After I parted with Alice, I went to the agricultural division.
Thanks to the Alice cheat, the irrigation for one of the fields has already been completed. Now the employees are just finishing up small changes here and there. It’s only one field right now, but I’m guessing by next season we will be ready to start planting.
“Hmm, otouto-kun? What’s wrong?”
Claire was supervising the work in the area. She came over once she noticed me.
Claire has learned a lot from Alice and I over the last few months, so she is more than capable of supervising the construction here. She seems to have become used to being the temporary head of the family.
“I’m so tired, Claire. How have things been going here?”
“Things are going well, thanks to Alice’s hard work. Do you want me to show you around?”
“That’s good. Then, please do.”
“Then, we’ll go around to the sections that are already complete.”
I really don’t need her to show me around. But, Claire is working so hard, so it would be nice for her to take a small break.
And like that, Claire and I were taking a pleasant walk around the field.
After a bit, we arrived at a watermill.
Water is drawn from the river into the irrigation canal. It then is spread out to the rice paddies and fields.
And in between the canal and fields, there is large pond where rainbow trout will be farmed.
“A pond was made as you instructed…..you wanted to farm fish? Is that really possible?”
“I know it’s possible, but I’ve never done it. I’m not sure it will work right away, but after some trial and error it should work.”
“But, won’t you need fish food to farm the trout?”
“It’s fine, there was fish food on that list I gave you.”
“There was?”
“Yep, I have several things that may work, but I think the best bet are silkworms, it seems Alice found some while travelling.”
By the way, silkworms can’t survive in nature. So I had given up hope of finding them in this world, but….it appears when Alice was travelling in a neighboring country, she found some that were being raised.
“You’re going to use them for food?”
“Yeah, silkworm cocoons can be used for silk, but when the cocoons are taken the silkworms die. So, they will just be used for fish food.”
And since there are many mulberry trees in the nearby forest, there will be plenty of food for the silkworms. Furthermore, when the feces of the fish and what remains of the bait flows into the paddies and fields, it will act as a substitute fertilizer.
Besides, mulberries can be used for jam. And because the wood is high quality it can also be used to craft items. So, it’s a very versatile tree.
Incidentally, this is not the Earth, so the rainbow trout, silkworms, mulberry, and everything else I mentioned earlier does not match perfectly with the things of Earth. I made sure to check that they are mostly the same before proceeding any further.
“What is silk?”
“Hmm, it’s a type of thread. The silk fabric made from this thread is glossy and feels great.”
“Hee~…is it so different than normal fabric?”
“It can’t even be compared to the clothing we’re wearing now, so please look forward to the clothes Alice will make.”
“That girl, she can really do anything.”
“She surprises me too.”
To be honest, I didn’t expect her to know how to weave. Though, I am glad she does know how to make clothing. I was expecting to have to go through a lot of trial and error when making the clothing.
“I’m looking forward to the design, perhaps it will be a design from a different world.”
“That’s impossible. I’m making the design currently to better fit the designs of this world….eh? Wa-wait a minute. What did you say just now?”
“Otouto-kun you’re so cute.”
“That’s not what you just said! Didn’t you say from a different world!?”
“Ah, that’s right, I heard about it from Alice. You are brother and sister and you have memories from your previous lives.”
“…….That’s surprising. Alice trusted you with that information.”
I know Alice told Claire that she was a high elf after she was freed from slavery, but I didn’t know she confided in her about our reincarnation.
That Alice…..I was a little shocked, so I fell silent.
“As for me, the fact that otouto-kun didn’t tell me is a shock.”
“Well….I’m sorry. I thought you wouldn’t believe me even if I told you. You actually believe that Alice and I have memories from our previous lives?”
“It actually is pretty believable. It would explain why you know so many different things.”
“….So that’s the reason why?”
“Well, when we were younger I had a lot of suspicions. But, you seemed to be trying to hide something, so I tried to ask as few questions as possible.”
“Is that so? Certainly, I have a lot of knowledge, but it doesn’t seem so amazing that you’d think I have memories of my previous life.”
Claire stood there, gently combing her platinum blonde hair. The wind caused her hair to sway gently, but her face remained shocked.
“Otouto-kun, you need to be more aware of your lack of common sense.”
Perhaps I should be the one shocked.
Well, recently I haven’t been taking the best care of myself, but it can’t be helped.
“Anyway, I’m sorry I never said anything to you.”
“No, it’s fine, I forgive you. Rather, I just want to know one thing. The mind of Leon is a reincarnation of a boy named Yuya, right?”
“Yes, that’s right……In my mind I am Yuya. I was born and raised as Yuya, but now I am living in the body of Leon.”
“Fumufumu, I see.”
Claire places her fingers to her mouth and seems deep in thought. For some reason, I feel like I’m not going to like what she’s thinking so deeply about.
I immediately turned around and began to run away — but, my arm was grabbed before I was able to get away.
“Otouto-kun, you should get married to me.”
“Hey! —- I knew what you were thinking about was bad!”
“It’s not a bad thing, it’s something fantastic!”
“What are you saying!? I’ve said it many times before, but we are siblings!”
“What are you saying? Otouto-kun is Yuya, right? In other words, the mind of otouto-kun is a complete stranger to me. So, we don’t need to worry about being siblings.”
“No, no, no mentally we’re not related, but physically, we’re blood related!”
No matter what, her argument is wrong.
Nevertheless, Claire narrowed her jade eyes and looked at me disgusted.
