Chapter 4: The Sister’s Burden and Leila’s Return

Nightfall crept in quietly, and the cicadas on the streets began to chirp, one by one, with increasing fervor.

The convenience store typically remained open until nine, but today, Ila uncharacteristically pulled down the rolling shutter a full half-hour early.

“Eh, Sister Ila, aren’t you closing a bit early today?”

Mona, slurping her instant noodles with audible relish, watched as Ila’s stern face creased into a frown.

‘This little girl, eating instant noodles again.’

Perhaps sensing Ila’s scrutinizing gaze, Mona offered an embarrassed, silly grin.

“Hehe, I was just too happy! Before I knew it, I was making instant noodles again.”

Silently, Ila retrieved a packet of braised eggs and a sausage from the shelf. She gently, yet firmly, took the instant noodles from Mona’s hands and added the two items.

‘Honestly, how could she just eat instant noodles?’

‘It’s my fault too. I’ve been so preoccupied with Leila that I forgot to cook for my sister.’

Ila used her fingernail to tear open the sausage packaging, then casually snipped the entire sausage into three pieces with scissors, dropping them into the noodle cup.

Leila’s target was herself, which meant Mona and the other ordinary townsfolk were in grave danger. With her current strength, Mona stood no chance against Leila.

This wasn’t an exaggeration. Even after becoming the Dark Demon Princess, with her power surpassing her past self, Leila had forcefully subdued her every time. She had been utterly powerless against Leila’s more insidious tactics.

It was also possible that, at the time, she hadn’t wanted to resist at all, having been completely brainwashed into Leila’s thrall.

“Hehe, Sister Ila is so good to me, just like a big brother. You just don’t talk much. Good night!”

Mona, carrying her steaming instant noodles, offered Ila a small smile of thanks before heading upstairs to her room.

Two white parrots followed their owner, flying up and leaving a few droppings on the table.

‘Just like a big brother…’

That simple phrase made Ila freeze for a moment. She had just lifted her head, intending to bid Mona goodnight, but could only watch helplessly as her sister disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Once again, she hadn’t managed to say goodnight to Mona.

Ever since she was brainwashed and transformed into the Dark Demon Princess, she had become unwilling to speak more than a few words to anyone other than Leila.

Her face was often cold, like an iceberg, instinctively keeping people at arm’s length.

Even now, with her memories restored, it remained the same. She yearned to communicate more, to bridge the gap with her sister, and even harbored thoughts of telling her the truth. Yet, a thousand words caught in her throat, unable to even utter a simple goodnight.

‘Damn it!’

‘This must all be the Dark Demon Princess’s fault!’

‘That despicable, bastard sister must have implanted some strange suggestions in me!’

Ila unceremoniously dumped this black pot of blame squarely onto Leila.

After meticulously cleaning the tabletop, Ila switched off the convenience store lights, preparing to go upstairs to her room to pack her belongings and leave her sister’s side.

She had already harbored this intention, but Leila’s sudden appearance solidified her resolve.

Ila ascended the stairs to her room. There were only two bedrooms upstairs; in the past, the siblings each had their own. Later, Ila became Magical Girl: White Rose and no longer resided in that particular room.

Yet, here she was, having come full circle to occupy this very bedroom for five long years.

Ila didn’t possess many belongings—just two white dresses Mona had bought her and some intimate apparel.

Packing them was relatively simple.

Ila placed her clothes into a plastic bag and set the farewell letter she had written five years ago, along with the rent money, on the table.

“Take that, take that!”

“Eat my Yaya Knight Kick!”

‘So noisy…’

Ila turned her head, her face cold, towards the source of the commotion.

On her bed, the mechanical bat Yaya gripped a can of cola in one wing and a bag of chips in the other. Her two tiny feet were planted on a game console, and she was joyfully playing a game, her voice as innocent as a child’s.

Yaya was soul-bound to Ila. Wherever Ila went, the mechanical bat Yaya would instantly appear by her side.

“Leila is here.”

Ila’s simple statement startled Yaya so much that she fumbled the cola in her wing, accidentally spilling it onto the bed.

Ila’s eyes narrowed, and half her face darkened as she glared intently at Yaya.

“I’ll clean it up right away!”

“Forget it.”

