Reunion and Rematch
Borbe Mountain Village clung to the midway slope of the mountain, and true to its size, it had a correspondingly tiny church. If it had been a major denomination worshiping a famous god like Gaia the Earth Mother or Mitra the Sun God, they would've plastered their sect's name on a massive signboard. But Sister Monica's humble little church didn't even have a fancy decorative plaque, let alone a name.
We didn't really know which god the sister believed in. She'd always dodge the question if we asked. It wasn't strange, though. Followers of small religions were often suspected of being weirdos, so they kept their identities secret. Even a slight whiff of persecution could threaten their entire faith community.
But none of us ever thought the Monica sisters were suspicious.
"Sister was like the living embodiment of kindness."
Sister Monica clasped her hands together and smiled. "Hearing praise from you always makes me shy, Tan."
"You should call me Ran Bantai now. Nenya said so earlier. That's my alias from here on out."
She was still misty-eyed from the joy of our reunion. So was I. I'd been so worried with no word from her, and to think she'd been on the front lines with a party that was basically a war zone.
But I could set aside my slight disappointment for now. We'd have plenty of time later to talk about why she'd gone silent.
"And it's not praise—it's just the truth. You raised us siblings, who are only four or five years younger, like your own children."
"Mother is too grand a word for me. I couldn't even stay by your side until the end."
"You didn't leave because you wanted to. I can still see you holding us tight, sobbing that you didn't want to go."
People had clicked their tongues, saying it was like a child raising another child. Back then, the sister was still young enough that she needed taking care of more than doing the taking care.
But Monica treated every little kid who came into that small house built for her god like her own flesh and blood. Until the villagers, who couldn't ignore her plight forever, finally pitched in bit by bit.
I couldn't do that. Even if she had the Porter Aptitude that lightened loads by 90%, bearing the weight of over ten souls alone must have been crushing.
"Um, I know we just reunited, so it's awkward to say this, but..."
Even that Monica sister, who we'd grown up seeing as our mom, had to leave the village on urgent orders from her church before we could repay her. And then the village itself was wiped out by monster rampages, severing our last connection.
My little sister and I cried a lot back then. From that day until now, I'd dreamed countless times of saying these words to the sister.
"If there's anything I can do to help, just tell me."
But Sister Monica scolded me realistically. "No, Tan. Didn't you just say you owe me a debt?"
...Right. I have to survive first before I can help. My earnest wish to repay her care was just a feeling for now. I had to sort out my own survival first.
"Kids that age say things like that without thinking. Truth is, I'm the one who should be helping you now."
"It's not a debt I can't repay. And I won't make the mistake of racking up another one. Even beyond money, there must be—"
"Nothing. Just watch your own path carefully."
Her words cut cold and sharp. It didn't sound like the sister I remembered. I shrank back a little.
Was she changing with time, like Tena? It wasn't necessarily bad, but if some bad memory was making her push away even the kids she'd raised like her own...
Thankfully—or fortunately?—Sister Monica smiled bashfully. "I'm happy you've grown into such a reliable adult, but I'm not quite ready to be a grandma yet. It embarrasses me when you talk like you're leaning on me."
Ah, that was it. Her pure, innocent smile was exactly as I remembered. My heart warmed.
Some things don't change with time.
"There is one favor, though. Don't use the alias Ran."
"Because it's a lie?"
The sister always said lies tasted bad. I guessed her church worshiped a god of truth or honesty. Or maybe it was just a habit from naughty neighborhood kids constantly trying to trick her.
"More because you've gotten so sturdy, a girly name doesn't suit you anymore."
It was flattering, but I didn't think I looked that sturdy. A bit short for a guy, a bit tall for a girl. My shoulders weren't broad compared to the party's warriors. So people could buy the girl disguise without much stretch.
Plus...
"We've already introduced ourselves that way. As Ran."
"Oh dear."
Early evening, at the restaurant. When I told Esen about the conversation, she responded indifferently.
"'Ran' is cute and common enough, isn't it? Suits you." She even slyly fiddled with my shoulder.
I quietly brushed her hand away. "...This is sexual harassment, you know."
"We're both girls."
To everyone else, sure. But skipping that qualifier made me feel like my identity was being erased. Terrifying.
"Harassment doesn't stop being harassment just because it's girls. And everyone's staring weirdly...!"
To my desperate whisper, Esen looked at the sister with a smile, like nothing was weird. Sister Monica gave an awkward smile and shrugged.
She didn't seem to have the luxury to think deeply about our relationship. She'd been slow to accept that Tan, whom she'd raised like family, was now known as "Ran" to most of her new coworkers. So now she was sweating bullets, terrified of slipping up.
