It was an attack by eight bugbears, a large species of goblins. I heard that it was a precarious situation. If they were completely wiped out, half of the military force in the baron’s domain would have been eliminated.
The military strength of Baron Barbary’s domain consists of 13 individuals, including knights and squires. Even with the addition of their commander, the baron’s eldest son Kemp, the total would only be 14 individuals.
It was a critical situation.
“A bugbear is a type of large goblin.” (Kemp)
The knight commander has only recently learned about this.
“Well, I see.” (Baron Verbal)
The baron nodded nonchalantly.
“So, have you found out the location of the goblin nest?” (Baron Verbal)
◇
Technically speaking, the operation was successful. The plan successfully lured and intercepted the goblins (kind of). There were no casualties.
However, strategically speaking, it was a failure. The strategic objective of this operation was to locate the goblin nest, not just defeat the goblins or hold a yakiniku party.
Wen was the middle manager. She had to come up with the next course of action.
As she tried to recall the battle with the bugbears, the image that came to her mind was that of the elven girl. She was a beautiful girl, who shone brightly in the forest. Wen thought that she was like a goddess descended from above. And she was strong.
“I didn’t ask for her name.” (Wen)
Although she had never seen her before in the village of Moule, judging by their friendly conversation, it seemed that she was acquainted with the young boy named Finn.
“I think I’ll pay a visit to the village of Moule.” (Wen)
◇
“Onii-chan!” (Akari)
Akari chased after me.
We were inside a house with only two rooms. There was nowhere to escape.
“Onii-chan, why are you running away?” (Akari)
“Well, you see…” (Finn)
I found myself cornered at the edge of the room.
“Onii-chan♡” (Akari)
Akari approached me while on all fours. The beautiful face of the elf was right in front of me. Is her skin glowing somehow? I hurriedly averted my gaze, but my eyes inadvertently stopped at the open neckline of her tunic. There, nestled within the fabric, was the deep cleavage and the luscious, glistening softness on both sides. Come to think of it, I felt that squishy sensation when I hugged her the other day, it wasn’t a bad feeling.
“Uh, uh, uh, well, Shari is watching, you know?” (Finn)
“What if she is not looking?” (Akari)
“Huh? Uh, well…” (Finn)
Uh, what should I do? But I guess it’s fine if she’s not looking.
“What have you two been doing all this time?” (Shari)
“Oh, well, uh…” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, gross.” (Shari)
Eh…
“Onii-chan, instead of being all flustered, it’s about time you explained.” (Shari)
Desu yo ne~
◇
“We will now be hosting a sibling meeting!” (Finn)
“I don’t fully understand the details, but roughly speaking, if I kiss Onii-chan, I can gain his level, right?” (Akari)
“Roughly speaking, yes.” (Finn)
Not just roughly, but that’s entirely correct.
“So, Shari is at level 4 because of that too?” (Akari)
“Well, I guess so.” (Finn)
“Have you been kissing each other that much as siblings?” (Akari)
“In some cultures, it’s like a form of greeting, you know, like saying hello.” (Finn)
Akari gave me a disapproving look.
“Why were you hiding it, though?” (Akari)
“You didn’t you ask before?” (Finn)
Well, now that I think about it, I feel like I have been asked multiple times… Let me reconsider my response.
“Well, I tried to explain, but at that time, my level was 1.” (Finn)
“But now it’s level 2, right?” (Akari)
“Is that so?” (Finn)
“Then, Onii-chan… Let’s kiss again!” (Akari)
◇
Inside the house, I stand face-to-face with Akari. Shari is watching from the side. This feels incredibly embarrassing, to be honest.
“Onii-chan~♡” (Akari)
Akari approaches me.
Akari is about 10cm taller than me, so I find myself looking up at her.
Her right hand cradles my head, while her left hand plays with my right palm, intertwining our fingers. Is this what they call “lover’s hold”? I have read about it in light novels. Then my left hand is also held, with our fingers intertwined. Wait, does she have three arms now? No… this hand belongs to Shari.
I see Akari’s face right in front of me. She’s so beautiful. I can’t help but be mesmerized. Akari briefly gives me a playful expression of “It can’t be helped” and then closes her eyes, bringing her face closer to mine. And then our lips meet.
“Level Connection!” (Finn)
Is nothing happening after all?
From Akari’s mouth, I feel a soft yet distinct sensation that slowly enters me. She pries open my lips, grazing against my teeth and licking my gums. I open my mouth a little more. Akari’s tongue slips through the gaps between my upper and lower teeth and intertwines with mine. And then…
“Stopppp!” (Shari)
Shari interrupts abruptly.
“What kind of atmosphere are you two creating, you pervy elf?” (Shari)
Did she just call her a pervy elf?
“And what’s with that pleased expression on your face, Onii-chan?” (Shari)
Shari squeezes the fingers of my left hand with all her might, using her full Level 4 strength. It hurts, it really hurts. Wait, am I the one at fault here?
“Big brother, gross!” (Shari)
Is that a popular phrase these days?
“Oh, oops, I accidentally let out my shotacon2 tendencies.” \
Is this really not a problem after all?
“Why isn’t it working?” (Akari)
“Maybe it only works up until level 4?” (Finn)
“There are people with higher levels, you know.” (Akari)
“For example… Maybe it has to be with someone whose family?” (Finn)
“But we are siblings, aren’t we?” (Akari)
Well, you know, we are not actually blood-related. You’re an elf, after all.
“I see. I understand!” (Shari)
Shari interjects.
“Then, try it with Shari instead!” (Shari)
“If Shari becomes Level 5 here, I will die!” (Akari)
No illustration this chapter :<
TL notes:
Thanks for reading!
LMAO even Finn doesn’t know why he is hiding it from Akari. Short chapter, but at least he finally told Akari and Shari. And apparently Akari has shotacon tendencies.
“I am thinking of increasing Akari’s blessings this time.” (Finn)
Just to be sure, I decided to get Shari’s approval in advance.
“If it’s something you want to do, Onii-chan, then I think you should go for it.” (Shari)
Shari gave her consent. She’s such an understanding younger sister.
“Onii-chan, you can do whatever you like. No matter who you choose, Shari will watch and smile. Because in the end, Onii-chan will always come back to Shari.” (Shari)
Um…
◇
I called Akari out into the backyard. If there weren’t chickens running around at my feet, it would feel like a confession scene from a light novel. Well, it’s not the school building, but a barn.
“Kokekokokoko!” (Chicken)
“What would you do if someone told you that you could reach Level 5?” (Finn)
“I would do anything.” (Akari)
“Anything?!” (Finn)
“Yeah, anything.” (Akari)
Anything… like, anything? My imagination is running wild.
“Kokekokokoko!” (Chicken)
“But you see, my only redeeming quality was being at Level 4, and now I have been overtaken by my airheaded little sister who just started. If she accidentally surpasses me, I will have no choice but to die.” (Akari)
I’m glad I didn’t mention Shari first.
“Isn’t that a bit extreme to die over something like that?” (Finn)
“Don’t talk about yourself like that! Look at me, I am only at Level 1, yet I am still living strong.” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, you are already at Level 2.” (Akari)
“Kokekokokoko!” (Chicken)
Oh right.
But this place doesn’t have the right atmosphere. Let’s change the location.
I take Akari’s hand.
“Could you spare some time with me from now on? I will make you feel glad that you are alive.” (Finn)
◇
Under the winter sun, I hold hands with Akari and walk. We enter the forest. Akari is wearing her usual tunic while I have the coat on to keep warm.
Akari looks happy walking beside me, and I’m happy too, knowing that she looks forward to this.
We arrive at my favorite spot in the forest. There, only a single tree grows, and sunlight streams through the gap. Despite it being winter, the grass remains green. There was no wind, making it a little warm.
“This is a place I discovered a long time ago.” (Finn)
“Heh~~” (Akari)
I take off the coat and lay it on the grass. We both sit down side by side.
Despite it being winter, there is no wind, and it feels warm.
Akari smiles gently.
“There might be the fairy’s blessing here,” (Akari)
“The fairy’s blessing?” (Finn)
“Yeah, sometimes there are places like this in the forest, remnants of where fairies used to dwell.” (Akari)
Fairies, huh? Are you referring to the one we encountered the other day, the one that was 30 cm tall?
“It’s mentioned in the legend of the elves. Couples who receive the fairy’s blessing are said to be bound together for eternity.” (Akari)
I just wanted to have a casual sibling conversation, but it seems like the topic has taken a subtle turn.
“Akari.” (Finn)
I gaze at her well-defined face from a close distance.
She really is stunning. When I look at her up close, her beauty is mesmerizing.
Um, what was I going to say again?
“Beautiful.” (Finn)
Not that!
“What kind of blessings do you want, Akari?” (Finn)
“I have been thinking about this for a while.” (Akari)
“And at this point, it doesn’t really matter. Just reaching Level 5 would be enough for me.” (Akari)
“That’s not good enough!” (Finn)
“Why not?” (Akari)
“A person’s worth isn’t determined by their level!” (Finn)
“Is that so?” (Akari)
“Well, levels do hold some value, but I think the blessings are more important in the end.” (Finn)
“You’re strange, Onii-chan.” (Akari)
Akari giggles and looks at me.
“Then, I want to become an amazing mage.” (Akari)
“Alright, got it. Onii-chan will turn Akari into a great mage.” (Finn)
I place my right hand on the back of Akari’s head. Our upper bodies face each other while we remain seated. Akari is taller than me. I wrap my left arm around her delicate waist, and I straighten my posture. Akari’s arms wrap around me, and in that position, she leans back on her own. I end up embracing Akari, covering her from above.
Um, it feels like something is off. Well, never mind.
I bring my face closer to Akari’s. She smiles gently and closes her eyes. Her lips slightly part.
I kissed Akari.
“Level Connection!” (Finn)
Akari accepted me, and a level circuit formed between us… or so it should have happened, but it didn’t?
“This is my first time.” (Akari)
That’s not the point right now.
“Be gentle, ok?” (Akari)
What?
