I, Alfried, am running as fast as I can down the hallway. I run down the stairs in two quick bursts and up two quick bursts. I feel like I've run all over the first and second floors and even the yard at the end of the day. How many times have I seen the same scenery pass by?

　I hear footsteps behind me. Each sound seems to me to be the melody of death being played. I've been in the same boat for a while now, and I've had a great time with it.

　You can't escape from his astonishing physical abilities after all.

　I'm afraid I can't shake him, and I run with my mind to survive.

　Why are you running? Because I'm running.

　What are they running from?

"Don't wait!

　From the rear, its pursuer, Sister Elinora, was shouting out.

''Hiiiiiiii!　So that thing is a force majeure!

Shut up!

　He tried to defend himself in a trembling voice, but he didn't listen. He was bounced away with a snap.

　How unreasonable it was.

　This unreasonableness is not the first time I've seen it, though.

　This fearful game of tag (if you are caught, your life is not guaranteed. There can't even be a shift) started because of an event that happened just a few minutes ago.

　So. It was when I was living in a very normal mansion.



　× X X X


　The air is getting drier and drier these days, probably because of the approaching winter.

　I've been sitting in my bed today, knowing that we have a long and cold winter ahead of us.

　But when I opened the window, I noticed that it was a warm and mildly sunny day, perhaps because it was a mild spring day.

　It would be a shame to stay in my room on such a warm and sunny day.

　On a day like this, I'd rather watch the autumn leaves outside from my balcony or go for a walk. It's not a bad idea to invite Thor to join you in exercising once in a while.

　Deciding that, I, Alfried, started walking from my room to the upstairs balcony.

　As I walked down the corridor, I noticed that the door to Elinora sister's room was open.

　I peeked in for some reason and found Sister Elinora in a room with a nice scent in the air.

　She seemed to be humming and getting ready in front of the recently acquired mirror.

　Until now, it was only in Mother Erna's room, and she had been asking for it for a long time.

　Now it's finally my room, and it's a big, quality one at that. No wonder she's in a good mood.

　Sister Elinora tidied her long auburn hair in a neat bun. Then she lightly strokes her bangs with her hand and twists to make sure there are no funny spots all over her body.

　Then she stops moving her body and starts touching the hem of her clothes.

　Then, as if her stomach is bothering her, she flips up the hem of her clothing.

　You have to be able to find a way to make the best of it.

''........mmmm.''

Oh, Elinora, you're so fat!

Hmph!

Dewww!

"I'm not the fat one!

No, no!　Now that was because Sister Elinora threw her slippers at me!

That was a scream! It's just a slipper biting into my cheek.

　But still, what a reaction speed. I didn't see any movement at all before I took off my slippers and threw them. She's still the same horrible sister.

'That said, I can't overlook that first line.

　Now the violence is played out as such!　Well, that's fine. Anyway, now I have to make up for the gaffe.

　Anyway, why is it that Elinora sister has such a good extra memory? Normally, her memory is a pity.

''........I can hear you, okay?''

'Whoa!　I'm sorry. So put those slippers down in your hands.

　As I hurriedly apologize, Sister Elinora slowly releases her stance. But I haven't lowered her to the ground yet.

　Slippers. It's something that a woman can hold in her hand and elevate from mere footwear to a divine object. The throwing by a mature user, especially one with a mature age, is a substitute for a hundred shots, no matter how quick-footed he is. It is also very useful in Japan against the strongest enemies of humanity.

''So?''

　Sister Elinora pats her slippers with her hand and urges me to explain myself.

'You bought a big, fat mirror,'

Are you sure about that?

　A look of suspicion in his eyes. It's awful to suspect my brother, isn't it?

'Is something bothering you about your clothes?

　As it is, I'm going to change the subject because it's a defeating experience.

　Do you have a straightforward tummy problem here?　Alfried was kind enough not to say.

'It's not the clothes, but I feel like I've got some flesh on my stomach lately...'

'Haha, isn't it every year that Sister Elinora gets fat in the winter?

　Maybe it must be the same as how wild animals store fat to get through the winter.

..............Al?

It's a lie!　Sister Elinora has slender legs, arms, tummy and breasts all over her body!

...and the breasts?

What?　Yeah?　Her breasts are slender too....oh, shit!　I didn't mean to tell the truth!

..........

　We're screwed!　Finally, I couldn't even get the words out. I abandoned my excuses and ran away at once.



　× x x x



　And well, this was the event that caused me to play a game of fear tag. I may have been a little bad this time, but I think it's okay to forgive me for being lazy.

"I was aware of the fact that you were that angry--whoa!　Don't throw the wooden sword!

Wait!

　I feel like that's all I've been saying since a moment ago, Sister Elinora already.

　I run down the stairs and vigorously open the door to the first floor hallway. And then I run without regard to what I'm doing. I run. Erinora runs into the corridor from behind, as well.

Hey!　It's not safe to run around in the mansion!

　A still voice that sounded like my father Nord came flying in.

　But if we stopped now, we'd be beyond dangerous. If you're caught, there's no guarantee of your life.

　I don't know if they'd forgive me if I presented them with a different-colored Gekota-kun....

　We both run out of the hallway and into the yard in our slippers.

''How can you be so fast when you're not even running!　It's magic again!

How can you run faster in your slippers, sister Elinora, if you say so?

　I don't understand how you can run like a shoe in slippers. Every time I run, Gekota's face is wrinkled and he screams?

　When it comes to me, I just move around in my slippers as I slide around. Even though it looks like this, I didn't wear slippers in middle school and high school, not boots. I know exactly how to run efficiently.

　But I couldn't shake it off at all.

　It is not a bad thing that he is a professional. It's a good idea to keep a certain distance between the two.

　Eventually, she circles around the outside of the mansion and goes back inside.

　Shit, there's no end to this. Eventually I will run out of energy and will be caught.

　If it comes to this, I should use transference magic. I go upstairs and run to my room.

　And I immediately shut the door with a click.

''Open it!　Now I'll allow you to just go along with me for a day of practice!

　Slamming the door with a bang and saying things. It's as good as a death sentence.

''I absolutely hate it!

Oh, yeah!　I'll open it for you in a minute.

　Elinora's sister moves away from the door after saying a dangerous line.

　I exhale in relief at that.

　...I thought she would just break the door down and come in.

　But I can't be relieved. The reason why I didn't do a siege in my room from the beginning is because this mansion has a spare key. So the siege makes no sense.

　Still, for me, the time it takes for Elinora's sister to go get the spare key is enough to buy time.

　I open all the windows and let the rope I took out with spatial magic hang down.

　This should make Elinora sister think I've escaped from the mansion.

　I've lost my cool, I'm sure Elinora sister can fool me now. Maybe she'll follow me to the village.

　As I was gloating in my mind, I heard a metallic sound that sounded like a spare key.

　Oops, they're already here. I envision a place in the mansion. Then the magic power instantly enveloped me and shifted.

'Now, prepare yourself!　We're going to practice hard today!　........Huh?