Instead, I had stood before them, a hollow shell of the person they once knew. My face had worn a smile, but it was empty, devoid of any real emotion. My eyes, which should have mirrored their pain, were cold and lifeless. And then, with a voice as flat and unfeeling as the expression on my face, I had spoken the words that had spoiled everything.
“Don’t worry, I will be there for you. You can forget your mother now.”
Those words, delivered with a smile that barely reached my eyes, were intended to soothe, but instead, they only deepened the discomfort. The expression on my face was a facade, a mask hiding the emptiness within, as I tried to offer comfort that I didn’t truly feel. My attempt to reassure them was hollow, lacking the warmth and empathy they desperately needed.
In truth, I had failed them, unable to share in their grief, unable to mourn alongside them as they deserved.
Even in that moment, both of them could sense that something was wrong with me. They had always been perceptive, and despite their love for me, they couldn’t help but feel the growing distance between us. When I uttered those empty words, their frustrations, which had been bubbling beneath the surface, finally spilled over.
I didn’t blame them for it—not in the slightest.
I reached out gently, my hand finding its way to her hair, and patted it softly. She looked up at me, surprised by the unexpected gesture.
“I don’t resent you or anything, Ayaka. And neither you, Akane,” I said, turning to look at both of them with as much sincerity as I could muster. “I could never hold anything against my adorable younger sisters.”
“O-Onii-chan?” Ayaka’s voice trembled with a mixture of surprise and happiness, her cheeks flushing pink as tears welled up in her eyes and began to spill down her face.
Akane, standing beside her, was unable to hold back her own emotions. She bit her lip, trying to stay strong, but the tears soon followed, tracing silent paths down her cheeks. She stepped closer to me, and without a word, wrapped her arms around me, holding on tightly. Her body shook with quiet sobs as she buried her face in my chest, her tears soaking into my shirt.
I held her close, wrapping my arms around her in return, offering what little comfort I could until she finally began to calm down, her sobs subsiding into soft sniffles.
Ayaka stood there, hesitating for a moment, her face still flushed, her eyes full of unspoken emotions. I gave her a reassuring smile and gently pulled her into a tight embrace as well. She melted into the hug, her small frame trembling slightly as she let herself be held. After a few moments, I released her, stepping back to give her space.
“I should go now, to sign the contract,” I said, breaking the silence.
“Onii-chan… you’ve been summoned by the Demons, haven’t you?” Ayaka asked, her voice barely above a whisper, concern etched across her delicate features.
I nodded in response, confirming her fears.
“But aren’t they… bad people?” Ayaka’s voice wavered as she voiced the fear that had been gnawing at her.
“There are bad people everywhere, Ayaka,” I replied, my tone gentle but firm. “The Demon King was a great threat and did many terrible things that make people wary of the Demons. But I can at least promise you this—what happened before will never happen again. The ones who rule Tenebria now have no desire to wage wars for blood and pride.”
“Current people?” Akane’s eyes widened, her sharp mind picking up on the implication in my words.
What I was trying to convey, though not in so many words, was that the Demon King was no longer a threat.
I nodded to them, taking a deep breath as I prepared to share my thoughts. “I want you both to promise me something,” I began, my voice steady and serious. “Never take anything at face value, no matter who says it or how convincing they might seem. Always seek the truth for yourselves, and make sure to confirm it before you act.
If you encounter Demons who are truly despicable, then yes, you have the right to fight back. But never judge someone solely based on their race—treat every being, whether they’re Demon or Human, with the same fairness.”
I felt like really a brother now.
Both Ayaka and Akane nodded in agreement, their eyes reflecting their understanding.
I didn’t want them to fall into the same trap as some others, like Jason from my class, who saw the world in black and white, where Demons were nothing but enemies to be exterminated. That narrow mindset led only to corruption, to becoming something no better than the monsters they sought to destroy.
“I… I apologize, Onii-sama,” Akane said, her voice tinged with regret. “We’ve been so foolish, I suppose…”
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” I said. “As long as you two are safe, that’s all that really matters to me.”
But now, thanks to certain circumstances—enslaving both Amaterasu and Kaguya as well in some way, powerful entities in their own right—I could ensure their safety even more effectively here in Kastoria. They wouldn’t have to fear the dangers that might have otherwise threatened them.
“We… we’re not children anymore, Onii-chan!” Ayaka suddenly declared, crossing her arms with an embarrassed face. “You can treat us as women, you know!”
A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “I know you’re women. You’ve both grown up beautifully.”
“T-That’s right…” Akane murmured, averting her gaze with a shy blush, clearly a bit flustered by the acknowledgement.
Ayaka seemed to hesitate for a moment before speaking again. “Oh, Onii-chan, about Rena-san… hm. Thank you for sparing her. She’s a bit loud-mouthed, but… she’s not a bad person.”
Her words caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected Ayaka to speak up for Rena, especially given how we were all inclined to draw thick lines between those we cared about and those we didn’t. That’s why, despite me having killed her classmate, Ayaka hadn’t shown much concern. But for some reason, she felt something for Rena, enough to ask me to spare her.
Maybe I had made the right decision in keeping Rena alive.
“Go ahead, I’ll join you in a moment,” I quickly added, sensing the time to move on.
“Y-Yes… we will see each other again, right?” Ayaka asked, her voice tinged with a hint of fear, as if she was afraid the answer might not be what she hoped.
“Of course,” I said, nodding with certainty.
Even though currently I was busy, once everything was over with the Divine Knights and I made my life stable, I had the attention to live peacefully with them but the others in the Empire of Light as well.
A broad smile spread across Ayaka’s face as she turned to leave, reassured by my promise. Akane waved at me with a smile, following closely behind her.
As they disappeared from sight, I began to turn, only to hear a hesitant voice call out, “H-Hey…”
Recognizing Rena’s voice, I walked toward her, my steps steady. “What do you wa—”
Before I could finish, Rena grabbed hold of me, her hands tugging me down unexpectedly.