“Onii-chan!” (Shari)
Um…
“Actually forget what I said earlier. Onii-chan, Shari is-” (Shari)
Um…
◇
“Because we are not biological siblings, right?” (Shari)
Um…
“Isn’t 13 years old too young for that kind of matter?” (Shari)
In the outskirts of the forest near the Moule Village, the knights have cleared a corner of the dense forest. They have constructed makeshift barricades using chopped trees. However, there is no actual battle taking place. There are no enemies coming to attack in the middle of such a forest. The only things one might encounter in a place like this are bears or goblins.
Within the barricades, a large bonfire is blazing, and smoke rises from the roasting of a plentiful amount of deer and wild boars. It looks like a grand yakiniku1 feast.
“If you want to eat, go ahead.” (Knight)
“But I can’t possibly eat this much.” (Knight)
My subordinates are sneaking bites, but it’s nowhere near enough to consume such a quantity. The knight order spent several days hunting and gathering meat.
“It’s burnt.” (Knight)
“Don’t worry about it. We won’t be able to finish it anyway.” (Knight)
Smoke rises as the fat from the meat burns. The wind blows, carrying the smoke deeper into the forest. They brought along a user of wind manipulation for that purpose.
“If a scent like this reaches even a hibernating bear, it would wake up, wouldn’t it?” (Knight)
“If it’s just bears, it’s no big deal.” (Knight)
Among the knight order, there is no one who would lose to a bear. With that level of skill, they wouldn’t survive in this unit.
『What do you mean there are no goblins around? There shouldn’t be any goblins hibernating. It’s winter now, food is scarce, and goblins are always hungry. If we scatter the scent of meat in the forest, they might come out willingly. We can then engage them in combat, drive them away, and pursue the fleeing goblins to find their lair. There may be someone among the knights who possesses the skills of a hunter and can track them.』
This was a theoretical discussion born out of casual bar talk, but the strategy was adopted because even if it didn’t work out, there would be no real harm, and it would serve as training. The person in charge of implementation is Wen. There is one other knight colleague and five squires2.
(It’s more like a recreational activity than a real strategy)
Well, as long as alcohol isn’t involved, there shouldn’t be any problems.
Wen scans the forest for any signs, but the wind manipulation is interfering with her ability to sense them. It’s time to go.
“Alright, enough with the wind. Everyone, get into alert position.”
◇
[Finn PoV]
“Even though we are in the middle of the forest, you’re making quite a show with that bonfire.” (Akari)
Prompted by Akari’s consciousness of environmental concerns, we had come into the forest. We got Shari to use <Protection> on us, but there doesn’t seem to be any particular presence of monsters. That being said…
“Onii-chan, I smell the scent of yakiniku.” (Akari)
“Come to think of it, we still have not invented barbecue sauce.” (Finn)
“I have seen ketchup before.” (Akari)
Wait, really, Akari-san?
“Do we have mayonnaise?” (Finn)
“We do.” (Akari)
“By any chance, do we also have Reversi?” (Finn)
“We do.” (Akari)
Well, if there are at least 1,000 reincarnated individuals in this country alone, it’s bound to be like that.
“Why don’t they have it in this village?” (Finn)
“Maybe because it’s a rural area?” (Akari)
Akari-san, I have been thinking about this for a while, but you are quite critical when it comes to rural areas.
“I’ll go take a look.” (Akari)
Akari’s figure disappears into the forest. That line feels like a flag has been raised.
“Onii-chan.” (Shari)
Shari sticks close to me.
“What’s up?” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, you always seem so happy when you’re talking to Akari onee-chan.” (Shari)
“I’m having fun when I’m talking to Shari too, you know.” (Finn)
Shari looks into my eyes.
“Onii-chan, are you going to go back with Akari onee-chan?” (Shari)
I instinctively embrace Shari.
“Onii-chan will always be with Shari, forever.” (Finn)
I wrap my right hand around Shari’s head and my left hand around her back, giving her a comforting pat. Yoshi, yoshi3.
As I stroke with the pad of my left hand’s fingers, I can faintly feel the ribs underneath. The thin skin without subcutaneous fat feels like that of a cat. Shari slowly lifts her face with a relaxed expression.
Using my right hand’s fingers, I comb through her fine hair. Her silky, golden hair spills from my fingers. Shari gently closes her eyes and slightly stuck out her lips.
“Sorry to interrupt while things are getting heated, but…” (Akari)
“!” (Finn & Shari)
“Something’s coming.” (Akari)
◇
[Wen PoV]
It emerged from the depths of the forest.
At first, I thought it was a bear. It had a wide and a shaggy body. However, it was walking upright. Its height was about 1.5 times that of a person, surpassing 2 meters. In its hand, it held a large club. The head of the club resembled more of a mace. Its size was twice that of what a human would use. In a word, it was a monster.
The monstrous creatures roared in the forest filled with the aroma of yakiniku.
The two knights wielded their swords and shields, while the squires held shields and spears. They positioned themselves along the barricade.
“The situation has changed, hasn’t it?” (Knight/Squire)
“Has there ever been a time when things didn’t change?” (Knight/Squire)
“Well, you have a point.” (Knight/Squire)
The squires positioned themselves with their crossbows and leaned against the barricade. The movements of the monsters were swift as they closed in.
“3, 2, 1, fire!” (Wen)
The sound of the strings being released, followed by the whistling of the arrows.
The squires discarded the crossbows after using them and grabbed their spears while the knights drew their swords.
“Don’t die!” (Wen)
It wasn’t worth sacrificing their lives for a yakiniku gathering. There was no honor in that.
◇
[Finn PoV]
“What is that?” (Finn)
“A bugbear, huh?” (Akari)
“A bear?” (Finn)
“No… something like a big goblin?” (Akari)
“Is it stronger than a hobgoblin?” (Finn)
“This guy is dumb, but he’s strong… I think.” (Akari)
In short, it means that is it at roughly the same level.
“Can they win…?” (Finn)
Bugbear versus the knight order. They are engaged in a chaotic melee separated by a barricade made of logs. Although they are called a knight order, it seems there are only two actual knights. So far, neither side has been defeated…
“There are more.” (Akari)
“Huh?” (Finn)
Akari points deeper into the forest. Meanwhile, Shari bestows us with enhanced attack power.
We maneuver through the forest, bypassing the knights, and heading deeper into the woods.
“Presence Detection!” (Finn)
Within the forest, I sense the presence of dozens of beings. It feels familiar. This must be…
I take out a handful of small stones from my belt pouch. As one of the stones accidentally makes a “click” sound upon contact, a goblin notices it. Without hesitation, I threw the projectile at them!
The small stone, thrown at an impossible speed for a human, hits the goblin squarely in the face, burying itself in its head. The impact shatters the goblin’s skull.
I continue throwing the second and third stones. I can sense the presence of dozens of goblins rushing towards us. The goblins advance while taking cover behind trees. They are cunning.
It’s time for close combat. I grip my spear.
*Squish!*
The goblin that had come close has its head exploded. It was struck by Shari’s mace. The headless body collapses to the ground. I meet eyes with Shari.
“Shari, let’s go!” (Finn)
Shari raises her mace. The onslaught begins. With each goblin crushed, my level slowly increases.
As I desperately chase after my sister’s back, I impale the goblins that get in between us with my spear, forcefully push them aside, and swiftly withdraw the weapon. I turn the spear around and sever another goblin’s head. Sensing another presence behind me, I throw a backhand punch without looking, followed by a spinning kick with my right leg, sending the goblin flying. This is the power of the blessing of <Hand-to-hand combat>.
At that moment, I feel a surge of energy in my body. Once again, I have reached Level 2. I am being leveled up by Shari. I turn around, but Shari is now at a distance. There’s a fundamental difference in our stats due to the difference in levels. The goblins start swarming Shari. I have to catch up to her. I am here to protect Shari. I won’t let her be alone!
The next moment, I found myself right behind Shari. I feel that I had gained the blessing of <Teleportation>, allowing me to instantly reposition to her location. I swing my spear in place, mowing down the goblins and causing them to tumble and collide with each other. I impale them while they are stacked and twist the spear. I put my foot on them and pull out my spear. I won’t allow any vile creatures to come near Shari!
Akari pulled out the dagger from the back of the fallen goblin shaman.
Bugbears don’t possess the intelligence to cooperate well with other goblins. I had been suspecting that they might have brought someone along for that. I soon spotted a goblin shaman fleeing from the horde of goblins being overrun by the siblings. While chasing after it, I showered it with magic missiles. Sneaking up behind the panicked goblin shaman, I finished it off with a dagger.
I survey the area. The eradication of the goblins is shifting into a clean-up operation. Something catches my attention internally.
“Did I just say ‘Yoisho!’?” (Akari)
◇
[Wen PoV]
Having defeated two monsters, but with two of our own already fallen, the enemy numbers six while we stand at five.
Though we are at a disadvantage, both knights are still standing. Wen quickly ponders the situation. In terms of overall strength, the sides are evenly matched. However, we lack the numbers. We are being pushed back. Is there any way to create an opening, even just a small one?
At that moment, streaks of white light cut across the field of view. Four arrows of light pierce the backs of the monsters one after another. As the creature in front of me roars and staggers back, I thrust my sword into its swollen, hairy belly, just below the diaphragm, and push it in. The tip of the sword cuts through the chest from the inside. I then withdraw the sword.
I quickly dodge as the monster collapses. From the direction where the light came, I see a person wearing a hood emerging from the depths of the forest. Her legs are slender and white. It’s a woman. She lifts her head, causing the hood to fall back, revealing flowing brown hair. She has fair skin and a well-defined face. Long ears. Green eyes. There stood an elven girl. Bathed in the winter sunlight, her presence was beautiful.
“Is she a goddess?” (Wen)
Wen quickly regains their composure, shaking off the momentary distraction. There are still monsters remaining to deal with.
◇
[Akari PoV]
One of the bugbears falls from the scattered magic missiles, likely already wounded. And one of the knights manages to defeat another bugbear. That leaves four remaining.
The knights engage the bugbears one by one, while the remaining squires gather to face a single bugbear together. Perhaps thinking that Akari’s delicate figure makes her an easier target, one of the bugbears charges directly towards her.
