Translator Note: I’m trying out a new format for readability. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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Aya: “W-What are you saying!? Nagi-chan!”

Nagi: “Don’t worry, everyone but big brother probably understands. Aya-san, you’re too easy to read. Ah, maybe Reina-san hasn’t noticed. Given how she is, big brother is straightforward with her. Well, that’s more like admiration than love.”

Aya: “T-That much? I’m… I’m that easy to read?”

Nagi: “Yes, you always keep an eye on big brother, and you get grumpy when he’s friendly with Reina-san. It’s really obvious!”

Aya: “……Uuu……”

Nagi: “Hehe, so? Do you like him? What’s going on! Do you want to flirt with big brother?”

Aya: “……Th-That’s…”

Nagi: “Aya-san! Confess! You want to be in love with big brother, don’t you!!”

Aya: “……Uuu……I l-lo…”

Nagi: “Huh?”

But Aya couldn’t say the words that followed. However, she gave a strong nod, her face bright red. For Aya, it was a big statement.

Seeing that, Nagi smiled broadly.

Nagi: “Hehe, well, that’s okay. I’ll let you off the hook for today. And so, Aya-san! I’ll help you!”

Aya: “Eh?”

Nagi: “I personally want you to be with big brother more than Reina-san. It’s not that I hate Reina-san! But I owe a lot to you, Aya-san, and I feel like you’re more of an older sister to me!”

Aya: “N-Nagi-chan……”

Nagi: “So let’s try our best! Here, give me your hand!”

Nagi held out her hand to Aya, smiling brightly.

Aya: “……Okay……I’m counting on you!”

Nagi and Aya held hands. For Nagi, she loved her brother Kai, but not in a romantic way. He was more like a parent to her, who had always taken care of her since they were young. She was prepared to risk her life for her brother.

Her brother, who had grown up to be so handsome, was now loved by such a nice person.

As a younger sister, she naturally wanted them to be together. And then…

Nagi: “I’m excited!”

Because love stories are a girl’s favorite topic. Naturally, when it involves her beloved brother and her friend Aya.

◇Kai’s perspective

Kai: “Huh? Reina?”

At the end of the barbecue, I saw Reina standing alone on the beach, gazing at the sea. I walked over with a piece of meat to start a conversation.

Kai: “Reina, what are you doing here──!?”

Reina was looking at the sea, wearing a straw hat. But when I saw her expression, I was surprised.

That’s because Reina was crying. Not sobbing, but standing with her silver hair fluttering, staring straight at the sea with her emotionless, icy eyes, and shedding tears.

A single beam of light fell silently.

Reina: “……Mom.”

She looked sad. But she stood, allowing her silver hair to flutter, looking nostalgic as if remembering something.

It was as if she was a painting.

Kai: “Reina… Are you okay?”

I cautiously began to speak to Reina.

“Kai… what do you mean?”

Kai: “Eh? What do I mean… because you were looking at the sea… and you said ‘Mom.’”

Reina: “Mom? I don’t know. But this place… I feel like I’ve been here before. The hotel from earlier too. But I don’t remember clearly, it’s a distant, distant memory, probably something I hid away because I was scared.”

Kai: “I see…”

I heard it from Chairman Kagetora. Reina has sealed her past memories. Those are the memories that could break her heart if she remembered. Maybe she also sealed away her emotions with them.

Kai: “Someday… it would be nice if you could remember.”

Reina: “……Yeah.”

Reina nodded once and returned to where everyone else was.

I felt as if I had witnessed a dream, but those tears… were they real?

Those tears on Reina’s face were so impactful that I was unable to forget the expression on Reina’s face.

…

At the end of the barbecue, when my stomach was starting to feel full, Nagi and Aya seemed to be up to something but anyway, I was very happy that they were getting along. Aya takes care of Nagi like a sister, which is very helpful for me, and seeing Nagi’s smile makes me feel happy.

