...Oh, it's so peaceful.

　I mutter to myself as I sit in my chair in my room and look out the window.

　I see the same blue sky and the same beautiful green mountains and plains that I've always seen.

　The scenery is so vast and beautiful that it cannot be compared to the Japan of my previous life.

　What a blessing it is to be able to see it every day without thinking about it.

　When you are busy with your daily life, you don't have the time to enjoy the scenery. That's why I'm so happy to be able to enjoy the scenery in this way, I think.

　This is the season of summer, a time of lush greenery.

　Plants are in high spirits, catching the sunshine that pours down on them.

　The leaves on the trees are even greener than in the spring.

　It wouldn't be like this if we were human. I'd rather lose my appetite and slacken off in the hot temperature.

　Well, I use ice magic to keep the room at a comfortable temperature, so I'm okay with it.

　With that in mind, I pick up the salted cucumber on my plate.

　When I chewed it, it made a pleasant polish sound, and the moisture with a slight salty taste spread out as if it were popping.

　Ninety-five percent of cucumbers are water. Cucumbers have a cooling effect on the body, making them perfect for summer, when it is hot and water is often lacking.

　Maybe it's because they are freshly caught in the village of Koliat, or maybe it's just because they are in season, but they taste so much better than usual.

Al, give me some.

　As I was taking a bite of a pollyanna and a salted cucumber, Brother Silvio, who was sitting in the room and reading a book, said.

　He knows I use ice magic to keep the room at a comfortable temperature. Of course it's better to be in a cool room with me than to read a book in my own hot room.

'Yes,'

　I psychically move the plate with the salted cucumber on it and move it underneath my brother Silvio, who is sitting there.

'Thank you,'

　Brother Silvio took the plate and picked one of the salt cucumbers and thanked him.

　Unlike some older sister, he didn't grab it by the eagle or take the plate and hold it in his arms to eat it.

　He was very gracious in expressing his thanks.

'Are you reading Kagura's book now?'

'Yes, it's a book about the history of Kagura. It's very interesting to me because there's a whole different god worshipped than the kingdom.

　Yes, I was discussing this with Father Nord yesterday.

　Our home kingdom of Misfirito, the neighboring kingdom of Ardonia, the Holy Istania Empire, and the Rasul Kingdom all believe in the God of Creation, Misfirito.

　It's a bit strange that they don't believe in him beyond the continent.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of natural damage from tsunamis and storms, as you can see from the water god's story. I think they were cut off because they felt there was no point in clinging to Misfirito-sama, right?

Well it could certainly happen.

'No, no, I was just kidding, you know?

　I was just joking and I don't want you to take me seriously as such.

'I know. But it's an interesting opinion.

　I just heard a simple, put together explanation from Shuichi and Haru.

　Brother Silvio's book must have the right reasons and speculations written by a smart person.

　It's embarrassing because my opinion seems quite childish when compared to such things.

　I regret it halfheartedly and open my mouth to change the subject.

It's nice to be able to spend time quietly like this. Is this all thanks to the absence of sister Elinora?

It's certainly quiet without your sister.

　Brother Silvio responds to my words with a wry smile.

　If Sister Elinora were here, she would tell you that the temperature of the room is too hot, that she wants more food, more tea, boredom, etc., and to top it all off, she would ask you to train with her.

　This is how we can spend our mornings in peace because Sister Elinora is not here.

　The date of Elinora's sister's return is tomorrow.

　I can't help but feel melancholy when I think that this time of peace is coming to an end in just a few short days.

　Aaaaah, there were still things I wanted to do.

　When I was sighing in my mind, Silvio-san said while turning to me.

''........But I still miss my sister.

Oh, yeah?

'Yes. And the house is quiet without your sister.

　Well, it's certainly very quiet in the mansion without Sister Elinora.

　The family is basically all very calm and no one is as energetic as Elinora's sister.

'But it's nice to relax and read a book when it's quiet. You won't be invited to practice.

　I don't have to admit that there's a bit of loneliness in the lack of activity in the mansion, but that's why there's so much freedom and peace.

''Yes, but I've had my sister make a lot of noise and Al stubbornly rebelled when she asked me to go to practice. Even I get caught up in it, and Erna's mother and Nord Dad laugh, even though they sometimes interrupt me. I love being in a house with such lively voices.
Yo.

　Brother Silvio says with a smile on his face.

　How is this brother able to say these embarrassing lines from the front? I'm beginning to feel embarrassed as I listen.

　Is this purity the decisive difference between the world-weary me and Silvio's brother?

