Peaceful days kept going.
But I’d expected that such days wouldn’t last.
«Bro, help‑me‑eee!»
The one crying at my house was
«What happened this time?»
«Listen! Those five said they’d use the leftover money to make more!»
From what she told me, they’d apparently tried their hand at some business.
They just wanted to buy a ton of stuff and sell it.
If they sold everything, they’d make a big profit, but watching Marie you can see why a rookie messing with trade is a recipe for disaster.
They must’ve blown it.
«How did they mess up?»
«No, that’s not it! The goods they bought did sell! But then taxes and all sorts of other fees… Ughhh!»
Because of taxes and miscellaneous expenses, their capital didn’t grow—it shrank.
Those idiots.
«I thought the plan sounded like it could work! And then—then! Doing business meant needing a place, tools, all that stuff!»
«Yeah, selling costs money too, depending on how you do it. And you’re involved, so it’s on you. You got what you sowed.»
«Help me.»
«I’d give you money, but you’d just burn it through right away, so I don’t want to.»
«Brooo! Don’t abandon me!»
In theory the numbers looked profitable, but in the end they ended up in the red.
Is this thing cursed or something?
That old elf lady once said…
«Either you get everything, or you lose everything… something like that?»
Standing at the entrance, watching Marie beg from afar, was my older sister holding a case of saplings.
She looked a little scared.
«…Ah, it’s Lelia’s older sister.»
«She’s finally starting to perk up. She even goes for walks now—though it’s just around the manor garden.»
It’s a pretty big place, so it should be good exercise… I guess.
Her appetite’s back, her complexion looks better.
My sister seemed a bit intimidated by Marie.
«Nice to meet you…?»
We’ve met before, but she apparently doesn’t remember.
Marie grabbed my shirt and tugged at it.
«Are you being nice to me, right?»
«I try to be a gentleman to everyone except you, so you’re fine.»
Marie huffed, «Fine then. Yeah, no problem!»—she was clearly angry.
What does she even want from me?
A dissatisfied Marie isn’t exactly harmless… but she says it’ll be fine and lets my sister stay.
«Do you always carry a sapling?»
«…It calms me down.»
Maybe it’s because she has a priestess’s knack?
I finally feel relieved seeing my sister start to recover.
«Again?»
Marie waves her right hand in protest.
«What do you mean ‘again’! I’m the one whose life’s at stake here!»
«You guys got a bunch of cash and still end up struggling. You should’ve gotten through a normal year just fine.»
Rent, utilities, basic expenses—those aren’t optional.
You won’t die.
«They say you tried business again and failed.»
«A new pattern, huh.»
«Enough already! Help my cute little sister!»
Cute? Sorry, I don’t get how «cute» and «little sister» even relate.
Is this some kind of philosophy?
«I don’t have a cute little sister, in any life.»
«Help me, brooo!»
I brush off the clinging Marie, and my sister looks flustered, clutching the sapling case tightly.
«F‑fighting’s not allowed.»
Both Marie and I freeze.
Marie shakes her head.
«This is just like a skin‑contact thing. If I call you ‘big brother’ and act cute, you’ll do something about it, right?»
«You were looking at me like that?»
Luxion chimes in.
«Facts. Logically, a master who helps Marie would be a pretty kind ‘big brother’, wouldn’t he?»
Isn’t that just using us?
My sister watches us with a hint of envy.
«…It’s nice, being able to say what you want. If I could’ve spoken up more, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.»
Maybe I’ve been holding back a lot?
Marie whispers to me.
«Hey, what’s your sister’s name? I forgot to ask Lelia.»
«I’ve only ever called her ‘sister’, so I don’t know. Want me to ask?»
Before I can ask, Luxion suddenly points toward the entrance, eyes glowing red.
‘Master, I’ve identified a high‑risk individual approaching.’ «…Now, of all times?»
Marie snaps to attention and tells my sister to hide in the back.
«Sister, go back to your room and hide!»
