The Boy Who Died Protecting the Party Is Resurrected 10 Years Later and Is Doted On – The Companion He Thought Was a Boy Had Become an Overprotective Big Sister - Episode 1: The Boy and His Cheerful Companions

Episode 1: The Boy and His Cheerful Companions

“To Onii-chan――It’s been a while since you left home saying you would become an adventurer. Are you doing well over there? I feel a little lonely not being able to see you… But thanks to the money you send, I’ve been able to buy medicine, and my illness has gotten much better. Thank you, Onii-chan. So… it’s okay to come back home now, you know? I want to see you soon. Master and I are waiting. ――From your little sister Menou, who loves you very much.”

Early in the morning, in a room at an inn. A boy was reading a letter sent by his younger sister.

He was a beautiful, androgynous-looking boy with silver hair. He was wearing a jet-black robe.

“Uu…!”

Letting out a sob in a voice so frail it seemed like a girl’s, he tucked the letter from his sister into the inside of his robe.

“I’m really… so glad…!”

He muttered in a teary voice.

――His name was Phil Marlis. A novice adventurer.

He was eleven years old, with a class of magician. His goal for the future was to become a top-class adventurer.

But since he was still a beginner, he and companions about the same age were sharpening their skills by exploring relatively safe dungeons. They were based in the labyrinth city Rustiria.

The labyrinths were rich in rare resources. So even newcomers like Phil could earn a decent income just by bringing things back.

That’s exactly why he had dived into the dangerous and rowdy world of adventurers—to cure his sickly little sister’s illness.

“Just wait a little longer…!”

Phil mumbled to himself while hurriedly stuffing his backpack with the necessary tools.

“I think I’ll be able to come see you soon…!”

He had decided he wouldn’t return home until he had earned enough money to give Menou a comfortable life.

“Alright then!”

Phil let out a slightly silly exclamation and hoisted the large backpack onto his shoulders.

“Whoops!”

He wobbled a bit. He then grabbed his favorite magic staff leaning against the wall and put on the pointed black hat passed down from his magic master. He left the inn room.

“You’re late, Phil. You’re the last one.”

Standing in the hallway in front of the room, arms crossed, was Beruda—a boy with spiky black hair and dark skin.

“Sorry, I was getting ready and ended up late. Eheh…”

Phil apologized and awkwardly smiled.

Of course, he was too embarrassed to admit he had been crying over his sister’s letter just moments earlier.

“Geez…”

Beruda scratched his head in exasperation and shot Phil a sharp look.

“D-Don’t look at me so scary like that…”

“This is just my face. Sorry for being scary!”

He was a swordsman who took the front line in battle and intimidated monsters—a very dependable companion.

But when he glared, it was scary.

“We’re only going to a dungeon where weak monsters appear. You don’t need to prepare that much.”

Beruda had nothing on him besides his sword—basically empty-handed. He spat out his words.

“That’s not true! As an adventurer, being fully prepared at all times is essential. In an emergency when the party gets wiped out, whether you have a return scroll or not can mean life or death!”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

Beruda brushed off Phil’s passionate rebuttal as bothersome.

“No, you don’t get it at all! I’ve told you many times—even if you’re a front-line swordsman, you should at least carry some healing potions and a return scroll!”

“B-But… You always bring enough for everyone…”

“That’s just backup! In battle, I won’t have time to dig them out! Plus, if we all get scattered by monsters and lose each other—”

“You’re so noisy. I’m the strongest, so I’ll be fine.”

――This swordsman is hopeless. No sense of danger at all…! thought Phil.

“If you keep talking like that, when we run into a strong monster and have to escape, I’ll just leave you behind!”

“Hah? I don’t need to escape. No problem.”

…Phil figured Beruda wouldn’t change unless he got hurt badly once.

“You’re scared of ghosts though.”

“What, wanna fight? Huh?”

“Even dungeons have ghost-type monsters, you know?”

“S-Shut up! You deal with the ones swords don’t work on! …Anyway, this has nothing to do with that!”

Sure enough, many adventurers who didn’t think ahead were like Beruda.

But that’s why the truly elite always stayed prepared.

Phil had read that in a book about an S-rank party he admired. And he was deeply impressed and tried to emulate them.

