Chapter 11 - Preparing for the future.

  I was on my way to the adventurers' guild accompanied by Yuno, Sakura, Angelica, and a sleeping Alice. We were set to meet Angelica's new teammates. Having completed the rigorous apprenticeship required of all new adventurers, Angelica was now in the process of forming a team with some of the girls she had gone through the program with.

  An apprenticeship in this context is a combination of power-leveling and training, where a higher-tier adventurer mentors you, taking you out to battle monsters while observing your techniques and decision-making. Graduation from this program is marked by the ability to navigate the wilds and complete quests independently, without intervention from the mentor. However, graduates are still occasionally paired with veteran adventurers for progress checks or assistance with more challenging quests, ensuring their continued development and safety.

  Adventurers typically undertake missions either directly from the city's inhabitants or from nobles, particurly when a swift response is needed. The nobility oversees the military and coordinates rger operations, such as clearing zones or dungeon management.

  The adventurers' guild itself is an impressive structure, spanning half a mile in length and rising to a height of five stories. Situated at the juncture between the outer and middle city, this main branch was needed for significant endeavors, such as forming new groups. While smaller branches scattered throughout the city handled minor affairs, the main branch was the nexus for all major activities.

  Upon entering the main hall, I was greeted by the rgest gathering of guys I had encountered since my arrival in this world. They were forming clusters either exclusively of men or mixed groups with one man surrounded by several women.

  The two girls we were scheduled to meet, at the first half of the third quarter of the day, were seated at a table, evidently being bothered by a man whose advances they seemed to find unwanted, judging by their apparent disinterest. Despite never having met them, Observe showed their Affection towards me was at 70 and 71. This suggested that, simir to how Alice could influence Affection points, my sisters also had the ability.

  Angelica wasted no time in approaching the man once she noticed his unwelcome attention. "Mil, they have said multiple times that they have no interest in forming a party with you," she firmly stated.

  "Oh, Angelica, it's good to see you again... I should go," he replied, quickly standing up and looking visibly nervous. He made a swift exit, casting uneasy gnces at Angelica as he left. Given Angelica's propensity for kindness, much like our mother's, his reaction puzzled me.

  "Who was that?" I inquired.

  "That was Mil. We've teamed up with him a few times during training sessions. He recently completed his military service," Angelica crified.

  "What your sister means to say is we acted too nice to him, now we are being harassed. I mean it would be nice if he wasn’t just so…" Ellie expined, who, according to my use of the Observe, is the elder sister. With just one additional point, Observe now gave me useful information.

  “You know, that's why first mom always says to not show interest in men that you are not pnning to marry.” Lucy chimed in, Observe noted that she was the youngest sibling and had been responsible for applying Ellie's body paint every morning prior to her dressing. Clearly, some information proved to be unnecessary.

  Ellie continued, “I thought it was just cause she was alone, but it turned out to be just as bad even though we have five. I mean, even his own sisters aren't interested. I bet he doesn't even hit tier 3. ”

  The harsh reality is that, despite extensive training and guidance many men still get themselves killed. Their recklessness mirrors that of my own world, driven by an urgency to ascend to tier 4. And why? Because achieving such a status marks the point at which women begin to view them as viable candidates for marriage. Prior to this, there's a flurry of families trying to ftter the families of men believed to have the potential to climb to a high tier. Interestingly, I've attracted some attention myself, despite widespread skepticism about my chances.

  At tier 4, individuals gain the capability to withstand unexpected threats, such as the sudden appearance of monsters or the influx of a toxic cloud. It's common for people to marry before reaching this level, but tragically, it's equally common for these men to perish, often taking their spouses with them.

  Achieving tier 4 typically takes an average individual between 30 to 40 years after reaching tier 1. Apparently hormones being a bitch, leads to a reluctance for them to pursue safer progression methods.

  Their sole alternative would be to locate a girl who catches their interest and overpower her, then engage in sexual intercourse. This will result in a bond forming between the two. Evidently, rape is permissible here as long as she is single and it's done with love. Learning that just made me hate that stupid goddess even more.

  “You two should not talk about him like that,” Angelica remarked.

  “That's easy for you to say, you have a brother so no one bothers you,“ Ellie retorted.

  “Ya, I wish we had a brother. Speaking of, are you going to introduce him?” Lucy said, finally turning her attention to me.

  ‘Start date, use 3 Date points.’

