Chapter 135: What Overflows, What Attracts

"First of all, a double is like a ghost, so it is not rare."

After leaving Leorio and Lily, the members returned to the living room and sat on the sofa for a while.

"All humans produce Life Energy, and some of my strange abilities use this energy.

I mean, it would be great if you could consider the use of this strange ability as a prerequisite for being a Hunter."

As expected, it was impossible to explain or convince them without providing any information about "Nen" here, so it was a bit too vague. Thus, the explanation was almost a lie, but for the time being, Sora spoke indifferently as the minimum necessary knowledge.

"So, that Life Energy has a 'system,' and depending on that, the type of ability that is suitable varies. If it is a Materialization System, as the name suggests, it is suitable for materializing Life Energy. Glow."

Perhaps, Alter's system is a Materialization System. If you are a person of this lineage, if a little chance and coincidence overlap, you can unknowingly and unconsciously create an 'another me' double.

Just as Sora said, she can move freely with her own will, like Kastro in Heaven's Arena. An avatar double requires multiple systems, such as Manipulation, Emission, and Materialization, working together to be created as an individual rather than a mold. Besides talent, it requires great effort, but it will disappear in a few minutes at most, or even in a few seconds if you are not skilled. You don't even need to be a Psychic.

First of all, Sora did not think Alter was even "someone who could awaken without knowing it."

Admittedly, her pores were more open than a normal person's, and the amount of Aura seeping out was surprisingly large, but it was most likely temporary, caused by stress.

People who enter this semi-conscious state temporarily are not many, but they are not rare either. Is it one in 200? About one percent.

Awakening often happens due to stress. That is why there are many cases where "there is an abused child in a house that is haunted, and the haunting is awakened by that abused child and Nen," but not all children have Nen Ability.

This is due to the body's self-defense reaction, saying: "If you don't release it to increase the Aura around you, it's dangerous." As long as the source of stress is gone, there is no need to release Aura, and it will naturally close and return to being a normal person.

It is incredible that Alter, who should have been a layman, actually turned into a pseudo-double of Kastro. It looks like Alter has awakened as a capable person, but this is also because she listened carefully to Jenny and the others. As you can see, it is actually no big deal.

Since we have been familiar with ourselves since birth, it is better to unconsciously copy them than to create them unconsciously.

The Materialization System is not good at Manipulation and Emission systems, so I cannot imagine how much Training it would take to independently and freely manipulate a materialized object, but the desire to manipulate is also far from oneself. It is not intended to be realized for a long time, and it will not be a big problem.

Moreover, the reason Alter's double only appears in this house is because this is the house where she was born and raised, and it is also the place where the Aura flowing out of her daily life is most abundant, Sora guessed.

Rather than unconsciously imposing the restriction of "only appearing in the house," if you think that she is using the Aura she left in the house to assist in materialization, it is a Conjuration System. This house, even if Alter is not there.

"So this is not a big problem."

"... No, but if you put it that way, Alter-chan, you are wasting a lot of Life Energy Aura... You often waste your physical strength, and as a result, your immune system is weakened, and you are more likely to catch a cold, so you are a ghost that should be limited to your house. But I think I'm possessed. Therefore, it is best to do something about it as soon as possible."

After roughly explaining Nen Ability and Alter's out-of-control "double," I told him about Alter's current situation, took a deep breath, and said it one by one.

"Your current state is caused by stress, so does that mean if you eliminate the stress, you don't have to worry about Alter anymore?"

"That's great, Alter! The ghost in this house has been solved by Sora-chan, so you don't have to worry!"

"Why do you think my stress is related to the supernatural!?"

Jenny asked if the solution she thought of from Sora's story was correct, and Astolfo smiled and said to Alter before hearing the answer, but his remarks usually did not reassure Alter, but rather blurted out.

However, not only Astolfo, but even her sister tilted her head, seemingly not knowing why Alter was angry, asking such an obvious question, and everyone declared it with zero Malice.

"Hmm? Even if there are other things, the biggest thing that overwhelms other stresses must be related to the ghost, right?"

"I mean, now that I think about it, the other Alter's knocking and the intercom sounded like 'I don't want to be alone because I'm scared. I want to be with someone.'"

"I agree with both of your points, but the stress that might have led Alter-chan to create her double might not be related to the ghost. So even if we solve this problem, Alter-chan's double might not disappear."

Before Alter could be angry at Astolfo's remarks, which might be the star of the show, and grab his chest, Sora answered curiously and paused everyone.

Although he was angry, Alter probably believed that his problem would be solved in some way. As Sora spoke, there was still a bit of calmness in his tone, saying: "What's going on?"

"Well, well, there are many reasons why I think so. From Lily-chan's story, the first mysterious phenomenon that occurred seems to be the work of your double.

However, this might just be that Alter-chan is the most sensitive among the sisters, and even if no specific harm appeared, she could feel the presence of the ghost, and this stress caused the double. So, you don't have to worry about this point so much... but what worries me most is if Alter-chan's double is the stress of 'I'm afraid the house is haunted.' What did you hit Leorio with? I wonder if it's a place?"

