「Ngh... mmm...」
「Mumble, mumble... nnh... Big Brother...」
「Hmm...? Oh, right. That's where I am.」
I was back at my family home.
The reality of it finally set in. My younger sister, Stella, was sleeping right beside me in this single bed. Since I was home for the first time in a long while, we had decided to sleep together.
Watching her sleep so peacefully was truly heartwarming. She was undoubtedly having a wonderful dream.
I checked the clock on the wall; it was six in the morning. It was about time to get up.
I gently shook Stella’s shoulder.
「Stella, it’s morning. You wanted to play together today, didn't you?」
「Mu... mumble... nnn...」
She rolled over toward me and suddenly clung to me with a tight hug. Her movements were far too sharp for someone who was supposedly half-asleep. I sat halfway up and looked down at her.
「Stella, you’re awake, aren’t you?」
「Hehe... As expected of Big Brother!」
Stella sprang out of bed with a literal hop. Her movements were incredibly springy—that was Stella for you. It seemed she hadn't been neglecting her physical training.
「I wanted to admire Big Brother's muscles a little longer, but... I guess that'll have to wait! Let’s get ready!」
「Right. Let's do it!」
The two of us headed downstairs to find breakfast already waiting for us. My parents were nowhere to be seen.
Both Dad and Mom work for the Magic Association. While the headquarters is located in the Central District, they both work at this local branch here in the East District. Apparently, they aren't usually this early, but they had some business to attend to today and had already left.
After finishing breakfast with Stella, we stood side-by-side at the sink to brush our teeth.
「Alright! Preparations complete!」
「Yeah.」
We changed into our outdoor clothes and stepped outside. The sun was already beating down; I could tell it would be easy to get heatstroke if we weren't careful. I made sure to pack plenty of water and salt in my backpack as a precaution.
The two of us walked together toward the forest.
Near my home sits Dogma Forest, a zone with the highest possible danger rating. That said, it wasn't as if the area was constantly under threat; magical fences and barriers had been constructed to ensure monsters didn't stray into the inhabited areas.
To enter this forest, one must be accompanied by someone holding a Gold Rank or higher Hunter License. We stopped at the checkpoint in front of the woods to handle the paperwork.
「Hm? Well, if it isn't Ray! When did you get back?」
「Recently. It’s been a while, sir.」
「Uncle Tom! Yahoo!」
The man at the checkpoint was Uncle Tom, the manager of this forest. He was fifty-two years old, but despite his age, he actually held a Platinum Rank Hunter License. That was exactly why he was qualified to manage a place as dangerous as Dogma Forest. A Platinum Rank Hunter wasn't just for show.
「Are you heading in with Stella today?」
「Yes. Can we get permission for the two of us?」
「Of course. I don't have to worry about a thing if you're with her, Ray.」
「Yep! Because Big Brother is super strong!」
I wrote our names on the documents, and the gate was opened for us. We proceeded inside.
The shrill cry of cicadas echoed through the trees. The sound resonated in the air, a quintessential reminder of summer.
Beneath the noise, the presence of monsters was palpable. Wriggling creatures stared at us from the shadows, watching our every move from a distance.
Kafka Forest has a decent difficulty level, but Dogma Forest is in a league of its own. It is a place used for the Platinum Rank Hunter Exam, and it has claimed a significant number of lives. Before it was officially designated as a danger zone, people used to call it the Cursed Forest.
Shafts of sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, but there was no relief from the heat. We were at the mercy of a boiling, scorching temperature that seemed to cook the very air.
「Stella, drink some water.」
「Okay!」
We rehydrated before pushing further in.
「How long has it been since you were last here, Stella?」
「Let’s see... maybe three days?」
「Have you been coming here alone lately?」
「Yep! Actually, I recently became a Gold Rank Hunter!」
「Heh. As expected of my sister.」
「That's right! Big Brother's little sister is quite the overachiever! Hehe!」
Stella puffed out her small chest, looking incredibly proud. It really was an incredible feat—practically legendary. I suspected she was likely the youngest person in history to reach that rank.
Currently, almost all major Hunter records are held by Master. She was an absolute outlier who became a Grand Hunter, the highest possible rank, at the age of fifteen. When asked about it, she just said, 「I kind of just passed. Gahaha!」. It made absolutely no sense.
Stella, being related by blood to a woman like Master, clearly possessed that same extraordinary talent.
When I lived here full-time, the two of us used to come to this forest to play all the time. I had drilled all sorts of Hunter survival techniques and combat maneuvers into her. Stella didn't particularly want to become a professional Hunter, but she had always been interested in the forest, so we used to run around here from dawn until dusk.
