Positive little sun, magical girl, I am awesome

"You shouldn't have hesitated, Ian."

"..."

On the main street of Goletia, Pilot Whale Avenue, several Guardians were each holding a pile of cardboard boxes. Because the student union members were very busy at the moment, their Guardian partners took the initiative to take on the task of picking up the ball gowns.

Lucas walked side by side with Ian and couldn't help but start talking more.

"At most we can attend one more dance, right? The situation is so chaotic now, who knows what next year will be like, we should enjoy ourselves while we can." He was the only one in the team with empty hands, leisurely putting his hands behind his head, enjoying the rare leisure time.

Lulu's partner, Gare, heard their conversation and turned around, laughing and teasing, "Our little Ian, who killed moonbeasts without blinking during his holiday practice, is so cowardly at this moment!"

Everyone laughed in glee and gathered around to make fun of Ian. He usually performed well, was calm and quiet, and never got into trouble. Instructor Wolfe regarded him as a typical good student, so they usually didn't find any chance to ridicule him.

"...What?" Ian seemed to have been daydreaming. When he was surrounded by his classmates and cheered, he finally came to his senses. There was some confusion in his quiet black eyes.

"...You didn't even listen!" Lucas was mad, "What were you thinking?"

"I'm wondering who Lilith learned those fighting skills from yesterday. The way she gripped the weapon was more like a dagger, like an assassin's move..."

"Oh my god—" everyone wailed in unison, "Isn't the school year already over? You top students are so annoying!"

Ian still had that indifferent expression on his face, standing there holding the cardboard box, looking particularly innocent.

But Lucas didn't let him go: "You want to invite Lilith to be your dance partner? Then tell her boldly! She will definitely not refuse you."

"...I'm not afraid of being rejected." Seeing that no one was willing to let him go, Ian had to explain: "I just don't think it's appropriate. You seem to have forgotten that Lilith's father died not long ago. It's still a recent death."

"Oh, I forgot..." As soon as these words came out, the playful atmosphere around them suddenly became quieter.

In the Gaia Empire, people generally do not participate in any celebrations in the first year after a loved one's death, especially aristocratic families. This is indeed a tradition that needs to be avoided.

"...You inlanders have so many rules." Lucas couldn't help but complain, still unwilling to give up: "But didn't Lilith mention it before? Her relationship with the Viscount is very bad. I don't think she cares about this!"

Ian was silent for a moment, as if he was a little shaken, but still shook his head: "I know she doesn't care about that Viscount. She even changed her last name... But she cares about Miss Leila very much and will definitely take her feelings into consideration."

Miss Leila is much quieter and more reserved than before, and seems to still be recovering from the grief of losing her father.

"Hiss—that's true." Lucas smacked his lips, having nothing to refute. The students in front who were making a fuss also dispersed, and they continued to move slowly towards the school.

"You," Ian turned to look at his blue-haired companion. "You're still not going to the dance, Lucas?"

"I have other plans." Lucas still looked nonchalant. He didn't have a good impression of the dance.

Ian avoided the passing merchants and said in a lower voice: "Lucas, you know, my family has passed away, and I don't have much use for money. I can first-"

Before he could finish, Lucas grabbed his shoulders and forced him to shut up.

"Brother, don't say that." Lucas laughed heartlessly, but his tone was serious: "You really need to learn from your partner in this regard."

"Sorry... I was so rude." Seeing that he didn't mean it, Ian admitted his offense.

"Besides, who said I was going to work that day? I just wanted to go to the Jinghu Library." Lucas rubbed his nose. Seeing that Ian was still staring at him closely, as if he didn't believe it, he had no choice but to reveal his true colors.

"It's true. You know, our real principal is recuperating there. I think she's too lonely during those busy days."

He leaned closer to Ian and whispered, "I don't think she'll live long. She used to talk to herself when she was in good spirits, but now she seems to have forgotten even the common language. How pitiful..."

Her haggard appearance reminded Lucas of his once frail mother, and the fact that the principal came from the sea and was a real mermaid made him feel even closer to her.

But Ian ignored everyone. He looked forward, as if his attention was attracted by the people on the street.

"Hey! You—"

"Your sister is looking at you." Ian raised his chin.

Lucas was stunned. He looked through the crowds of people on Pilot Street and saw the beautiful woman looking at him at the intersection.

Lucas always knew that he was good-looking. Thanks to their mermaid ancestors, almost all sea people had excellent looks, which they used to be proud of. But after being expelled from their homeland, their unprotected beauty became a disaster and a burden, and restraint and hiding became the new instinct of sea people.

Of course, the same goes for Ke Luo.

