As the sun set, deep in the dim alleyways, the tavern's sign flickered on and off.
Outside the tavern, the place was littered with traces of battle—swords, claws, cannon fire—and there were even a few people who didn't look drunk at all, lying on the ground convulsing, foam at their mouths.
Any normal person, seeing a scene like this, wouldn't even think about going inside for a drink. They would definitely keep their distance from a tavern that radiated danger from head to toe.
And yet, inside this very tavern, there was an astonishing amount of activity.
Tobacco, alcohol, beautiful women.
In stark contrast to the run-down exterior and the sign that looked ready to go out at any moment, the inside of the tavern was filled with scenes of indulgence and excess.
And if you paid close attention, you'd notice that aside from the scantily clad hostesses responsible for entertaining the guests, almost everyone spending money in the tavern had Spirit Eyes hanging from their arms—they were all Duelists, without exception.
Only these Duelists were very different from the kind one usually encountered.
They lived in darkness, walked in darkness, and could not face the light of day—Shadow Duelists.
In other words, this shabby-looking tavern deep in the dim alleyways was an illegal gathering place for Shadow Duelists.
"Tonight, all expenses are on Young Master Bryce!"
"Ooooooh!"
"Bring me your best bottle!"
"I just love your money, Bryce!"
The Black Tavern, already lively on ordinary days, was especially noisy tonight.
Surrounded by the crowd in the center was today's biggest spender—a burly man with scruffy stubble, sprawled arrogantly on a sofa, arms draped over the fragrant shoulders of the hostesses, occasionally sneaking a grope.
A famous powerhouse in the world of Shadow Duelists—the bounty hunter, Bryce.
Leaning against Bryce's chest, a sultry hostess passed him a glass of wine.
"I heard Lord Bryce picked up a big job a few days ago. Is that why you're being so generous tonight?"
Another hostess wasn't about to be outdone and leaned in as well.
"Tell us about it, Lord Bryce. Which noble lord is it this time, trying to secretly get rid of some important person?"
The irony was unmistakable. The Duelists who lived in darkness, walked in darkness, and bowed to darkness drew their largest and main source of income from those glittering, high-and-mighty nobles.
Becoming pawns and claws, they did unspeakable deeds for those immensely wealthy aristocrats—or hunted rare cards through Shadow Duels to earn vast sums of gold.
This was nothing new in the Shadow Duelist world.
Although this line of work was far more dangerous than being an ordinary Duelist, the money came faster, and many Shadow Duelists were twisted enough to enjoy the thrill of living on the edge of death.
And as one of the top figures among Shadow Duelists, Bryce had indeed received a job from a noble lord a few days ago with a reward so outrageous it left him stunned.
It was said that several families had pooled their power together—just the advance payment alone made it impossible for Bryce to refuse.
Once this job was done, the full reward would be enough for him to live in reckless luxury for the rest of his life.
Yet despite such an exaggerated reward, the actual task didn't sound very difficult to Bryce.
Downing the wine in his glass in one gulp, Bryce laughed. "Those high-and-mighty lords are paying big money to have me take out a woman. It's basically a gift from the heavens."
"A woman? What woman would dare offend those noble lords?"
"The recently rising agent head of the Carlos family—Alice Carlos."
The moment the name 'Carlos' was spoken, the once-raucous atmosphere in the tavern fell suddenly silent.
After dozens of seconds of silence, someone finally spoke up. "The Carlos family… is that the one that was granted a Royal Duel Knight?"
Their reputation was widespread—even the Shadow Duelist world echoed with it.
Lately, if one were to name the most influential Duelist, it would undoubtedly be Aisha Carlos, who had repeatedly created miracles.
"What the hell are you scared of?" Bryce barked.
Clearly dissatisfied with the sudden shift in mood around him.
"The Royal Knight is her sister, Aisha Carlos, not her. Her sister is still studying at Fusion Academy. As for Alice Carlos herself, everyone knows she isn't even a Duelist."
The sultry hostess on his left asked in confusion, "If she's not even a Duelist, why would they spend big money to hire a top Shadow Duelist like Lord Bryce? Wouldn't an ordinary assassin do the job?"
