Strongest Alchemist System
—Different World Lines (Part 3)

“That's a pity, even though his children are still small.”

“I heard they also have no relatives who can take care of them.”

“Yeah, what will happen to them later?”

There were whispers of people attending my parents' funerals, but I didn't care about them at all.

I was now standing right in front of the coffins of my father and mother, who were currently being weeded by many people. There, along with my sister, I just stared at all the streets of this funeral service with empty eyes.

There are no tears at all. It was really surprising to find myself being so calm at a time like this.

“Hiks, hiks... hiks, Dad... Mom...”.

But, different from me, beside me Shina cried sobbing. I could feel her hand holding my hand very tightly.

Since then, she has been crying non-stop. I was overwhelmed enough to stop him when he found out that mom and dad were dead. He kept whining and would not leave them.

“Don't worry, Shina. Brother will take care of you, you're not alone. Brother will always be by your side no matter what, so you don't have to cry?” I said with a gentle smile.

I looked down with a gaze that was parallel to my sister's, and stroked her head to comfort her.

“Hiks.. Onii-sama.” She grimaced, but she also tried not to cry anymore.

Seeing that, I hugged him tightly. “You're fine, Shina. Brother will always be with you, sister promises never to leave you,” said I, who tried to calm Shina who was still crying in my arms.

Then, after she cried to her fullest, Shina fell asleep. I left the cemetery to lay her on the bed.

I'm sure he's very tired because he hasn't slept since last night.

After making sure that everything was safe, I intend to return to the burial place. However, when I was on my way, someone called me.

“Is it true that you are named Riku?”

Right then, I turned my body to look at the person.

“Who are you?” ask me with a sharp and alert look.

“Please forgive me for suddenly calling you. I was a friend of your father's when we were in High School, my name is Shinomiya Gorou. This is my business card,” said the old man with a sturdy body while giving his business card politely.

But I had no intention of taking it, instead it just made me suspect her even more and keep looking at her with a less than pleased look.

“So, what do you want? If you intend to adopt us just to get money from my father and mother's insurance, I don't need it, go!” refused it.

There's been more than five people claiming to be friends of my father and mother, just to get the rights to my parents' insurance money.

Of course, I rejected them all. Even though they say something stupid like we were kids so we need adults to live, I don't care.

I won't let trash like them touch my sister and what I have again.

But, when he heard that, the old man was not disturbed at all, he actually smiled faintly when he heard me rejecting him.

“As expected of his son, you are very smart.”

“Huh? What do you mean, old man? I told you to go, I'm not—”

“Please don't misunderstand me first, son. I have no intention of taking your money here,” cut the old man down.

“Well, first, why don't you look at my card first, after that you will know if I don't need your money at all,” replied the old man and gave his card once again.

As he continued to insist, I reluctantly accepted his business card, and began to see the real identity of the old man.

“This?!” Seeing that, my eyes immediately opened wide in surprise, and my body began to tremble. “Leader of Shinomiya Group, Shinomiya Gorou! Seriously, is that you?!”

I heard his name on the television station. He is one of the richest people in Japan, owning more than 1000 companies outside and within the country, with a fortune of up to 300 trillion yen.

He was one of the people who stood at the top of the world's industry.

I was completely unaware when he introduced himself because I was too wary of the people around me.

There was also no trace of forgery on the card, so was it really him?

But, what is such a great person doing here? He said he was a friend of my dad's High School, but this is really hard to trust. I can't believe my stupid father had this kind of connection, why didn't he ever tell me?

So, is this really just a neat scam?

As he looked at me who was dumbfounded and hesitating, the old man suddenly smiled widely and said.

“Now you know that I have no intention of robbing you? Don't worry, I have no intention of harming you and your sister. I only have a lot of debt to your parents, so I just want to pay it,”, Gorou said with a sincere look, extending his hand towards.

At first I was still a little wary, but knowing that this was a rare opportunity, I shook the man's hand after gathering all the determination I had.

“Alright, I will be your son,” I replied with a unanimous decision.

Well, besides, I do need a guardian who can welcome our lives. I also felt no ill will from him, so I guess there was no problem to be his stepson.

To be honest, I also have the option of living alone with my sister, but that would make things troublesome. This is annoying, but what the trash say is true.

Children cannot live alone without adults.

So I guess with this, we can start our lives again better.

But—

“….”

As long as I imagine a new life that we will live from now on.

Like a nightmare that never ends.

—All that happiness was shattered in just an instant.

After my parents' funeral was over, Shina suddenly experienced a terrible deep heat, and therefore also my sister was forced to be hospitalized.

However, it doesn't end just up there.

From what the doctor said when he examined my sister. He said his heart had suddenly weakened, and if he had not been treated with proper care, his life could have been threatened.

When I heard that...

—I feel something breaking inside me.