# 46
“Tu, Tulia? What, what’s wrong?”
“No, no. Something got in my eye.”
I pretended to rub my eyes as I checked the cursor again.
Its color is blue.
Fortunately, it was a very dark blue color.
Whether it was instinct, or thanks to the harsh experience I had on my first day with Tulia, I was able to distinguish levels of affection to some extent by the color of the scale.
The darker the red, the more hostile they felt towards me.
The deeper the blue, the more affection they felt towards me.
Hmm. It certainly appears to be over 50%.
Unlike what happened with Grandpa, there was no particular reaction, so it must have been a benefit bestowed for the first time at that time.
I wouldn't know the exact affection level unless the status window told me.
It would be good if I could check not only the color but also the exact numerical affection level of others.
Not just when the system window mercifully pops up every now and then and tells me so, but constantly.
Isn't there any benefit to that?
I tilted my head.
Well, if I work hard to get an A, I might get lucky and get it.
“What is important now is not the level of affection, but this standard of measurement.”
I was so confused for a while after the condition took over that I didn't notice anything, but there was something I only recently realized.
I first saw this sign of affection through my grandfather.
No, I thought I saw him for the first time.
When she said harsh words to my grandfather because of the punishment that Tullia's possession entailed.
I was so shocked at the time that when I saw the bright red affection meter bar, I just wondered what it was and stomped my feet.
But as I gradually regained my composure and thought about it, I realized.
I've seen this tape measure before...
Especially in the last scene.
The closing scene was absolutely unique and stunning.
After Kuriko's successful breeding, the screen briefly goes black before the ending is shown.
Then, as if dividing heaven and earth, a golden thread-like line is drawn across them.
It looked like a horizon, or like the birth of a god dividing heaven and earth as often mentioned in myths.
The moment that golden line perfectly divided the center of the phone's LCD screen, it exploded with a "pop!" It turns into countless star-shaped effects.
An effect I was watching without thinking while playing.
A golden line that I passed easily, and I only cared about the coming ending.
“Now that I look back, I get it.”
The day I owned Tulia.
The fact that the affection scale bar that appeared above Grandpa's head had the same shape as the golden line from.
In other words…
If the level of affection reaches such an extreme that they say they love me, won't the measuring tape above their heads become permanently golden like in the last scene?
“Of course this is just speculation, but I have a strange certainty about it.”
But Lycian was as sky-blue as a summer day, which was puzzling.
This meant that although Lycian had great affection for me, he was not one of the “people who love me” mentioned in the main quest.
“…So who is he?”
Who, I wonder?
Among the humans in, he is the only one who does not speak harshly to Tullia and he is incredibly angel-like.
Moreover, if it's not Lisian, who I thought I'd become very close to over the past few days, then who?
I was deep in my thoughts.
"brother."
I heard a voice full of distress.
“Are you stuck with that thing again?”
My head and Lycian's head turned at the same time.
Standing there was a young man who looked like a black lion, staring at me with glowing eyes.
“This bastard calls me ‘that thing’ whenever he sees me.”
If it wasn't for this damned main mission, I would have grabbed his hair and pulled him out, really...
You should also be grateful for this winged star flying around me.
It is my presence that allows me to greet you with a carefree smile even after hearing such words.
“Leon.”
But unexpectedly, a low sound pierced my ears.
It made my shoulders slump for a moment.
“No, don’t talk to Tu, Tuulia like that.”
'...Huh?'
That was Lycian.
Lysiane, who used to read books and write letters with me.
He had always been gentle, and looked like an archangel with his radiant beauty and precious silver hair, now completely evident.
"Is he angry? At his twin brother Leon?"
It seems I wasn't the only one who was confused by this situation.
"…What did you say?"
Leon looked like he had been slapped in the face.
“Brother, no, Lycian.”
Leon replied with a sharp look.
“Are you partial to this thing in front of me now?”
“Leon.”
Lysiane, who was sitting next to me, got up. Although they were non-identical twins with different facial features and hair color, they had great looks and tall stature.
They say we're only two years apart in age, but they're a head taller than me.
It's still growing, so it will get taller later.
Lycian's eyes met Leon's, and he furrowed his eyebrows firmly.
“She is our younger sister.”
“…”
“Don't talk like that.”
“...Ha!”
Leon Fraser.
This bastard's personality is amazing.
Although he got into fights a lot at the academy, he never received penalty points as a delinquent student.
“…That’s what I saw in the book Secret Honey Bread.”
He has high abilities, and has the right personality to fight suitable fights with men who harass or bully female students, and to win them in duels.
“So what's the point? He treats Tullia like an object every day, calling her this and that.”
No, he would have treated things more carefully than that.
More than just things, yes.
He treats Tulia like trash...
“Ah, damn it!”
But I was the most miserable, as I had to pretend to be friendly with that scoundrel!
Damn the main mission!
This level of affection!
After taking several deep breaths inwardly, I opened my mouth.
“Leon.”
Leon Fraser's eyes immediately turned to me.
I apologize for all the problems that have occurred so far, it was my fault.
Please forgive me for everything. Let's get along.
I had no intention of saying such things.
This bastard left angry on the first day, yelling at me not to be shy with him.
“It's not like I did anything wrong either.”
Tullia was left alone in this grand duchy.
Unlike the two of you who were able to stay together because you were twins.
She was tricked into the warehouse, spending a cold winter alone, following her deceitful uncle as a father, groveling, reading what was going on around her, and secretly yearning for tenderness. I grew up stupidly.
Didn't go through that.
When I bit my lip softly, Leon Fraser's expression changed slightly.
But only for a moment.
“What. Again. What are you trying to pick a fight about? Tell me.”
From the corner of my eye, I sensed that Lysiane was watching our conversation carefully.
This is enough to alleviate my strange sadness somewhat.
That's why I managed to force myself to give a slightly sad smile.
The gold stars floating around also reminded me of the mission, which helped me stick to my sanity.
“You received my letters when you were at the academy, didn't you?”
This opened the door to a conversation with Lycian.
“But I never received any reply. When I asked Lysian, he said you sent replies but I didn’t receive them.”
Maybe this bastard has sent me a reply or two too?
If you can improve the atmosphere with that, maybe something will work out after that?
“Originally, in that wheat bread story, this guy was also a very tsundere character in the beginning!”
It wasn't that bad with Kuriko, but still.
very!
a lot!
He was that kind of man.
“Did you send me a reply?”
I asked Leon Fraser in the kindest way possible, feeling as if I was seeking enlightenment.
There was indeed a possibility that the responses had been missed.
“Uh. Letters?”
But Leon Fraser disappointed my expectations and smiled.
It was a noticeably cold smile.
“I was really sorry that I couldn't write responses.”
Thinking about it, Leon Fraser had brought with him something that looked like a small handbag.
They were usually used to hold books, and that's what the academy's students used, so it didn't seem strange and I didn't notice it right away.
“I wanted her back.”
With these words, Leon Fraser turned the bag upside down directly above my head.
“Leon!”
When I involuntarily closed my eyes and then opened them again...
Lycian's broad back blocked my view.
Covered from head to shoulders in pure white ash.
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