I could read it on her face. Can't let her find out because of me. Tena, seriously. Should've said something beforehand.
That puzzled gaze spreading through the evening restaurant. Even with hefty steaks on the table, everyone hesitated to eat.
"Monica sis, you okay?"
"Ah, no, I'm fine."
Unable to press her further with that hee-hee smile, everyone went back to their seats. Just like in our old village, she was basking in affection and respect.
I'd worried sick with no news, but she was fine—thank goodness. Still, was dumping this huge secret on her right away too much pressure? She was too honest and straightforward to share secrets easily. She'd lived without pretense or hiding.
Esen wore a curious expression. "So, our party's chief healer grew up in the same village as our newbie porter? What a connection."
"Can't go back now, though."
When I explained the hometown was destroyed by monsters, Esen looked shocked. She pondered something, set down her fork, and glanced at me guiltily.
"What?"
"...I threw a fit in front of you about not wanting to go home. Should've been more careful if I knew."
Sister Monica, aware of Esen's worry, gave an awkward smile. "Maybe she hates that her hometown folks scattered because of monsters. Or maybe she hates even more having three or four unwanted spouses waiting. Never been married myself, so I don't know, but the latter doesn't sound lighter than the former."
"Esen overthinks sometimes. If she spread that consideration around evenly, she'd suffer less."
Esen grumbled at the joke meant to ease her embarrassment but seemed to get the consideration. She flashed me a playful grin.
"Right here?"
I grabbed the hem of Esen's pants as she tried to pull them down and shook my head. "Just because you covered for me once doesn't mean right away, does it? Isn't that a bit much?"
Esen paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Half because of that."
"...And the other half?"
"If you'd handled it decently back then, I'd have held back today?"
Mitra preserve us.
A bit away from the campsite stood Esen's cabin. She'd built it herself, but camping apart from the party was a privilege. Probably consideration for her heat cycle as a beastkin.
Thanks to it, I could use the attached shower instead of risking exposure in the women's party showers—with something dangling between my legs.
Toweling off my hair as I emerged, I was a bit flustered. First reason: Esen going straight for my pants.
Second: the thing she held out.
"Ointment?"
She said she'd forgotten to give it right away when we met. Dodging my eyes like a cat caught in mischief, it didn't seem intentional.
"Made with cedar leaves and an alchemist's potion."
"So unknown ingredients besides cedar? What's it for?"
"Smell erasure. Opened it and sniffed—felt like mint shoved up my nose. Whew."
My mind went blank. Body shape could pass with all the buff female warriors here. But scent? No fooling that.
"Wait, does my crossdressing artifact only fool the eyes into seeing a girl? No effect on other senses? Should've used this from the start?"
"Three questions. Yes. Yes. And yes."
"...Have I been smelling like—"
"A dude? Reeked of it. You'd need a nose as sharp as mine to catch it, though."
I clutched my forehead in despair. How had I missed this? Normal folks might not distinguish gender by scent easily, but this camp had all sorts of races and species.
I'd scrubbed extra thorough out of unease, but keen-nosed ones might've sniffed me out. Hoping they'd chalk it up to external smells.
Would've been better without a tigress with super sniff in camp.
...Why was I even this gung-ho about crossdressing? Tena's plan had no manual, and I'd just gotten roped in.
Answer came quick: Rare job like this, contract signed, 100,000 gold debt. Yeah. Gotta commit to the disguise.
"Oaeh."
"What?"
"Mmfph. So good."
And in that gap, Esen yanked down my pants and engulfed my dick whole.
Despair deepened. Even now, it stood honest.
"...Fine. You must've been really pent up that day. But today, hold baaaack—"
Her rough tongue rolled the glans tip over it. Against an unbeatable foe, to refuse sex, I needed to calm down and show willpower first. Then maybe she'd back off.
I thought of Sister Monica. She'd faint seeing this. Lewd stuff on the day I reunited with my mom-figure? Aren't you ashamed, Tan?
Not like it was forbidden, but self-bullying to psych myself out. I'd already spread my scent around. No guarantee sex noises wouldn't carry. Adding risk of discovery was suicide.
Sister Monica. Those pure, droplet-like eyes full of trust. That warm smile accepting any excuse. And...
...The heaviest, most village-stirring assets that flustered adults on light-clothes days...
"It's bigger."
Esen, gaining confidence from her teasing, grinned triumphantly.
I concluded Tan Bantai was trash. And amid the despair, I accepted the caress.