A Family Situation

Once we left the guild, Liz took me to the village market to do some shopping.

We spent a couple of hours going from one place to another, looking for the best the village had to offer, and I even saw Liz trying to haggle over prices that, according to her, were unfair. She’s quite skilled at that, to be honest.

I also managed to ask her about this world’s currency system, and it was just as I thought.

Copper, silver, gold, and platinum coins. One thousand copper coins equal one silver, one thousand silver equal one gold, and ten gold equal one platinum.

All that’s left is to figure out the actual value of each in practice, but that’s something I’ll learn over time.

Once we finished shopping, Liz finally took me to her home.

The sun was already beginning to set, and the darkness was becoming more and more pronounced. It was softened somewhat by the village lights, but even so, the road was hard to see. Despite that, we arrived without any trouble.

Liz’s home was a cabin set a bit apart from the rest of the village, deeper into a forest; like the village, its facade was somewhat worn, though in better condition than the buildings on the outskirts, resembling more the important buildings in the center—better kept, but still not on the guild’s level. It was also two stories tall.

Given how the village had been so far, I honestly didn’t expect her house to be this big.

“Let’s go in!” Liz said, setting down the shopping bags to open the door.

I thought it would be dustier or dirtier, since Liz is an adventurer and I doubt she spends much time at home, but inside it looked much more well-kept and clean. It was obvious it was maintained with care, although for some reason Liz seemed a bit irritated as she sighed.

“Welcome home, Liz.”

At that moment, while I was taking in the surroundings, a girl appeared in the hallway.

Like Liz, she was blonde, but her hair was of a duller shade, and she also had the same blue eyes. However, her skin looked paler and sickly, and she appeared much thinner as well. Right now, she was wearing what seemed to be a plain white nightgown or sleeping robe.

“Lui, I told you not to get up,” Liz said in a scolding tone.

“Sorry, I’m just tired of being in bed all the time, and the dust was starting to pile up…” the girl replied in a low voice. “Huh? Who’s he?”

“Oh, right.” Liz said, suddenly remembering I was there. “This is my older sister, Lui, and he’s Naoya, a guy I met during a job who’s been a great help these past few days.”

“Really? Thank you so much for helping my sister, Naoya,” Lui said, bowing slightly.

“No, no, it’s nothing! Liz has been helping me a lot, too. I’m the one who’s grateful,” I replied, a bit nervous.

It’s true I’ve helped Liz with the undead, the Stalkey, and the necklace, but without her, I probably wouldn’t have made it to any village at all. The balance is still heavily in her favor.

“I’m glad to hear—”

Lui tried to keep speaking, but a harsh coughing fit cut her off. It was so strong it echoed throughout the house, and she even collapsed to her knees. She also seemed to have trouble breathing.

“Lui!” Liz shouted as she rushed to her side, dropping the shopping bags. “Come on, breathe slowly! I’ll be right back!”

Liz bolted away, this time deeper into the house. She rummaged urgently through a chest for a while before finally pulling something out. It was a translucent crystal with red tones.

She quickly returned to Lui and handed her the stone, which began to glow as they both held it.

Moments later, Lui stopped coughing, and her breathing steadied.

What the hell was that?

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes… thank you…” Lui replied, still slightly winded.

Liz let out a sigh of relief and helped her sister to her feet, letting her lean against her.

“Let’s get you to your room. I’ll make dinner, so wait for me there.”

“Don’t worry, let me handle dinner,” I said, picking up the bags again to carry them to the kitchen.

“Huh? Of course not! You’re a guest, the one who should cook—” she began to protest, but I cut her off.

“Your sister needs you to take care of her; you can’t leave her alone right now,” I argued. “Leave it to me—I’ve got experience with this,” I added with a confident tone.

Hearing that, Liz had no choice but to agree, but unlike other times when she merely resigned herself, here I could see her expression soften just a little.

“You’re right. Thanks, Naoya,” she replied.