«W‑what? O‑okay.»
As my sister heads to her room, the manor’s robots start buzzing around.
And Marie—.
«Ah! …I forgot!»
◇ Outside the manor.
«Marie’s taking forever. Could it be the
«Calm down. If that’s the case, Marie won’t stay quiet.»
«You idiot! Even if you threaten her with money, she won’t fall for it!»
The two are getting worked up.
A red‑haired man approaches them, eyes clouded, muttering as he walks toward the manor.
Greg notices the weird vibe.
«Hey, you there, stop.»
The strange man glares at Greg.
«Don’t touch me!»
His right hand flashes, and roots burst from the ground, flinging Greg back.
«Ugh!»
Greg rolls on the ground, gets up quickly, and glares at—Erik.
Wiping his mouth, Greg sees blood on the back of his hand.
«You think you can get away with this for free?!»
Greg lunges, and Chris jumps in to help.
«Again the
Chris draws a hidden knife, cuts through the roots, and Greg punches Erik.
Erik’s yellow eyes watch Greg’s fist coming at him.
◇ Greg and Chris crash through the front door, battered.
«Both of you!»
Marie rushes to the wrecked pair and starts treating them.
I grab the shotguns and pistols the robots bring, load a shell into the pump action, and take aim.
Beyond the shattered door, roots snake around the man.
—I knew you’d show up, Erik.
«Again, you guys. The Six Great Nobles seem to love picking fights with people.»
I taunt, waiting for a reaction.
Erik raises his right hand, sending a root toward me.
Sharp tips lunge, so I pull the shotgun trigger without hesitation.
Robots hover, forming shields, while Luxion fires a laser, burning the roots cleanly.
Marie shields the injured duo.
«Grab the two and get out, now!»
«Y‑yeah!»
Erik points his left hand as vines creep in from the entrance, trying to bind us.
«Don’t come here!!!»
Marie swings her arm, blasting the vines away with magic.
«Stupid! Don’t use fire, we’ll set the place on fire!»
«Because—!»
She was about to burn the vines with fire magic, but I stopped her to avoid a blaze.
More drones and robots pour in, clearing roots and vines.
A vine lunges at my leg, then stops just before striking.
«What’s this?»
‘The master, guardian of the Sacred Tree saplings, is a different kind of being. The Sacred Tree can’t just attack the master. I told you, right?’ Seeing it with my own eyes proves it’s true.
Reloading the shotgun, I grin at Erik.
«Hey, your trump card’s gone. If you back down peacefully—»
Erik smiles back.
«Fine. Then I’ll try something else.»
Erik’s red hair flickers, flames igniting in his right hand, shaping into a sword that doesn’t burn him.
A red‑haired sword of fire.
«What the—?»
Erik smirks faintly.
«—the Flaming Sword! Let it scorch my enemies!»
He swings it dramatically; the blade extends, aiming at us.
‘Shield deployment’ Luxion steps forward, generating a shield; the flaming sword can’t reach us.
But the surroundings are another story.
I click my tongue.
«Wasting a brand‑new house, huh?»
Erik brandishes the flaming sword, staring at us.
«Huh, trying to block that? This won’t end here. I’ll burn you all down until I get her back!»
Her… my sister?
«You’re relentless!»
«Say what you want. I’ll burn you to ash for standing in the way of our love.»
Luxion explains.
‘He’s boosting his abilities with the Sacred Tree’s power. Very troublesome. If he tires, the manor will burn first.’ «…You all seriously quit it!»
I toss the shotgun; the roots shift to block Erik.
«Just that, huh!!!»
Yandere stuff is getting real.
«The Sacred Tree is a pain.»
Luxion agrees.
‘Roots for defense, flaming sword for offense… a full set of trouble. Also, the manor’s a wreck. Prioritize protecting Marie and the target.’ Having Luxion around makes things easier.
The problem is Erik.
If the Sacred Tree keeps defending, a serious attack could kill Erik.
