Flammenberg Territory.
I received the memories of my Clone after he had completed his mission within the City of Gluthera.
Slowly, a stream of memories flowed into my mind through a connection that transcended distance itself, assembling fragment after fragment of information my Clone had gathered throughout his journey and the duties entrusted to him.
Pieces that had once been scattered like shards of broken glass gradually drifted toward one another, merging together until they formed a complete picture.
Experiences that were not truly mine, yet belonged to me nonetheless.
Emotions I had never personally lived through, yet which still left tangible traces behind.
Once the transfer was complete, I leaned my back against the wall of the carriage compartment.
The wheels continued their steady rumble along the road, yet my thoughts only seemed to grow heavier.
A dilemma.
A single decision made by my Clone.
Something entirely beyond the boundaries of the original plan.
Something I had never once considered within my calculations.
Although I was fairly satisfied with the manner in which he had resolved every matter in Gluthera, that one unforeseen action now lingered like a burden that refused to leave my thoughts.
A faint and somewhat bitter smile appeared upon my lips.
For quite some time now, my gaze had not truly been focused on the beautiful woman seated across from me.
My elder sister, Charlotte.
Her arms were folded across her chest with a posture that was at once proud and elegant.
I had always admired the way she carried herself.
As though dignity and pride had been woven into her blood from the moment she entered the world.
Perhaps that was indeed the case.
The same blood flowed through both of us.
Shaping habits, temperaments, and pride that arose naturally without the need for instruction.
Perhaps Charlotte noticed the vacant look in my eyes.
A gaze that seemed directed toward her, yet in truth was wandering far beyond the carriage.
Into the depths of my own thoughts.
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Cih."
"What is wrong with you, Ian? I've been calling your name for quite some time, and you've ignored me completely. I was already irritated, and now you've managed to make me even more irritated."
Women were difficult to understand.
Father had told me that countless times.
He always advised me to remain patient whenever Charlotte was involved, especially when her mood shifted without warning.
At times she was as bright as spring itself.
At others, she erupted like a storm descending from the horizon.
Unpredictable.
And far more difficult to deal with when her temper had already been worsened by troublesome people or unfortunate circumstances.
Charlotte was truly different from Karina.
Despite many things, Karina was actually far more similar to me.
Even so, my younger sister was no less abnormal.
If Charlotte was heroic, spirited, and overflowing with vitality, then Karina was her complete opposite.
Quiet.
Calm.
And possessed of a way of thinking no child her age should reasonably possess.
Especially when I caught sight of those faint smiles she occasionally wore.
Smiles tinged with subtle disdain.
Only for an instant.
A fleeting moment.
Yet more than enough for me to understand one thing.
Karina was no less dangerous than Charlotte when Charlotte was angry.
Among all of us siblings, Ryan was the one who came closest to being normal.
At least when compared to the rest of us.
Although I had to admit that his excessively beautiful face made it difficult to describe him as an ordinary young man.
Who knows.
I did not particularly wish to criticize my younger brother.
Bringing my wandering thoughts to an end, I turned toward Charlotte and answered her stare with a sincere smile.
The focus that had momentarily vanished from my eyes finally returned.
"It is nothing, Sister. I was merely thinking about the Clone I sent to oversee the bandits and the hostages on their way to Gluthera."
The change in her expression was immediate.
Charlotte turned toward the carriage window.
Her gaze followed the passing scenery beyond the glass.
"I had almost forgotten about that matter."
"And what was the outcome? Has everything involving Baron Glutherz already been settled?"
"Yes. Everything has been settled. However..."
The next words caught in my throat.
I needed a moment to arrange them properly.
If I chose the wrong phrasing, there was a high chance Charlotte would misunderstand what I meant.
She turned back toward me.
Her eyes immediately settled upon my face.
Noticing the hesitation that followed my last statement, a faint smile slowly appeared upon her lips.
"What is it?"
"Do not tell me everything failed to proceed according to your plans."
"My plans unfolded exactly as expected."
"It is simply that one matter emerged beyond my anticipation."
"Oh?"
One of her brows rose.
"I thought you were a master planner."
"Only yesterday I was praising you."
"And now you are telling me that something slipped through your calculations?"
I released a long sigh.
Truthfully, it was not a variable.
Nor was it a flaw in planning.
The problem was much simpler than that.
And precisely because it was simple, it had become troublesome.
A promise.
A bond that never should have been spoken by my Clone.
A promise remained a promise.
I could not break it.
Not even if I were capable of offering something far greater in return.
Because the value of a promise had never been determined by the reward attached to it.
Its worth lay in the willingness to honor it.
"It is not a variable."
"Everything proceeded smoothly."
"My Clone spoke with Baron Glutherz and delivered a parchment containing a request regarding the punishment of those bandits."
Charlotte frowned.
Then a mischievous smile slowly spread across her face.
"And what exactly is the problem?"
"Do not tell me you have suddenly grown soft-hearted."
"Or perhaps the punishment you proposed was so mild that Baron Glutherz laughed at you?"
Charlotte suddenly burst into laughter.
To me, my elder sister had always been both amusing and adorable.
Even when she was angry.
