A/N: Phew. Done with the reupload of Volume 1~ Moving to Volume 2
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Five years. It took me everything to disallow myself from falling into despair. Ever since the day Onii-chan died, I kept myself at home as if hoping tomorrow never came.
No, perhaps, it was because I wanted the past so badly I let despair controlled me.
However—there were people out there who still dragged this empty me outside. It was my friends. It was Onii-chan’s colleagues. It was my senpais that took me away from the endless nightmare which appeared when that day arrived.
At first I didn’t want to. At first I didn’t want to be together and that I wanted to be left alone.
And yet, and yet…… there were always people who waited for me. People who grasped my hands. And precious people who still desired for my happiness above all. I realized that these people held the same kindness and warmth Onii-chan had.
He’s still there. In everyone’s hearts. Onii-chan. Onii-chan… Onii-chan……!
From that day onward, I have lived on. I lived through ordeals and against my weakness. I trained kendo that Onii-chan left behind. I studied to become smarter than Onii-chan. That’s why I vowed. I wanted to become like him. I wanted to become a person who can help someone and protect the people I love.
Five years passed…… everything had gone eventfully. I was living my fullest. I had done everything I could and today was the time where we gathered to visit Onii-chan’s grave.
In that fateful day too—my life changed. Again.
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Apparently, Norse Gods have revived and decided to make Earth (or Midgard) as a battlefield. Ever since the collapse of Yggdrasil, the Gods have been troubled because their wide playgrounds have disappeared.
After all, Norse Gods were known as brutish bastards equal to Vikings and that they loved to battle. Yes, you got that. They’re power idiots and battle maniacs to the core of their existences. Even the most gentle, loving Goddess of Fertility still trampled on the One-Eyed Chief God every night with a sadistic smile plastered under her nose.
Not also they were experts in wars and battles… They have superb insight and talents and weapons that could OHKO every god within their realm. Well, Baldr was killed with a headshot by Loki so it’s more or less true for each celestial being in Norse Mythology. Crazy bunches with freakish deadly powers.
One more thing to add for these brainless monsters—wars were considered as Tournament. Imagine an Olympic or perhaps sports festival in high schools and you got the picture. Team Red (Giants and Demi-God Loki) versus Team Blue (Aesir and Vanaeir) with a sports field named as Ragnarok.
You’d probably think “Eh? Seriously? Are they idiots?” or “Are they alright in the heads??” or “Damn immortals playing apocalypse as sport.” Right? It’s half the truth that things went hectic halfway later but in actuality, it’s not their responsibility that the Nine Worlds melded into one.
That’s why—when Yggdrasil withered and the Nine Worlds combined into one through the ashes of the dead worlds, the remaining survivors (or rather, these liars who actually died just for acting out) felt it would be hard to unleash a war (tournament) in the New World (Earth).
Then, a certain Trickster God submitted a proposal in an annual conference.
”—Why don’t we just have a representative of our own and let them battle? Of course we can see their movements by synchronizing our souls so it would be as if we’re fighting for real! But this time, we’re also mortals!!”
And… just like that. People were granted magic and selected few created organizations under the shadow. Then supernatural battles occurring in daily life happened as no one was aware of it. You must think I’m crazy right? It’s too bad that after a century of hideous and hidden wars, light shone upon the darkness and *poof!* everyone realized the existences of the God-in-human-skins.
For mankind though, these beings were called as ‘Champions’ (no, not that Campione okay?) and they were feared by everyone. Especially the top-tier Champions who held the legendary titles befitting a Norse Inhabitants.
For example—the Thunderous Hammer Mikage Akashi. His transformable hammer accompanied by his eccentricities often caused blackouts over two regions every week.
For example—the Ravenous Lance Takasugi Fukaki. Her elegant techniques and her deadly precisely aimed lance would always shoot through her target’s head. And mountains beyond.