「Mm... is that...」
「A Huge Scorpion.」
Looming before us was a Huge Scorpion. Its body was several times larger than a human, with a tail that arched high toward the sky. The ecosystem here was abnormal compared to other forests, supporting a vast array of monsters. Experts called this place a treasure trove of biology. Because of that, researchers often hired high-ranking Hunters to escort them here. I had taken those kinds of jobs myself in the past.
「...KIIIIIIIIII!」
It let out a piercing, metallic shriek. An ordinary person would have been paralyzed with fear, but the two of us just watched it calmly.
「Well, should I take it?」
「Wait, Big Brother.」
「Don't tell me... Stella, are you going to do this alone?」
「Hehe. I'll show you how much I've grown!」
「I see. I'll leave it to you, then.」
Stella dashed forward. She held a small knife in her right hand... and for a moment, I worried. But my concern was entirely misplaced.
In an instant, the Huge Scorpion's massive frame collapsed.
Looking closer, I saw that Stella’s knife was already buried deep in its brain. she gave the blade a quick flick to clear the blood and turned back to me with a bright smile.
「Big Brother! I did it!」
「Wow... that was impressive.」
I was genuinely struck with admiration. It wasn't just a simple stab; she had perfectly timed her magic, but even so, her raw talent was undeniable. The way she handled her magic reminded me a lot of Master.
「Alright, let’s keep moving at this pace.」
「Okay!」
Stella and I pushed deeper into the heart of Dogma Forest. We visited various spots and dealt with the monsters we encountered. We couldn't just slaughter everything or we'd ruin the local ecosystem, so we kept it to a necessary thinning of the population. Usually, Uncle Tom handles this as the manager, but since I was visiting, I had taken over the duty for the day.
Eventually, we reached a lake. The water was as crystal clear as it had been the last time I saw it. And we weren't just going to stand there and look at it.
「Stella, do you have a swimsuit?」
「I'm actually wearing it underneath! Ta-da!」
Stella threw off her outer clothes to reveal a navy-blue school swimsuit.
「Alright, I'm going in!」
She dove into the lake and began to swim with incredible speed. She moved through the water as naturally as a fish. I quickly changed into my own gear and dove in after her.
「Big Brother, race you!」
「You're on!!」
We spent the rest of the day doing all sorts of things in the forest. We didn't plan on camping, but we ran through the length and breadth of Dogma Forest.
「We played so much!」
「We did. That was fun.」
「Ehehe! Playing with Big Brother is the best!」
I gently patted Stella’s head as she clung to my arm. The sun was setting, and we were making our way back home. We walked hand-in-hand along the familiar path. It had been a while since I'd spent time like this with her, and it was truly enjoyable. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had such a fulfilling day. We had literally stayed in the woods from morning until night.
「Hey, Big Brother.」
「Hmm? What is it?」
「Let's play together again. It's a promise, okay?」
「Of course.」
「Yay! Whoo-hoo!」
We continued walking, chatting happily as we went.
◇
「Uugh... Big Brotheeeeeeeeer! Noooooooo! I don't want you to leaaaave! Waaaaaaaah!」
After staying for five days, the time had come for me to head back to the Academy dormitory.
I had told her the date in advance, but Stella was currently clinging to me, refusing to let go. she gripped me with all her strength, desperately trying to keep me from leaving.
「Ray, stay safe. Come back and see us soon.」
「I will. Take care of yourself, Mom.」
「Ray. If you ever need anything, you can always count on us.」
「Thanks, Dad.」
After saying my goodbyes to my parents, I finally faced Stella. I knelt down to her eye level and gently patted her head.
「Stella. We’ll see each other again soon.」
「Really?」
「Yeah. Next time, you should come to the Central District to visit me.」
「I can!?」
「As long as Mom and Dad say it's okay.」
「Okay! Big Brother, I'm definitely getting into the Academy next year... just you wait!」
「I'll be waiting. Well, I'm off.」
With a final wave to the three of them, I started back down the path. I walked along the dirt road, passing between fields of sunflowers that stretched out on either side.
The sky was perfectly clear again today. The scorching summer sun beat down on my shoulders. My shadow was darker than usual, a jet-black silhouette stretching out behind me.
I looked up at the sky; there wasn't a single cloud in sight. The sheer beauty of the landscape struck a chord in my heart.
—Ah, it really is beautiful here. I'll definitely come back.
Adjusting the straps of my backpack, I set off with a firm step across the earth.