The Protagonist's Sister Is Actually The Strongest

I’m pretty sure this was a fact she already knew, but maybe because of everything that’s happened recently, she just didn’t have it in mind or couldn’t remember.

But yes… I’ll have to leave in 24 hours, and there’s no time dilation to extend that period, unlike before. I’ve certainly squeezed these 15 days I had here into several months, thanks to the Time Dilation provided by Inner Realms.

However, the System—and whoever might control it—has decided that such Time Dilation cannot be used again to exploit time limits. And that’s that.

I was hoping to stay at least another week to oversee how things would unfold after everything, maybe even help the machines and the people of this world get along.

But in 24 hours, I don’t think I have the time to do any of those things. If anything, I should stay here and have conversations with everyone I’ve met.

It’s at least more time than I had left after I defeated Blednica in that Hell World I visited, where I had to leave in a hurry, even though I wished I could’ve stayed longer.

I guess this is partly my fault. Perhaps a colder person, someone who doesn’t get attached to people so easily, wouldn’t have a problem leaving and might even want to depart as soon as possible.

But I have a problem: I get attached very quickly. Perhaps because… well, I was always a lonely person in my previous life. I denied it, but I craved attention and the bonds one can form with others.

I envied people for those connections, and I ended up becoming bitter and jealous of others, without even seeing my own flaws.

Maybe I became so obsessed with reading and then writing because I yearned for human interaction—for friendship, love, parents—all the things I never had.

To think my fantasies were things most people took for granted… Ironic, isn’t it?

And now, in my second life, when I’m finally having these things, when I finally have family, friends, and people I love who love me back…

I grow too attached. I don’t want to leave them. I wish I could bring Earth here or something, just so I wouldn’t have to separate from everyone I love so much.

“I’m sorry…”

As I apologized to her, the Heavenly Empress—no, Mom—looked at me with her beautiful golden eyes, tears streaming down her face.

I had imagined she would handle this better, that she would smile calmly and simply let me go, acting wise, befitting her age.

But I was wrong.

Age doesn’t matter when it comes to feelings, to the people you love so deeply.

Even the wisest, most elderly person will feel lonely when someone they cherish leaves them behind.

“I don’t want you to leave, Anna…”

She hugged me tightly, crying over my shoulders.

“I’m sorry… I don’t want to leave either… I’m sorry…!”

I ended up crying all over again. I’m such a crybaby.

“But I have… I have my own world, my brother, my friends… And there are so many other people I want to meet, people I want to help, people I want to see survive until the end. I need to go back to save my world.”

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She slowly looked at me, smiling and nodding as she wiped her tears with her feathered arms.

“I see… I understand… I know. But even then, I don’t know why… Just at this moment, I’ve become so selfish as to cry and ask you to stay. I’m sorry, Anna.”

“It’s fine. It makes me happy that you’d miss me so much, Mom. I’ll never forget you.”

“Me neither, my dear. I’ll never, ever forget you. I’ll always love you, wherever you are.”

She hugged me again, with her big wings as well as her arms. It was a comforting, tight, and warm embrace.

I wished I could sleep nestled in her white, fluffy feathers for a whole day, without worrying about anything else, like before.

“Thanks…”

As I sighed, realizing we couldn’t stay like this forever, I quickly looked at her.

“Um, so what are we having for breakfast?”

“Hah… Yes, it’s ready. I had hoped you’d stay at least a week. I knew you’d leave eventually, but not so soon.”

“It’s still better than the last time I went to another world. At least I get a whole day.”

“I wonder who sets these rules for you? Could it not be possible to negotiate with them or something?”

“I don’t think so. It’s a power far beyond my own. To begin with, it’s thanks to them I even arrived in this world.”

“…Right, I suppose that’s… that’s that.”

She nodded, closing her eyes for a moment to calm herself.

“Very well then, if you only have one day left here with us, we should at least enjoy it. I bet you have a lot of people you want to talk to before leaving as well.”

“Yeah… And what about Dad? The Heavenly Demon’s… his body?”

“I’ve already placed him inside a coffin. I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I wanted to give him a proper burial, at the very least. The body of such a powerful being as him contains immense power, you know? Although, for some reason, his Inner Realm is gone. The mortals living inside are now here, so they’re safe, but I have no idea where it went.”

“His Inner Realm?”

“When Immortals who have reached a high rank die, they leave behind their Inner Realm, which slowly becomes an Immortal Realm governed by an Immortal Spirit. It embodies the last desires of that Immortal. Sometimes it can even resemble them, carrying their memories or personalities.”

“Eh?! I had no idea… So you…”

“Yes, I’d hoped we could find that Spirit. Perhaps I had false hopes, but it was gone. There was nothing…”

“But why, though? How did it just disappear? Was it… was it because of Lucifer?”

“I have no idea, to be honest with you. But I don’t feel like it was that monster either. Lately, I’ve heard whispers, voices, winds… Something in the air, the sky…”

“The sky?”

“Not this one, but outside my Inner Realm. You’ll probably understand once we step outside. It’s as if the very essence of your father never disappeared.”

“It didn’t…?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t really know why I feel that way. But it doesn’t feel like he’s completely gone. Somewhere, his soul… I know for sure he’s somewhere.”

“Mom…”

I didn’t know if this was the truth or just her clinging to false hopes. Perhaps she was finding clues where there were none, searching for Father where he wasn’t.

Maybe it was part of her navigating the stages of grief.

“So about the body… Should we bury him on Yang Dragon Island?”

“The island he governed? Yes, I’d thought about it. But I fear they might rob his grave, or someone could dig up his body…”

“Hmm, that would be troublesome…”

“I guess the best way is to cremate his body and spread his ashes into the ocean surrounding the island. Perhaps that would be enough? It pains me so much to even think I have to do this to his body. I wish I could keep him with me…”

“No, that’s not right. You have to let him pass away.”

“But it’s… I don’t… I feel like if I do that, he’ll truly never come back…”

She was still struggling to accept what had happened.

I wished I could do something, but even with all my powers, bringing a soul back into its body is impossible.

Even less reviving him.

I’d already gone through my own share of grief and was now just trying to accept it.

But it seemed she hadn’t yet worked through it all.

“I know it hurts a lot, Mom. I know. I’m sorry…” I hugged her again. “Let’s do what you said. We’ll place his ashes into the ocean, so he can become one with the sea. That way, he’ll be forever free, like he always wanted.”

“Anna…” She cried again, grabbing my shoulders tightly. “Why did he have to die?! Why?! I just… Why?!”

She continued crying.

A day here won’t be enough. I wished I could stay by her side as long as possible until she recovered.

Having to leave while she’s so brokenhearted is so cruel.

Please, System… I’ll give you anything you want, but please let me stay at least a week here.

Please…

Please, I beg you!

Please…

Please!

…

Nothing.

I shouldn’t have even tried.

What was I thinking?

It was foolish of me.

I have to face reality. I have to accept their terms and move on.

But it’s still cruel.

Bringing me to these worlds, letting me get attached to them, and then forcing me to leave, perhaps forever.

Is this what my brother always felt through all his journeys?

Maybe that’s why he grew so detached from people, why he didn’t want to form any more bonds.

Yeah, I get it now. How he felt.

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