The Troubles of Young Boys and Girls

While everyone's attention was drawn to the "dragon egg," several people quietly sought out Aibo.

The first was Elfman. Mira's younger brother, Elfman, was both sturdy and honest. Of the three siblings, he had the gentlest personality. Both Mira and Lisanna had a bit of a scheming streak, while this second brother was purely kind-hearted.

At that moment, Elfman stood timidly before Aibo. Though he was two heads taller than Aibo, he was completely overwhelmed in terms of presence.

"Brother Elfman? What did you need me for?"

Aibo spoke casually. He had been practicing acting like a child for two and a half years now, and he had long since lost all sense of shame. Calling people big brother or big sister came naturally to him, without the slightest psychological burden. He was simply full of the mischievous urge to tease children.

"A-Aibo, um... I wanted to ask you for a favor..."

Elfman muttered.

"You know, I learned the same Take Over Magic as my sisters, but I don't seem to have much talent for it. I can only manage Partial Take Over, just like my sisters used to. I can only beastify one arm...

"It's been bothering me, but I was too embarrassed to tell my sisters. I know you understand a lot and always have ideas, Aibo. Could you help me see where the problem is?"

"That's easy. Transform first and let me take a look."

"Okay! Take Over—Animal Soul!"

Elfman had taken over a bear Natsu had helped him catch in the forest. But just as he had said, he could only beastify one arm and could not perform a full-body Take Over.

Aibo grabbed his arm for a look and probed it with magic power. He had studied Take Over Magic too, though he had already spat out the magical creatures he had taken over before. He had no need for weak Take Over targets.

"Ah, I see. Your soul can perfectly suppress an animal soul, so there's no possibility of a failed Take Over. As for why you can't achieve a full-body Take Over..."

Aibo released his hand and looked Elfman up and down.

"You're too lacking in confidence, Brother Elfman. People who hesitate and falter often can't take a single step forward. What you need to do now is choose to believe in yourself."

"Huh? B-But I really can't do it..."

His parents had died early, his sisters were strong-willed, the villagers had looked down on him during childhood, and he had an honest, kind nature... All sorts of reasons had shaped Elfman's current timid and insecure personality. It was not something that could be fixed overnight.

"That's because you haven't found your strengths, Brother Elfman. Where do you think your advantages lie? What can you do better than anyone else?"

"Th-This..."

The light vanished from Elfman's eyes.

"I-I don't think there is anything. I'm weaker than Natsu and the others, and I'm not as smart as you, Aibo. My magical talent can't compare to Lisanna's, and even my sisters are better at cooking... I don't have any strengths at all..."

"..."

Poor kid. Why didn't you compare cooking with Natsu, then? Aibo shook his head with a sigh.

"How about this? Set yourself a small goal: become the strongest person in the guild. I think you have talent in that area, and I can help you too."

"The strongest?"

Elfman thought for a moment, and his eyes gradually lit up.

"I think I can do that. I've always wanted to become a real man."

"Mm-hm. I've recently been researching a Body Tempering Magic that lets you grow stronger while lying down. When the time comes, have your sisters bring you to my laboratory. I'll tailor something for you and give you a helping hand."

"Okay! Thank you, Aibo!"

In theory, Body Tempering Magic had excellent fitness benefits, but Aibo had no intention of turning himself into a hulking muscleman. To prevent overtraining, he needed a male test subject for reference. Elfman was a fine choice; they would both get what they wanted.

No sooner had Elfman left than Cana blocked Aibo's path.

Cana pinned Aibo against the wall with one hand, her eyes narrowed into slits.

"Aibo, your magic experiment is over, right? You have time to spend with me now, don't you?"

"Uh... The experiment only achieved preliminary success. It can only be considered a temporary stopping point. It still needs gradual improvement afterward..."

Cana lowered her head at his words, her shoulders trembling as though she were about to cry.

"I understand. Big sister was mistaken. I thought Aibo was looking forward to catching magical beasts with me too, but it turns out that was all just my wishful thinking..."

"Stop, stop, stop! I never said I wasn't going!"

Cana abruptly raised her head. There was no sadness in her eyes, only smug delight. She reached out with both hands, kneading Aibo's cheeks as she began threatening an eight-year-old child.

