Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 95

「Des.h.i.+～! Des.h.i.+, where～?」

I was told there's a visitor so I went down to the entrance hall and, an adorable voice came chasing after me from behind.

「I'm over here～, Rin-chan.」

Calling out to her, Rin-chan showed her face while she stood on her toes over the 2nd floor's handrail.
Kind of dangerous isn't it.
It makes me anxious.

「Kyaha, coming～」
「Wai――i!?」

That is to say sure enough, the pinnacle of intrepid girls is here.
Rin-chan went, unsho! And with that enthusiastic shout immediately after she climbed over the handrail, she went on to face me from the 2nd floor and jump without hesitation!
Isn't she overflowing with too much courage!?
Is she the hero-sama of the three thousand worlds!

「～～Eei, come at me!」

I spread both hands and prepared my stance to receive Rin-chan.
The current me has no power.
Regardless of how light Rin-chan is, it's impossible to receive her with only my arms.
I'll receive her, with my entire body!

「Do～～nn!」
「Tsu!」

Together with a voice with good vigor, Rin-chan jumped into my breast.
I'm happy as can be that she has such a sense of trust that it's natural for me to receive her but, either way this body can't handle a test of strength okaay!?

「Wa, wawa……tsu!?」

As the impact didn't exhaust itself when I received it, I ended up das.h.i.+ng backward.
Bad bad can't stop can't stop!!

「Kyahaha! A race!」
「But that's totally wrong isn't it!?」

Held within my arms Rin-chan was enraptured but, it's desperate over here.
I can't allow myself to drop her!
I might crash into a wall like this and, at that moment where I decided to resolve myself.

「――That's dangerous isn't it, Rin.」

Just when I heard a blunt voice from my back, I was received as if being held from behind.

「Kyaha, oniichan, welcome～」
「……」

As I held Rin-chan tightly, that kurozuk.u.me is holding me from behind, that's the general picture.
Kurozuk.u.me's chest that I've entrusted my back to is unexpectedly well built, those arms are also a refined an powerful object.
It's been quite well developed.
……I also, had such a phase.

「It may have been bad of me to enter as I pleased, I heard a raucous voice……was it needless a.s.sistance?」
「……No, maa, thank you very much……for the time being.」
「……Aah.」

I also well, kurozuk.u.me?
Have you joined shoulders with friends or comrades before?
For a circle or such perhaps.
Or rather, there have been times when you shared praise with rivals in brave battle and held eachother lightly I guess.
But you see, I feel that that's not the same?
Since before you, princess-sama――no, let's stop thinking back.
Good mental hygiene.

「Des.h.i.+, warm, good smell, I love clinging to des.h.i.+! Ne, oniichan?」
「……」

As kurozuk.u.me is sullenly silent, Rin-chan is there with a full faced smile.
……I, how should I confront this purity.
The Rin-chan within my arms forcefully clung onto me.
How to say this, there's no way to move in the present situation.
On one side, kurozuk.u.me didn't budge an inch.
There's no presence of movement.
If you don't move then, then there's really nothing that can be done right?
Could you, hurry, let go okay?

「Welcome, Solt-sama.」

From there, a third party's voice called out.
Following each of the three's speculations the paralysis was released from we who had had our movement taken from us.

「Ah, aah. I have intruded.」

Kurozuk.u.me backed off, at Ilya's voice as she appeared in the hall.
Ho……
Enough ability to make me think didn't Ilya read my thoughts.
『Good job, Ilya.』
『You are welcome, ojousama.』
I felt like, we established that sort of eye contact.
Be that as it may kurozuk.u.me, there are a number of feelings whirling around――but!
For now I pushed down my feelings and, thought back to the first thing I had to do.

「Rin-chan, that was dangerous wasn't it! Mee! Desuyo!?」

b.u.mping my forehead into Rin-chan's forehead, I am angry, I conveyed that sort of thing.

「It was dangerous……?」
「It's dangerous! It's no good if you're unable to act so that you can properly manage danger!」

What are you doing sending yourself flying into things!?

「Manage danger?」
「……It's no good to do the sort of dangerous things that cause the people around you to worry, do you understand?」
「U～n……」
「Everyone, worries because they love Rin-chan. You don't want harm to be inflicted on the people you love do you?」
「I don't want, for that to happen to des.h.i.+!」
「I also, don't want Rin-chan to be injured. In short it's that sort of thing.」

We had a serious discussion with our foreheads pushed together.
The upfront and good headed Rin-chan listened to that without appearing to mess around and, she came to understand.

