Chapter 18: Rui Na’s Revenge

“Tsk… As expected of those people’s dog, quite the method.”

Laiyinmute looked at the lifeless corpse with a dark expression.

He had planned to see if he could get some information out of him, but this guy—

In an instant, the mage inscribed in his mind killed him.

Laiyinmute pulled the sword from the body.

A small flame rose from his hand, drifting onto the corpse.

In the blink of an eye, the entire body was engulfed in flames.

The sword also dissolved into motes of mana and disappeared into the air.

Scratching his head irritably, Laiyinmute turned and walked slowly home.

‘Maybe I really should clean up the spies planted around my house.’

‘After all, no one likes being watched all the time, right?’

His home soon appeared before him.

From inside came Rui Na’s laughter and Raphael’s exasperated voice.

He turned the doorknob and entered.

Walking a bit further, he saw Raphael standing to the side with a helpless expression.

Meanwhile, Rui Na was tinkering in the kitchen, completely different from her earlier demeanor in the room.

“Master,”

Raphael slightly bowed in greeting, looking a bit surprised.

Laiyinmute had only been gone for about ten minutes in total.

How could he have finished his business so quickly?

“Hmm, what are you two doing?”

Laiyinmute pointed at Rui Na, who was busy in the kitchen.

Raphael sighed helplessly.

“It’s like this: just after you left, I was in the kitchen preparing ingredients, and Miss Rui Na came out of her room, saying she wanted to cook for you.”

Laiyinmute’s eyes went wide.

“Ha? Rui Na cooking? Is that for real?!”

His little sister had never cooked in her life.

She’d been in the kitchen at most a few times—and that was only if reheating pre-made dishes counted as cooking.

Raphael nodded, confirming it was true.

Hearing their conversation, Rui Na turned back, beaming at Laiyinmute.

“Big bro~ don’t be impatient, it’ll be ready soon. This is your little sister’s gesture of affection, so you have to eat it all, okay?”

Even though she was smiling, Laiyinmute couldn’t help but shiver, goosebumps rising.

As if afraid he hadn’t heard, Rui Na repeated:

“You have to eat every last bit, okay?”

Standing to the side, Raphael recalled the days she lived with her younger sister, remembering her sister’s cooking.

Her own skills were learned from her sister.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t seen Sira in a long time.

She really wanted to see her sister again, even if just a glance from afar.

Though Rui Na and Laiyinmute’s relationship wasn’t as harmonious as hers and Sira’s, she wouldn’t mistake the unique bond between siblings.

A smile crept onto her face.

She truly envied how the siblings got along.

“If you want to poison me, just say so,”

Cold sweat dripped from Laiyinmute’s forehead, and a chill ran down his back.

Hearing this, Rui Na stirred the purple liquid in the pot.

She pouted at Laiyinmute.

“Big bro, how can you say that? Do you know how hard I worked to make this pot of food?”

Laiyinmute’s mouth twitched.

He glanced at the thick purple liquid in the pot, a pungent odor hitting his nose.

His stomach churned.

“You… hurry up and throw this stuff out. Ugh, how did you even make this?”

Laiyinmute’s face contorted, as if he’d seen something unspeakable.

Just then, a finger poked his waist inopportunely.

Following the finger, he looked.

Raphael was also looking at him with great expectation.

Raphael spoke eagerly:

“Master, you have to eat it—this is Miss Rui Na’s gesture.”

She helped Rui Na pour the purple liquid from the pot into a bowl, lifted it, and presented it to Laiyinmute.

For some reason, a faint blush colored the girl’s cheeks.

This stunned him.

His fist clenched.

Raphael was supposed to be on his side, but this stuff obviously wasn’t edible.

Why did both of them want him to drink it?

He sighed, already scheming revenge.

As for Rui Na, it was simple—just cut her allowance.

But for Raphael, he’d have to think.

He really wanted to refuse, but looking at Raphael’s face, for some reason he couldn’t.

Laiyinmute looked at Raphael, who was watching him with anticipation.

Trembling slightly, he took the bowl.

The purple liquid was still bubbling, steam rising into the air.

Steeling himself, he gritted his teeth and downed the entire bowl.

The moment it entered his mouth, the intense flavor shot from his tongue to his brain.

Sour, sweet, bitter, spicy—all exploded in his mouth at once.

The sensation was no less than eating a piece of charcoal.

“No, even rotten meat wasn’t as bad as this.”

The taste was like a stray dog picking up someone’s ten-year-old smelly sock, then someone made it into a donut and stomped on it twice.

Shakily, he set the bowl on the table.

His legs trembled.

He glanced at the two beside him.

Raphael was looking at him with admiration, while Rui Na was grinning at him with a smug look.

Her little mouth opened and closed, as if saying something.

Laiyinmute could tell that girl was clearly saying,

“Serves you right, stupid bro.”

He abruptly stood up, gave Rui Na a hard punch, then immediately ran into the bathroom.

Watching their interaction, Raphael couldn’t help but think,

‘They really get along well.’

More than half an hour later, Laiyinmute emerged from the bathroom, supporting himself against the wall.

His cheeks were slightly sunken, eyes red-rimmed, lips pale, and his legs wouldn’t stop shaking.

The moment he entered the living room, he witnessed a sight that made his eyes burn with fury.

Raphael and Rui Na were sitting at the dining table, eating.

On the table were not that pot of thick, disgusting purple liquid, but a full spread of delicious-looking dishes.

Laiyinmute shot them a dark look, then staggered to his room, still holding the wall.

He decided: if he ever gave Rui Na a single cent of allowance again, he’d be a dog.

Now he strongly suspected this was entirely a setup between Raphael and Rui Na to prank him.

“Ah-choo! … Mm, did I catch a cold?”

Raphael rubbed her nose, a bit confused.

Rui Na picked up a chicken leg with her chopsticks and ate it with relish.

She was in a very good mood now.

Even though she couldn’t talk her big bro around, she could still gross him out to alleviate her own dissatisfaction.

Raphael took a bowl, scooped some rice, and added a few chicken legs and some vegetables.

She stood up and walked to Laiyinmute’s room, gently knocking a few times.

The door opened immediately.

Laiyinmute’s face poked out, glanced at Raphael at the door,

took the bowl of rice, and slammed the door shut.

Raphael stared blankly at this, couldn’t help thinking,

‘Did I do something to upset him again?’

Hearing the door close, Rui Na felt a bit guilty.

She buried her face in her bowl and ate vigorously.

Silently, she prayed for herself and Raphael.

She knew her big bro held grudges.

She was leaving soon,

but Sister Raphael…

She cast a sympathetic glance at Raphael’s back and silently continued eating.