"Yu, we haven't seen each other for a long time."
Standing in front of the room's door, Nakano Reina smiled slightly. Her face, seven parts similar to the faces of the Five Sisters, was reflected in the young man's eyes, causing Nakano Yu to lose his composure for a moment.
After several years, seeing Nakano Reina again, she was still just as beautiful and graceful, still just as gentle and virtuous as always.
"...No, that's not right! Who are you?!"
Looking at Nakano Reina in confusion, Nakano Yu reached out his hand to touch her, but just as he was about to make contact, his mind suddenly cleared. He abruptly pulled his hand back and looked coldly at this "Nakano Reina".
"Yu? You're mischievous again. Where are Ichika and the others?"
Faced with the sudden change in Nakano Yu's attitude, Nakano Reina's expression did not change. She continued to smile, as if she were truly a mother who would not get angry at her child.
"Who are you?!"
But Nakano Yu was not so easily deceived by this impostor "Nakano Reina". He only wanted to know who this person was who dared to so brazenly pretend to be Nakano Reina in front of him!
"As for who I am, child, don't you know? You... you know me..."
"Nakano Reina" still did not answer Nakano Yu's question. Her hands were clasped together, and the smile remained on her face. Yet, even though she had exactly the same appearance as Nakano Reina, she looked like a completely different person.
Every word fell into Nakano Yu's ears like a heavy hammer striking his mind, instantly clouding his consciousness.
Gritting his teeth, Nakano Yu shone with golden light and threw a punch at the fake Nakano Reina:
"Get out of here!"
In the empty room, Nakano Yu suddenly sat up, throwing a punch that met no resistance.
"Did I... have a nightmare?"
Rubbing his forehead, Nakano Yu looked around the room and discovered that he was lying on the bed. Outside was deep night, and only a few night lamps were lit in the room.
Taking a deep breath, Nakano Yu felt that his mind was incredibly foggy, as if in the dream that "Nakano Reina" had really been hammering his head.
"Something isn't right, there is a problem, there must be a problem."
After calming down, Nakano Yu recalled the content of the dream. After clearing his chaotic thoughts, which were the result of the nightmare, Nakano Yu sharply noticed that something was wrong.
He had not had a nightmare for a long time, especially not about Nakano Reina. If it were the case of "what you think about during the day, you dream about at night", then the idea that his conversation with Nakano Maruo today caused this dream would be even more absurd.
He is a God Slayer! How could he have dreams because of such things? Moreover, even if he did dream, it would not be such a strange nightmare.
"Could it be today's daily quest?"
Muttering to himself, Nakano Yu picked up his phone to check the date and time. The date was correct; the current time was 21:27, it was not the next day yet. Today's daily quest had already been completed before he boarded the plane, so the possibility that the [Daily Quest] caused this nightmare was small.
Could it be… a Heretic God?
In an instant, the image of the statue of [Norse Queen Frigg] that he encountered today flashed in Nakano Yu's mind.
Could it be that the Heretic God, Norse Queen Frigg, had appeared?
But he did not feel any presence of a Heretic God in his perception!
Shaking his head, Nakano Yu, who could not figure out what was going on, controlled [Wind] to dress himself, intending to go for a walk.
After leaving the hotel, Nakano Yu went to the beach. The full moon reflected on the sea, and the waves struck the sand. Looking at the calm sea, Nakano Yu suddenly thought of Nakano Reina's face.
However, after a short time, Nakano Yu remembered the strange figure from the dream, and his brows frowned as he muttered:
"What exactly was that thing?"
"Yu, what thing are you talking about?"
At that moment, Yotsuba suddenly peeked beside Nakano Yu, looking at him and asking.
"Yotsuba, I miss Mother."
Nakano Yu was not surprised by Yotsuba's arrival. After waking up from that nightmare, Nakano Yu had expanded his perception to the maximum, trying to search for any Heretic God. Although he did not find anything, Nakano Yu did not withdraw his perception.
After all, those Gods who defied myths could appear at any moment.
However, he did not encounter a Heretic God; instead, he encountered Yotsuba.
"Eh? Yu, why are you saying that all of a sudden?... I... I miss her too."
Yotsuba, encouraged by Ichika and intending to have a heartfelt conversation with Nakano Yu, panicked for a moment because of his sudden heavy topic. But when she saw the somewhat tired expression on the young man's face, her mood suddenly calmed down, and she approached him as she spoke.
"Yotsuba, if I told you that I have a way to revive Mother, would you believe me?"
Nakano Yu turned his head, suddenly bringing up the topic of reviving Reina.
"I believe you!"
To Nakano Yu's surprise, Yotsuba did not hesitate; she directly nodded her head, and her eyes that met his were filled with complete trust in Nakano Yu.
Seeing Yotsuba's serious expression, Nakano Yu smiled, placing his hand on Yotsuba's head like an older brother.
"Oh, Yotsuba, you really are something. Even Ichika doesn't believe that I have superpowers."
"Don't treat me like a younger sister! I am obviously Yu's older sister, and besides, I have always believed that Yu has superpowers!"
Trying to push the young man's hand away, Yotsuba crossed her arms, muttering with a trace of dissatisfaction, but then her tone suddenly changed.
Looking at Yotsuba, Nakano Yu was slightly stunned. At that moment, Yotsuba and the image of Nakano Reina in Nakano Yu's mind overlapped.
He remembered that more than ten years ago, when he was a little boy who had just been able to speak clearly, he stood in front of Nakano Reina and confidently told her that he had superpowers. It seemed that Reina had said the same thing to him back then.
