Chapter 13 : Bad luck

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After Returning From Another World, My Sister Become Obsessed With Me

Genre : Phychological, Thriller, Gore, Romance, Supranatural, super power

Chapter 13 : Bad luck

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After Rika left, the house fell into a quiet stillness. Frey sat on the sofa, his eyes glued to his phone screen. He spent the next few hours scrolling through job boards, his thumb moving rhythmically as he searched for any opening that would suit his new condition.

7:00 AM passed. Then 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00.

No matter how deep he searched, the results were always the same. "Position Filled" or "Experience Required." Frey sighed, tossing his phone onto the cushion. He felt a bit frustrated. Even with a new face and a healed body, the world of employment was still like a battlefield.

Needing a break, Frey stood up and walked to the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator, only to find it nearly empty. Aside from a few condiments and a half-empty carton of milk, there was nothing left to cook for dinner.

"I guess I should go out," Frey muttered to himself. He grabbed his wallet and put on a light jacket.

Since his bones were finally healed, he decided to walk to the local minimarket. He wanted to test his strength and breathe in the fresh air he had missed for two long weeks.

The walk was pleasant. The sun was bright, and the breeze felt cool against his skin. When he arrived at the minimarket, Frey grabbed a shopping basket and headed straight for the section.

He carefully chose some fresh vegetables, a good cut of meat, and a bag of chicken nuggets, Rika’s favorite.

He then wandered toward the beverage section to find something to drink. He placed his heavy basket on the floor and moved to the right, scanning the rows of colorful bottles. He was so focused on choosing between coffee or juice that he didn't notice the person standing right behind him.

As he turned, he accidentally bumped into a man.

The stranger was dressed very strangely for a bright, sunny morning. He wore a long, heavy black cloak and a dark mask that covered most of his face.

"Ah, I’m so sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you," Frey said reflexively, reaching out his hand to help the man steady himself.

But the reaction he got was anything but friendly. The man violently slapped Frey’s hand away with a look of pure rage visible in his eyes. The moment their skin touched, a sharp, searing pain shot through Frey’s right arm ... It felt like he had just touched a hot stove.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Frey cried out, stumbling back and clutching his right forearm.

The strange man didn't say a word.

He stood up aggressively and intentionally slammed his shoulder into Frey’s as he pushed past him.

He seemed incredibly irritated, his footsteps heavy as he stormed out of the minimarket without looking back.

"What's his problem?" Frey grumbled, rubbing his sore shoulder. "So rude... and who even wears a cloak like that in this weather?"

He looked down at his right arm to see if he was okay. To his shock, the skin where the man had struck him was bright red and swollen, looking exactly like a fresh burn mark.

"Damn... that guy must hit like a truck," Frey whispered, staring at the mark in confusion.

***

While Frey was busy struggling with the mundane tasks of a normal human, Rika was existing in a completely different place. She wasn't at school, she is now inside a floating, 8-meter cube of reinforced transparent cube that she had created in the sky, Rika sat comfortably.

To the world outside, she was a model student. She had used a high-level illusion spell to convince her teachers and classmates that she was present, diligent, and taking notes. But the truth is, she's here minding her own business.

Rika sat in a sleek, black rolling chair, gliding across the floor as she monitored dozens of holographic screens that floated in the air and clung to the walls.

She was calmly eating her favorite ice cream, her eyes scanning through lines of glowing data. She grabbed one hologram, swiping it across the room to adjust its position, and a key screen popped up in front of her. Her fingers danced through the light as she edited and categorized the information.

Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the air behind her. A portal opened, and her Clone, the one she put back in the other world stepped out. The Clone knelt with absolute respect.

"Do you have the data I asked for?" Rika asked without turning around, taking another spoonful of ice cream.

"Yes, my Queen. I have everything," the Clone replied.

The Clone released over a dozen holograms that flew toward Rika like glowing butterflies. Rika leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs as she began to read.

These screens contained specific intel on the Guardians, the natural law of the multiverse.

She learned the fundamental rule. When a Guardian awakens, their power is automatically set to be equal to, or slightly stronger than, the most powerful being currently inhabiting the world they protect.

It made sense. If the inhabitants were stronger than the protector, the Guardian’s existence would be meaningless.

