Family.

What exactly is family?

I don’t know, and that’s fine.

But Eleonor has started calling me ‘big sister’ or ‘dear sister’ and so forth, and…

Somehow, that doesn’t bother me. It actually feels kind of… nice? Although I don’t understand why.

She follows me around now when she’s not in the dungeon or training, not so unlike Omorth or sometimes Izahne. Artemis… spends more time on her plane now. Ever since her retainers figured out where she is, she can’t get away from her responsibilities for too long.

Which makes it an especially good thing that I don’t have any!

I’ll definitely admit it was a strange feeling to find out that Eleonor isn’t actually that much older than I am, at least in my current incarnation. But I’m not sure if I even relate to my actual age anymore… the weight of my other egos’ experiences is something I’m not sure I’ll ever fully adjust to.

Apparently ilmesori age quickly, at least physically. It’s one reason why every single one of them is an Ascendant… a thirty year lifespan doesn’t leave much room for… much of anything, really. But being an Ascendant messes with lifespan, usually makes it quite a bit longer depending on Class, Titles, and so forth.

…And there’s the Dipshit alarm, once again.

He’s relatively strong for a weak human, but I’m still not comfortable with Eleonor’s training and levels to let her test her progress against him. Of course, I’d have to clothe her in an appropriate disguise… it sure won’t fool any of my peers in the pantheons, but it should at least add to the dramatic scenery. I’m sure they’d appreciate that, even if I’m repurposing their own lackeys for my own ends.

***

“Just you wait, Dolos! This is my best scheme yet!”

I swirl my drink – a cloudy blue concoction tasting of cotton candy, and yet somehow still potent enough to get a god drunk. With the right amount, anyway.

The self-proclaimed god of plot twists gives me a sideways look. “Hey, sure. Wh’ever y’say.”

A chuckle escapes me at his usual indifference. “In fact, I’ve got a tingle in my bones that my little pet hero is already making excellent progress at winning over that nuisance freespawn! It’s only a matter of time before she turns the tables when they least expect it and eliminate them with the hero’s unique Skills! It’ll be the best show in centuries, I’m sure!”

Downing the rest of my drink, I wave to the water fountain atop our table in the open-air café, causing it to flicker with light and then blur into an image of a scene…

An overhead scene, of a castle courtyard…

And an ilmesori, running barefoot across the grass in a light pink ruffled dress with a bonnet…

…Shouting, “Dear sister! I gained four levels today, praise me, praise me!” while leaping directly into the arms of her supposed target.

Who catches the hero deftly out of the air, spins her in the air a few times, and sets her down while patting her head.

My hero.

…That is currently giggling like a small child and clinging to the literal demon lord.

…

…

…

“So, uh,” my companion starts with more bafflement than derision, “when ya gonna turn th’ tables? B’cause that looked pritty genuine ta me.”

I… I can’t believe it.

What just happened?

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Gaaah! Not again, not again! Why does this always happen?”

***

I shoot up from my bed with a gasp.

…What the hells was with that dream? Gods. Bizarre… family? What is that even? I don’t have family.

Well, Izahne I guess. And Artemis.

But they’re different! That’s, uhhh. Vows or something.

And Lamashtu, but I don’t really talk to her that often… I get the impression she mostly just watches me.

Nothing like the hero, I’m just manipulating her to… to…

Why is she in my bed? Izzy I can understand, she’s right there… but why is Eleonor there too?

“Mmm,” the ilmesori blearily opens one eye, shortly before rubbing it. “Good morning, dear sister.”

“Oh. Oh gods, it’s real. It happened. What… what?” I mutter to myself.

Sitting up from her place, the hero exposes her teeth with a large yawn. “What happened?”

“I have no idea. What happened yesterday? I… remember taking tea…”

She grins sleepily. “You said I should call you ‘big sister’! And I’ve never had a sister before, especially not an older sister, so I thought why not? And I was right, it’s fun! And you’re really nice, like really really nice. I’m so glad I met you!”

“Ah. Aha. I see.”

I… have no further words for this.

(You sure about that, ‘big sister’?) Nyx mocks in the back of my mind.

Must you? I’m already confused enough!