"One."

When Sora pointed it out, everyone remembered the incident that had been pushed to the edge of their memory about ten minutes ago because they wanted to forget it, and then they all held their heads.

"As Astolfo said, the other Alter-chan is the stress she cannot bear and overflows, and the desire that comes with it, so even if you cannot control it, you cannot do what Alter-chan does not want to do, never do what you do not want to do yourself.

So, after Alter-chan suddenly punched Leorio and cried, there must be 'stress.' This is also a fairly large percentage."

"... Alter, what exactly did Leorio do?"

"I want to know!"

No matter how you think about it, what Alter's double did to Leorio was pointed out not to be the stress of "being afraid of ghosts." While Astolfo sympathized with Leorio from the bottom of his heart, he asked Alter. Ashamed that he didn't even know if this was caused by himself or if it was unreasonable, he lashed back. I have no idea if this serious circulation is also a reverse circulation, or if it can't be helped if I get angry.

"I mean, if my other self is my stress, why would I hit that person I met for the first time today!"

I don't want to say it, but I have an idea. They think I want to hit you, but I said everything I wanted to say before I wanted to hit him, so Leorio has stress. I don't feel anything!!"

"Change... please don't expose your rudeness... apologize properly later."

"Well, I understand what Alter means, but Alter really didn't look at me and Sora-chan, he rushed directly to Leorio and gave him a slap.

Seriously, what kind of resentment does that Alter have towards Leorio?"

Alter was angry and insisted: "First of all, when you first met Leorio, there was no stress that could hit him," while Jenny complained about the arrogance that Alter knew too well, and Astolfo crossed his arms and thought again.

If Alter's double is a manifestation of her stress, then Leorio, whom she met for the first time, has nothing to do with it.

Alter suspected that Leorio and the others were liars from the beginning, and it was hard to say that she trusted him, so I think this might be the reason, but even so, Sora and Astolfo, who brought them along, would be there and would be attacked.

Even so, that Alter walked straight to the front door, pushed Sora away from the front row, ignored Astolfo, slapped Leorio next to him, and subsequently, ignored Sora and Astolfo, and I squatted down and cried.

There is no doubt that for Alter, "Leorio himself," or "something that only Leorio has," is the stress that makes him suddenly want to attack and eliminate him, to the point where he burst into tears while attacking himself. This is certain. However, not only Astolfo, but even her sister and the person in charge did not know what it was, and they tilted their heads one by one and bowed their heads in thought.

... Looking at the reactions of the three, Sora sighed deeply.

In fact, this woman, when she slapped Leorio hard, still didn't understand why, but when she squatted on the spot and started crying while biting Leorio, she already had a sense of loss. Alter's "stress." Board.

So Sora deliberately let Leorio and Lily wait in different rooms.

I think Astolfo should also be removed, but if it is as Sora imagined, in a sense, Astolfo is a good follow-up character for Alter, so I did not remove him.

However, if possible, I don't want him to point it out, but I want him to notice what he did. It doesn't work properly, and it seems he didn't notice at all.

"... Hmm, Alter-chan."

So, of course, if it's misplaced, even if it's right, it's embarrassing and awkward, so I don't want to say it, just dragging it out, so I'll just say it simply and directly.

"You should be honest, don't be stubborn without a virgin."

The scene fell into a heavy silence.

Jenny and Astolfo couldn't understand what Sora was saying, let alone Alter herself, and all three were looking at Sora.

Feeling that something in that gaze was truly unbearable, Sora struck a Gendo pose and muttered, "……I didn't say it out loud, because I wanted to say it."

Unfortunately, Sora's painful words did not reach the ears of Alter herself.

"――――――！？！？

Hey, what are you saying? You don't care.?"

Alter finally understood the Harassment remarks Sora didn't want to voice, and her pale face turned into a ripe tomato.

However, Sora felt deep self-reproach for his own words and continued to strike the Gendo pose to retort.

"……Alter-chan. The Harassment directed at your own family takes the brunt of it, right?

Don't let Miss Jenny and Miss Lily know anything."

＊＊＊

Silence descended once again.

This time, Alter, who felt no arrogance but pure anger toward Sora, widened her eyes and fell silent.

Jenny, who understood what Sora was saying at the same time as Alter, blushed as red as her sister, but unlike Alter, she couldn't say anything and remained silent; they just averted their eyes from the woman, but due to Sora's addition, both of them widened their eyes, not looking at Sora, but at Alter.

"... What's wrong..."

"That's how it is, your personality is very troublesome, but I could tell at a glance that you have a lot of love for both sisters, so I can only imagine this."

Ignoring that gaze, Alter glared at Sora before her sisters could ask him, "What happened?"

However, Sora did not waver.

Sighing deeply, he raised his face, his Aogyoku eyes looking straight at Alter, and announced.