So when he saw her dressed up and going out today, even her younger brother Lucas was stunned for a few seconds.

Ke Luo, who always wore plain dark straight skirts in the past, wore a dress made of expensive sunset silk today, with a huge petticoat underneath. When she moved slightly, gorgeous golden orange and deep purple light flowed between the pleats of the skirt.

Her blue hair, the same as Lucas's, was carefully braided into a hairnet, revealing her fair and plump face completely. She was so beautiful that people automatically parted when passing by, as if they were afraid of being burned by her beauty, or as if they didn't want to dirty the beauty's skirt.

"Lucas!"

The brother and sister's eyes met in the air, and Ke Luo took the lead and walked over with her skirt lifted. She tightly grasped the ivory fan in her hand, looking a little embarrassed.

The nonchalant smile on Lucas's face disappeared, and he stiffly dropped his arm from Ian's shoulder. This was the first time the brother and sister met since their last unpleasant parting.

"……very beautiful."

Lucas pursed his lips awkwardly. Ke Luo's outfit was not cheap. Fred had just experienced a huge business loss, yet he still spent a lot of money on dressing up for his sister.

He finally gave in and forced a smile, "It seems Fred is really good to you."

Feeling her brother's reconciliation, Ke Luo finally breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a more sincere smile: "Fred went to call a carriage. We are going to a dinner party at a noble man's estate. He asked me to come along..."

She described the scale of the dinner in great detail, as if to confirm that Lucas had misunderstood Fred. He was really very good to her and did not feel ashamed of being the husband of a seaman. He would take her out for socializing.

Fortunately, my brother did not refute this time. He just listened quietly and nodded from time to time.

It was not until Fred drove the carriage up that Lucas waved goodbye. Only then did Ke Luo realize that he was just waiting with her for the carriage.

Fred still looked preoccupied. When he got closer, he seemed to see Lucas and was immediately startled. He greeted him briefly with a flickering look in his eyes, then urged, "Hurry up, Chloe. We can't be rude."

"Then... I'll go first." Ke Luo lifted the hem of her skirt.

Lucas nodded, and seeing that Fred was sitting there with no intention of moving, he reached out and helped his sister into the carriage.

Thank God, Fred finally breathed a sigh of relief, helped his wife gather her skirt, closed the car door, and then signaled the driver to set off immediately.

"Uu——!"

Just as the carriage was about to move, Ian moved.

The blindfolded horse was suddenly grabbed by the bit, and it was so frightened that it neighed and reared up its front legs. People nearby ran away in a hurry. The coachman's face turned green with fear. After stabilizing the carriage, he immediately began to curse the young man standing at the horse's head.

"What the hell! Where did this madman come from? Don't you have eyes?"

"Ian?!"

When the brother and sister were talking just now, Ian had been acting as a quiet background board beside them. At this moment, he suddenly attacked and grabbed the carriage. Even Lucas was shocked and didn't know how to react for a moment.

"Madam, please get out. You can't go." Ian ignored the driver's curses. He opened the door and reached out to the frightened Ke Luo.

Ke Luo was so frightened by the sudden incident that her face turned pale, and a few strands of her hair were scattered. She didn't hold Ian's hand, but turned to look at her husband worriedly: "Are you okay, Fred?"

Fred's expression turned grim, his eyes filled with unsuppressed anxiety. He grabbed his wife's hand and shouted, "Lucas, what's your friend doing? Now's not the time for pranks. Your sister and I have serious business!"

"Where are you taking her, sir?" Ian's black eyes were as calm as a deep well, staring at people with a chill in their hearts.

Fred's eyes flashed with panic, but he clenched his teeth and said nothing.

"Chloe, get out of the car." Lucas did not question Ian's decision. He patted Ian to signal him to move aside and personally helped his sister get out of the car.

"Lucas, what's wrong with your friend? Does he have any misunderstanding about Fred?" Ke Luo was extremely puzzled. The child was standing next to her just now and looked very gentle. Why did he suddenly attack her husband now?

Lucas was speechless. Aside from Lilith, he had never complained to his classmates about family matters. Ian probably wasn't complaining about this—

"what!!"

A shrill scream exploded behind him, interrupting Lucas's thoughts.

He turned around suddenly and saw Fred rolling to the ground from the other side of the carriage, and Ian, as agile as a black panther, jumped off the carriage right after him!

Without giving anyone time to react, Ian's fist, with a dull sound, hit Fred's face hard!

“Help, help! Ugh—!”

Fred was completely powerless under Ian's suppression. After just two punches, blood gushed out of his mouth and nose, and his eyes turned black. He struggled in vain, howling like a pig being slaughtered:

“Murder! Gladia’s students are going to kill someone—!!”