"The noble lords already tried the ordinary methods, but they all got blocked. So they figure that even though Alice Carlos isn't a Duelist, she probably keeps a few Duelists in her manor as guard dogs."
An ordinary assassin, running into Duelists from a completely different dimension, probably couldn't even break through a Spirit Monster's defense. Failing would be only natural, in Bryce's eyes.
"But who do you think I am?" Smashing the wineglass in his hand to pieces, Bryce leapt arrogantly onto the sofa. "Do you think some no-name Duelists can stop me?"
"Absolutely not!" the whole tavern roared.
The famed bounty hunter Bryce of the Shadow Duelist world had been through countless Shadow Duels, blood on his hands, with at least a three-digit number of Duelists he had taken out in secret.
That was exactly why the noble lords were willing to pay a fortune to hire him.
"Keep the music playing, keep the dancing going! Tonight I set off! And I'll livestream taking that bitch's head for you all!"
"Ooooooh! That's Bryce for you! So reliable!"
The tavern's atmosphere once again turned frenzied and deafening.
In this space filled with darkness, ugliness, greed, and filthy human nature, human life had become the most insignificant thing.
Just like the bodies in front of the tavern in that dim alley—people who had been casually disposed of by Shadow Games, now lying still, no longer twitching.
---
Meanwhile…
At the Carlos manor's dining table, everything was peaceful and warm. It was impossible to connect this cozy scene with the madness unfolding in the darkness elsewhere.
The dishes Alice had personally prepared used ingredients that weren't particularly expensive, but they made up for it with care—perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
"So delicious… wuwuwu." Even Irena was moved to tears.
"So pretty and such a good cook too. If only Alice were my sister. I'm so jealous."
Alice smiled. "Hehe, you're so cute, Irena. I wouldn't mind having one more little sister either."
Elra: "Oh? Then would you mind having another little brother too?"
Elra, inside the Millennium Ring, true to her troublemaking nature and impeccable timing, popped out again, making Alice frown slightly.
To begin with, the one thing Alice was unhappy about was why she had to cook for the man her sister brought home.
And from the very start, Miles had been burying his head in eating, not saying a single word.
At someone else's dinner table, even if it's just out of politeness, praising the hostess' cooking is basic etiquette.
Doesn't this kid have any manners at all?
"Mr. Mil—Miles?"
Even Aisha vaguely sensed that something about Miles was different from usual.
"Sis really does cook very well, but Miles, you could slow down a little. If you eat too fast, you'll choke."
No sooner had Aisha spoken than her words came true—Miles immediately choked on the seafood risotto.
Gulping down half a glass of lemon water, Miles finally let out a long breath and recovered.
"Hehe, is it good, Miles?"
Alice was still trying to keep a gentle smile on her face, but inside she was already cursing.
I specifically prepared this meal for my sister, and you're eating so much of it all by yourself… do you have no concept of courtesy at all?
"It's really delicious, Sis."
Who are you calling your 'Sis'? You've really got some nerve, haven't you!
If Aisha hadn't been present to restrain her rationally, Alice would have probably gone berserk just from that single form of address.
This is giving me a headache.
The corners of Alice's mouth twitched as she struggled to maintain her smile, her forehead nearly sprouting an enraged ╬! mark.
"Calling me 'sis' all of a sudden… that's a bit hard for me to get used to, Miles."
Aisha thought, Then I'd advise you to get used to it as soon as possible.
Of course, she would never dare say something that arrogant out loud.
"Uh, no. That's not it." Miles hurriedly corrected himself.
"What I actually meant was that it tastes just like my sister's cooking. Because I haven't eaten my sister's food in a long time, the flavor was just too nostalgic, and I couldn't help myself…"
"Miles' sister, huh."
Aisha also knew that before transmigrating, Miles had a sister.
He would occasionally mention her during casual chats. It felt like, aside from playing cards, this was the topic he was most willing to talk about.
With both parents deceased, the sister he depended on before transmigrating was someone he could never see again after coming to this world. This was probably the one regret Miles carried after arriving on the Spirit Continent.
"So it tastes just like your sister's cooking."
For some reason, after hearing Miles' explanation, Alice's mood suddenly settled.
Perhaps because she herself was an older sister, she could sense that someone like Miles—who held such feelings for his sister—was not a bad person by nature.
