By your side

In the morning, when everyone hadn't woken up, Riser went to the small hut he had built while watching the farm he created after he had previously gotten the "Agriculture Mastery."

This was a great reward as he could develop many varieties of crops and livestock.

Nevertheless, his focus for now was on vineyards and tobacco plantations.

Why those two?

It was because of his "Beverage Making Mastery," and with the best vineyards, he believed that he could make the best wine.

As for the tobacco plantation, it was due to his hobby of smoking.

Frankly, Riser knew smoking was wrong, but he had accumulated a lot of stress living as a devil, and the tobacco helped him numb his nerves. Fortunately, he had a "Healthy Body," which he had received previously, so no matter how much he smoked, he would be okay.

However, if possible, he wanted to develop a cigarette that wouldn't cause harm to the user and also the others who were present due to the smoke.

Others who heard such a thing would think that he was crazy and thought it was impossible, but he, who had the "Agriculture Mastery," believed he could do it.

Naturally, those two weren't the only ones he grew, as he also developed various fruits, grains, and vegetables.

Moreover, he also had dairy farms, eggs, and various others.

He could develop many things, but with his limited time, he should do something step by step.

In the future, it might not be a dream for him to develop dream-like ingredients like Golden Wheat, Rainbow Fruit, Devil Durian Fruit, and many others.

Still, developing such a thing while no one knew his power was simply committing suicide since he would attract the greedy eyes of others, so before that, he needed to show his power, telling them not to mess up with him.

"Rating Game" was definitely the place for him to show that.

However, he needed to make his peerage members grow stronger first.

As he watched the farming of specialized drones to take care of every corps on the farm, he couldn't wait for the harvest time.

"Onii-sama."

He was familiar with this voice since only one person would call him this way.

"Ravel."

Ravel was there, looking at him with an awkward gaze as if she had done something wrong.

"Come here."

However, he was still the same, looking at her with a gentle smile.

Ravel was obedient and walked toward him before she apologized. "I am sorry, Onii-sama. I ran away so suddenly without hearing until the end."

When she heard his answer yesterday, she thought he didn't care about her and she was so disheartened and sad, thinking it was all impossible.

Yet, the truth?

He cared about her and didn't want her to have an engagement like him.

Hearing the truth relieved her, and all the doubts about her heart disappeared.

He was still that "Onii-sama," she knew, and she was glad for that.

"So, have we made up?"

"Um."

As she hugged him, she felt a little embarrassed by her outburst, but she nodded shyly. Everything was due to her misunderstanding. If she had been patient to listen to his words until the end and control her emotions, then this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened, but she wanted to know how he felt about her.

Frankly, she knew it was wrong of her to expect something from him, especially when he had married and was also his older brother, but she just couldn't control her feelings.

It was wrong; she understood it.

It was also frowned upon, yet... yet she couldn't help it since, by his side, it was just comfortable, and even if she knew she might be burnt by her feelings, she couldn't stop.

"Onii-sama—"

"What's wrong?"

Ravel stopped her words and didn't dare to ask this question since if she really asked this out, she was afraid that she might not be able to bear it since she knew even if she tried many ways to tempt him, in his eyes, she was nothing but his little sister.

"Are you still worried if you are being forced into an engagement with someone again?" Riser asked.

Ravel didn't say anything, only smiled awkwardly as if she acquiesced to his question.

"You don't need to worry. Even if Father and Mother tell you to have an engagement with someone, I won't let them. You can choose to be with someone that you truly love. Whatever your decision is, I will support you."

As he said those words, he lightly brushed her bangs.

"...re-really?" Ravel's face flushed red as her breathing grew heavy as if she was moved by his words.

"Of course. You can believe me."

'Even if that person is you?'

How much she wished to utter those words, yet unfortunately, she didn't dare to say it and only kept them inside her heart.

Ravel hugged him tightly, resting on his chest, feeling the warmth on his body, which was so comfortable during the morning when the temperature was rather cold.

His scent, his touch, and everything were so comfortable, yet at the same time, they made her heart beat so fast.

She knew that she shouldn't, yet she couldn't help it.

"So, do you have someone that you like?" Riser asked curiously.

"Well..."

"You have?" His expression was quite ugly, which caused Ravel to laugh, so she wanted to give him a little prank. "...well, I do."

"Who?"

Who dared to seduce his little sister?

Frankly, as long as that person wasn't Issei and Diodora, Riser didn't care much.

Still, he would be lying if he didn't feel annoyed.

Nevertheless, that was it.

Ravel was his little sister, and even though the system tempted him to take her down several times, he wasn't going to budge. Even though he knew that his success was great, he wouldn't take this temptation. Instead, he felt that his harem members were enough and there was no need to make his life more difficult.

He only wanted to have an easy life where nothing threatened and lacked nothing.

In other words, he wanted to have a stress-free life.

Having Ravel would definitely bring him stress, so he might as well give up.

Compared to a woman, a man's ambition was more important.

Moreover, he wasn't a crazy, perverted guy who would think of his little sister as a part of his harem as soon as he saw her.

Though, if it was his wife or his other harem members, it would be different.

Nevertheless, he wondered whether there was someone who could fight the combination of "Command T," "Sex Mastery," "Healthy Body," and "Immorality."

Even Eros, the Greek god of love, would bow down in front of him.

Nevertheless, maintaining a status quo and becoming a good older brother was definitely the best way to maintain his goal.

"It's a secret," Ravel answered while sticking out her tongue cutely.

"...is it someone close?" He asked like he didn't notice anything.

"Well, he is close."

After she said this, she hugged him even tighter.

Yes, he was close, and she had always been the closest person by his side, yet at the same time, she was also the furthest.

However, this was enough.

As long as she could be by his side, everything was okay.

Ravel had always thought so, and even in the future, this was her belief, so no matter what, she would always be by his side.

Be closest, yet also the furthest.

---

Cough! Be patient, okay?