For example—the Dark Undying Hacker Ichinose Haru. His otaku fetishes was the number one and only who was regarded as ‘King’ in the cyber world and the otakus. Especially when his true face changed every now and often and he nearly could be said as indestructible as long as technology existed.
It’s odd that the most powerful ones gathered in Japan and that no one could stop these Champions to rule the entire world.
“—Well, that’s the gist of my plan for you all. Want some wine, boys and girls?”
“ “ “ “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, YOU ASSHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLEEEEEEEEEEE??!!!!” ” ” ”
The four of us shouted together in front of a lady who was sitting leisurely on a throne. She has flaxen hair and her golden eyes revealed nothing but mystical beauty. Unmatched by anyone damn it!
Now we’re in some Parthenon temple because we were caught up in Ragnarok and that the town was in total chaos. Not to mention, we met the perpetrator and nearly killed had this Goddess Freyja evacuated us into this extra dimensional place.
If there’s any concern, it’s the fact that we’re now wearing weird clothes and that when I looked at Onii-chan’s friends’, they looked cool. Even Haru-san shouted ‘whoa!? Since when did I become the D*rk Flame Master!?’ as nonsensical as he was.
Still, when I looked at myself… for some reasons, I’m wearing a red dress with black armors and there’s even a sword dangling at my waists. Yes, I have two swords and I think it’s odd that I’m still standing firmly like this.
“What are you trying to tell us to do!? Do you think that we, some college students and a high-school girl could fight and kill the other Champions from the enemy camp!?”
“Also, if what you said is true, then Haru is definitely the Last Boss right!? He personified that Loki bastard you explained as!!”
“What!? Hey, wait a minute, Fukaki!? Are you trying to sell me out as if I was the one behind the scenes here?!! Don’t fuck with me!!”
“Come on guys~ It’s nothing bad and you get special power as well as equipment~~ Also, it’s better than dying at the same spot like your old friend did right?”
Her words sounded gentle. However, I felt black hatred and a lump stuck inside my throat. I glared at Freyja. Why did she say that? How could she say that as if we would die meaninglessly?
Is she saying that my older brother, who saved another person’s life in exchange of his own as meaningless? Are you saying that Onii-chan’s sacrifice was all for nothing?!
“Don’t you dare to insult Toribe Onii-chan!!!!”
As I shouted out, from the back, I could feel burning sensation and I feel hot. My Senpais stared at me dumbstruck as I was bathed in brilliant golden-red light that it distorted the air! Then I heard the sounds of creaking, and I feel something sprouted from my back……
“Wh-ah…!? A-Arika-chan… Th-that’s…… wings!?”
I think someone shouted. Was it Akashi-san? I don’t get it but I feel power exploding inside me and that I feel like I can do anything! Yes, I want to beat this arrogant woman up!!
Instinctually, I stepped forward. I wanted to run but a step was all it need for me to close the distance between Freyja and me in halves!!
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!”
In impulse I drew the swords from their sheathes. I could not understand how and why I wielded them so easily. Especially considering how small my frame is… However……! I swung down the swords at the woman!
I must defeat her—!!
“Calm down for a sec, little sister…… that’s bad to attack the one who gave you your blessings.”
*BANG!* —with that sound my swords were deflected and I fell down very hard! Air escaped my lungs and I feel pains spreading around my body. Akashi-san, Fukaki-san and Haru-san immediately rushed to me in panic and Haru-san glared at Freyja.
“You… what the hell are you? There’s no way this can’t be real or… could it be… are you truly a Goddess?”
“Haa…… didn’t I say so beforehand? That I’m a Norse God and that I’m in Aesir’s side. Well, I don’t exactly live in Asgard but anyway, you are in my domain. Your power and your weapons won’t respond well within my home. Honestly, unlike Him, you all are too impulsive. Was it because today is the little sister’s elder brother’s death anniversary?”