"The eldest daughter just came of age, the parents suddenly passed away, the three sisters are left without support, and all three can be called peerless beauties……

If it's trash whose brain is directly connected to their lower body, the sisters must not be missed. That is why, even if I don't have the courage to commit a crime directly, I think I can 'buy' you with casual and superficial words of sympathy and a small amount of money. It must be there.

……You are the fortress against the malicious gazes and words of that trash, aren't you?"

Look straight ahead and tell me.

Alter glared at Sora's guess, saying it was vulgar persecution mania, yet she couldn't say anything.

She knew better than anyone that she was not paranoid.

Every word Sora said was right, as if he had seen it.

It wasn't because Sora had special insight or imagination either.

This was nothing more than mundane and worldly things that anyone could think of and imagine.

——So I told myself it was okay.

"……Alter……"

"……That is……what!!"

Alter leaned forward with both hands on the low table, letting Sora spit it out.

Alter shouted, ignoring her sister who was about to say something, and yelled at him.

"It's not because I'm kind, nor is it because I love my family, I do this because I have no choice but to do so!

Of course, this good-tempered sister must not hear it!

Even so, this idiot sister has already dropped out of school and worked several jobs, even though she has no time to sleep. I am trying hard to be a

I am such an idiot who loves self-sacrifice, so if you give me a sweet word, I will be deceived as soon as possible, and I can tell that I will be squeezed dry of everything!

And, if the reason I am deceived and used is because of me and Lily, I won't have a bad aftertaste, so I am just a breakwater!

In short, I just do this because I don't want to make myself feel bad!!"

Sora was not swayed by Alter's angry shouting, but smiled bitterly.

It was truly unavoidable and annoying, but sorry, still sorry to Alter, he just expressed that he liked the sisters and the sister, and loved her.

Perhaps not liking this reaction, Alter became even more Fire: "What's with that face!?"

"Ah, yeah yeah. Alter, calm down. Sora-chan didn't mean to blame you at all, I just wanted to praise Alter.

Yeah, Alter is after all Jeanne's sister and Lily's sister. They are not honest, but they are really similar in the eyes of the holy sisters!"

"What did you hear about me!?"

"This is my impression, because I heard it very clearly."

Like Sora, Astolfo, who sacrificed himself to protect Alter's sister, shouted at him with relief, but his innocent remarks backfired, only making Alter even more angry.

However, in Astolfo's view, Alter's words, deeds, and anger could no longer be seen as just stubbornness or embarrassment, so he was truly surprised and curiously asked Alter.

"Where is my impression wrong? Or rather, what was Alter angry about just now?"

To Astolfo's question, Alter hesitated for a moment, but only for a moment.

Alter glared at Astolfo and replied.

"……Everything. Your impression! The reason you said I was angry! Because it's completely out of place! m.

The only thing that shocked me was that I took the brunt of the sexual harassment! I won't say I do it because I like it, but it's not stressful enough! If only I came to parry the stupid Harassment, I would never feel stressed!!

It's just sexual harassment, it's stressful, but if you worry about it like touching a tumor, it will be even more stressful!!"

Faced with Alter's answer, Astolfo was speechless, only saying "Hmm?"

The premise that "sexual harassment is the source of stress" was completely denied, and Astolfo's thoughts came to a halt.

Well, Sora did not say, "The stress that led Alter to create a Double comes from the sexual harassment of people around her."

No, but this trend won't happen. Or rather, no matter how stubborn Alter is, why deny it across the board, Astolfo didn't quite understand what this stubbornness meant, completely froze, and couldn't say a word.

Astolfo couldn't understand anything.

He didn't know what Alter wanted to deny at all.

"……Alter.

Astolfo doesn't know."

However, Jenny and her sister understood.

Thus, behind her, no matter how much hurt she received, Jenny remained silent, holding her sister who was trying to bear it alone, and pleaded with her.

"!? What are you saying! Let go of me!!"

"……Alter, I'm sorry. As an unreliable sister who only worries about you, I am sorry."

"I know, let go of me!!"

Alter was embarrassed to be held by Jenny and wanted to pull her away, but Jenny did not let go of her younger sister, continuing to apologize while hugging her with extra strength; the chaos of Alter unnecessarily exposing herself and trying to pull away was—Astolfo stared at it for a while, shifted his gaze to Sora, and asked: "What is going on here?"

Sora was also Sora, watching the sisters' interaction while smiling vaguely, not knowing whether to say the sisters were laughing or should calm down.

"Astolfo. For Alter-chan, the greatest pressure is likely not 'Favrotskies' or 'sexual harassment', but 'the values of ethics and morality that cannot be discarded even if you abandon your faith are what your faith cultivated'."

She hates and resents God for not helping her parents, so she no longer believes in Him. Conversely, they would want to completely deny this belief and blaspheme it.

But, Alter-chan cannot blaspheme the morality and ethics within her heart... the Conscience that God taught her and established her faith. I don't want to say it is 'wrong', I want to believe it is 'correct', but the God who called it 'correct' did not help my parents protect everything that should have been correct. Alter-chan will eventually bear great pressure, regardless of whether she does what she thinks is 'correct' or 'incorrect'."

