Morning fog floated over the calm surface of the lake. Birds chirped somewhere high in the canopy. Haruto rolled his shoulders and exhaled slowly. His mana training yesterday left his muscles sore, his mind strained, and the ground cracked in places that Airi still complained about.
Today would be different.
He wasn't going to unleash mana. He wasn't going to cause another natural disaster.
Today, he wanted to move. To fight. To use his body.
Magic was unpredictable. Sword training was not. He understood acrobatics, stance, balance. A sword was direct.
There was only one problem.
"I do not have a sword."
He stared at his empty hands and let out a defeated sigh.
"I should have asked Goddess Aether for one. That would have been smart."
He glanced toward the forest, where the ground was still split from yesterday's unfortunate explosion.
Sword training felt safe.
Magic training felt like a legendary calamity.
He sighed again.
"I wish the Goddess had given me a sword."
A playful voice echoed in his mind.
So now you wish for a sword, after receiving absurd power.
Haruto froze. "Who is that?"
You wound me. After I personally reincarnated you, blessed you, and granted you limitless potential, you forgot my voice.
"…Goddess Aether?"
Finally. Yes. It is me.
Her tone turned smug, dripping with dramatic grandeur.
The one who gave you this world. The one who granted you endless mana. The one you should shower with praise.
"Thank you?"
Weak. Try harder next time.
Haruto rubbed his forehead.
"About the sword. I cannot control mana properly yet, so I thought sword training would be better."
You want a sword?
"Yes."
You did not even say please.
"…please."
Better. Listen carefully. You do not need me to hand everything to you. You have a system. Say this word. Shop.
"…Shop."
A semi transparent blue screen appeared with a soft chime.
━━━━━━━
▷ SHOP ◁
━━━━━━━
• Weapons
• Tools
• Basic Items
• ??? (Locked)
• ??? (Locked)
At the top, glowing text appeared:
NOTE:
More items will appear as you progress in your journey.
Haruto blinked slowly.
"This is actually like a game interface."
Do not compare my divine craftsmanship to a mere game UI.
He decided he would rather live than argue.
He tapped Weapons.
━━━━━━━
Weapons
Beginner Iron Sword — Cost: 100 Mana
Steel Sword (Locked) — Requires: Hardened Beast Fang ×3
Wind Silver Blade (Locked) — Requires: Special Achievement [Not Achieved]
Mythic Weapon: ??? (Hidden)
━━━━━━━
Haruto selected the iron sword.
Ding.
A sword formed in his grasp. Polished. Simple. Balanced.
He swung it once.
Perfect weight.
Then something new flashed on the screen.
Inventory Magic unlocked.
"What is that?"
Your personal dimensional storage. Say the word. Inventory.
"Inventory."
A circular ripple appeared beside him, stretching into a swirling portal as tall as Haruto himself. Inside was a spacious void, like a pocket dimension.
Goddess Aether explained with pride.
This is not some cheap grid window. This is a real spatial vault. You can place anything inside by thinking of storing it while touching the portal. To retrieve something, just reach in while thinking of the item or say the item's name. When you are done, say Inventory close.
Haruto reached forward, curious. The sword vanished into the portal the moment he thought of storing it.
"This is… a real dimensional space."
There is more. Only you can access it. And one more person. The one you trust and love the most.
Haruto's eyes widened.
"Airi."
Correct. She alone may open it even when you are not present. Treasure that privilege. Dimensional storage of this level is something even gods envy.
Haruto placed his hand against the edge of the portal.
"Inventory close."
The portal folded into itself like swirling water and disappeared.
The world returned to stillness.
Also Haruto.
The Goddess's voice softened.
Protect your sister. That is the one thing I desire.
Haruto tightened his fist.
"I will."
The voice faded.
Silence returned.
Then—
"Onii Chan."
Airi walked toward him, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Her hair was messy, her cheeks puffed out with annoyance.
"It has been four days since we arrived here."
"Already?"
"Yes. And we still do not have a home. You keep training. I want a home. A real home."
She grabbed his sleeve, tugging him down to her level.
"We are building it today."
Haruto couldn't help smiling.
"Alright."
Airi brightened instantly and grabbed Frost's tail.
"Frost, come. We are building a house."
Frost blinked blearily. "House…? Now…?"
"Yes."
There was no room for negotiation.
Haruto exhaled a small laugh.
"Let us begin."
________________________________________
LAYOUT PLANNING
Haruto knelt near the lakeside and began drawing on the soft dirt with a stick.
"We should build here. Flat land. Water nearby. Stable soil."
Airi crouched beside him, staring with focused eyes.
"Onii Chan, how do you know this stuff?"
"Back in our world, I worked at construction sites."
Airi gasped, hands over her mouth.
"You were a builder hero."
"…I was labor."
"You are still a hero."
Frost nodded in agreement. "I had no idea builders existed in your world."
Haruto chuckled.
________________________________________
GATHERING MATERIALS
Haruto stood before a massive tree.
He placed his palm gently on the bark and pushed a bit of mana.
Crack.
The tree toppled cleanly.
Frost's eyes widened in shock.
"That should require several mages working together for days."
Haruto casually lifted the entire tree onto his shoulder.
"You cannot possibly carry that."
Haruto carried it with one hand.
"Seems I can."
Airi blinked at him. Then she squinted.
"If Onii Chan can do it, then I can too."
Frost spoke nervously.
"Airi, be realistic. Your body is tiny. You cannot lif—"
Airi grabbed a log thicker than her waist.
Lifted it.
With no effort.
Frost stared at the sky, questioning his existence.
"My worldview is collapsing."
Airi stuck her tongue out at him.
"This is fun."
Frost summoned several wolves for assistance, but they merely carried logs that Airi kept stacking like building blocks.
________________________________________
HOUSE BUILDING
Haruto set the foundation, aligning the beams with precise movements. Airi decorated the half built walls with wildflowers.
Frost rolled stones into place, trying to regain dignity.
Haruto carried beams like they were sticks. Airi copied him. Frost could only watch.
"Onii Chan, look. I can do it too."
"You are amazing."
Airi's cheeks warmed with pride.
With laughter, teasing, and teamwork, the house slowly came to life.
Walls rose. A doorway appeared. A roof formed. Sunlight shifted to golden orange.
By sunset, a cozy wooden home stood beside the lake.
Airi threw her arms wide.
"Our home."
Haruto placed his hand over her head.
"Yes. Our home."
Frost stared at them with admiration.
"You two are unstoppable."
________________________________________
CELEBRATION NIGHT
They sat around a fire. Frost roasted meat, the smell drifting through the night air.
Airi took a bite.
"So soft. So tasty."
She paused and looked suspiciously at Haruto.
"Onii Chan. Where do you get all this meat?"
Haruto looked at Frost.
Frost looked at Haruto.
They both smiled.
"Where else?" Haruto answered. "We go hunting."
Airi swallowed slowly. "That is why you disappear sometimes."
She leaned against Haruto, voice small.
"I am glad you come back. I do not want to be alone."
Haruto wrapped an arm around her.
"You will never be alone. Not as long as I can breathe."
Airi closed her eyes with a peaceful smile.
Frost stretched his arms toward the stars.
"With strength like this, we can build anything. A house. A village. A fortress."
Airi lifted her hand toward the sky.
"We will make our own world here. The three of us."
Haruto looked at the house, the lake, the fire, and the two people beside him.
For the first time since the plane crash…
He felt peace.
________________________________________
End of Chapter 3
________________________________________