In fact, whenever irritation filled her face and her lips formed a dissatisfied pout, there was something about her that made her seem even more alive.
Of course, that only applied so long as she did not swing her fists.
That was an entirely different matter.
I had personally experienced the power hidden within Charlotte's punches.
Her superhuman fists were something that should be avoided at all costs.
A single blow was enough to leave one's bones aching in protest.
Father had once said much the same thing.
Perhaps that explained why his arm had been covered in bruises when he carried an unconscious Charlotte several years ago.
No one knew what had truly happened that day except Father himself.
Yet my habit of collecting scattered fragments of information and assembling them into conclusions rarely led me astray.
"You wish to know what punishment was written within the parchment I gave to Baron Glutherz."
Charlotte clicked her tongue.
"You are making this unnecessarily complicated. Just tell me."
My confidence had apparently robbed her of any desire to continue guessing.
After laughing to her heart's content, she turned her gaze toward the carriage window.
"Hmm. Now, how should I put this..."
"Ian."
"Yes, Sister?"
"Just say it. I am serious."
Those beautiful eyes fixed themselves directly upon me.
If someone else had seen that expression, they might have assumed Charlotte was angry.
Her gaze was certainly sharp.
Heavy with pressure.
Yet to me, it was merely a sign that her curiosity had reached its limit.
"Very well, Sister."
She gave a slow nod.
Patiently waiting for the answer she had been seeking all this time.
"I requested that the punishment for the bandits be lifelong slavery."
A dismissive smile immediately appeared at the corner of her lips.
"That is all?"
"..."
"You have truly become soft-hearted."
"There is more."
"Oh?"
One of her brows lifted.
"You assigned two punishments?"
"Yes. The second punishment is lifelong flogging."
"..."
"You mean to say that you ordered them to be whipped for the rest of their lives?"
"I suggested that Baron Glutherz have them flogged once every week or once every two weeks."
"Wait!"
This time Charlotte's reaction was entirely different.
Her eyes widened instantly.
As though the information she had just heard existed far beyond the boundaries of her expectations.
"You mean..."
"You gave them a sentence of lifelong flogging?"
"Yes."
"..."
"I also provided several gold coins to the Baron in order to help ensure the bandits remain healthy."
"..."
"So that they stay alive."
"..."
"So that they remain healthy enough to continue receiving their floggings throughout the remainder of their lives."
"Hah..."
Charlotte fell silent for a moment.
Then she slowly shook her head.
"That is utterly insane."
"Now that I think about it, it is even crueler than execution."
"You are correct, Sister. Death only grants a brief period of suffering."
"..."
"But once their status falls to that of slaves, they will labor endlessly without reward."
"..."
"And with the certainty of the lash awaiting them every week, the torment becomes far greater."
A slow smile spread across Charlotte's face.
This time it was not a mocking smile.
It was the smile of someone who genuinely appreciated the idea.
"I like that."
"Just imagine them being flogged in the city square every week."
"The citizens of Gluthera would gain quite an entertaining spectacle."
"I already suggested that within the parchment."
"As for the hostages, I addressed them as well."
"I requested that they receive proper care and rehabilitation to help mend the psychological wounds they have suffered."
"Well done, Ian. Your sister awards you extra marks."
At last, a sincere smile graced Charlotte's face.
The dismissive amusement from earlier had vanished completely.
Only genuine appreciation remained for a plan that had been executed successfully.
Yet her curiosity was clearly not satisfied.
She still remembered the concern that had occupied my thoughts since earlier.
That was why her expression gradually became serious once more.
"Then, Ian."
"What is troubling you if the matter of the bandits has already been resolved?"
I drew a slow breath.
Then I answered honestly.
"My Clone made a promise to Baron Glutherz."
"What kind of promise?"
"To protect his daughter in the Imperial Capital."
"His daughter?"
"Yes."
"..."
"And that is the problem."
"..."
"This is going to become troublesome. Even for me."
"..."
"Especially for the young lady herself. I am not convinced she will be comfortable if I suddenly begin appearing around her frequently in order to fulfill that promise."
A moment later, laughter erupted once again.
I frowned.
Charlotte was laughing yet again.
I genuinely could not understand what part of this situation she found amusing.
"Good heavens, Ian."
"I am far more concerned about Rose and Cecilia."
"Hah?"
I froze.
The names that suddenly left her lips caused my thoughts to stumble for a brief moment.
Charlotte's smile widened even further.
"What is it?"
"Surprised, Ian?"
"Think about it carefully."
"What happens if Rose and Cecilia also enroll in the academy one day?"
"And then they see you constantly spending time around another young woman."
"A beautiful upperclassman, no less."
"I can already imagine the sort of looks they would give you."
"That is merely your imagination, Sister."
"Are you certain?"
Charlotte leaned back comfortably against her seat.
Her smile became far more meaningful.
"Have you forgotten the last time all of you were gathered together? I remember it quite clearly."
Whether her words would one day prove true or not, I had no desire to see such a possibility become reality.
Besides, Charlotte was not the sort of person who easily forgot things.
Especially their last meeting.
Though many years had passed since then.
Years upon years.
The memory remained vivid within her mind, untouched by the passage of time.
