Chapter 66

Facing the bleak reality that surpassing level 99 was not feasible, I was struck with despair.

I think the last time I felt this down was when my favorite character didn't appear in the new installment of my beloved game. The shock was that great.

I returned to my bed and sat down slowly. The bed sank slightly, but my heart sank even more.

Patrick and Remun, sensing my gloomy atmosphere, seemed hesitant, wondering why I was so dejected.

At that moment, a bright voice, out of place in the somber mood, rang out. It was Eleanora.

"Yumiera-san? Are you in your room?"

It seemed to be around the time when the usually late-rising Eleanora would wake up. We had been talking for quite a while.

I stood up and replied from the other side of the door.

"I'm here."

"Yumiera-san oversleeping is quite unusual."

"I was up early, but..."

Wait a moment. If I continue like this, Eleanora and Remun will meet. I have a feeling it will lead to a complicated situation. I could already hear her surprised voice in my head: "Eh! Yumiera-san has a younger brother!?"

Let's handle that after Remun has finished telling me everything.

"Into the shadow."

With just those words, Remun moved immediately. At least he didn't get slammed into the floor again, which was a relief.

As soon as he hid in Patrick's shadow, the door to the room opened.

"The breakfast is getting cold... Oh?"

Eleanora covered her mouth and looked back and forth between me and Patrick. Her face quickly turned red.

What's going on? I thought I had hidden the black-haired god properly.

I was standing, and Patrick was sitting in a chair. It should have been a normal scene.

Noticing the unnatural atmosphere, Eleanora said in a thin, strained voice:

"Um... If you were busy, I wish you had said so."

"What are you talking about?"

"You two are lovers, so I understand if you do such things... but you should lock the door properly."

"…No, that's not it."

She was completely misunderstanding the situation. More shocking was that Eleanora knew about "such things."

No, it must be a lie. The dirty thoughts I had and the innocent thoughts she had must be completely different. I'd bet my soul on it. And Patrick's too.

"Either way, it's not that. I was just talking with Patrick."

"But, but! Yumiera-san, being with a man in such attire is a bit..."

Such attire? I checked my clothes, but they were the same pajamas I always wear.

A polka-dot patterned pants and shirt, and a triangular nightcap. I had been wearing this since I woke up. It should be a perfectly normal and decent nightwear...

"Is it that strange?"

"It's inappropriate to appear in front of others in your sleeping attire. And I've never seen that hat outside of storybooks."

I see. So it's not appropriate to meet a man in nightwear.

But in my previous life, I often went out in my pajamas to take out the trash. Of course, my pajamas were just high school gym clothes.

It's a hassle to clear up the misunderstanding. I also have things to ask Remun, so I decided to ask Eleanora to leave.

"I'm sorry. I'll lock the door and continue later."

"Continue!?"

"Yes. I'll continue what we were doing. Would you like to watch?"

"Ah, no, no, um... I'll be out for a while!"

As expected. Eleanora ran out of the room, her face turning bright red.

She often tries to peek at our romantic moments, but this time it was a bit too much for her. After confirming that her footsteps had faded away, I locked the door just to be safe.

"Alright."

"Yumiera, you might have just made things more complicated for yourself later."

"Patrick can deny it, and the misunderstanding will be cleared up."

"I have a feeling it's too late for that."

He sighed, holding his head. If he was that concerned, he should have denied it on the spot.

Well then. I'll think about Eleanora later. For now, it's the god of darkness. I crouched down and spoke to my shadow.

"Let's continue the story. Remun, you can come out now."

"Phew, is the older sister gone now?"

"Older sister...? Oh, you mean Eleanora-sama?"

"Yes. The older sister who loves you so much, almost to the point of being overprotective."

I'm the older sister, and Eleanora is the older sister. It's confusing, so it was probably a good idea to have her leave.

The overprotective part must be about her father. I don't pamper her that much. I just try to fulfill her wishes as much as possible.

Well then. What else do I need to ask Remun? First, I need to organize the information I've gathered... I can only remember the level-up related stuff.

Before that, I remember Patrick asked a question... Ah, yes, the revival of the dark god faith in the Dorkness territory. I can't ignore a suspicious religion appearing in my territory.

"Let's go to the place where you are being worshipped."

"Right. My priestess is building a temple, right?"

"What? No way, she wouldn't build something like that."

She said she would build a temple because she thought Remun was a benevolent god who oversees level-ups. Now that I know he's an evil god who dangles the promise of level-ups to lure people to hell, there's no reason to do that.

Ignoring the dejected Remun, Patrick stood up from his chair.

"Shall we have breakfast before we go?"

"Sure. Remun, stay in the shadow."

"Can't I eat?"

"Because Eleanora-sama will see you."

Gods eat, huh. The feel of kicking and pushing Remun was more like that of a monster than a human. I suspect his body is mostly composed of magic power.

Ryu also eats food as a hobby, so it's natural for Remun to ask for breakfast.

However, I don't want Remun to be seen by Eleanora or anyone else in the mansion. I asked him to stay in the shadow as we headed to the dining room.

As Patrick and I walked down the corridor, Rita approached us.

"Good morning, Yumiera-sama, Patrick-sama. Breakfast is ready. I was just about to come and call you."

"Good morning, Rita. Has Eleanora-sama already eaten?"

"Actually, she left without eating anything..."

Rita looked out the window, and I followed her gaze. Ryu, who usually basks in the sun at this time, was nowhere to be seen.

Eleanora said she would be out for a while, but she really went far. I just thought she would leave the room... I've done something bad.

"Out in the open, hungry... Is she okay?"

"Ryu went with her, so I assume she's safe."

"Ah, she'll be fine with Ryu."

"Right. She'll be fine with Ryu."

We all agreed. It's dangerous for Eleanora to walk alone, but with Ryu, she's safe.

"Wow, the older sister isn't here. It's okay to come out now."

The shadow cast by the sunlight through the window. A voice came from it. At the same time, a black-haired boy emerged from the shadow, and Rita's eyes widened in shock.

"Ah, this is..."

"Good morning, maid. I'm the god of darkness, Remun. You can call me Remun-kun—"

"This is an evil god, so don't listen to him. Tell everyone in the mansion."

"Yes, I understand."

As soon as she heard my voice, Rita hurried away.

Remun, whose words were cut off, looked displeased.

"Hey! What if people really think I'm an evil god!? That maid is really going to tell everyone, isn't she?"

"Come on, don't worry about the details. Oh, do you want to eat breakfast?"

"Yes!"

After hinting at building a temple and then being treated as an evil god, this is what they call karma. I thought he should taste the same despair I felt... but as soon as I offered him food, Remun became cheerful.

This god is so easy to please.