Clarissa calmed down her laughter and properly looked at Basil. He always became more handsome each time she saw him. Like always, everytime he went, there were many women fawning over him.
Clarissa sighed to herself. The longer she spent her time together with Basil, the more she was aware of how awesome Basil was. Therefore, she also noticed how lacking she was compared to him.
That didn't mean she was going to back down though. She might have gotten sister-zoned currently, however she was determined to change that soon. She was also aware if she were to succeed, the situation with her father would be awkward. However, she didn't care!
Love truly makes one blind.
The trip continued for two days and a half. The trip was pleasant as the carriage was comfortable and they could fill each others with what had happened for the past month.
Stories were exchanged between them. Like usual, Basil had the least to tell. His story consisted of him training, removing some pests, and increasing the value of his wealth. They were sure it wouldn't be boring if he had elaborated his story.
However, they knew the details would be gruesome. Therefore, they opted to not pursue it any further.
The waited day where they finally arrived to their destination came. Danzel and Clarissa was already aware of Basil's family background. Therefore, Clarissa knew Basil had also one surrogate little sister.
Despite knowing so, she was still nervous to meet Shirley. She was afraid to be rejected, considering she was a commoner unlike Shirley who was a Noble. Furthermore, she was afraid Shirley would hate her for taking her brother.
Pat. Pat. Pat.
A warm hand was put on top of her head. She looked up and was met with Basil's considerably more tender than normal eyes. At this point, she could already grasp Basil's way showing his emotion, despite how lacking it was.
Her heart warmed. Basil knew about her nervousness and still didn't call her out on that. It was what she wanted. She wanted to keep the image of a strong woman in front of her father. She didn't care if Basil knew her weakness. She wanted to be spoiled by him!
"Huuh... Nothing can beat nature's air!"
Danzel finally got down from the carriage and inhaled as much air as he could. He missed the outside air very much as he had spent most of the time in the carriage. Although the carriage was comfortable, he still missed the vast nature.
"It is great to know you don't have any discomfort or whatsoever." Basil looked at Danzel and Clarissa, then motioned them to follow him. They were still in front of the mansion's gate.
Even at a glance, everyone could see the grandeur and the majesty it exuded. Basil had done quite a lot with his mansion. He had expanded its size, created a garden full of flowerbed, and put many elegant decorations.
Basil put his palm on top of the mansion's gate. The gate shone for a brief moment before it opened itself.
Hum.
The gate hummed beautifully. Danzel and Clarissa admired the scene in front of them. Not even their luxurious hotel could compare to what they saw.
The grandeur the mansion showed alone was enough to overwhelm them. Not to mention the scenery inside the mansion. Flowerbeds decorated the side of the pathway giving a peaceful atmosphere to it.
"Woah.. it's beautiful."
"Indeed. I feel it can make me a philosopher just by seeing it."
"You can't, Dad. You don't have the brain capacity."
"..."
Danzel's lips turned into a thin line. His daughter had become wittier in her remarks. He felt proud and sad at the same time.
"What are you two doing? Come on."
"Kuhum.. let's go."
"Can I stand by your side, Brother?"
"Sure."
"Can I hold your hand?"
Clarissa didn't wait for confirmation. She just did what she asked. Basil had no qualms. He had never been a brother in his past life. Therefore, in this life he tried to be one. He was trying his best to be the best brother just so his surrogate sisters wouldn't fall in love with him.
Misconception!
When one becomes a too good of a brother, his sister will eventually fall for him. It is a testified fact!
※ For the sake of confidentiality, the identities of the samples are omitted.
Sadly, Basil would never know it. Just like what Vagus had said. Basil was indeed experienced, but not in regards of social interaction.
Walking through the pathway while holding her crush's hand, Clarissa admired the scene. Many kinds of flowers which fragrance calmed one's mind decorated the flowerbed.
She took a liking to the place almost instantly. Looking to the back, she could see her father assuming a pondering look while observing the scenery around him. She shook her head helplessly. Her father's penchant of doing stupid things irritated her as always.
The door to the mansion was quickly seen. Clarissa could almost hear her heart beating in her ears. Fear of rejection was strongly felt in her heart. Her mind kept whispering about the bad things that might occur.
Her palms became sweaty. It was so embarrassing as she was currently holding her crush's hand. She tried to let the hand go, however her hand was gripped tighter than before. A soothing energy seemed to flow from her hand to her entire body.
Her heart calmed down and she looked straight to the front. Then, even before they arrived in front of the door, it opened by itself, revealing eight people. 5 of them were maids, while the other 3 were somehow familiar to her.
She knew about the three people. She had heard about them from Basil's story. The one in the middle, the beautiful girl with blonde hair and perfectly sculpted nose must be Shirley. The one in the left, the beautiful elderly lady must be Irene.
While she was unsure about the one in the right. She believed the tomboyish girl with short blue hair was Shirley's best friend, Julia. She gulped unconsciously. All of the girls were a top tier beauty.
"Huuh... Be strong, Clarissa!" She muttered under her breath.
While Clarissa was busy on building her confidence, Shirley was looking at her with a hawk eyes. She was looking at the tangled hands and frowned lightly. She turned her gaze at Clarissa's face, then gasped inwardly.
'Oh my god, she is so cute! There is this "little sister vibe" surrounding her!'
Shirley's heart tightened. She was afraid her seat of being a sister would be taken by Clarissa. The two girls' eyes met. Lighting could be seen sparkled between their eyes due to how heated the look they gave to each other.
The onlooker looked at them from the side and smiled wryly. It felt like watching a drama of a wife seeing her husband coming home together with a mistress.
