The place Deia dragged me to was one of the street stalls. The wide open surroundings with only makeshift tables spread around reminded me of Korean street food stalls.

Perhaps because it was located at a corner, there weren't many people around, and the elderly owner welcomed his customers in a relaxed manner.

It felt more like he had opened the stall to enjoy the festival rather than to make money.

"Mister, Im back. The usual, please."

"Ive expected you to return, so I have it prepared, Young Lady. It's been a while, Second Young Master. You've become quite impressive."

Due to his smile, the owner had deep wrinkles around his eyes. I wondered if we were acquainted, however, I simply raised my hand in greeting and sat down.

Sitting across me, Deia glanced around before whispering while covering her mouth with her hand.

He used to be the chef at our mansion. Hes now retired and had come to Norseweden to rest, but he decided to participate in this festival.

"I see."

"Well, you don't have to worry about it too much. The original Deus was always a mess, so you never really had a proper conversation with him."

Deia shrugged her shoulders as she cursed the previous Deus again. I casually changed the topic and asked.

"So why did you send me that letter then?"

I was more curious about the letter, which seemed to contain more irritation than hostility, than I was displeased with it.

While I wondered why Deia had sent me a letter like that, she glanced at me, sighed deeply, and called the owner.

"Bring us some beer over here."

The owner acknowledged that he understood and promptly brought over a bottle of beer.

Deia then poured the drink into two glasses, placing one in front of me and the other in front of herself. She slightly raised her glass and extended it towards me.

I didn't feel like drinking, however...

"Let's raise a toast."

At Deiass urging, I sighed before clinking my glass with hers. And as if she was waiting for it, Deia immediately chugged down the beer.

Since Norseweden was a cold region, the beer brewed here had a relatively high alcohol content to help warm the body. So it was actually closer to a liquor than beer, but since it was called beer here, I just went along with it.

After taking a sip, I looked at Deia. She let out a deep sigh and asked.

"Have you told anyone else that you're not Deus?"

"...."

It was such an unexpected question that my mouth clamped shut, unintentionally delaying my response.

However, Deia seemed to take that as an answer and touched her forehead.

"Sigh, is it really okay? Even if it's like that, can you really go around telling others about it so casually?"

Deia filled her glass with beer again. Though I wanted to say something to her, the owner had already brought out the food.

"I prepared dishes that both of you were fond of since childhood. Enjoy."

Leaving behind the simple yet carefully prepared dishes, the elderly owner left with a kind smile.

It was a simple combination of grilled meat, some stew, and a salad. The food wasn't the typical bar fare, but the owner's unique know-how and sauce added something special to the ordinary.

With the owner present, I momentarily remained silent. Meanwhile, with the bottle at her lips, Deia was gulping down the beer.

"...."

[Is it really okay to let her drink like that?]

The Dark Spiritualist who had been by my side all along finally spoke. With a sigh, I gestured to the Dark Spiritualist.

"You should go and enjoy the festival."

[So you don't want to let me see your sister's embarrassing side, huh? Got it.]

The Dark Spiritualist flew away swiftly.

Since she always stayed by my side and was aware that I was Kim Shinwoo, not Deus, I didn't mind her overhearing our conversation.

However, as the Dark Spiritualist said, as Deia was my younger sister, I didn't want to let others see her like this.

"What is the problem, anyway?"

Once the Dark Spiritualist left, I noticed that Deia had somehow managed to order another bottle of beer.

Her eyes, which were filled with irritation just moments ago, suddenly relaxed. Her face was flushed, and her body swayed slightly.

Despite this, her pronunciation remained clear.

"The Princess and Aria came to visit...."

"I saw Aria."

However, I didnt expect Princess Eleanor to come and visit as well. Since it was quite late at night, she must have already been asleep.

"But both of them know that you're not Deus, huh?"

.

My eyes widened for a moment. Fortunately, Deia was gradually getting drunk and didn't notice the fluctuation in my emotions.

I... I thought... you told me because we're family. I thought you told me because you felt that you could trust me."

It seemed like the fact that she was the only one who knew that I was Kim Shinwoo was quite important to her.

So, was that the reason she felt shocked and hurt when I had casually revealed the truth to other people as well?

But a student whom you haven't even known for long and the princess also knew about it. Knowing this made me feel like, you know Like, something... Something like that. Is it wrong to feel like this?"

"...."

I gazed at my beer glass for a moment.

Perhaps because I got lost in thought longer than I realized, the snacks had cooled down, and Deia was on her third bottle.

As it was my first time pondering over such a dilemma, it took me longer than expected.

Anyway, I somehow managed to come up with an answer of my own.

"We are special to each other."

I wasn't sure whether Deia, who was swaying with flushed cheeks due to the alcohol, would remember my words.

Nonetheless, she nodded as if she was listening.

"I wish you had known me as Deus and not Kim Shinwoo."

"...."

"Also, just like you thought, I also hold you and Darius in very high regard."

Although I hadnt found the right time to tell Darius that I wasnt the original Deus, I definitely would let him know as well.

"Aria and Eleanor do know that I am Kim Shinwoo, but I did not reveal it to them intentionally."

In the case of Aria, it was information she had already known from the previous round, and Eleanor discovered this when I entered her dream.

If I wanted to delve deeper into this, even the Dark Spiritualist naturally found out as she was always by my side.

