"What do you mean, brother? A major event is about to happen soon?"
After being abruptly sent away by Tempus, I head straight to the inn to inform my anxiously waiting sister about the situation.
"It might sound strange coming from your inept brother... but you have to believe me. The Goddess of Time has forewarned of a disaster..."
I stress the urgency and seriousness of the situation with a solemn expression unlike any other time before.
"The Goddess of Time... the advisor you mentioned before?"
Yura, still not fully grasping the situation, looks puzzled but tries her best to adopt a serious demeanor.
"Yeah... she herself will be causing the trouble, and it’s going to be big... So, we have to be vigilant in everything we do for a while..."
My words seem to awaken some understanding in her as she conjures a small fox flame in her hand, smiling.
"So... it means I have to protect you, right?!"
Despite the impending danger, her face is inexplicably lit up with a mischievous grin.
"The gods will be clashing, willing to kill each other... Depending on the situation, I might need your protection, but it's a bit different than that..."
"A world of the survival of the fittest? You just said that, didn’t you? So, it means being strong is what counts, right?"
Honestly, I want to correct her somewhere, but she isn’t exactly wrong, so I find myself at a loss for words.
"My experience might be limited... but I think I have an idea of what to do. I'm not sure how strong is strong enough in this world, but I’m quite powerful, aren’t I?"
Yura possesses the magic of the Fox God, capable of harnessing the peak power of her kind. She may be different in origin, but as far as this world is concerned, she is certainly a divine entity.
"So, using my power to protect you is the plan, right?"
"Although I’d appreciate that... it also feels a bit wrong. Relying on my sister like this... makes me feel somewhat inadequate."
I half-jokingly throw out the comment, but her response is surprisingly earnest. "No...! You’re not inadequate at all! There’s no man as wonderful as you, brother!"
Yura reacts with a bit of indignation, negating my self-doubt.
"Uh... what?"
Her sudden change in demeanor catches me off guard, leaving me momentarily speechless.
"Think of it this way... when we were younger, I was always protected and dependent on you...! Consider this as me repaying your kindness!"
She grasps my hands with her own, her eyes softly pleading, which makes me feel slightly sad about my own self-deprecation.
"I’m just unique... you’ve never been inadequate, brother!"
I realized I shouldn't even joke about putting myself down in front of Yura...
"Okay, okay, calm down. I wasn’t seriously wallowing in self-loathing or anything..."
It took some effort to reassure her, but fortunately, the gloomy atmosphere dissipates, and she manages to hold back her tears.
"That’s good then! But if you really feel bad about being protected by me..."
She then leans into me slowly, making herself comfortable, though not too heavily, gradually increasing the weight I support.
"Could you stroke my hair like you used to...? You did it a lot in the past..."
Her voice is nostalgic and wistful, hinting at a bittersweet reality that we can't return to.
"Alright..."
I acquiesce, petting Yura’s head as one would with a beloved pet.
"Hehe~ Brother's hand... it feels nice!"
She purrs contentedly like a kitten being pampered by its owner, nestling closer to me.
"You really are an incorrigible sister..."
I continue to stroke her hair, my voice tinged with affection. Yura has always been a sister who craved attention, both in the past and now.
"I love you... brother."
And then... words that now take on a different meaning to me.
The advice given by Tempus, who I’ll soon face as an enemy, comes to mind. I’ve ignored it until now, but it's time to make a decision. The end is not far off, and I need to be clear about my mindset.
What do I truly want, and how do I feel about them?
If I don’t make a firm decision, this issue will certainly weigh me down in the near future. The next person I decided to inform about this situation was Erina, perhaps the person I had spent the most time with and a colleague I could rely on.
"Hmm... I see... The Goddess of Time said that..."
She listened to my story attentively from start to finish, her eyes showing a mix of intrigue and concern as she met my gaze.
"Yeah... it seems best to prepare as much as we can. A historic event is about to unfold."
She slowly nodded in agreement, thoughtfully stroking her chin with her thumb and forefinger.
"If Harold is saying this, I can't be lax until that time comes. I've felt a bit rusty in my practice lately, this might be the perfect opportunity to sharpen up."
Erina then stands up confidently, clenching her fist. I noticed her attire was casual, unlike the usual.
