"Hehe... brother♡" Yura entwined her arms around mine, pressing her body close to me, emitting a fragrance that was intoxicatingly sweet, like a flower seducing a bee.
"Yura, I need you to tell me... our real relationship..." I urged, seeking clarity.
"We were once step-siblings, but now we're a loving couple♡" Her response seemed flippant, as she continued her affectionate advances, seemingly misunderstanding my intent.
"Hehe... just kidding. You want to know about our birth secrets, right?" Yura’s demeanor suddenly became serious, and she began a story that seemed to hold a tinge of sadness.
"Actually, I'm your stepsister. I was adopted into your family at a very young age, too young to remember any details. I don't know who my real parents are. Initially, I even thought your parents were my real parents. When I first learned the truth, I was shocked."
So she was adopted, and the reasons for her adoption were unknown. I had always thought of her as my blood sister...
"But being adopted into a wealthy family was a blessing. It meant my biological family was either nonexistent or had abandoned me."
Her grip tightened around me, possibly reflecting fear from those uncertain times.
"Though it might sound ungrateful, I can't say my childhood was happy."
"What do you mean...?" My voice was laced with surprise. My memories of Yura were always filled with smiles; this revelation was unexpected.
"Oh, I didn't mean it was because of you! It's not your fault at all...! Without you, I might have even considered myself unhappy."
She hesitated, seemingly finding it difficult to explain the complex emotions related to her upbringing.
"Our parents were always busy with work, only home on weekends. While we had financial support, I always longed for parental love, which left me feeling neglected."
Her tail moved listlessly, gradually attempting to envelop me in an embrace. "So... I really liked you, brother... You were always kind to me... Honestly, I think I sought the affection from you that I didn't get from our parents..." Yura's confession resonated with me, reminding me of how close we were during our childhood, much closer than typical siblings from other families.
"At some point, I started seeing you as more than just a brother. I tried to hide it, but just thinking about you, even in the simplest ways, always made my heart flutter." She shyly bowed her head, blushing, a mix of shame and confession in her words.
"But I kept those feelings hidden, knowing this relationship couldn't be revealed... Even if it made me sick at heart, I was determined to hide it forever..."
She then looked directly at me with a bitter smile.
"After coming to this place... receiving something from a fox deity or whatever it was, I couldn't control myself. To be honest, I've been receiving potions from a goddess named Abrne, a powerful sedative that put me into a deep sleep... I used it to cope with my overwhelming desire for you..." Yura's words implied that the 'good potion' she gave me was actually a sedative, explaining my fatigue in the mornings.
"Whatever the reason, last night's potion didn't work, and so, here I am, confessing my deepest wish to you."
There was a momentary sadness in her demeanor, but then she became earnest, gripping my hand tightly as she pleaded with an intense voice.
"Brother, can't you just stay here?"
"What...?" I was filled with confusion and apprehension at her request.
"Your goal is to return me to normal and ask that goddess to send you back to reality, right? I don't want to just be an ordinary college student, a burden to you, or just remain as siblings. I'd rather be in this world where you're here, and loving you isn't a problem!"
Trembling with fear of the words I might say next, she looked like a lamb in a fairy tale, crying out her most desperate wish. "In reality, I might just be an ordinary girl, but here, I can wield the power of a deity, right? So, this time, I can take care of you, brother... in this unknown world where love knows no bounds." Yura's voice, buried in my chest, was filled with longing and a hint of sadness. Tears were now streaming down her face.
"I ask this of you... I don't care what happens to my life in the real world... Just ask the goddess to occasionally update our parents, so they are not worried. Can't we just stay together here...?"
"Please don't leave me alone... I don't want to be apart... I love you, brother, I want to be by your side...!" Her plea was heartfelt, and I found myself at a crossroads.
Tempest's words echoed in my mind, 'Look deeply into your inner self.' It was advice to contemplate what I truly desired.
Honestly, my original purpose had already faded away. The return to the real world... But that had already been achieved by Mir, and having experienced both worlds, my honest feeling was that this world was more appealing.
The reason I had been resisting this world had disappeared. The only other excuse was their twisted obsession, but even that seemed like a flimsy justification, considering Tempest's words: 'Accept it, being loved sincerely by many women is something most men would envy. Don't deceive them.'
These thoughts culminated in a moment of intense reflection. My refusal had no valid ground anymore, yet accepting this reality was still daunting.
"Yura..." I couldn't be lost in thought forever. Finally, I gently stroked my stepsister's hair and gave her my response.
"...?"
Her eyes, filled with intense anticipation, met mine as I mustered my courage.