In short

"You are still the only one with whom I have shared this information intentionally."

Thud.

Deia fell face forward onto the table, her head hitting it, and her disheveled hair covering her face.

The sound of her constant breathing indicated that she had fallen asleep.

I glanced at her briefly and sighed as I turned to look at the untouched food.

"Owner, I am sorry, but could you please pack the food for me?"

"Of course."

As if he had expected this to happen, the owner brought a sophisticated lunchbox and packed the food.

Although I said that I would return the lunchbox later, the stall owner kindly declined and said that it would be fine if I kept it.

" The Young Lady has been coming to my stall occasionally to drink since the start of the festival."

"Did she always like alcohol?"

"No, not really. But she seemed somewhat lonely."

I glanced down at Deia for a moment at his unexpected words. It felt like I was looking at a child in the body of an adult.

The owner smiled warmly and looked at Deia, just like me.

"I was honestly surprised. The Young Lady talked about you often, Second Young Master. Previously, she used to dislike even bringing up your name."

"...It is more like accumulated karma. Of course, she would not like me."

The owner looked momentarily surprised upon hearing my words and then replied with a benevolent smile.

"You have changed a lot, Second Young Master. I think I understand now why the Young Lady called for you whenever she got drunk."

"...."

"Originally, a lost sheep returning is more precious than nine sheep safe inside the fence."

I found myself silent in agreement with that statement.

Beyond just comparing this situation to sheep, there were many other factors, considering that her second older brother, who was almost nonexistent in her life, had come to his senses.

I thought that this was for the best.

I also understood why she might have felt disappointed on learning that I had shared our family secret with outsiders.

"I will enjoy the food."

"Oh, I hope it suits your taste."

After taking the lunchbox and briefly glancing at Deia, I infused my body with added strength.

With a fragile frame that was tainted with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, I realized that I wouldnt be able to support Deia adequately without channeling mana into my body.

However, once the mana coursed through me, it felt as though I could accomplish more than just aiding Deia if necessary.

Since lifting her wasn't that difficult, I was able to pick her up easily.

The dawn was soon approaching.

Though the moonlight still illuminated parts of Norseweden, the night market was gradually winding down.

Amidst the bustling noise slightly different from the drinking party, I carried Deia as I headed towards the mansion.

"Seriously."

Upon hearing Deia's faint voice, I paused for a moment, but she buried her head deeper into my neck and wrapped her arms around it.

"What is it?"

I pretended to not hear her voice, which softly resonated behind me like a gentle breeze.

I simply readjusted my posture and continued walking while carrying her.

Slowly and steadily.

* * *

It was deliberate.

The only reason I drank so much was because I thought I had said something unnecessary. So, I was trying to act as if I were out of my mind.

Although I did feel dizzy due to the alcohol, it wasnt to the point where I was unable to control myself, nor did it cause me to lie unconscious inside the stall in such a messy state.

Even if my damn brothers didn't know, at the very least, I wouldnt treat my body in a reckless manner like that.

However

"You are still the only one with whom I have shared this information intentionally."

When I heard that statement, all I could do was drop my head on the table and let my hair cover my face as I pretended to be asleep.

Even though it wouldnt be noticeable, I didn't want to show him that my face had turned as red as a beetroot; my eyes widened, and my mouth hung open.

Why did that sentence feel so embarrassing yet strangely pleasing?

I was about to get up again when the owner started talking nonsense.

However, in the end, Deus ended up carrying me back to the mansion.

It left me with a mysterious feeling.

Memories of being carried back when I was really young were faintly coming back to my mind.

As time passed, just like how I had grown into adulthood and undergone several developments, Deus, too, was no longer the same as when he was a child. His back, which once looked frail, was no longer as narrow as before.

At least his body had considerably broadened.

"Seriously."

So why was that?

I blurted it out before I realized it, causing Deus to halt his steps at the sound.

As I buried my face into his neck and rested my arms around it, I pretended it was just drunk talk. Deus resumed his steps, thinking nothing of it.

Did he really not notice that?

Yet, his subtle scent tickled my nose. It used to be a smell I couldn't stand at all.

Now, strangely, it felt rather calming.

Yet, at the same time

- I wish you had known me as Deus and not Kim Shinwoo.

The words he had uttered during our drinking session came to my mind, and I felt oddly upset.

Of course, he was Deus.

Right, he was not Kim Shinwoo, he was Deus.

My damn second brother.

He was someone who behaved like trash before, but now he had repented.

And now, he was contributing to the household as the Soul Whisperer.

That was all.

"What is it?

I voiced out my thoughts like a complaint.

Did he not hear me?

Or did he just think it was some drunken rambling?

I don't know.

Having never experienced sibling warmth before, I wondered if this was what it felt like.

Did Deus feel the same way as me?

If not, what should I do?

Rather than a worry, it felt more appropriate to label it as a fear. As that realization struck me suddenly, it immediately jolted my tipsy mind into sobriety.

His steps gradually slowed down ever so subtly.

It wasn't because his legs had lost their strength or he was exhausted. He was deliberately slowing down his steps.

It seemed as though he was intentionally prolonging our journey to the mansion.

As that realization dawned on me, a smile of relief crept its way onto my lips.

At that moment, we shared the same emotion.