Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume15 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 4===

"Jeez, where on earth did Scarlet go?"

Claire looked around while making rounds inside the ship. Scarlet had disappeared without her noticing back when she was arranging her belongings in her room.

"And I wanted to feed her some treats..."

Although she could call Scarlet with a summoning, it would be too much of a waste to expend precious divine power on something like that.

It looked like Scarlet was not inside the ship, so that left the outside. Claire went up the steps to the deck.

Only to see&mdash;

"Oh..."

As soon as she opened the door to the deck, Claire was taken aback.

At the front of the ship, she could see crimson hair fluttering in the wind like fire.

This was the image of her back, whom Claire had been chasing after since childhood.

"What's the matter?"

A glare from those silently burning eyes of ruby made Claire feel like running away.

(...W-What's with running away? I have to have a proper talk.)

Claire tried hard to stand firm then looked resolutely into her sister's eyes.

"Oh, umm, uh..."

Nervous, she could not find her words for a moment. Although she wanted to have a proper conversation, faced with her dramatically changed sister, what exactly should she say...?

"Do you have business with me, ''Claire Rouge''?"

Rubia spoke at this time. Unlike the gentle older sister from the past, her voice was very cold.

Pierced by the sharp gaze, Claire could not help but look away.

With her gaze settled elsewhere, she could see Scarlet at Rubia's feet, worriedly watching the sisters.

...Speaking of which, Scarlet was very close to her sister to begin with. Back when Scarlet chose Claire instead of Rubia as her contractor, all the retainers at the Elstein household had found it unbelievable.

Under the awkward silence, Scarlet skipped and ran back to Claire's feet. Claire gently picked up the hellcat spirit and took a deep breath.

"N-Nee-sama... I saw Father and Mother at Elstein."

"Is that so&mdash;"

Rubia answered without any change in expression.

"...They are both worried about you, Nee-sama."

The parents never bore a grudge against her elder sister.

Even though they did not know the reason why she had betrayed the Fire Elemental Lord to become the Calamity Queen, to this day, they still believed in her&mdash;But Claire had not been able to convey this.

"...What meaning is there in telling me this?"

"...Nee-sama..."

Claire was at a loss for words.

However, she mustered her courage and looked up again.

"I hope for the day when I can return to Elstein, together with Mother, Father... and you, Nee-sama, to live together. So&mdash;"

"Rubia Elstein is an existence that has already been banished from this world. I have no intention to get involved with the dukedom of Elstein again."

Rubia interrupted Claire.

"Presently, I am the Cardinal who has awakened from Inferno. Also, you are not my sister either."

"...!"

Hearing such merciless words, Claire froze in shock.

The one before her eyes, was truly no longer the elder sister whom Claire knew so well.

Tears appeared in her ruby-like eyes.

"So your soul is still trapped by vengeance directed at the Elemental Lords&mdash;"

"...Indeed. Even now, my soul is left to burn in Inferno."

After saying that quietly, Rubia went directly to where Claire had come from. Claire found herself unable to even lift a finger. Just as she passed by Claire's shoulder, she glanced at Scarlet held in Claire's arms and said:

"You still have not fully brought out your contracted spirit's true power&mdash;"

"Huh?"

"In order to convey your thoughts, you must take control of commensurate power. Otherwise, there is nothing to say."

"Nee-sa&mdash;"

Claire wanted to make her stay, but her voice could not reach Rubia.

With her long and beautiful crimson hair fluttering behind her, Rubia disappeared into the steps leading into the ship.

Hugging Scarlet, Claire stood there motionlessly.

(I-I still haven't fully brought out Scarlet's true power...?)

Held against her bosom, Scarlet looked up at Claire with an expression of puzzlement.