“Otouto-kun is the worst.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re judging a girl by her body and not her mind.”
“Why are you saying it in such a dirty way!?”
Well, it is true that I’m thinking about her body rather than her mind. If most people heard just that, they would judge me the same way as Claire. However, most people would change their mind if they knew the whole story.
“Hmm~Then, because otouto-kun is Leon, you insist that we are siblings?”
“Those are the facts, right?”
“Then, if Alice and I team up there should be no problem.”
“—Wh-what…..”
“Like I said, you’re opposed to being with your mentally related and blood related sister, right? But, Alice has no problem with you being related in your previous lives.”
“Why does that matter!?”
“Oh, of course it matters. Alice told you her feelings, but you’re holding off on giving her an answer, right? So, if it’s Alice and I together, there should be no problems.”
Wh-why — Why, did Alice tell her that? That Alice, doing whatever she wants. No, that’s not the problem here.
“If I’m against both, how are both together okay? Rather, if you’ve heard the story from Alice, then you should already know….”
“Do you like Alice?”
“Yes. I only hesitate because the girl I like in this life, is my sister from my previous life.”
I tell Claire clearly, so there can’t be any misunderstandings.
“Oh, well I don’t mind being your favorite mistress.”
“No, no, no that may not be uncommon in this world, but it’s definitely not normal in my world.”
Looking back at the relationship between Caroline and Milli, I’d be surprised if that idea could ever work out well. But, Claire then dropped an even bigger bomb.
“It’s fine. After all, this was originally Alice’s idea.”
“Waaaaaaa~!? You have to be lying!”
“Of course I’m not lying. What did she say again, hmm…..Oh yeah. In this life, and in your previous world, a brother has a moral obligation to cling to his sisters.”
“What are you saying!!!!”
This is terrifying.
This would be quite a terrifying thing for Milli or Sophia to hear.
“Well, I don’t know what Alice said, but I don’t plan on creating a harem.”
“Why? Isn’t it a good thing?”
Of course I was born as a man, so there is a desire to have relations with multiple women.
And if I consider my true feelings, Sophia and Claire are as important to me as Alice is to me, if I don’t think about them in a romantic way.
However —
“If I go out with someone, I’m most likely prepared to marry them.”
For example, imagine you are dating someone.
And after spending many memorable years together, if someone more attractive than the person you’re dating appears and wants to go out with you…..Do you just break up with your partner and start dating the new person?
The answer will vary from person to person. Therefore, I’m not opposed to people deciding they want to be with someone else.
However, I still feel that you should be prepared to marry anyone you decide to date.
“Well…..Does that mean that Leon is not able to love everyone?”
“Why are you asking that? I just mean that I am prepared to choose one person!”
“Because otouto-kun, isn’t it better if we’re all together?”
“….Well, I guess so.”
“You’re saying that you can only love one person. Do you mean it’s just more convenient for you to love one girl?”
“Like I said, saying something like that is unfair!”
People that are only interested in money, they’re the lowest! Someone that tries to be with multiple girls at the same time, they’re the lowest! I don’t really understand the meaning any longer.
Rather, I’m not sure of how to respond anymore.
“Anyway, it’s useless to talk about bad things like this.”
“That means you won’t accept my feelings?”
“Gu~. What you’re asking — “
“I don’t plan on asking in an unfair way. I like otouto-kun, but if you only choose one, then there is no way I will be chosen.”
“That’s…”
Now that I think about it, when Claire first confessed to me I couldn’t even give her an answer…..I can’t put it off forever.
“I’ll speak honestly. I think Claire is cute. If you weren’t my older sister…..I’m not going to lie I’ve thought about it before, but we are blood related siblings, so it’s impossible.”
It’s not the same as Alice being a reincarnation of my sister from my previous life.
I’m only considering going out with Alice because she’s not my sister in this world. The two of them can’t be compared.
Therefore—
“I’m sorry. I can’t go out with Claire. I’m most attracted to Alice.”
I bowed my head deeply towards Claire.
How long have I been doing this? I can’t tell what kind of face she’s making. But, after a while, Claire told me to raise my head.
After I looked up, I could see Claire showing a lonely smile.
“I was expecting this answer. So, you don’t need to make such an apologetic face.”
“Claire….I’m sorry.”
“Like I said, don’t worry about me. I won’t be giving up on you yet, otouto-kun.”
“Oh. I’m really sorry…………What? Wait a minute, did you just say you won’t give up?”
“Eh, of course I won’t. My aim is to be at your side forever. I’m also attracted to you. So, why would I give up? Because you said you love Alice?”
The moment I heard that, I let out an awkward smile.
However —
“Besides, otouto-kun is only eleven years old. It’s fine if you go out with Alice now, there’s still a lot of time left for me. Do you think I need a definite answer now?”
Claire’s voice became more and more panicked as she went on, and I could see her fingers starting to tremble. After noticing that, I could no longer refuse her.
“……Claire”
“—–”
I only called out her name, but Claire’s body jumped back in surprise. I let out a sigh, and gently stroked her head.
“….I understand Claire, I can’t make a decision now…..Once I grow up, maybe I will be able to love more people, and if at that time your feelings haven’t changed…..I will think about it once more.”
“—Really!?”
“Y-yeah. But, I’ll just think about it, okay? I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Yes, that’s enough! Thank you, otouto-kun!”
Claire seemed to be overwhelmed by emotion and jumped into my arms. I feel like I’m slowly becoming more lenient to the whims of these girls……At least that’s what I think.
