CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 981: Cute Little Devil

"Brother Asher!!!"

As the cute voice entered his ears, Asher immediately snapped out of his daze as he already knew who it was.

Rachael.

She ran gently in her shoes as she lifted her gown so as not to step on it, trip forward, and tear it. As she got close, she immediately discarded all Noble etiquette as though it didn’t exist, crashing straight into Asher’s legs as her hands wrapped around them in a tight hug.

"You cute devil," Asher said as he bent down and lifted her into his arms.

"Brother Asher, you didn’t tell me you were so amazing," Rachael said as she stared into Asher’s eyes, stars shining within hers as though she had just discovered some sort of priceless treasure.

Asher smiled as he replied, "I thought you already knew this. Wasn’t I carrying you when I beat up those bad guys back at the first gala?"

Rachael nodded her head as she spoke. "Yes, but when I started watching the competition, I started to realize that those two weren’t strong to begin with," she said innocently as she revealed the conclusion she had reached on her own.

Asher couldn’t help but shake his head at her analysis. She was using people like Arianna as the basis for her comparison. At the end of the day, Hilton was still a genius, just not one at their level.

"Brother Asher, didn’t Big Brother come with you?" Rachael immediately asked. She normally saw her brother together with Asher, so she couldn’t help but ask.

Asher shook his head as he replied, "Unfortunately, Finch is on his way back to the Zarethorne Empire. Just as he came here without you, he must also leave the same way, so you will meet him at home when you return," his tone calm and explanatory.

Rachael paused for a moment before nodding her head. She suddenly froze as she seemed to remember something.

"Brother Asher, you promised me a spar so I can show you my progress," she stated, about to continue speaking, but Asher interrupted her.

"Yes, but there are no training chambers here, so when we get back to the Zarethorne Emp—" he was about to finish his sentence when Rachael interrupted him.

"Brother Asher, this skyscraper has a training chamber installed on every floor," she stated as though she had already anticipated Asher’s answer.

Asher was speechless. He couldn’t help but wonder how she even knew that. He also couldn’t help but wonder whether their cute little devil had deliberately cornered him into a checkmate so he wouldn’t be able to escape sparring with her.

Asher couldn’t help but ask, "How do you know this?" He was simply too curious.

Rachael smiled as she replied, "I asked one of the maids who were assigned to us. Hehehehe!" she said, her white teeth showing as she laughed proudly.

"They are called staff, not maids or butlers," Asher explained.

"I asked one of the staff members who were assigned to us," Rachael immediately corrected herself on the spot. "And also, Big Sister Olivia has been sparring with me after every tournament round, so I know where the training chamber is," she added with a bright, adorable smile that left Asher with no reason to decline.

’Sister Olivia?’ Asher thought to himself as he arched an eyebrow, aware that she was the Eighth Moon. ’It seems Rachael’s cute smile and bright personality have rubbed off on the other Wargraves,’ Asher thought with a sigh.

His attention turned toward Rachael once more as he couldn’t help but wonder if this girl was talented at anything else besides combat. Did she even have any hobbies besides sparring with people who were many times stronger than herself?

He couldn’t help but shake his head. Rachael was this young and was already addicted to sparring and training. Only the stars knew what her training routine would become once she awakened.

"Unfortunately, I can’t spar with you, Rachael," he said as he gently pinched her cheeks. "Your spars with Sister Olivia will have to do for now, as I have something important to take care of," he explained. "Besides, I already promised you a spar when we return home, so why the rush?" he asked in finality.

Rachael stared into his purple eyes with her blue ones as though she wanted to object, but after a moment she simply nodded as she spoke, "I understand, Brother Asher."

Asher smiled and patted her head. Rachael was simply too cute and beautiful. She would become a fine warrior and an exceptional fighter when she grew up. Asher couldn’t help but wonder what kind of ability she would eventually awaken.

’Finch is a lazy guy, while his junior sister is the hardworking type. Such opposite siblings. He truly is an adopted goblin,’ Asher mused to himself.

As Asher was lost in thought, Rachael seemed to remember a question she had forgotten to ask, as sparring with Asher had seemed far more important at the time.

"Brother Asher, during the final round of the tournament, why didn’t you fight Big Brother and only fought his summon?" she asked as she stared at him, waiting expectantly for an answer.

Her question caught Asher off guard, snapping him out of his thoughts. He couldn’t help but remain motionless as he didn’t have any particular answer for this cute little devil. Should he tell her the truth? That would only shatter her heart, and there was no reason to do that. Asher wanted her to simply grow older and naturally realize that the thoughts she held at her current age were innocent and childish.

Seeing Asher hesitate to answer, Rachael spoke as though she was voicing the answer he couldn’t bring himself to say aloud. "It’s because you couldn’t win, right? Big Brother didn’t want to fight you because he couldn’t bear defeating his own friend, right?" she asked as her childish imagination pieced together what she believed was the most reasonable explanation.

Asher was speechless. Even at this very moment, Finch’s Luck didn’t seem willing to abandon him. His own little sister had asked the question, then immediately provided herself with the answer she wanted to believe.

"You truly are a smart girl, Rachael," Asher said, neither confirming nor denying her conclusion, just as he had done a couple of months ago when he first met Rachael.

"Hmph! I knew Big Brother was the strongest. He always is," Rachael declared confidently, her voice filled with conviction.

’Finch might truly be in bed with Lady Luck,’ Asher mused to himself as he lowered himself and gently placed Rachael back on the ground.

As Rachael’s feet touched the ground, she turned toward Asher as she spoke. "I will be leaving now, Brother Asher. I can’t stay away from Father and Mother for too long without them noticing my absence." She began to run forward at a gentle pace as she waved at him while calling out, "See you at the big flying jet, Brother Asher!" she giggled as she continued onward before facing forward and disappearing around the corner.

Asher shook his head with a smile on his face. Every time he saw Rachael, she always managed to put a smile on his face while carrying one within her own eyes as well. Asher couldn’t help but miss childhood, when one didn’t have to worry about bills or responsibilities, but merely eat, sleep, take a shit, and wake up the next day without having to face the harsh truths of reality.