“I’m not built for close combat, though.” (Akari)
She tries to deflect the giant club with her dagger, but her strength isn’t enough to fully deflect it. It grazes her arm, but she doesn’t feel any pain.
(It doesn’t hurt)
It’s the effect of <Protection>. A mere graze like that wouldn’t hurt much.
(Akari-chan, you should give it your all!)
I wonder if my level will go up soon.
・・
“My life belongs to you.” (Creepy Knight/Squire)
“I don’t need this kind of thing!” (Akari)
As the knight kneels before me, about to kiss the back of my hand, I quickly jump back in a panic.
Dealing with older men is a bit too much for me!
◇
[Finn PoV]
It seems that the battle with the bugbears is over. I make my way over to where the knights are. Akari is standing, and a knight is kneeling at her feet. I wonder what’s going on.
“What’s happening, Akari?” (Finn)
As soon as Akari sees my face, she starts speaking rapidly.
“Bugbears are quite popular in D&D, but they don’t appear much in light novels, so I was a bit surprised. But originally, bugbears are considered a type of fae in folklore, so they are kind of related to goblins.” (Akari)
“Akari, please stop.” (Finn)
・・
“It’s a nice weather, isn’t it?” (Finn)
I engage in a casual conversation with Wen, trying to avoid any sensitive topics. Shari secretly healed the injuries of the two injured individuals. Hopefully, no one noticed, right?
“Do you want some?” (Wen)
The boar was slightly overcooked, but the deer was quite good. It lacked a bit of saltiness though. Wen even packed some leftovers for me. Maybe she is a nice person after all.
“Well then, thank you for the yakiniku!” (Finn)
I need to hurry back. I just reached Level 2. Next, I should focus on leveling up Akari.
Huh? Wait a minute, was Shari also there during the previous chapter? Urhh I didn’t know that. Well on the good news, Teleportation seems like a pretty OP power depending on how it can be used.
Don’t worry, this chapter confuses me too cause of the constant PoV change. And also, this chapter is so long xd
I checked, and a bugbear is indeed a kind of goblin. Where did the name of this even come from?
“After the attack on the logging team the other day, there haven’t been any other attacks caused by goblins.” (Knights Captain)
“I see.” (Baron Verbal)
The baron nods in response to the explanation from the Knight Commander. His face is bright today.
“Perhaps it was a good decision to clear the area along the highway after all.” (Knights Captain)
“It could be.” (Baron Verbal)
To be honest, it’s meaningless to think about possibilities and causalities in situations like this. It’s like a superstition. You try something, and if it works out, you try it again.
“This is from the Moule Village.” (Knights Captain)
A sword is brought forth.
“What is this?” (Baron Verbal)
“It seems that this craftsmanship is not recent. It is said to be from the ancient Rhône Empire.” (Knights Captain)
“I see.” (Baron Verbal)
“It might have been excavated from a ruin.” (Knights Captain)
“Ruins, huh?” (Baron Verbal)
“According to the blacksmith who brought it, someone received it as a drop from the goblins.” (Knights Captain)
“In other words…” (Baron Verbal)
“There might be an ancient Rhone Empire ruins in the forest, where the goblins have made their nest. And in there might be…” (Knights Captain)
“Rhone’s treasure.” (Baron Verbal)
“It’s possible.” (Knights Captain)
It sounds like a tale from a dream. Ancient treasures. However, there is a sword from the Rhône era right in front of you. This is real.
“Search for the goblin’s nest, Kemp.” (Baron Verbal)
“Yes, father.” (Knights Captain)
◇
Lately, the lord’s knights have been quite active. They come to the village several times a week.
“Finn!” (Blacksmith)
I am suddenly called out within the village. It’s the blacksmith uncle I usually see.
“Uncle Blacksmith!” (Finn)
“Finn, this person wants to ask you something.” (Blacksmith)
Huh?
“Oh, isn’t it Wen-san? Hello.” (Finn)
“Oh, so it’s Finn! How have you been doing good recently?” (Wen)
She shakes my hand.
“Yes, thanks to you! We recently defeated some goblins!” (Finn)
Wen-san nods.
“By the way, could you take me there for a moment?” (Wen)
Um, well… I guess I could.
We leave the village, making sure not to pass by my house. If my sisters were to spot us, things could get complicated. Wen-san, despite being a knight, is currently on foot. She is accompanied by two attendants.
“Um, we need to go deeper from around this area… probably towards that direction…” (Finn)
It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact location in a forest where the scenery looks similar throughout. Even if she asks for the precise spot, to be honest, I don’t really know. Well, an approximate location should suffice.
“There were goblins around this area.” (Finn)
“I see.” (Wen)
Wen-san listens intently. I also try to sense any presence. I coud feel the breath of the forest. There does not seem to be any goblins or the like.
“Where did you find that sword?” (Wen)
“A goblin here had it and he dropped it.” (Finn)
“I see…” (Wen)
She seems to be deep in thought, contemplating something.
“Got it. Thanks, boy.” (Wen)
“Ah, you’re welcome.” (Finn)
“How’s your spear training going?” (Wen)
“My father praised me for it.” (Finn)
“I see. Show me next time.” (Wen)
“Yes ma’am. Next time!” (Finn)
While returning to the village, I kept the conversation vague as to not accidentally give away my blessing of <Spear>.
“I’m back!” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, where did you go? You were out for a while!” (Akari)
◇
“That kid is hiding something, isn’t he?” (Wen’s companion)
“Well, he’s just a child. He probably thought he would get scolded if he went too deep into the forest without saying anything.” (Wen)
Wen replies absentmindedly.
There’s no way normal goblins would be swinging such a large sword.
I then recalled the palm of my hand that I gripped.
He was definitely a spear prodigy beyond his age.
◇
I took Akari on a tour of the village. She is too beautiful, or rather, the fact that she’s an elf makes her stand out too much. So, I have her wear my coat and pull the hood over her head. Since Akari is taller than me, it fits her reasonably well.
I watch her cheerful figure as she walks ahead. The half-coat conceals her tunic, making it appear as if her white legs are directly exposed. I can’t help but be captivated by the whiteness of her thighs, but I quickly avert my gaze in embarrassment.
It’s amusing to see sandals paired with a coat. The design of the sandals is quite charming, with straps that wrap around the ankles. The swaying of the tied leather strings creates a slight contraction in the calves, which gives a nice touch. The movement of the area behind the knee, known as the popliteal fossa, on both sides of the muscle, is also captivating. And the thighs, which I thought would be even slimmer, surprisingly plump and fleshy appearance when viewed from behind. It makes me wonder where exactly the thigh ends and the butt starts. It’s interesting how the usual tunic hides these aspects as well, but there’s something appealing about the sense of concealment in this outfit as well!
“What’s wrong?” (Akari)
Akari jumps and turns back to me. I’m 13 years old! I wasn’t staring!
“Oh, I was just wondering if you were feeling cold.” (Finn)
“I won’t get cold wearing something like this.” (Akari)
The hooded girl smiles at me.
“Well, for high school girls, showing bare legs is pretty much the norm!” (Akari)
Did she actually take cold resistance measures just for that?
Oh, right! There was something I forgot to confirm the other day. Acting before thinking is a bad habit of mine. No, it’s not about bare legs.
“By the way, how high can levels go?” (Finn)
Yeah, I have not confirmed that yet. Akari might know.
“Well, most ordinary people can reach a maximum level of four.” (Akari)
That’s something I already knew.
“I’m level 4, so it’s okay for you to praise Akari-chan for being amazing, Onii-chan.” (Akari)
“Akari-chan is amazing.” (Finn)
“But why is Shari also level 4? Do you know how much I struggled to get myself to that level?” (Akari)
“It must have been tough for you, Akari. I understand.” (Finn)
“Do you really understand?” (Akari)
“Yeah, yeah. I understand. I’m your Onii-chan, after all. Akari, you put in a lot of effort. You’re really amazing.” (Finn)
“Hehe.” (Akari)
This child is so easy to please.
“Well, there are people who have managed to reach level 5. Elves’ elders and such have even higher levels.” (Akari)
They exist, huh.
“But generally, if you live a normal life, it’s not easy to level up that high. Even reaching level 4 requires talent and luck to be among the top 1%, but the most important thing is the daily effort, steadily building up your skills and finally achieving it.” (Akari)
“Akari-chan, you’re amazing.” (Finn)
“And yet, my little sister managed to do it too…” (Akari)
Well, now that we know level 4 isn’t the upper limit, let’s change the topic.
No wait, I just realized that if there were a limit, it would have been problematic to kiss my sister. I mean, what if I kissed her and nothing happened?
“Oh, look, there’s smoke over there.” (Akari)
Akari pointed into the forest as she says that.
“I wonder what is happening in the forest.” (Finn)
Isn’t that direction where we defeated the Hobgoblin?
Ahh Finn, a man of culture I see. What a thorough analysis of Akari’s thighs and legs. Tbh I don’t see why Finn still isn’t telling Akari about the level transfer thing. I mean he doesn’t really have to demo it does he? Shari’s level is the literal proof.
Gonna change (captain of knight) to (knight captain)
When asked for an explanation by my mother, I struggled to explain, saying, “Maybe Mom received blessings because we fought goblins together. Look, Dad also fought a big boar and received blessings.”
“Then, what was that kiss?” (Finn’s mother)
“According to Akari, it’s an elf greeting.” (Finn)
“What kind of greeting?” (Finn’s mother)
“Something like longevity and prosperity, I think?” (Finn)
Although my mother is not completely convinced, she has no reason to deny what I said.
“How did you know it was going to be the blessing of <Healing> at that time?” (Finn’s mother)
“Dad said that if you strongly wish for blessings, they will come true.” (Finn)
“Well, it’s true that I also wished for the blessing of <Water> because I disliked fetching water.” (Finn’s mother)
Looks like there was a backstory to that blessing.
Since then, we started having injured people coming to our house every day.
Even though my mother provided healing as a free service, patients always brought something to give us, so our quality of food has become abundant. If it’s just a minor injury, there seems to be almost no limit to the number of times they can come.
“Maybe we should start refusing the gifts?” (Finn)
“Mom is just tired.” (Finn’s mother)
◇
“Just so you know, I am still not convinced.” (Akari)
Desu yo ne~ Maybe it’s time to reveal the truth about the level transfer soon.