「……I'm sorry.」

……Upfront!
Rin-chan came to apologize with a dejected face.
Just lip service or just a false front or such, this Rin-chan is unrelated to such cunning.

「You'll properly take care then?」
「……Unn.」

Rin-chan being tense as if she understood while revising her expression was too cute.
Or rather……
Cuutte!!

「Mo～～!」
「Kyahaa.」

Rubbing our cheeks together, Rin-chan strongly rejoiced.
Her cheek's softness and high body heat that's specially characteristic of children is adorable.
Rin-chan also clung to me while squealing.
Haa, calming isn't it～.

「Fufu, as expected of ojousama. Your own danger management ability has been put away on a shelf.」
「Seriously.」
「You worry and can't calm down don't you?」
「……Maa, since I do have a debt to her I suppose.」
「Do you not feel that she's overly adorable?」
「……」
「Search your inner feelings, Solt-sama.」
「……About what matter.」
「Saa, what matter could it be?」
「……Difficult person.」

Ilya and kurozuk.u.me conversed about something behind me but, I'm fully enjoying a time with Rin-chan.

『I have no excuse, head maid! An outlaw! I allowed an intrusion!』

When I thought it can't be helped so I should move on and give kurozuk.u.me a reception, such a communication came to Ilya at that moment.

「――The number is?」
『One person! The barrier has also been crossed so……! Without any of us being able to fight back……』
「Has someone been injured!?」
『O, ojousama, were you there……! No, we have not received an attack from the opponent.』
「I see……that's good.」

But, outlaw?
The maid-sans responsible for my house's security, frankly boast a significantly high level of skill.
To the extent that the approval for Kran to stay here came out without a problem for that reason.
Just a single person, overcame that to come here……?

「Leymia? ……If it's Libra that's the worst.」

In any case, given this sort of situation where the gate has been penetrated the intruder should arrive at the mansion soon I suppose.
I want to treat the mansion with care so, I want to meet the enemy in the lawn.

「We're going out, Ilya!」
「Yes, my, lady.」
「Outlaw, do away with～!」

……Oou.
What should I do?
The angel being carried in my arms is……

「――For now, you'll watch okay.」

Along with a buoyant voice, what jumped down from the 2nd floor was my ane.

「Oneechan!」

s.h.i.+on-san and Ilya then.
If it's these two, we won't be overtaken quickly will we.

「……I will a.s.sist.」

To be sure, kurozuk.u.me is also here isn't he.

「Yosh, then let's go.」

Tugging, my sleeve is pulled by Rin-chan.
Nn?

「Ne, des.h.i.+? s.h.i.+on, jumped right?」

Rin-chan made a confused seeming face and, pointed alternately at the 2nd floor's hallway and the hall.
……

「…………Heroes are beings that jump, Rin-chan.」
「s.h.i.+on, Hiiroe! Cool!」

I hate hate my self who uses sophisms to argue with a young girlー……

With this and that we reached the lawn and, not a moment later the 『outlaw』 came to us.
The maintained lawn is a wide open place with no obstacles.
It's impossible to run or hide.

「Waa!」
「?」

A hood covering down to the eyes, the outlaw like Leymia back when looked at us and raised her voice with fully displayed curiosity.
That voice, was obviously not Leymia and, it wasn't Libra either.

「……Do you have an invitation then? Whoever you are?」
「Waa! Waa!!」

What's with this person?
She's just fixedly observing us.

「Des.h.i.+, who?」
「Saa, who might it be.」

I'm holding Rin-chan in my arms as always so, I won't fight.
I thought about leaving her in the mansion but, in reverse having her in a place my eyes can't reach is also unsettling so it can't be helped.

「Haha, this is awkward issn't it.」

Gazing at me and Rin-chan, the outlaw covered in a hood let out an embarra.s.sed seeming voice.
Female?
Male?
Just the voice is female but, there's also a sense like a boy before his voice change.

「What could your objective be? If you can be said to have invaded due to curiosity, please go ahead and turn back. My master has a wide heart so, she would not grow angry over a minor matter such as that――if it ends here.」

Ilya released a sort of mood where she won't show any mercy if any more untoward acts are done in the dark.

