26. The more you lose, the more you cling to the things you still have

While Luz enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, the door suddenly got yanked open with a loud bang, frightening Luz, who didn't expect any intrusion.

As Luz readied himself for an attack, a loud crying but nevertheless familiar voice shouted, "I'M SOOOO SORRRYYYY," while pouncing towards him.

"N-N-O LIVVVV," were the last words leaving Luz's mouth as a creature pounced onto him with lightning speed, burying him immediately beneath it.

As the girl crashed against his chest, Luz felt his ribs crack.

Frightened by the sudden action, he tried to free himself from the creature that jumped onto him. Unfortunally, Luz was at the mercy of the elf, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn't free himself from her tight hugs.

Tears ran down her beautiful pale cheeks as she buried her face into his chest while sobbing loudly, "I'm soooo sorrrryyyyy."

Luz's heart melted at the sight of her teary eyes, and he came to terms with his fate as a teddy bear while gently petting the back of her head.

Nevertheless, Liv continued quietly to sob. "I'm too blame again for your recklessness… I should have known better. After all, you ended up in a fight when I sent you outside to visit the city with some pocket money."

As she continued blaming herself for Luz's stupidity, her hug around him tightened, and Luz returned her hug while having a smile. It seems like someone cares a lot about him in this new but strange place.

Her words and self-doubt made Luz feel bad for his actions, and he felt compelled to confess. "You know that it was my choice… In the end, I wasn't willing to become a cripple," whispered Luz quietly while gently stroking the back of her head.

"Why!?" asked Liv quietly back as her teary eyes stared holes into the latter's face, who was avoiding eye contact.

Silently, Luz continued to caress her, but even the narrator wasn't sure now if he was doing it for his, or rather for her comfort.

While doing that, he muttered with a trembling voice, "The more you lose, the more you cling to the things you still have, and I can't give up my future so easily. If I became a cripple, I would never accomplish any of my goals… that's why I can't give up on my talent since without it… I would be a nobody."

Hearing his words, Liv quietly shook her head in displeasure before pinching his cheeks. "D-Do you have the slightest idea how wrong you are? EVEN AS A MAGE, YOU WILL REMAIN A NOBODY!! It's not about talent because you will always be someone to the people you left an impression on," the elf girl pouted while not letting go of Luz's cheeks.

Since his cheeks were still hurting from Brian's pinches, Luz immediately grabbed her soft white cheeks.

A smirk immediately formed on Liv before the latter remarked, "Ho dare you touch the cheek of an innocent and pure maiden with your filthy hands.~"

Hearing such a statement, Luz had to chuckle before stating, "WHO STATED THAT SHE PERSONALLY STRIPPED EVERY NEW SERVANT!?"

Embarrassed by such a remark, Liv's face blushed, and she immediately grabbed after his hands, pressing them down. "You got some balls to pinch the cheeks of a mage who is a few ranks above you."

"Well, that's because you, my elder sister, taught me to be like that," replied Luz as he used more strength.

Her grin widened, and she headbutted the young man. "Listen here, you little shit. I'll be taking care of your upbringing for the next week. So we'll be spending a lot of time together.~"

Delighted by such news, Luz pressed his forehead against her with all his might while replying with grinding teeth, "Finally, someone will teach me magic."

But Liv immediately burst out in laughter at Luz's naivete before telling him the truth with a grin going from ear to ear, "We will do everything except magic. Well, maybe magic theory. It will be hell, and I'll be the one who tortures you for a whole week.~"

The smile on Luz's face immediately vanished. Horrified, he stammered, "You see, sis… I probably need like a week of rest. After all, I've awoken not so long ago. Too bad, I really wanted to, but Master Simon told me that I should rest, hehe.~"

Liv's loud laughter echoed through the room, and by now, Luz got pushed further into his bed as her physical strength was beyond his league.

「Narrator: "Oho. I'm looking forward to the R-18 scene of an elf girl dominating a weak space mage in his bed."」

"Too bad that I don't give a single fuck about it. Anyway, you are coming with me," Liv replied to his hasty excuses before dragging him out of his bed.

"No, please… have mercy upon your poor brother," Luz pleaded as he grabbed onto the nearest thing while getting dragged out of his bed.

"There is no mercy," Liv answered mockingly to Luz before dragging the young man into the library where his demise awaited him.

A few floors above them, a sleeping Jodoc shuddered as Luz's damped scream reached his ears.

「Somewhere else in a board meeting:

Narrator: AUTHOR. Listen, man… You know I'm narrating your book for free… So make it at least interesting. You know what these young readers nowadays like. Big fights for survival, R-18 smut scenes where the MC dominates girls, harem, and so forth, you know the general escapism that these losers crave.

Author: But my work is currently like 25 chapters long…

Narrator: Yes and? That are no excuses, my friend. Also, the situation is even worse. YOU MADE LITTLE TO NO ACTUAL GODDAMN PROGRESS! The dragon is still alive, and we haven't heard of any of the other siblings…

Author: You know, Jack, I can't just insert chapter-long fighting scenes against enemy nations without naturally establishing the MC in his new surroundings…

Narrator: I don't care. Just make it happen, and don't pretend that you couldn't do such a thing. Anyway, what can I expect from the next ten chapters?

Author: Well, we'll be focussing on what Luz is being taught this week. To keep it short: simple world-building.

Narrator: So another goddamn info dump…

Author: Yes…

Narrator: Well, we'll be skipping that.

Author: But Jack, these pieces of information play a significant role in the story…

Narrator: Do I have to repeat myself? It may be important to you, but not to me, AND I'M THE ONE WHO IS NARRATING THE STORY.」