"Yu is amazing! He is good at studying, knows how to cook, can drive, has a good personality, it looks like he is omnipotent! That's why I believe that Yu has superpowers! And Yu will definitely be able to bring Mother back, I believe in Yu! When that happens, our whole family together will surely be very happy!"
"Oh, right, Mother also said that she wanted to try paragliding, but at that time she wasn't feeling well. When she comes back, let's go together!"
Yotsuba chattered nonstop, encouraging the young man. In Yotsuba's heart, Nakano Yu was like an all-around genius. After the death of Nakano Reina, it was precisely Nakano Yu who, like a parent, accompanied them while they grew up.
Thinking about it that way, Yu really resembled an older brother more.
While Yotsuba was speaking, she reached out and grabbed the young man's hand.
The sea breeze gently touched their faces, moving the girl's hair and stirring the young man's thoughts.
"Hey, Yotsuba..."
Nakano Yu suddenly softly spoke the girl's name.
Yotsuba, who was holding the young man's hand and nervously looking at the sea while counting the waves, turned her head and met Nakano Yu's mysterious and charming purple eyes.
"W-what is it, Yu?"
Being looked at like that by Nakano Yu made Yotsuba feel a little shy. Just as she was about to turn her head and avoid his gaze, Nakano Yu's voice reached her ears.
"Hold on tight."
After saying that, before Yotsuba could react, Nakano Yu raised his hand. Waves surged on the sea, and a powerful gust of Wind suddenly blew beneath the feet of Nakano Yu and Yotsuba, carrying the young man and the girl straight into the night sky.
"Wow!!! We're flying! Yu, we're flying so high!!!"
The sudden ascent made Yotsuba nervously close her eyes. When she opened them again, she discovered that she and Nakano Yu had already reached a great height, with the vast Faroe Islands beneath them.
Looking at the excited Yotsuba, Nakano Yu smiled slightly, then waved his hand again. A powerful Wind spun around them, carrying Nakano Yu and Yotsuba through the high clouds, straight under the moonlight.
"Hoo, hoo~ S-so exciting!"
Breathing heavily, Yotsuba tightly hugged Nakano Yu, her cheeks were red, it was unclear whether from fear or from immense excitement.
"Yu, you really have superpowers!"
After calming down for a long time, Yotsuba finally looked at Nakano Yu in disbelief and said.
Her previous words were only to encourage Nakano Yu, because his state at that time was very unusual, and she could not simply ignore it. Who would have thought that Nakano Yu really had superpowers, and could even make her fly!
"Otherwise, what did you think, Yotsuba?"
Seeing Yotsuba's expression, Nakano Yu laughed. He thought Ichika had told Yotsuba something, but obviously she had not. Well, that was also good; it allowed Yotsuba to accept it more easily.
"It's so exciting!"
Yotsuba looked at Nakano Yu, the smile never leaving her face.
Seriously, having a younger brother with superpowers is really cool, isn't it?!
Seeing that Yotsuba was having great fun, Nakano Yu immediately activated the stormy Wind, carrying Yotsuba as they rushed through the night sky.
After an unknown amount of time, Yotsuba had enough fun, and then they slowly descended together.
"Yu, it's so good to have you."
Holding the young man's hand tightly, Yotsuba took a deep breath. She wanted to express her gratitude, but she thought it would sound too formal. The words changed meaning when they reached her lips.
"It's the same for me, Yotsuba."
Nakano Yu smiled and patted Yotsuba on the head, looking at her with gentleness.
However, when Nakano Yu patted her, Yotsuba suddenly became dissatisfied.
Looking at the young man, she suddenly lowered her head, avoiding his hand, then leaned forward and stood on her toes.
Under the moonlight, Nakano Yu looked at Yotsuba who was only a few centimeters away. He could even feel Yotsuba's rapid heartbeat.
"Thump, thump..."
It was as if a frightened little deer was wildly jumping in Yotsuba's heart.
After a long moment, Yotsuba took two steps back, looked at the still confused Nakano Yu and said:
"Yu, I like you! I have always, always loved Yu!"
After saying that, Yotsuba blushed slightly and smiled at the young man, and without waiting for Nakano Yu's response, she turned around and ran away.
Watching Yotsuba's steps as she ran away, Nakano Yu smiled.
That girl, Yotsuba, she really is... irresponsible.
"Welcome, honored guests, who have traveled from afar to the Faroe Islands to attend the engagement banquet of the daughter of the Katsura Family, Katsura Kotonoha, and the second son of the Nakano Family, Nakano Yu."
Time passed extremely quickly; in the blink of an eye, it was already the evening of the next day. Inside the hotel Auditorium, it was already full of people. On the stage, the master of ceremonies, dressed in an evening suit, was delivering his speech.
Below the stage, Nakano Yu, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his overall demeanor had changed from a gentle young man into a mature man. If the previous Nakano Yu gave the warm feeling of the sun, the current Nakano Yu was a mysterious, calm moon; just one glance was enough to make someone fall under his influence.
Looking toward the stage, it was impossible for Nakano Yu not to be nervous. In two lives, this was his first engagement. He imagined that Katsura Kotonoha must be feeling just as nervous as he was.
In fact, that was indeed the case. Katsura Kotonoha was waiting outside the Auditorium, holding her white dress, nervously asking Katsura Kokoro again and again whether she had forgotten something.
"And now, let us welcome the young man and woman who will tonight give a vow for a lifetime, destined by fate to grow old together!"
After saying a series of uninteresting blessings, the master of ceremonies finally moved on to the main matter. Hearing the announcement, Nakano Yu straightened his posture and walked toward the stage.
However, the moment the young man stepped onto the stage, a sinister feeling spread through him.
That was...
Heretic God!!
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