‘After all, this big red bedsheet belongs to Leila. Cola isn’t the only liquid that’s stained it.’

“Phew~ The second master scared me to death just now. I thought the big master had arrived.”

“She has indeed reached Qingling.”

“Eh!”

“What should I do, what should I do, what should I do? If the big master finds out I’ve been with the second master for so long without returning to the Abyss, she’ll definitely tear off my butt and attach it to my head!”

Ila’s expression remained calm as she watched the frantically flying Yaya, nodding slightly.

‘It definitely wouldn’t be this idiot who leaked the secret.’

Ila’s face darkened, finding Yaya’s antics a bit too noisy. She pinched Yaya’s large head between two fingers, casually closed her mouth, and placed her on her hair as a decorative accessory.

Finally, she sat on the edge of the bed and retrieved the Sacred Relic Gungnir from a locked drawer.

After helping her recover her memories, Gungnir had completely lost its luster, and several cracks now marred its crystalline surface.

‘Thank you, Gungnir.’

‘Once I leave, Leila surely won’t bother Mona anymore.’

With this thought, Ila walked through the deserted fields. Qingling Town had little else but endless farmlands.

Feeling the evening breeze on her face, she knew the temperature would drop again tonight. She wondered if Mona would kick off her blanket again, or if the air conditioning was set to sleep mode.

Given her sister’s careless attitude, as her ‘older brother,’ she couldn’t help but worry.

And Leila, once caught by her, Ila would surely face an even more intense brainwashing, and then…

Ila recalled her subservient demeanor towards Leila five years ago, the shy way she silently permitted Leila’s advances. A shiver of goosebumps ran down her arms.

She had to get as far away as possible, absolutely nowhere near Sister Leila.

“Oh, isn’t this my sister, separated from me for five years? Crying like this, are you thinking about your sister?”

A familiar voice, one that sent a chill down Ila’s spine, drifted to her ears. She turned around in shock, staring intently at Leila behind her.

Leila was wearing the black dress Ila had seen in the photograph earlier. The pattern and style were identical to the one Ila herself wore.

She stroked the lock of hair draped over her left shoulder, walking towards Ila with a hint of resentment, and spoke with a wounded tone.

“Without my good sister to scrub my back, warm my bed, cook, wash clothes, play games, and chat for these past five years, I’ve nearly suffocated in the Abyss.”

As she spoke, Leila suddenly embraced Ila, bursting into loud sobs.

Ila was about to command her body to push away the demon before her, but her arms instinctively wrapped around Leila.

‘Ahhh, don’t give in so quickly, my body!’

“Stop pretending, Dark Demon Princess. I won’t believe you.”

Ila regained control of her arms and pushed Leila away, nervously eyeing the woman before her whose lips curved into a smile.

There wasn’t a single tear in her eyes.

Facing the Dark Demon Princess, Ila dared not relax for a moment. She remained constantly vigilant of her surroundings, terrified that black mud would surge forth once more, brainwashing and corrupting her again.

She wouldn’t have another Gungnir to help her recover her memories.

Ila no longer wanted to live a life where she was constantly suppressed.

“Don’t worry, my dear sister, I won’t brainwash you again this time.”

Leila seemed to read Ila’s thoughts, stating with a charming smile.

“Who would believe you!”

“You don’t truly think I don’t know that White Rose’s original memories are sealed within Gungnir, do you, my dear sister?”

In a blink, Leila was once again by Ila’s side, lifting Ila’s chin with a condescending air.

Under the moonlight, purple eyes met purple eyes. Leila’s face held a faint, wild grin, radiating immense confidence.

“What exactly do you want to do!”

“I merely wish for the dazzling you to thoroughly fall with me. To make the rest of your life solely for your sister~ To make you personally pollute this world~”

Ila’s eyes widened upon hearing this, and a sense of dread washed over her. She tried to pull away from Leila’s grasp.

Seeing this, Leila’s lips curled slightly. She leaned in close to Ila’s ear and gently blew a breath.

“Oh no~”

Ila, who had been about to struggle, suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon. Her body went soft, an unbearable itch spreading through her, and she slumped limply into Leila’s embrace.

“As an older sister, how could I not know all of my sister’s weaknesses?”

‘Mmm~’

Leila said, looking at her sister, who was now emitting strange sounds in her arms.