Chapter 47

Without joining in the adults' violent snowball fight, after having a very peaceful snowball fight at the edge, Tōru, Asmo, and I made our way to the back square.

"Come on, come on. Hey Asmo! Give me a hand with rolling this thing!"

"It's because you're being greedy and trying to make it too big. Oh well, I guess I can't help it."

We are now making a snowman. When it comes to snow, you can't do without a snowman, can you?

While I silently rolled and made the snow, Tōru and Asmo were rolling something to make a huge snowman. Hey, isn't that a bit too big? What are they planning to stack on top of that?

Anyway, it seems their concept is to make it big. If that's the case, I'll compete by stacking layers. The overall balance is important. This part looks unbalanced. Should I use magic...?

---

And so, my snowman was completed.

"Al's snowman is amazing! How many layers did you stack!?"

"Let's see, one, two, three... seven layers!? It looks almost human."

I used magic to create the snowman. Each part is, of course, a ball. To make it look better, I stacked them in an S-curve.

Why doesn't it collapse? That's because of the masterful technique of this renowned craftsman, Alphried.

To put it simply, there's a supporting pillar made with ice magic inside this seven-layer snowman. Because of this, no matter how much you shake it, it won't fall. Of course, the bottom snowball is also secured to the ground with a stake. Thanks to this, it won't fall easily.

"Wow, your snowman has a great body."

"It's got a great figure."

While saying such silly things, Tōru and Asmo were patting my snowman.

"Since you can do this, why don't you make a human instead of a snowman?"

Tōru suddenly turned around and shouted.

"Human? Sure, but it will take some time to make."

"Alright! We'll come help you after we finish our giant snowman!"

"Hey, are you still making it bigger?"

Asmo looked at the large snowball with a troubled expression. It was as big as an adult. I think it's impossible to stack it any higher.

"Alright! Let's put our backs into rolling it!"

"...I guess I have no choice."

"...By the way, Asmo, where's your waist?"

"Alright, I'll roll you into a snowman."

"Whoa! J-Just kidding—"

Well, let's try making something else. Who should I make? Hmm, she can't be left out.

First, let's make a stage as the base.

And so, three ice statues were completed.

On the circular base, Emma-san sits gracefully. Her distant gaze, filled with a mix of melancholy and fragility, somehow stirs a protective instinct in men.

Behind her, although I didn't really want to make it, I did because Tōru insisted—my sister, Elinora. Wearing a blouse and skirt, with a wooden sword planted in the ground, she looks like a valkyrie. If she were wearing armor, she would look like a brave female knight. Because I see her often, it's frustrating that this is the best one.

I thought I put the most effort into Emma-san...

And finally, standing next to Elinora's ice statue is Shira, the treasure of Coriatt Village. I decided to make the usual trio.

Shira, with her fluffy hair and gentle expression. I tried to recreate her smiling and waving. Since I see her the least, I was worried about the completion, but Asmo nodded approvingly, so I guess it passed the mark.

"Wow, Al! Especially this Elinora's ice statue! Can I take it home!?"

Tōru, breathing heavily, reached out to grab it.

"Think about it. There's no way you can take it home."

I pushed Tōru's arm away to calm him down.

"Wait. What do you plan to do with my sister's ice statue?"

"Of course, I'm taking it home... Hey! What are you doing! Let go!"

I can take it home with spatial magic. This is a one-of-a-kind work! When will I be able to make something like this again?

"You can't take it home. You're weaker than me!"

"What!?"

"...It will melt anyway."

---

After arguing with Tōru for a few minutes, we decided to keep the ice statues here.

Tōru will probably stop by on his way home to take them. I won't let that happen. I won't let you take my masterpiece, Emma-san.

"Still, Al, didn't you make Elinora's chest too big?"

Tōru raised a question in front of Emma-san's ice statue.

"Huh? I thought it was about this size?"

Maybe I idealized it in my mind. But I can't be wrong about Emma-san.

While I was searching my memories, Tōru touched the ice statue.

"Sis is about this size. She just always wears tight clothes."

"Whoa! You shaved off a chunk! What did you do to my work!"

I pushed Tōru away and hurriedly fixed the chest. Amateurs are so troublesome.

...Alright, this is good. After all, craftsmanship requires manual work. Fine details must be done by hand.

"Well, if you're satisfied with that... but isn't Shira's a bit small?"

"Agreed."

It's impressive that he didn't specify which part.

"Don't mess up the shape."

