Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

"Something feels off, but she really is my little sister—well, the non‑blood‑related kind." Shichen stressed, dead serious.

"Do you take me for an idiot? You obviously kidnapped her from somewhere, right?" Yami couldn't help rolling her eyes at him.

"…Even if I had, wouldn't you at least help me do the kidnapping?" Shichen's mouth twitched.

"Then where did she come from? There wasn't a single hint before, and suddenly she just shows up!"

"She really is my sister."

Yami flat‑out refused to believe him. "Shichen, you already have us—why go snatching up little girls? And one this young?"

"Huh? Us?" Shichen blinked at her.

"You misheard me." A blush crept onto Yami's cheeks and she looked away.

"I heard it loud and clear, you know ~"

"Stop changing the subject!"

Yami glared angrily. "The issue right now is this little girl!"

"I told you she's my sister… Fine, I'll wake her up, okay?"

"Then do it." Yami just stared at him.

Shichen shook his head, sat up, and gently nudged Est. "Est, time to get up."

"Mmm—"

Est woke instantly, slowly sat upright, and—duck‑style—perched on Shichen's lap. Rubbing her eyes drowsily, she said, "Morning, Onii-chan~"

"Morning." Hearing her childish voice, Shichen couldn't help smiling.

"Onii-chan!" Now a bit more awake, Est wrapped her arms around him, nuzzling her little head against his chest.

"Onii-chan smells… h‑heh ~"

"Est, someone's watching," Shichen reminded her.

"Hm?" Est looked up at him in confusion.

Shichen flicked his gaze toward Yami. Following that cue, Est spotted her.

"Oh, it's you, Yami," Est said blandly.

"You know me?" Yami frowned, puzzled.

"Mm… no, not really." Est blinked and shook her head.

"Then how do you know my name?" Yami pressed.

"When I was inside Onii-chan, I could see everything outside."

"Inside… his body?"

"Like this." As she spoke, Est became a mass of pure light, alighting on the back of Shichen's hand and forming a sigil.

"What… is that?" Yami's eyes went wide—this was beyond anything she understood.

"Est's a spirit—a Sword Spirit," Shichen explained, eyes on the mark.

"Sword Spirit?" Yami still didn't get it.

"Haven't you read loads of books? She's the kind of spirit you find in fantasy novels."

"Never read any…"

"Well, pick one up sometime."

"…Got it."

"Here—let me show you Est's form."

Seeing the confusion all over Yami's face, Shichen chuckled.

"Cold‑forged Queen of Steel, Holy Blade that cleaves demon gods! Become a sword of steel and grant me power!"

The sigil shone; the next instant a silver‑white sword appeared in Shichen's hand, gleaming with sacred light.

"So this is… that girl from before?" Yami stared at the holy sword.

"Yep."

As soon as he spoke, the sword flared; Est re‑materialized—still wearing only her black over‑knee socks. Her hands were clasped tightly in Shichen's.

Yami was so stunned she couldn't even speak.

She herself could transform into weapons, but Est was clearly something else.

"Onii-chan~" Ignoring Yami, Est dove back into Shichen's arms.

"Easy now ~" Shichen hugged her waist with one hand and ruffled her hair with the other.

He suddenly noticed his other hand was free. Turning, he saw Lala awake, staring at Est with sparkling eyes.

"S‑so cute!" Lala exclaimed.

"Lala…" Est frowned at her—obviously she knew Lala, and not from her time inside Shichen. Same with Yami earlier.

Shichen didn't press. Est clearly wouldn't spill anything because of that mysterious "Onee-chan." That only made him more determined to uncover her real identity one day—and give her a good scolding for keeping secrets. Shichen hated riddlers—unless he was the riddler. Being the riddler was fun.

"Huh? Do you know me?" Lala asked.

"Nope…"

"Then let's get acquainted! You're Shichen's sister, right?"

"Mm. I'm Onii-chan's—and only his—little sister."

"Then doesn't that make me your big sister?" Lala asked.

"You're not my sister."

"What? But I'm Shichen's fiancée~ Once we get married you'll have to call me sister, right?"

"No way!" Est pouted.

"Aww, why not?" Lala looked disappointed.

"It's fine—just treat her as another little sister," Shichen soothed.

"That's true."

"Don't you already have a little sister? Why adopt me too?"

"How'd you know?"

"I guessed."

"Impressive! I have two sisters—Nana and Momo."

"Lala, you have sisters?" Shichen feigned surprise.

"Uh‑huh. They're super cute."

"Really? Hope I can meet them sometime," he smiled—missing the faintly sour look Est cast at Lala.

"You definitely will!" Lala beamed.

"Um…" Yami suddenly cut in.

"What is it?" Shichen asked.

"Lala, Est—could you two please put some clothes on?" Yami sighed.

"Oh~ Est's just like me," Lala laughed.

"I am not," Est retorted, pointing to her legs. Against her milk‑white skin, the black over‑knee socks looked strangely alluring.

"Est, why dress like that?" Lala tilted her head.

"Because Onii-chan likes it."

"Really?" She looked at Shichen.

Shichen… chose to plead the fifth.

"Got it! Then I'll dress like that too!"

"No!" Est shouted.

"Eh? Why not?"

"I can wear this; you can't copy me!"

"But Shichen likes it."

"Copy Yami instead."

"Copy… Yami?"

They all looked at each other; Est explained:

"Onii-chan likes thigh straps. Lala, just wear the kind Yami wears."

Yami blushed and glared at Shichen. "R‑really?"

Shichen had no comeback.

"Oh, thigh straps, huh?" Lala nodded. "Peke, get me some later."

"Yes, Lala-sama," Peke replied from the foot of the bed.

"Shichen, what type do you like—the belt‑style like Yami's?"

"Those aren't thigh straps!" Yami protested, mortified.

"No?"

"It's part of my battle gear—straps for better agility."

"That's a thing? Then I wanna try!"

Seeing she couldn't persuade Lala, Yami could only keep glaring at Shichen. He wasn't fazed; her glare had zero killing power and was, frankly, cute.

"Let's drop it—it's late. I'm going to cook," he said, letting go of Est and hopping off the bed.

"Onii-chan, I'm coming too!" Est leapt at him.

Shichen caught her. "Why tag along?"

"I just want to be with Onii-chan." Her tone was calm but her eyes were resolute.

"…But how do I cook like this?"

"I'll lie on your back."

"Testing my willpower, are we?"

"Willpower?"

"Never mind… Fine—but wear some clothes." Shichen relented.

"I am wearing clothes." She pointed to her legs.

"You… ugh, fine." He gave up.

"Onii-chan's the best." Est hugged his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Shichen hooked an arm under her knees and carried her out.

"Lala, you sure this is okay?" Yami asked as the two disappeared.

"Okay how?" Lala replied blankly.

"Est is… y'know… like that."

"So? I'm like that too."

"…That's not what I mean."

"Then what? Est's just so cute."

"…Fine—whatever makes you happy."

"I'm very happy~ Oh, Yami, how exactly do you wear your thigh straps? I want to study them."

"They're not thigh straps…"

"Same difference~ Let me have a good look!"

~~~

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