The Reward for the World's Strongest Explorer's Perfect Dungeon Conquest is apparently Marriage to me, who is known as an S-rank Fraud - Chapter 10

“We’re home.”

“We’re home.”

By the time Shia and I finally returned home after the press conference, it was already past 10 PM.

“Welcome back, you two! Do you want dinner first? Or a bath?”

Damn.

What a perfect little sister I have.

How many 14-year-olds in this world would stay up late, prepare dinner and a bath, and greet us with a smile like this?

“Thanks, Ayane. Shia, what do you want to do first?”

“Hmm… I’m hungry.”

“Alright, then dinner it is. Ayane, did you already eat?”

“Nope! I wanted to wait and eat with you two. I’ll set everything up now, so just sit tight, okay?”

“Ah, thanks.”

Stepping into the house, I ruffled Ayane’s hair.

“Thanks, Ayane.”

Shia followed with a warm hug.

“Ehehe~.”

Ayane looked genuinely happy.

She was so mature for her age, but as her older brother, I still wished she’d act her age and rely on someone from time to time.

If Shia could be that person for her, I couldn’t be happier.

“Whoa—Big Bro, you’re grinning like an idiot! What were you thinking about just now?”

“Hey, that’s false accusation! Don’t jump to conclusions.”

“Then tell me—what were you thinking about to be smiling like that?”

…Was I really smiling that much?

Still, being too honest here would be embarrassing.

“I was just wondering who I should take a bath with later.”

“GABIIIN!!”

“Ew! That’s so gross! I’m NOT taking a bath with you!”

Ayane gave me a disgusted look, like I was some kind of contaminated object.

Even though I was talking about taking a bath to stay clean!

“Yes, yes.”

“……”

Meanwhile, Shia raised her hand without hesitation, her face completely serious.

See, here’s the thing—

If my sister doesn’t want to take a bath with me, it makes me want to.

But when Shia looks that eager, I can’t help but hesitate.

“Shia, dear, you’re not allowed to take a bath with Big Bro until you’re married.”

“…Ugh. Fine. Then… how about with you, Ayane?”

“H-Huh? With me? Uh… well… that’s fine, I guess.”

“Then I’ll bathe with Ayane.”

“Wait, really? You’re okay with that?”

“Mhm.”

And just like that, Shia and Ayane decided to take a bath together.

You know what?

That’s fine.

In fact, it’s great!

Not in a weird way, okay?!

Ayane probably barely remembers taking baths with our mom when she was younger.

Now she could experience that family warmth again.

Ugh… I’m so happy…

“Eh? Big Bro, are you crying now? What’s wrong?!”

“…I just wanted to bathe with both of you.”

I wiped away my tears with a bright, exaggerated smile.

“Big Bro… haaaah…”

She let out a deep, exasperated sigh—

She didn’t even have the words to respond.

A big brother so hopeless that his little sister was at a loss for words.

I’ve failed as a human being.

“Let’s go.”

Wait.

Shia, didn’t you just promise Ayane that you wouldn’t bathe with me until marriage?

And now you’re breaking that promise immediately?!

“Big Bro! Stop teasing Shia and just wash your hands and sit down!”

“Yeees.”

I obediently followed her orders, heading to the dining room.

“Alright, thanks for waiting!”

Dinner was Western-style.

Unusual.

We never usually had Western food for both breakfast and dinner.

Ayane and I were firmly in the rice, miso soup, and pickled vegetables camp—proud members of the “Japanese Food is the Best” Association.

But.

Hamburg steak was an exception.

Because hamburg steak is special.

Because hamburg steak is delicious.

“Ayane, are you doing this just for Shia?”

The reason our meals had been leaning Western lately was obvious—

Shia.

Her father was French, and her mother was Japanese.

She’d lived in France until she was 15, before meeting me and moving to Japan.

Naturally, her taste in food leaned French.

*”Not at all!

It’s actually really fun finding dishes that Shia enjoys.