Her hair wasn't elaborately styled as usual, just casually tied back. She seemed comfortable at home, different from when she first arrived at this house or when she was with Marika, where she wore her striking red dress.
"Why? Do you have more to say?"
Erina, sensing my subtle expression, asks with a hint of curiosity.
"No... I was just wondering if you don’t wear dresses anymore."
"Ah~"
She lets out a sound of realization and smiles lightly.
"That changed after I got permission from my mother for adventures. I've been free to dress how I like at home since then. I had to dress formally when Lady Marika visited, given she’s a princess."
She chuckles, seemingly relieved.
"The dress was impressive but a bit cumbersome for movement and not very comfortable for casual wear. It's a good change!"
I couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. Her first appearance in that dress was so enchanting...
"Hmm... really? That's a bit disappointing... You looked quite charming in a dress."
"Wha- What?!?"
She suddenly gasps, her face turning bright red. "You liked that look...?" Erina asked me, a hint of hope in her voice. I conveyed my sincere thoughts to her.
"I can't ask you to wear it if you don't like it, but personally, I was a bit smitten when I first saw you in it. Didn't I compliment you then?"
"?!," she exclaimed, and then suddenly rushed out of the room.
"..?" The sound of hurried footsteps faded away, and a silence fell over the room.
After a moment of silence that was about to become uncomfortable, Erina re-entered the room in a different attire.
"How is this...? This is what you wanted, right?"
I had said I liked her in a dress, but I never intended to force her to wear something she was uncomfortable in. Yet, after just a mention of liking that attire, she had quickly changed into the dress I remembered.
"As I said earlier, you don't have to wear it if you don't like it..."
"No?! If you like it, I want to wear it!" she exclaimed.
Her perspective surprised me; it felt almost too accommodating, bordering on overwhelming. But, appreciating her effort, I replied with the first impression she had always given me - her beauty.
"Thank you, and you look really beautiful..."
My words might have been simple compared to her glamour, but I meant them sincerely.
"Uh... thank you!" She blushed, her embarrassment soon replaced by a joyful smile.
"Then... Can I ask for... a reward?"
A reward? As I pondered over her sudden request, she approached me shyly.
"Could you... hug me?"
Despite a fleeting sense of unease, it was an innocuous request. Gently, I embraced her.
"Ss... Ahh♡ Harold's scent... it's kind of exciting... ♡"
However, the strange atmosphere that quickly enveloped us made me wonder if it was okay to continue like this. "But Erina... what am I to you?" I found myself asking a question that seemed so obvious now. Despite my allure to other fates, could it really have been this significant?
"Everything," Erina replied promptly, her voice laden with earnestness.
"What...?" I was taken aback by her succinct yet comprehensive response. I started to recount the events that had led us here.
"To me, Harold, you are everything. The very reason I am who I am today is because of you," she explained.
The air grew heavier as she embraced me more tightly. "Had you not been there, my first journey would have ended in disaster. I would have been captured by bandits and sold as a slave. The outcome of that is predictable."
"You've always kept me close, no matter how insignificant I seemed, always saving and encouraging me... Your kindness has ensnared me beyond control," she confessed.
"You gave wings to dreams I could never have hoped to achieve. Without you, I would have ended up a pitiable, wretched being... I love you more than anything for shaping who I am today."
Suddenly, she pushed me gently backward, causing me to fall onto the soft bed. A feeling of unease washed over me as I found myself in an awkward position.
"Even though I've become stronger than you, rendering your protection in battle unnecessary... my heart can't bear a single moment without you..."
"Erina?" I was bewildered as she grasped my wrists naturally. Realization dawned on me too late; I was already in her grasp.
The situation took an unexpected turn, her eyes clouding over. "When I think about it, despite other women flocking to you and what they've done, I've been remarkably patient and submissive. I've tried my best to respect your free will, even in moments when my rationality almost snapped."
I tried to move, but her overwhelming strength held me firmly in place. "Looking back, there's been so much, so many things I've tolerated... So now..."
Wait... this... could it be...? "May I do as I please?"
This line adds to the mounting tension and complexity of the situation, suggesting Erina's desire to take a more assertive role in their relationship.