There didn't seem to be a need to guard against him so much.
[Threat level greatly reduced ↓↓]
"You haven't eaten your sister's cooking for a long time? Miles, then where is your sister now?"
"My sister… isn't by my side anymore."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked." Realizing she'd asked the wrong thing, Alice immediately apologized.
A sense of pity arose. Beneath Miles' handsome, gentle appearance, a fleeting trace of loneliness passed through his eyes, softening Alice's heart despite herself.
This was probably the 'older sister DNA' being triggered.
"There's no need to apologize. Even though my sister isn't with me anymore, I believe she's living better than anyone else. And she would want me to live well, too."
Although he felt lonely at times, Miles had long since come to terms with this truth. If his sister could know that he was living happily in another world after his death, she would surely bless him from the bottom of her heart.
So what Miles needed to do was live his second life to the fullest, without leaving regrets.
"It's okay, Miles!"
"…?"
"If you really miss your sister that much, you can call me 'sister' too! Mhm, just call me 'sister' directly!"
"Ah, th-this…"
Alice's sudden, overwhelming enthusiasm almost left Miles unable to cope.
"This is your chance, Mr. Miles!" Aisha whispered encouragingly. "My sister has acknowledged you!"
If Miles called Alice 'sister,' then Alice was his sister.
Wouldn't that mean Miles could marry into the Carlos family and become one big family once and for all?
"This is your opportunity, isn't it!" Miles whispered back in complaint.
Don't think I don't know what you're really scheming in that head of yours.
"S-sister…"
Unable to withstand Alice's 'enthusiasm,' Miles ultimately gave in.
Just for the sake of Alice's cooking, which tasted exactly like his sister's, calling her 'sister' wasn't such a loss.
Compared to Miles, Irena was far more practiced at this. "Sis, another plate please!"
Climbing social ladders with expert ease, she called her 'sister' one after another, more enthusiastically than anyone.
"Hehe, it really feels like I suddenly gained another adorable little sister and little brother tonight. How wonderful."
With dinner halfway finished, Alice's mood had clearly improved a great deal. She no longer carried the initial wariness toward Miles.
A respectful, sensible, good kid like this probably wouldn't pose any threat to Aisha. Maybe he really was just an ordinary kouhai she'd met at the academy.
So, with the atmosphere currently favorable, Alice naturally took the opportunity to ask something that was easier to bring up at the dinner table.
"As your sister, I'm actually quite curious. Aisha, how did you and Miles meet? Unlike Irena, he's only a first-year junior. School's been in session for just two months, hasn't it? And yet you've already become this close?"
The spoon in Miles' hand suddenly stopped. He hadn't expected Alice to reveal her true intent at this moment and ask the question he feared most.
There was no way he could honestly say they met by transmigrating through the Millennium Puzzle.
And Alice's question wasn't unreasonable. First-year students had only been enrolled for two months in total, and Aisha had spent half of that time over at Synchron Academy.
Meeting for just a month and already bringing him home, being this close between a man and a woman, was indeed worth being 'curious' about.
However, the meticulous Miles had already prepared an explanation in advance. "Well, Sis. Aisha and I—"
"Miles~" Alice interrupted with a smile. "I'm asking Aisha. Let her answer herself."
So scary!
Seeing Alice's eyes curve into crescent moons, Miles once again felt the overwhelming pressure of a strict older sister—a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Alice and his own sister weren't just similar in cooking. Even this was exactly the same.
Although Miles had thought through his response, he hadn't coordinated it with Aisha beforehand—an enormous miscalculation.
Setting down her knife and fork, Aisha's expression also turned serious. "Since you've already acknowledged Miles, Sis, I don't want to hide it anymore."
Wait… what are you about to say? Calm down, Aisha!
Miles sensed disaster.
"Actually, Miles is my boyfriend!"
"Pfft…!"
Irena, who had been sipping tea and watching the drama unfold, immediately spat it out.
Oh my God. Do you even hear the nonsense you're saying right now?
[Target: Miles!]
[Threat level greatly increased ↑↑↑!]
[Raised to MAX level!]
[Annihilation mode ready to activate at any time!]
---
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