Do You Think You Can Run After Reincarnating, Nii-san? - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Fateful Day

―― I heard cicadas .

This is from one summer, long in the past .

That kid had come to our house with his parents to offer their neighborhood greetings .

They’d moved next to us that day, and the adults had begun chatting on and on . As for me, my sister and the kid, it was like they’d completely forgotten about us .

The kid spoke up first .

“― ― Hey you! What’s your name?”

The kid had a different accent, and I’d gotten a bit startled hearing something like that for the first time .

After I said my name, the kid similarly asked my little sister .

My then 4 year old little sister was quite the introvert, she’d always stick behind me, hiding . Naturally, I tried to reply for her――

But then, to all my surprise, my little sister said her name by herself .

My little sister―― Who’d later transform into the terrifying girl I abhor . This surely was the moment where, for the first time, she’d open her heart to anyone other than me .

 

At that time, we were still a pair of normal siblings .

It was my first summer break after entering elementary school .

A summer day after I’d just turned 7――

 

My memory of that one kid, the girl, who’d become my childhood friend .

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“Ah… . ”

I woke up on a soft bed .

My blanket was on the floor, must’ve kicked it off in my sleep .

I’d long gotten used to life without ACs, but the hot temperature hadn’t gotten pleasant or anything .

 

I scowled under all the sweat covering my face .

The maid hadn’t come to wake me, the drapes still blocked the morning light .

But the killer heat was still passing through .

There were no cicadas, of course .

“… A dream… ”

I still felt a tingle of it in the deep reaches of my mind .

Those bright, warm days .

As of now, I couldn’t even remember the girl’s name .

Everything, was shattered .

In that 5 year nightmare .

“… Let’s not”

The past doesn’t matter anymore .

I’d finished the job 6 years ago already .

I got off bed and opened the drapes .

What greeted my eyes was the expansive scenery plenty in the green of nature that was Daimcrüd, the territory of our Lieber earldom .

I ―― Jack Lieber, had turned 7 years old .

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“Mh… M, mm, mn, nn…!”

I focused my awareness on the soles of my feet .

I pin pointed this focus on―― just a little below―― on the air below my――

“Wahh!?”

The power making my body float in the air was suddenly cut .

I dropped and fell onto the loose sand .

It didn’t hurt . The sand acted as a cushion .

But it also covered me everywhere . Some of the stuff got in my mouth too .

“Blerrh~ … spit . God dammit~…”

I cursed as I considered why I failed just now .

The parts I should leave on and the parts I should’ve left off, guess it’s all up to the level of control I have .

Behind the Lieber manor, I had this little training ground made for me .

I’d come here to train my spirit arts daily .

Incidentally, today I was trying to do a double jump .

【 Veiled Wings of Freedom 】 granted not Flight, but Float, so it was a fact that I couldn’t soar around the sky like a bird .

But if I used this power to make the air under my feet also float, I could very well achieve something similar to flight by kicking on the air .

Well, getting there would require me to not only do a double jump, but a triple, quadruple, quintuple, and so on… Currently, my top record was a 3 fold jump .

 

My main goal at this time was to enter the Royal Spirit Arts Academy located in the country’s capital .

The academy was the parent organization of the Spirit Master’s Guild, and was a gathering of talented young spirit arts practitioners .

Gaining fame as a spirit master was something I absolutely had to do .

I’d eventually inherit the earldom from my dad, and in noble society, your talent as a spirit master can get you a lot of clout .

 

I planned on forgoing the entrance exam and having someone of the guild come and recommend me to the academy for my own talents .

Once I showed them my worth, I’d use dad’s influence to secure my position, and so, successfully enter the academy .

I wanted to enroll before I hit age 10, and then get even stronger once I’m in .

That’s why I’d been toiling away every day .

“Working up a sweat already, Jack?”

I heard while in the middle of mumbling on my plans, still covered in sand .

“Ah, dad . Good morning . ”

“You too . Morning . ”

My father, Caram Lieber .

This man that I’d once thought looked young . It’d been 7 years since then .

