Upon spilling the wrong words of choice, the conversation about making Mary immortal eventually turned into my own interrogation. Now, my sister smiled scarily as if she were waiting for me to respond to her inquiry.
"Why are you not answering? Am I not trustworthy enough for you to reveal your secrets?"
"Not at all, Sister. I have trusted you since then until now. But I need time to think about this. For now, let's go back to your problem first."
"Yeah, let's talk about that first. So, how would you prolong Mary's life?"
I set aside my interrogation for a while and went back to my sister's problem before the flow of the conversation got derailed. Sister's happiness and joy come first.
"Like I said before, I will use my Unique Skill Bestow to prolong her life, but it takes great effort and time."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Bestow allows me to bestow a skill of mine on an object or person, right?"
"Yeah. Ah! Great effort and time means you need to acquire that skill first?"
"Exactly. That's why I need to slay an indefinite amount of monsters and level up. After I level up to Level 1000, I will evolve into a High Human and obtain the Longevity Skill."
"Then, all you have to do is bestow it on her."
"That's right. And that's why it takes a tremendous amount of effort and time to achieve."
The method that I will use to prolong the life of her future concubine is to evolve into a High Human and acquire its Racial Skill Longevity.
"Does your Bestow skill have side effects?"
"No. It does not have any side effects. But it had limited usage. While it can enchant weapons and items many times based on its materials, it can be used only trice on living beings. The orichalcum bracelet you're wearing right now was a product of Bestow."
She stared at the golden bracelet on her left wrist and caressed it. It was enchanted with spells Warp, Skill Ownership and Disguise. With Disguise hiding its effects, it looks like an ordinary, plain bracelet, even with Appraisal Skill.
Unique Skill Bestow could enchant objects many times depends on the quality of its materials. I once attempted to make an exploding paper bomb just like in anime. I successfully enchanted it with Level 5 Fire Magic: Fire Bomb. But when I enchanted it with another spell, the paper suddenly shredded into tiny pieces.
"Have you tested it on living beings?"
"I have, and I confirmed that it obtained the skill via Analysis and I saw it using the skill."
"Is this Analysis one of your secrets, too?"
"… Yeah, something like that."
"It looks like we have a long talk later."
"Haha."
My tongue slipped again, and it sparked her desire to have a talk with me. I made a dry laugh as I felt the guilt of having a secret or two behind my family's back.
I bestowed a skill on a monster before while experimenting with my new skills. I captured a goblin as my guinea pig for my experiment. I used Bestow and gave it Regeneration skill. I used analysis on the goblin and confirmed that it received my blessings.
As a clinical trial, I captured two more goblins and did some physical tests. I scratched a thin layer of their skin, and it instantly healed. I sliced it deeper, and it completely healed in a matter of seconds.
For their contribution to my research, I released them back to the wild. This is what veterinarians on discovery channels do after they test a wild animal.
Months later, high-ranking adventurers in the city warned other adventurers about a new variety of Goblin Lords that could regenerate like Trolls. I just averted my eyes from the issue and pretended that I had nothing to do with it.
(I guess I need to be more mindful when releasing pets.)
I don't want to be like those irresponsible pet owners who throw away their pets if they have no use for them. But it's too late; I am one of them now.
Releasing pets anywhere can affect the environment and cause a change in ecosystem afterwards. Like in my past life's hometown, the local waters in our country were slowly infested by invasive species.
The invasive species was said to have been brought from abroad and made pets by pet owners. After getting bored with it or realizing they could not take care of it anymore, they released their pets into our local waters. The released pets will repopulate the area and slowly damage the local ecosystem. Until the locals got irritated by it and called them pests.
(From pets to pests.)
"Hey, what's the matter?"
"Hmm? Ahh, nothing."
As I was lost in thought of the effects of releasing those bestowed goblins, my sister's words snapped me back to reality.
"You just need to Level Up and evolve, right? Then, slay monsters and level up faster for me."
"Do you really think it is an easy feat? Even our mothers slew uncountable powerful monsters for many years just to reach Level 1000, you know?"
"I know. But if it's you, our parent's child, I know you can achieve it faster than them."
"I will do my best for my family's happiness."
I can actually level up faster than the average with my blessings. My body gained additional stats, and I can use them to slay more powerful opponents to get more EXP.
"You didn't offer this solution for free, right?"
She asked that question with a dubious look on her face. I put both my elbows on the metallic chair and do a shrewd merchant pose.
"Well, I want you to owe a favor to me."
"I knew it. I had suspected you when you offered that suggestion. You are rather clever for a thirteen-year-old kid."
"I wanted you to do something for my own good in the future."
"But what and when will that be? Is it my body you want? Maybe you just wanted to use my body to do the things that you can't do with Mom?" She said this while wrapping her arms around her body.