However, I am currently at level 1, and I need to reach at least level 2 before I can show her how it works. Maybe I should go hunt some goblins or something.
“I promise I will explain next time, so let’s focus on leveling up first.” (Finn)
“Where are we going?” (Akari)
“Hmm, how about trying the usual place?” (Finn)
On a clear winter morning, under the pretense of procuring food, Akari, Shari, and I are heading towards the forest. When we mentioned we were going to the forest, my mother looks worried.
“I can use magic, so we will be fine.” (Akari)
“Hmm, in that case, I will leave it to you girlfriend-san.” (Finn’s mother)
“Well, she is actually my little sister.” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, Shari is here too.” (Shari)
Alright, let’s go quickly.
When we walked through the winter forest, it was devoid of any signs of animals. Perhaps they are hibernating.
“Do goblins not hibernate?” (Finn)
“They don’t.” (Akari)
“Why not?” (Finn)
“Because they are feys.” (Akari)
I see. I still don’t understand.
I am currently holding a spear in my hand and have small pebbles in my belt pouch. Ideally, I would prefer to have lead balls but that is not possible for now.
Since we are supposedly procuring food, it would be great if we could bring back a deer or a rabbit. I wonder if I can hunt a deer using my blessing of <Throwing>. If Shari enhances the attack, it should be an easy victory, but there is also a possibility of pulverizing the deer.
I put on the old coat I received from my father. It’s a half coat, but it feels a bit loose on me.
We enter the forest. I ask my sisters to hide and watch while I received <Protection>. We head towards the familiar herb spot where we have fought goblins multiple times before. I roll over and lie prone, keeping my face down. I activate <Presence Detection> to scan my surroundings.
But no goblins were found.
“I used to encounter them here before… Did I overhunt them a bit too much?” (Finn)
Hmm, what should I do?
“What are you doing?” (?)
Ah, my senses detect a nearby presence. But it’s not a goblin. It’s something smaller.
I raise my head and there I see a girl with wings. She is about 30 cm tall.
“It’s a fairy!” (Finn)
I see. So fairies don’t hibernate.
“Well, you see, I was looking for goblins.” (Finn)
“Why are you looking for goblins?” (Fairy)
“I want to defeat them.” (Finn)
“Why?” (Fairy)
Eh?
“Because goblins attack humans?” (Finn)
“Isn’t it because humans enter goblin territory?” (Fairy)
She seems to have started talking like an environmentalist or something.
“Aren’t you troubled by goblins?” (Finn)
“Well, both us fairies and goblins are part of the fey family1.” (Fairy)
As we talk, I can’t help but think that the fairies in anime are typically like Tinker Bell2, around 10 cm tall, glowing, and much more ethereal. But this fairy is strangely realistic, being 30 cm tall and lacking the typical glow. It has a more lifelike and figurine-like appearance.
“Well then, I’ll head back, so you can continue talking to the elf.” (Akari)
“Okay, see you later.” (Finn)
I return to where Shari is.
“There was a fairy.” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, what were you talking about?” (Shari).
“I was just getting some information from the fairy with Akari.” (Finn)
“Okay, but it’s cold here, Onii-chan.” (Shari)
I wrap Shari inside my coat and hug her. Shari looks at me with a “You knew what I was going to ask?” look. Of course I understand, I am your Onii-chan after all.
After about 30 minutes, Akari returns.
“So, how was it?” (Finn)
“At that size, she feels more like a small figurine.” (Akari)
“No, I meant about the goblins.” (Finn)
“It seems like they are gathering somewhere. Something about welcoming a king or something,” (Akari)
“That is a bit worrisome, but I wonder where it could be.” (Finn)
“The place doesn’t have a proper name, so I have no idea.” (Akari)
Hmm, this is troubling. Without goblins, I won’t be able to level up.
“So, Onii-chan, when are you going to explain the thing to me?” (Akari)
Um…
I am starting to consider if we can hunt anything other than goblins, but as I am only at level 1, so even opponents that are too strong would be a problem. Speaking of which, we came here to procure food, didn’t we?
On the way back, we managed to hunt a rabbit. Akari’s magic missile was super handy. However, my level didn’t increase.
OMG this chapter took longer to translate than it should and it’s all because of that fey stuff. In the raws, it was “妖精” which translates to fairy. Obviously, it makes no sense since goblins are not fairies. Actually, let me tell you about this journey.
I searched for other possible definitions for the word and got a blank. So I thought to myself “Maybe this is some DnD stuff” and I searched up fairy and goblin relations. I got another blank but I found out that fairies are feys from feywild, so I searched up goblin and fey this time.
I ended up on a Reddit thread talking about how goblins are now considered feys in the 5th edition of DnD. I looked up a wiki of DnD 5th edition for the goblin race and lo and behold, goblins have the “Fey-ancestry” trait and they were considered feys. I said “were” because looks like some stuff happened and they lost memories or something. That is another whole can of worms which I am not opening.
So on the outside, fairies and goblins may not look related but in DnD they are somewhat related.
“One of our traders is missing.” (Captain of Knights)
“I see.” (Baron Verbal)
Upon receiving the report from his eldest son, who was the captain of the knight order, the baron nodded gravely.
The territory of Verbal consists of six villages with a population of around a thousand people. There are no major towns.
“It must have been goblins.” (Baron Verbal)
“It seems like they have become more active recently.” (Captain of Knights)
Surrounding the villages are fields, but beyond them lies a vast and dense forest. The villages are like small islands scattered within the forest, which is the territory of the goblins.
“We really need to do something about those goblins.” (Baron Verbal)
“However, goblins are like fungus. They only appear when they feel like it.” (Captain of Knights)
“Well, that’s true.” (Baron Verbal)
Goblins act similarly to fairies. They cause mischief, but they rarely approach human settlements. The only way to avoid goblins is to clear the forest, but it is impossible to accomplish given the lack of manpower. Humans are weak compared to nature. If we are not careful, the villages could be swallowed by the forest.
“Perhaps we should expand the main road a little more.” (Baron Verbal)
The Goblin Forest is not entirely bad. It prevents the establishment of bandit gangs and similar groups within the territory. They would simply get attacked by the goblins. Of course, another reason could be that there are no targets for the bandits. This territory is poor.
“We will have to recruit villagers for this.” (Baron Verbal)
“It will require funds.” (Captain of Knights)
Even during the agricultural off-season, it is impossible to expect people to work without any compensation.
“Shall we use the knight order, then?” (Captain of Knights)
“Hmm.” (Baron Verbal)
The knight order of Baron Verbal consists of three mounted knights and ten foot soldiers as attendants. This is the extent of their standing army. If they were to assign them to logging, they would be unable to conduct patrols, resulting in an increase in goblin attacks. It would defeat the purpose of having knights.
“It would be nice if the country could lower taxes a little more,” he chuckled wryly. Even the residents in the territory had the same thought.
“We have no choice but to recruit them little by little.” (Baron Verbal)
◇
“Father is going to go cut down trees along the road.” (Finn’s father)
Since father has the blessing of <Strength>, whenever there is physical work to be done, he is called upon. It’s his part-time job during the agricultural off-season.
“Take care, Dad,” Akari said with a bright smile.
“Ah, yes. Thank you,” Father replied, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Why is he embarrassed?
Akari has settled into the house. It feels quite surreal to have a stunningly beautiful elf inside the house, but with all the things that have been happening, it’s starting to feel like this is normal. Moreover, she has somehow become my girlfriend along the way.
・・
And so, a few days passed, and the season transitioned into winter. It seems like Shari’s birthday has already passed, but I can’t say for certain because the exact date is not clear. Shari remains unchanged; she’s still healthy, and there have not been any noticeable changes in her blessings. For now, as long as she’s doing well, that’s a relief.
Until recently, we were busy with the harvest, so there was no time for adventuring. But now that winter has arrived, there is hardly any work to be done in the fields, and everyone tends to stay indoors due to the climate. That makes it difficult to go on adventures. My mother, Shari, and Akari ended up doing handicrafts together. It’s hard to describe it as anything other than piecework. They weave straw and make felt-like fabric from sheep’s wool.
“Wouldn’t it be better if someone with blessings did all this instead?” (Akari)
Akari murmured after Mom had left to make a delivery.
“If there were a blessing like ‘straw weaving and rope-making,’ I feel like I would be stuck doing it for the rest of my life.” (Finn)
Come to think of it, I recently received the blessing of <Throwing>. It came from back when I was throwing stones at goblins.
“Speaking of blessings… Why are you still at level 1, Onii-chan?” (Akari)
“Maybe it’s because I haven’t gained enough experience. (Finn)
“Then why is Shari at level 4?” (Akari)
“Maybe it’s because the hobgoblins were stronger,” (Finn)
“Hmm, is that so??” (Akari)
Well, I could explain my blessings to Akari if the timing is right. By the way, Shari is also making good use of her blessing of <Mace> by pounding the straw to soften it.
“Onii-chan, if you don’t level up, you won’t be able to go to the dungeon.” (Akari)
“That’s true, but isn’t it cold outside?” (Finn)
“I’m not cold.” (Akari)
“It’s amazing that you can dress like that during this season.” (Finn)
“Well, I am a high school girl!” (Akari)
Since Akari has the blessing of <Cold Resistance>, she always dresses as if it were summer. Specifically, she wears sleeveless mini-dress tunics. She has several different variations, but today’s in particular has wide-open sides. She doesn’t wear a bra, so it’s quite eye-catching. It’s especially daring when viewed from the side. It’s a good thing she’s my sister, so it’s considered safe to look.
At that moment, I sensed my mother running back to the house. The door swung open with a bang.
“The logging team was attacked by goblins!” (Finn’s mother)
◇
We hurriedly made our way to the village chief’s office to learn about the details. It seemed that the logging team had encountered goblins just a short distance away from the village. There were injured members who could not move, so they sent one person to seek assistance. However, there were no knights on patrol in the village at the moment. Discussions were underway to decide who would go to their rescue.
“Let’s go.” (Finn)
We exchanged glances and returned home. We each grabbed our weapons and headed out to the site. My weapon is “Spear (Model 2).” Model 1 broke, so I bought a premade one from the blacksmith.
