Chapter 7 - Just ignore your problems.

  “Date starto!”

  I did a double take at the names.

  [A warm home date.]

  [Targets: Amelia and Mik

  ‘Yep, it's still the same.’ I let out a sigh. There is just so much wrong with this. The biggest being, it upended everything I thought I knew about the system, about this world itself. It's supposed to be impossible to have retions with a married woman.

  Here's my understanding: In marriage, one partner becomes the 'core'. This core is permitted to marry multiple people, provided those individuals haven't been married before, they're all adults, and the core possesses sufficient strength to maintain the connection.

  Once a marriage bond is established, it's irrevocable, save for the death of the core. If the bond breaks, re-establishing such connections is impossible.

  The aftermath of losing such a connection is devastating, often leading individuals to despair so profound they might end their lives. This phenomenon is termed 'hollowing', aptly describing the emptiness survivors feel without those deep bonds.

  Why would anyone willingly subject themselves to such a process? It turns out, the sensation of being connected is unparalleled, intensifying as the group expands. Practically speaking, marriage is a prerequisite for childbearing and property ownership. Engaging with a woman casually is also seen as a direct affront to the goddess of love—a surefire way to incur her displeasure.

  ‘My dad would love her.’ I thought, my mind tinged with sarcasm.

  This revetion shatters my previous understanding of this world. It presents a contradiction: either my mothers were never married, which would mean they shouldn't have been able to have children, or they were married, which would mean they shouldn't be able to activate my system. Have I misunderstood the system's purpose all along?

  "My head hurts," I mutter, gncing again at the two names. "There's no way to avoid this without making a choice I'd regret more than just letting it unfold. Both of them are stuck at 300 Affection."

  "You know what? Screw it. We're celebrating Angelica's coming of age with a party. I'll just act as if none of this exists," I decre, closing all the windows.

  Apart from New Year's, the only other customary occasion for a party is the coming-of-age celebration. This event is typically a cozy gathering of one's closest friends and family, offering congratutions on reaching adulthood. For males, this celebration is held after their military service, often featuring an array of gifts from families looking to future marriages, contrasting with females, who primarily receive heartfelt wishes.

  That was exactly what was happening at our pce. Our home was bustling with women from our neighborhood and friends of Angelica and Sakura from their lessons. Both Yuno and I cked friends, while Alice had more friends than she could feasibly invite. Speaking of Alice, she was making the most of the attention, fluttering about and enjoying the pampering from the women.

  I was doing everything I could to avoid sulking in a corner by myself, knowing that would only lead Sakura and Angelica to join me to keep me company, and I didn't want to dampen the spirit of their special day. It had become somewhat easier now that people at least acknowledged me with a brief hello before moving on, treating me like a child. Fortunately, there were no children my age present; otherwise, I would have been doomed to being dragged around by them the entire time.

  As these thoughts crossed my mind, Sakura hurried over to where I was to drag me over, seemingly to the losing end of a board game.

  “What’s up little guy?” The girl there said, looking up at me with a smile.

  The one who spoke was Izzy, Sakura's rival and a white-haired tomboy, contrasting Sakura's bck-haired tomboy. Despite their simir natures, their relentless competition keeps them at odds. Sakura often has the upper hand, and on the rare occasions she doesn't, she boasts about having a brother, so she says she wins anyways.

  Sakura typically handles defeat well, brushing it off with a ugh and a vow to improve. However, losing to Izzy seems to be the exception, stirring an unusual reluctance to accept defeat gracefully.

  Fortunately, their rivalry never involves dragging me into their skirmishes. They both treat me kindly, all smiles and warmth towards me, even as they exchange barbs with each other.

  “Hello Izzy, I hope Sakura is not giving you a hard time,” I greeted her warmly.

  “Traitor!” Sakura excimed, unable to contain herself.

  She ughed. "Of course not, we were just pying some games. She was worried you might feel left out after she began losing."

  "I was only losing because I was concerned about him being lonely! A good sister always keeps her brother in mind. You'd understand that if you had one," Sakura retorted.

  Gncing at the board on the ground, the game they were engaged in was... well, it had a rather eborate title: the amazing Suspendus Battle of the Ages for the Races of the Immortal Lands. Names here often ran long. I simply referred to it as "magic chess." The game featured pieces that emerged from the board like holograms, controlled in an RTS fashion.

