"Shar's cooking is the best, hands down!"
I devoured the simple but stupidly delicious lunch she made, then flopped onto the huge sofa in a happy daze.
Shar plopped down right beside me, scooting so close our shoulders touched.
The sofa's massive, plenty of room, but I kept my mouth shut; don't want to get kicked out over a bad mood.
I reached over and started stroking her silky red hair, gentle and slow.
Shar's always loved this; when I once asked, "Okay for an older sister?" she shot back, "I *am* the older sister, and this is fine!"
She melted instantly, "Hehe... hehe," face pure bliss, adorable and pitiful.
"...We look like newlyweds, don't we?"
Shar tilted her head up and said it out of nowhere.
I just smirked, no words.
She's been super spoiled lately; what would an actual sister be like?
If I answered wrong, she'd misunderstand; good thing I never will. Shar's family to me, nothing more.
"Come to think of it... Jirei-kun used to love magic tools!"
After five minutes of mindless petting, Shar suddenly remembered.
"Yeah, I do, but...?"
She grinned, "Knew it!" and pulled something from her pocket.
"...A coupon?"
A neat rectangular ticket, official-looking.
"It's a ticket to the magic tournament! Prize is a magic tool; thought you'd be thrilled!"
She handed it over with a beaming smile.
I read: *87th Magi Kosmaia Magic Tournament – Participant Ticket*.
Weird; this tournament isn't open to the public.
"Wait, normal people can't enter... I don't meet any requirements, do I?"
The Magi Kosmaia Magic Tournament, royal-hosted every few years, is chaos: swords, magic, anything goes within rules.
Top ranks win insane prizes: B-class monster mats, legendary blacksmith swords, whatever the hosting royal feels like.
Huge applicant flood, so strict entry conditions:
1. Recommended by designated organization
2. A-rank adventurer or higher
3. Licensed martial art, A-class equivalent
4. A-rank magic power certification
I check zero boxes.
Yet the ticket reads:
**Contestant Name: Jiley Laro**
**[Affiliation]Royal Magikos Magic Academy**
**Recommended by: Aldi Audus, Academy Director**
My name, clear as day.
And *academy affiliation*? I've never even swept their floors.
"What the hell is this—"
"From there... I'll explain."
A deep, dandy voice boomed from behind, chilling my spine.
No way...
I turned.
"--Jirei, it's been a long time."
A tiny figure, child-sized, maybe ten years old.
Bushy ears twitching, fluffy tail swaying.
Huge round eyes, cute as a kitten; no, *literally* a cat-fairy.
"Ugh..."
I grimaced, disgust leaking out.
Top of my *People I Never Want to Meet* list.
His name is Aldi Audus, fairy-cat species, current director of Royal Magikos Magic Academy.