After that, Liz helped Lui down one of the hallways and into the last room, which I assumed was hers.

“All right, let’s get to work,” I said to myself.

***

I helped Lui into her bedroom and laid her down on the bed. Her body felt thinner and lighter than the last time this happened.

“Sorry for the trouble…” Lui said.

“Don’t say that. You know you’ll never be a burden to me,” I replied.

Lui had always been like this.

Ever since her body started to weaken, she had always felt like a burden to everyone, no matter how many times we told her it wasn’t true. The worsening of her condition only deepened that feeling.

“By the way, where did you meet that boy?” Lui asked curiously.

“It’s… complicated…” I answered, but Lui’s persistence was greater.

Would she even believe me if I told her Naoya came from another world? I wouldn’t have believed it myself if it weren’t for the proof on his phone.

“Come on! You’ve never brought anyone home before, I don’t even know a single friend of yours… Don’t tell me… he’s your boyfriend!?” she pressed energetically.

“Eh!?” I shouted, flustered.

Lui is usually a fragile and calm girl, but when it comes to things like this, she completely changes.

I still remember when she thought I was dating an older man she saw me with, but it turned out he was just the carriage driver taking me to a job.

“No, not at all! He’s a guy I met in the ruins of a castle,” I said, trying to end the conversation quickly.

However, I made a mistake.

“Ruins? Wait, weren’t you supposed to be on a herb-gathering job?” Lui asked, confused.

I blew it!

I had wanted to hide the ruins from her so she wouldn’t worry.

“Don’t tell me… you went into some ruins just to find treasures to sell again?” she questioned with an authoritative air, showing that despite her condition, she was still my older sister.

“Yes… but we really need the money!” I replied, raising my voice. “If we don’t get the money for more mana crystals—!”

“I don’t want you risking yourself so much for me!” Lui shouted, cutting me off.

I was surprised at how much she raised her voice.

I knew she didn’t like me taking risks, but it was the first time she’d ever yelled at me like that.

“I don’t want you getting into trouble for my sake… I want you to live,” Lui added. “I want you to have friends, a life… I want you to be happy even when I’m no longer—”

Before she could finish, I hugged her tightly.

I didn’t want to hear what she was going to say.

I absolutely refuse to lose my older sister.

“Don’t be ridiculous! You’re the only family I have left…” I said as tears began to well up. “… How could I let you go just for my own sake?”

Lui was so taken aback she didn’t move for a few moments, not even after I finished speaking, but then she returned my embrace.

I could feel my shoulder dampen with her tears.

We stayed like that for quite a while, but just the thought of what could happen to her made me not want to let go.

“Could you… at least promise me you won’t get into more trouble?” Lui asked, her eyes still red.

I took my time answering, thinking about what would be best, but in the end, I couldn’t say much.

“… Fine,” I replied.

At my flat response, Lui puffed out her cheeks and began squeezing mine hard.

“Promise me you’ll stop taking so many risks!” she exclaimed, raising her voice.

“Ow! Ow! Ow! Fine, I won’t do anything dangerous!”

Hearing my answer, Lui finally let go, though she still seemed doubtful.

“Are you sure?” she asked, raising an eyebrow and looking at me accusingly.

“Yes… I’ll be careful,” I answered, rubbing my cheeks in pain.

Lui’s expression softened again, turning into a gentle smile.

“Good, I hope so,” she said with a nod.

But I lied.

I’m sorry, Lui, but it’s necessary. If I have to risk my life to protect you, so be it.

I’d rather be scolded than come home to nothing but silence in your absence.

While I was thinking such things, something caught both our attention.

It sounded like a song, but the sound was strange. The instruments didn’t resemble anything I had heard before; they were energetic and loud.

“What could that be?” Lui asked.

“I think it’s something to do with Naoya. I’ll go check,” I replied, standing up and heading toward the kitchen.

That guy… he never stops surprising me.

Is that why I get excited every time I’m with him?