Asmo warned with a serious expression.

Of course, that goes without saying.

"We understand. Balance is key."

The three of us worked together, giving each other detailed instructions to improve the ice statues.

---

× × ×

Tired of making ice statues and snowmen, we left the square and headed towards the river.

There, we can play on the frozen river and slopes. Apparently, they play there every year when it snows.

It's probably the river that Elinora often takes me to. There are slopes there too.

By the way, the giant ball that Tōru and Asmo tried to make into a snowman but failed was left in front of the mayor's house without stacking. It was originally in the middle of the road, but I moved it using body enhancement, thinking it would be in the way.

It's not because I held a grudge against the mayor for chasing us away during the harvest festival.

It just happened to be in front of the mayor's house, which was out of the way.

And we arrived at the river.

The usual cool sound of flowing water is not heard. Thanks to the cold temperature, the river is completely frozen. The fish that were visible from the shore are now hidden, as if time has been sealed by the ice.

"Hey, how can you slide on such an unbalanced thing!"

"What's wrong, Tōru? You look scared."

"I don't understand how you can slide with something stuck to the bottom of your feet!"

Tōru, trembling like a newborn fawn, slowly walked on the ice.

His appearance was somewhat comical, like a penguin.

"Look at Asmo. He's already sliding gracefully."

Sliding smoothly around us is Asmo. He easily uses the blade I created on the bottom of his shoes with ice magic.

Asmo, despite his appearance, has good physical coordination. This is the power of a mobile fatty.

"He's been mobile since he was a kid. I'm different! Besides, Asmo has fat, so he doesn't feel pain when he falls, so he can slide without hesitation... Hey, what are you doing, Asmo? Don't put your hand on my back. Wait! Don't push! Whoa!"

Pushed hard, Tōru gained momentum and slid with a whoosh. Thus, Tōru performed his second face-plant into the snow of the day.

"It's so cold! You bastard!"

Tōru got up from the snow, removed the blade from his feet, and ran towards Asmo.

Apparently, he thought that if he pushed Asmo, who was wearing the blade, he could get revenge.

Asmo, sensing Tōru's intention, immediately removed the blade and braced himself to receive Tōru head-on.

In terms of raw power, Asmo has the advantage, but Tōru has the advantage of a running start.

Let's see who wins.

"Die, Asmo!"

"You first!"

Tōru used the momentum from his running start to collide with Asmo.

Asmo, despite being on ice, firmly planted his feet and tried to push Tōru back with all his strength.

"Grgh!"

"You're so small for a Tōru!"

Oh, it must hurt to be knocked down on this ice.

Currently, Asmo is pushing back and has the advantage.

It looks like Asmo will win.

I was watching from a safe distance, but an unexpected situation occurred.

Crack, crack, crack!

"..."

The sound from somewhere brought silence to the scene.

Crack, crack, crack!

The sound was coming from under Asmo's feet. Looking down, we could see cracks spreading like a spider's web. We swallowed hard, imagining the worst-case scenario.

When Asmo, perhaps due to tension, moved his foot slightly, the cracks widened, threatening us.

"...Asmo, don't move."

"If you move now, it will break."

Tōru and I, fearing for our lives, desperately tried to talk Asmo into staying still.

"..."

Crack, crack.

"Who said you could move!"

The sound of impending doom made us shiver.

Asmo, looking at his feet, distorted his face.

"Wait! What's with that evil smile!"

What an evil smile. Is he aware that he can't save himself and plans to take us with him? Wait, calm down, me. Asmo isn't that kind of person. Think about it.

We pushed Tōru into the hole, then buried him, and pushed him to slide...

No, he will do it. He will definitely do it.

This is bad. If this continues, we'll all fall into the cold water together.

Fortunately, the river isn't deep, but if we fall in during this season, we'll be hit with unimaginable cold. We'll definitely catch a cold.

We must avoid that at all costs.

In that case, this is what I can do!

"Whoa! That's dirty! Al, you escaped to the sky by yourself!"

Tōru and Asmo, with stunned expressions, looked up at me, who had escaped to the sky with a 'Shield'.

Don't think badly of me. I don't want to die yet. Besides, you guys started this, not me.

"Hey, Al."

"What?"

"Can you save at least one of us?"

"Are you not ashamed of trying to save yourself alone?"

"You're one to talk! I'll knock you down! Whoa!"

In his anger, Tōru stomped the ground hard and fell into the river in the dead of winter.