"I need some time to think... It won't be long, and it won't necessarily be negative..."
"Brother...!" Her expression brightened instantly, relieved and hopeful at my response, a smile blossoming on her face. "Thank you!!" Yura hugged me tightly, her tail moving softly and naturally as she finally relaxed. I held her in my embrace, pondering the decisions and realizations that awaited me. What kind of life did I truly want?
"Really interesting, you're unpredictable as ever," Tempest greeted me the next day, leisurely sipping her tea. "I thought revealing the truth would stop your sister's rampage, but instead, she enchanted you, didn't she?" Her playful tone was irritatingly smug.
I couldn't argue; she was right. So I simply listened, feeling frustrated and annoyed.
"Do you consider yourself different for being immune to concepts?" I finally asked, recalling how she had once referred to me. 'Immune to concepts'... What did that mean?
"Tempest, what does 'immune to concepts' mean?"
She looked surprised for a moment, then relaxed back into her usual languid demeanor. "Ah, I almost forgot... When you live with so much time, you often forget things."
Tempest's atmosphere was unique. Despite her youthful appearance, her mannerisms and speech felt like that of an elderly woman.
"Basically, I refer to you as someone immune to the norms of this world. A man for whom the usual rules don't apply."
I tilted my head in confusion. Was it because I'm from a different world?
"You, being born in a world so different from this one, seem unaffected by the norms here. The future I saw changing is proof of that."
"To make it clearer, it's like your destiny is different... Maybe Mori-Onne, the goddess, knows more about it. But in simple terms..."
Setting her teacup down, she turned fully towards me, something she did only when about to discuss something serious.
"You are someone whose path isn't dictated by the usual forces of fate in this world. An anomaly of sorts."
Listening to her, I felt a sense of clarity about my place in this strange world. My origin from another realm made me a wildcard, unpredictable in the grand scheme of this world's fate. "You have a unique destiny, unlike those born in this world. It's proof of your origin from another world," Tempest explained. "Like people are intrigued by others very different from them, your destiny is so distinct that it attracts other fates."
I hadn't realized this before. Even the goddesses, Abne and Mori-Onne, had felt something unusual about me.
"Your destiny and future are unpredictable and attract many lovers because the concepts of this world don't apply to you. Your different nature entices both significant and minor destinies," she continued.
I wondered if the twisted feelings of those around me were also due to this reason. But then again, it felt like I just had bad luck with relationships.
"Certainly, those who love you aren't ordinary. Gods, princesses, a mother and daughter redefining magical history, an ancient dragon, and a red-haired warrior..."
Indeed, those in my circle were extraordinary characters.
"And the red-haired warrior... you mean Erina?"
"Yes, child. Her abilities are rare in history. Although not clearly defined, predecessors called such power 'warrior'."
I recalled there was no direct mention of the protagonist being a warrior in the game. Based on achievements, it seemed fitting, but it was never explicitly stated.
"The world tries to be fair, bridging the gap between gods and mortals. Occasionally, a mortal is born with such talent to even out the imbalance."
Now I remembered Mori-Onne and Rusria referring to Erina as a warrior. It was only now that it clicked.
"Is there anything else you wanted to discuss? I don't see any other topics for today," Tempest asked.
She was right. I had come initially to discuss Yura, but ended up learning more than I intended, almost accidentally. "Right...," I mused as Tempest hinted at a challenging and significant period ahead. The advice, though cryptic, left me with a sense of anticipation, as if I was an audience member waiting for a pivotal movie scene.
Returning from the spire to Yura, I found her waiting for me, greeting me with excitement. "Brother!" Her behavior, though slightly different due to our newfound relationship, still carried the warmth and familiarity of our past. She nestled into my arms, her body relaxing against mine.
"Your embrace is so comforting...." she murmured, her weight becoming more noticeable as she leaned into me.
I let Yura stay close, the awkwardness lessened now that I understood our true relationship. "What should we do now?" I asked, though I really had no specific plan.
Honestly, there seemed nothing left to do. With our recent conversations, Yura appeared content with her current state, seeing no need to revert to her original form.
"I'm not sure..." I replied, genuinely clueless about our next steps. But as I spoke, our surroundings unexpectedly shifted.
"Eh..?" Yura and I both expressed our surprise. "Brother, where are we?"
Her wide eyes mirrored my own shock. Though the place was unfamiliar to her, I recognized it instantly. The realization sent a wave of tension through me, replacing the peace I had felt just moments ago. In the place we found ourselves in... clearly...
"Mixing with other women... unforgivable, my knight..." came a voice filled with the despair of all the world's sorrows.