"Ah—sorry! Heat rushed like a wildfire; I got carried away."

Panic flooded my chest like a sudden storm; I let go of Lorraine and blurted an apology.

"Forget it."

She shook her head, a willow in wind; her gaze fell to the bell on the floor, and she lowered the Heavenly Lance.

"It’s my loss. Your strength isn’t there yet, but for your age, being the first to reach the ninth layer is impressive."

"Though much owed to early guardians pulling their punches like velvet gloves."

"That was rude of me..."

The win felt tarnished; her praise cut like sunlight through fog, and the going‑easy part stung.

"It’s fine. I was careless, didn’t notice the magic of those two sisters."

Her face was a calm mask, pale as a winter moon.

"Phew—I’m beat; my breath fogged like steam. As expected of dear big brother, we finally did it."

"Mm, success feels like sunlight after rain."

Lingxiao and Lingsaki drifted back to my side, pale as paper, steps wobbling like reeds; exhaustion weighed on them.

"I owe you two; alone, I’d be a lone candle in wind, and I’d never have won."

I drew Lingxiao and Lingsaki into my arms, stroked their heads like soft kittens, and whispered thanks.

"Ehehe—helping dear big brother beats everything; my heart bubbles like a spring."

"Same here; I’m glad our effort reached big brother like an arrow and wasn’t wasted."

"Thanks... my voice trembled like a plucked string."

Their words worked on me like spring rain; I hugged them tighter, happiness blooming—I’m lucky to have such brilliant sisters.

"Hmm, you three really look like sisters—matching petals; your voice is neutral, and your clothes are girlish. Yumigawa Sumeragi, are you actually a man?"

I snapped back and found Lorraine still staring; her question hit like a pebble in a still pond and almost made me spit blood.

Being doubted about gender is a thorn patch; is my face that easy to misread? My pride felt like a cracked mirror.

"As you can see, I’m a man! The clothes—there just weren’t any men’s outfits."

"You wore pretty feminine stuff before too. Early guardians told me you were mostly in skirts."

"Especially on the second layer, you passed by seducing that Emperor of Flames to meet his condition."

I had no words; silence welled like a dark lake.

Every word she said was true; the shame sat heavy, a raincloud I couldn’t shake.

Since meeting Xinuo, I’ve worn women’s clothes more than men’s.

Thanks to her, I got my wish and became a Sword Wielder.

Is this the price of equivalent exchange—grasp a dream, and let other pieces fall like autumn leaves?

"Dear big brother, you had to seduce that Emperor of Flames on the second layer to pass? What happened?"

"Big brother, is your chastity still intact, locked like a sealed chest?"

Lingxiao and Lingsaki lifted their heads from my arms, eyes sparkling like a starry sky, curiosity snagging me like hooks.

I wanted to cry; my brotherly image felt shredded like torn silk.

"Tell us, dear big brother—everything from stepping into the Nine Cold Labyrinth till now."

"Me too; I’m especially curious about the second layer, highlighted like a red‑marked page."

Maybe it’s my imagination, but their eyes turned into twin stars; under that light, refusal shrank like dust.

"Alright, I won’t intrude on your sibling time; call me when you head for the ninth layer."

With a soft whoosh, Lorraine vanished without a trace, like morning mist under sun.

Left behind, I was besieged by two adorable little questioners, their words pattering like rain; it’s exhausting.