Rika scowled, her grip on her spoon tightening. Because she was technically a "creature of Earth" by birth, the moment Aira awakened, the planet’s natural system set Aira’s power level to match Rika’s.

"Tch... no wonder that brat was so annoying to deal with," Rika grumbled. She was still irritated that she hadn't been able to finish Aira off during their fight in the forest.

The Clone continued her report. "A new Guardian has also awakened in Valcaryn."

Valcaryn was the name of the world she had been 1.000 years before.

Rika looked over her shoulder, curious. "And? Is this new Guardian stronger than you?"

"I struggled slightly," the Clone admitted, bowing her head. "But I managed to subdue them. Since my presences are not a natural inhabitant of Valcaryn, the system did not set the Guardian’s power to match yours. They were only scaled to the strongest local creatures."

"What did you do to them?"

"I was just letting them know that half of the world was yours kingdom my queen, and letting them know to not mess with your kingdom system."

"Good, you reserve a reward. Take this."

Rika throw of some holographic table to the front of her clone. It's contain some of the most valuable things for her clone, it's"Emotion". And In front of Rika's clone now, it's emotion of "Angry"

"Thanks my queen, I'm gonna head back now."

Rika nodded, dismissing the Clone with a wave of her hand. Rika know that her clone gonna make some reason to be angry, to know how the feeling of the new emotion. And or course it will cost some life, I mean ... million of life.

But after that she start to focus again, she pushed her chair back and forth, gliding between the screens that monitored Earth. She began to murmur as she looked at the chaotic data.

"This world is a mess," Rika whispered.

Earth had been without a Guardian for over 500 years. In that time, it had become a playground for invaders from other dimensions and nightmares from the Void Realm. Some were hiding in plain sight, some had created their own secret cults, and others had built their own hidden hierarchies within human society.

Rika suddenly remembered Aira's face, the girl who was now legally responsible for cleaning up all this trash. A cruel, satisfied smirk spread across Rika’s lips.

"Good luck with that, 'Guardian'," Rika mocked, her eyes glinting with malice. "You're going to be so busy cleaning up 500 years of garbage that you won't have time to even breathe, let alone look at my brother."

***

The afternoon sun was starting to dip, casting long, tired shadows across the living room. Frey lay flat on the sofa, looking like he had just come back from a war zone. His right hand was covered in small, stinging scratches, his left elbow was bruised, and a large, painful lump was forming on the side of his head.

"Damn it..." Frey groaned, staring at the ceiling with wide, frustrated eyes. "What is going on? Why is everything falling apart today?"

His bad luck had started the moment he stepped out of the minimarket. First, he realized his change from the groceries had somehow vanished from his pocket. Then, as he was walking home, his sandal snapped, forcing him to limp. But that was just the beginning.

As he crossed the street, a car suddenly swerved and almost sent him flying. If a kind stranger hadn't pulled him back at the last second, he would have been crushed. However, the car slammed into a shop’s glass window, and a shower of sharp glass shards sprayed over Frey, slicing his arm.

When he turned to thank the person who saved him, he tripped over his own feet and fell hard onto the pavement, scraping his elbow raw.

He had walked the rest of the way home with his heart in his throat, looking everywhere for danger. Yet, even his caution couldn't stop a heavy flower pot from falling off a second-story balcony and hitting him right on the head.

"I can't even clean the house without a disaster," he grumbled.

Since he got home, he had accidentally shattered a glass and a bowl. His favorite shirt had caught on a doorknob and ripped right down the middle. And to top it all off, when he finally tried to eat a snack from the fridge, the bag slipped through his fingers and the contents spilled all over the floor.

Frey had finally given up. He decided that the safest thing to do was to lie perfectly still on the sofa and not touch anything.

"Out of all the people in this city... why me? Why today?" he muttered, grabbing the TV remote.

Even the remote refused to work until he banged it against his palm three times in frustration. Finally, the screen flickered to life.

He checked the time. It was 3:00 PM. Rika should be home any minute. Just as the thought crossed his mind, a shadow fell over him. He looked up and saw a familiar figure standing right in front of him.

"Brother? Why are you just lying there like that?" Rika asked, tilting her head. She was still in her school uniform, her bag slung over her shoulder.

›› To Be Continue ‹‹

—KS