8 Bad Start(Edited)
Emma shouted with a deep frown and teeth gritted. Both her hands were resting on the table after she banged with her fists; her right hand holding a silver fork.
All this time I was blatantly staring at Emma without realizing it and she seemed to not appreciate that. Understandable, but her outrage caught me a little off-guard.
The pop-up window closed as I looked at her angry and annoyed face.
"Ah, my bad. I didn't mean to stare."
I spoke as I was still surprised and preoccupied with my thoughts.
"Then what?!"
She spoke, frustration and annoyance visible on her face.
I found it hard to understand why she was behaving so erratically right now. While Emma was known to be hot-headed, she was still fairly normal as far as her type went. Was this really that big of a deal for her?
"Oh, no. I was just… thinking."
I replied as I gave an apologetic wry smile. That, however, turned out to be a bad move as I immediately received a notification from the 'System'.
[-5 Reputation with the user!]
[Affection/Obedience/Reputation: -1[40]/0/-20]
[Remark changed from 'dislikes your attitude', to 'annoyed by your attitude'.]
'… Ouch.'
That was a bad way to start. It seemed like Emma didn't get well with this Alexander boy.
'Damn. Gaining back all those points will be a pain.'
I grimaced at the thought. I had already considered her a target to get close to. Since she was one of the main characters in the game and will probably play a big role in the future with her pedigree, and talent.
'Hey, System. What's that [40]? Her hidden stat? Or is her affection locked?'
[Latter. Due to reasons, her affection towards you is being overridden by her emotions.]
'Hmm… I see. That's something to think about in the near future, I guess.'
I sighed internally, not daring the show any emotions outside as I and Emma fell into an uncomfortable silence.
And in that instance, for whatever reason, my brain decided to think of stuff that was not as important right now but was kind of important.
'Kinda bummed out that she's kind of my sister now. This blocks her route… unless I go for… wait, am I seriously gonna commit incest?! Wait, why am I getting ahead of myself. Now's not the time, junior! Stop messing with my head.'
Emma being my blood-related sister was a piece of unfortunate news for me.
It was very annoying, in fact.
Since I was in this world and had a literal quest to make a Harem that I had subconsciously started considering, Emma was one of the first targets I was going to aim for. But her being my bloody sister had ruined all that.
… I could still attempt to gain her love, but…
'Yeah, that's gonna be highly questionable… but…'
There was no blatant incest in the game as far as I knew, even though the protagonist had an unnamed sister that he adored—
'But—Ugh! Stop it, junior! Get your head out of the gutter! She's too young anyway. Maybe in a few years. No. That's—'
[What an interesting host.]
'What?'
[Nothing.]
I shook myself out of an unnecessary spiral of thoughts. Right now, I had an unhappy Emma to appease…
I opened my mouth to say something, but then stopped.
'Wait. At this point, anything I say or do might come to bite me back in the future. I need more information, damn it!'
Luckily, our mother heard our little "quarrel" and interrupted.
"Now, now, dears. Do not disturb breakfast like that. Let's eat our breakfast properly, yes? And Alex dear, what's wrong? Why haven't you touched your breakfast yet? It's gotten cold."
I turned to look at the mature beauty who was sporting a kind and worried look, and then I looked down at the food.
'Huh, when did they serve me? Shit, I was too busy with Emma and sex. Fuck. Gotta focus.'
"Yes, uh, my apologies, mother. I was just distracted."
I gave her what I believed was an appropriate response and then picking up the cutlery, I started eating what they probably thought was normal breakfast here but could have easily passed as a fancy lunch from a five-star hotel.
'Holy crap. How can they eat so much in the morning?!'
I began to wonder, looking at the amount, only to be distracted the next instant when I took a bite.
'Damn, this is actually fucking good!'
Needless to say, I didn't bother with that question. With such a delicious meal, I could see why one would eat a lot. I certainly wiped the plate clean.
I may have fucked up the table manners as a noble, but nobody said anything, so I guess it was acceptable?