Hearing Sora's answer, Astolfo widened his eyes, and Alter also stopped rampaging.

Sora looked at Alter, pointing out why she stubbornly denied that "sexual harassment is not a source of pressure."

The reason she denied it was also the reason Sora realized it first.

"If you deny 'sexual harassment is not a source of pressure', if you are not good at it, it must be a fortress against sexual harassment.

Because you want to deny the Catholicism that upholds chastity, you want to think sexual harassment is 'no big deal'. Because I deny and blaspheme Catholicism, sexual harassment is no big deal to me.

But your true values, the things you cannot let go of, you hate that role from the bottom of your heart. I have been getting hurt.

That is why your Double, who is your true intention, suddenly cried after hitting Leorio.

I am a woman, I have known Astolfo for a long time, and I believe he wears this outfit, but for you, Leorio... or more accurately, when it comes to being a 'man', I can't accept it, I want to immediately eliminate this existence itself. You can't stand the fact that I touched you when I hit you, I can't bear to cry."

In other words, Sora and Alter have similar values regarding sex.

The two were originally pure and innocent, but Sora's values as a mage made her mysophobia feel ashamed, and Alter's hatred for God made her feel such values were useless. Truly knowing whether it is open or clean regarding sex.

So, watching Alter's Double crying while hitting her... Sora noticed her face was already terrified before she was about to cry, which is why he realized the source of pressure aggravating Alter's annoyance.

And when Sora pointed this out, Alter did not answer.

However, just like when Sora sexually harassed him, his face flushed, he bit his lip, turned his back to Jenny, and fell silent.

All of Sora's words were too much.

... By the way, no matter how you look at it, Binta is nothing more than a slap, but it was truly too unreasonable, Astolfo inadvertently struck a Kondo pose and said: "……Leorio, I'm sorry." And because I am the reason he was involved in this, I apologized for the time being.

However, Sora responded to Astolfo's apology saying: "No, the moment I saw Alter-chan, he stretched his nose hard, and his chest also looked like cancer, so this is not a slap. It's fine. Hit him." Instead, I started to follow Alter.

Following behind Sora, Astolfo had nothing to say about the junior's honesty, and his gaze became more distant.

"Ah, yeah... then that's fine.

... By the way, if Alter's source of pressure is 'I want to abandon my faith, but I cannot discard the Conscience created by faith', how should I solve it?"

"Yeah. I am also worried now."

However, as Astolfo changed the subject, this time Sora's gaze shifted away, and Alter grabbed a cushion from the sofa and threw it at Sora.

"I people make me ashamed of it!?"

"I think this is terrible, but what on earth are you saying?!"

No matter how much pressure there is, I don't want anyone to know, so I hid it in my heart, stuffed it in hard, but even though I wanted to reveal everything that spilled over in the most direct way, I was still disappointed in Sora, who said there was no necessary solution. I understand Alter's mood, but I cannot blame Sora for the excuse after being hit by the cushion.

In fact, this is something others cannot do.

The direct reason Alter created the Double was "the role of a breakwater to prevent sexual harassment from being directed at other family members," and she added "fear of ghosts" into it, so her current situation is very likely a vicious cycle where the frequency of Another Self objectification has increased.

So if you remove that source of pressure, the Double might disappear.

Getting rid of the source of pressure is not difficult. The problems related to ghosts have already been solved, and if you don't want to rely on Jenny, let alone Lily, for the sexual harassment matter, you can rely on Astolfo.

Without a doubt, Sora was convinced that he was more accustomed to dealing with sexual harassment than other women. And when Sora asked him to follow up on Alter, he proudly said: "Leave it to me!"

So, it can be said that the problem Alter was holding alone has been solved.

However, if Alter's underlying pressure is not resolved, this is only a temporary relief.

Alter not only does not want to believe anymore, he also hates God.

But, she is essentially a good person and cannot abandon the ethics and morality she established through faith.

Because he was originally kind and serious, he cannot do things that go against his own moral values. I don't want to do this.

However, the more I act according to that ethical view, the less I believe in God, "Why did God let my parents die?"

Even if she wants to think her faith and the morality she wants to protect are separate, since she was born, she was taught that "bad things are against God's teachings," and she has no complaints or dissatisfaction with that teaching itself. It is inflating in Alter.

Just doing what she wants to do, what she thinks is right, but definitely affirming the other party's teachings, which she hates and cannot stop, as a result, she can do her own things without complaining, instead of being like this.

Alter's pressure might not be well understood by people with weak religious concepts, but in fact, it is not that complicated, even if it is complex.

Just because she loves her parents very much, and because she is a person who cannot let go of the kindness in her heart no matter how difficult it is, Sora sighed.

Far from complex, it is relatively simple, so Sora is also troubled by the pressure of being unable to deceive and wanting to find a way.