Huh? Has she always been such a mischievous smiler?

Chairman Kagetora: “Well… now that the barbecue has reached a stopping point…”

The chairman stood up alone, took a deep breath with a grin.

And then.

Chairman Kagetora: “Get excited! Beach volleyball at the sea in Okinawa! Let’s boost love, friendship, and teamwork, yeaahh!!!”

He suddenly shouted out loud.

Kai: “Eh? Beach volleyball?”

As I wondered, Tanaka-san and the chairman brought out something. It was a ball for beach volleyball, the familiar one with blue, yellow, and white colors.

Tendou: “I thought it was just the old man’s usual prank, but you’re also in on it, Issei-san?”

Tanaka: “Haha, the proposal was from the chairman. But it makes perfect sense to play a ball game to boost teamwork. We thought we could deepen our friendship a bit through play.”

Tendou: “Oh, I see. That sounds fun!”

As he said that, Tanaka-san spoke to a hotel employee nearby, and a beach volleyball court was swiftly set up. It seemed they had planned it from the beginning. The court was quickly set up, occupying a corner of the sandy beach. The white court lines were drawn on the white sandy beach, and the net was set up.

Chairman Kagetora: “Let me explain the rules!”

Then the chairman began to explain the rules, standing tall with the ball in his hand. I thought the ball looked like a softball, but it was just that the chairman was too big.

Chairman Kagetora: “The rules are simple, it’s 3 vs 3. Basically, the same as volleyball, you connect with the ball and put it into the opponent’s court. You can touch it only once. The victory conditions are two. You either score 11 points first, or…”

The chairman tossed the ball high into the sky and demonstrated a perfect serve.

Even though he is simply muscular and it’s a little off-putting, the ball that rises high into the sky maintains a beautiful form as he gives it all he’s got.

Chairman Kagetora: “Nuraaahh!!”

He smashes it.

“Boom!”

A sound like an explosion echoes throughout the beach. Everyone turns to stare, wondering what happened.

It was simple enough what happened. The ball was smashed to pieces. Literally. The ball was smashed with such force it exploded in mid-air.

Chairman Kagetora: “…Like just now, whichever team destroys the ball, looses.”

Kai: “What kind of musclehead beach volleyball is this…?”

Before I knew it, Tanaka-san was going around to the groups that had come to swim at the beach, apologizing for the noise with some kind of gift.

Tanaka-san has it tough…

…

Chairman Kagetora: “Shall we get started?”

We’re standing on the court now. Three on each team, Tanaka-san is the referee.

Nagi: “B-Brother… I’ll do my best.”

Next to me is Nagi, trembling like a newborn fawn. We decided it would be best for Nagi and I to be on the same team. But seeing that missile-like spike from earlier, I’m wondering why I brought my little sister to such a dangerous place.

I have to protect her at all costs. And the third member of our team is Aya.

In a strange twist of fate in the team selection lottery, Aya ended up on my team.

That means the remaining three are on the other team. Muscle Man, Muscle Man 2, and the Beautiful Girl.

Not beauty and the beast, but the strongest muscle men S-Rank team in Japan. With that team, they could even take down a country. Why are they playing beach volleyball?

Tanaka: “Now, let’s follow the principles of sportsmanship and give it our all. But be careful not to damage the court.”

Chairman Kagetora: “Hahaha! My blood is boiling, Ryunosuke!”

Tendou: “Looks fun, old man.”

Aya: “Grandpa looks like he’s having fun.”

The game begins. Basically, I receive the ball, Nagi tosses it, and Aya spikes it. That’s the safest option. I shouldn’t have to worry about danger in beach volleyball.

Kai: “I’ll receive it, Aya.”

Aya: “I’m fine, Kai-san.”

Kai: “Huh?”

Chairman Kagetora: “Let’s get started!!”

Then the chairman tosses the ball up and spikes it.

Chairman Kagetora: “Here I gooooo!! Nuraah!!”

