"Then Fuyao-sama is Hanakoi-sama's...
He's my brother on earth. His divine power was given to him by the World God.

　That's a lie. It wasn't given to me, it was a coincidence. It was an accidental mistake.
　Well, the spirit of the great tree seems to agree with me, it's fine.

''How could such a person go through the 'pruning ceremony' and so on...''
My people will be there to support you. Oh, and please be fair to the judges.
"Oh...

　But maybe it doesn't matter because it's the Jaja tribe that does the judging.
　Also, apparently Hanakoi's sister can cut off her divine power completely. In my case, I can't do that, so it seems that the spirit of the Great Tree has noticed me. Well, it doesn't seem to be harmful, and I heard that she will be able to do it eventually, so I'll just let it go. It seems that divine power is not something that can be taught and become a thing.

''Anyway, the 'pruning ritual'? This is a festival, okay?
'At first there was a duel as a means of settling the dispute, but I began to give blessings and protect life. Now it's certainly a festival. There's a lot of honor and interest involved.'
''As I recall, the spirit of the Great Tree has life-giving properties. I see, it makes sense.

　Hmm. So the spirit of the Great Tree has the power to protect life? Still, seeing the deaths, it doesn't seem to be a panacea either.
　If anyone could protect him, there wouldn't be any conflicts between tribes in the Great Tree Sea.

''It sounds interesting, and I'm going to watch that 'pruning ceremony'. If Yae-chan and the others are going to be there, we have to support them too!
'What? You're not coming home!
''You know ... it's a little annoying when you force people to come to you and then you say that?
Duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh, duh!

　I've been pinched again.




　The second day of the Pruning Ceremony.
　The remaining tribes will once again compete for valor. The eight tribes that won the second round will advance to tomorrow's final.
　To be honest, I haven't seen any of the tribes that would be the Lauri's opponents so far.

Come to think of it, which tribe won the last pruning ceremony?
They say they are the Panau, but they have already been defeated.

　Oh no. Well, if it had been ten years since the last time, the members might have changed.
　There were some tribes that seemed to be quite strong, but I think this one is probably better overall. The weakest of our team is probably Lou. Pam is a bit stronger than that, and then Else (without "Boost"), and Yae and Hilda are even higher than that, I would say. And Else is as strong as Yae and the others if she uses "Boost".
　It's a bit hard to imagine the three of them losing to this group. However, there are weapons and opponents' affinities that go hand in hand. For example, Pam, who uses an axe, can use a dagger with excellent agility, or Else, who has a short reach, can use a spear. The order in which you fight will also change.
　This may be the reason why today's order was different from yesterday's. Yae was the spearhead, Pam was the second spearhead, Hilda was the middle one, Else was the second in command, and Lou was the general.

'Look, look, Yae's match is about to begin! Cheer for me! I'm going to blow you away!
Sis, we're not playing baseball...

　Hanakoi sister, who was frolicking beside me, was inappropriately dressed in her Lauri tribe's outfit. Well, it doesn't matter if she stays in those pajamas, but this one too....
　Hanakoi's sister is quite stylish and in a way, she's too conspicuous. She's a goddess, so it's only natural.......
　When I was thinking about that, Yae easily beat her opponent. It looks like this match is going to be okay. Looking at the fact that the opposing team was surprised when Yae lost to the spearhead, the spearhead guy must be the stronger one on the team. If he's strong enough to lose to Yae easily, then he's not the enemy.
　In fact, I won three straight games with Pam and Hilda as it was.

''But what the hell..... Was everyone this strong?''

　That's because I was training every day, and I was doing the occasional guild request or something. I even trained in a training room I built in the basement, but the speed at which everyone has grown in the past few months is remarkable.
　Hanakoi sister tilts her head at my muttering.

''Hmm? Have you become... one of the Attendants?
Attendant?
''Hmm, 'divine power' is just that, 'divine power', but Fuyao-kun hasn't even awakened yet, and he might not. But if you want to put it that way, you're in a state of being a half-god... a demigod.

　Eh.........you're going that far? I did hear that he was getting closer to the body of a god. It seems that you are becoming less and less human....

