worked to try to treat Rio? She worked all day with that small body! If you had come earlier and at least seen Rio once, she wouldn’t have fallen for whatever strange tampering with a relic or whatever! Why, did you think we’d bow our heads and thank you now that you finally treated him?”

“Say it properly: that’s not the real Coco, it’s—gah!”

Olgard couldn’t finish his sentence before he crumpled backward.

“Damn it! She’s still my sister! My sister!”

“…!”

Marcella clenched his fist, his shoulders trembling as he gasped. Then Julie and Rio ran over and, with soft little fists, began to pummel the sprawled Olgard.

“Eek!”

“She’s our sister! Coco, our sister!”

“Don’t say mean things! Our sister is so amazing! The proudest sister in the world!”

Sparks flew in Marcella’s eyes.

“She’s real family, more than someone like you. Say that again and I’ll kill you.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks before I knew it.