Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 130: Desperate Push

[WARNING]

[Your heart rate is rising. For the sake of your physical health, if it's above 100 BPM, you will be immediately logged out.]

I don't know what to say... I get that this kid is somehow Wind's new [Familiar], but why did he call himself his "younger brother"? More importantly, why does he look like a younger version of himself?

I am so lost and I don't know what to say. Is he stealing my position as his "little brother"?!

I'm not the type to get jealous over this, but who does he think he is acting like an old version of me?!

"Uh... Younger brother?" Razul asks.

"N-Nii-chan?!" I hear Arthur snickering behind me. "Dude, what kind of brother-loving [Familiar] did you summon anyway?!"

Yeah... I can't believe he summoned someone so clingy! I'm his only younger brother! There's no way a monster would take my posi-

"WOULD YOU GUYS LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE?!"

All of us flinch upon hearing Wind's scream. His face is turning red and he's glaring at us like I broke something in the living room again.

"I don't know how to say this without hurting Soma's feelings. But he's only like this because he kinda takes after me and Kazu when he was summoned." He turns to look at the [Familiar] that looked like him. "I only treat him like one because he's very shy with other people. And he reminded me too much of Kaz that..."

My eyes widen, as I realize what he's trying to say. I recall that very memory before middle school.

"...you didn't want to leave him alone the same way you did to me years ago, right?" I guess. And to my surprise, he nodded yes.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you about Soma sooner."

I shake my head in response. "No, I'm sorry I jumped the gun. I must have offended him because of my jealousy."

Wind suddenly chuckles and says, "I didn't expect you to be the type to be jealous."

This time, it's my turn to have my face turn red. "I-I'm just making sure you haven't met any suspicious players while I'm not around."

"Says a recently turned 13-year-old kid who has a habit of recklessly charging into dangerous situations while I was still your [Guardian Player]."

"HEY!" I pout while everyone is laughing. But at least they're not doing it to mock me. Looking at his [Familiar] again, he does seem to be wary of us and I've made it worse thanks to my overblown reaction. "S-Sorry about that, Soma. I don't hate you or anything. I'm just surprised to see you as my brother's...younger brother."

[I-Is that bad?]

I shake my head again. "No. It's just we never had a third brother before. A brother of Wind's is a brother of mine!" I stretch my hand out for a handshake. "I hope we can work together as a team."

[Hmmm...] He stared at me for a while. Then he accepted my hand. [Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, nii-chan!]

I sheepishly chuckle. Now I understand why Wind is embarrassed...

[If I may interrupt...] We hear someone clearing their throat. [ROOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!!!]

Yikes! I'm so focused on Wind's [Familiar] partner that I almost forgot about Rudra's one-track fighting mind!

"Alright. Let's get ourselves back in the game!" Arthur calls out. "Hey, you big lizard! Don't forget about me! [Provoke]!"

He taps his shield several times like a drum enough for the [Great Ruby Dragon] to turn his attention to him. [Ha! A measly provocation is not enough to sway me! But I will entertain you if you want.]