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
I tremblingly got up. Panting roughly and trying to recover from the sudden fall, I found Haru-san deep in thought while the three of us stared at him. His glasses pushed up for a few times and he looks…… odd…
“………You. You know Toribe, right? What did you do to him? Is he alive?”
…………eh…?
“Wh-what…? What are you saying, Haru? Wasn’t Toribe-kun……” Akashi-san asked in doubts.
“Yeah… well, I’ve seen this kind of situations a lot in mangas and animes and ranobes (spelled as Ra-Nobe or Light Novel). Sometimes the main characters would be summoned or saved by a third party who are either a demon or some aliens or anything. But it felt too surreal to have us four who ‘simply happened to be around the scene' here. Many people were around yet why us alone?”
…Uuu…… here comes Haru-san’s Otaku Trivias… and why do you need to strike a pose as if like you’re an intelligent person? Still, his words struck a chord within me and Haru-san is only at the sharpest when he talked about his favorite things with Onii-chan……
It’s very rare for him who has stayed as a NEET with wealth gained by hacking and working secretly for the government to be this assertive again… It feels so nostalgic.
“Oh, that’s good. I like your eyes and perhaps that look is the reason why Toribe-kun can feel reassured. Entrusting his little sister to the three of you who are more capable in some fields he lacked in.”
“Just answer the question. I doubt you gave the power and duty as Champions to us not because we are close friends but also because Toribe asked you?”
“…eh…? O-onii-chan asked this person…?”
“…Ung… somehow, Haru-kun is back to his usual self huh……?”
“…I guess… but if that’s true……”
We looked at the Goddess. Her smile never wavered. Her gentle visage never crumbled. Yet I could feel anticipations and joy residing in her brilliantly glittering eyes. She then clapped and answered.
“Hm… Nope. Not exactly. The four of you have seen his corpse and that he truly died. It is true that ‘Akamaru Toribe’ ceased to exist in this realm……”
“……I see… so his soul still exists? Even though five years already passed, he’s still existing?”
“Yeah, well, he would have gone to heaven had Izanami stopped screwing up my quotas. However, it’s not my duty to take in Einherjar as it’s all up to Odin-kun for the matter too. That’s why I gave him another option.”
“A-another option? What—what kind of option did you offer to Onii-chan? Don’t tell me he became a Champion!?”
When I imagined Onii-chan becoming as crazy as those monsters who rampaged in the town, I feared that the person I loved has already transformed for the worse. Fukaki-san then touched my shoulders and she stayed close to me.
“It’s alright, Arika-chan… There’s no way that idiot, even if he revived, became something different. An idiot could never be cured even through death. Just believe in him.”
That’s… I… I know already… I know that but—
“Hahah. Yes, he won’t change no matter what. An idiot can never be cured from his idiocy though if I were to say something for him…… I’d say he changed for the better?”
“Eh? Seriously? Tori-kun became more proper and decent? Has he stopped becoming dense? Or has he stopped becoming reckless and thoughtless?”
“ “ “ “No, I think that’s impossible even if the Gods used miracle.” ” ” ”
Akashi-san’s question was shot down by all of us who were present in the temple. Well, of course! Onii-chan was known as stupid, dense and very incredibly super hyper mega galactically supernova-like dense! He didn’t even realize I liked him as a woman!!
And he’s the worst person who accidentally entered girls’ changing rooms when it was used by girls, pulling down Fukaki-san’s skirts out of a case of tripping and he even cross-dressed and became the ‘Legendary Idol Maid’ as perpetrated by Haru-san for the sake of club budget.
Well, his other exploits were considered as nonsensical and the fact they happened out of bad lucks and coincidences became a well-known rumor. Onii-chan was once called as ‘Misfortune Collector’ in par with shark loans’ notoriety too and his legend existed till this moment.
“A-hem. Anyway, you don’t need to mind about Toribe-kun. He’s safe and he’s basically alive though in a different realm and form. It’s all thanks to me for giving him a leeway!”