''........I wonder.

Having said that, Al is going to miss you too.

"How?

　I nod my head and brother Silvio chuckles.

'I'll be looking at my sister Elinora's seat when we get to the breakfast table or something forlornly,'

'No, it's just a bit uncomfortable because it's not where it should be,'

There's only one empty space in a bookcase filled with books. It's the same feeling of organization that I want to fill it properly.

　When I firmly insist, Brother Silvio laughs with an amused 'haha'.

　What are you laughing at while looking at someone's face? Isn't that rude?

'Where it should be means that it's natural for Al to have sister Elinora by his side, right?

　I couldn't refute Brother Silvio's line while he said it with a smiling expression on his face, but I couldn't refute it on the spur of the moment.



　◆


　When brother Silvio gives me some kind of warm look, I feel uncomfortable, so I leave the room and head to the living room.

　Maybe it's because of the conversation with Brother Silvio, but I'm noticing that the mansion is strangely quiet.

　The upstairs corridor is not popular, and only my footsteps sound strangely loud and audible. When I go downstairs, I can only hear the faint sound of preparations coming from the kitchen.

　I don't hear the voices of the maids, Meena and Saara, who may be cleaning the garden or doing some other kind of chore.

　At this time of day, Nord Dad is also working in his office, and Erna's mother is usually relaxing in the living room.

　Of course, we gather together at mealtime to talk, and even when Elinora's sister is there, we have these quiet times.

　But without Elinora Sis, the whole house seems somewhat quiet.

''Well it's annoying to admit something, but it's quiet when Elinora sister isn't around.''

　Have I finally been trained to the point where I'm going to miss my sister Elinora? No, it shouldn't be like that.

　As I was walking through the living room with such thoughts in my mind, the door to the front door suddenly opened with a sound.

　Would this somewhat un-busy doorway be a meena?　I turned my gaze to look at him and saw that it was Saara. She may have been sweeping the yard or holding a broom in her hand.　　

　It's unusual for a polite Sarra to come in in such a hurry.

'What's up?　You're too busy for Saara.

'Master Alfried. Lady Elinora has returned.

　I'm not sure what Saara meant when she looked at me and told me.

'Hmm?　What?

Lady Elinora has returned to the village of Coriat.

　I ask again, and Sarra tells me once again.

　No, no, it's not right. Elinora's sister isn't coming back until tomorrow, right?

　I'm tempted to question her out loud, but if I say it, she'll question me, so I manage to keep it in mind. Sister Elinora didn't send home a letter about the return schedule.

　In my case, Tory had reported it in detail, so she was relieved.

　It was the day before yesterday that I ran into Sister Elinora in Kicker. If we were to return to the village of Koliat by carriage from there, it would take three days.

　Today was only the second day, past noon. It would be more than half a day early, wouldn't it?



I could see our family's coat of arms from a distance, and I'm pretty sure that's Lady Elinora inside.

　Oh, an inexplicable feature.

　So it is, too. The only person who rides in a carriage with that distinctive crest, regardless of whether you've seen the person in question or not, is my family. Because of the distinctive crest, my heart is almost convinced that it's him.

''Have you really really come back?''

I'm back for real, for real.

The real, real, real--

'Master Alfried, you'll find out when you leave the mansion. If you don't believe me, then go outside and find out. I have to tell Erna-sama and Nord-sama, so I'll have to excuse myself.

　I asked, half-realistically, and finally Saara walked into the living room in dismay.

　Sister Elinora came back.

　I want to go outside to see if it's true. I wanted to find out for sure, but I was also afraid to go outside.

　Still, with a feeling of fear in my heart, I put on my shoes and walked out the door.

　I walk through the courtyard of the mansion to the gate.

　From there, there was a single road with a great view leading to the village, and on that road, a carriage with a familiar crest was approaching.

　The moment I saw that carriage, I felt an unearthly chill run through my entire body.

　This is the same feeling I felt in Kikka.

　A sixth sense inside me sounds an alarm bell to let me know that Elinora sister is approaching.

　That sensation gave me the certainty that Elinora's sister had returned without me having to see her.

　As I'm halfway through the process of looking at it, the front door opens and I can feel my family coming in one by one.

'It's our carriage, isn't it? 'Your sister's back!'

I'm so glad you're home at last. I can't believe you haven't sent me a single letter.

As Elinora-like as it sounds, it does worry me.

　The worry that Nord Dad is talking about is not so much about personal danger as it is about not causing trouble or something. It's hard to believe that the demons that exist on the road are enough to defeat Elinora's sister.