  This was the best opportunity I had to acquire their cards, unless we ventured outside the city. Angelica chose a time when most of the women, aside from the staff, were away.

  The wheel began to spin once more. Observing it, I noticed the absence of any distinctly male names, suggesting that dates could only be initiated with women. If they were to appear, it would be here, amidst the rge gathering. "At least that's one less thing to worry about," I sighed in relief.

  When the wheel came to a halt on Ellie’s name, it fshed brightly.

  [A lucky event has occurred. Two for one.]

  [Triggering a double date.]

  A second arrow emerges and begins to spin. All names except for those of her sisters seated beside her are removed, making it quite apparent who would be chosen next. 'Was this due to their familial ties, or perhaps there was another reason?'

  “Date Starto!”

  [A double sister date]

  [Date targets: Ellie and Lucy]

  Hello, my name is Liev.Hello beauties, I'm Liev. Let your sister introduce you

  My options seem quite limited, likely a consequence of my low social stat. I ponder, 'should I try flirting despite the risks? Could I end up as awkward as that other guy?' Uncertainty clouds my judgment; my Charm isn't exactly stelr. The safest bet appears to be behaving naturally and leaning on Alice or gifts to garner the 30 Affection points needed.

  Boosting my other stats seemed crucial. Unlike a game, I can't just spam girls with gifts here to get points. Moreover, aside from my family, it seems most girls' growth halts around 200, it is akin to the friend zone, I presume. Despite investing significant time with Cire, her affection has scarcely increased.

  The 500-point threshold appears to be especially beneficial. It unlocks the opportunity to invite them to Love Land, where they can engage in activities like monster hunting without risk, or hone their skills with greater efficacy. Following the completion of the training field, I discovered its benefits detailed on a new page. A notable effect being a doubled experience gain for Blessings trained there. Moreover, it appears that higher Affection levels correte with both increased and more frequent acquisition of love points. Yuno, remarkably, contributes to approximately half of the love points I receive sporadically over the year.

  'Let’s see, what gifts would they prefer?' With time paused, I browsed the shop at leisure and finally decided on a cake-like delicacy for 5000 points. Given the Denizens' evident fondness for dining whenever possible, it seemed like the optimal choice.

  “Hello, my name is Liev. As thanks for always looking out for my sister, I brought you some cake.” I aimed for maximum charm as I presented the cake, eliciting warm smiles of gratitude from both recipients.

  [+12 Ellie Affection points]

  [+6 Lucy Affection points]

  “Seeing, having a brother must be great. Just don't grow up too fast, kid, you should stay cute as long as possible. And make sure to listen to your sisters.” Ellie expressed her gratitude as she accepted the cake.

  I felt an involuntary twitch of my eyebrow at her words. I look about roughly 25 years of age, while the guy who bolted could pass for 20. Well, perhaps this could work to my advantage here, making the gesture of giving a gift seem more benign than if I were clearly an adult.

  Angelica wrapped her arms around me from behind, peeking out from behind my back. She now stood about a foot shorter than I.

  “He will never stop being cute.“ Angelica decred.

  “That's right,” Sakura chimed in, hugging my arm. “I'm Sakura by the way. You can count on me to keep you safe in the future.”

  “So this is the sister who trounces all the kids in the fighting ring, huh?” Ellie said with a smile directed at her.

  “That's nothing, you should see how strong these twins are when they use their abilities.” Sakura motioned towards me and my twin, who emerged from concealment to be visible.

  “So is it really true? She has been saying some crazy things,” Ellie inquired skeptically.

  “My ability is quite strong but it is limited to being useful, to once a year,” I responded candidly.

  [-5 Ellie Affection points]

  [-2 Lucy Affection points]

  It appears their fondness for me is contingent upon my potential usefulness in the future. Fortunately, they're quite easy to read.

  I guess I should say I can only use it once a year for each person I copy. Yuno can use hers an unlimited number. What about the two of your abilities

  “I guess I should say I can only use it once a year for each person I copy.” At this juncture, it genuinely felt akin to a game. I could guess that choosing option 2 would yield a negative outcome, while option 3 would likely be neutral.

  [+7 Ellie Affection points]

  [+4 Lucy Affection points]

  “Wow a copy type ability, how long does it take to make a copy.” Ellie was visibly excited about my Blessing.

