A Rock and a Hard Place

I can't sleep. I twisted and turned but I simply just can't go back to dreamland.

I can't go there yet as long as there is danger around us. I can tell from the faint auras they're emitting. Rather than doing something to turn it 'off', it's as if they wanted me to know they're watching over us. That smokescreen from earlier didn't do anything but to give them enough time to return to their positions.

And to be honest, it's quite infuriating that I'm completely aware of what they're doing.

I really disliked my movements being watched by someone, since it robs me of the right to freedom that I have ever since I was born. And for them to provoke me on purpose, seems like they want me to confront them head-on.

I turned face down and breathed heavily on my pillow. Those pigs must be recording all the things I'm doing right now. Myriel can do it too, but fortunately I can't feel the presence of any of her lackeys around...

...Or they're also watching me, but only hiding their presence from me?

Hrrgh, what did I do to deserve all of this?!

The peaceful life I always dreamed of...looks like it will remain just a dream for a long time.

What should I do...

-----

"What? You're saying we should not go outside today?" Saku raised his eyebrows immediately after I said those words the next morning.

"Y-Yeah. I'm not forcing you or anything, but there's so many things happening outside lately that I thought I should give you a warning. Maybe for a few days, don't go out alone."

"But Brother Ren," Saki replied, "I haven't heard any incidence of crimes lately from our neighborhood. Aren't you just being too paranoid?"

"Right, right. Maybe you're just scared of that bad person you talked about last time."

"Scared? I'm not scared!" I quickly replied.

"...That's right! Big brother's not afraid of that person!" Aoi echoed my words.

Saku and Saki only looked at me with a slight grin. It's obvious that they're not taking me seriously.

"Fine, fine. We'll be more careful from now on. However, you can't just stop us to go outside. We have business matters there too, you know?" Saku shrugged his shoulders.

"Nn. I understand."

If I keep on stopping them their business might get affected so I decided to back off for now.

*clink*

"Ah, welcome dear Custo...woaahh!!!"

When the door chime rang, Saki became struck in awe all of a sudden. Saku wondered why his sister showed that reaction and glanced over his shoulder.

"A-Ah, wha--"

He too, almost dropped his jaw to the floor.

"Hey, what's with you two...w-what the hell?!"

The one who came...Myriel? What is she doing here?!

"U-Uh, uhh...g-good morning, dear C-Customer...h-how can I help y-you...?" Saku nervously greeted her as he pushed his sister towards the kitchen before rushing towards the entrance. Like, really nervous.

Myriel smiled at him calmly. "Oh~ You see, I'm here because of a young man named Ren Mortel and her little sister Aoi. Someone told me they're here."

"R-Ren and Aoi?" He quickly shifted his gaze towards us. "Care to tell me what business you have for those two?"

"Personal matters. I want to talk with them for a moment."

"Personal...?"

Saku curled his lips in suspicion. He looked at us again, asking if we know her. Although we somewhat know her, Aoi and I shook our heads frantically in response.

Feeling confused, he then bowed his head while facing her and said, "I'm sorry, but it seems like my friends don't know anything about you."

"Fufu," Myriel chuckled. "It's obvious from their actions that they know me."

Her eyes looked sharply at us as she said, "Come on you two, that's not how you treat your visitors...--"

"...Go away," Aoi promptly replied.

"Oh my, you're still as rude as ever, little girl. How disappointing."

"Why are you here?" I asked her.

"Haven't I said the reason just now? I want to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk to you, much as well see you."

Myriel sighed. "Really...do you guys really hate that much...?"

""Yeah!!!"" We raised our voices.

"P-Please calm down, everyone..." Saku scratched his cheeks as he tried to stop our exchange of banter. "I don't know what's going on, but please don't do that here..."

If we want to shout at each other that much then we should go outside, he said. Even without other people watching, he said it's not good for the health to see people arguing around him.

"I never realized that I'm not welcome here in your place, Mr. Manager. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience that I've caused," Myriel spoke to him apologetically.

"A-Ah, that's not it! D-Dear Customer is always welcome here in Sandy Fish! That's right, as long as I'm the one running this place you'll be always welcome here!"

As soon as he said that, Saku gazed at us like a demon full of rage. Scary!

"Is that so? I appreciate your generosity Mr. Manager. Even so, I will excuse myself from now..."

"Ah, wait!" Saku stopped her. "I've been curious for a while now, what does dear Customer have in relation to those two over there?"

Myriel, who is about to open the door, turned back when she heard his question. She placed her finger on her lips and answered without any hesitation--

"Me? I'm their elder sister."

"E-Eh...?"

.

..

...

Doguunnn--!!!!!

""HAAAAAAHHHHH?!?!?!""

"Wait, why are you two more shocked than I am?!" Saku yelled at us in confusion.

'She's their elder sister? Then that means, they actually weren't orphans all this time...' Saku muttered to himself.

Myriel continued with her lies as she slowly walked towards us and said, "Ever since our parents abandoned us many years ago, our ways had started to go on different directions. All this time, I've worked hard in growing my business, while searching for my lost younger siblings..."

As she moves closer to us we tried to back off, but her crimson eyes gave off an effect as if they were pulling us.

"Now that I've found you, I won't let you escape."

Myriel stood right in front of me, and all of a sudden pulled me closer to her tight embrace.

