That day, during "endurance training," we learned a technique called footwork.
The instructor is from the snake race. This instructor appears younger than the human instructor and the Sister, but he's quite sharp, so he's even more unpredictable than the other two.
I recall breaking into a cold sweat when he tested me the other day.
The footwork he teaches is essentially a way of running.
It's a technique called [instant step] that accelerates to top speed in an instant by changing the starting posture.
As the name footwork suggests, [instant step] is not the only named technique.
In a situation where many children are starting to master [qi release], my physical abilities are among the lowest, so these techniques that bridge the gap in physical ability were appreciated.
***
After dinner, I knock on the room next to mine.
Given that the tiger-race boy from this room had been bothering the dragon girl while I was away, I was concerned about a certain possibility.
That is, whether she was being disrespected by them.
They can pick as many fights as they want, that's fine.
However, I will certainly bear the brunt of it.
Because we're roommates.
The one who came out was not the tiger-race boy, but a gnome boy of the earth-spirit race.
Earth-spirit races are small with dark skin, and apparently they maintain a childlike appearance as they grow.
"Tch, you again? I already returned the water bucket."
"No, I asked a different room for that."
If the burden is concentrated, complaints might arise again.
I have permission from the Sister to "use well water for cleaning," so worst case, if I insist I "used it to clean my body," I'll probably get away with just a punishment blow.
"Could you please stop picking fights with 'that one'?"
"I'm not..."
"The tiger-race boy was bothering her earlier. Did he move rooms, by any chance?"
"He's here, but... Sigh, Tiger. Someone wants to see you!"
Having given up on sending me away, he called out the tiger in question.
"I'm sleepy, just get rid of him, Shorty."
I understand the need for names since they're roommates, but "Shorty" in response to "Tiger" clearly reveals their power dynamic.
I, who am called "snake impostor," am not in a position to point this out.
"Hey, wait!"
I quietly push "Shorty" aside and step into the room.
I hear protests from behind, but I ignore them.
"Tiger, right? I'd appreciate it if you'd stop bothering our room."
"Huh? Who are you? Go away."
Come to think of it, since he didn't come when I was in the room, he doesn't know me.
"Room head where the dragon-person stays."
"Hmm. So?"
"Please don't bother 'that one'..."
"Who I pick fights with is my business. Go away."
I'm cut off abruptly. Even after being reduced to a rag, he hasn't learned his lesson.
"The cleanup is troublesome."
"Why should I listen to what you say?"
Tiger laughed mockingly.
...Maybe Tiger doesn't want to bother the dragon girl specifically, but simply dislikes following my instructions?
If so, I've completely done something unnecessary.
"I see..."
"Just go home, go-ho-me."
I had been prepared to fight them if necessary, but realizing I had made a wasted trip, I decided to leave quietly.
"Haha, the coward's going home?"
"Hey, stop it, Tiger."
I can hear Tiger taunting me from behind and Shorty trying to stop him, but I don't care.
Tiger probably won't make a move. At least not while he remembers the pain from last time.
After all, he's the type whose spirit has already been broken once.
"Why...did you come back like that?"
So that's how it is...
This is the first time I've encountered this pattern of anger.
Translating her current words into human language:
"You as my servant being disrespected indirectly means I am being disrespected, so you have some nerve returning after being mocked without fighting back, you fool."
This is a new aspect I didn't know about before, since this is my first inter-group dispute.
How should I explain myself?
If I say, "He disrespects me, but he's afraid of you,"
She might respond, "Are you saying I'm wrong, you fool!"
If I say, "I don't mind at all,"
She might say, "I'm not talking about you, dammit!"
"..."
As I struggled with how to respond, she seemed to grow irritated, and her tail undulated in the air.
Qi overflowed from her entire body, increasing her intimidation.
...Sigh.
"I don't care what he says. That's why I didn't say anything back."
Considering it better than silence, I spoke honestly.
"I'm not talking about the snake impostor."
In an instant, something came at me, and I raised my arms in front of me to defend.
"Gah...!"
Hit by her tail like a ping-pong ball, I was thrown hard against the wall, my back making impact.
She had become stronger than before.
There was no blood, perhaps because she held back, but if my defense hadn't been in time, I probably would have lost consciousness.
"...Tch."
She clicked her tongue, lumbered to her feet, and left the room.
"That hurt..."
I mumble while rubbing my back. At that moment, along with anger toward her, I felt something nostalgic and endearing.
That must belong to the "me" who is not me. It's becoming crazy at this point.
She returned immediately.
There was blood on her tail. It seems this punishment was lighter than the previous one. If she had been serious, her arm would have been covered in blood.
The reason is probably that the insult wasn't directed at her personally.
I show her a wrung-out towel when she returns.
"If you leave it like that, the futon will get dirty."
I don't say "wipe it because it will get dirty." She'd get angry if I gave an order.
"Tch."
This tongue click means "I already knew that without being told, you meddling annoying person." It probably just barely avoids touching her sore spot.
She crosses her arms and promptly turns her back to me.
Since I made the suggestion, I should wipe it, I suppose.
I place my left hand on her slowly undulating tail and wipe the particularly dirty side of the tail with the towel.
Although I also have a tail, upon close observation, there are considerable differences between mine and hers.
The first obvious difference is the thickness. My tail is about as thick as something between an arm and a thigh, but hers is as thick as a thigh.
With such thickness, the muscle strength from it must be proportional. Even without qi power, the force of the tail would be comparable to a kick.
From my left hand placed on the tail, I could feel the moist surface texture and the elastic firmness of the muscles inside.
And, she has a mane like a horse growing on the spine side of the tail. This is something that doesn't grow on snakes, so it's interesting.
Also, I think due to the thickness, each scale is large. They are three-dimensional, and if wielded like a whip, they look like they could scrape skin.
I gently trace the edges with the towel. The feel is quite hard.
"...nn!"
Come to think of it, the edges of the scales were quite sensitive areas. I hurriedly remove the towel from her tail.
She turns around to face me, but I show both hands to appeal my innocence.
"..."
She looks at me suspiciously, as if I might have deliberately played a prank on her tail. However, perhaps tired of the matter, she lifts the towel with the tip of her tail and throws it into the bucket.
Then, she trudges to her futon and lies down.
I search for the body pillow I had prepared earlier and find that it has become her pillow, with one of her futons sprawled in its place.
She doesn't like one-sided charity.
This can be interpreted as a trade.
My meditation time has been reduced again today.
It will likely decrease even more in the coming days.
The Sister is bitter about her rebellion, and the "combat training" instructor is trying to thoroughly crush her will.
Above all, the children are beginning to notice the adults' intentions. The time when both sides join forces is likely approaching.