The fact that you have become a family member means that you receive God's blessing. Fuyao-kun unconsciously shares his divine power with the people he considers as his family. It's not much, but you could call it 'God's love'. That's what it's like. Broadly speaking, we too are the world god's household, our family.

　Yeah, I think I kind of get it. I certainly consider everyone to be family. I want to protect them. So that's what gives me the power as a family member. I see, Hanakoi sister, the god of love, can be said to be the world god's family member.

''Although those girls will never awaken to the 'divine power', it's possible that they will acquire some special power. Perhaps if they continue on like this, they will definitely reach the level of the strongest class of humanity.
That much?
You can't lick "God's love", can you? That's what "God's beloved being" is all about. By the way, of course, if Fuyao-kun hates you, the effect will be lost.

　No, I don't think so. There's no way I'm going to hate everyone. But that's a ridiculous granting effect........

''But I'm at the demigod level, so it's not that much.......ah....
?
Hmmm, what? So that's it, isn't it? Mm-hmm. Well, okay, it's okay.
You're not on your own. You have to explain it to me.

　I couldn't help but tsk at Hanakoi sister who started mumbling to herself while folding her arms and twisting her neck in some kind of way.

''Ahh, maybe those girls.......they are Fuyao-kun's family and my family at the same time.
What?
''I see Fuyao-kun as my brother, as my family. And I look at them as family as well as their wives. Even if I don't love them as much as Fuyao-kun, you know.

　Ah, so that's what it's all about. So it's a demigod and a love god, the "love of God" for two people. It's true that you guys get along really well. Well, it's your sister-in-law, right?

"...What is going on?

　Linse called out to us, as if she was curious about our condition. I guess she couldn't hear what we were talking about because of the cheers of support. Well, even if you could have heard it, you wouldn't have understood the point.

'Ya, it's nothing,'
'I was just making sure that you loved Linse-chan, Winter Night.
Shit! Yeah, right. Oh, I love you too!
'Oh, he's so cute! Geez!

　Hanakoi sister hugs Linse, who turns red and stutters as she spins her words.
　I see. It certainly seems that she has received "divine love". It's no wonder they're becoming our "family".

"Fuyao-san. Look at that.
Hmm?

　Yumina, who was watching the game, tugged on my sleeve and when I looked at where she was pointing, I saw two men fighting on a stage. A large man wielding a large sword and a stick-using skinhead who fluttered and ducked it.
　The big man was clearly from the Great Sea of Trees tribe, but the stick-artist was different. Is that skin color an Eastern man? Is he a helper like us?
　He continues to be evaded, and the big man is clearly exhausted. The shaved-headed man's stick, not missing an opening, became a sharp thrust and successfully pierced the big man's chest. As it was, the big man collapsed, and the skinheaded man was victorious. Bowing to his fallen opponent, the man returned to his own camp.
　Strong. That's quite an arm. I wonder if he was called in as a helper because of his strength. Completely unrelated, but "The boy is a stick jutsu" is going to be a fast word. I can't say it three times.
　As I was watching that stage as it was while thinking about the foolishness of it, someone from the skinhead's camp came out again, someone who was not from the big tree tribe. As long as she was competing as a representative, she must be recognized as one of the tribe's friends, but I was surprised to see the woman.
　Golden eyes, pointed ears, auburn skin and a pattern of scales floating there. And the two horns growing out of her short black hair and the thick tail that sprouted from around her waist. That is..........

''It's the dragon race, isn't it?''

　Yumina murmurs softly. The Dragon People. So that's it. If I remember correctly, they are a type of sub-human, one of the seven main races of the Mismid.

''The dragon race is very few in number, and is the least numerous of the seven main races of the Mismid. But I've heard they are a proud warrior race with high fighting ability. I've never seen them before either.''

　Well, I hadn't seen them when I went to Mismid. I heard that the dragon race is indifferent to political matters, and that most of their interests are focused on fighting and training. That's why they don't hold important positions in the Mismid, and I've never met them either.
　She holds a dull-colored gauntlet in her hand. Is she a martial artist like Else?
　As soon as the match began, the dragon race woman seemed to take a light step forward with a bang. But in the next moment, she was right in front of her opponent's axe wielder. And without a moment's pause, he thrust out the bottom of his right palm. With a thumping sound, the opponent, who hadn't even been touched, was blown up and fell outside the scene.
　What the hell........ Is that what you call a "jujin"? I used it on stage, so I guess it's not magic.
　I bow and return to my own camp, just like the skinheaded man. He's a polite warrior. I wonder if this is a school of Japanese Kendo or Judo where you have to be polite to your opponent.