He still had that fearless expression on him, and recently, I feel like I could see a hint of the ‘noble family head’ impression from him too .

… Hm . That’s not really something a kid should think about their dad .

 

Dad’s expression laxed as he saw me in all my sandyness .

“Hard time?”

“Pretty much . I wouldn’t be going this blindly if I just had a teacher . ”

“Ha ha ha! My own son, just threw sarcasm at me . ”

Just as he’d promised when I first awakened to my spirit arts, dad had been trying his best to nurture this talent that I had .

He’d used his influence to find renowned instructors in an attempt to give me the best tutelage possible .

But unfortunately, because it was indeed unfortunate, I’d only learned one thing from those teachers .

In few words―― My talents were apparently far exceeding what any of them expected .

One after another, the instructors were unable to accept the student who was too excellent, sometimes driven to mad jealousy, they all quit eventually .

In other words, all these years, I had to train my spirit arts on my own .

“Sorry, son . But I have been trying to get a good teacher for you…”

“No, it’s fine . It’s hard enough trying to teach someone who doesn’t even have the same spirit as you . So it’s not your nor the teachers’ fault . ”

“Ha ha ha! You sure know your talk!”

Dad gave a hearty laugh .

Honestly, I also thought I said something cheeky for my age, wonder why he’s laughing?

Dad really was doting, but at the same time, he didn’t treat me like a kid but like another individual human being .

I like that open hearted part about him . As another human being, as his kid, I really respected the guy .

“Dad, was there anything you need?”

“Ah, right, almost forgot . ”

Dad put his laughing at bay and reported,

“Sorry for interrupting your blind magic practice, but I need you to brush off that sand, and come to the parlor . I have a guest I’d like to introduce you to . ”

“A, uh… Guest?”

“Right . He’s a tradesman we’ve had friendly ties with for a long time . You should get to know him too”

I was the next head of the Lieber house . Knowing my people was an important duty .

“You could’ve gotten one of the servants to call me, why come personally?”

“No reason . Just getting some more brownie points under my belt . It’s so my kid doesn’t blow me off once I get old and senile . ”

He’s joking right? It’d be way too sad if he was being serious…

Maybe I’ll be thinking like that once I become a dad too…

“I understand . I’ll come immediately”

“Yeah, take your time”

I headed back into the manor to do something about this sand in my nooks and crannies .

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Once I’d entered, the many maids came along to wash me clean .

For some reason, I was quite popular among the young maids .

If I ever met a weird adult-like kid like the current me before I was reincarnated, I’d easily think of him as a cheeky snot-nosed brat who needs to settle down . The maids though, they thought it cute .

I never understood what girls considered cute in either of the worlds .

 

Once I’d gotten changed, I went to the parlor where I saw dad and another, a large man .

“Posford-san, let me introduce you . This is my son, Jack . ”

“My name is Jack Lieber . Pleased to have your acquaintance . ”

Mr . Posford sounded his delight with a ‘Ho~’ once I greeted him in a courteous manner .

“Good manners on the boy . Looks like he actually listens to his parents . ”

“Oh no . We haven’t had much to do with that, my son’s really saved us a lot of trouble . ”

“Ho ho ho! Good, very good . I have a daughter around the same age as Jack-kun, you see, but that girl, incorrigible ladette that one… I’d brought her along with me today, but the moment I take an eye off her, the girl runs off!”

“Our servants should have an eye out, I’m sure she hasn’t gone outside the manor . ”

“I do apologize for the inconvenience . My daughter can be quite a handful…”

“Perhaps, I can go look for her?”

I took the opportunity to butt into the adults’ conversation .

It wasn’t like I was getting bored listening to them .

I figured that rather than stay a statue the whole time, he’ll be friendlier with me if I show him that I get along with his kid .

Mr . Posford laughed, ‘Ho ho!’ with his chubby face .

“Good, very good! Hopefully little Jack-kun’s politeness will rub off on my Philene, make her more of a lady . ”

“Well, if you insist, Posford-san―― Jack, sorry, can I leave it to you?”

