Chapter 28

Chapter 28

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The time to harvest wheat began, people are moving energetically. Busily harvesting barley and other crops, and am happily harvesting with the whole family. Although some percentage of them will be taken as part of a tax, people smile’s are bright. It seems to be a good harvest this time, the villagers will have some of the surplus (tax allowance).

Even if it is not a good harvest this season, it is fine since we store enough food for the sake of emergency purposes. In case of poor harvest, we can distribute it. We will somehow manage if we can grow the crops again.

It seems that there will be a harvest festival 5 days from now, though everyone is busy with the harvesting.

It is said to be held every year after all the harvesting is done and everything is settled. Koryat villager will gather together, and then celebrate for three days. This year it seems that the immigrants also increased, so it will be quite lively.

I heard that there are also Reversi, and Shogi competitions.

Bartolo will represent the Slowlet family and act as the chef for the village, so he is now busy helping with the maids. It would be hard to cook for hundreds of people.

It seems that people from outside of the territory will come this time, I heard that it is kind of impossible to come across an unusual dish.

Bartolo will face a difficult time.

While thinking so, I am spending my time feeling the warmth in my room. The room becomes warm if you let the fire using fire magic float in the air.

When the room warms up, as expected I’ll extinguish it.

But, my body is already accustomed to summer heat, so I don’t know whether  today happens to be colder even if it’s autumn rather than winter , since I feel a bit cold.

So that’s why today I’m wearing two shorts. This is okay. Um, it’s fine (just right).

「Al. Time for sword training.」

Just when I’m being absent minded in my room while waiting for my room to get warm, Eleonora-neesan came to my room. Of course  there is no knocking the door from her. Although it’s staple in manga or anime for the hero to get a heroine, sadly there is no heroine in this house.

「Er. It’s cold today so I’ll pass.」

「That’s not good. You’re won’t get any  better if you’re not improving yourself. 」

「What about the preparation for the harvest festival？ Or the preparation to welcome people from outside ?」

「It’s been decided so it’s okay. Even if it’s not the two of us can just keep practicing」

「Err..」

I resolutely shake my head while showing uncomfortable look to Eleonora-neesan.

「If you don’t change that disgusting expression on you face right now, maybe I’ll straighten it by force?」

「I’ll get dressed quickly！」

I’m bowing while consciously making a dignified appearance.

Even so, if my face ‘rank’ is low, if it get straightened… Eh? Will I become a handsome guy? No way, that’s impossible! There is no such thing. Maybe my face is just swollen. Alfred, don’t make any mistake on the way.

「Please hurry up. Before I’m going ahead with Sylvio.」

I only took of one long shorts, then I change to an easy to move long shorts that will be okay if it gets dirty. But today is cold, so is this okay I wonder?

When I go out to the courtyard, a little cold draft is blowing. The leaves are falling from the trees, being shaken by the wind while emitting rustling sound and fluttering about in the air like bubbles.

Their lonely appearance seeming to show that it is late summer.

「Al. What are you being absent-minded for, it’s a bit cold today so I’ll move carefully.」\n「Yes.」

Being called by my sister, Eleonora-neesan, I rush over while shaking my training sword. Somehow Eleonora-neesan and Sylvio-niisan were wearing short pants. I’m not crazy.

Is it like that? Elementary school boys, wearing short pants and struggling to look cool in the midwinter.

Then the girls will say 『Are you not cold？』then happily replying 『Not cold at all！』trying to look tough and ignore the cold, are you trying to get popularity from everyone?

「Anyway forget about Eleonora-neesan, but Sylvio-niisan, are you not cold？」

「What do you mean with ’forget about me’？」

「It will be warm if I move around, so it’s okay.」

Sylvio-niisan answer with a fresh smile on his face while stretching. I ignore Eleonora-neesan ‘s words. Because I felt like I’ll get caught in trouble if I answered. Yeah, I got smarter.

「Ne？ What do you mean?」

Stop using that kind of line. Because it’s like a yandere.

「Are you ready? Let’s run around the house a little bit.」

「Yes！ Father！」

Father! You came at the right time. Today father look dazzling.

「Al is unusually energetic. Shall we run faster then?」

「Wwaiitt.」

「Eleonora neesan. It’s quicker if you just use sword to make Al listen.」

「That’s true. 」

What are you saying Sylvio! I’m truly shocked, that I call him without honorifics.

I ran around the mansion, while praying desperately for Eleonora-neesan to forget about it.

When my body got warm,I did the usual practice.

It’s the first time I’m waving a sword, it’s only been five months but recently the sound of the sword cutting the air is getting better. But father said, that my arms is still shaking. It’s difficult to my body properly (as I wish it).

While next to me, Sylvio-niisan is doing the exercise with precise and beautiful movement. Since the physical strength between us is different, the gap between each swing is also different, making a good sound. 1  I guess Sylvio-niisan is thinking the reason while doing those movement. It seems that he was listening to Nord-tousan’s advice often.

