Chapter 5 - Family picnic.
alwaysunqualified
Well, it turns out I'll soon be having two younger sisters. Miki looks to be about nine months pregnant, a strange thing to see on a woman that small. She's currently sitting on a bench a bit away from us, drinking alcohol as usual. Initially, I panicked seeing her drink during pregnancy, but it appears that regur alcohol consumption doesn't affect the baby in the womb, thanks to the goddess of health's blessing. It's still an odd sight, though.
In this world, pregnancy sts about a year, which equates to 100 days, and a day spans approximately 40 hours. Amelia gave birth to me and my twin in about 80 days. Having several children in quick succession is rare here, leading many women to approach Miki, hoping to touch her belly and receive some of her fortune.
Another thing about time, the concept of minutes or seconds is absent here, as time can fluctuate, either speeding up or slowing down on any given day. Despite this, people manage to maintain schedules, adjusting to hours as they shift.
Speaking of kids, I always wondered why, with people here being able to live so long and kids coming out so quickly, my family is so small. It turns out Amelia is an orphan, raised by the church after her family perished in a breaking. Meanwhile, Miki hails from a region to the east, leaving the rest of her family far from us.
A "Breaking" refers to the terrifying event when a Monster emerges directly from the void, rather than being conjured by magic. The term derives from the appearance of the sky fracturing as this occurs. In contrast, "Spawning" describes the process of monsters materializing from concentrations of magic, seemingly conjured from nothing.
The defining characteristic of a monster is its vanishing upon death, leaving no corpse behind.
The second new thing is the shop which has a variety of items, numbering in the millions, not counting those yet to be released and currently marked "coming soon." Even with all the items, navigating this shop is remarkably easy; I simply open it, think of what I'm searching for, and it presents me with a list of reted items. These items require love points for usage instead of magic, allowing me to actually use them.
Funny enough, I can purchase Cores with love points at a rate of 10 love points per Core, potentially converting my massive Love points collection into a small fortune.
However, the idea of openly converting love points into Cores, essentially creating currency from nothing, seems stupid. There are stories of young men kidnapped by nobles eager to forge bonds with promising individuals. While these nobles tread carefully to avoid severe repercussions upon future marriage, they seem to rely on developing a form of Stockholm syndrome in their captives—a situation I'd prefer to avoid.
Surprisingly, the shop also stocks items from my own world, such as a high-end gaming PC complete with games and a generator, though these cost billions of points. Somehow, the gaming PC is priced higher than a nuclear weapon.
Items in the shop are broadly categorized into two types: those that are affordable and powerful but have a limited duration, and those that can be utilized indefinitely as long as I have sufficient love points.
There was also the beginners shop, full of items marked 99% off or 9001% value.
The items were:
[Flex Seal - As long as they are not dead, this will patch them up.]
[Enhance an action ticket - Take an action even further beyond.]
[Date ticket - You lucky dog, start a date. Only usable on those below tier 15.]
[Noob's Nameless Sword - A bde that grows stronger the less skilled the user is.]
[The Rickroll - +500 Affection from a girl. Effects not guaranteed.]
[Perfect gift - It's better than a pair of socks. Discimer: only works for those below tier 1]
[Date love point extractor - Gain love points from everyone, regardless of whether you have their card. Valid for 1 date.]
[Little blue pill - Hay it's OK, everyone needs a little help now and again. Adults only! (stupid regutions!)]
[Best Goddess plushy - What needs to be said?]
I was tempted to buy the plushy just so I could throw it into a fire.
"Brother, stop spacing out and let's go py," Sakura said, bouncing around behind my screen.
When we venture to the park to py, we usually immerse ourselves in a game where Miki assumed the role of the antagonist, and I, alongside my "merry band of wives," embarked on a quest to defeat her. Yes, despite my feelings on the matter, their insistence on marrying me persisted.
At least, in this world, genetic defects are nonexistent, thanks to the goddess of health. People are free from physical or mental impairments, and even injuries from accidents are temporary setbacks. With time, even lost limbs regenerate, meaning that as long as one is alive, recovery is guaranteed.