"I never said that! And why would I do something like that to my own sister?!"
"Because I looked like Mom?"
"Why mom have something to do with it?!"
"Hah? I thought you had a mother complex?"
"Ack!"
Our exchanges got heated, and the tense atmosphere of the gazebo lightened a bit. I raised my voice as I refuted her impure thoughts. Well, I had to admit that I had a mother complex because mom was my preferred type of woman in my past life. Sister's appearance greatly resembles Mom's.
Silky long straight black hair, porcelain-white skin, the perfect body shape, thicc thighs, blessed bosoms, and bewitching beauty. One of the differences was that her sister had toned muscles due to her physical training.
With my mental age, I sometimes fantasized about them in my mind just because they were my type. Mother wasn't inferior to them, and I also did the same. We are bonded by blood, so I have to stop my mind from thinking those impure thoughts and fulfill my role as a member of this family.
"Hmph. Whatever it is, I will repay this owed favor to you in the future."
"Thank you for your understanding."
I bobbed my head as I was thanking my sister. With this, the issue about my sister and Mary had been settled. Now, I have to prepare myself and face my own issue.
"Now that my problem's already settled, how about we have a talk about yourself."
"About that, can we discuss it later? I want to reveal my secrets to you in private. And I think I need some time for what I have to tell you."
"I don't mind. But that later should be today, not tomorrow or the day after that."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
In our household, there was hierarchy within our family. Our mothers were at the pinnacle, then my sister and me at the last. But I will do my best to rank up. I absolutely don't want to be in the bottom caste forever.
I think I've lived long enough in this world with burdens on my shoulders. I truly wanted to open up more to my family, to shrink the indistinguishable proximity between us.
"When do you think you can have a conversation with me?"
"I think this night."
"Then come to my room tonight."
"But a man in a maiden's room..."
"We're siblings, so it's going to be okay."
"If you say so... "
After I told her what time I would be ready, my sister suddenly invited me to her room tonight. She said it's fine, but I still have doubts in my mind. It's not that we will do something indecent; all we have to do is talk.
Sister stood up from her chair and walked towards my left side. She bent her upper body and whispered something in my left ear.
"I'll be waiting for you tonight."
I can feel her breath brushing my ears as she whispered those words. She stood straight again and walked away from the gazebo.
"Sigh."
I let out a long sigh when her presence disappeared from my sight. I stood up from my seat and followed her behind.
My sister caught me keeping secrets from our family, and she wanted me to discuss it with her. She invited me to her room as our meeting place tonight.
After our conversation earlier, we proceeded to the music room and performed our final rehearsal of our duet. We danced and behaved like normal, and her behavior around people was also normal.
But when there's no one around, her sharp eyes keep glaring at me like a stalker. She also keeps reminding me to come to her room tonight, over and over again.
We did not talk much during and after dinner. We continued our daily activities until it was time to sleep. That was the right moment to come over to my sister's room.
Clad in my sleepwear, I silently opened my room's door and peeked out my head. I looked around my surroundings and confirmed that there was no one awake.
(Good.)
I slightly opened it enough for my whole body to pass through and closed it silently. I already activated the Soundless Skill beforehand to cancel the noises of my movements.
I turned my feet to the right and walked along the dark corridor. I approached the door next to mine, my sister's private room. There was another door beyond, and that was our parents' love nes—private quarters.
Anyway, I am standing in front of my sister's room right now. Despite the dark corridor, I can see things like it is still morning. This is because I activated the Nocturnal subskill of the Monarch of the Night.
(You can do this.)
I am motivating myself as I am staring sternly at the wooden door. Sneaking into a woman's private space was a bad idea in the first place. If I get caught here, who knows what's going to happen to me?
Knock, knock.
"Sister. It's me, Raphael."
I knocked on the door twice and introduced myself to the person behind it. It would be rude if I just waltzed in without permission, especially if it's a woman's room.
"The door's open. Come in."
A girl's voice gave me permission to enter the room. I twisted the doorknob and slowly opened the door.
"Pardon my intrusion."
"Close the door and lock it."
I slowly closed and locked the door as she said. The room was quite dark as the lights under the ceiling were turned off. The only things that gave light in this dark room were the dim lampshade and the moonlight that passed through the opened curtains.
The room was filled with various ornaments. Full-body mirror; dresser; desk; cabinet; etc. There was a door on the right adjacent to the mirror, which was her wardrobe. Our rooms do not have their own bathrooms, so we have to wash ourselves in the bathhouse.
"So you have come."
"I have a word, sister."
My sister was already sitting at the foot of the bed, waiting for me. I have fulfilled my promise to come to her room, and now I have to tell her my secrets.
"Please take a seat."