Because Sora is a mage, he does not believe in the existence of God, but knows that God does indeed exist.

However, because he is a mage, he only thinks of "God" as a "superior race of humans." Possessing absolute power, Mana is precisely because it is a reliance on Mana; if it fades, you will not be able to live easily and will perish, or the other side of the world, Avalon, and similar Parallel Worlds are different, they are the same world line, it is just that one person escaped to another world, the distance is very far.

That is why in Sora's view, this story ends with one word, "Faith and morality can be considered separately."

For Sora, God is not a benevolent existence that loves and protects humans like his own children.

Helping humans is just a whim, either because God happens to be a good person, or because he personally likes the person he is helping.

The God Sora knows... they are not omniscient and omnipotent Gods, but Gods with only specific abilities, but they are only selfish bad people, so they expect the mercy of an omniscient and omnipotent God. I actually think doing so is stupid.

After all, being omniscient and omnipotent means one can do anything.

Such an existence cannot be interested in humans, let alone be benevolent. Prayers and curses are the same thing to God.

I am sure I am thinking, "Do not get entangled with yourself because it is annoying." Conversely, it would be better if you could think about it. At the very least, it means they are not indifferent.

However, I cannot say that I cannot say that I cannot completely deny the most unscrupulous remarks of the religions of this world equally and fairly.

Sora is recognized as a convincing Destroyer of the air, but he does not want to hurt people by destroying the atmosphere, so in this situation, there is no reason to say such things.

If you truly hate and hate, and hate and hate God, then you can say so.

If this sentence could completely separate her faith in God from the morality she adheres to, Sora would say it without hesitation.

But in Sora's view, Alter did not seem to have completely lost faith, so he said nothing.

Abandon or deny her faith, but instead—

"... Alter. Let me say one thing."

Instead of Sora, who was worried about how to reconcile the diametrically opposed codes of conduct of Alter "forsaking faith" and "upholding morals and ethics," Jenny, who had been hugging her sister for a long time, suddenly disappeared.

Hearing her sister's words, Alter shouted: "Ah, now! Say whatever you want to say! Or just go away!" She told her sister with a gentle smile.

"Alter, you have made a mistake.

You think the Lord abandoned our parents, but that is not the case.

...... So, your sorrow and resentment toward the Lord are righteous, but... please do not give up on yourself, thinking that you have abandoned me."

"...... Hmm?"

Astolfo, who was sitting on the sofa drinking tea, opened his mouth at what Jenny said, his face carrying a gentle smile filled with pity and affection, and I couldn't help but speak up.

Unable to understand what the pious model, the Christian Jenny who completely denies the existence of "God," was saying, both of them were stunned and unable to continue a second sentence, but the person who made the two of them stiffen did not understand why they were frozen, so he tilted his head and looked at Sora humbly, as if seeking help.

Sora also widened his eyes at Jenny's words, but he seemed to understand the intention of Jenny's words better than the other two, so he opened his mouth and confirmed it with round eyes.

"... To you, 'Master'... 'God' is not 'the one who absolutely saves you from plight,' but 'the Father of all living beings who guides you onto the right path'?"

"... Ah? Is that not right...?"

"Perhaps, there are many who recognize the 'Lord' as the former? No wonder, even though I am a Catholic, sometimes I cannot understand."

Jeanne widened her eyes at Sora's question, and after being slightly stunned, she was convinced by herself.

With such an answer and reaction, even Sora was speechless; conversely, Alter and Astolfo woke up after a gap of several seconds and each stabbed at Jenny.

"Is that what you think!? Or rather, why would you believe in someone who just watches you!?"

"What on earth does Jenny want to say!? Do you want to end Alter's faith!???"

"???"

"So, you are just watching it!"

Jenny was confused by the artillery fire from Alter and Astolfo, but she denied the part where they were just "watching," but for some reason, Jenny's words did not reach the two of them.

With identical thrusts hitting back at the same time, Jeanne did not know how to explain and instead asked the two: "Eh? Why is it like this?" Just then, Sora clapped his hands twice, drew attention to himself, and said,

"... Ah, I probably understand what Miss Jenny wants to say.

Or rather, Miss Jenny's religious views, or her religious faith, are fundamentally different from mine and Astolfo's, and also from Orta-chan, who is also a Christian.

... Jenny. For Orta-chan, religion and faith might be for 'this moment we live in,' in other words, for this world.

And Alter. For Jenny, religion and faith are 'things of the afterlife.' That is to say, for Jeanne, this world is like a test to decide whether one goes to heaven or hell in the afterlife.

So God will not save people just because they did the right thing. No matter how cruel and unreasonable death is, they just watch and do not help.

When you fall into that kind of situation, the kind of action you take is the result of the test that God wants to see. Therefore, no matter how excellent they are, they are of no help.

The kind of miracles the Bible speaks of are nothing more than follow-ups, because the test itself is flawed, and what God should do is send people to the 'destination' they should go to based on the results."

