Chapter 63 - God Killer, Killer God

"Congratulations, Ren Mortel--you just killed a god."

By 'god'...you mean that thing? Ehh?!

"Wait, wait, wait, WAIT! How is that thing a god? I would believe you easily if it looked like a demon or a beast, but a small mass of goo is..."

"Aren't you a bit biased there with your statement, Ren Mortel?" She crossed her arms and gave me a sharp stare, possibly annoyed with what I said. "In this world, the gods' appearances depends on our power and hierarchy."

She explained, the more human-like the physical form of a deity is, the more powerful he or she is. Hence, lesser gods tend to look like demons or wild beasts. Those on the lowest levels, however, have very little power to assume even the form of a small animal so they resorted having amorphous forms, such as slimes or goo just to conserve as much divine power as possible.

"That thing may have looked like black tar, but it's still a god nonetheless. Your prejudice among us gods would definitely harm you in the future if you keep on having that way of thinking," she warned.

I sighed and said, "Ugh...I understand."

"That's right. Also, keep in mind that gods like them far outnumber the 'regular' ones. You might not know it, but there might be a god--or gods, lurking even in this place."

If that's the truth then I should be more observant of my surroundings even more. I won't risk facing a god that doesn't look like a god as frequent as possible.

While looking around, I asked, "Wait, how would I know if a thing is actually a low-level god? Is there a way for someone to differentiate, for example...a slime deity to an ordinary slime?"

"Do you really want to know?" She caught wind of my curiosity.

"I won't bother asking you if I don't want to."

Hearing my response, she curled her lips. "Alright, I will tell it to you, only if you pledge allegiance to me."

"I won't."

"Then I won't tell you, simple as that."

Myriel let out a short chuckle as she slowly went out of the facility and walked towards Aoi, who is currently lying down on the soft grass and enjoying the warm sunshine.

"...Ah, big brother! The grass here is so...--"

Aoi stood up excitedly when she felt a presence coming towards her. However, seeing Myriel standing near her instead of me, Aoi's elated expression turned tense.

"Don't mind me, just continue enjoying the outdoors Death Goddess. They say sunshine is good for growing up kids, you know?"

'Though, in your case you might need to absorb all the sunlight for it to be effective on you,' she looked down on her condescendingly.

Aoi frowned bitterly at Myriel's joke. "...If you only came here to tell me that, then just leave already. I don't need someone to remind me that my body won't ever grow up."

"Of course I didn't come here just to make fun of you, Death Goddess," Myriel laughed. "I came here to inform you of your brother's decision."

"...Decision? Does that mean..."

"Yes," Myriel nodded slightly.

Having the need to say the explicit details to her as unnecessary, she only walked past Aoi and lightly patted her shoulder.

"Pleased to work with you starting today."

"...Huh? Wha..."

Aoi looked over her shoulder, but Myriel wasn't in sight. She shifted her gaze towards me, and shouted:

"...BIG BROTHER, YOU IDIOTTTTTTT!!!"

-----

Aoi's mood didn't get any better when we returned to Sandy Fish.

"Welcome back...hm? Did something happened, Brother Ren?" Saki asked as she greeted us at the entrance.

Apparently, Myriel had told them something about Aoi and I staying at her place for the night, hence she's not feeling worried at all. Little did she know, they are supposed to be dead by now if not for some 'adjustments'.

"Nothing happened...just a little quarrel between siblings," I replied while letting out a fake laugh.

"Uhh..." Saki glanced at Aoi.

"...Hmph!" Aoi harrumphed suddenly for no reason at all.

Although she's concerned about the two of us, Saki chose to set it aside. "By the way, Brother Ren...Big Bro and I are going to the capital for the annual Innkeepers' Convention. Since there are currently no guests aside from you and Aoi, we decided to close the Sandy Fish while we're away. That said, do you want to come with us to the capital?"

"Heh...the capital..." My imagination flew away instantly upon hearing her invitation.

I've heard from people around that the capital is a completely different world compared to Plate Town. Whether the difference they're saying is of a positive note or not, I wouldn't know the truth by just words alone.

Just thinking of it makes me excited!

"Can we really come with you to the capital?" Reluctant, I asked her.

"Nn. We've already prepared everything for the trip, so there's no need for you to worry about the expenses," Saki answered.

An all-expense paid trip to the capital?! Saku, Saki...isn't this already too much...

"Uhh...if that's the case then who are we to refuse?" Succ.u.mbing to my excitement, I said yes to her invitation.

"...Hmph!"

Meanwhile Aoi didn't show any sign of excitement to her news, even in the slightest.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I still thanked Saki.

"Hehe. We will start our trip next week, so until then prepare all the things you need. Ah, right! I have to tell Big Bro that you'll be coming too! I'm sure he'll look forward to it!" Saki said as she ran back inside the inn in high spirits.

"Hehehe...yeah," I waved my hand at her.

"...Hmph!"

Aoi...is it because of my decision to work with Myriel?

I must make up with her, fast.

-----

"Haaaahhh...a warm bath at the end of the day really is the best..."

Having changed into my last white shirt and black jogging pants I made from scratch, I placed the towel on my head as I walk back to our room upstairs.

"Hmm?" I stopped in confusion.