I check the back of my right hand, gripping my pistol.
«…I’ll trust the sapling’s blessing and dive in.»
I sprint forward, Luxion following.
‘Even though there are endless ways to stop you, the master always picks the messy route.’ He’s a target, after all.
«Shut up and follow me!»
Roots try to strike, but the sapling’s blessing makes them hesitate. Erik readies his flaming sword.
«Die!»
«Don’t!»
When the roots pause, I fire at Erik’s right arm; the bullet hits.
«Ugh! …I’m still standing!!!»
He’s got guts, I’ll give him that.
«It’s over.»
I keep firing. Erik falls, I fire again.
After emptying the mag, I swap magazines, keep the gun up, and watch Erik. The flaming sword vanishes, the roots stop moving.
Erik trembles, trying to stand.
«Let me see him. This is our problem. I came to fetch him.»
«Burning someone’s house and then showing up? That’s already a mess. It’s so bad it’s funny. And the only thing you can do now is stay away from my sister.»
Erik tries to rise, I keep the gun on him.
«I— I need… him. He’s the first person I ever loved.»
I pull the trigger out of annoyance.
The bullet hits his forehead; blood spills.
Erik endures the pain.
«So… good. She doesn’t want to see you—»
I say that, and Erik looks behind my back.
I turn, too, and see my sister, protected by robots, clutching the sapling case, a bit soot‑stained.
Erik’s face breaks into a smile.
I stare at my sister’s face and shout, «What the hell are you doing out here!»
Erik laughs.
«So, he was trapped by this thing, huh? He’s fine now. I came to get him.»
My sister says firmly, «…I won’t go back to you.»
She says it plainly.
Erik’s face twists.
«What did they feed you! You’d never say that! Was it brainwashing? Then I’ll wake you up. I’ll burn this thing down and wake you up. Wait for me. I’ll bring you back soon.»
My sister screams.
It’s the first time I’ve heard her yell that loud.
«I don’t like you! I’ve told you I hate you!»
Erik is stunned.
…He got totally rejected.
«I… I wish things were normal. Eating together, laughing about the day, but with you it was painful. You’d complain about my cooking, get angry over the smallest thing, and raise your hand at the slightest provocation.»
Erik looks panicked.
«Okay, I get it. I’ll be careful from now on.»
«Don’t ever contact me again.»
My sister, tears streaming, says that, and Erik’s face contorts grotesquely. His emblem glows brighter, roots start writhing—then— Marie strides in, face covered in soot, and punches Erik hard.
«Bastard!!!»
Erik flies back. I have no idea where that tiny body got that power, but Marie’s breathing heavily as she shouts.
«Get a grip already. You’re finished!»
Erik clutches his cheek.
«It’s not over! I still love her!»
Marie kicks him without hesitation.
I crawl over to the trembling sister, who’s sitting on the floor, shaking.
The sapling she’s holding glows a fraction brighter than usual.
Marie, still yelling at Erik, says, «Love? You’re funny. That’s not love. Look—your ex‑girlfriend is trembling and crying.»
Erik tries to speak, but «You’re the one who drove him to the edge. If you really love someone, stay away from her. If you keep messing with her—one day I’ll kill that girl.»
Erik immediately denies.
«I won’t do that!»
Marie grabs Erik’s hair, shows him the burning manor, robots dousing the flames.
«Anyone who burns a house can’t expect anyone to listen. Get it through your head—your love is just selfishness. And stay away from that girl. If you come near her again, I’ll kill you myself.»
Probably she’s projecting her own DV trauma onto me, but what’s a guy who’s done a reverse harem saying about love?
Erik looks up at Marie, opens his mouth, then stops, turning his gaze to my sister.
I was about to lift her up.
Erik, eyes down, starts to sob.
I let out a small sigh and watch the burning manor.
«…Maybe I’ll sleep at Ainhorn tonight.»
Nobles in the Republic are brutal.
I really can’t believe it.