Although she had attended university, Lucia neither underwent any transformation nor had the habit of dyeing her hair; she simply tied it back into a neat ponytail.
Therefore, despite their similar facial features, her aura was vastly different from Clara’s.
Her dark down jacket hung open, revealing a white T-shirt printed with text underneath. She wore tight stretch jeans that seemed to be fleece-lined inside, which made her legs appear thick.
“Hello, are you Miss Lucia Rou?”
Though she was her long-familiar younger sister, it had been several months since they last met. Plus, Clara’s current identity was no longer “Squire,” so she greeted her as if for the first time.
“Hmm, you must be Senior Clara, right? Nice to meet you… Though, you’re even smaller than I imagined…”
Lucia sized up the petite girl before her, inexplicably feeling a sense of familiarity.
She even reminded her a little of her former self…
No, she certainly hadn’t been that cute.
“You don’t have to call me senior. I’m only officially starting work tomorrow. We’re actually joining at the same time.”
“But, Miss Clara is the company’s only hero, right? The backbone of the whole firm! We all depend on you to make money! The big boss actually sent someone as important as you to pick me up at the airport…”
“That’s an exaggeration. At this stage, including you, there are only four of us at the company.”
Even for a startup, that was a very small number.
“So, do we have a car?”
Flattering Clara, Lucia looked around as they stepped out of the arrivals area.
Since she had a lot of luggage, she was hoping for a ride.
“Of course not. Do you think I could get a driver’s license looking like this? Let’s tough it out and take the subway to the city~”
Although there was a flying broom, the Squire didn’t have a flying motorcycle license. Clara wasn’t sure if riding one would get her fined. Besides, in such cold weather, flying high in the sky wasn’t as comfortable as being sardined inside the subway.
“Oh! The subway! I’ve heard the Central City subway is the fastest in the world. I’ve always wanted to try it! Lower-tier cities can’t afford those vacuum tubes; imagine the cost!”
Her little sister didn’t hide her excitement at all, chattering in Mandarin with a slight provincial accent. Clara smiled wryly and sighed. When she first came to Central City, her reaction had been just as eager.
But she’d get used to it soon enough.
The pace of this city was fast; those who couldn’t adapt would be eliminated and forced to leave…
“I heard it cost over a hundred billion to build, and the construction cost per kilometer was tens of billions… Here, let me help you with that.”
Two rolling suitcases and a large backpack — Clara didn’t know what she was carrying, but even her own formidable strength could feel the weight.
“So heavy. What’s inside?”
“Hehe, that’s my university project, my graduation design.”
“Project? What kind of project?” Clara asked with curiosity.
“Hehe, it’s a secret until I finish it. Maybe it’ll be useful to Miss Clara~”
“Oh?”
Lucia’s words only deepened Clara’s curiosity.
A graduation project related to heroics? Something that could help a hero?
Lucia pulled out her phone with one hand and asked:
“Where’s the dormitory located?”
“In the city center, near the company… it’s said to be better than the apartment I rent myself.”
Lucia was a little surprised.
“Ah? Miss Clara, don’t you live in the dorms?”
“…Hmm, I live in an apartment in the suburbs.”
“Why rent an apartment far from the company when there’s a dorm nearby?”
“The apartment’s freshly rented. The company doesn’t officially open until tomorrow… But, Miss Lucia, you really don’t stop talking about money, huh?”
Knowing her sister’s love of money, Clara couldn’t help but tease.
Lucia scratched her head and said with a sheepish smile, “Hehe, because I owe too much~”
Those words made Clara tense up.
“Huh? You borrowed money? It’s not some kind of loan shark debt, is it?”
If she was that short on cash to borrow money, why hadn’t she told her first…
“No, it’s not what you think, Miss Clara~”
Lucia grinned and denied it cheerfully.
“My older brother worked hard to support my education. Now that I’m about to graduate, it’s time for me to repay him… I’m working to make big money!”
“Huh?”
Lucia’s bold declaration made Clara’s nose sting and her eyes redden. To hide it, she quickened her pace.
Damn it, kids’ hearts are too easily moved.
“Miss Lucia is really sensible…”
Suppressing the tears welling up, Clara wiped her eyes and turned to say:
“But your older brother didn’t support your studies to get repaid. He did it because you’re his sister. It’s just that simple.”
“I know! My brother never asks for anything in return, but that’s why I keep owing more and more! So I want to make big money… Heroes probably earn a lot, right?”
“Hmph, I’m not even really a hero yet, and even if you ask me…”
“Miss Clara is a magical girl? You can transform?”
“Keep it down! The hero identity is supposed to be confidential! Also, I haven’t had my official debut fight yet, so no one really knows…”
“Then I’ll be Miss Clara’s first fan!”
“Thanks, but heroes aren’t supposed to be like idols, right?”
The subway doors opened, and Clara and Lucia, burdened with their luggage, stepped inside.
Although there were some salarymen working overtime, the subway at night was relatively empty. Both found seats and continued their conversation:
“But, not all heroes can make money. Too many people are in this field, especially here in Central City… Do you know how many active heroes were counted here last year?”
“Several hundred? Oh, wait, I learned in class… over a thousand?”
“The textbook data is outdated. Last year, over two thousand heroes were recorded. Of course, ninety percent of them had no fame and made no money, so they soon gave up and retired… More precisely, they were dismissed. Because of this, the Association raised the certification standards to prevent mediocre heroes from flooding the ranks.”
Heroes must be affiliated with companies since it’s difficult for individuals to pass the Association’s certification.
In a way, it’s very much like the idol industry.
Nowadays, the few individual heroes who break through on their own are rare geniuses with considerable strength, and most eventually start their own companies…
It’s almost like a natural law.
“In any case, the hero business isn’t easy. Not everyone can get a slice of the pie. The Beautiful Dream Witch might just be a beautiful dream after all.”
More like a dream doomed to shatter, wrapped up in the guise of a Nightmare.
Fortunately, her little sister didn’t have any delusions about heroics; she was simply interested in how much heroes earned. Even if the truth came out later, she probably wouldn’t be too hurt.
Thinking this, Clara heard Lucia say:
“Heroes are the foundation of world stability. In other words, it’s an industry that will never disappear. Even if a company goes bankrupt, the industry will still exist.”
“Is that why you chose to major in heroics? Not afraid of unemployment?”
“Hehe, something like that~”
“So, villains are also a foundation, right?”
Clara stood up and glanced at the adjacent subway car.
“Yeah, both light and dark are important.”
Lucia slung her backpack over her shoulder, smiling as she murmured.
“Big brother’s job is necessary for this world too!”