After running along the highway for about an hour through the forest, we reached our destination. A cart loaded with timber was parked at the side, and a cow was laying in front of it. There were glimpses of movement behind the cart. It looked like a person.
“Onii-chan, in the forest!” (Shari)
Akari pointed ahead. I used my sense detection ability. Sure enough, there were people near the cart. I sensed a goblin-like presence in the forest. Five, six… no, there are more. Probably over 10 of them. They are gradually gathering.
“Goblins.” (Finn)
“What should we do, Onii-chan?” (Akari)
“We will take them down before they gather.” (Finn)
“It’s dangerous, Finn.” (Finn’s mother)
“Don’t worry, mom.” (Akari)
…Huh, wait a minute.
Why did our mother come along?
“Well, um… What should we do?” (Finn)
First, we don’t know the exact number of goblins. They might continue to increase in numbers. We also don’t know the situation of the person who needs rescue. On top of that, we need to ensure the safety of our mother and make sure no one else finds out about our blessings. The conditions are quite challenging.
First, let’s have Shari cast <Protection> on all four of us. Meanwhile, I will gather some stones from the roadside. Then, I will ask her to cast <Attack Boost> on me.
“Shari, keep an eye on Mom. Akari, provide long-range support.” (Finn)
“Got it, Onii-chan.” (Shari)
“Understood, Onii-chan.” (Akari)
I begin throwing stones at the goblins.
The combination of my blessing of <Throwing> and the <Attack Boost> buff is incredible. The goblins hit by the projectiles did not just fall, they are sent flying. It’s much more effective than the stone-throwing I did before I got my blessing. Moreover, my accuracy while throwing is remarkable.
“So this is the power of my blessing…” (Finn)
Any misses are quickly taken care of by Akari’s Magic Missiles, magical arrows that never miss their target, ensuring the goblins are dealt with.
“Mom, take my spear to Dad.” (Finn)
“Is Finn going to be okay?” (Finn’s mother)
“I will throw stones from afar, so I will be fine.” (Finn)
Mom runs towards the cart, carrying my spear.
“I’m ready, Onii-chan!” (Shari)
Shari responds as I give her a signal. She has already cast the attack boost on herself and Akari.
“Let’s go!” (Finn)
Shari charges forward, wielding her mace, and Akari and I follow closely behind, forming a triangular formation.
At the front, Shari swings her mace, mercilessly crushing the goblins in her path. As she gains experience, I feel my own level increasing. A goblin appears right in front of me, and I strike it with my bare hands. With the <Attack Boost> buff, I was able to twist the goblin’s neck in an unnatural direction. I follow up with a powerful kick, sending it flying. A surge of strength wells up from within me. I’ve reached level 2!
“Whoa!” (Finn)
Power surges through my body as we continue to charge into the swarm of goblins, scattering them with our attacks.
◇
Most of the goblins are finally gone now. We walk towards the cart. With a cautious look on her face, Akari stays on guard using her <Stealth>.
Dad is sitting on the ground, leaning against a log, holding a spear. It looks like he has injuries on his arms and legs. His complexion is a bit pale. Mom is by his side, looking concerned.
“I’m fine…” (Finn’s father)
He does not seem fine. And there are three more people lying on the ground.
Shari glances at me sideways. Hmm, what should we do? It would be bad if they saw Shari’s blessing.
I approach my mother and whisper in her ear.
“Mother, I want you to think of asking for a blessing of <Healing>.” (Finn)
“Eh?” (Finn’s mother)
“Just do it.” (Finn)
I embrace my mother.
It feels a bit awkward.
“Mom, you’re safe!” (Finn)
“I’m glad! I love you, Mom.” (Finn)
I press my lips against my mother’s lips. It’s a greeting-like gesture in some cultures.
“Level connection!” (Finn)
A level circuit is formed between Mom and me.
“Begin level transfer!” (Finn)
“Mhhmm, mmm, mm, ah“
I whisper in her ear, “Think of the blessing of <healing>.” (Finn)
“Um, um, blessing of <healing>!” (Finn’s mother)
With a flushed face, my mother first touches my father.
“Heal!” (Finn’s mother)
My father’s wounds begin to heal. No matter how many times I see it, it’s still amazing.
Then my mother approaches the fallen individuals. Everyone is watching.
“Heal!” The first person gasps for breath and regains consciousness. My mother moves on to the second person and whispers, “Heal.” The second injured person also revives. And then again with the third person.
All the injured individuals have been healed. My mother is being looked at with awe and respect by everyone. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shari secretly uses her healing ability to restore the strength of the cow pulling the cart.
While my father, with the blessing of <Strength>, is rearranging the fallen logs, a rescue team from the village arrives. They all have tools like shovels and sickles in their hands.
Well urhh that was an interesting move by Finn, I mean sure it’s a greeting in some culture but does that culture exist in this world. Also you could have moved to a hidden place to do the kiss instead of announcing it to the world lol.
Akari silently followed behind the siblings as they ventured deeper into the forest. As an elf, it was in her racial nature to move swiftly and quietly within the woods. With the added blessing of <stealth>, Akari was practically like a ghost within the forest.
The siblings were a curious pair. According to the story of their parents, the younger sister possessed the blessing of <healing>. Not to mention the blessing of the <Protection> spell cast earlier. The appraisal result of being Level 3 should be accurate. However, Shari was just a 13-year-old girl who appeared much smaller than her actual level. How did she manage to raise her level?
And then there is the older brother. It’s strange that he is only at Level 1 if they have been hunting goblins together as siblings. Levels tend to increase more easily at lower levels. Moreover, it’s clear from their hunting skills that the older brother is more experienced. Although, he might be easy prey when it comes to seduction attempts.
The siblings have stopped and decided to turn back. It seems that something is off about the forest. There is no presence of living creatures. The older brother takes his sister’s hand… and starts running ahead. But that direction leads deeper into the forest!
I hurriedly follow behind the siblings. The forest feels dark. There is no dappled sunlight as if it were nighttime. It’s morning now, and it should be a sunny day. It’s unnaturally dark. And as commonly described in many fantasies, elves have excellent night vision. It’s strange for the forest to appear so dark to an elf.
“Onii-chan!” (Shari)
A scream echoes through the forest. Up ahead, the siblings are trapped, seemingly buried in the ground! The ground they were standing on was an illusion. There’s a gaping hole, leaving an empty void in its place.
The eerie darkness of the forest fades away, returning to its natural brightness.
“Gweh… Gweh… Gweh”… (Goblins)
Several goblins have gathered around the hole, each holding rocks in their hands.
◇
I walk with Shari through the forest. Today, we can’t seem to find any goblins. I decide to venture a little deeper into the woods. Despite the lack of presence of small animals, I still thought there might be goblins around.
Before I realize it, we find ourselves in a dark part of the forest. I hadn’t intended to go this far… I stop and turn to Shari to speak.
“Something feels off. Let’s go back.” (Finn)
“Okay.” (Shari)
I turn back and shout towards the rear.
“Akari, let’s head back!” (Finn)
I can’t see where Akari is. Did I lose sight of her? We need to go back.
Growing more anxious, I start to pick up the pace, almost breaking into a jog. Did we pass through here before? This should be a familiar forest that I have traversed multiple times. The more I try to go back, the deeper we seem to be venturing into it.
“Onii-chan!” (Shari)
Out of nowhere, Shari grabs my hand. I turn around, but my momentum causes me to take one more step forward. My foot meets nothing but air. I lose my balance, and Shari tries to catch me, but we both end up falling.
Akari contemplates the situation. With this number of goblins, she could likely deal with them using offensive magic. She could unleash a barrage of her neutral magic spell, “Magic Missile.”
“However…” (Akari)
The goblins in this world are like fairies. Not just any fairies, but malevolent1 ones. They deceive and lure travelers, ultimately devouring them. However, the goblins present here seem to be nothing more than mischievous fairies. They lack the intelligence to set up such an elaborate trap.
I look around their surroundings and spot something.
Hidden in the shadows of the trees is a goblin adorned with tattoos all over its body and decorated with feathers and bones. It stands out from the other goblins, larger in size, and holds a staff in its hand. That is the Goblin Shaman, a spellcaster who specializes in casting illusions and luring opponents into traps. Its mastery of illusion magic rivals even Akari’s own abilities.
Standing behind the Goblin Shaman is a figure about the size of a human, clad in leather armor and wielding a sword. At first glance, they appear to be human, but their unmistakable face reveals them to be a goblin. Using the Appraisal skill, it becomes apparent that their strength is comparable to a level 3. That is a Hobgoblin!
Goblin Shaman and Hobgoblin are formidable opponents. Dealing with either one of them alone would be challenging enough, but facing them both simultaneously is a heavy burden. In addition to these two, there are 10 regular Goblins. Normally, this would be a situation where fleeing is the wisest choice. With Akari’s skills, they could easily escape from the forest. However…
I wonder if the Onii-chan will be okay…
I contemplate the situation. The protection enchantment is active on the siblings. Even if the Goblins throw rocks, as long as they can withstand that, it will come down to a physical battle with the Goblins. With the two of them together, they might be able to handle it. However, the Shaman and the Hobgoblin are formidable opponents. I need to take care of them myself.
“Show me what you can do, Onii-chan!” (Akari)
Her little sister is at Level 3, so she should be able to handle herself. The rule of thumb is to take down the spellcaster first, so I will at least help with that. I focused on the Shaman and unleash a barrage of Magic Missiles at him.
◇
“It’s a pit!” (Finn)
Now that I think about it, the goblins seem to be more civilized than me. No, now is not the time to be thinking about such things.
I don’t have my spear with me. It seems to have fallen outside the pit. The depth of the pit is about 1.5 meters. If I jump, I should be able to see my surroundings.
Goblins from all around were closing in, each of them holding rocks as big as their heads.
And then, the rocks came raining down. I held Shari close, shielding her from the impact.
・・
The goblins, after tossing rocks into the hole, cautiously peered inside. They clung to the edge of the hole and extended their hands from below. Using my ability to sense their presence, I located the goblins and dragged two of them back into the hole.