"M-Mmph--?!" My face got planted between her vast mountain ranges, that I immediately struggled for air. I pushed myself away from her, but her godly strength won't permit me to do it.

"...What are you doing to big brother, you woman??!!!" Aoi screamed when she saw her burying my face into her breasts.

"What? I'm just hugging your big brother. Look, isn't he having the best moment of his life right now?"

"Mmph! Ummhhh..." My muffled voice struggled to escape from my mouth as I pushed her away with my hands...

Unfortunately, my hands are placed on her breasts, making it look like I'm groping her.

I-I'm not groping her, okay?!

"...Let my big brother go, you filthy woman!!!"

"I will do it, but you'll take his place instead. Come, let your 'elder sister' give you too a hug."

Then to make things worse, Myriel lightly kissed the top of my head. My mind instantly crashed because of that, making me almost lose my consciousness.

"...WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!! You've done it, you've really done it! I will kill you, you woman!!!!!!!!"

Due to extreme rage, Aoi climbed on Myriel's back and pulled her hair vigorously.

"...I will kill you, I WILL KILL YOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!"

"Big Bro..." Saki looked at the commotion we're making worriedly as she comes out of the kitchen.

"I don't know what to do about this," Saku sighed deeply.

"Good grief, these people are really strange."

-----

When the commotion ended, Aoi hurriedly went upstairs and locked herself inside our room. Meanwhile, Saki prepared tea for Myriel, as a way of welcoming her here in the Sandy Fish.

"I would like to express my deepest thanks for accepting my two siblings into your household, that why please accept this payment for all the troubles they have caused," Myriel said as she took out a small bag from her chest and gave it to Saku.

"W-White gold coins?! Isn't this too much, Miss Myriel?"

"No. In fact, that amount is just a drop in the ocean compared to what I have."

"Ah, this..." Saku wiped the sweat off his forehead. "We can't accept it. Ren and Aoi are our friends, so it's just natural for us to help them."

Myriel nodded slightly. "I see. Forgive me then for my arrogance."

"Miss Myriel, I never thought that Brother Ren has a very beautiful older sister like you!" Saki expressed her amazement to her.

"Not only that, Aoi is a very cute girl too! However..."

For some reason, they are looking at me with blank stares. Hey, if you want to say something then just do it already!

"Thank you for the compliment, Little Miss Manager. Someday, you'll become an even more beautiful woman than me."

"R-Really?" Saki widened her eyes in surprise.

"Absolutely."

"Oh, I think we have to excuse ourselves for now as we might interfere with your family reunion."

"Nn. Call us if you need something Miss Myriel, Brother Ren..."

After the siblings went to the backyard and left us alone, the atmosphere around us quickly changed into a heavy one.

"Okay, what are you planning this time?" I went straight to the point.

"Me? I'm not planning anything," she replied as she took a sip of her tea.

"Stop lying. It's unlikely for you to go here without making any plan beforehand. At least that's what my impression of you tells me."

"But I'm honest though..."

"You lied to them about you being our elder sister, and now you're calling yourself honest? Don't mess around with me!!!"

Blam! I slammed my fists on the table. I looked at her with a very sharp gaze, my strong emotions slowly overtaking my mind.

Seeing my actions, Myriel shrugged her shoulders. "Too bad, looks like I really have to say it. Fine, I'll be honest--I'm here because I'm worried."

"W-Worried...?"

"Surprising isn't it, having the one you consider as an enemy worrying for you? But that is true, and I came here for that sole reason."

Averting my gaze off her, I said, "So you know what happened last night."

She nodded.

"Lumiari."

"What?"

"That's what their organization is called, Lumiari."

At first only gods know Lumiari's existence here in this world, according to her. However, they slowly and stealthily rooted their influence into every country, making it appear that the ones who are ruling a kingdom wasn't the kingdom's ruling family, but the organization.

"They said they're not working for you or any other god out there. Is that true?"

"While I can confidently say that they're not working for me, I can't say that as well in behalf of others. They're also not our enemies, so we try not to provoke each other's sides."

So that's the reason why they still existed and kept on doing what they want up to this day. Now I understand why those guys are confident enough to disregard Myriel being here also in this town.

"However, if they try to interfere with my plans then it would be a different story. I won't let them get the prize first before I do."

Myriel then stood up and said, "If you decide to cooperate with me, I'll make sure Lumiari won't get a hold of you and the Death Goddess. They shall know that by doing so, they shall receive the ire of the Rewriter herself."

'Now, do you want to join forces with me?'

"No," I replied.

"Well then, I shall leave for now. Tomorrow, I'll ask the same question and if you still reject my offer, I'll return the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that...--"

"Just leave already!"

Myriel smiled at me. Before she went out of the door, she gave me a short message.

"They made that cave in the desert."

"C-Cave? Ah--wait!"

She's gone before I realized it.

"Oh, Miss Myriel left already?" Saku and Saki returned after a few minutes.

"Yeah."

"Brother Ren, why didn't you tell us you have a big sister too? She's beautiful, kind, and most of all, she's full of money--ummph!"

"You noisy brat, you're saying that in front of her little brother!" Saku covered his sister's mouth with her hand. "Sorry Ren, looks like Saki got too excited seeing your long lost sister."

"Ah, that's fine. It's just that..."

I'm not planning to have another sister right now, especially an older one.

'I've got my hands full already with Aoi, so please don't make my life even more difficult,' I muttered to myself.