Ch.141Testing NPC. (1)

“What’s with her? Why is she acting like this again?”

Chikuyo raised her eyebrows with her hands demurely placed on her chest, her face flushed.

I tried to respond according to what I remembered from the affinity quest, offering praise and understanding about her family. The atmosphere seemed to soften compared to before, but her coughing increased and her cheeks became noticeably redder.

What’s going on? Don’t tell me there’s another setting I don’t know about? You don’t have some chronic illness, do you? Not cardiac arrhythmia?

“U-um? Ah, r-really? Hmm… Say, what did you say your name was again?”

“It’s Jack. I’m an adventurer.”

“Right, Jack. Ahem! So, um. What were you talking about with Miho earlier?”

“Which conversation are you referring to…”

“Earlier! About abandoning Miho! About having a bad relationship with her! You were talking about that!”

Ah, she must have overheard my conversation with Green Stone about Miho. So that eerie feeling I had earlier was because of her.

I don’t understand what that feeling was exactly, but if she heard it, there’s no reason to hide anything.

It’s obvious she’s worried about what kind of relationship I have with her sister, and whether I’ve done something to her. There’s no point in lying.

I told her the facts as they were.

I explained Miho’s behavior toward Ragnie, one of our party members, how Miho wanted to join us, and that I personally excluded her from our party because her power was insufficient. I also mentioned that I left her behind and traveled alone from Natie to Aigram because I was busy.

After explaining that much, her flushed face had returned completely to normal, and now she wore an expression I couldn’t read—like she was looking at something strange.

“Huh? Not a good male after all?”

“Excuse me? What do you mean…”

“No, no. Just talking to myself. So anyway. You and your companions weren’t affected by Miho’s constitution?”

“No. We weren’t affected at all.”

“I see. According to what you’re saying, you’ve been with Miho for nearly a year, not just three days… But.”

Chikuyo looked at me again with flashing crimson eyes.

Hmm, I don’t think I said anything wrong, but why is she so angry? This conversation is exhausting.

“According to you, despite being together for such a long time, you excluded Miho from your party because you judged her power insufficient. How strong are you?”

“Well, I could defeat the current Miho within a minute even if there were five of her.”

“…You’re quite confident, aren’t you?”

Honestly, I could take down two of you in a minute too.

Of course, there’s no need to provoke her that far, so I keep that to myself, but judging by her reaction, she doesn’t seem pleased with what I said.

But what can I do? Miho is in the player risk category, and Chikuyo herself appears to have a player class.

Honestly, these sisters are both huge landmines for me. I don’t even have a reason to raise their affinity.

“…Are there any women in your party?”

“Yes. Ragnie, whom I mentioned earlier, is a woman. Why do you ask?”

“…You, let’s have a match.”

“What?”

With eyes showing hostility similar to before, she beckons me with her finger and leads me outside.

“Gulp! Gulp! Ahh…!! Hm? Where are you two going?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Just going to stretch our muscles a bit. Green Stone, when Miho finishes bathing, tell her to wait in my room.”

The old man Kanpu—no, Green Stone—was sitting at the table, happily drinking the alcohol Chikuyo had given him when she arrived home.

When he saw Chikuyo and me heading outside, he spoke while pouring more alcohol into his cup.

“Well, alright. After giving me such good alcohol, I can grant that small favor. Ah, wait. Jack.”

“Yes?”

“Let me give you one piece of advice.”

“What is it?”

When he gestured for me to come closer, he began writing something in the air with his finger.

Wow, he’s not Gordo but this feels nostalgic. What’s this about? Is it something Chikuyo shouldn’t hear?

[Whatever you do, don’t show too overwhelming a performance. Beast-folk don’t hold back when it comes to their sister’s man, even before marriage.]

“…Are you drunk, old man?”

“It’s best to avoid bad karma. Remember that.”

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

Leaving Green Stone behind as he downed another cup of alcohol, I turned to follow the impatient Chikuyo.

What kind of rosy thoughts are going through that old man’s brain? Right now, Chikuyo just wants to protest against me.

She’s probably upset that I called her sister weak. But I have no intention of withdrawing or changing my statement.

The fact is that the current Miho is weak, and I have no intention of teaming up with her as a player.

Following her outside the house, we pass through the dense surrounding forest.

For reference, Chikuyo’s house never appeared in the game.