“Attack boost!” (Shari)
Shari, using her level advantage, pinned down the goblins, and with the added boost to my attack power, I crushed the goblins’ heads with rocks. It was a well-coordinated combination attack. “Crack!” I heard the sound of bones breaking echo twice.
Without wasting any time, we swiftly dragged the next two goblins into the hole. Black smoke rose from the pit.
The remaining goblins seemed to have been intimidated or frightened, as they withdrew and hid away.
When I used my <Presence Detection>, I found the location of the goblins. They did not escape; they were lurking nearby, observing the situation. What should I do?
The depth of the hole is about the same as my height. However, I can’t see the goblins from my current position…
I grip the rock thrown in my hands. It is about the size of a goblin’s head, roughly the size of a handball. I swing it overhead, relying on my <Presence Detection> to aim, and throw it with an overhead shot!
“Crack!“
It hits. Using <Presence Detection>, I managed to hit down one of them.
Shari hands me the next rock. Onii-chan will do his best. I aim at the presence of the goblins and threw it. This time, I missed. No, it seems like they dodged it. Well, that’s okay. There are plenty of rocks to use. As long as I hit with my enhanced attack power, it will still deal damage.
As I defeat the seventh goblin, a surge of heat wells up from deep within my body. Strength surges through me. I’ve reached Level 2! Excitement fills me.
I placed my hands on the edge of the hole. With Shari’s help, I was pushed up, swiftly emerging from the hole. Shari extended her mace towards me. I grabbed it and lifted Shari up along with it. I looked around… There it is! I see my spear! I swiftly ran and retrieved it. The sensation of invincibility surged within me.
“Gweh?” (Goblins)
Three goblins are looking at me. They don’t have a weapon. How pathetic.
I flash my spear. With a swift motion, I decapitate one of the goblins with the blade of my spear. Without hesitation, I thrust and twist, impaling the next goblin. Two of them turn into black smoke and disappear. Becoming Level 2 really does make a difference in the sharpness of my body.
“Gweh!” The last remaining goblin leaps towards Shari, but Shari who has also applied <Attack Boost> to herself, counters with a swing of her mace. The mace connects directly with the goblin’s head, shattering it into pieces.
・・
“Gmooooooo!” (Hobgoblin)
Just when I thought I had cleared out the goblins, a large figure emerged confidently from behind a tree. It was about the size of a human adult, wearing leather armor and wielding a sword. At first, I thought it was a human, but its face was that of a goblin.
The creature swung its sword at me. I instinctively dodged with my spear. The sword hit the spear, causing it to snap! The feeling of invincibility was gone.
With only the remaining handle of the spear in my hand, I threw it towards the creature’s face, narrowly evading its sword.
“Onii-chan!” (Shari)
Shari intervened, blocking the sword with her mace. They engaged in a close-quarters battle between the mace and the sword. Without a weapon, I couldn’t intervene.
Although not overwhelmingly disadvantaged, Shari was being pushed back due to the height difference and the goblin’s experience in personal combat. The big goblin feinted an attack with its sword and used its legs. Shari took a direct kick, getting blown away and tumbling, but there was no follow-up attack.
“Gwoo?” (Hobgoblin)
Before I knew it, Akari had maneuvered behind the big goblin and thrust her dagger into its back. The big goblin turned towards Akari to fight her.
I rush over to my fallen sister and lift her up in my arms.
“Shari, are you okay?” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, do that… thing again…” (Shari)
Shari’s mouth hangs slightly open as she closes her eyes.
I hold Shari tightly and in one swift motion, I press my lips against hers, covering her entire mouth. Shari’s eyes widen in surprise. I apologize for being rough. I adjust the position of my tongue while trying not to hit her teeth.
I find myself passionately entangling my tongue with Shari’s as she eagerly reciprocates. Our tongues intertwine. Wait, what was I doing again? Right.
“Level connection!” (Finn)
A level circuit was formed between Shari and I.
“Begin level transfer!” (Finn)
In my arms, Shari wriggles and closes her eyes, enduring the surging power that flows through her. Then, Shari opens her eyes and murmurs, “Give me the mace.” She has a look of satisfaction on her face.
◇
The battle between the big goblin and Akari continues. Akari skillfully evades the attacks, but her dagger falls short of the reach of the goblin’s sword. She is on the defensive, struggling to hold her ground.
Then, Shari launches an attack. Her mace catches the goblin’s pivot foot, causing it to stumble. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Shari delivers a full swing of her mace, striking the goblin’s side. The big goblin falls to the ground, and Shari slams her mace onto the ground.
The head of the big goblin, caught between the mace and the ground, shatters. We won!
“That was a hobgoblin.” (Akari)
Akari says while catching her breath. Ah, that explains a lot. It’s definitely bigger than a regular goblin. In light novels, hobgoblins are often portrayed as intermediate-level mini-bosses, right?
“Originally, hobgoblins in D&D were just slightly stronger than goblins, but this one was quite powerful. It seems like the world here is based on D&D-like settings with influences from light novels.” (Akari)
“Stop.” (Finn)
The hobgoblin turns into black smoke and disappears. After the smoke dissipates, the hobgoblin’s sword remains. It seems to be a dropped item.
◇
According to Akari’s explanation, it seems that we had unknowingly entered the illusion magic of a Goblin Shaman.
“So, after I managed to defeat the Goblin Shaman, I was chased by the hobgoblin and ended up circling around before coming back to this point.” (Akari).
“Thank you, Akari!” (Finn)
“So, why were you two embracing each other during the battle?” (Akari)
“Well, that was…” (Finn)
“You can do it to me too, Onii-chan!” (Akari)
Akari smirks and says that with a grin.
Afterwards, we sold the hobgoblin’s sword to the blacksmith and returned the money to Akari. The rest was added to our party’s savings.
Oh, I was wondering why the Hobgoblin didn’t do anything as Finn started fighting back but it was chasing Akari. Also come on Finn, you know you can’t hide it from Akari much longer.
Edit: I added a gallery for this series, for you guys who forgot which illustration is where or those who just want to see the illustration.
Footnotes:
Malevolent = having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
By the way both Shari and Akari call me “Onii-chan”. It can be confusing, but their voices are different, so I can tell them apart.
“Akari, what are your blessings?” (Finn)
“It’s rude to ask a girl about such things, you know.” (Akari)
“Is that so?” (Finn)
“Hmm, I have never been asked that directly before.” (Akari)
Well, it’s sensitive personal information after all. There are some blessings that cannot be easily shared with others.
“But since you’re my Onii-chan, I will tell you. I have the blessings of <Appraisal>, <Elementary Attack Magic>, <Stealth>, and <Cold Resistance>.” (Akari)
That’s right, Akari was level 4. However, I was not sure if it was appropriate to ask, “Are you level 4?” so I missed the chance to inquire about it until now.
“What can you discern with the blessing of <Appraisal>?” (Finn)
“If it’s a person, I can see their level, and if they are a reincarnator, I can vaguely perceive their past life. For monsters, I can gauge their strength, and for objects, I can determine if they’re genuine or not.” (Akari)
“What does that ‘level’ mean?” (Finn)
I feigned ignorance.
“Level represents a person’s strength. It’s similar to a game. Well, you can think of it as the number of blessings they possess.” (Akari)
“Oh, I see. But can you tell what specific blessings they have?” (Finn)
“I can if I have <Skill Appraisal>, which is a separate blessing by itself.” (Akari)
“What level am I?” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, you are level 1.” (Akari)
I see. Let’s change the subject.
“I see. With <Stealth> and <Cold Resistance>, it makes sense that you were fine wearing such light clothing in the forest when it’s cold.” (Finn)
“Yeah, that’s why I was surprised when you found me. I thought I was hidden when sleeping.” (Akari)
“Oh, I have the blessing of <Presence Detection>.” (Finn)
“Eh~, so you are a character who can read the air. That is not like my Onii-chan at all. Anyways, speaking of which…” (Akari)
Akari turns towards Shari.
“Why are you level 3, Shari-chan?” (Akari)
Shari is taken aback by the sudden question.
“Well, Shari and I were adventuring together, so…” (Finn)
“If that’s the case, it would be strange if Onii-chan isn’t at the same level.” (Akari)
Akari, who had turned back towards me, leans forward from the other side of the desk.
Akari’s face comes up close right in front of me. Her skin is pale with a hint of green. She has large, deep green eyes with long eyelashes. Each of her facial features was exquisitely crafted, and the overall balance is even more stunning. She is a beauty that doesn’t seem human. Ah, so this is an elf.
Underneath her well-structured face, her tunic pushed down on her chest, revealing a plunging neckline. White skin and cleavage. It was captivating. I noticed it earlier, but she’s not wearing any underwear, right? That means… I instinctively resisted the temptation to peek. She is my sister, after all. Or rather, it should be ok because she is my sister, right? This requires careful consideration. I can feel Shari’s elbow digging into my side. I have not seen it. I am safe, right? I hurriedly averted my gaze. Am I safe? I am not looking, I swear!
Akari maintains her smile, undeterred by the distractions. The beauty of the elf is truly remarkable. Shari’s elbow nudges my side once again. Without changing her smile, Akari speaks up.
“We are going to dive into the dungeon, so we should level up beforehand, Onii-chan.” (Akari)
◇
Akari inspects everyone’s equipment. Shari has been holding onto my arm, refusing to let go.
“Onii-chan, you have a spear. Not bad.” (Akari)
She praised me for my handmade weapon. I smile proudly. I can feel Shari’s left elbow hitting my side again.
“Shari-chan, is that a staff?” (Akari)
Ah, that’s right.
“I actually wanted to make a mace.” (Finn)
“Why don’t you ask the blacksmith to make the head for you?” (Akari)
“We don’t have any money.” (Finn)
As siblings, we do not possess any money. Even when we occasionally receive an allowance, we quickly spend it all. That is just how children are.
“Don’t worry!” (Akari)
Akari puffed out her chest in confidence. She really does have a big chest.
“Leave it to me!” (Akari)
I could see Shari glaring at me, but it’s fine, right? She’s my little sister, after all.