If there’s anything you like, dislike, or want me to make, just let me know, okay?”*

“I give up.”

“Wait, what?!”

Shia suddenly pressed her hands against the table, bowed her head, and declared defeat.

Ayane looked genuinely startled.

“Your wife level is too high. I need to be your apprentice.”

Wait.

Does that mean if Shia becomes her apprentice, Ayane becomes the strongest in the world?

And if my sister is the strongest in the world…

Then as her big brother, wouldn’t that make me the strongest in the universe?!

“Huh?! I don’t want an apprentice! I just want a big sister!”

And just like that, my dream of becoming the strongest in the universe was shattered.

*”Kuma, I don’t know what to do.

I have a wonderful husband and a wonderful little sister.

I’m too happy. What do I do?”*

*”I mean… isn’t that a good thing?

We’re not even married yet, though.”*

But yeah.

I had to admit—

My sister’s wife potential was off the charts.

Not that I’d explain it in detail, though.

I wasn’t trying to get canceled.

“I thought it was common knowledge that wives always get bullied by their husband’s little sister.”

“Where the hell did you hear that nonsense?”

“An online column.”

Ah.

Makes sense.

For some reason, those internet columns always have stories where the wife gets bullied, then gets revenge, and everyone cheers.

Why is that so popular, anyway?

*”But hey, since you’re not married yet, you’re still considered a guest.

Once we get married, Ayane might suddenly turn into a bully.”*

“…Really?”

“Big Bro? Even as a joke, you shouldn’t say things like that.

I already think of Shia as family, and I truly hope she becomes part of our family for real one day.

And yet… since you just said something so mean, as punishment, I’m confiscating your hamburg steak.”

“AaaaAAAAHHHHH! MY HAAAMBURRGGG!!”

Words have consequences.

Ayane, now slightly serious, showed no mercy as she reached over and claimed my hamburg steak for herself.

My hamburg steak…

“…Kuma, do you want mine?”

“Huh? You’d give it to me?”

A goddess.

A true goddess was before me.

From this day forth, Shia’s title would no longer be War Goddess Valkyria—

She would now be known as Meat Goddess Burgkyria.

“No, he absolutely may not have it.

Shia, please be careful. If you spoil my brother, he won’t learn his lesson and will just keep misbehaving.”*

“…Okay.”

Just inches from my plate, Shia’s hamburg steak was tragically withdrawn.

Goodbye, my Meat Goddess Burgkyria…

“…Sniff, sniff…”

“Big Bro, if you truly feel bad about what you said, I’ll give it back.”

!?

“I am deeply, sincerely, overwhelmingly sorry!

I, Hayama Kuma, feel remorse as deep as the ocean and as high as the mountains!”*

*”Hmmm, I wonder… Do you really mean it?

Ugh, stop looking at me with those sparkling puppy eyes!

Fine, here.

But no more bad jokes, okay?”*

I nodded vigorously, silently sliding my plate back toward Ayane like a good boy.

“…Geez.”

THE HAMBURG STEAK HAS RETURNED.

THE HAMBURG STEAK HAS RETURNED TO ME!

“WOOOOHOOO!!”

*”Ayane is incredible.

She completely has Kuma wrapped around her finger.”*

*”Huh?! Shia, that makes it sound so bad!

I’m not manipulating my brother!”*

*”Mmm, nom nom…

Shia, I am Ayane’s puppet, nom nom…

This hamburg steak is amazing, nom nom…

So, if you wish to control me, nom nom, you must study Ayane’s every move, nom nom, and learn from her, nom nom, gulp.”*

I finished my hamburg steak.

And once it was gone, nothing they said mattered anymore.

Because I had already won my freedom.

*”…Big Bro? You weren’t actually sorry, were you?

Fine. Shia and I will eat the extra hamburg steaks ourselves.”*

“NOOOOOOOOO!!”

And so, my heartbroken wail echoed through the dining room that night.