Her designated spot was the large tree in the center of the village, but it seems in reality she lives a bit away from the village, as I was guided to a secluded cabin in the forest.

The cabin was a modest size, suitable for about three people, and perhaps they don’t live in the village because of the family history Miho mentioned.

“Here we are.”

“Hmm?”

While I was absentmindedly staring at her back and letting my thoughts wander, she stopped in a forest clearing and spoke.

“Your weapon?”

“I don’t have one. I fight with my bare hands.”

“Bare hands despite not being a beast-folk? You know Miho fights with her fists too, right?”

“Yes? Of course I know, but what are you getting at…”

“Beast-folk bodies are naturally stronger than humans. Even if Miho is weaker than you now, once she gains more experience, she’ll definitely become stronger than you.”

“Is that so.”

Well, even if she weren’t a beast-folk, she’d probably become stronger than me. Her stats are already higher than mine in some areas, and they’re increasing faster.

Her luck is already maxed out. The remaining stat points that would have gone to luck will start being distributed to other stats.

It’s so obvious that I just nod in response to her words, but Chikuyo raises her eyebrows as if dissatisfied.

“What’s your relationship with the women in your party?”

“Well, they all like me, and I cherish them too.”

“…I see. I use a sword. Is that a problem?”

“No.”

She’s just an older sister angry that someone called her younger sister weak. I don’t have the option of refusing this fight.

Regardless of my position, I can understand her feelings as an older sister wanting to protest against me.

Chikuyo pulled one of her tails forward and plucked a single hair from it.

“Mmm~♡”

Seeing her let out a sensual moan, I think this part is exactly the same as in the game. Then she waves her hand holding the hair, and the tail hair transforms into a sword.

Because of that voice and moan, users would deliberately make her draw and sheathe her sword repeatedly for fun. Of course, I did it too.

That’s why there were so many memes of Chikuyo with all her tail hairs plucked out, or with a balding tail, or making “that” expression with her tail.

“One round match. Victory by incapacitating your opponent, disarming them, or making them surrender. Let’s end this without taking each other’s lives, okay?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Seeing her casually raising her sword, I also take my stance.

*Ting!*

“The match starts when this pebble hits the ground.”

She lightly swings her sword to vertically launch a pebble from the ground and looks at me with a seductive expression.

*Thud.*

“Yourei Sword.”

As the pebble falls, her expression changes frighteningly, and without hesitation or sound, her strongest [Skill] flies toward my shoulder.

*

His polite responses initially made me think he might be a good male, but that didn’t last long. The more I heard, the angrier I became.

Certainly, Miho made a mistake by acting like me during their first meeting. But still.

‘Even so?! You’re seducing our Miho while you have other women?!!’

Moreover, from what he’s saying, it’s clear he genuinely has no interest in Miho.

Yet he’s been treating her well recently. From what I overheard earlier, there’s no doubt about that.

Maybe this is what they call being “natural” or something, but that makes me even angrier.

‘Miho has become quite strong! If you say you dislike my sister because she’s weak!! Prove it!!’

Without hesitation, I swing my sword at his shoulder with my first strike. If it were the current Miho, she definitely couldn’t dodge at this speed.

‘Even if you were a male Miho liked, I can’t accept a man like you!!’

The sword strike I unleashed—intending to at least cut his shoulder and then drive him away, telling him I wouldn’t give my sister to a weak man like him—drew a perfect arc even to my own eyes.

*Clang!! Twang!!!*

“?!!”

“That’s quite an intense first strike, isn’t it?”

The man deflected both of my sword strikes with his bare hands, without even moving from his spot.

“What?! H-how?!”

“Do you also know about Skills?”

“What? S-ki? Huh? What’s that?”

“I see. Like Ray, you’re using them without knowing…”

He casually deflected my full-power sword strike and mutters something incomprehensible as I back away, showing no intention of pursuing me.

What? What just happened? It looked like he just casually swung his arm?!

“Is that the end of your attack?”

“W-what?! D-don’t be ridiculous! Are you showing off just because you happened to deflect my sword?!”

“I’m not showing off, but if it came across that way, I apologize. And whether it was coincidence or not. Would you like to confirm once more?”

The human male smiles wryly at me and takes the same stance as before.

Seeing him completely unfazed by my spirit-infused Yourei Sword…

*Kyung♡*

“Hngh!!”

Ignoring the strange sensation in my lower abdomen, I swing my sword again, this time with truly killing intent.