The Brandon Household

Even though she appeared as a younger version of herself, it wasn't hard for Kai to recognize character art—especially for a character hot enough to shake the fandom.

'She has a bright future,' Kai thought as he looked at Cecilia. Her eyes roamed all over him before her cheeks reddened, excitement radiating from her youthful face.

Cecilia gave an excited shriek before leaping forward, closing the distance between herself and Kai in an instant.

"He's so cuteee!" Cecilia exclaimed, preparing to embrace her brother, but her mom quickly stopped her.

"He's a baby, Cecilia; he's fragile," Maria said, raising her arm defensively as if to protect her son from the energetic girl.

Kai was momentarily surprised by her speed. The way she dashed from the door to the bed was unreal. But then again, this was a magical world. He vividly recalled that every city had an academy where young people could hone their abilities—though this was only available to Magi.

Adventurers didn't have the potential to wield magical energy, but what they lacked in magic, they made up for with physical prowess and unique energy harnessed from the soul.

Cecilia Brandon was a powerful character in An Adventurer's Crusade. While a Magus wielded explosive magical spells, they often lacked physical strength, making them more immobile. This disadvantage was not unique to the novel; it was a common trope in many fantasy stories, anime, and manga. Magi often faced difficulties because of their over-reliance on magical energy.

However, Cecilia Brandon had mastered the art of the sword, imbuing her strikes with magical energy. This made her a deadly opponent in battle. Kai knew the element she would ultimately achieve—Lightning. It would perfectly complement her fighting style.

"Big Brother isn't here to see him?" Cecilia asked, placing a hand on her waist and frowning.

Kai shuddered when he heard "Big Brother." Cecilia was referring to Xavier Brandon, the eldest son of the Brandons—a name that sent chills down his spine at the mere mention. Xavier was a feared character in the series, much older than Cecilia, who was barely hitting nine.

If one word could describe Xavier Brandon, it would be "prodigy." He was one of the most powerful individuals in the Asura Kingdom, an anomaly who could wield both the power drawn from the soul and magical energy.

'In the few chapters he appeared in, it was straight hands,' Kai thought, dismissing thoughts of Xavier for the moment. He was going to be family now, and Xavier cared about his family.

His gaze shifted back to Cecilia and Maria, who were engaged in conversation and laughter. A brief smile flashed across his face as he watched the two beauties.

'Maybe it's not so bad to be a Brandon after all,' Kai mused.

#####

[Seven Years Later]

The Imperial City, a fortress within the mighty Kingdom of Asura, was home to the Brandons. It stretched for miles and was one of the largest cities in the kingdom. It was also the first target for Biora Kingdom's full-scale attack.

The city had ports connecting to neighboring kingdoms by ship, facilitating the trade of goods. Not only were there ports, but also bustling businesses and auction houses scattered throughout the city, creating a lively yet busy atmosphere.

The Brandon household was located in a quieter area of Imperial City, far from the bustle. It took about thirty minutes to walk to from the center of town.

"Come on, keep your guard up!" Cecilia shouted, her voice filled with determination as she brandished a wooden sword.

A few meters away stood a black-haired seven-year-old boy with deep, glowering blue eyes, also holding a wooden sword. Kai and Cecilia were in the middle of a spar.

"These eyes sure are something," Kai muttered, catching sight of his own reflection in Cecilia's gaze.

It had been seven years since his reincarnation, and to say that things hadn't changed would be an understatement.

Two years after his birth, Markus Brandon, the head of the Brandon family, had been killed during a dungeon raid. In this world, unique gates transported Adventurers and Magus from the surface to the various worlds contained within dungeons.

A dungeon portal was a gateway to a realm vastly different from their own. Within a dungeon, various environments could appear, and the goal of a party was to raid and defeat the Overlord of the dungeon—a Dungeon Boss.

Once the boss was defeated, an escape portal would open in the boss's room, allowing the party to leave. If they failed to escape within thirty minutes, the portal would close, leaving them trapped inside.

The family was still mourning Markus's death, but they had come to terms with the fact that an Adventurer's life meant putting one's life on the line. Death was an inevitable part of the job, yet people continued to pursue it anyway.

Throughout the seven years Kai had been in this world, he had prepared for the inevitable war between the kingdoms. The System existed to help him grow stronger, and he took full advantage of it.

'But even after seven years, I haven't gotten that much stronger,' Kai thought, focusing on Cecilia as she pushed off the ground with superhuman speed. 'I did acquire a skill that makes me dangerous, though,'

In that moment, time seemed to slow down. Kai's eyes glowed slightly as he focused on Cecilia. He foresaw everything: where she planned to strike and the movements she would make to catch him off guard.

"Good," Kai muttered, bracing himself to intercept.

As Cecilia lunged forward, Kai sidestepped, using the momentum to his advantage. He swung his wooden sword, but Cecilia anticipated the move and ducked low, her laughter echoing in the air as she dodged him.

"Is that all you've got?" she teased, her competitive spirit shining through.

Kai grinned, excitement coursing through him. "Just warming up sis!"

The two continued their spar, wooden swords clashing as they danced around each other, laughter mingling with the sound of their strikes. Kai felt alive, exhilarated by the thrill of the fight and the bond he shared with Cecilia.

Despite the weight of the world and the looming threat of war, moments like these reminded him of the joy and innocence of childhood.

Cecilia's determination was palpable as she launched another attack. This time, Kai anticipated her move, pivoting on his heel and countering with a swift strike aimed at her side.

She blocked his attack with ease, the sound of their swords ringing in the air. "Not bad, but you'll need to do better than that!" she challenged, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kai couldn't help but laugh, his heart racing. "Sure!"

As they continued to spar, he couldn't shake the feeling that their bond was growing stronger. In this world of magic and danger, moments like these were precious—reminders of what they were fighting for.

And so, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the Imperial City, Kai vowed to grow stronger—not just for himself, but for his family and the future that lay ahead.