Even the areas that would typically be considered ghettos are retively benign, devoid of starvation and disease. This pce could easily be mistaken for paradise, were it not for the looming threat of monsters that could emerge at any moment to cause havoc, or the possibility of devastating magical forces erasing entire cities.
This constant threat is the reason Miki accompanies us wherever we go and why we ensure our weapons are within arm's reach from the moment we start training with them.
My weapon is the st new thing I acquired—a spear and shield. Unlike my sisters, who needed custom-fitted weapons, mine were ready-made, suitable for someone with a physique well into their teens. However, the downside is the weapons' weight, designed for superhumans. I won't need to wield them in earnest until I reach level 8, when my training starts in earnest.
“Brother, Hey brother stop ignoring me or I will hug you… You know what it’s okay to ignore me.” There was a notably joyful lilt in Sakura's voice at the thought.
In a fsh too quick for any of us to track, a small figure darted forward, tapping Sakura lightly on the head. "Brother is thinking, You can't break." Yuno, my twin and ever-growing shadow, said, effectively halting Sakura in her pursuit.
Sakura shot Yuno a sharp look while nursing her head, peering down at the girl less than half her height. It was becoming clear that the days when she could easily bypass Yuno were over.
“Listen Yuno, you have to listen to your older sister.” Sakura decred, opting for persuasion over her usual tactics.
‘Wow, she's actually trying a different approach instead of resorting to physical force. It seems like she's beginning to mature,’ I thought. However, it was probably more accurate to say she was simply outmatched.
“Only brother!” Yuno retorted. Sakura had a look that conveyed that that was some sort of fwless logic, as if no rebuttal could stand against it. She looked at me defeated, her eyes teary, silently begging for my support.
Their little show was interrupted by a call from Angelica. “Mother Miki, Brother, Sisters everything is all set up.”
Angelica had been busy preparing a spot for what was essentially a picnic. Today, delegates from the Valkyries were expected to arrive aboard a colossal ship drawn by Pegasus. It appeared that retions between our city and theirs had deteriorated hundreds of years ago. Now, with a new leader at the helm of the Valkyries, efforts were being made to mend bridges.
What led to the fallout? No idea. It seemed only the nobility were privy to the entire story. The common knowledge was that the st queen's actions, driven by madness, had severely damaged these retions. The current queen, after killing her, has been working tirelessly to rectify the situation ever since.
While most of the town gathered like spectators at a parade, we chose to retreat to a quieter spot to observe. My family probably thinks I dislike crowds, a misconception I've never felt compelled to crify.
Angelica guided us to her selected vantage point, it offered an unobstructed view of the sky above the town. The park, located on the town's northern edge, covered a vast area.
We settled down on the bnket, with Sakura and Angelica fnking me on my right and left, respectively, and Yuno positioned just behind me. Miki lounged opposite us, propped on her side, while a basket containing a sizable white chocote cake sat between us.
Angelica took on the role of server, slicing the cake she had purchased. She also poured me a gss of milk, distinct from the usual variety I consumed. Touted for its soul-nurturing properties, this milk was exorbitantly priced at 35,000 cores per jar. Knowing my sisters had saved up to treat me, I refrained from inquiring about its origin, I would rather not know.
Angelica provides healing services for a small price, while Sakura assists Miki in delivering poisons to the adventurers' guild.
Over the years, Amelia has made several attempts to aid my condition, including hiring top-tier healers to examine me. They all concluded that my development was on track. My sisters, having observed how nobles use special foods to enhance their children's growth, specuted that simir methods might benefit me. Amelia has also fed me various supplements purported to assist, none yielded results. However, seeing their determination, I didn't really have the heart to shoot them down.
I shake off these thoughts to avoid wandering down the path of reminiscing about my real family.
Closing my eyes, I offer a brief prayer to God before indulging in the cake. It was incredibly good, better than any cake that I have eaten back home. Such excellence was common among all the cuisine here. The blessings of these chefs grant them an almost otherworldly power to intensify the food's fvors.
“Date Starto!”
