Chapter 5 - Party

I talked about everything I found and remembered so far to Yumemi.

She listened quietly, but I don’t think she bought my explanation. I think the fastest way to convince her is to raise her level.

For now, I lead her to the safe area first to get some rest and fill our Hunger and Thirst meters.

While eating and drinking, she tears up and mumbled “I want to go home…”

Yeah, this situation must be harder on her than it was for me. I know by instinct that I can do this, but she doesn’t look like it.

In order to make her trust me…

I picked up another two stones to make a knife. My attack point has been tripled of what it was before, so it is way easier for me to make another knife. Moreover, I just realized the skill [Handicraft] was on my passive skill list, it seems like I can make things faster thanks to it.

“I wonder what was my hardship back then…”

… no, it’s all thanks to that hardship I raise my level safely. I can’t keep complaining like that… but still it sucked back then!

“Yumemi, here. Try cutting a fruit yourself.”

I gave her the crude stone knife I just made. Nodding, she peeled a fruit instead of cutting it. It’s different from what I had imagined, but I can’t really haste her if I want her to trust me.

I picked up a fruit, and slashed them in the air. It was sliced to crude bits, and fell to the ground. I think that’s enough to explain to her how helpful the knife is.

“... Shindou-kun…”

“Hmm? What? By the way, no need for thank–”

“... wasting food is not good! What are you thinking!? Think about the heart of the farmer! … even though I don’t really understand what a farmer is!”

“I’m sorry!” I apologized out of surprise. It feels like when my mom was scolding me for not eating my vegetables. “But the fruit here will grow back instantly…”

“No buts! Learn how to be grateful for everything! Didn’t your parents teach you that!?”

“... yes…”

She really is like my mom…

“Ah… parents…” She suddenly crouched and her mood changed quickly. “… I want to go home already…!”

I can understand her feelings. Now that I’ve remembered my vow to protect my little sister, the urge for me to return home has become bigger.

But still: we don’t know how to get home.

“... I’m sorry, even though you had vowed to protect your little sister too… you must’ve wanted to return too, didn’t you…”

“Well, yeah. The only reason I can be this calm is because I think my body remembers playing RPGs.”

“RP… what?”

Well, of course. Imagine girls loving games like these… Well, I’m sure some girls do, but at least not this girl.

“... I think explaining it to you with your memories of a one year old won’t do much. For now, you should team up with me.”

[Party] feature unlocked.

Yeah, it’s about the time this notification appears.

I sent a party invitation to her, she looked surprised and tapped something in the air. With that, she joined my party.

[Mikazuki Yumemi - Level 1]

It seems like the party list is displayed in alphabet. I get to see her name, level, then her HP, SP and MP gauge.

“Remember what I said about memories?”

“Yes… about you regaining one year of memories according to your level… was it?”

“That’s right. As you can see in the party list, I am level 5, and I got all my memories up to 5 years old me.”

“... is that really amazing?”

... Now that she said it, a memory of a 5 years old kid sure sounds useless if you think about someone else's kids.

“Memories are what carves your personality, every year of it is what makes you the current you. It is important, even though you are just a brat who doesn’t understand love.”

“... love?"

“Nothing, forget that. I’m not really sure why either.”

I reach out my hand to her.

“Let’s raise your level,” I said.

“... how?” she asked.

“By filling your EXP gauge.” I answered like it was nothing much.

“And how did I do that…?” she asked in an afraid tone while shaking her knife violently.

“... by killing some monsters…?” I answered in a doubtful tone, guessing her reaction after this is most likely…

“NOOOOOOO!!!!”