  “Depends on the person, but once I do I can use their ability just as if it was my own, even when they are a higher tier. I also don’t have a mana cost,” I expin. I believe mana functions simirly to stamina here, though I'm not entirely certain; no one has managed to expin it in a way that I fully understand. All I know is I can repeatedly use whatever abilities the card grants me until the duration expires.

  [+15 Ellie Affection points]

  [+1 Lucy Affection points]

  “That's right you should have seen him using my barriers, he was even more skilled than me. I learned a lot that day.” Angelica chimed in, further hyping me up.

  Neither of my sisters brought up the time when I attempted to replicate Sakura's abilities for a practice duel against her, and she handed me my ass in four moves.

  "By next year, I'll be an adult and should be able to join you the following year." Sakura guided me to a chair sitting opposite the two, taking a seat to my right while Angelica settled on my left. Yuno perched on my p. Normally, she would stand silently behind me, but tely, she prefers to cim my p when the twins are absent.

  “That quick really, aren't you being a little manish there.” Lucy remarked. Her comment could be transted as acting overly masculine, which could either be a significant insult or high praise, depending on the context.

  “Not at all, my mom said she will take me out to get some extra leveling.” That wasn't entirely false, but the key factor would be how effectively the monster ranch operates in my love nd. It will be constructed soon, and I pn to focus on upgrading it to aid in my sisters' leveling.

  “Lucky, none of our moms can help and dad is too busy.” Ellie said with a touch of envy.

  “So what ability do the two of you have?” I inquired. Angelica had mentioned they were fascinating and could prove to be a significant asset to me.

  “My main ability is detection, I can see monsters and traps long before anything else,” Ellie revealed.

  “I cause, well basically bring bad luck unto whomever I’m fighting,” Lucy added.

  “Her ability is really interesting brother, one time she caused a monster to get hit by a stray bolt of lightning, another time she caused a monster to manifest wrong and explode.“ Angelica provided more detail.

  ‘Isn't messing with probability like a god tear power? I wonder how strong it will be when she levels it up.’ I could see now why Angelica was keen on these two.

  Wow you two are really impressive.What about the rest of your family?Those pale in comparison to my power.

  “Wow, you two are really impressive,” I said, heaping on the praise.

  “Those two work together really well too. They would sneak up and cause monster bad luck, before ambushing them,” Angelica added.

  “It's even better with you around to protect us if something goes wrong,” Ellie said with a ugh.

  [+1 Ellie Affection points]

  [+1 Lucy Affection points]

  “Wow, this cake is so good. Where did you get it from? It must have been expensive.” Lucy remarked after taking a bite.

  “One of my brother's lesser Blessings allows him to make stuff like this.” Sakura bragged, seizing the opportunity to enjoy the cake herself.

  [+20 Lucy Affection points]

  Lucy’s eyes had stars in them when she looked at me now.

  “Hey dies, how about coming out with me. I know a nice pce, don’t worry about money, I will pay.” In the middle of our conversations another guy swaggers up to our table. He has blue blond hair and slightly blue colored skin. He is rring at Lucy, you can practically see the drool dripping as he stares at her exposed breasts and crotch.

  Like everyone else he is wearing basically nothing, so I make sure to keep my eyes above his waist. Considering how he is looking at her, I know what I will see if I do not.

  “Agh, not another one!” Ellie excimed, gring at him. “Go back to your sister and come back when you're tier five; maybe then we'll consider giving you a chance.”

  Say nothingDrive him off. (fight)Let Yuno “get rid” of him.

  'That's a first, and why is "get rid" in quotations?' I gnced down at my adorable sister on my p, who appeared oblivious to the man who had approached us. 'Do I really want to delve into this? Nope.'

  It seemed like a prime opportunity to impress and earn a few extra points without even having to wake Alice. 'Which card to use, though? Given their ckluster reaction to him, his tier probably isn't that high.' I decide to use mom's card, with a thought it shifts into pce.

  With a quick transaction in the store, I acquire a modest dle for 10 points before finalizing my decision.

  "They've made it clear they're not interested, so leave," I told the man. I noticed a girl off to the side, her head shaking in disapproval at him.

  “Shut it kid, no ones talking to you.” Yuno was on her feet in an instant before I moved, positioning herself protectively behind me.

  “You can't even take on a kid like me, so what makes you think you can even pick up a girl around here?” I retorted.

  “Is that a challenge, kid?” he shot back.