“No need for apologies, dad . It’d be my honor to have the privilege of being playmates with a young lady . ”

I said, a bit teasingly, and Mr . Posford once again went, ‘Ho ho ho!’ in delight . Worked like a charm .

I left the parlor after a bow .

Walking the halls, I thought on the problem .

What sort of places would a kid go to?

Kids were bound to imagine a new house as some mysterious dungeon . Matter of fact, with a mansion as big as ours, they’d find countless places to explore .

Looks like I’m in for a bit of hide and seek before I meet this daughter .

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First, I tried asking the servants .

“Ah! Would you be talking about the girl hiding in the laundry?”

“Oh, I saw a little girl! She was making funny faces behind a senior maid while she was scolding me, I burst into laughter…”

“Ah, that little lady? Can you believe it, she ran off after grabbing some of the food I was putting away… Oh, not to worry . They were only leftovers . ”

… I sure got one hell of a tomboy to hunt down .

I went around to the locations the eye witnesses mentioned . I couldn’t find her anywhere in the manor .

Did she go outside? I thought as I opened the door to the main entrance .

There were people outside .

 

I saw two of them, one, I could identify as a man .

From a child’s height, all adults really looked big . So this man I was seeing looked both in his later teens and well into his twenties .

 

The other person wore a hood, so I couldn’t tell .

In the world there were many who couldn’t show their face, be it because of scars, or religious reasons, or something else entirely .

So we shouldn’t carelessly act rude towards those sorts of people, I recalled my 2nd teacher once saying .

 

I guess they were surprised at the door suddenly opening . The pair was staring at me . Though, one of them had their eyes hidden so I couldn’t exactly tell .

They seemed suspicious . But the guards let them in this far, so they shouldn’t be intruders at least .

“Excuse me… Are you perhaps, guests?”

“Ah, that’s right… We’d promised your parent that we would come . ”

“My father, well, he’s with another guest at the moment so… Right, who――”

A soft voice came from behind right as I was about to get their names .

“― ― Ah, it’s fine, Jack . Those ones are my guests . ”

My mother―― Madelyn Lieber .

She’d been 17 when she had me, so she was currently 24 .

Unlike dad, who’d gained a bit of regality to him, mom still looked young and fresh .

Mom made a gentle smile as she greeted the pair inside .

“Welcome . You and your wife too, please make yourselves at home . ”

“… Certainly . ”

The person in the hood finally spoke .

Her voice, it was young . A lot like that of a 10 year old girl .

Mom called her the wife so, I guess they do marry young here huh? Mom married pretty early too .

Maybe I’ll have to take a teenage girl as wife some day too .

“Jack, I hear you’re searching for the little lady of Posford?”

“Yes I am . I couldn’t find her in the manor, so thought to try outside . ”

“Please be careful now . Don’t wander too far alright?”

“Of course . ”

My mom and dad, 6 years ago―― When I was a 1 year old infant, I’d given them a big scare .

So when they warned me like just now, I decided I’d be agreeable about it .

 

I went outside, as if swapping locations with the mystery pair .

Since they were apparently mom’s guests, I gave them a light nod as we passed each other .

I wonder how she knows them?

I quickly walked to the gates and asked the guards if they’d seen little miss Posford . They said they hadn’t .

Meaning, she hadn’t actually left the estate?

Then as for places within the estate that kids would like… Maybe she’s at my training area?

I thought why not, and I began heading there, but on the way, I saw something surprising .

A hare passed by .

I could understand if this was the forest, but there should be a fence around the estate…

“How’d you get here little guy?”

Can’t really expect the rabbit to talk now can I?

But how… I looked in the direction it came from,

“… Oh . ”

It was hard too make out among the bushes… But there was in fact a small hole in the fence .

… Really, did she really…

Please don’t tell me the Posford girl went out from there?

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She wasn’t in my training grounds, so I had no choice . I went out that hole in the fence .

Beyond there was forest .

The forest that my little sister had half burned down 6 years ago .

This forest was well trodden by people, and there were few dangerous beasts . But there was always the worst case scenario, so I had to go look for her now .

