Chapter 20 – Back to Home (1)

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Claudia.” Aleen said while scratching his head slightly. “I forgot to tell my sister that I was going to leave, so she ended worrying and troubled you.”

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s normal to worry; even more when you two only have each other. But you must pay attention next time you leave and try not to worry your sister. At least, carry your cellphone with you; it would be bad if your sister’s illness worsens and she cannot contact you.”

“I know, I will pay attention next time.”

Smiling wryly, Aleen bid farewell to his neighbor and returned home.

That was the seventh apology he gave from the moment he returned from the game. Apparently, his sister worried when he suddenly disappeared and asked the neighbors about him.

Fortunately, she only said that he left and didn’t say anything about disappearing suddenly. Apparently, She knew that nobody would believe something like that, so she simply said that he left without informing her and had not returned, so she was worried.

After all, it would not help if everybody thought that she was crazy; so, she simply asked the neighbors for help and waited near the place where he disappeared. If after one day he didn’t return, she would have informed the police.

Aleen thought that his sister's decision was very smart. He was sure that his reaction wouldn’t have been so calm in that situation. If it was not because of her sickness, her future surely would be brilliant.

Entering home, he noticed his sister waiting for him in the living room. She was seated on the sofa, and his eyes were still red from crying before. When she saw him entering, she stood up.

“You are finally back, brother.”

“Yeah. It took a bit longer than expected to inform our neighbors that I was back. Some of them lectured me for a bit.

“*Giggle* It means that they were worried about you, brother. After all, you disappeared for six hours.”

“Sorry about it…” Aleen smiled wryly.

When Aleen returned to earth, it had been six hours from the moment when he left. His sister, Claire, was obviously very worried when she saw him disappear. Besides, because she could not explain the reason because he disappeared, she found it difficult to do something. In the end, she only could inform the neighbors and wait 24 hours to call the police.

Fortunately, Aleen returned six hours later.

Aleen was surprised when he learned that six hours passed on earth. After all, the time he was in the game was two hours at most counting the talks with the gamemaster and Leona.

But when he remembered the number of times that he was unconscious, he thought that maybe the difference in time made sense.

Claire put a worried expression when she saw Aleen’s smile. Furrowing her brows, she signaled Aleen to sit beside her and asked.

“Brother, will you tell me now what happened?”

Aleen kept silent for a moment; then, he exhaled deeply before closing his eyes.

“Can you describe to me what you see when I disappeared?”

Claire thought for a moment before replying. “I’m not sure. It was as if a portal appeared and swallowed you. I was very scared and thought that you something bad happened to you. After it, I calmed myself and asked the neighbors for help. But before I could think about something else, you were back.”

“I see, so it was what happened.”

Looking to Claire’s worried expression, Aleen smiled slightly before patting her head.

“Don’t worry Claire, I’m fine. It’s only that it’s difficult to speak about it.”

“Brother, if you don’t want…”

“It’s fine, I will tell you.” Taking a deep breath, Aleen organized his thoughts before telling her about the things he experienced. He spoke about everything except for the conversation with Leona. At the end of the story, Claire was looking towards him with an expression of nervousness.

Seeing it, Aleen could not help but chuckle. “As I said, I’m fine. Though I was scared back then, apparently, my capacity to adapt is greater than I thought. To be honest, besides a bit of fear and disgust, I also felt a bit of excitement back then. After all, it was like everything was taken from a movie.”

“But brother! You could have died! If something went wrong, then you…”

“Calm down Claire, I’m fine.”

Hugging Claire slightly, Aleen did his best to calm her. For a few minutes, the pair remained in that position. Finally, Claire spoke between sobs.

“Brother, if you die then I…”

Aleen simply hugged her with more strength. He could understand her worry. After all, Aleen was her only remaining family. For Claire, Aleen was her everything. And for Aleen, Claire was the same.

Despite not being related by blood, Aleen and Claire have been together from the moment they have memory. Besides their parents, Aleen always was Claire only family. He was the big brother; she was the little sister.

When their parents died three years ago, their already close relationship became even closer. Back then, Aleen was only fifteen, and Claire just became fourteen.

Because of their parents’ deaths, the pair of siblings had to go through many difficulties. Fortunately, their parents left enough money to last for at least ten years, but money was only the first of their problems.

When the government tried to separate them, the pair depended on each other to surmount the difficulties of living without a guardian. But in the end, with the help of some friends of their parents, they were allowed to continue living together.

From then, Aleen took charge of everything related to the home.

Using the money left from their parents’ deaths, he paid the college for both of them. His sister had a few troubles going to college due to her illness, but he tried his best to help her every time. In the end, three years passed like that.

And now, Aleen became Claire only support.

“Don’t worry, little girl. I always will be with you.”

“You promise?”

“… Yes, I promise.” Aleen said after hesitating for a moment.

“Okay brother, I believe you. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“Nothing, it doesn’t matter.”

Even If you die…

I will die with you...