Starting Out with an Infinite Skill Tree!

Ch. 5



Chapter 5. Can't My Only Friend Be Just Onii-chan!?

"You two... so this is where you've been hiding!"

In a corner of the courtyard, Baird looked on in surprise at the sibling pair playing with some strange contraption.

At that moment, Yan was helping Giselle try out the "swing" he had just crafted—built partly by hand, partly with the aid of magic.

Giselle sat on a plank suspended by ropes, laughing happily, while Yan stood behind her with a gentle smile, pushing the swing softly.

Baird scratched the back of his head.

That boy's really clever. He always comes up with things that make Giselle happy.

He thought of the other strange creations Yan had made recently just to amuse his daughter—like "paper cranes" and "puppets."

Things he'd never even heard of before.

If only Helen and I had someone who made us so many fun "toys" when we were little...

You're really fortunate, Giselle.

With that thought, he felt reassured, leaving Giselle in Yan's care.

... To Baird, the swing was nothing more than a child's plaything. But watching the two enjoy themselves so much, he couldn't help but feel a little tempted to try it himself.

Of course, the image of an adult stealing a child's toy kept him in check, so he held back his urge to compete with his daughter for the swing.

Instead, he called the two of them over.

"Uncle Clovis?"

Even though he was now living here, Yan still addressed Baird by his surname—Uncle Clovis.

Baird reached out and ruffled Giselle's little head. The girl showed a blissful, contented smile.

Enjoying her father's affection, Giselle responded sweetly, "Papa!"

"You two... should also get outside more and move around! That way, you'll get to know some other children!"

Baird said with a smile.

But behind that smile was a trace of concern.

Giselle was already five and a half, and Yan was ten.

This was the age when children should be running around town, playing with their peers.

Yet these two were glued to each other every single day.

One acted like a little adult, always with his nose buried in a magic book.

The other never found it boring, happily sticking to her brother's side no matter where he went.

If this kept up, Baird worried that the two of them would grow up without any "friends," turning into reclusive personalities.

What he didn't know was this—

He thought Yan was just messing around when he took his magic books, playing with them for fun.

But in reality, Yan had already begun down the path of studying magic in earnest—all without a teacher.

Granted, because of limited resources, Baird's books contained only basic knowledge. There were no powerful, destructive spells for Yan to learn.

Even so, when it came to understanding magic circuits and manipulating magic, Yan's "mastery" had already far outstripped Baird by miles!

‘... Friends, huh? What a hassle.’

Yan thought about his current body's age. At this age, wouldn't kids still be playing "Hero vs. Demon King" games, or "house"?

The idea of playing such "childish" games with a bunch of runny-nosed brats made his head ache.

'Hmm—you mean friends other than my sister?'

'What a joke. How could those stupid brats ever compare to my adorable little sister?'

'Playing silly games with my sister? Of course, I'd be more than happy to do that a hundred times over.

But playing with a bunch of snot-nosed brats in open-crotch pants? Absolutely out of the question!'

All of Yan's resistance was practically written across his face. Meanwhile, Giselle's eyes were entirely fixed on her brother.

Seeing how neither of the children seemed to take his words seriously, Baird could only show a helpless, bitter smile.

Forget it...

Kids all have their own thoughts. Once these two get tired of only playing with each other, surely they'll want to make new friends!

That was the strange conclusion Baird came to.

He had absolutely no idea just how terrifying the power of a brother complex and sister complex really was.

As long as they had their brother (or sister), no matter what they did together, they'd always be happy—and never grow tired of it!

......

"Giselle, do you want to make new friends?"

After Baird left, Yan narrowed his eyes and asked suddenly.

Though he had no desire to play house or "Hero versus Demon King" with those brats, he still had to consider his sister's feelings.

If Giselle wanted to meet children her own age, he couldn't just tie her down.

Hmm—

Once Giselle made some new friends, maybe he could finally free up time to properly dive into studying this world's magic!

If he could fully grasp and internalize the theories behind the magic operation...

Not only would he be able to further develop the power of the Simulated Star-Creation Map, but his own strength would also rise tremendously.

Who knows—he might even be able to draw from those wild "what-if" powers he'd seen in anime before he transmigrated, and create his own unique magical techniques.

Of course, he "absolutely" wasn't trying to ditch his sister...

"Fr...iends?"

Giselle tilted her head in confusion, her tiny finger pressing against her lips.

"Big Brother... what are friends?"

"They're kids your age who can play with you."

"But I already have Big Brother to play with me!!"

Suddenly, it was as if something clicked in her mind—her eyes began to shimmer with tears.

"Big Brother... you don't want Giselle anymore, do you?"

"Giselle will be good! Please, big Brother... don't leave me!!"

The little girl's pitiful voice trembled, her big, watery eyes welling up.

"... Don't think like that. How could your brother ever abandon someone as adorable as you?"

Yan quickly comforted her when he saw she was about to burst into tears.

He hurriedly pulled her into his arms, explaining over and over.

Finally, after understanding what "friends" meant and realizing she wouldn't lose her Big Brother, Giselle broke into a smile.

Her face lit up with an angelic, innocent grin.

"I'll listen to whatever Big Brother says..."

"Then go and make some friends!"

Yan smiled gently, ruffling her hair. "I just want you to have a full and happy childhood."

"Mm!!"

Giselle's eyes sparkled as she nodded earnestly.

And then—

The little girl tugged on her brother's sleeve.

"Big Brother... Onii-chan, you'll stay with Giselle forever, right?"

Her timid yet hopeful gaze shone up at him.

He had originally planned to let Giselle make friends on her own while he quietly returned to his room to study magic.

But at that moment, Yan froze—

And then a brilliant smile spread across his face.

"Of course—my princess. I'm your knight, after all! A knight's duty is to protect his princess. If Giselle wishes it, then I'll be your knight forever, guarding you at your side."

Since she asked like that...

Faced with those eyes, how could Yan possibly refuse?

... He also suddenly realized there was another problem.

He had to protect his cute little sister closely, to make sure no scheming brat got anywhere near her!

What if some snot-nosed punk tried to get close to his precious sister?

There's no way he could bear to see his delicate little cabbage stolen by some pig after just a few days apart!!

"Big Brother, what's a knight?"

Giselle tugged at Yan's clothes, her curious eyes wide.

Since Baird often called her his "cute little princess," she understood that princess was just another way of saying someone was adorable.

So, of course,the princess must mean herself.

But "knight," This was the first time she had ever heard that word!

"A knight, huh?"

In Yan's mind, an image flashed—a holy swordsman clad in shining silver armor.


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