"Hehe~ You aren't allowed to stand me up again this time! Otherwise, big sister won't let you off so easily!"

"Got it... Once my egg hatches, I'll go catch magical beasts with you."

"It's a promise!"

Aibo had previously promised Cana that he would accompany her to catch magical beasts and make cards. But after learning Enchant Magic, he had rushed into researching Body Tempering Magic, so the matter had been delayed. He felt a little bad about it too.

Now, he did have time to go out. Besides, after learning Body Tempering Magic, he had grown restless from staying still for too long. Aibo wanted to take a trip outside as well.

Having gotten her answer, Cana left humming a tune. Just as Aibo was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Levy blocked the door.

"Sister Levy? You too..."

Did these people plan this out, taking turns cornering me?

"Aibo, big sister wants to discuss something with you."

"Uh, go ahead..."

Aibo accidentally heard Levy's thoughts again, and he had a feeling this was not going to end well...

"Next month, Ninja Amusement Park has an event. Come join it with me~"

Levy handed him two tickets. Aibo took one and looked at the promotional slogan.

[The First Spring Sakura Shuriken-Throwing Contest is about to begin! Register as a pair to participate. The event offers generous prizes, and first place will receive a surprising mystery grand prize! Ninja Amusement Park looks forward to your visit!]

Aibo: ???

There were so many things to criticize that Aibo did not even know where to begin.

"W-What kind of event is this?"

"Huh? Aibo, you don't know?"

"Am I supposed to? I've never paid attention to how the amusement park is run..."

"It's a cosplay event starring Sakura! The participants will cosplay as Sakura and Sasuke respectively, then compete in a shuriken-throwing contest. I heard first place gets a commemorative figurine signed by the author himself. I really want it!"

"Huh? Since when did I need to sign anything..."

"Um... No, it's Brother Lydas who'll be signing it."

Levy covered her mouth and giggled.

"Aibo, didn't you know? The Naruto manga is already far more popular than your original novel. Brother Lydas is a very famous manga artist now. Haven't you noticed that he hardly comes to the guild anymore~?"

"Uh... I thought he'd been locked in a little black room again..."

Aibo really did not pay much attention to anything related to Naruto. Though he maintained a daily update schedule, he had already turned it into daily practice for Word Magic.

In any case, his royalties had never decreased. Aibo was usually busy as well, so naturally he had not paid much attention to the later impact of the novel and manga.

But that was not the key issue right now. The key issue was...

Hehehe... Those two little idiots, Mira and Erza, monopolized Aibo for so long and still did nothing. Looks like they really haven't realized Aibo's true potential. In that case, don't blame this sister for getting serious~

"...Do I only need to accompany you to the event?"

"Well~ Can Aibo transform into his fifteen-year-old form then? Children under ten aren't allowed to register."

"..."

Your calculations are pretty loud. Aibo felt that Levy had changed a little. Perhaps she needed to be dragged off and given an electric shock.

Hehehe, once I raise Aibo step by step, then find a chance to have his child, they'll never have another opportunity! The books were right after all. If you're raising someone, you have to start while they're still a child!

No, this was not merely changing. She was already completely rotten! What kind of weird books had Levy secretly been reading over the past few months?!

He had thought the first two were troublesome enough, but he had not expected an even heavier hitter to be waiting here! What kind of problem children were in this guild of his?!

"Um... Can I not go?"

"Why? Does Aibo not want to help big sister anymore?"

Levy put on a pitiful, aggrieved expression. Were all pretty little girls born with their acting skills maxed out?

If Aibo could not hear her thoughts, he really would have been fooled by that innocent, pure little-flower appearance.

Cold sweat trickled down Aibo's face. He realized there was a very serious problem—he seemed unable to find an excuse to refuse.

An eight-year-old child would not refuse such a normal request. Levy had clearly taken advantage of this to advance her "raising plan."

Was he, who acted like a child every day, about to suffer the backlash? That wasn't right!

Damn it, he could not let Levy keep charging down the wrong path! Think of a foolproof excuse to refuse her!

Brain, stop being dead! Think!

"...I'll help."

"Yay! Here, the ticket is yours. Remember, it's on the twentieth of next month~"