“I can’t wait to show you off to my parents! Imagine them, finding out I have a big sister now! Oh gosh, I can’t wait, I can’t wait!”

…

Well.

Speaking of… family? I wonder what grandmother is going to say…

Something tells me she probably won’t care, considering how she reacted to Izzy and Arty… and the others. Mostly like she doesn’t care, like they’re clothes I’m wearing or something. Present, but not anything beyond transient or possibly even disposable. Which… I don’t know how to feel about.

Why are there so many things I don’t know how to feel about?

But I guess that doesn’t matter either.

YOU ALWAYS DID WANT A SISTER, grandmother echoes in my mind. I guess she was listening.

Not that it helps any.

***

Today is a big day!

Why? Izzy finally surpassed level 1,000 …in her Class, anyway. Which is still a big achievement! It means now she can manage the lower levels of the former forest dungeon on her own, since it was designed for a party of level 800 to 1,000!

Which, Pearl is still only around level 850. Omorth has somehow almost caught up to her at level 763.

Meanwhile, Izzy’s System level is currently 821… probably because of how much she makes use of her Natural Weapon Skill. In fact, almost definitely because of that.

Which brings up an important question… What level do ascendants need to be for apotheosis? I’ve heard conflicting things, but it was always in passing… I’m sure Astraea would know, but for some reason that knowledge just isn’t accessible to me.

So I’m left asking my peers… or just my other wife.

Arty, what System level do ascendants need to be for apotheosis?

I don’t get a response for a moment…

And then am answered by a mental image of a humanlike male being slammed through a wall. I guess she’s busy, no surprise considering her collection of challengers hasn’t exactly dried up.

…

Maybe I should make another appearance in her subdomain, throw around a few of them as a reminder that I exist.

…Although… last time I did, we suddenly had a very short queue. I can’t help but feel like they’re avoiding me, although I guess fighting me as opposed to my wife lack the expected reward for a victory…

Now that I think of it, I never did set a reward for that. Maybe I should think of something. You’d think the boon of a god would be worth a lot.

(Remember how you gave those adventurers 1,000 enni each for putting up with Dipshit?) Nyx asks.

Well, sure. It seemed like a lot, and it’s not like they fought any of you. They just fought the usual dungeon monsters and put up with an idiot.

And there’s a sigh.

What, should I have paid them more?

(Maybe a better reward than just money would be a start.)

Huh.

…

Out of nowhere, Artemis projects an image of an empty jug… and then a full jug.

I guess it varies…

How would we be able to tell? Is there a sign of some kind?

Resonance, she projects back.

I see.

Thank you. We should talk more about this later, I think Izzy is getting close.

***

‘Little sister’ hasn’t joined me today for breakfast.

N-not that I need to eat.

…Or any of my retainers actually. It’s a benefit of being both a monster race and having your mana tied to that of a god.

Izzy and her party have long since departed for another day of what Pearl refers to as ‘grinding’, whatever that means, so I’m here alone with Vivianne. Markus is still at his workshop… he stays there overnight now since he doesn’t need sleep. It seems to have been a welcome change for him, almost as if he’d regretted ever needed to sleep in the first place. He does still return to train with Eleonor though.

…

Speaking of the hero…

I guess I should go check on her.

A brief moment of phasing through walls brings me to her door, but knocking doesn’t get me any meaningful response, other than a muted “Mmm” through the door.

“Eleonor? I’m coming in.”

Opening the door greets me with… a heavy curtain hung across her window, and one little sister, curled in the fetal position in her bed.

…Sobbing quietly with tears streaming down her face. I feel my hackles immediately go up as I partially dematerialize.

“Who hurt you? Tell me. Tell me now,” I intone in a voice far more like smoldering brimstone than normal.

…

After a moment, she quietly answers.

“He took it away.”

My expression darkens. “Who took what, Eleonor?”

“My Class. He took it away,” she mumbles through a sniffle.

Oh.

Oh that bastard.

I was going to give him a good show and…

And that just wasn’t good enough, was it?

WAS IT?

I’m going to kill him.

…

Although… I won’t pretend I didn’t just get an idea from this too.

Arty dear? I ask through our connection. How does a god make a mortal hero?