Jeanne was easily persuaded by Sora's explanation, "Ah, so that's how it is." But Alter raised her voice half-heartedly, "Hmm!?"

"What is that!?"

"Well... well, in the end, we are not living in the 'now,' for the sake of 'God' sorting out our favorites, and we are earning points for that action!!"

Unable to accept Jenny's thoughts, Alter shifted her gaze from Sora to her sister, turned around, and shouted.

"In the end, are we God's favorites or what? Only gathering those who listen to you, and for that, no matter how righteous you are, please help my mom and dad who did nothing wrong. We have always believed in those who would let us die!"

"Will you continue to believe in him!?"

Hearing Alter's cry, she finally revealed a little true emotion... Jenny looked sadly at her sister, whose relative had exposed the deep trauma of her parents' passing, but her face still wore a pure and beautiful smile as she tilted her head.

"... No, Alter. No. I understand your frustration and hatred toward the Lord who did not help your parents.

However, Alter. Please consider. All life and death in the world, except for old age, the wicked will have their lives taken away by the Lord as punishment, and those who are loyal to the Lord's teachings will be saved by the Lord's mercy, even if it is purely accidental... Such a world must be the most peaceful, most peaceful, and happiest world.

But isn't that what you call 'treating us like pets'?"

Jenny was about to say something, but nothing could come out of Alter's mouth; Alter tried to reject and deny all of his thoughts.

Unable to speak, the anger of "I cannot forgive you" and questions like "Why?" were mixed on the sister's face as she continued.

Talking about the "love of the Lord" that you cannot stop believing in.

She spoke not to protect the Lord she believed in, but to save her sister who was still hurting.

"If we entrust everything to the Lord, then mistakes will not happen, but if they do, we will definitely give up thinking. Why are the Lord's teachings correct? Living without thinking about why is unforgivable; relying only on the Lord, in my view, pitying and accepting the Lord's words is like being a pet or livestock.

It is said that the Lord drove Adam and Eve, the first two people, out of paradise because they ate the fruit of wisdom; on the other hand, it seems to be the Lord's 'expectation' and 'trust.'

I made a mistake because I was able to think independently, rather than just following my teachings. But this is precisely why the Lord expects and believes that we can understand our mistakes, our sins, by thinking about why this is a sin and what we did wrong. Creatures that can live independently. I guess.

Precisely because the Lord loves us too deeply, He does not just indulge us, but no matter how much we are hurt, we will definitely dispel the absurdity and unreasonableness of this world, not by returning to heaven, but by returning to this world. The Lord is watching over us because He believes in making the earth a heaven.

... I have always thought so. It is not that the Lord will save us, but I believe that no matter what mistakes I make, one day I can correct them, and I will continue to believe."

Alter misunderstood Jenny's religious view.

Because her sister mainly focuses on the world after death, I feel that this world is nothing more than preparation for going to heaven, and she lives in the present earnestly but ignores it.

That is why I cannot let it go.

After all, if we accept such an idea, our "now," our "past," and the days we spent happily with our family will all turn into "points for heaven or academic grades." Because I think I will lose it.

So, while Alter thought "I cannot forgive you" and almost cried out "Why?", she hugged her sister tightly.

"Aren't the happy times we spent with our family just stepping stones for the afterlife called heaven?"

However, realizing that this thought itself did not matter, Alter could not speak this time, or rather, the information processing in his brain did not catch up with Jeanne's words. That face, which was so angry it was about to cry, turned into a childish, dull face, unable to speak.

"……I know you are Jenny, but in a way, you are super positive."

"……Astolfo, almost all saints are like this.

What I mean is, for Jenny, religion and faith are nothing more than 'things for after death.' Even if you live righteously, when unreasonable events or death strike you, rather than ending in tragedy, it is better to cultivate the expectation that 'this righteousness will surely be rewarded in the future.' It's meaningless, right?"

Astolfo and Sora, both wide-eyed at Jenny's words, were philosophical at such a young age, while simultaneously respecting her core strength and naturally putting her thoughts into practice. This was because his respect went far beyond that fact.

She does not ignore the "present" at all. On the contrary, they face the "present" earnestly and live seriously.

Faith may be important to her, but it is not something she sticks to or relies on. However, even when facing unreasonable situations where one cannot stand up and can only be hurt, you simply use this as a foundation to stand up and not despair.

Jenny, who holds the most devout faith, completely denies the invitation often seen in religious solicitation activities: "You are unhappy because you don't believe in this religion; if you believe in this religion, you will be happy." Sora and Astolfo seriously thought he might be suitable as a religious person, but the person herself denied this with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"Impossible. Just as Sora said, faith is something I cannot avoid. It is something I do not do because I am paralyzed by the fear of 'death' that will come one day; I did not walk away.

Did I tell you? I can understand how Alter feels about hating God... the Lord."

After finishing speaking about faith and trust in God, Jenny smiled and said implicitly without hesitation: "I also hate God." Stunned for a moment, Alter raised her voice, "Hmm!?" and restarted.