In the back, Eleonora-neesan is swinging her wooden sword. I was expecting for her sword to be fast, but it’s not sharp.

Then, as if she was able to read my thoughts from my gaze, after making a sullen face, her expression turn serious while staring at the leaves drifting in front of her.

「Haa」

Letting out a short voice, while at the same time swinging the wooden sword.

　……hmm? Did she do something？

And then, the strike hit the leaf and cut in line diagonally both with vertical and horizontal shape, the leaf then split into eight part and flutter in the air with *harahara*. (flutterflutter)

Haa!? How come it’s been cut into 8 parts while she just swung her sword only once?Certainly the sword is swung down only once.\nI don’t understand.

Looking at my shocked appearance, Eleonora-nessan seems to make a ‘how is it’-face, so I decide to might as well just face her.

Eleonora-neesan, what a dreadful child……

From now on, don’t make me angry when I’m holding a wooden sword, or I will use this technique to cut you four times, is that what she’s trying to say?

「Eleonora. Just now, what are you doing? Didn’t I say it’s not a technique that should be used to play around? 」2

「……I’m sorry.」

「Next time you do that, I’ll give you a punishment. 」

Somehow Eleonora-neesan became submissive. It is said that the road of martial arts can even make demon to become submissive. Feeling a somewhat deep emotion, I swing my wooden sword.

「Keep concentrating Al.」

「I’m sorry.」

I think that there are many Esper in this village.

After finishing the swinging the sword, now it’s sparring time. Today I manage to avoid the father and daughter pair (Nord-tousan & Eleonora-neesan). My opponent is Sylvio-niisan.

I need to return the previous unnecessary thing he said earlier.

「……Al.This is just a spar, why did you put such wicked face？」

「Really? Well then、I’ll attack.」

Exhaling shortly、shortening my distance with Sylvio-niisan. I use the pose that father taught me until now and unleash a continuous attack. Even if it’s a basic move that is easy to fend off, I can still use the momentum.

「Al can already start using that move.」

「Sylvio-niisan is as usual is good at avoiding.」

「It’s a necessary technique to fend off Eleonora-neesan……」

「That’s true.」

「Father、Al is amazing you know to be able to attack Eleonora-neesan continuously. 」

People can grow strong if they survive. I feel like it’s not enough to face Eleonora-neesan head on if I don’t use magic. Let’s try it next time.

「Really clever. That repelling move can be a reference.」

「Ahaha、You’d better listen to father right？」

「Eh、Don’t wanna. It will be just become a spar.」

If I talk too much, Nord-tousan will become angry, so might as well continue.

As usual, Sylvio-niisan, he’s good at stabilizing himself. As expected of Sylvio barrier.

「……Al、I heard it you know？」

The sounds of our wooden sword colliding can be heard from our position, the sounds of the wind being cut, the intermittent sounds of dirt due to our movement.

\n「Right, as always thank you. I’ll be right in.」

　I return to my own room with a smile on my face. I think he’s probably took off his clothes about now.

By the way I didn’t lie to him. Because no one said the bath water is heated. I only said that he can go first.

Now then, please enjoy the Arctic Ocean bath !

After letting Sylvio-niisan soak in the bath, I went to the second floor. 7Looking inside the room, I saw the figure of Sylvio-niisan nonchalantly taking some clothes from the rack.

I look forward to what will happen, while waiting in my room.

「Hmm..hm..hm…♪ I’m excited.」

「Hyaaaaaa!」

「……Heh?」

「Heyy! I thought it was hot water since it gave of steam!」

Even without listening carefully, I can tell from my sister angry voice that she’s coming to my room.

Whayisthat! (kansai-ben) I’m not sure if the training is over or not, but usually I take a bath after I change my clothes. 8

Eleonora-neesan comes upstair with *batabata* such rattling noise.

To say that one step is surely the same as the end of my life, but she’s skipping two step at once. 9

When I take a peek into the hallway from the door, there was a demon wearing a towel.

The moment our eyes met, I felt a chill down my spine. The feeling as though my heart was grabbed my a hand and it tightened.

Even though you just came out from a cold bath, why is your whole body turn red?

Eleonora-neesan glare at me with sharp gaze full of anger, so I run away.

While trembling in fear, I rebuke my own body and resolutely close the door.

Damn it! Why is my body trembling at such times! Because my hand is sweating, the doorknob slip off from my hand and the door open.

Hhiiiiiii!!! What are you gonna do with me demon!

「If I close the door then it’s my win. If I close the door then it’s my win. If I close the door then it’s my win. If I close the door then it’s my win.」

With self-suggestion I calmly close the door. I can’t hear anything like demons’ footsteps any more. Even one second feels unspleasant. Life is about struggling in one moment!

Close it. It will be closed soon! My door.

Yosh! It’s close…

「When I close the door it’s my win….」

「If I strangle Al’s neck then is it my win ？」

　It will not get closed, the demon’s feet got in between the door.

That day, I feel like I saw a revolving lantern for the first time.