  I was pretty adept at the game, but since I couldn't operate the board, I relied on my sisters to move the pieces on my behalf.

  "So, would you like to join us, brother?" Sakura offered, with a hint of mischief.

  ‘When did she learn to be sneaky?’ I thought, giving her a second look, intrigued by her sudden cunning.

  “Sure you can py with us little guy, but I won't go easy on you.” Izzy said with a friendly smile.

  Sakura then sat down and pulled me closer, positioning herself so she was between my legs, before dragging the board closer. As Izzy took her pce across from us, we began the game, with Sakura promptly executing every strategy I devised.

  I ended up winning decisively, driven not just by the desire to maintain my reputation but also, admittedly, by her continuous use of "little guy."

  Sakura couldn't contain her ughter at Izzy's astonished expression. "Better luck next time, Izzy," she taunted.

  "O-one more game!" Izzy insisted, quickly channeling a bit of her magic to reset the board.

  Poor girl didn’t stand a chance, you don’t waste your teens trying to get Grandmaster without becoming good at games.

  Izzy's surprise was even greater after her second loss.

  "Poor Izzy, maybe you'd prefer a simpler game?" Sakura's tone was teasingly sweet.

  “How about we take this to the training grounds, your little trick won't work on me anymore.” Izzy retorted, standing up and peering down at sakura.

  “Well see about that tomorrow.” Sakura replied, shooting up to meet Izzy's challenge head-on.

  [+22 Sakura Affection points]

  [+17 Izzy Affection points]

  ‘That was a little high for a none date target.’ I excused myself from the escating debate and headed towards Angelica. She was in the midst of a circle of girls, but upon noticing me, she immediately came over to check on me.

  “Is something the matter brother?” she asked with concern.

  “No, just going around seeing what everyone is doing.” I repyed trying to ignore the group of girls looking over.

  “Did you need me to get you some more food?” she offered kindly.

  “No, I'm good,” I rejected her request.

  "Would you like to join us?" The prospect of enduring overprotective attention and endless girl talk didn't sound like a fun time.

  "No thanks, I'm going to see how the twins are doing," I quickly said, eager to avoid that situation.

  "Take these to them; it might help them calm down. There's one for you, too. They really do take after their big brother," she said, handing me what were essentially ice cream freezies, perfect for the twins to enjoy without making a mess. She must have gotten them from one of her friends.

  “I have never been that bad,” I protested, somewhat defensively.

  “Says the boy who would refuse to leave the house.” Angelica teased, her giggle light and teasing, a reminder of my younger, more closed off days.

  Hearing the group of girls ugh along, I felt my resolve to leave solidify. "Enjoy the party, Angelica, and congrats again on your coming of age," I offered warmly before taking my leave.

  Exiting the room, I made my way to the bedroom where Amelia was looking after the twins. Gently pushing the door open, I caught a glimpse of her engaging in pyful activities with them. The twins were still quite small, only about half the size expected for their age. They had recently started sitting up. According to Miki, their oni blood was strong, suggesting it might take 60 or 70 years for them to reach full maturity.

  ‘I hope that means they stay out of this whole mess.’ By the time they came of age, I'd likely be long gone. Despite my research, I'd found no references to dimensional travel. I considered focusing all my efforts on enhancing my Observe skill, but the stupid goddess being involved made me question whether she'd permit my departure or even reveal such information.

  Pushing these thoughts aside, I entered the room, determined not to let my mencholy affect the twins.

  “Look who's here, girls," Amelia announced, prompting the twins to turn my way with gleeful smiles. They made an adorable, albeit clumsy, attempt to crawl towards me, only to tumble down.

  "Look at you two go," I cheered them on, my spirits lifted by their enthusiasm. Distinguishing Anna from Emma had become simpler as their hair began to grow, Anna with her red hair and Emma with her blue. Their horns were emerging, too, becoming quite sharp. I was the only one who needed to be cautious around their horns; to the rest of my family, an accidental poke would merely tickle, whereas for me, it felt as sharp as a bde.

  For safety reasons, we've outfitted their horns with little booties. Surprisingly, this makes them even more endearing. They bring to mind memories of my actual younger sister. Back then, I often found myself forced to py with her, a task that, in hindsight, I cherish deeply as some of my fondest memories, even if I thought differently at the time.