“Hello~! … Uhm… Philene-sa~n?”

I think that was her name .

Philene . Philene Posford .

I called out to her a few times, but only sounds of muted nature came back .

I didn’t think she’d go that deep inside…

I’ll look a little more, then get back home I guess?

Around the time I started thinking of giving up,

―― I heard a rustle of leaves . A nearby tree suddenly shook .

Right after,

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!!”

Something fell from within the branches and leaves .

That something was a little girl .

Huh?

… . Huuh!?

 

I’d stopped thinking, but moved on instinct .

I ran as I stretched my arms towards the falling girl――

And just before she hit the dirt,

I managed to make contact with her arm with one finger tip .

― ―【 Veiled Wings of Freedom 】!

 

With the power of Great Spirit Rank 65, High Divisioner Andrealphus, I remove the girl’s weight .

Once I did, the girl simple floated there, perfectly avoiding the sure injury from that fall .

“… Oh? Oh? Oh~?”

The girl blinked, looking around herself .

After turning over in the air a few times, she started giggling .

Here on my end, I could only breathe a sigh of exhaustion .

“… T-that was too close…”

That would’ve ended pretty badly . I’m glad I was coincidentally here…

“Ah!” the girl exclaimed .

Looks like she finally noticed me .

Still afloat, she said,

“You did this, right!? Wow~! It’s so nice~! It’s fun~! Look look, I’m flying~!”

“Wait, you can’t move too――”

“――Awa? Awawawawawawa!!”

The girl lost her airborne balance, rotating vertically, she――

Donk!

Hit her head on the ground .

Ah man, I tried to tell her…

This is the sort of thing that happens when your not used to it . Happened to me a lot too .

“NoOoOoOoOoOo”

The girl held her head and let out a weird groan of pain .

Anyway, can’t have her doing that again, so I canceled my spell and made her land .

“… Are you alright?”

“Ah, haight…”

She said that, but she’d gotten teary eyed… Though props to her for not actually bawling her eyes out .

This girl, with chestnut hair extending to her shoulders, definitely looked my age . In other words, she was 6 or 7 years old .

If a kid our age hit their head hard on the ground, it’d be rare for them to not start wailing like no tomorrow .

She must be used to a modicum of pain . Goes to show how much of a tomboy she is .

Meaning…

“… Are you Philene-san?”

“Hm? That’s right? How come you know?”

… So she is .

“I’m the son of the Lieber house . You weren’t in the manor, so I came out looking”

“Fe~? Looking for me? Why’s that?”

“Why, well… It’s dangerous to be out in the forest alone right?”

“Is it~? How come?”

Philene tilted her head as if truly wondering why .

It seems the word danger doesn’t exist in this little girl’s dictionary .

I see… I can see how Mr . Posford was finding her a handful…

“Hn~, whatever!”

Asserted Philene as she promptly stood up .

“Hey, come play with me! I found this big open space over there, come look!”

“Huh? No, let’s go back firs――”

“Come on come on!”

Before I could get a word in, Philene grabbed my hand and yanked me onward .

Now being dragged along for the ride, I somehow, felt nostalgic .

“Oh, right . ”

Smooth chestnut hair .

The face of the girl who turned to look towards me .

She was――

Once my childhood friend――

――It’s the same .

“― ― Hey you! What’s your name?”

A summer day after I’d just turned 7, a day where I couldn't hear the cicadas .

I met Philene Posford .

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“Ja-kun?”

“You’re missing the K . ”

“Keja-kun?”

“Jack! I’m Jack Lieber!”

“Jack… -kun?”

“You got it . ”

“Got it! So it’s… Jacky!”

She changed it up anyway!

I sighed .

“Alright, fine, just call me that…”

“Ehehe~ . Jacky♪ Jacky~♪”

Philene looked like she was having a blast, chiming my name while skipping towards her destination .

And I was being dragged along practically as her lackey .

… We really should head back .

I mean, she looks like the type that’ll get me involved in a hell of trouble .