“Eh!? Onii-chan is alive!? Really!!? Is that true, Freyja-sama?!!”
“Now you called me with ‘-sama’ when you just called me as an asshole before!? Oh, whatever. Kids these days are really rude and yes he’s alive. He’s been reincarnated.”
Uwaaa……! T-to think that Onii-chan! My beloved older brother! The best Onii-chan in the world that I loved was alive really made me happy that I jumped all over the place!! Even senpais smiled knowing that their best friend was somewhere and living though in a different form!!
But then Haru-san dropped the bomb. His glasses shone and I somewhat tasted a different cold chill for an instance!
“Oh? What kind of ‘form’ is he living as now?”
……………………………………………………………………
“…well… Continuing from the matter. I would like to—“
“She just slid the topic off!”
“She just avoided the subject nonchalantly!!”
“And her words sounded so unconvincing that it looked too much like a scandalous lie!!”
Suddenly Haru-san stepped forward. A pressuring aura was exuded from his body and he looked as grim as a certain Villain in Glasses!!
“Hohho~~! I expect you to tell us, Freyja-san. Or else……”
“O-or else? What? Are you threatening a Goddess, you lousy mortal?”
“Or else, the picture of your nether region exposed will become the headlines for tomorrow morning’s newspapers and internet. There.”
*SNAP SNAP SNAP!* there were flashes of blitz and I found Haru-san holding his digital camera. He then pushed up his glasses and told us ‘Mission Accomplished!’ with bleeding nose!!
“Ew, that’s disgusting, Haru-san!! Just what did you do for the whole time!!?”
“Eh? I simply fanned her robe secretly and sneaked a peek with a mirror on my shoes and after I confirmed it, I used a camera to take picture. Ah, this is good. A virgin woman is definitely the best thing to sell and I wonder if other Aesirs and Giants would want to buy it? Looks like fantasy doesn’t need underwear.”
“i-IYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!?”
“YOU! YOU DAMNED PERVERTED MANIAC!! JUST WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING AND DON’T YOU HAVE ANY SHAMES TO DO THAT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT?!!”
Fukaki-san yelled with red face but Haru-san simply vanished! I heard a murmur from behind and I rotated my neck… only to see Haru-san and Akashi-san in the corner talking about dreadful things!
“Look, look. Akashi, now this is the treasure of the world! Nothing could beat it except eroges and doujinshis!!”
“U-uwwa…… so-so a woman’s secret garden looks like that… *gokuri*”
“Attaboy! That’s what makes a man as a man and I’m sure you’re excited right? Now with this one file, you can now gain a slave to use after the blackmail!! I’ll even give you a special price for being my second best friend!! You mustn’t let the chance to graduate from being a cherry-boy passes, comrade!! It’s a goddess slave, man! What do you think?”
“…U-uuuuggghhh……. Gngngngnnnnnn! I-I know that, but d-don’t you think a slave is…?”
“Well, she’s the one who forced us to be here. It’s a given if we got something equal right? And she even refused to tell us what our Partner is doing right now. So… here’s a freebie copy for trial uses……”
“Ggg… ggghhhhhh!! Damn it, I can’t resist any longer!! I SHALL GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT IT, LORD OF EROS!!! AND I’LL BUY THE REST OF THE PHOTOS WHEN I GOT BACK HOME!!”
“—HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYY!!! STOP CORRUPTING MY CHILDHOOD FRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNDDDDDDD, YOU LUST INCARNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!”
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Like that—for some reasons, the Goddess Freyja was humiliated to the point of wanting to die for real for the first time in her entire lifespan, To think that her plan to tell these people out of sympathy and good will for Toribe backfired like this……
“K-kkuuuhh!! What humiliation!! Damn you, Loki for picking this nutcase as your Champion!! You knew all along that this would happen as when your distant descendant were given with your power, they would become a Second Trickster right?!”