Chapter 47

The diet has officially begun. Even I had started to get bothered by the flab around my belly, so I’ve decided to obediently go along with it.

And apparently, Yuria couldn’t say no to Master’s request either, because she went ahead and switched my meals to diet-friendly ones too. All while clicking her tongue—just barely loud enough for my sharp ears to catch.

“Yuria, do you... maybe not like me or something?”

“Eh? That’s not true at all, milady. I absolutely adore you.”

The way she looked genuinely puzzled while saying it makes me think she’s not lying... which, in a way, is even more terrifying.

---

One day, Master brought it up—there had been some kind of reaction on the barrier.

“A White Raider?”

“Yeah, it showed up near the hidden village...”

The White Raider is a monster somewhere between a plant and a reptile, native to cold climates. During the winter, its hunting grounds expand. It swims through the snow using heat sensors to locate prey, then drags them under and devours them.

That’s what I heard from Master. Also, apparently during mating season, it captures women and turns them into seedbeds.

“There really is no shortage of eroge monsters here... I feel like I could be convinced this is actually the world of an eroge.”

“Oh, didn’t I mention that?”

I let out a sigh with a bit of sarcasm, only to get a reply I wasn’t expecting from Master. Excuse me, what did you just say? I stared at him in disbelief as he awkwardly scratched his cheek.

“I don’t have solid proof or anything, but... the monsters and country names that show up here are way too similar to the ones in an RPG-style eroge I know.”

He added that it’s not exactly the same, but there are way too many similarities. That thought has been spiraling around in my head ever since.

So... does that mean this is basically a world straight out of a lewd game, and I’ve been thrown into it as an elf slave girl? What even is that?

“Ahahahahaha...”

In the middle of our family meeting in the living room, I collapsed off the sofa and rolled onto the floor. As I started crawling across the carpet, Yuria, Lulu, and Fere stared at me in horror, apparently unable to follow what was going on.

“Might as well let it all goooo...”

So basically, if Master hadn’t bought me, I’d either be suffering some miserable fate as a slave in some R-21 scenario, or getting my stomach filled up by orcs or tentacles as an adventurer. That’s the kind of future that was waiting for me, huh.

Thanks to Master, I was saved from that downward spiral, and now the ones who might get to fill up my belly include Master, a carnivorous fish, a king, an orc, or a tentacle—what a luxurious lineup.

Maybe the reverse harem dream isn’t as far off as I thought.

“Se-Senpai’s broken.”

“It’s okay! Even if Sora loses it, I’ll take care of her!”

“Thanks, Fere. Now go rest peacefully under the snow.”

“I’m heading out with Makoto and the other guys to exterminate it. If it gets late, I’ll spend the night in the village—just keep that in mind.”

Master, who had been looking at me with pity in his eyes, wrapped up the topic and said that. Yuria and Lulu seemed unhappy about it, but since it would be a disaster if they got caught, they didn’t plan on forcing their way into the mission.

“Good luuuuck out theeeere—”

Sprawled on my back, I waved my arms lazily as Master gave me a sharp look. Then he let out an exaggerated sigh.

“Sora, at least do some exercise indoors.”

“Yeeees, siiiir.”

“...Yuria, make sure Lulu and Fere aren’t slacking off either.”

Muuu... so little faith in me...

---

"Come on, Senpai! Keep it up! Just three more laps to go!"

"Hi—hahii!"

It was a quiet afternoon, and I was drenched in sweat as I ran laps around the house. At first, I’d collapse after just five laps, but now I’m pushing seventeen. Just a little more to reach today’s goal of twenty laps.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected my lack of stamina to be a bigger problem than the whole dieting thing. But thinking back, I’d been living the island shut-in life, spending my days getting teased by Master. Of course my stamina’s gone. In other words, it’s Master’s fault.

Still, no matter how much I point fingers, it doesn’t change my current predicament. Chris and Fere are busy making snow sculptures, and Yuria is keeping watch nearby, so there’s no escape. And even if I somehow managed to shake them off, there’s no way the hunter of the main family—Lulu—would let me go.

It’s all so infuriating. I pushed my legs harder, and when I finally hit my goal of twenty laps, I collapsed right into the snow.

"Zeeh... haa... I-I can’t go on any more..."

"There, there. You did your best."

That Lulu... there’s no warmth in her praise at all.