“Excuse me~… Philene-san . ”

“Ah, you can call me Filly alright? Everyone does . ”

“Ah~… OK, then Filly . ”

It’s, sort of embarrassing . I never called a girl by a nickname before .

“I’d personally like for us to return home soon if possible . Look, your father must be worried too”

“Oh right~ . I’ll be sure to go back at lunch time!”

“No, really, I mean,”

I mean, we need to go back, now!

But before I could voice that frustration, the forest gave way .

‘Fuah~!’ exclaimed Filly .

Just as she’d claimed, it was a big open field .

The place was free of the dense forestry and made way for a view of the wide blue sky .

So there was a place like this here… I never knew .

“Wow! Wow~! So wide!!”

A breeze blew by, creating waves in the grass .

And along with the breeze, Filly let go of my hand and ran off .

“Ah, hey!”

She just doesn’t calm down!

I chased after Filly .

Filly turned around and beckoned me, ‘Come on, this way!’ while still running, backwards . Quite fast at that .

Oh man, running like that is――

“――Awah!?”

There .

She tripped .

By the time I reached her, Filly was all, ‘Owie . . . ’ as she stood back up holding her forehead .

How did you fall on your face!? Use your hands or something!

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine . My legs caught on something――”

Legs?

I glanced towards Filly’s feet, and froze .

There was a foot .

Not Filly’s foot . Someone else’s . A stray foot was sticking out of the shrubbery .

Eh… . ? A dead body?

It wasn’t implausible . We were in a forest after all, some wolf or bear might just attack us when we least expect it .

What if… what if this foot isn’t even connected to a body?

 

A bit fearfully, I peeked into the shruberry .

The foot, thankfully, still had its body .

The person laid face down, but otherwise looked uninjured .

Perhaps it’s a she? Her long bluish hair was scattered .

“Is she alright…?”

Filly had a serious tone to her, she was surprised too .

As for whether she’s alright or not, well, she wouldn’t be passed out here if she was .

What mattered was whether she was still alive .

“Hello~…”

I gently touched the corpse’s (?) shoulder .

… Warm, she’s alive then?

No, it could just be that she died recently, I should check her pulse .

 

I quietly split her messed up hair to both sides .

Once I did, I saw something unexpected―― I was once again surprised .

 

Her ears―― were long .

… An elf .

I already knew that they exist in this world .

They were said to be closer to the spirits than us humans, and also very long lived . A sort of god-like race…

So why was an existence like that collapsed and dying in this peaceful forest?

Anyway, I need to get her pulse . I put a finger on her pale white neck―― right then,

Twitch .

The elf moved .

Startled, I tried to draw back my hand―― But the elf caught on to it before I could .

“Hah! Wh-don’…!”

I reflexively tried to shake her off, but she was way too strong, my hand wouldn’t budge .

During my struggle, the elf slowly raised her face .

Her disheveled bangs covered her face, but from the gaps I could see blue eyes .

Those two eyes stared fixedly at me .

Eh?

This, seems bad .

“Kyaaaaaaa!!”

“Ah! Hey Filly! Don’t run away without me!”

Betrayer! Wait, why do you look like you’re having fun too!

I was about to run away too,

“― ―――Ah . ”

A voice, like it was coming from the very depths of an abyss .

She had this hair-raising voice, and still clutched onto my hand .

I… I can’t run――

“A-ah-ah-a-a-ai――――”

Her eyes that had previously lacked any light, now began glimmering .

And then, she who looked like a female elf, attempted to get on top of me as it to pin me down .

Wai-, don’-, I can’t mo――

Ah, I know, Spirit Arts!

 

I would’ve used 【 Veiled Wings of Freedom 】 to push this elf lady off of me, but I was too late .

Before I could do anything, she was right in my face―― ―

“― ―――I’m, hungry… …”

. . . Huh?

My eyes had become dots in confusion .

And then, the elf lady passed out cold .

I, of course, was squashed underneath .

Pomf .

… … B-boobs… … !

 

A summer day after I’d just turned 7, a day where I couldn't hear the cicadas .

Other than Filly, I also met one half dead elf .