"Let it rest, Sister. There is no need to speak about them right now."
"Why not? There is no harm in it, is there?"
"That is not the issue. Your imagination is simply becoming increasingly excessive."
"Cih. It could very well become reality."
I fell silent.
"Just wait and see."
"I will not come to your rescue if Rose and Cecilia end up attending the same academy."
"Let it go, Sister."
Arguing with her whenever she believed herself victorious was utterly exhausting.
"Hehe."
"..."
"Your head hurts, doesn't it?"
Yes, it did.
My head hurt because she would not stop teasing me.
But there was no chance I was going to admit that aloud.
"This is your own fault for allowing your Clone to make decisions as he pleased."
I chose to ignore her teasing altogether.
Charlotte was correct.
Yet at the same time, she was also mistaken.
A Shadow Clone was not a servant that obeyed unconditionally.
It inherited a portion of me.
My thoughts.
My desires.
And sometimes even tendencies I failed to recognize within myself.
Because of that, the choices my Clone made could not be blamed entirely upon him.
In the end, those decisions had originated from me as well.
I released a long sigh.
Perhaps it was not so terrible.
Occasionally building a good relationship with an upperclassman was hardly a disadvantage.
At least, that was what I was trying to convince myself.
Charlotte chuckled several more times while looking at me.
It was painfully obvious that she was enjoying my discomfort.
As for me, I simply turned toward the carriage window.
Allowing the conversation to die on its own.
Forget it.
We had already arrived.
The City of Brandenburg.
The second largest city within Flammenberg Territory.
A city far larger, busier, and wealthier than Gluthera.
Yet there was one particularly striking difference.
This was not our first visit.
In truth, I had long since lost count of how many times my family had traveled to Brandenburg.
With Father's ability to manipulate space itself, distance had ceased to hold much meaning for our family.
Journeys that would require days of travel for ordinary people could be completed in a fraction of the time.
As the second most prosperous city after the seat of Count Flammenberg's authority, Brandenburg was filled with grand and imposing structures.
Rows of houses, trading halls, warehouses, and buildings belonging to various organizations stretched throughout every district.
The closer one traveled toward the city center, the more crowded the streets became.
Numerous guilds had established headquarters and branches there.
Each sought to expand its influence.
Each struggled to seize a larger share of the market.
That endless competition kept the city's economic heart beating without pause, transforming Brandenburg into one of the greatest centers of commerce within the territory.
Yet the greatest difference between Brandenburg and Gluthera lay in the presence of the Alchemists' Guild Branch.
One of the most powerful organizations descended from the lineage of the Magic Tower.
The Alchemists' Guild was not a force that could be underestimated.
Particularly within the lands of the Southern Duke.
Their influence was so immense that, under certain circumstances, they possessed enough leverage to pressure or even overturn the decisions of a count if those decisions threatened their interests.
Such power had not been forged through military might.
Nor through noble titles.
Rather, it stemmed from society's dependence upon the products they created.
The works of alchemists could be found throughout nearly every corner of the city.
One example was what Father referred to as cement.
A construction material that was gradually replacing stone in numerous building projects.
Naturally, not everyone could afford to use it.
Because it was produced by the Alchemists' Guild, its cost was extraordinarily high.
Far beyond the reach of most common citizens.
Yet for wealthy merchants, city officials, and nobles, the use of alchemical cement had become a symbol of prosperity.
A silent social standard understood by all.
Not merely because it was expensive.
But because of its remarkable quality.
The cement produced by alchemists had proven superior to traditional building materials in numerous respects.
The higher the quality of the cement, the more extraordinary its durability became.
Over the past several years, immense changes had swept across the territories of the Southern Duke.
The union of magic and practical knowledge had given birth to countless innovations.
Buildings.
Fortresses.
Defensive walls.
All had advanced at a remarkable pace.
Structures built with alchemical cement proved vastly sturdier than those constructed through older methods.
Even Father had used the material while renovating our residence.
Our family home was now far larger than before.
More magnificent.
More durable.
And if I were being honest, it was slowly beginning to resemble the castle of a noble house.
My gaze remained fixed beyond the carriage window.
Observing the life that flowed through the streets.
Merchants tirelessly advertising their wares.
Carriages moving back and forth.
Adventurers walking with weapons hanging at their waists.
Children racing between the crowds.
This city was truly alive.
Its pulse felt far stronger than that of many cities I had visited before.
Not long afterward, the carriage finally reached its destination.
The residence of someone we knew exceedingly well.
Our grandmother.
And at the same time, Mother's maternal aunt.
To Mother, that middle-aged woman had long ceased being merely an aunt.
She had become no different from a true mother.
And for us siblings, she had occupied the role of a grandmother for as long as we could remember.
The only thing that had once felt slightly awkward was the presence of her husband.
Calling him Grandfather occasionally felt strange because no blood relation existed between us.
Yet that feeling never lasted long.
The old man had always treated us with remarkable kindness.
With a warmth no less genuine than that of family.
Because of that, the awkwardness gradually faded with the passing years.
The carriage came to a halt.
I lifted my gaze.
And at last realized something.
I had arrived.