"It's good to have you back, Senior!"
At that moment, the feud between the surrogate sisters was instantly terminated. Thanks to Julia's timely intervention, the cold war stopped entirely. Both of the girls cooled down their heated gazes and nodded at each other.
"Welcome home, Young Master."
"Welcome home, Brother."
"I am home, everyone."
Basil smiled softly and it brought warmth to everyone's heart. Basil shook his head inwardly at Irene's way of calling him. He had told her to treat him like her child, therefore she should stop being a maid.
She had indeed stopped being one. However, she didn't stop calling him Young Master, or doing the chores. What had changed was only her attire. Her activities were still that of a maid, despite Basil's nagging to stop.
"Welcome to our humble house. You must be my Young Master's family. I have heard a lot about you." Irene bowed at Danzel and Clarissa.
"Oh, no, no. You don't have to bow. We are equally a family. Basil had told us many things about his mother after all." This time, Danzel was the one who bowed along with Clarissa
A scene where each side acknowledging each other ensued. Each side raised their heads and smiled amiably at each other.
At that moment, Clarissa let go of Basil's hand and stepped forward. Her eyes were staring straightly at Shirley. Despite being older than her, both of them stood at the height of 168 centimeters. Therefore, it wasn't seen as a staredown.
Clarissa extended her hand and smiled softly, "I am Clarissa. Nice to meet you." She started to regret her decision as she had just introduced herself to a Noble with a commoner's way.
Luckily, her worry was unfounded. Shirley grasped her hand and replied courteously, "I am Shirley. Nice to meet you too, Clarissa." She didn't even mention her family name to show she was a noble.
Both of the girls let go of each other's hands and smiled at each other. They had gotten a glimpse of each other's self from the brief handshake.
A terrifying display of woman's instinct indeed!
"Hey, me too! Hello, I am Julia. Nice to meet you! You can call me Jules if you want."
Being the person who lacked of common courtesy she was, Julia snatched Clarissa's hand and shook it enthusiastically. Clarissa was taken aback momentarily before shaking Julia's hand with a smile.
"Hello, I am Clarissa. Nice to meet you. I hope we can be a good friend!"
"Of course, girl! I have liked you from the moment I saw you."
Just to be clear, Julia meant it in a good way. She was just friendly with people she had taken a liking to. Although she didn't fancy men that much, her crush was a man.
"Let's continue the conversation later. We have to get you settled first. Irene," Basil looked at Irene and she nodded her head.
"Very well, Young Master. Follow me, please. I will lead you to your room."
Danzel and Clarissa bowed their heads and followed Irene's lead. The maids parted and gave way to the the three people. The maids bowed once to Basil before resuming their works.
"Shirley, Julia..."
"Yes, Brother?"
Shirley raised her head and looked at Basil curiously. She was no longer insecure of her growth. She had hit a growth spurt and she was already taller than Julia. The only part she was lacking was her chest.
However, she didn't mind. She was sure she would match Julia's in no time. It was just a phase.
In the other hand, Julia opted to stay silent as she observed Basil calmly. His body gesture signified he was ready for combat. Julia nodded her head and clasped Shirley's hand. Shirley turned to her and looked at her in confusion.
"What is it, Jules?"
"Let's help our cute Clarissa! I can see we can be good friends!"
"O-okay.. stop pulling me!"
"Ahaha! I won't let you go, girl!"
Just like that, the two of them disappeared into the mansion. Basil's faint smile faltered ever so slightly. By the time he couldn't see their backs anymore, his face was bereft of any emotion, and his eyes were filled with freezing coldness.
"I admire your work ethics, however you are accepting a job you can never accomplish. Anyone with enough brain cells will stop by now."
Turning his body, he looked at the gate's direction. There was no reaction or whatsoever. However, in the next moment, the surrounding air distorted before six men with black hooded robe were revealed.
It was a display of [Camouflage].
Basil had naturally sensed them long ago. They had already followed him since his carriage entered Woster County. Basil gazed at them coldly, and killing intent washed over the six men.
Most of them had their knees buckled, however the one in front of Basil remained calm. He stepped forward slowly and said, "We are here to deliver you something." His voice was distorted. The only feature indicating he was a man was only his stature.
"Grab my hands."
Turned out, it was merely a message. Basil didn't need to know who it was from. He knew the idiot who dared to use Assassins as deliveryman.
"That harlot became even more irritating lately."
Basil sighed lightly. He looked at the six Assassins with a neutral gaze. All of them were Knights with Peak Stage Yellow Core. Undoubtedly a Middle-Rank Assassin. He shook his head in disappointment.
"Disgrace!"
That was the only thing the Assassins heard before all of their heads were beheaded instantly. None of them had seen the weapon Basil had used. None of them had even seen the moment the weapon cut their necks.
Basil waved his hand and fire engulfed the body of the six Assassins. Behind him, Kusanagi was floating like a Death God's scythe. The beheading was done by it.
Kusanagi wasn't sentient. Its ability to fly was thanks to Basil's newly attained Aura Ability, [Master of Weapons]. It gave him the perfect control over weapons, including controlling them without even touching them.
A cheat-like envy evoking Aura Ability indeed. It was thanks to [Star Withering] and his Mana Heart. Surely, a good resource bears a good product.
Basil gazed into the void. His gaze was deep and cold. The wind blew and it caressed his face tenderly. His short hair billowed gracefully, following the rhythm of the wind.
"I will settle the matter once and for all."
The wind suddenly gone but the surrounding air turned colder.