「Ilysan with, s.h.i.+on-san……Is that Solt-san! U～n, winning this would be tough wouldn't it!」

Ilya's warning should not have not been understood I suppose so, this outlaw……is completely indifferent.
Even with that why are everyone's names known?
I suppose there's no mistake that since various things have happened everyone has sold their name in their own ways though……

「You seem to be a surprisingly intrepid girl but, is there something you want?」

Intrepid girl?
According to s.h.i.+on-san this outlaw is a……girl? I guess I can see that.

「Well I guess～. Greeting? Observation? Interest? Various!」
「Yare yare, entering other people's houses without permission isn't praiseworthy you know?」
「U～n, does it become that? Un, sorry, s.h.i.+on-san!」

……Strangely upfront isn't she?
Throws me off my pace.

「Fufu, that's fine, if you can honestly repent.」

s.h.i.+on-san used her gaze to imply this is fine right? And since I was being appealed to I nodded.

「Of course, whatever it is I can treat you to tea or the like though.」
「Haha, that is unnecessary! …………Alice-san.」

……What was that s.p.a.ce where it was like only my name wouldn't come out?
Che, it doesn't really matter thoughー.

「More importantly――I ask for you to face off against me!」

Raising a merry voice of the sort like she couldn't endure it anymore, the outlaw took her stance.
Because of her long sleeved hood I couldn't tell if she had something hidden but, as far as I can see she's bare handed?

「……Strange child isn't she.」

s.h.i.+on-san went to the front while shrugging her shoulders.
The rest of us are standing by to watch over her for the time being.

『――Master, should I shoot?』

A communication came from my magic stone.
Facing my eyes to the mansion's living room, Aim has an arrow readied.
I saw the appearance of Eclair with her hands on her hips beside her.
Proceeding to Kran she's reading while sitting on a chair.
Her guts, are incredible.

「……It's fine not to shoot, please leave this to us.」
『Roger.』

Aim lowered her bow.

「――Thank you, Alice-san!」
「You are welcome, and?」

I was told thanks by an outlaw.
She somehow throws me off my pace, this outlaw.

「Goー, s.h.i.+on!」

s.h.i.+on-san made a small smile, at Rin-chan's cheering.

「Aah, I'm going!」
「Yoosh, come!」

Commence battle.
s.h.i.+on-san closed the s.p.a.ce as if she was using ground shrink, she swung out the 『Scabbard』 in her hand in the place of a greeting.
The outlaw evaded that with nimble steps.
……Impressive insight.

「s.h.i.+on-san, you're fighting with that?」
「Since I don't have a weapon right now you see, it's not particularly that I'm taking you lightly you know.」
「Un un, I know! That you're not that sort of person!」

I suppose this is a serious match but, the atmosphere is almost like they're doing practice issn't it.

「Do your bestー!」

And Rin-chan is enjoying watching the battle……

「She's keeping up with oneesama's movements isn't she.」
「Un. Who could she be? She can do it cann't she.」

s.h.i.+on-san's slash was completely evaded.
To evade without receiving that technique is tremendous.
……Does this mean her insight isn't half baked?
On level with Leoneil?
Impossible isn't it.

「……So that's how it is isn't it, you're――a magician aren't you?」

Having clashed for a time s.h.i.+on-san temporarily took her distance and, asked a question as if she was already convinced.
Magician?

「Haa～～, s.h.i.+on-san, fast～～～!! Haha, that's amazing!」

Without answering the question the outlaw who had singlemindedly evaded, was only just admiring s.h.i.+on-san's movements.

「You talk well, hasn't not even a single hit landed.」
「But isn't that that weapon? It seems difficult to handle and, the blade isn't fine like a katana either. Aren't you a little dull?」

This person's true ability is……

「……s.h.i.+on, this would make do but, will you use it?」

Kurozuk.u.me showed his own dagger and asked a question.
At that s.h.i.+on-san smiled and shook her head sideways.

「I'll refrain. It seems this isn't that sort of match.」

Certainly.
The opponent is a little too lacking in malice, to cut her down.

「Fuu, then――」
「――!」

The sweetness vanished, from s.h.i.+on-san's gaze.
The mood she was clad in changed.
The mood became tense.
Rin-chan swallowed ringing her throat.
I felt this difference in mood on my skin.