"I appreciate your kindness."
I approached the chair she pointed at and took a seat on it. It was the seat for the table behind me, and my sister had already prepared it beforehand.
"Forward closer."
I moved my chair closer to the bed as she instructed. So close that our knees only create a close gap and are almost touching each other.
"You looked great in our dress tonight."
"Hmph. I'm glad you noticed it. I am wearing my favorite nightdress just for you."
"Is that so?"
My sister right now was wearing a see-through white negligee. It did not hide the red lingerie that covered her voluptuous breasts. Now that I think about it, she has a better body than I originally thought. I already saw her in a nightdress, but not this close.
"You keep staring at them again."
"I'm sorry. I lost myself in thought."
"Hmph. Then, can you open yourself up to me now?"
"Yes." I answered her question without hesitation.
"Then, you are now allowed to elaborate yourself."
"Thank you. But before we start, I have something to say first. The things that I will be saying might be absurd and hard for you to understand. It might change how you look at me, and that could ruin our relationship. Are you sure you want to listen to my darkest secrets that might ruin our family.?"
"I am certain. Whatever you say, you are my only little brother. I am sure that you had reasons for keeping your secrets until now. And I will accept you no matter what. I am also curious about these absurd secrets of yours."
"Thank you for your understanding, sister."
Confirming that she will listen to my stories, I will not hold back on revealing the details I should reveal. This is not because I was ordered by my sister; I did it of my own free will.
I am tired of keeping secrets from my family. I wanted to at least tell one of them about myself. I'll start with my sister first since she's special to me.
"Okay, I will start now. First things first, do you know about the First Pope, the Demon Lord, the Hero, and probably the Mother of Arts?"
"Hmm? Yeah. Almost everyone knew about them, right? The First Pope who found the Primaria Theocracy, the Demon Lord who invaded almost half the continent, the Hero who defeated the said Demon Lord, and the Mother of Arts who greatly improved our current sense of art. So, what about them?"
"Had you noticed what they had in common?"
"What did they have in common? Like they had great contributions to the world?"
"Other than that, like the things that historians and theorists noticed about their existence."
"Theory..." sister put her fingers under her chin and thought for a while, "Ah! Historians and theorists noticed that they appeared once every five hundred years. They their own uniqueness like vast wisdom, immense power, remarkable skills, and limitless imagination."
"Precisely. Can you please tell me how old the Mother of Arts is this year?"
"This year is 988... Mother of Arts was born on year 475... 988 subtracted by 475 is 513... the former queen is going to be five hundred thirteen years old this year."
"Subtract it with my age."
"That's gonna be five hundred. Wait a minute—is this the reason why you asked about those extraordinary people? Are you telling me that you are... one of them...?"
"That's right, my sister. I am one of those extraordinary people that will be born every five hundred years."
"Y-you are telling the truth, right?"
"I know it's hard to believe and you still have doubts, but it's all true. I was chosen by the Goddess and got reincarnated in this world."
"I see... Let me think a little bit."
"I understand."
Sister looked like she could not comprehend the things that she just heard. Of course, my story was just too absurd to immediately believe. Hearing this from her own relative must have left her thunderstruck.
"Phew. That takes too much mental energy to just absorb it in my mind. Is there more to it than anything?"
"There are many things that I want to discuss. And you can ask me anything that you don't understand."
"Okay, I'll start asking now. What does it mean to be chosen? What do you mean, got reincarnated?"
"But before I answer your questions, I have something to tell you. There are worlds other than ours.
"Other worlds? Does it really exist?"
"Yes. And I once lived in one of those worlds."
"I don't understand."
"It means that every five hundred years, a wandering soul from my former world is chosen to be reincarnated in this world with their memories intact. And I was the chosen soul of this era."
"Soul?"
Sister once again got confused by the complexity of my words. Suddenly, learning new things increased the load on her mind. Her brain had already reached the limit of her understanding and began to metaphorically overload, then explode.
"Can your mind still withstand the suddenness of our discussion? If not, let's postpone it and discuss it later."
"No, Raphael. I want to learn more about you, right here, right now," she declared.
"Then I'll continue. Like I said before, I once lived in another world but died in an accident. Luckily, my soul got chosen and got reborn in this world. But before my reincarnation, the Goddess granted me the abilities that I needed to survive in this world, and she told me that I could live as much as desired."
"I see. I get the gist of it. That was the reason why those reincarnated people were powerful, intelligent, and talented: they had their memories and had obtained the skills they desired. It means that you got those rare and convenient skills from the Goddess, right?"
"Right. That is correct."
Not only was she stunning and beautiful, but she also had sharp thinking and an observant mind. No reserved memories or even photographic memory—just pure intelligence and wit. Our expected of the product of our mothers' genes.
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