The force of it was like a missile. With a thunderous sound, it crushed the air and came flying at me like a meteor.

Kai: “Are you kidding me!? This is more like an attack!!”

I started to run towards where the ball was going to land.

But before I could get there, there was already a girl there.

Kai: “Aya!?”

Aya was trying to receive it. But it’s impossible to get that ball. She’ll get hurt. I reached out my hand, but I was too late.

However…

“Fwah”

Kai: “Huh? It went up!?”

Aya: “Nagi-chan!”

Nagi: “Got it!”

Nagi tosses it, I jump to meet it and spike it, scoring a magnificent point. The ball buries itself right next to Reina.

Chairman Kagetora: “Nuu!! Well done!”

The chairman looks frustrated, but I was also surprised.

Kai: “Aya, that was amazing!”

Aya: “It’s not a big deal. I used to be a libero in volleyball, and with my current status, I can do at least this much.”

I stare at Aya’s status, which she says while blushing a little.

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Name: Aya Ryuenji

Status: Good

Job: Artifacter 【Awakened】

Skill: Artifact Creation Lv2

Magic Power: 325,040

Attack: Reflection Rate ▶ 30% = 97,512

Defense: Reflection Rate ▶ 30% = 97,512

Speed: Reflection Rate ▶ 30% = 97,512

Intelligence: Reflection Rate ▶ 200% = 650,080

Equipment

• Black Dragon’s Defense = Attack reflection rate increases by 30%, defense reflection rate increases by 25%
• Green Dragon’s Power = Defense reflection rate increases by 30%, speed reflection rate increases by 25%
• Yellow Dragon’s Speed = Speed reflection rate increases by 30%, attack reflection rate increases by 25%

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It turns out Aya has been creating artifacts several times since then. It seems she’s been using up a lot of magic stones that Chairman Kagetora generously provided from his active days. Apparently, she’s done it about 100 times, which is equivalent to hundreds of billions.

Kai: “You’re amazing, Aya!”

I grip Aya’s hand. She’s a little red, but she must have been able to kill most of the power of that attack. Aya is not a warrior. But she’s a versatile sportswoman, a super-smart and perfect beauty, and a seasoned player, which was very reassuring.

Kai: “With you, Aya, I feel like we can win. Can I count on you for the receives?”

Aya: “Of course!”

Aya receives, Nagi tosses, and I spike. This trio’s combination was incredible, and we gradually increased our lead.

Chairman Kagetora: “Nuuu, Reina! What are you doing! Why haven’t you picked it up since then! You could easily get that!”

The chairman is getting heated and scolds Reina.

Reina: “What is it?”

But Reina tilts her head in confusion.

Chairman Kagetora: “What is it… Don’t tell me you don’t know the rules?”

Reina nods her head in affirmation. No, why was she standing there all this time? Everyone gave a bitter smile at the somewhat spaced-out Reina and explained the rules.

Reina: “I see, I just have to do like Aya, right?”

Chairman Kagetora: “Y-Yes. Well, Aya is pretty versatile in sports, so you just need to pick it up for now.”

Then the chairman serves another bomb-like serve, but it’s meaningless in front of Aya. Like a master, she receives it with ease like a willow and raises the toss.

I aim for Reina and let the spike fly. It was my kindness. She just learned the rules, so it’s good to try it at least once.

Catch it if you can!!

I was getting a little heated, too. Releasing adrenaline to boost my mood. Competitions always get men fired up.

The tension was high, and a bullet-like spike went towards Reina.

However, I felt regret. It wasn’t as strong as the chairman’s, but it should have been released with considerable power. Let alone a bruise, that kind of force that could be lethal if it were to hit an ordinary person, but still.

“Whoosh!”

Just like Aya, Reina smoothly made her way to the landing spot. She performs the exact same form and the exact same movements as Aya. Then, inevitably, just as beautifully, the ball goes up.