Anyway, that’s enough for today. The cold snow feels nice against my sweat-soaked body. Time to take a bath and call it a day.

"Senpai, your stamina really is nonexistent..."

"It... it can’t be helped, okay?"

Then, I thought I heard something. Just the faint crunch of snow underfoot. Lulu looked toward a corner of the forest, her expression sharpening. It was way too early for Master to be back. Maybe a visitor from the village?

"...I hear armor... clinking."

Lulu closed her eyes and twitched her ears, whispering with a hint of panic.

"Tch! Yuria, take Fere and Chris into the house!"

"On it!"

I jolted up and started giving orders. An intruder—armed and armored, no less. Definitely not good. So yeah, when I turned to look toward the house and clicked my tongue, it was totally justified.

"My, how cold of you all. I just wanted a little chat, is that so much to ask?"

Blocking the doorway stood a woman clad in resplendent white armor, her long golden hair styled in elegant vertical curls. At her waist was a rapier, its refined design almost plain in contrast to her ornate armor. Her every move radiated confidence—and honestly, the pressure coming off her was no joke.

There were no footprints around her. I don’t know how she managed it, but she had completely slipped past our detection and circled around to the front.

Behind her, stepping through the snow, came a sleepy-eyed little girl in a long robe, her black hair half-hiding her face, and a young man with light green hair falling carelessly around his narrow eyes. And then came nearly ten others, all clad in matching armor... knights, probably.

"What is it you want to talk about?"

In the tense air, Yuria stepped forward without hesitation. As the oldest among us, her sense of duty probably drove her to take the lead in times like this.

Still, what are these people even after? One of them did glance at me briefly, but I didn’t feel anything like obsession or hostility from it.

"We’re looking for someone," the green-haired man with slit eyes answered. "A young man—golden hair, blue eyes, well-featured. You wouldn’t happen to know anyone like that?"

Oh, that’s it—that’s it. That pretty boy has definitely dragged some serious trouble right to our doorstep. Unbelievable. I mean, the speed from ‘raising the flag’ to ‘consequences knocking’ is just absurd! He didn’t just get followed, he practically led them here! Idiot, idiot, IDIOT!!

"...No idea. Doesn't ring a bell."

However, Yuria countered with the poker face she’d perfected during her maid days.

“She’s lying. I know it. He came here not long ago—he’s in the hidden village.”

But the little girl cut her off flatly, still expressionless. Her eyes glowed red. Unless that was some cringy chuuni effect, it probably meant she had real power. After all, this world is crawling with mages and serious magic users.

You can’t underestimate someone just because they look like a child. I mean, I know one fossil of a woman who went berserk from sheer jealousy over a girl having a boyfriend, then came flying at her wielding a liquor bottle with ridiculously advanced martial arts. So yeah. Size means nothing here.

“My, is that so? How fortunate. That saves us some trouble. Now then, hand over the elf. If you do, we might just overlook everything else.”

The woman in armor—clearly treating this as a mere formality—pointed her rapier right at me as she spoke. Seems like their main goal was that guy, but they figured they’d grab the elf while they were at it.

“…Why me?”

I stepped forward, hoping against hope that maybe I could reason with them.

“His Majesty desires an elf as a symbol of wealth. He doesn’t want her harmed, so if you could just cooperate, that would really make this easier.”

The lazy-eyed knight answered, sounding thoroughly fed up. Doesn’t seem like this ‘His Majesty’ is particularly loved.

“I refuse to go to some king I’ve never met or spoken to!”

“His Majesty has a weakness for young and beautiful girls. He really gets fussy if one gets hurt.”

So basically: “Don’t resist, just get captured.” Right. They’re not interested in talking this out at all.

“Well then, why don’t you dress up that kid over there and send her instead? I’m sure she’d be perfect for your filthy little king.”

I jabbed a finger at the blank-faced little girl. Sure, her expression’s dead, but she’s undeniably cute. Everyone here’s either a pretty boy or a stunning girl—it’s infuriating.

“Nah, she’s a colleague. His Majesty is trying to court her too, but he can’t force it.”

Ah, so he’s actively hitting on her. So he is a genuine, full-blown creep. Honestly, just let the whole kingdom burn.

“That pervy pig bastard should just die along with that Marquis Swine or whatever.”