However, the person who made Alter make this sound put her hand on her cheek and tilted her head, perhaps not understanding Alter's reaction.

"？Is it that surprising?"

"No, do you really understand what you are saying? Because I don't ask for more."

I really don't know if I should say it is Alter's nature as a younger sister; Jenny felt tired from the gap in thoughts and rushed in, saying that Alter, who had not believed in any faith since her parents suddenly passed away, had softened a little. Is she happy?

"I understand.

Even now, I still love my parents very much, so I think: 'Why?' I feel a certain sensation.

……So, Alter. I will not stop you from thinking that you cannot forgive the Lord, and I will not be angry at the Lord. I don't know if it's right, but at least I cannot deny the sadness and resentment I feel because I love my parents, and I cannot forgive those who deny it.

However, Alter, please do not do things you think are incorrect, things that hurt you but are not your true intention, just to take revenge on your Lord."

Smiling, she empathized with Alter, telling her sister that she was not a saint, could not forgive all the unreasonableness in this world, did not hate anyone, and denied her sister's feelings. Jenny grabbed Alter's shoulders tightly with both hands and taught her: even if she affirmed it, she still loved her sister and could not forgive her.

"Alter, I am not a devout believer; I am a coward who cannot ask 'why' like you.

What I am most proud of you for is that you abandoned everything you believed in, complained to the Lord that you were wrong, and protected us even when you were hurt.

But Alter. If you cannot forgive the Lord, you hate him even more, and you deny and blaspheme his teachings, that is wrong.

Because you yourself don't think doing so is 'correct,' do you? Do you think it is persuasive to say to the Lord, 'You are wrong,' while doing something you think is not 'right'?"

No matter how much you are hurt, your hurt proves that what you are doing is wrong.

……So please, you don't have to forgive the Lord. You can hate me. But please don't lie to your feelings and justice and just get through it.

I can't do anything... If you cannot forgive the Lord who just watches you, then please say the words 'I cannot forgive you' to the Lord openly... You believe, and you did it. Please stick to the 'correctness' you want to protect.

Otherwise, when you ask the Lord for help, I cannot stand on your side. To me, what is more important than the Lord's teachings is not to be hurt and to live as happily as possible. If you live a burdened life, even if I think your 'I can't forgive you' is right, I can never be your ally... Please remember."

Alter was silent for a while, her sister grabbing her shoulders and looking forward as she said this.

However, the silence was broken after ten seconds.

"…………You really are an honest-to-the-point-of-embarrassment fool, aren't you? You look like a wild boar."

As always, ruthless, bitter mouth.

She raised her face while hitting her.

"I don't need any allies... Even if I don't have any allies, I will one day ask the 'Lord' you speak of for help.

I will throw away everything I do not approve of, everything I think is wrong. To the point that no one can blame my 'righteousness,' and the 'Lord' has done nothing to prove this, hey."

While hating and patting her mouth, sneering at her sister, with only a large tear overflowing from her eye socket, Alter said to her sister.

Separating the inseparable, she declared that she would continue to protect what she wanted to protect.

"……Is that so?"

Saying this, Jenny showed an affectionate smile, wiping her sister's teardrops with her finger while praying for one thing.

"……But Alter. I don't want to stand on your side because I think you are weak. I am your sister, I love you very much, so I want you to rely on me. I want to stand on your side.

……So, please be filial to your sister occasionally."

Even her sister didn't know if this was just to make it easier for Alter to spoil her, or if she was really doing it on purpose.

But regardless, from Alter's perspective, this was not a pleasant story, so she hummed, "Hmph!"

She said in a voice like a mosquito while looking.

"………………If you want to."

In response, Jenny smiled happily like a child and replied, "Please!"

There was no danger there. It was nothing more than "the more you fight, the closer you get"... but the flirting with Alter biting unilaterally was truly heartwarming.

＊＊＊

"……It's good that it seems to have been resolved, but is there any point to my self-loathing and Harassment?"

"……No, no, although Alter and Jenny's religious views intersect, they are completely unaware... I think Sora-chan is a good opportunity, yes."

Sora watched the sisters flirting, muttering with a distant gaze, and Astolfo also tried his best to keep up.

Sora accepted that questioning obediently for the time being, and Sora also Recapture the gaze looking into the distance and smiled.

In Sora, all I can think of are words that deny the existence of God and religion.

But I cannot say that, because I know this will only hurt Alter more and make her forget the values she has been protecting.

Because Alter's abandonment and denial of faith is a kind of sadness, because although he believes, he thinks he has been betrayed, and at the same time it is rebellious, because he has not completely given up.

"Why did your mom and dad have to die?" "Why didn't you help your parents?"

Alter's rebellion is like a protest against the death of her parents; she wants to deny the reality of unreasonable death for no reason because she wants someone to tell her the reason.

Because of this, Jenny's words allowed her to be relieved from the pressure on her body, despite her consistent stubbornness.

Although she said she would never believe in anything from now on, perhaps in her heart, she still could not separate her "faith" and her "correctness."

