Chapter 157 Wounded Beauty 5

Every second it ticks down is a reminder time will never flow backward. And if he fails to prepare he will die and worse his family will die. To combat his unease he never slept, he never stayed Idle. Learn a skill or an ability, make a plan envision a feature, analyze, and train. He did it all. It was his burden to bear and he felt guilty sharing it with anyone.

"That is why I want to apologize Tsugu, I wasn't able to say before but sticking with me means enduring this as well. I am scared the girls would leave me for this. And I'm terrified of what may happen if they died like Alter Hiro's."

For the first time since she met him, Tsugumi finally heard the Wolfen butcher express weakness and worry. It gave her immense pleasure to know that Hiro trusted her enough to open up to her. Most women believe men are rocks who hold it in. But that was false, men do share their burdens but only with those they were willing to trust.

The ones lucky enough to find such gems could be considered kings in wealth. Most do not find them, this is why on earth. The suicide rate was 12.6 for men and 5.4 for women. This meant that in every 100,000 men, 12 or 13 people would kill themselves, while for women, it would be 5 or 6. Although both got depressed at around the same rate, men are more likely to act to end their lives.

Keeping it all in was akin to filling a jug with water, if you continue to add without letting some out the jar will break. Tsugumi who saw what darkness and despair could do to a person knew how troubled her brother must have been.

"Nii-sama, my Onee-samas are not that kinds of people, didn't they put their lives on the line for you? Like me, they love you with all their heart. From what you shared, they would rather die than leave you. I am the same."

Tsugumi then stood up and pulled Hiro up. "Nii-sama looking to the future is good, but look how far you have come. A month ago you were only level 1, yet now you can fight even 70s with no problem. We have a decade. We will prepare. And We will murder them all when they arrive."

Hiro then saw an intense energy radiating off Tsugu. The woman probably didn't notice but this energy wasn't Spirit it was Aura! She continued to express her feeling unaware of what was happening to her body.

"Nii-sama, we will get stronger. We will create a giant army with the San-Baka and my Onee-samas. No one will harm you so long as I breathe. I wondered why I was granted my strength. Now I know why. I was born to fight for you Nii-sama. And on that day, none will challenge me."

The woman blazing in aura had a persona as cold as steel. Unwavering, unmoving like a mountain it felt like nothing would be able to stand against her. Yet suddenly the aura vanished and Tsugumi made smiled so sweetly some would die from diabetes.

The woman said to her dear brother as she reassured him once more. "That's why Nii-sama does not need to be afraid. You are no longer alone. We stand with you, even in no one else does, I will carve everything that tries to harm you. I am sure my Onee-samas will choose the same path as me, I can feel it in my bones."

Hiro felt his heart grow lighter from just having another person know. This phenomenon was known in clinical psychology. Just having someone listen to your problems helped most patients feel better. It didn't solve anything, the problems are still there. Yet everyone felt better, knowing they were not alone. At the end that was most wanted to be valued and understood.

The butcher then embraced his sister in a tight hug and silently murmured. "Thank you Tsugumi, Thank you so much." Tsugumi Mitsurugi felt valued for the first time in her life. Not because of how good she can butcher enemies, but because she was who she was.

It felt really good, to be needed to be valued. She returned his embrace and answered his appreciation with her own. "I also thank you, my dearest Nii-sama, I longed all my life for a family, and you made it come true. I now have a niece and three sisters-in-law. I give you my word, no matter how much hardship you face, my sword will remain by your side until the day I die."

The sibling then bonded over food, and Hiro shared his plans to soundboard against Tsugumi. As she did not have a high INT stat, she just listened and make a couple of jokes. When morning arose, Tsugumi started yawning and asked her brother.

"Nii-sama, I am bushed, we talked the whole night. We should sleep for a little bit so we don't pass out." Nodding, Hiro answered while looking around for Alan. "I will tell Alan to prepare one of the carriages for you to sleep in."

"Eh? What about you Nii-sama?" Sheepishly Hiro explained. "I verified with the system once you hit 80 INT and 40 STR you no longer need to sleep. Since I reached that, I no longer slept."

"EH?!! Is that true?" Tsugumi then asked for all the details regarding the caps. And eventually, she got to a realization! "So this is why you are so strong! While most people only train for 8 hours a day, you train for 24! The two months you have would be equivalent to six for normal people! Okay! I will follow this too! We do not have the time to waste!"

Hiro suddenly felt guilty for saying such things to her and tried to ask her to rest. "Tsugu, it's fine you can sleep, there is nothing urgent." His sister then replied in annoyance. "Mou! Nii-sama I have noticed you have a tendency to be a tad bit overprotective. You and the San-Baka do not sleep, if I do not only will be left behind but it is a luxury we cannot afford. Our battle approaches, and there is no time to waste. I will join the Fun camp. I will not be a burden for you to worry about."

Tsugumi then approached Hiro and embraced him. "Nii-sama, do not worry, I am strong. I will ease your burden if only just a little bit. If your mission is to protect the world. Then it will be my mission to protect you." The butcher's heart felt warm, as one who also longed for a family how much did he envy families who went to parks or aquariums back on earth?

He now had a wonderful sister who cried, worried, and got angry for him. It felt good. To be needed. To be wanted. It was addicting and felt like a drug. The man then returned the embrace of his sister and again thanked her, while thanking the heaven that lead him to her.

Aurum who came around had the young dragonkin in his arms as he approached. "Master, Lady Tsugumi, I bid you good morning. The Caravan is getting ready to move. Please take care of the young miss, we will be the ones to provide escort duty."

Hiro then nodded and took the child off Aurum. The young sister on the other hand came near Aurum with a mischievous face. "Oya? I am no longer your wifey Aurum? When did we get a divorce? Sigh. You don't want me anymore?"