[A picnic family date. ]
[Targets - Sakura, Angelica, Yuno]
“Well there goes my level up chance,” I sigh inwardly after gncing at the screen.
Honestly, I should just enhance my luck, but my disdain for the stupid goddess and her pns holds me back. I have alway been able to hold a grudge.
My train of thought is gently interrupted by Angelica, who's dabbing my face with a towel.
[+2 Angelica Affection points]
“You’re such a messy eater brother.” Sakura chuckles at me.
Then, Angelica turns her attention to Sakura.
“You're no better,” she softly chides, gently brushing the crumbs from her face as well.
Looking back, I notice Yuno consumed her portion in silence, managing not to spill a single crumb. I don't get the way she thinks; she intervened to stop Sakura earlier when I was lost in thought but allowed Angelica to disrupt my reverie this time.
I'm aware she can tap into my thoughts through the achievements, but the extent of her ability remains a mystery. She also never really speaks.
[+10 Yuno Affection points]
“I speak,” she crified in her monotone voice.
More accurately, she speaks infrequently. Her contributions are solely informational, directed towards others only if it directly concerns me.
“How is the milk brother?” Angelica inquired. Truthfully, it's quite delicious, and I'm relieved I didn't probe about its origins, though I suspect she's more interested in its supposed benefits.
“I don't feel anything different. Here you all should have some too, no need for me to just drink it when it's not doing anything.” I suggested, offering the cup to them. However, she firmly refused, pushing the cup back towards me.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “We still bought it for you, so you should at least enjoy the taste.”
[+3 Angelica Affection points]
[+5 Sakura Affection points]
“She is right, she will get plenty of milk from you ter.” Miki could not help but add her two cents.
“Is it tasty?” Sakura asks.
“I’m sure you will be drinking it every chance you get.” Miki responded.
“Sister, dont chew with your mouth open,” Angelica said, simply ignoring Miki.
It's peculiar to observe Angelica, who now appears older than Miki, also seeming so naive. Then again, I can't pinpoint when I myself stopped being baffled by such jokes. It’s not like they can just come across porn on every website. That does beg the question where Miki gets it, given she's not particurly fond of reading romance novels. From what I've observed, even the books avaible here seldom venture beyond a mere kiss. Most merely hint at romance, with phrases like "she married so-and-so and became wife so-and-so."
“She is just practicing for the future,” Miki added, she really could not let a chance go.
Our afternoon continued in this vein, extending well beyond the scheduled arrival time of the delegates. I say this, but their commitment was vague, only specifying their appearance in the first half of the day's second quarter, or around 10 to 15 hours.
[+33 Sakura Affection points]
[+32 Angelica Affection points]
[+22 Yuno Affection points]
The dey afforded us the luxury of a leisurely afternoon—well, until someone became anxious.
Sakura was leaping high into the air, attempting to glimpse something in the distance. She must have been jumping half a skyscraper, a surreal sight in real life. Even more impressive was the silence of her armor upon nding, defying what one would expect from such a heavy ensemble.
With the emergence of her armor blessing, Sakura was promptly outfitted in a suit of armor. She now resembled the character on my card more than the tomboy who used to dash about in nothing but a T-shirt.
“Still nothing, are they even coming? let's py a game until they get here,” Sakura, bored of waiting, suggested.
Py adventurer.Py house.Py hide and seek.
The st one was out. The further one ventures from the dungeon at the city's core, the greater the likelihood of monster spawns. In the park, the chance of encountering a monster was slim, yet it wasn't negligible. Regur sweeps of the area were mandated every week (10 days) to prevent the monsters from becoming a significant issue. While the others might handle themselves well, even the weakest monsters would easily overpower me.
I steal a gnce at their cards:
[Name: Sakura Ekker
Level: 20
Affection: 287
Trait: Sister, Family
Goddess: The Goddess of Imbance.
Primary Blessing: Almighty Attract tier 1.
Lesser Blessings: Physical Enchantment tier 2, Shield Master tier 2, Enhance Armor tier 1, Initiative tier 1]
[Enhance Armor - Make armor stronger, the stronger the base the stronger the effect.]