Locked? I don't remember locking the door before I took a bath earlier...

"Aoi, did you locked the door just now?" I asked as I knocked on the door.

Silence.

I asked her once again, and she still gave no response.

"Aoi, is it because of what happened this morning? I know you're mad at me, but you just can't lock yourself up in there and not say anything..."

I took a few steps back. If she really doesn't want to let me in, I have no choice but to enter the room by force.

"At the count of three, I'll destroy that door! One, two, three--"

The door suddenly opened, just in time when I counted up to three. The momentum caused me to go straight into the room, and trip onto something like a string tied a few inches up on the floor.

"W-Wha--?"

I fell down and slide on the floor while facing upwards, only to be stopped by the wall as my head collided against it.

"Guhh...what the hell was tha..."

At that moment I felt a heavy aura coming in front.

When I looked up...

"A-Aoi...?"

I saw my little sister looking down as she stood silently in front of me, and with her right foot raised up. Though unintentionally, I could easily see her panties from this angle.

Feeling extremely confused with the situation, I asked: "Aoi, what are you doing...?"

"..."

Without saying anything, she--

Crack--

"A-AAAAAAHHHHCHICHICHICHICHIIIIII!!!!!" I hissed loudly in pain.

Swiftly, brutally, ruthlessly, Aoi stomped on my crotch.

Blood quickly drained from my face. The voice that came out from me was rather a high-pitched one, wheezing and squealing at every breath.

Even with her small size, the aura covering her is so heavy that her foot almost left a brutal mark on the symbol of her big brother's manhood. The pain almost knocked me unconscious as well.

"A...Aoi...HA-AAAAAAAAAAAAA--?!"

Not content with just stepping alone, Aoi twisted her foot to fully crush whatever remained on the poor thing.

My body feels cold. I may not have died due to my own rampage, but I'll die from having that thing crushed instead. How would I tell that to my ancestors when I meet them again in heaven?

"A...oi..."

Groaning in pain, I looked at Aoi.

Plik.

I never noticed, she's been crying for a while now.

Seeing her like that, I only said:

"Sorry."

For whatever it's worth, that's the only word I could think of right now. For all the times I've proven that I'm inadequate, that's the only word that came out of my mouth.

"...Uhk!"

Despaired, Aoi fell on her knees and landed on my body. Her aura has faded away already, and the weight pressing on my body has dropped greatly.

"...I was afraid...that you'll forsake me if you started working for that woman. I was afraid that you'll leave me because my powers weren't enough compared to hers," Aoi sobbed as she pressed her face on my chest.

Surprised, I said, "I...I won't leave you just for her, you know...? How can I do that..."

No, I won't do that.

The truth is, I'm afraid of what's more to come. If the one I faced is just a low-level god, what's more if it's already on the level of Myriel--or Aoi, if she is still on her prime? How would my powers fare against more powerful beings like that? I hate to say it, but for the meantime I need Myriel's aid.

Only for the meantime.

"...Guuu...and also--"

"Hmm?"

"...I know you'll leave me, because she have big b.r.e.a.s.ts and I have none."

"U-Uhh..."

A...Aoi? I don't know what made you come up with that conclusion.

With a sniff, she spoke. "...Uuuu...I thought that if big brother doesn't want me anymore, the only way to keep you by my side is to maim you so that you won't get far."

I felt cold sweat dripping on my back. This girl wants me paralyzed from the waist down.

"...Please, don't abandon me," she begged.

'Man, she wants you dead. Do you still want to be with her?'

'But if not for her, you'd be dead way long before.'

'She only delayed your death. This time, she's the one who'll bring it to you. Save yourself before it's too late.'

'For what? That woman is no different either. Between this or that, it's not that your life is at their mercy.'

'Just. Do. It. If you can't run right now, crawl. Crawl for your life! Crawl your way to freedom!'

'Too late. If you're contemplating in stopping all of this, you should've done this a long time ago. Don't be stupid, consider the times you've spent with her!'

'Meh, sunk cost fallacy is a lie! If you're dissatisfied already then just leave! You two aren't blood-related to begin with!'

'You...'

'You!'

Please make up your mind already!

"Aoi," I lifted her up a little from my body.

Up close, she's more beautiful than I had ever thought. Beautiful, yet poisonous. Even if I want to stay away from her, I've been exposed to her poison for a long time already.

"...Big...brother?" Feeling tense, she looked at me with her swollen eyes.

I placed my hands on her cheeks. They're cold, but they've finally gotten warm by my touch.

Again, and again, and again...and again--I won't replace Aoi with someone else.

"What will happen to the sadistic, heartless little Death Goddess if I leave her behind? Can she wash, dry, and tie her own hair? Can she wash her own clothes? Can she endure living in a place full of the things she hated all alone? Even a monster like her is regrettably incapable of making her own food."

A product of one's overdependence over another. Though that may be a bad thing, it's not that I hated doing things for her. In fact I'm enjoying it, since being the only child for 16 years didn't let me experience taking care of a younger sibling.

"...Um, I can't do all of that," Aoi lightly shook her head.

"That's right. Until the time you finally grow up, I will still be the one who'll always tie your hair, wash your clothes and explain all the unfamiliar things to you. Understood?"

That's why, Aoi--

"Please, don't grow up."