As the door clicked shut behind her, Sorano's breathing visibly quickened.
Ever since she'd learned that this bastard had those kinds of thoughts about her stocking clad thighs, she'd been torn over whether she should really come talk to Kabe alone.
In the end, her longing for her little sister still pushed her here.
Because of that, she had even put on light makeup and mentally prepared herself to tolerate a little opportunistic touching.
She'd steeled herself, ready to use her looks as a bargaining chip.
And then Kabe's very first sentence shattered her composure.
"About that… honestly, I don't actually know Yukino's current whereabouts."
He turned his head away to avoid her gaze, clearly awkward as he said it.
Sorano, who had just sat down on the edge of the bed and deliberately crossed one pale, white stocking clad leg over the other, instantly exploded.
"You bastard, what did you just say?! You strung me along for an entire day, and now you're telling me you don't know?!"
She snatched up a pillow from the bed and hurled it straight at his face.
Kabe caught it with one hand, hurriedly raising the other in a placating gesture.
"Don't rush. I might not know where she is, but I can confirm she's alive and well.
Right now the most important thing isn't her location. It's what identity you plan to use when you go see her."
He dragged over a chair and sat facing her.
His eyes locked on her suddenly evasive gaze, and his tone became serious.
"You're one of the Oración Seis, a mage of a dark guild who's committed plenty of crimes.
What do you think Yukino will see when she learns what you've done?
Or rather… are you really prepared to meet the little sister who once admired and worshipped you, while still standing on the villain's side?"
The question pierced straight into Sorano's heart like a blade.
She'd been so focused on finding her sister that she had never actually thought about this.
Now that Kabe had laid it bare, panic overtook her. She clawed at the bedsheet, her expression a mess of conflict.
"N no. Yukino must never find out. I don't want her to think her sister is a bad person."
Her voice trembled, tinged with the edge of tears.
She could bare her sinful past to anyone in this world.
But to Yukino, she wanted to be a perfect, gentle big sister. Someone Yukino could be proud of.
Seeing her wavering, Kabe quietly exhaled in relief, then reached out and gently held her cold, faintly trembling hand.
"Leave the Oración Seis. While you're still not too deep in to turn back, go and surrender yourself to the Council.
With your identity as a victim of the R System, if you voluntarily provide intel on the Oración Seis… and with a little help from me…
I'm confident the Council will give you a chance to redeem yourself.
When you help them capture criminals like Brian and clear away the stain of the Deliora incident,
I believe that when you stand in front of Yukino again, you'll be able to hold your head high and make her proud to call you sister."
"You mean… become a tainted witness?"
Sorano's eyes widened. She had not expected Kabe to suggest something like this.
She had no psychological burden at all about betraying the Oración Seis.
She had been forcibly taken in by a dark cult and then selected as a tool by Brian.
She had never felt much attachment to him, just grew used to taking his orders after being brainwashed for so long.
But now that she knew Yukino was alive, and that she might still have the chance to live a normal life, she did not mind stabbing Brian in the back if it meant washing herself clean.
She took a deep breath, made up her mind, and looked straight at Kabe, her eyes firm.
"I can surrender to the Council of my own will. But how can you guarantee my safety?
What if, after using me, they still decide to punish me?"
"They don't need to. As long as you help them catch Brian and wash away the shame of Deliora's theft,
they'll go out of their way to protect you, not condemn you.
With your value to them, not only will they clear your name, they might even volunteer excuses on your behalf."
Kabe patted the back of her hand and added with a hint of derision,
"Don't underestimate your worth. To those Council members, you're the golden ticket that lets them keep their seats and win back public trust."
Sorano lowered her head and fell into deep thought.
She had to admit, the more she thought about it, the more tempting it sounded.
If it really worked out like he said, if she could truly be cleared… then she would sell out the Oración Seis without hesitation.
"All the same… having my charges wiped is not quite enough to convince me."
She lifted her head again, a sly glint flashing through her eyes.
"I want money. A lot of it. Enough for Yukino and me to live the rest of our lives without worrying about anything.
And I want to meet Master Makarov in person. As a Wizard Saint, he must promise my safety himself and shelter me from any retaliation by dark guilds."
Looking at Sorano's lion sized demand, Kabe dramatically leaned back in his chair, though his eyes now held clear appreciation.
This woman was sharper than he had imagined.
"No problem. I'll help you get the money from the Council, and I'll bring you to the guild to meet him.
But don't get too greedy. There are plenty of stories warning us that greed never ends well."
"Hmph. I don't need you to teach me that."
She sniffed haughtily, then lowered her gaze to their joined hands. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"And now… you can let go of my hand."