After lunch, I took my little sister out for a walk. We played games, and I told her funny stories and jokes from Earth. Without even realizing it, I had accumulated a mountain of Affection Points.
Only when a maid reminded us that evening was approaching did we decide to part ways and return to our rooms. Before she left, I hugged Rena and kissed her forehead. She squeaked, blushed, and ran away in embarrassment.
Four days passed since that first lunch together. During that time, I kept playing with her whenever I could.
Thanks to that, her affection soared.
Name: Rena Fernandez
Age: 8
Talent: 9/10
Title: None
Affection: 90% (Familial Love)
Description: Wants to be close to her big brother but doesn’t know how. Slightly looks down on you for your weakness. (Wants to play with her brother.)
Difficulty: B+ – She’s a child. If you play your cards right, she’s yours.
Rumors began to spread through the mansion that I had started to change. After hearing them, Mother visited me. I showed her my most innocent side.
With teary eyes and a tremble of anger in my voice, I said,
“Mother, don’t worry about me. I’m more worried about you. You haven’t slept well in a long time, and your stress is piling up.”
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve decided to change for the better. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
“I’ll do my best to be someone who can help you.”
I threw myself into the role of a boy still na?ve but genuinely determined to improve — a son who wanted to support his mother.
I must have done it well, because the result was a mother crying with relief as she pulled me into an embrace, as if I were the most precious thing in the world.
Later, I sat in the library, reading and planning how to grow stronger — laying out the steps I needed to take for the future.
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The void of space cracked, and I was suddenly standing in a desert littered with corpses.
“What… happened? Where am I?”
I spun around, searching for any clue.
“You are in the Desert of Death.”
A voice materialized from the empty air. The atmosphere shuddered, and an old man appeared — clad in black armor, a black sword sheathed at his waist.
“Who are you?” I asked, wary.
He didn’t answer. In the blink of an eye, he stood right before me.
He drew his sword and stabbed my abdomen.
“Zeref. Remember this: if you don’t become strong, you will die.”
The void cracked again — and I was back in the library, drenched in cold sweat, heart hammering wildly.
The pain in my stomach lingered as if it were real, yet there was no wound when I checked.
Fifteen minutes later, I finally calmed myself. I had no idea who that old man was or why he stabbed me. Questions swirled with no answers.
I sighed helplessly, rubbed my temples, and sipped the tea Tania had brought.
“Young master,” Tania’s voice broke my daze, “the eldest young lady, Miss Invidia, requests your presence.”
I asked Tania to lead the way.
When I entered the room, I found my older sister enjoying her tea. Sunlight streamed over her, casting a poised, mysterious glow.
She looked up as I stepped in. The old Zeref would have flinched and averted his gaze.
I didn’t. I met her eyes and walked in confidently.
She’d heard the rumors about me and wanted to see for herself whether I had truly changed.
So the rumors were true, Invidia thought.
I sat beside her and took the cup Tania offered. For a moment, silence pressed on the servants like a weight. Invidia finally spoke first.
“How is your body? Are you alright now?”
“Yes. I’ve recovered. I’m fine.”
“That’s good.”
Silence again. Before the tension rose any further, I suggested,
“How about a game of chess?”
She blinked, surprised, then nodded after a moment’s thought.
“Very well. I have time — no lessons this afternoon.”
Before long, the maids had arranged the board, and our game began.
I’m not trying to brag, but as a former top university student, I’m decent at chess.
As we played, I spoke.
“Sis, I know you think I’m responsible for Father’s death — and because of that, you resent me.”
I moved my first piece as I spoke. She stiffened at my words.
“You don’t need to deny it. It might be true that I was there, but that doesn’t mean you can judge everything about me. You weren’t there in my shoes, you didn’t see what I saw… and don’t worry — I don’t blame you.”
THUNK.
Another move.
“After Father died, I ran away and hid like a coward. I wasn’t there to support you. That’s my fault. I only realize it now — but from this moment, I will change.”
THUNK.
She answered with her own move. The calm mask on her face cracked.
“Sis, I know Father’s death broke you. I know you’ve been hiding your pain behind that composed exterior.”
THUNK.
I advanced again. She struggled to keep her expression steady.
“So let me shoulder some of that burden. I promise I’ll be by your side — someone you can lean on. You can cry, Sis. You can be yourself with me.”
THUNK.
Her hand trembled as she moved.
“I’m your little brother, and I know you feel it’s your duty to stay strong. But right now, I want to see the real you — the sister who’s hurting, yet still hiding it.”
THUNK.
Her whole body shook.
“Let it all out, Sis. Don’t hide anymore. Everyone here is with you. We all love you. I love you.”
THUNK.
She made another move, barely holding herself together.
I placed my final piece.
“Checkmate.”
I stood, walked to her side, and pulled her into my arms.
Though I was shorter, she was seated — her face pressed against my chest, and then the dam burst.
She clutched my clothes and sobbed — raw, ragged, and loud — her body trembling as everything she had bottled up finally spilled free.
Her pain.
Her grief.
Her anger.
Her unwillingness.
All of it flowed out in tears.
I stood there, holding her, waiting patiently until the storm passed and her breathing steadied.
+30,000 Affection Points