To call it an imitation, it’s too high-level a copy. I heard from the chairman before, Reina’s talent is monstrous, even without magic.

Chairman Kagetora: “Well done, Reina! Go, Ryunosuke!”

Tendou: “So, it’s finally my turn to spike… It’s my first time…”

Tendou-san kicked the ground, while sounding and looking bored and cracking his neck.

This is bad.

I instinctively activated the Eye of God. Golden glowing eyes, when I stared at Tendou-san with those eyes, a huge magic power that I had never seen before was gathered in his hand.

The color is black, like a black hole that doesn’t let light through, much like an inkwell. That jet-black magical power is transmitted from the arm, hand, and to the ball.

Tendou: “Haja Issen…”[1]

Perhaps that strike was still holding back. Perhaps it was so as not to break the ball. But instead of flicking it, it spikes as if pushing, breaks the air barrier, makes a roaring sound, and heads towards our court.

“Haja Issen” is a skill held by the samurai, the profession that Tendou-san has. In detail, it’s simply a flying slash with magical power. He had just released that magic power onto the ball. Is he trying to kill us?

A strike that resembled a black dragon roared and flew towards us.

Aya couldn’t react fast enough. I can’t blame Aya.

She’s not a warrior.

It was that kind of strike. A rampaging black dragon flew towards Aya. The bullet, even endowed with magic power, could potentially take a human life.

That’s why…

Kai: “Guuu!”

I had to protect her.

Aya: “Kai-san!”

I received that strike. The force was lessened to absorb the shock, so I was blown away, spinning grandly backward. It stirred up the white sand, as if there had been an explosion.

I flipped over and buried myself in the ground. The shock that hit my arm wasn’t a big deal because it was protected by magic power.

However, the ball survived.

Kai: “Nagi-chan!”

Nagi: “Got it!”

The scene I saw while buried in the sand was of Nagi tossing the ball up and Aya making a spike. A beautiful spike, with power comparable to my own previous spike, flew towards the opponent’s court like an arrow.

Aya, who thought Reina could receive it, targeted Tendou-san who was near the net to make her spike. Tendou-san was a little off balance after his spike.

This should do it.

That’s what I thought.

Tendou: “Sorry, but…”

The strongest man in Japan stood in the way.

Astonishing reflexes and technique. He skillfully kills the power of the ball using only the back of one hand, floating it in the air. This is the technique of a man named Tendou Ryunosuke, who has not only strong magic power but also a martial arts master who dominates the world.

It couldn’t have been pierced with just an attack from Aya.

The chairman lifts a high ball.

Chairman Kagetora: “Alright!! Reina!! Spike with all your might!!”

Reina flies, in a beautiful, rational spike pose, exactly like Aya’s.

It’s over. In this situation, it might be settled already.

But only Tendou-san noticed the slip of the tongue by the chairman.

Tendou: “!? St, stupid, old man! If you tell Reina to use her full power!!”

Chairman Kagetora: “Ah… I messed up…”

While I was still buried in the sand, I saw it.

The silver glowing magic power gathering in Reina’s hand. Not even comparable to what Tendou-san had before, literally full power. An attack equivalent to a strategic missile of an S-Rank clearer, capable of changing even the terrain.

Her silver glowing hand swings down faster than the speed of sound. A sonic boom occurs, blowing away the makeshift court and causing a typhoon-like wind on the beach.

The sound of breaking the air barrier echoed across the hotel beach, and several people tumbled.

With that much power, what would inevitably happen?

BAM!!

The ball, surpassing its durability, splintered into smithereens.

It’s gone without a trace.

Reina: “…When I hit it with all my strength… it broke, grandpa”

The chairman holds his head, looks up at the sky and groans about what he had done.

At that moment, Tanaka-san announced the winner.

Tanaka: “…Ahem… Well, since the ball broke, the winner is Kai-kun’s team.”

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[1] Replaced “Overwhelming Evil Flash” with “Haja Issen”.