　As I was thinking about this, a carriage that was far away was coming closer and closer to me.

　And with that, I can see the figure of Lowe, the leader of the party. Looking at his complexion, a sense of exhaustion seems to be in the air.

　Could it be that they were returning at as high a speed as possible? I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea.

　Of course, she would have taken the horse's strength into account, but she can increase her speed if she cuts down on food, rest and sleep. I wouldn't do it because it's too much work for me, but if you think about it that way, it makes sense that they came back earlier than expected.

　She's still a big sister who has plenty of energy and makes you do reckless things.

　And then the carriage in which sister Elinora and Mel are likely to be riding stops in front of the gate.

　When the carriage came to a complete stop, the carriage door was vigorously opened.

　A girl with auburn hair in a ponytail emerged from it. She had a dignified face and red eyes, and was dressed in a white short-sleeved shirt and purple shorts. The arms and legs stretching out from there are slenderly stretched out, and no matter how you look at it, she is my sister, sister Elinora.

　The width of the carriage and the ground is the width of the length of the carriage, and an ordinary lady would have a servant help her or bring her down the steps before getting down gracefully, but sister Elinora is not one of them.

　She jumped down with a whimper, as if such things were unnecessary.

　Seeing such an unladylike move, Mother Erna let out a sigh next to her, "Huh.

　Father Nord and Brother Silvio also chuckled at this.

　But it seemed sincerely that this low girl power was Elinora sister.

　After landing, Elinora sister looks up and looks at me.

　With that alone, I felt that the air around me changed.

　Maybe it was because we hadn't met face to face when we encountered each other in Kikka. I feel that the atmosphere is different from the Elinora sister I had met before Kagura's departure.

　I can't accurately describe the difference, but it seemed to increase the sharpness in the atmosphere.

　I had heard that she was mixed in with the Knights of the Royal Capital's exercises, but were the Knights' exercises strict enough to evolve Elinora sister?

　When I was nervous about the somewhat tense atmosphere, Elinora sister walked over to me silently.

'Welcome home, Elinora.'

Welcome home, Elinora.

I'm home!　Dad, Mom!

　Father Nord and Mother Erna say a few words of welcome back to Sister Elinora.

　It was Mother Erna who said she hadn't sent a letter, but now she has nothing to nitpick about it. She seems to have decided to genuinely celebrate her daughter's return now.

'Welcome home, sister.

Yes, I'm back, Silvio.

　And brother Silvio and sister Elinora also exchange the same information.

　Somehow, unlike my time, they all seem to be genuinely saying welcome home. In my time, they seemed to be greeted in a more coarse manner....

　With that little doubt in my mind, I say to Elinora's sister, "Welcome home, Elinora.

'Welcome home, Elinora-sister.'

..........

　Following Brother Silvio, I say a few words, but Sister Elinora doesn't respond.

　It's as if she's seen a demon with a strange appearance.

　Huh?　What's going on?　I'm not wearing a water polo today, okay?　I don't remember being given such a curious look.......

　As I was thinking this, Sister Elinora bent at the waist and began to rudely pinch my cheeks and stomach.

　She touched me for a moment and then finally looked at my face.

"...what is this?　It's awful....

I think it's worse to look someone in the face and tell them they're terrible.

'How do you get to be so ugly?　It's hopeless if you even put fat on your face when your eyes are just too thin and dead?

　Ugh!　I know that, but it sticks in my mind when it's said so directly.

　When I'm overwhelmed by the mental damage I've suffered, sister Elinora mutters.

''Well you need to lose weight on this one.

　I know the dialogue that followed, now that I've experienced it.

　I turned and dashed around to avoid hearing the rest of the words.

　But the Elinora sister came around with a higher reflection speed and speed than that.

　Strange. She should have moved farther away and obviously later than I did!　

In the past, he would have only been grabbed by the collar after being chased.

　However, this time, they immediately came around and blocked the escape route.

　I'm sure the flow of magic power is due to the improvement in athletic ability through physical strengthening. It was being activated more smoothly than before, and she was able to use her magic power efficiently. That alone is enough to show the growth of Elinora sister.

So this is the result of the exercises by the Royal Capital Knights........ I don't know who it is, but it seems they taught my sister some troublesome things.

　Standing in front of me, Elinora sister says with a smile on her face, "Let's go practice.

''Come on, let's practice!　Al!

　It was not supposed to make me happy, but my heart seemed to be somewhat nostalgic and happy to hear it.