"Ei, your blade's gotten dull."
For her sister Makoto's sake, Ei really did pick a fight with Su Ran.
Naturally, the entire "fight" was just her getting beaten up— but thanks to the dream realm's mechanics, she couldn't die here.
That was her one huge advantage.
Otherwise Su Ran would've had to calculate carefully just how little force he could use to avoid killing her.
The Shogun puppet couldn't even withstand 10% of his power back then.
After venting her frustrations through the beating, Ei finally calmed down.
"What exactly did you do to Makoto?"
All this time, Ei had never noticed Makoto show romantic interest in Su Ran.
So why had she just been leaning against him like that?
"Haven't I told you before? I'm interested in Makoto.
So I tried courting her.
But since she already owes me a life debt, I barely even needed to 'court' her."
Listening to Su Ran's shameless explanation, Ei felt her scalp go numb.
This is definitely bringing a wolf into the house.
"So you plan to treat Makoto the same way you treat the Shogun?
Using her gratitude to force a romance?"
He wasn't satisfied with having her— he wanted Makoto too?
"Correction.
Not just Makoto and the Shogun—
I treated you the same way too, didn't I?"
All three versions of Raiden—Ei, Makoto, and the Shogun— had been "asked" to repay his kindness with romantic devotion.
The audacity of this man was outrageous.
"Not the same! I agreed to marry you willingly!
As for the Shogun, I don't know what she thinks, but Makoto absolutely does not like you."
Ei finally voiced the difference between the three.
Shogun had long become independent—
Ei couldn't control her anymore.
Ei herself wanted to keep Su Ran around and indeed liked him.
Maybe calling it love was too much, but liking him was definitely accurate.
Makoto, on the other hand, barely interacted with Su Ran.
Gratitude, yes.
Romantic feelings? Absolutely not.
So that cuddly scene earlier must've been him coercing her!
"But she looked genuinely curious earlier.
I think she's curious about romance— otherwise why would she be reading your light novels?"
Ei froze.
She… couldn't refute that.
Recently, Makoto had been reading Ei's romance novels.
Ei assumed Makoto was trying to understand her hobbies.
She hadn't expected…
that Makoto might be interested for her own reasons.
"And—she offered me a lap pillow."
Ei's brain blue-screened.
Reading novels could've been coincidence.
But voluntarily offering Su Ran a lap pillow?
That could NOT be coincidence.
What shocked Ei even more was—
Makoto knew about Ei and Su Ran's relationship, yet still offered that.
"And you…?"
"I rejected her."
Ei stared at him, incredulous.
Makoto offered you a lap pillow.
And you… refused??
"That's insane. Why??"
If Su Ran really liked Makoto, there's no way he'd turn that down!
"Well, she's soft and she smells good."
Su Ran said with a nostalgic sigh.
"But her legs are too thin.
Not comfy.
I, on the other hand, look skinny in clothes but have meat where it counts.
So I let her experience my embrace instead— just to satisfy her curiosity."
Ei subconsciously looked at her own thighs.
For the first time in her life, she didn't know whether to be proud or upset that they apparently made for a superior pillow.
"All of this happened under the natural mutual feelings between me and your sister.
Are you really planning to break up a happy couple?"
Su Ran immediately shifted the blame onto Ei.
She felt wronged to heaven and back.
Weren't YOU and I the original pair?!
How did I suddenly become the villain separating YOU TWO?!
"But… why would Makoto choose you?"
If Makoto truly had feelings— Ei would never oppose it.
In fact, she would fully support her sister.
But she never imagined Makoto wanting romance at all.
She assumed Makoto had transcended mortal attachments completely.
"Well— can you find anyone better than me?"
Ei opened her mouth— and closed it.
She couldn't.
There really wasn't anyone more impressive than Su Ran.
"Then what about me?"
Ei felt suddenly abandoned.
She was the first one here.
Why did it feel like she'd become the leftover?
If Makoto and Su Ran became a couple…
would Makoto stop caring about her?
"Makoto's your elder sister.
Why don't you let her take the main seat and you be the concubine?"
He said this with a straight face.
Ei stared at him.
"I already consider myself the younger one.
Even if I don't call her 'big sister' much, I've always seen myself as the little sister."
She misunderstood his "be the little one," but Su Ran didn't bother explaining.
"So that solves it.
This whole mess was caused by your misunderstanding.
Why'd you even draw your blade?
Need me to help you… sheathe it back?"
Su Ran reached toward her sword.
"No need."
In a flash of violet, Musou Isshin dissolved into lightning in her hand.
Seeing her composed expression, he couldn't tell whether it was intentional or instinctive.
"If Makoto truly feels that way about you, I… won't stop her."
Up until now, Ei opposed the idea because she assumed Makoto had no interest.
But if there were real feelings involved, Ei would switch from obstacle to supporter.
She was, after all, a massive sister-con.
After losing Makoto once, she only cherished her more.
"But your one-sided story can't fool me.
I'm going to ask her myself."
—------------------------------
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