But you don't have to separate them anymore.

Alter admitted that her parents' death was unreasonable and irrational. But at the same time, her sister told her that she was not abandoned by God, so even if she died, what she did and stuck to was meaningful, because she got hope that it was not the end... because she understood that even if the parents' death had no reason, their lives must have been meaningful,' so there is no longer any contradiction in Alter.

It is just that, until now, he has simply stopped relying on his master in the name of blind faith.

This must be a form of Separation from his parents, Sora thought while drinking the remaining tea in his cup.

"Oh, but I'm really happy! With this, everything is solved!!"

"No, Astolfo. We still have to do something about the ghost that seems to still be in the house."

"Wait! Don't tell me I forgot to throw it away, just like I forgot to throw that away!!"

Just as Sora was thinking this with a smile, Astolfo also laughed, smiled happily, and took a moment to resolve the matter.

However, the unexpected calmness led Jenny to point out something that would be troublesome if forgotten, and Alter, who had completely forgotten about it, turned pale for the first time in a while and rushed in.

As for Sora...

"... Ah... it's hard to say in this atmosphere... I'm sorry, it hasn't been solved yet."

"Hm?"

"What?"

"... Ah!?"

He wore a look of ruthless embarrassment, his hands wrapped around his empty cup, fumbling while smiling to deceive it.

Of course, Alter was far from being deceived by that smile; on the contrary, it had the opposite effect.

"What are you talking about!? Are you still looking down on me!?"

Grabbing Sora's chest again, Alter had not yet unraveled the mysterious phenomenon, and in a situation where he didn't know whether it was better for his face to turn blue or red from anxiety and shame, he was temporarily angry.

Although it was not his fault, Sora was also startled by his senses, but as usual, Sora, who was lenient with himself, did not seem offended and spoke at his own pace.

"No, it's not that Alter-chan's reason hasn't been solved, so it's okay... maybe."

I mean, if your system is an Emission system and you are just Copying your appearance, I think "that" might be your power running out of control, but Jenny-san and Lily-chan are relatives and are incompetent. You look like an outsider, Astolfo, you can pat his back when you cry.

If that is the case, "that," which is extremely incompatible with the Materialization System and is classified as an Emission/Manipulation system, is definitely not Alter-chan. Perhaps "that" is—"

Although there was no need for Alter to make things difficult for himself, Alter was annoyed by this lack of confidence, and Alter and the others did not understand "just in case." When he started talking about it in a monologue, Alter roared, "You are really careless!!"

But no one could speak.

Even Sora, who spoke at his own pace, unconsciously turned his gaze to the side, toward the balcony, toward the garden, until he could not speak at the end.

Everyone could not help but cast their eyes in the direction of the vomit, a loud noise, the size and mass were reasonable, but it did not seem Hard, and then they widened their eyes, speechless.

It was in the center of the garden, in front of the flower bed.

It looked like it had just fallen... and the Fugura that was still jumping vigorously.

Unfortunately, Sora did not know what kind of fish that was. Or rather, Sora could not even tell if it was really a fish.

This was not a fish from her world, but a weird fish with insect-like legs, so I think it might be an insect that looks like a fish. Paddy field.

Because otherwise, this kind of thing would not appear in the center of this small garden that does not even have a small reservoir.

However, from the way it had to jump after being thrown to the ground, the movement of its mouth and gills, and the way it gradually weakened, I realized that this might be a bug that looked very much like a fish.

This was an extraordinary sight. However, if it was just this, what else could I say.

The most realistic possibility was some kind of Harassment, some kind of prank, throwing live fish onto the fence.

However, this possibility was quickly ruled out.

"!!??"

After a while, it came again, it came again, although the species and size were different, there were still many "live fish" in the garden.

The four of us in the living room stared blankly at the fishy Fafrotskies, dumbfounded.

It was no longer possible to be thrown into the garden for Harassment.

If it were thrown in, it would be hidden behind the Wall and invisible, but from the other side of the Wall, even from this living room, one could see the fish being thrown in an arc, but the fish were really raining down from above, many of them like this.

Fortunately, in the misfortune, after about a dozen fish, the Fafrotskies stopped, and we were able to avoid the disgusting sight of the garden full of fish.

"Wow... frogs are standard, but did you bring fish? No, as far as I know, it's fish."

"! Sora-chan!"

"Eh, hey, Sora-kun! It should be fine, are you going out!?"

Sora was the first to break the silence.

She widened her eyes, approached the balcony, opened the glass door, and after a brief pause, she ignored the voices of Astolfo and Jenny, who were borrowing sandals in the garden, smelling the fishy and salty smell.

Then, I carefully walked around the garden, not stepping on the wriggling fish, and looked up.

"... Poltergeist and Fafrotskies phenomenon... typical."

Sora muttered while looking at Lily, who was overlooking the garden with Leorio on the balcony of the second-floor room.

... A representative supernatural phenomenon, awakened by a child who did not know he had Nen.