My Sister Is The Villainess

I opened my eyes and saw that the pentagram beneath us had vanished, and right now we were standing on crimson mud that went on forever and was wet, which somehow did not make any sense to me, as I had never once thought that there would be rain in the Realm of the Unorthodox.

The devilish crimson moon hung in the sky.

”Lets travel north, toward the crimson moon, as per the instructions of the Academy,” Eliza said, looking toward us.

We walked and walked until our legs started to hurt. Eliza looked at her pocket watch and confirmed that it had been approximately two hours since our journey began.

”Let us stop here for tonight,” she said. ”And a quick tip, time here flows faster than on Valemont. four hours here is approximately one hour back home. As for this pocket watch, it is actually the Gift I received on my awakening. It shows the time in this Realm.”

We nodded.

”We will take turns on watch. I will be first. You can decide who will be second and so on.”

”I will be second,” I said.

Eliza looked toward me and nodded.

”I will go third,” Theodore said, gritting his teeth.

”I will be fourth, then,” Arthur finally said, though I could see fear in his eyes. I felt pity, but this was probably better for him. After all, there was no room for fear once you entered the Realm.

Fear is pleasure for Unorthodox creatures, Eniphia had said.

”I will be fifth,” Mary said, and I was surprised to see that she clearly showed no sense of fear. Even I, who knew much about the Realm, was a little afraid for my life, but she showed no signs of fear. Which was probably just what she was trying to show.

We opened our bag and took out five mattresses, five pillows, five blankets, and five water bottles, along with the food.

I was not feeling hungry at the moment, but I still ate. After all, if I did not, Theodore would probably have left nothing for me.

After eating and drinking, we laid out our mattresses and quietly laid down our bodies to sleep, except Eliza, who was keeping watch.

I closed my eyes, and because of how tired I was, I quickly fell asleep.

My eyes opened almost two hours later, and I saw Eliza sitting on a large rock, staring at the endless crimson mud, her two axes thrust into the ground.

I rubbed my eyes and stood up.

”You are awake?” Eliza said, turning her head toward me.

”Well, yes.”

I sat close to her and saw that she was barely keeping her eyes open.

”Go to sleep now. It is my turn,” I said with a smile.

She looked at me, smiled, lifted her eyebrows, sighed, rubbed her knees, and finally said, ”Okay.”

She stood up and went to lie down, while I sat on the rock she had previously been sitting on.

After a minute, I looked toward the others to see whether they were sleeping fine. And to my relief, they were. Even Eliza seemed to be in a deep slumber already.

I sighed and looked forward. With nothing to do, I decided to check my status.

[Status]

Name: Edmund Rhys

Title: N/A

Core Stage: Seed

Affinity: Ice

Talent: C-Rank

Vitality: 15

Strength: 27

Endurance: 13

Dexterity: 14

Spiritual Power: 8/8

Weapon Equipped: None

Plot Points: 0

’I should probably equip a weapon.’

[Inventory]

[The Breathing Fire Glove (1)]

I thought for a moment and finally selected the Breathing Fire Glove.

[Item: The Breathing Fire Glove]

[Quantity: 1]

[Description: A glove made from the essence of souls that were once filled with passion.]

[Rank: Awakened]

[Equip? Yes/No]

I willed yes, and the glove came to my hands. It was deep brown in color and felt like it was made of leather. The only thing that distinguished it from other leather gloves was a hole where the palm should be, and a tongue-like flap protruding from that hole.

It felt gross, but it was strong enough to be considered an Awakened item, so I did not mind and wore it without a second thought. The moment I put it on, I felt a spiritual pressure settle upon my soul. Though I endured it with all my strength.

GARAJJ!

I stood up to my feet, hearing the sound of lightning, and saw it land ten feet ahead of me, filling that area with smoke.

Theodore, Mary, Eliza, and Arthur also woke up hearing the sound and drew their weapons. Eliza, who was clearly still very sleepy, dragged her legs and came in front of me, and the others also came close.

The smoke slowly thinned, and we could see a figure within it. It turned its head toward us and moved its feet.

”Holy hell,” Theodore muttered.

A horrifying, dog-like entity the size of an ox, its hunched body wrapped in thick, mud-crusted fur gone the color of old rust. A single rhino horn jutted from its snout, flanked by two absurdly delicate rabbit ears that twitched with every sound, while its wide, flaring nostrils dripped scalding saliva that hissed and smoked against the crimson mud below. From its overlong, segmented neck split two crab-like limbs, each ending in a wide, serrated claw that clicked together with slow, hungry rhythm.

It fixed its small, glassy eyes on us, giving out a shriek.

[You have encountered a Beast Flesh: Moynukz]