Chapter 90

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"…………Hey"

"What?"

As usual, Elinora-san came in without knocking and called out to me with a puzzled voice.

"What are you doing, rolling up that cloth?"

"It's a stick."

I continued sewing the end of the cloth stick in my hand without turning to look at Elinora-san. Just twisting and compressing the cloth would make it unravel, so I sewed the ends and seams to keep it from coming apart.

I've gotten quite used to this kind of work from making slippers. I think I could even make simple clothes or scarves now.

Well, I don't need it to be of high quality, just something that swings well...

"I'm done!"

"It's just a stick made from leftover cloth. If you want something to swing, why don't you use the wooden sword over there?"

When I held up the completed cloth stick, Elinora-san said this.

The wooden sword she mentioned is the one we use for practice. It's not particularly important, so it's just leaning against the wall.

Of course, I didn't make this because I like sword skills.

"No, I'm not going to use it for practice. It's for a game."

"A game? How do you use it?"

Elinora-san, reacting to the word "game," leaned in.

Is she expecting something like Reversi again? Unfortunately, this time it's relatively simple.

But maybe Elinora-san will like it?

"Well, it's a game where you move your body, and Elinora-san might be good at it."

"Really? Teach me quickly!"

Elinora-san, with her chestnut ponytail swaying, sat down in front of me. Her red eyes were filled with anticipation.

"You only need two things: the bowl here and the cloth stick. If you win rock-paper-scissors, you can hit the other person's head with this stick. If you lose, you have to put on this wooden bowl for defense."

I demonstrated by putting on the bowl I had prepared to make it clear.

"Your chest and stomach are completely exposed, aren't they?"

"This is a rule that only allows you to aim for the head!"

Why does this sister always want to take things in a combat direction?

Elinora-san, with keen interest, tried putting on the bowl and swinging the stick.

Are you listening properly?

"Hmm, I see. It sounds interesting. If you win, you hit the other person's head with this stick, right?"

Elinora-san, with an innocent smile, swung the stick.

"Right. This is important, so I'll say it again: you can only aim for the head, and you can't dodge."

I emphasized this to make sure she understood.

I don't want to get a sharp hit to the stomach even if I properly defend my head.

Well, with a wooden sword, it might be different, but this stick made of cloth is soft, so it should be fine.

"I understand. Let's start right away!"

But... that's a very important point...

So, our game of "Hit and Cover Rock-Paper-Scissors" began.

We placed the cloth stick and the bowl in front of us and sat down a bit away from them.

To give me a physical disadvantage, the stick was placed on my right side.

Both Elinora-san and I are right-handed, so she would have to grab the stick with her left hand or reach out with her right hand.

However, I don't think Elinora-san's speed would drop much even if she grabbed the stick with her left hand.

She can swing a sword just as fast with her left hand as with her right during practice.

According to her, "If my dominant hand is injured, I can't fight. That's not fair, right?"

That's true, but... isn't she too manly?

"Let's go, then?"

Elinora-san smiled confidently.

Probably because she practices sword skills, she's confident in swinging a weapon. It doesn't matter to her if it's on the left side.

But, that's naive. I knew this and chose this battle. I didn't just come here without any preparation or effort.

"Sure. Go ahead."

I said with a sly smile.

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"

I, paper.

Elinora-san, rock.

With the justification of a game, I reacted with the fastest speed possible, reaching for the stick. In that instant, I used a psychic magic to secretly draw the stick to my hand.

Then, I moved my arm fluidly and delivered the sharpest strike of my life!

A dry sound echoed in the room.

It hit! It hit! A critical hit!

I might have hit Elinora-san's head for the first time ever!

Take that! I knew she would throw rock first, being so simple.

It's scary to think about what might happen next, but... it felt really good.

The fog in my heart cleared, and I was intoxicated by an indescribable pleasure. Then, Elinora-san's white arm reached out.

Next thing I knew, I was grabbed, tripped, and fell over.

Then, Elinora-san straddled me, picked up the stick I had dropped, and was about to strike—

"Wait! Elinora-san! This is just a game!"

Reacting to my cry, Elinora-san's arm stopped abruptly.

"...Right. I got carried away after getting hit on the head by Al for the first time."

Elinora-san took a deep breath to calm herself and got off me.

If I had hit her with a wooden sword during practice, I don't think she would have stopped. It's a good thing this was a game, and the stick was made of cloth.

Still, the speed at which she took me down was incredible. I barely saw it happen.

From the moment I was grabbed, the world flipped, and the stick was right in front of my face.

I probably couldn't have escaped even with a teleportation spell. Even though it allows for instant movement, there's a slight delay in activation.

She's a terrifying sister.

"Still, how was that the fastest and sharpest strike you've ever made?"

"Maybe... the cloth has a good weight, making it easy to swing?"

Elinora-san gave me a suspicious look, but I brushed it off.

Of course, this stick is made to be the most suitable for my body and strength.

I've practiced many times for this moment, honing my reflexes and practicing the instant activation of magic to make the entire sequence fluid.

It's only natural that it was the fastest strike I've ever made.

Well, I thought it was a good speed myself.

"...Fine. It won't be that easy next time."

"Wait, Elinora-san! Don't try to switch the wooden sword with the cloth stick!"

I persuaded Elinora-san, who was complaining that the cloth stick was easier to swing and more practical for practice, and we resumed the game.

I was already satisfied with hitting Elinora-san's head, but...

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"

I, rock.

Elinora-san, scissors.

"Die, Elinora-san!"

With a fierce voice, I swung the stick.

"Too slow!"

I thought my stick would definitely hit Elinora-san's head, but the bowl covered it.

The dry sound of the bowl being struck echoed.

"...Damn it."

Damn! The desire to hit her with all my might made me swing too wide.

The activation of the magic was also slightly off.

Calm down, Alfrid. I understand your feelings, but don't get too anxious.

Hit more compactly and accurately. Remember your practice.

"Hey, Al! Did you just say 'die'?"

Elinora-san, removing the bowl, revealed a tense face. Her well-shaped eyebrows twitched.

"I didn't say that."

"You did! ...But, it's fine. I'm starting to get the hang of it, so next time I'll hit Al's head."

"I'll hit you next time too."

After all, if I miss this chance, I might never get to hit Elinora-san's head again.

We smiled at each other and started the game again.

"Rock, paper, scissors, shoot!"

I, scissors.

Elinora-san, rock.

What!? Wasn't she going to throw paper!?

While I was slightly flustered, I suddenly felt a killing intent.

It was something like a sixth sense.

In that instant, I had a vision of Elinora-san's stick striking and splitting my head.

"Ah!"

Following my sixth sense, I grabbed the bowl and rolled away.

That was close! It would have been bad if I hadn't moved.

"Hey! You're not supposed to dodge, right!?"

Elinora-san, as if to finish me off, hit me with the stick while I was rolling. She seemed to be aiming only for my head.

Thinking about it now, this might look like bullying from an objective point of view.

"...What are you two doing?"

A gentle voice from a third party.

Elinora-san's attack stopped abruptly.

Lifting the bowl from my head, I saw Silvio-nii standing there with a wry smile.

Next time, it's a match with Silvio.

I've posted a new work: "I Am a Dullahan. I Am Looking for My Head."

It's a story about the protagonist's adventure after becoming a Dullahan.

If you have a moment, please read it.

http://ncode.syosetu.com/n5372dl/