「……You weren't serious? Unfair arren't you, s.h.i.+on-san.」

The outlaw's voice is also imbued with tension so, she's backing away.
……Is this the serious s.h.i.+on-san.
This isn't a sort of matter where she's been holding back her hand up until now, it might be fine to say it's as if it's a switch's on off.
A sensation as if she'd drawn from her heart's scabbard.
To say it in reverse, it's that the opponent was able to draw this much out from her.

「……」
「……」

Gauging their attack range, planning their timing――
Move!

「――Cast release! Lightning Field!」

The yelling outlaw, deployed lightning magic!
This equipment is……!?
Even so s.h.i.+on-san charged in without hesitation and swung out an attack with a max speed sideswing.
Even so――

「――Hoo!」

I know the special characteristic of that magic, well.
The outlaw who probably read every trajectory in advance, avoided s.h.i.+on-san's serious effort with a paper thin margin.
She made a ma.s.sive jump into the air, to an extent that would normally be impossible.

「……Dangerous, to think it would be that close with the field! You're incredible, s.h.i.+on-san! Mouu.」

The outlaw let out such a voice while seeming happy and――faced my group as such and jumped in.

「I won't let you pa.s.s!」
「……」

Ilya and kurozuk.u.me went out in front of me but――

「Cast release! Blizzard!」

The outlaw made footholds of ice within the air, and quickly changed direction.
Going over our heads, she landed behind me.
I tracked her so as to at least not lose sight of her form and, our eyes met.
The outlaw jumped into me without hesitating.
……I'm holding Rin-chan over here.
Therefore――
Without a question, blow away the approaching danger!
Holding Rin-chan in my left hand, I faced my right hand toward the outlaw.

「Please, don't do anything! Trust me! ――!!」
「Eeh!?」

As I was taken aback by those words, I looked into the outlaw's sincere eyes as she came toward me and nodded without expecting to.
――I entered her bosom.
As would be expected I swallowed my breath.
And so――

「Gyuuuuu!」
「……Ha?」

I was strongly embraced.

「Hawaa.」
「Kyahaa.」
「…………Ha?」

The outlaw leaked out a sigh as if to say heavenly heavenly, I became more and more taken aback.
Rin-chan is delighted for some reason.

「Let her go!」
「Oooto! ……Solt-san! That's dangerous isn't it, mou!」

Due to kurozuk.u.me's 『serious』 attack the outlaw quickly backed off.
……Eh?
You, intended to kill her!?
Even though the opponent hasn't hurt anyone, you short tempered……

「Are you okay, ojousama?」
「Eh, ah, un? Since basically nothing was done to me……」

Just, what did this outlaw want to do?

「She's probably in the category of molester or stalker right?」
「Ahaha, mou, Ilysan is merciless isn't she.」

The outlaw smiled bitterly, at Ilya's cold gaze.

「I was overcome by my emotions……please forgive me.」

And so the outlaw deeply lowered her head and mysteriously, negative emotions like unpleasant feelings or such didn't come boiling up.

「No……I'm not angry though.」
「Haha, thank you Alice-san! You're going east right?」

East?
Certainly, I intend to go to build s.h.i.+on-san's katana.

「That is my intent.」
「Unn……I'll see it change, I'll change it.」
「?」

As if the outlaw vowed something, she murmurred quietly.

「……See you then, everyone! Later! ――Cast release! Fire!」

This time she clad her body in fire and, floated up into the air.
And so after circling over the mansion's surroundings once, the outlaw flew away.

「……Who was she?」

I understand that she's significantly skilled but……

「Des.h.i.+～! Rin also, wants to fly in the sky!」
「Is, is that so.」

I also can't fly so be patient okay, Rin-chan?
Unless Eclair holds you and flies there's no way you know.

「She was an interesting child wasn't she.」
「Oneechan, I suppose so. I didn't get a bad feeling at all.」

An enemy or the like, I don't think she's that sort of being.
I want to think that but……
U～n.
I keenly reached an awareness that the world really is in motion, while we're relaxing here.

「Let's go, to make a katana.」

Somehow, I felt that it would be best to move quickly.

「That makes me happy, but you know.」

East is it.
Is something, dangerous there?

「On the way there, reliably protect me okay, oneechan?」
「Fufu, affirmative, imouto-sama.」

With a b.u.mp s.h.i.+on-san joined her forehead with mine and, I felt very rea.s.sured.
Then, is it about time we got moving.
With the unidentified visitor's advent, I reaffirmed my determination.

――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
TLN: This is the end of part four: Daily Life arc.
Next is part five: Visitor arc.