It seems that Akari has some money after all. No wonder she is a level 4. She places an order with the blacksmith for a hammer-like head with spikes in four directions. It should be ready by tomorrow.
Then, we went shopping in the village for various items. Ropes, backpacks, belt pouches, as well as torches, flint and steel, tinder, and easily ignitable oil. We manage to acquire everything except for the backpacks. Although, we did place an order for three of them.
“Dungeons seem to require a lot of fire, huh?” (Finn)
“It’s dark in there, and there are also monsters that are weak against fire.” (Akari)
“But won’t there be a fire hazard?” (Finn)
“I am not using it in a forest, so it’s fine.” (Akari)
That’s right. Because she’s an elf.
◇
In the evening, we all gather together, including Akari, to have dinner. My mother has become quite friendly with Akari and even says things like, “Make sure your girlfriend eats plenty.” I can’t explain the dynamics of our relationship, so I will leave it as it is. I wonder if it is not strange for my mother to accept an elf as her son’s girlfriend. Her understanding and acceptance of diversity are just too high.
My father, sitting to my left, glances at Akari’s face from time to time, seemingly bothered by something. I think that is a normal reaction. Shari, sitting to my right, calmly eats her meal, but under the table, she intertwines her left leg with my right leg. That is bad manners, isn’t it?
At night, the five of us lie down in a row to sleep. Come to think of it, I always have Shari hugging me from behind when we sleep. It’s because Shari can’t sleep without hugging something, and for me, embracing Shari directly from the front is a bit risky. Seriously, it’s risky. She’s an angel, after all. I might get overwhelmed.
And tonight, Akari is sleeping right in front of me. Shari is sleeping on the opposite side. There is something small and soft pressing against my back. It feels like something is rubbing against my back. Oh, her legs have entwined with mine from behind.
As I lean forward, trying to create distance between myself and the soft object pressing against my back, I inadvertently get closer to Akari’s sleeping face. The profile of the Elven beauty illuminated by the moonlight seems ethereal2 as if emitting its own radiance. Oh, Akari has turned over towards me. Her exquisite face draws nearer. Just 20cm, 15cm, 10cm. This is getting dangerous. I instinctively shrink back and turn my face downward.
Akari’s chest is right in front of me. A dark valley and two shining hills. The nipples are safely hidden under the nightgown, just barely. Oh, Akari is coming closer. 10cm, 5cm, contact! My face is buried in a soft zone. It would have been suffocating and deadly without the cleavage. Akari’s arm wraps around my head and hugs me tightly. My face gets buried.
A hand wrapped around my neck from behind. There was a small, soft sensation on my back once again.
I was being embraced from both sides by my younger sisters, from the front and back. Various things were becoming problematic. I tried to adjust my posture so as not to make contact. It was difficult to sleep.
But it’s safe because they are my younger sisters.
◇
The next morning, Shari’s mace was completed. Its length was slightly shortened to achieve better balance. Shari grinned with satisfaction as she swung the mace around vigorously. It was a little frightening.
Today, we decided to take a light stroll through the forest instead of venturing into the dungeon. Speaking of which, Akari’s weapon is a dagger. I wondered if she would be okay with that, but apparently, she relied on stealth and used magic to take down her enemies. It turns out she reached Level 4 by endlessly leveling up with long-range magic attacks. She must be like a sniper-type character.
We entered the forest.
“Do elves get lost in the woods?” (Finn)
“I don’t get lost in my own forest. Why do you ask?” (Akari)
“When we first met, you mentioned something about getting lost.” (Finn)
“Ah, that. I was actually looking for someone passing by.” (Akari)
“Why?” (Finn)
“Well, if an elf entered the village alone, wouldn’t that seem suspicious? People in rural areas tend to be wary, so it can be quite challenging.” (Akari)
Even when she was just outside the village, she will still look suspicious.
“In the end, no one passed by, so I just ended up sleeping. And I was really hungry.” (Akari)
Akari-san, you’re strong.
I thought that since we came to the forest, the three of us would hunt goblins together, but it seems that Akari will be hiding and observing for a while. She mentioned that joining the party for goblin hunting would be pointless as it won’t help increase her level much. Alright, then I will have to do the work instead.
Using <Presence Detection>, we should be able to find the goblins. Let’s proceed by defeating them as we encounter them. As of this morning, my level was around 1.3, so theoretically, defeating around seven goblins should help me level up.
By the way, Akari’s <Stealth> is incredible. She follows us from behind, but if it were not for <Presence Detection>, we would not have noticed her at all.
Oh right, let’s have Shari cast <Protection> on both of us. Now that she has reached Level 3, she can use it three times, and each one lasts for about three hours (or six hours for me). This will definitely come in handy.
LOL Finn is trying to gaslight himself into thinking everything is ok because they are his sisters. I don’t think Shari talked during the chapter. I could be wrong about this, but there was no indication that she talked.
Btw, should I put the “Ecchi” genre? I have no idea to what extent is needed for it to be used.
After dinner, I sat at the table with Akari (self-proclaimed little sister: elf version) for a discussion. Shari is standing beside me, witnessing our discussion.
“Onii-chan, you came from Japan too, right?” (Akari)
“How do you know?” (Finn)
“Because I have the blessing of <appraisal>.” (Akari)
Eh, seriously?
“Then who am I?” (Finn)
“You’re probably around 18 years old and Japanese.” (Akari)
“What’s my name in Japan?” (Finn)
“I can sense something using the appraisal, but I can’t see any textual information.” (Akari)
Hmmm
“Onii-chan, can you tell me your Japanese name?” (Akari)
I’m asked in return.
“Well, um… I don’t actually know.” (Finn)
“Eh?!” (Akari)
I did remember that I was a college student in Japan, but I couldn’t recall any personal information.
And it turns out that, Akari’s brother, who was a college student in Japan, went missing.
“What university was your onii-san from?” (Finn)
“It was TK University.” (Akari)
I’m aware of it, but it doesn’t ring a bell. Maybe if I see it, I might remember…
“I haven’t been able to get in contact with Onii-chan at all, and I don’t even know any of Onii-chan’s friends from university. They say he disappeared after sending a message about going on an exploration, and he hasn’t been attending classes either.” (Akari)
“Hmmm.” (Finn)
“So, I decided to hack into Onii-chan’s computer and check the browser history.” (Akari)
“Please don’t do that.” (Finn)
“Anyway, I found out that Onii-chan was researching a certain legend related to a shrine, so I decided to go there. And then…” (Akari)
“And then?” (Finn)
“I don’t really understand it myself, but it seems like I was reincarnated. I only remembered it a few years ago.” (Akari)
“Um, Akari-san, how old are you?” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, I already told you that Akari is 16 years old.” (Akari)
“No, I mean, in this world, how old is she?” (Finn)
“You’re asking a girl about her age?” (Akari)
“Eh?” (Finn)
◇
The timeline seems to be out of sync, but in the first place, it’s unclear whether the concept of time in reincarnation follows a specific sequence. Moreover, there is no confirmation that this girl is actually my sister.
Sharie, who had been silent until then, speaks up.
“Well, Akari-san is 16 years old, isn’t she?” (Shari)
“That’s right.” (Akari)
“Then, can I call you older sister (onee-chan)?” (Shari)
“Sure, then I’ll call you, ‘Shari-chan’.” (Akari)
“Why have you become friendly with each other?” (Finn)
“Well, because we’re both your little sisters.” (Shari & Akari)
Was it necessary to harmonize like that?
“Ummm, Akari-san.” (Finn)
“Just call me Akari.” (Akari)
“Well, you’re 16 years old, right? And I’m 13 years old.” (Finn)
“Onii-chan is actually 18 years old.” (Akari)
“Well, then, Onee-chan?” (Finn)
“What is it, Onii-chan?” (Akari)
You know what, let’s just stick with Akari.
“So, why did Akari come here?” (Finn)
“I came here to search for Onii-chan and investigate the reincarnators of this country through appraisals.” (Akari)
Seriously? I wonder how many people are here in this country?
“Um, did you find any other reincarnators?” (Finn)
“Well, there are some. They are fewer than one in a thousand people.” (Akari)
“Well, isn’t it possible that I’m not your brother then?” (Finn)
“Hmm, there were indeed others, but I have a preference for younger ones.” (Akari)
(I don’t get it)
For now, by listening to Akari’s story, I was able to learn some information about this country. It is called the Kingdom of Valizard, with a population of around 3 million. By the way, it seems that the elves reside in the neighboring Elven Forest.
“Heh, elves have a long lifespan, so it’s rare for someone to be reincarnated as an elf due to the low number of elf children.” (Akari)
Why the proud expression there?
By the way, Akari is about 160cm tall. She’s taller than me since I’m around 150cm. Sharie is about 135cm.
“I always thought elves were shorter in height.” (Finn)
“Many RPG depictions of elves portray them as slender and short, but that’s mainly because of the portrayal of elves in D&D. In the Lord of the Rings, however, elves are taller than humans. Oh, by the way, D&D refers to Dungeons & Dragons.” (Akari)
“Well, I guess so.” (Finn)
“Well, anyway!” (Akari)
After delivering a long monologue, Akari takes a breath and starts talking again.
“I want to go to a dungeon!” (Akari)
“Dungeon?” (Finn)
“Yes.” (Akari)
“The one where monsters respawn, there are floor bosses, and there’s a dungeon boss at the very bottom?” (Finn)
“Well, there might be dungeons like that.” (Akari)
“And defeating the dungeon boss grants you a dungeon core?” (Finn)
“Well, that’s a bit more on the fantasy side.” (Akari)
Is something wrong with that? And hey, I don’t want to hear an elf deny fantasy elements!
“Originally, D&D dungeons had more of a sense of being holes infested with monsters. But it’s true that JRPGs have been heavily influenced by Wizardry1. Even in light novels, the dungeon settings often draw from the Wizardry-inspired world, which helps lower the barrier of introducing the setting by leveraging the familiarity of JRPG worldviews. By sharing the overall worldview across light novels, the dungeons become something like a public domain operating system…” (Akari)
“Akari, stop.” (Finn)
“Anyway, I’m going to search for a dungeon.” (Akari)
“Why?” (Finn)
“Isn’t it obvious?!” (Akari)
Akari looks at me directly.