Also, after the first bite, I realized that I was incredibly hungry for some reason. More than usual, in fact. I didn't know if I was so hungry because it was normal for me after waking up or became hungry after tasting the savory meal, but I didn't care either way and quickly ate everything, not forgetting to savor the dishes.
[It's both.]
'Hm?'
[The cause of your increased libi—ahem, I mean, hunger. My apologies for that misspeak. You are hungry because of both the reasons you guessed.]
'… I see. Hey, what was that word you were about to say, by the way?'
[Please pay no attention to it. I believe you have more important things to do, Alex.]
I wanted to raise an inquisitive eyebrow at it but the System was right. I had more important things to do.
During my meal, Emma too had gone back to quietly eating. She simply decided to ignore my existence altogether after that. Kinda sad, but it actually worked out for me in a way. I didn't want to deal with her just yet, without knowing what was up.
My 'mother,' on the other hand, was conversing with the youngest of us. The younger girl was quite adorable and polite looking. At least those were my first impressions.
As I savored the meal, I secretly used <Observe> on them as well.
[Name: Elizabeth K. Maximus
Age: 42
Gender: Female
Race: Human
---
Tier: 4 -> 3(Foundation grade: Silver)
Talent: Cooking, Paperwork, Territory Management, Child care
---
Affection/Obedience/Reputation: 99/10/50
Capture Difficulty: SS+
---
Remark: Adores you, Worries about you, Is worried about your future, Worried about the management of the territory, Worried about the Maximus household's future, Has other worries, Misses her late husband, etc.
---
Status: Happy, Content, Tired, Sleeplessness, Worried, Anxious, Mild Migraine, Weakness, Potion Poisoning, etc.]
'Jesus fucking Christ, woman! What's going on with her?! How can she look so young and hot when she's past forty—No! I mean, why is she suffering from so many problems?! She literally has a dozen of them! And how much potion is she taking to get Potion Poisoning? That only happens when you have been taking an excessive amount of them for a long time if I remember. Does that mean she's terminally ill? But there are no such indications in her status. It seems to be a mental and emotional thing… And why the hell is she still Happy and Content? Does that make any fucking sense?!'
I felt awful for having those initial lustful thoughts about such a pitiful woman. She was truly pitiful and also a fucking Saintess!
During breakfast, I noticed that she'd been showing nothing but positive vibes, love, and care to us when she was internally suffering!
And she was doing it so naturally and effortlessly.
'I guess that's a mother for you. She's a good mother. But I still feel pity. I won't be ever able to see her as my own mother. Poor woman. Maybe I can—No, do not finish that thought, you pervert! No horny!'
Shaking aside stupid thoughts, I wondered.
'What's going on in this house? I thought Emma's family was a happy family but was I wrong? This stuff wasn't shown in the game. This is new. A change? No, more like the untold stories from that world.'
Looking back at the remarks, I caught on to something that jogged my recently acquired knowledge.
'Misses her late husband… Right, Emma's father—and mine too, I guess— has already died. How long has it been, I wonder.'
Emma became an independent woman because she had no father figure to rely on in her childhood.
'I believe it was one of the settings in the game for her. This was probably why there was a questionable father-daughter roleplay in one of her sex scenes in the game. Though, I don't believe she had that kind of fetish. Damn it, it's hard not to think about sex when the whole world is a literal eroge! I'm not at fault here!'
[I didn't say anything.]
'Oh, no. I wasn't talking to you. I just have a habit of monologuing occasionally. Please ignore it.'
[Noted.]
The atmosphere in the dining room was pleasant and cheerful, with Elizabeth showing her care for her children and the others smiling delightfully at that. Yet I couldn't help but find it ironic knowing the pain that she was hiding behind her façade of happiness. Though, the care she showed was genuine.
I sighed and decided to think about this later when I get my memories. I couldn't just fix it right then, since I didn't have the means to. Just me telling her to be better wouldn't have done it, after all.