"Well, I guess it's not that easy to win this one.
I guess so.

　Looking at the other stages, we can see a few talented performers here and there. However, I still feel that the two guys I mentioned earlier are outstanding.

''Whaaat?''

　As I was looking around the hall, my sister Hanakoi beside me made a strange noise. What is it? Are there any funny contestants?
　Out of Hanakoi sister's gaze, there were two people fighting with swords and swords. One was a tribe from the Great Sea of Trees. And the other one seemed to be another helper from another country. He had white porcelain skin and short-cut purpleish silver hair. The female swordsman carried a sword in one hand and skillfully dealt with her opponent's attacks.

''What the heck...''

　It's amazing. What's amazing is that the woman hasn't moved a single step. She blocked an attack from directly behind with her sword behind her back as if she could see it. How could she do that? And all this using only one hand.
　He lets his opponent attack as he pleases, and when his opponent stops moving, he lightly strikes him on the shoulder with his sword and that's it. With that, the opponent didn't get up, and the female swordsman was declared the winner.
　Hey, I won without moving at all. I don't think it wasn't that my opponent was weak....
　However, that female swordsman's tribe was eliminated here as the other three swordsmen were defeated.

''Mm, why is that girl here, why is she here?''
What?

　Are you acquainted with sister Hanakoi? As I looked at the woman's back as she stepped off the stage and walked out of the Divine Tree Area, she turned around unexpectedly, lightly raised her hand and smiled at me.
　Hmm? Huh? Do you know who I am?

Fuyao-kun, come here for a moment. Yumina, I'm borrowing Fuyao-kun for a moment.
'What? Oh, yes.

　Sister Hanakoi took me out of the Divine Tree Region. Under a large tree far out of the way, the woman from earlier was waiting for me with her hands on her hips and a fearless smile on her face.

''Ya.''
No, no. Why are you here?

　With a look of dismay rather than anger, Hanakoi sister crossed her arms and confronted the female swordsman. Completely unabashedly, the female swordsman laughed back at her with a caracara.

''Ostensibly, I'm helping you. The truth of the matter is that it looked interesting.
No?

　The female swordsman who speaks to me so casually makes me think of a possibility. I don't know if it's possible.......I can't think of anything else.

''Hanakoi-sister....could this person be........''
Hm. That's one of them. He's a swordsman.
Sword God!

　I knew it! And the Sword God is one of those gods who said he was looking at me for fun, right? Oh, come on, do the gods have time for this? No, it's like his job is to capture the subordinate gods, but he's using it as a convenient excuse...

It's a pleasure to meet you, I guess. I've been peeking at the ground occasionally, so I don't feel like that. Fuyoru-kun.
Well it's nice to meet you, Fuyao Mochizuki.
'Yeah, nice to meet you. But still, God of Love. What's this "Sister Hanakoi" thing?
I'm Fuyao-kun's older sister on Earth [here]. Mochizuki Hanakoi. Hmph, isn't it good?

　Ehem, Hanakoi's sister is proud of her chest, but it's not something to be proud of. It's not something to brag about, but Kenjin's sister's reaction was different.

''I like it. Ah, then I'm your sister too.''
'No! Your sister is my position!

　Hanakoi's sister laughed as she jokingly turned her face away. In contrast, Kenjin's sister clasped her hands together as if in worship.

''That's fine. You're not going to be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for. Please, Hanakoi sister.
'I'm the oldest sister? What?
Yeah, yeah. I'm her sister.

　Hanakoi's sister hmmm... She glanced at us, pretending to be thinking. What is this play?

You're not going to be able to get your hands on any of these. It's a special case.
You got it. So, I'm your sister, too, so it's nice to meet you.

　Kenjin, or rather the second sister, turns to me with a smile.
　Before I know it, another sister has been added to the list. .........What is this?