“We’re going back to Japan!” (Akari)
I see. Japan, huh? It’s probably because even though I have knowledge about Japan as a concept, I have very few personal memories associated with it, which is why it doesn’t feel quite familiar to me.
“So, Akari, you want to go back to Japan after all?” (Finn)
“Well, you know, this world isn’t so bad either. I’m an elf, so I’ll stay young until I’m 1000 years old, and that’s nice. But overall, the experience here is quite poor. The food isn’t delicious, there are no bidets, no anime, light novels, games, smartphones, or friends either.” (Akari)
“But it doesn’t seem like you have many friends in Japan either.” (Finn)
“Don’t underestimate high school girls. Even though they may be superficial, I have plenty of friends.” (Akari)
“Um, Akari onee-chan?” (Shari)
“Yes, Shari-chan?” (Akari)
“Shari may be your little sister, but I’ll be your friend.” (Shari)
“Thank you! It’s the first time I’ve made a friend!” (Akari)
Eh, what about the dungeon?
◇
According to Akari, she has tried investigating ways to return to Japan, but she the results were empty.
“If someone summoned me or something, I think there might be a way to ask that person.” (Akari)
“Did Akari feel like she received cheat skills or something from God in a white room before coming to this world?” (Finn)
“No, not at all.” (Akari)
“I see. Same here.” (Finn)
Hmm, I wonder if there’s anything like that.
“Well, how about class transfer?” (Finn)
“I haven’t even met any classmates.” (Akari)
I see.
“But I haven’t been run over by a truck or anything, so I think it wouldn’t be strange if I could return to my original world.” (Akari)
“But we are reincarnated, not transferred, right?” (Finn)
I have considered that possibility as well. We might be trapped in a world similar to a VRMMO. In that case… I look at Shari. Could it be that Shari is actually an NPC? Or perhaps a philosophical zombie4? No, maybe it’s us, the ones who have been reincarnated, who resemble the Swampman5?
I shake my head. There’s no point in speculating about things we can’t perceive. Moreover, there’s no evidence that our supposed “original world” is not a computer simulation.
“Well, well, since we don’t know what’s going on, anything is possible.” (Akari)
“As for hints, there is only that shrine.” (Shari)
“Do you remember anything about that shrine?” (Finn)
“There was a cave behind the shrine, with a sacred rope barrier.” (Akari)
“That sounds ominous.” (Finn)
“And I do have a memory of going inside there.” (Akari)
“I can’t believe you went in there.” (Finn)
“But, it’s because of Onii-chan…” (Akari)
Ah, right. I’m sorry.
“Well, now that I think about it, it might have been a dungeon.” (Akari)
“I see.” (Finn)
“So, there might be dungeons in this world that lead to Japan, you know.” (Akari)
“There is a possibility.” (Finn)
“That’s why I’m going to explore every dungeon in this world.” (Akari)
Oh boy I gave up on the philosophical stuff and threw it into ChatGPT-sensei. This writer sure knows a lot of stuff huh. Or is this stuff commonplace and I am the ignorant one? Well good luck if your gonna try to read all that footnote, I kept it in for you nerds out there.
Btw according to some reviews on the novel, the monsters and dungeons in this novel very closely resemble the ones from the world of D&D. I never played D&D, so I don’t know what it means but I’m looking forward to the dungeon exploration part. And also now that I think about it, JESUS the reviews of this novel on kakuyomu are all positive and long. I guess this a story you either really like or are not interested in at all. I’m definitely the former.
For now, I tried testing the newly acquired blessing of <Attack Boost> that Shari just received and found out that our damage dealt increases for a duration of 30 minutes. Even goblins can be defeated in one hit now.
Well, my blessing of <spear>, even without the attack boost, can already defeat enemies in one hit. This is for emergencies, I guess. Also, with the attack boost, I am now able to chop firewood at an incredible speed. I wonder if chopping firewood is also considered an attack.
After Shari reached level 3, we tried defeating goblins together, but I have no idea what level Shari is anymore. Experience distributed might be even less than 1/4 of level 2. I can somewhat understand why there are hardly any level 4 people in the village. Knights and such must have accumulated a vast amount of experience to finally reach level 4. It should be quite challenging just to reach level 3, and it feels a bit unfair to them, but I guess it’s fine since I’m still at level 1.
◇
It’s almost winter. Since this forest has many evergreen trees, the scenery doesn’t change much even as it gets colder. Based on Finn’s memories, it shouldn’t snow heavily during winter.
I walk through the forest in the morning with Shari. Shari is already at level 3, so there’s no way she would lose to something like a goblin. She’s actually stronger than me without even trying. Of course, if I were to receive enhancements from Shari’s blessing, it would be a different story, but that’s still Shari’s power after all.
I’m currently walking along a road that leads to the neighboring village, so it’s quite open. I don’t think there are any monsters around. Probably. Just to be sure…
“Presence detection!” (Finn)
I sense something. It’s not a monster, but it’s not a small animal either. Could it be a person? They are lying in the shade of a tree… Are they sleeping?
I cautiously approach, holding my spear at the ready. And then…
I rush over to her. She has brown hair and fair skin. She’s wearing a sleeveless greenish tunic, revealing her white arms. The tunic is like a mini dress, exposing her bare white thighs. She is also wearing sandals on her feet. Her clothing is quite light considering that winter is approaching. Despite being lightly dressed, her good figure is clearly visible.
The tunic does not completely conceal her chest, especially around the valley. The emphasized cleavage catches my attention.
Um, I tear my gaze away from her chest and focus on her face. Her facial features are well-defined, although her eyes are closed. She is a different type from Shari, but she is a slender and beautiful girl. Her beauty is almost otherworldly, or rather, not quite human. Upon closer inspection, her ears are pointed. This can only mean…
“An elf!” (Finn)
Amazing! It feels like a fantasy come to life!
As she might be injured, I asked Shari to heal her. As Shari heals her, I gently touched her skin. It feels warm. It seems like she is alive. Then, I saw her eyelids twitch.
“Are you okay?” (Finn)
Her eyes open, but they seem unfocused. She appears dazed. I lean in to get a closer look at her face.
The elf girl suddenly exclaimed as she looked at me. Shari glanced at me with a puzzled expression.
“Huh? Me?” (Finn)
◇
Since I could not leave the elf girl alone in the forest, I decided to bring her back to my house for the time being. I tried to piggyback her, but she’s taller than me, and besides, I’m only level 1 with no strength-related blessings. Shari is a level 3, but she’s shorter than me, so we ended up having her walk.
Well, I suppose it’s fine since Shari already healed her earlier. I give her some water to drink from a leather pouch and once she calms down, I decide to let her walk.
She starts walking but stumbles a bit. I instinctively reach out and grab her arm. The elf girl tightly embraces my arm. It feels soft and supple.
“Onii-chan, please lend me your arm.” (?)
“What’s with this ‘Onii-chan’ thing since earlier?” (Shari)
While still holding onto my arm, the elf girl turns towards Shari and answers.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Akari Yamamine desu4. I came from Japan.” (Akari)
And then she looks at my face.
“Onii-chan, I’m your little sister (imouto).”
“Eh?” (Finn & Shari)
◇
We managed to arrive home somehow. Our parents are still out in the fields, but they will be back soon. I need to talk to them about this.
“I’m telling you I come from Japan.” (Akari)
“Why are you his sister??” (Shari)
“I don’t think that’s the point to focus on…” (Finn)
Shari looks at me with teary eyes.
“Shari thought she was the only one who could be Onii-chan’s imouto… but you didn’t tell Shari you had another imouto.” (Shari)
“You’re technically not my real imouto, right?” (Finn)
“What?! That’s cruel. Was Shari one-sidely thinking of herself as an imouto? Onii-chan, did you not consider Shari as part of your family?” (Shari)
“I never said anything like that!” (Finn)
“Onii-chan, I think that’s really unfair.” (Shari)
“Hey, wait a minute, don’t make things more complicated.” (Finn)
The elf girl turns to Shari and asks something.
“Shari-chan, how old are you?” (Akari)
“I’ll be 12 soon.” (Shari)
“I’m 16, so I’m Shari-chan’s older sister (onee-san).” (Akari)
“If that’s the case then Onii-chan is 13 years old5.” (Shari)
“In my mind, Onii-chan is 18 years old.” (Akari)
The elf girl then turns towards me.
“Onii-chan, I’m Akari. Do you remember?” (Akari)
“…I don’t remember at all…” (Finn)
I gaze at her face. It’s a well-defined face. She’s a beautiful girl. Are all elves this attractive? No, that is not the point.
“Why is an elf from Japan to begin with?” (Finn)
“I was reincarnated. Just like you, Onii-chan.” (Akari)
“…Eh?…” (Finn & Shari)
“I missed you!” (Akari)
The elf girl hugged me tightly, and her chest pressed against the upper part of mine. A direct sensation. It seems she’s not wearing a bra.
“We’re home.” (Finn’s parents)
In the middle of all of this, our parents have returned.
“Ara ara6, are you Finn’s girlfriend? You two seem close.” (Finn’s mom)
“Hello, Father and Mother!” (Akari)
The elf girl greets them politely.
“Mother, you say? Are you already a bride?” (Finn’s mom)
My mother smiles warmly.
No, don’t make things more complicated…
For now, we have lunch. Akari (self-proclaimed little sister: elf version) is enthusiastically eating bread and drinking soup. She seems quite hungry. I wonder if it’s okay for her to suddenly eat like that.
“Oh~ I’m so relieved. I thought I would get lost, run out of food, and die.” (Akari)
“Well, well. Eat as much as you want. We even have some wild boar ham. It’s homemade.” (Finn’s mom)
Dammit, I was hoping Akari would use Nii-san. She looks like the kind to use Nii-san instead of Onii-chan. I never mentioned this before but Shari usually refers to herself in third-person while Akari uses “watashi”, for those of you who care about this kind of stuff.
Urhh so towards the end it could be either mom or dad talking, but I think it’s mostly mom so that is what I put. And I’m sorry if it is messy with the transition between the name and their Japanese counterpart.
I translated this late at night, so probably have some errors somewhere.