I moved my gaze to the other <Observe> page to learn about the last occupant of the dining table and my last family member.
[Name: Alice K. Maximus
Age: 11
Gender: Female
Race: Human
---
Tier: 0(No Foundation)
Talent: Water Elemental Magic
---
Affection/Obedience/Reputation: 55/30/30
Capture Difficulty: B-
---
Remark: Likes her family (you too), Likes sweets, Feels shy around you, Wants to play with you.
---
Status: Content, Happy, Slightly Nervous]
'Hmm, so her name is Alice. It… somehow suits her. She's cute. And her status is probably the most normal among the three. But then again, she's only 11. Her Affection/Obedience/Reputation is also decent. Why did she Slightly Nervous though? Also, I can probably get her to like me more if I play with her—'
[Hello, FBI? Yes, I have found the pervert.]
'What?! Wait, I didn't mean it like that! I meant 'as a brother'! I was seeing her as my little sister, you know?! Come on!'
[It was a joke, user.]
'…Ugh. You sure are knowledgeable about the Reddit culture.'
I deadpanned at this unusual behavior. I should have figured it out when she used a term that didn't even exist here.
'So, it can make those kinds of jokes too. Noted.'
[I am growing and learning as I read the data in your head and learn more, to suit your taste better. This is one of the new things I learned from your past life's memories. I assumed it was amusing.]
'Okay… But don't learn anything weird!'
I half-ordered, half-requested. I didn't want a repeat of the incident with the maid and handholding, even if I would be lying if I said I didn't find it amusing now myself. I wasn't sure if it could tell what kind of things she shouldn't learn, but I hoped since it was a literal system made by a god, it'll figure stuff out on its own… Hopefully.
Anyway, ignoring my System's interesting antiques, I went back to my thoughts.
'As I was saying, I can raise her affection AS AN OLDER BROTHER since she's like my new family and I don't mind having another cute little sister. I did love my imouto in the past life a lot.'
Who said the affection has to be sexual? Just looking at my 'mother's' affection, one could tell it was more generalized. She was at 99 Affection, but it didn't mean she was romantically in love with me, her son.
It just meant she loved me, but in a 'parent loving their child' way. Her Capture Difficulty was SS+ for a reason.
So, as you can see, I was not being suspicious. Not at all.
As for why I immediately thought of Alice as my little sister while I was not happy with Emma as my sister, do I even need to spell it out? I had seen one of them in a bunch of precarious situations with the protagonist I was piloting. Of course, I couldn't just see her as a simple sister now.
Alice wasn't a character in the game that I was familiar with, so it was easy to make new relationships.
I didn't mind a cute younger sister. After all, I was an adoring older brother in my past life.
…
After breakfast was over, I excused myself and immediately made a beeline toward my room. Nobody seemed to mind it, curiously.
'Before anything, I need to get the memories of Alexander K. Maximus. I can't delay it any longer.'
***
[Alice's POV]
Once again, she couldn't ask him to play with her.
She had hoped to accomplish it today. She really wanted to play with her dear brother, and she had been waiting for the chance. But he ignored her and went back to his room.
'Brother Alex… I wanted to play with you.'
She watched the door from where her brother had left.
"I'm leaving for my training."
And before she could realize it, even her older sister Emma left.
'She never plays with me.'
She felt gloomy.
'Nobody plays with me.'
"Alice dear, what's wrong? Sad that your siblings didn't play with you? Don't worry, I'll take you to the garden with me. We can play there. Happy now?"
"Um!"
It was indeed sad that her siblings didn't want to play. But she was still happy because at least her mother paid attention to her. She always knew what she wanted. And that's why Alice adored her mother. Though, she still loved her brother and sisters, even if they didn't play with her anymore.
"Also, you can go ask your brother if he wants to play later. Don't be shy. I'm sure he'll agree if you ask politely."
She perked up at her mother's suggestion.
"I will, mother!"
She spoke, a clear determination now overshadowing her previous hesitation.
[End of Alice's POV]
***