[Initiative - Always act first in combat.]
[Name: Angelica Ekker
Level: 26
Affection: 301
Trait: Sister, Family
Goddess: The Goddess of Health.
Primary Blessing: Restore to Perfect Health Tier 2
Lesser Blessings: Innate Magical Defense tier 1, Magic Sigil tier 1, Berrier tier 2, Angel Transformation tier 1, Singing Tier 1]
[Singing - She has the voice of an angel.]
Miki wouldn't approve of us splitting up anyways, especially not here. Despite her seemingly carefree attitude, she's even more protective than Amelia.
Second one is out too, I've had enough experience pying house to predict it would just result in my three frowning wives fussing over me and baby Alice. Though, it appears to be Alice's favorite game.
“Let's go on an adventure,” I decred, picking up my spear that y beside me.
This opportunity seemed perfect for practicing some of the techniques demonstrated in our csses. While I wasn't actively enrolled, I often stayed to watch whenever Miki was free from crafting her poisons. The initial dotting from the other mothers had somewhat lessened, but they still tended to treat me like a child, so I opted to observe the lessons off to the side.
While Miki won't let me stray far from her sight, her protective range is surprisingly wide. She can monitor everything within a half-mile radius with ease, though this capability diminishes in the bustling city center, where various magical energies cloud the air.
Alice decided to settle atop Miki's head to continue her nap, since I was gearing up to move around a lot.
We assumed our usual formation: Sakura leading the way with her shield poised, me in the middle, and Yuno and Angelica covering our rear. We ventured a few thousand feet from our starting point, methodically circling the area where Miki remained seated.
Despite their usual demeanor, they always took our outdoor adventures seriously. At home, things were more rexed, with lots of them hugging me.
I expected this outing to be simir to our numerous previous ones, until a rustling sound to my left caught my attention. Sakura and Angelica responded instantly, unlike my simple head turn. Sakura positioned herself in front of me, shield raised and ready, while Angelica conjured a protective barrier around us and cast a healing spell.
I might have thought their reaction excessive if, a moment ter, a bizarre boar-like creature hadn't come charging out.
It bore patchwork fur of blue and green, with tusks jutting forward and a single eye in the center of its head. The rest of its skull appeared to be twisting into its eye.
It charged like a speeding car aimed directly at us. I was paralyzed, unable to do anything.
Before the creature could reach Angelica's barriers, a purple mist enveloped the air, causing the beast in front of us to freeze and then bleed yellow blood. In moments, it vanished, leaving behind a Core where it once stood.
“Good job girls, but it looks like the twins are coming a few days earlier than we thought,” Miki quipped, nding smoothly in front of us.
Miki, seemingly unfazed, continued her drinking. Looking down, I noticed her legs were indeed wet.
My sister moved to collect the cores. There were cores, not one but five, from monsters I hadn't even noticed were there. After, we packed up to head home.
[Date interrupted.]
[Achievement - Misfire - Miss out on huge gains by making the bad choice. Once a year you will get a warning before you make a bad choice.]
[Achievement - Roadblocks - Sometimes life just gets in the way, sometimes you do. Recover *spoiler* when a date is interrupted.]
‘Spoiler?’ I wonder.
[Spoiler - it's called a spoiler for a reason. You have not unlocked this system feature yet. Although you will feel pretty stupid once you do.]
That evening, two adorable babies made their entrance into this world, and our bed became even more crowded that night. After that day, the monster attack faded from my thoughts.
In another reality, Liev would have seen this as a wake-up call and had an easier time ter. Fortunately, his stubbornness isn't a trait he can simply wish away, making things more entertaining for the rest of us.
Well do your best not to die Liev.
[Liev Ekker - Level 5
Goddess points: 10,000
Love points: 23107
Stat points: 5
Luck: 1 Charm: 2 Social: 1 Observe: 1
Skills - None
Achievements - 12
Achievements_Alice - 1
Cards: 1_Yuno - 1502, 2_Sakura - 287, 3_Angelica - 301, 4_Alice 313, 5_Cire - 146]