“…Anyway, a top-class adventurer is someone who does everything they can to avoid dying normally. They only risk their life when it really counts. I hope you realize that soon, Beruda.”

“You say cool things like that, but it doesn’t suit you. Cut it out.”

“You’re so mean! You jerk, Beruda!”

“Geez, you’re such a kid…”

“No, you are!”

“Huh?”

Just as the two were about to get into a pointless argument…

“Ah, good morning, you two. Fighting again?”

A sleepy voice came from a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy—Raika, a martial artist and the third member of their party—who approached while yawning.

“…Phil, look at him. He dives into dungeons without even a weapon.”

“Martial artists fight with their bodies and fists…”

While the two whispered, Raika tilted his head and asked,

“Or is there something you’re keeping from me~?”

Beruda answered instead.

“…It’s the usual. Phil’s going on about bringing all kinds of gear again.”

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s necessary. I mean, we’re just going to an easy dungeon today~”

“See?”

“Yep~. Carrying too much stuff makes it hard to move~”

Now it was two against one. So no matter what Phil said, he was going to be wrong.

“Fine! I’ll survive on my own when things get serious!”

Phil turned away and said in frustration.

“Of course~! Protecting the rear is our job as front-liners~”

“If a strong monster shows up, just leave it to me and Raika. You just land a big one when it counts.”

“…………Okay.”

At that moment, Phil thought—maybe I’m not cut out to be an adventurer.

“And if you die, your ‘little sister who loves you so much’ will curse us, won’t she?”

“D-Don’t read my letter without permission!”

“I didn’t look inside. Not yet.”

“…Geez!”

Phil hadn’t told the two about his sister until now. He didn’t want pity. And adventurers usually didn’t talk about personal stuff—it was an unspoken rule.

“………..If anything happens, just check the room I was staying in. You’ll understand about my sister and everything.”

“N-Not like I wanted to know or anything.”

“Yep! As long as I’m okay, I won’t tell you even if you ask!”

“You’re so annoying…”

Among companions, the talk should be about adventures or stupid jokes. That was Phil’s ideal image of adventurers.

“…By the way, Raika, isn’t *this* late? You showed up after me.”

Phil tried to change the topic.

“Nope~. While you and Beruda were getting ready, I already had my first breakfast~”

“Oh… I see.”

“I’m growing, after all~. Of course, I’ll eat breakfast again with you two now~”

“Amazing…”

Phil thought to himself that Raika would probably grow into a really big, dependable person someday.

“Raika. You’re gonna be a big deal someday… in more ways than one.”

Apparently, Beruda was thinking the same thing.

“Hmm… anyway, let’s eat breakfast quickly and get going~. I’m huuungry~”

“I’m not commenting on anything anymore…!”

“Maybe I should eat as much as Raika too…”

And so, the three of them once again took on a request and headed to a low-risk dungeon.

＊

――This was the most recent memory Phil could recall after waking up in an unfamiliar place.

“…Ugh…?”

Apparently, for some reason, he had lost his memory and was lying in a dim stone room.

He had even been placed in something like a coffin. If it was a prank, it was in very bad taste.

“Umm, where… is this…?”

Phil muttered naturally while forcing his aching body upright.

“Phil…!”

Suddenly, a voice calling his name came from nearby.

“Eh…?”

Startled, he looked toward the voice—and there stood two women.

“This isn’t… a dream, right…?”

One had dark skin and long black hair down to her waist. She was a muscular woman whose sharp eyes were somehow filled with sadness as she looked at Phil.

“It’s really… you, Phil…!”

The other had messy blonde hair tied in the back and blue eyes. And she looked at Phil emotionally. She was wiping tears from her eyes.

Judging by their appearance, they were most likely adventurers. Their classes were probably swordsman and martial artist—just like Beruda and Raika. Their outfits were quite revealing. It was making it a bit awkward for Phil to know where to look.

“Umm, uh… who are you…?”

Phil couldn’t grasp the situation at all. He fearfully asked the women:

“That is…”

“U-uhh…”

However, the two only hesitated and didn’t give a clear answer.

But Phil had already noticed something from the beginning.

—The atmosphere of the two women was very similar to Beruda and Raika.

“Could it be…”