The little girl spat the words out with genuine disgust. Whoa. That’s some impressive venom, even if she’s our enemy. I can respect that.

“So you, being even smaller than me, can go keep the sicko company.”

Wait—what the hell did she just say!?

“Why the hell should I have to do something like that?! For the record, you’re the short one!”

“No, you’re the short one.”

“Poor thing. Your body’s so mini-sized, no wonder the whole world looks tiny to you.”

“I’m perfectly normal! You, on the other hand, are so flat-chested your thoughts must be equally shallow!”

“Who’re you calling flat, you ironing board?! You wanna die!?”

“You first, pancake chest!”

“Go return to your ancestral forest, you plains-dwelling elf!”

“Midget.”

“Infantile frame.”

…

I understand now. I understand perfectly.

This little brat… is the enemy.

“You’ll be tiny forever and only creeps will even look at you!”

“You’ll spend your whole life as a pervert’s plaything. So pitiful.”

How could she say that!? I can't even deny it right now!

“…A battle of the short-stacks, I see.”

“Shut it, you old hag!!”
“Shut it, you old hag!!”

Don’t butt in all of a sudden. Someone’s going to get hurt.

“Who are you calling old!? I’m still twenty-one!!”

...Is that true? Sure, she looks young enough, but when it comes to a woman’s self-proclaimed age, you can’t trust it at face value.

“She’s lying. She’s actually turning twenty-four this year.”

“Poor thing... I guess she has to say she’s twenty-one or no one will pay her any attention.”

So it was a lie, huh?

“How rude!”

“I bet she’s always jealous of the younger girls and bossing them around to feel superior, which is why everyone secretly hates her.”

“It’s true. The other day, she was passive-aggressively bullying a younger subordinate over how she cleaned—just like a bitter mother-in-law.”

Wow. What a classic office hag. This is what happens when an older woman lets herself go emotionally.

“You weren’t even arguing with me a minute ago, were you!?”

“Oh, right.”

“That’s true.”

...We completely forgot. The enemy’s words brought us back to the situation. That’s still a long way to go for us. In any case, we’ve managed to stall for quite a while, haven’t we? If Master sensed the disturbance, he should already be on his way. We just have to hold out until then...

“...Rau. When we get back, you’re going to regret this.”

“Unlike some senile old woman, I still have a decent memory.”

“Yare yare... We’re going to restrain you now. Please don’t resist.”

The slit-eyed man extended his hand toward me, leaving the bickering little girl and the older woman behind. It might be wiser not to resist and risk injuries—we could talk our way out later. As I turned to warn the others not to do anything rash, I noticed something strange: among the tense expressions of the women behind me, one person was missing.

...Where’s Lulu?

My eyes scanned the area, then returned to the knight—just in time to see the faint sound of snow shifting. Bursting out from beneath the snow, Lulu emerged with a reverse grip on her pitch-black dagger.

Before anyone could utter a sound, the blade shot toward the knight’s neck—

“Well, well... someone didn’t learn to behave, like a stray cat.”

“Gah!?”

A deafening clang of metal rang out as Lulu was violently blown away.

“—Lulu!!”

“Lulu-chan!?”

The slit-eyed knight now held a jade-green sword in his right hand. Somehow, in that instant, he’d drawn his blade and knocked Lulu aside. A beat later, her black dagger landed in the snow, and not far from it, I saw her crumpled figure lying face-down on the white surface.

She wasn’t moving. And beneath her body, the pure white snow was slowly, steadily turning red.

---

◇◆ADVENTURE RESULT◆◇
【EXP】
NO BATTLE
◆【Sora Lv.88】
◆【Lulu Lv.36】
◆【Yuria Lv.35】
◇―
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Sora Lv.88 [887]
Lulu Lv.36 [366]
Yulia Lv.35 [351]
【RECORD】
[MAX COMBO] >> 34
[MAX BATTLE] >> 34
【PARTY-1 (Main)】
[Sora] [Lv88] HP 20/63 MP 1253/1253 [Fatigued]
[Lulu] [Lv36] HP ---/835 MP 40/40 [――]
[Yuria] [Lv34] HP 1840/1840 MP 89/89 [Normal]
[Fere] [Lv30] HP 282/282 MP 1030/1030 [Normal]
[Chris] [Lv13] HP 200/200 MP 20/20 [Normal]
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
"Why the hell is he never around when we need him...?!!"