  The onlookers observed the scene, yet none intervened.

  I casually raised the dle in my hand. He made to move, but his intentions remained unknown as the dle connected with his chin before he could react, rendering him unconscious.

  ‘God damn that hurt!’ I screech in my head, my body isn't designed for such movements. Miki's card, with its physical enhancements, suits me better for performing her feats. Still an easy win. If he had been more alert, I doubt it would have been as straightforward, but without knowing his Blessings, it's hard to say for sure.

  As for the consequences of knocking him out, no one would bat an eye, even if I had gone as far as to sever his arm; at most, I'd receive a stern lecture about making a mess. Serious repercussions typically only arise when harm is done to a child or if someone is accidentally killed. The tter is more challenging to achieve and usually requires a deliberate effort, as the Blessings will adjust their effect based on the user's intent towards the opponent.

  [+22 Ellie Affection points]

  [+3 Lucy Affection points]

  I also received quite a bit of unexpected affection from the staff members who were watching the scene unfold.

  “I take what I said back. I do hope you grew up fast. By the way, there are 5 of us.” Ellie gave me a wink and a smile before returning to her cake.

  After the disappointed girl came to carry away the unconscious guy, I sat back down. The remainder of the evening was enjoyable, albeit brief, filled with conversations about their training experiences and them sharing a few amusing stories.

  [+6 Ellie Affection points]

  [+7 Lucy Affection points]

  [Date end]

  [Achievement - Simp be gone. Dive off a simp. 20% less chance that a male will try to interrupt your dates.]

  [Achievement - Wuxia protag - Beat up a male to impress a female. 20% increased chance a male will pick a fight with you during a date.]

  “How does that even work?”

  [Cards]

  Ellie was dressing in her card the same as she was here, which consisted of essentially a bikini and G-string, paired with gloves and thigh-high boots. Her purple hair was tied up with a ribbon and her abs and thighs were adorned with body paint designs.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]

  [Name: Ellie Daybasher

  Level: 44

  Affection:

  Trait:

  Goddess: The Goddess of The Void.

  Primary Blessing: Sound Eater tier 2

  Lesser Blessings: Hide tier 2, Tracking tier 1, Eyesight Enhance tier 2, Sharpen Knives tier 1, Throwing tier 1]

  [Sound Eater - Eat the sound in an area]

  [Hide - Gives skills and knowledge reted to hiding]

  [Tracking - Gives skills and knowledge reted to tracking]

  [Eyesight Enhance - Increases how well the eyes can perceive information]

  [Sharpen Knives - Add an extra sharp and durable bde when sharpening knives]

  [Throwing - Skilled at throwing all objects]

  Lucy shared the same long hair and identical set of green eyes. Her attire consisted solely of intricate body paint adorning her limbs, leaving nothing else in between. I'm beginning to suspect she might be the primary reason they keep drawing attention from guys. At least Ellie and Angelica leave something to the imagination, even if not much.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]

  [Name: Lucy Daybasher

  Level: 40

  Affection:

  Trait:

  Goddess: The Goddess of Misfortune.

  Primary Blessing: You're Unlucky tier 1

  Lesser Blessings: Oral Skill tier 1, Fade tier 2, Lucky Beak tier 1, Golden Rule tier 2, Dust Creation tier 1]

  [You're Unlucky - Make target unlucky]

  [Oral Skill - Skilled with your mouth]

  [Fade - Take body out of the physical world]

  [Lucky Break - Sometimes when things go wrong, they won't]

  [Golden Rule - Wealth will find you]

  [Dust Creation - Create dust in the air]

  Alice was quite mad when she realized I didn't wake her so she could get pampered by the new girls.

  [Liev Ekker - Level 13

  Goddess points: 1,265

  Love points: 882,156

  Debt 1,000,000

  Stat points: 2

  Luck: 11 Charm: 2 Social: 1 Observe: 2

  Skills - Date a lottery 4/10, A date to remember [o]

  Achievements - 20

  Achievements_Alice - 1

  Cards: 1_Yuno - 1833, 2_Sakura - 482, 3_Angelica - 491, 4_Alice 500, 5_Cire - 223, 6_Selen - 247, 7_Miki - 360, 8_Amelia - 362, 9_Anna - 217 10_Emma - 217 11_Sk?gul - 500, 12_Ellie - 128, 13_Lucy - 113 ]