  My train of thought is gently interrupted by Yuno, who hands me the twins. I've grown so accustomed to her presence that I no longer need to look around to know she's always close by. She employs a kind of stealth ability, making herself invisible to everyone except me and a few others with higher tiers. Most of the time, her presence slips my mind until she appears, offering exactly what I was contempting fetching.

  Settling down on the bed, I watch as Yuno expertly unwraps the freezies, guiding them to the twins' eager mouths for them to enjoy.

  [+0 Amelia Affection points]

  ‘That was a first for me—I've never received a +0 before.’ I thought as I gnced at the screen while helping to feed them.

  “Look how much they adore our prince. Just make sure they don’t eat too quickly,” Amelia advised, a note of weariness in her voice.

  “I’m aware,” I assured. Having spent ample time caring for my younger siblings, her concern was nothing new to me, not that she would know that.

  “You can never be too cautious,” she chuckled. “So, have you escaped from the party? Would you like your mother to regale you with a story?”

  “Sure,” I responded. A story seemed like the perfect distraction.

  “Alright, then hide away here with me while I spin you some tales,” she began, weaving the story of an elf who invariably found herself in peculiar predicaments—a living testament to the adage that if something can go wrong, it will.

  For the record, I wasn’t hiding; I was simply looking after the twins. They would have started crying from all the noise downstairs.

  [Date end]

  [Achievement - Already in the bag - flirting with other girls while on a date because you already have it in the bag - gain 10% bonus point to flirting with girls outside of your date target.]

  ‘I was not flirting with anyone!’

  [Legendary Achievement - Milf syer - Get a card from a mother - An achievement that may never be seen again - +1 to all Milf card uses, +50% to their leveling speed.]

  [Unlocked Trait - Milf]

  As anticipated, I received both Amelia and Miki's cards. They were depicted just as they appear in everyday life. Miki was shown with her kimono slipping off, revealing her body paint, and a blush tinted her cheeks, a result of her excessive drinking.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]

  Amelia was portrayed in her signature exposed white dress, which complemented her hair, and her expression remained kind and motherly.

  Spoiler

  [colpse]

  [Cards]

  [Name: Miki Ekker

  Level: 191

  Affection: 300

  Trait: Family, Milf?

  Goddess: The Goddess of Disease.

  Primary Blessing: The Art of Poison Breath tier 6

  Lesser Blessings: Strong Physique tier 3, Love Making tier 1, Synthesis tier 4, Potion Maker tier 5, Detoxify tier 4]

  [The Art of Poison Breath - Breath out poison - Does not affect self]

  [Strong Physique - Increase your physical strength and endurance]

  [Love Making - Gives intricate knowledge of sex and sexual reted things.]

  [Synthesis - Give you the ability to combine two different things and make something new]

  [Potion Maker - Give Ability to brew potions]

  [Detoxify - remove toxic elements]

  ‘Love making expins a lot.’

  [Name: Amelia Ekker

  Level: 173

  Affection: 300

  Trait: Family, Milf

  Goddess: The Goddess of Health

  Primary Blessing: Quick Clean tier 7

  Lesser Blessings: Ladle Master tier 4, Calming Arora tier 3, Mana Resupply tier 2, Sacrificial Pawn 1, Child Care tier 5]

  [Quick Clean - Remove bad elements]

  [Ladder Master - Give a correction effect when using a Ladle]

  [Calming Arora - Excuse an arora that calms those around you]

  [Mana Resupply - Infuse your mana into another at a higher rate - keep a extra supply of mana]

  [Sacrificial Pawn - Take a fatal hit in pce of another]

  [Child Care - Get knowledge and skills reted to child care]

  The remainder of the day was spent engaging in py with the twins until they grew tired and eventually fell asleep on top of me.

  What, that’s not nice, also we have rules for a reason! Sheesh, sometimes I feel like I'm the only normal Goddess around!

  Good luck Liev, things should still work out, but first the twins.

  [Liev Ekker - Level 8

  Goddess points: 10,000

  Love points: 39,392

  Stat points: 8

  Luck: 1 Charm: 2 Social: 1 Observe: 1

  Skills - None

  Achievements - 14

  Achievements_Alice - 1

  Cards: 1_Yuno - 1683, 2_Sakura - 353, 3_Angelica - 362, 4_Alice 376, 5_Cire - 146, 6_Selen - 223, 7_Miki - 301, 8_Amelia - 303]