Our plan to catch the Pudding Thief was proceeding steadily.
We had gathered Expulsion Flowers from the garden’s corners and nicely squeezed their juice into the pudding made by Nicasia and Esme Bloodberry.
Deliberately, we devoured the pudding and pancakes for dinner, brushed our teeth well, and spent time in our room under the covers.
Needless to say, I, Murmur, had used magic to set up barriers at all the bathroom entrances.
“If only we could catch that naughty Dessert Thief quickly.”
In her newly changed pajamas, Esme sweetly hummed a little tune as she spoke.
“I think so too!”
“I hope the Pudding Thief is a magician who put the adults to sleep.”
Probably a high likelihood, right?
Though it shifted from a murder mystery to catching a Dessert Thief, the adults were indeed asleep.
The same kind of magic used during Dorothea de Chamber’s Elementary Unit Super Event was employed here.
It wasn’t strange to think the magician who put the adults into a deep slumber was trapped inside the chalet due to the raging blizzard.
“I’ve also prepared the proper tools to catch the Dessert Thief.”
Citrine smiled and proudly showed off the net gun she was holding.
“I’m ready to capture the extremely wicked Pudding Thief!”
“B, but… What if it’s someone really bad?”
You’re worrying about that now?
“It’s fine because we have Murmur.”
“And me too. There won’t be any problems with Esme worrying like this.”
Nicasia gave a reassuringly cool smile and patted Esme’s head.
After all, our princess has already surpassed ordinary adults in strength and agility.
Even if we encounter an evil magician wielding terrifying magic, there wouldn’t be an issue!
“Still, there’s also the possibility they won’t show up today.”
Citrine said while looking at the door.
“That’s true. They might steal some other food instead of pudding to hold out.”
Speaking of which, why did the Pudding Thief only steal pudding and cookies?
There were other foods available, weren’t there?
We even had strawberries or apples stored in the warehouse!
─ BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Before we could reach a conclusion, an ear-splitting noise came from outside.
“The Pudding Thief really exists!”
Nicasia was the first to jump up from her seat faster than anyone and rushed out the door.
“Nicasia! Don’t run out too early!”
“G, let’s go! Let’s go! Don’t go alone!”
The rest of us, including me, Murmur, followed suit almost simultaneously.
Of course, the chalet had multiple bathrooms.
We differentiated the floors by setting various sounds.
This loud beep sound is coming from the dining floor! Lucky!
“This is our chance to catch the wicked Pudding Thief!”
BOOM BOOM!
With loud noises, we reached the bathroom where the sound was coming from in no time.
“W, what is this?! What is this?!”
“What is it, Murmur?!”
In front of the bathroom stood the ‘Pudding Thief’ perfectly caught in the trap I, Murmur, had set up.
We’re not idiots either!
If a loud noise happened and the thief just screamed and ran away, it would’ve been wasted effort, so I set up a trap!
At the moment the barrier magic activated, spirits appeared to prevent entry into the bathroom or escape far away!
“Y, you despicable and wicked ones!!!”
In front of the bathroom stood the Dessert Thief surrounded by squishy spirits.
This kid, around my height, Murmur, was clearly shorter than Nicasia.
“Stay still!!!”
“Don’t resist. We need to hear the reason why you were hiding in this chalet and stealing desserts!”
Citrine aimed her net gun and Nicasia carefully approached the kid like a carnivorous animal on a hunt.
But this kid looks strangely familiar…
There aren’t many NPCs around my height, Murmur, so where does this one come from?
“T, t, t…!”
The kid was clutching his groin with both hands.
Looking closer now, his clothing is incredibly ragged.
He’s draped in pitch-black rags over his shoulders, looking rather pitiful.
There’s also a white flower pinned to his hair.
“Did you urgently need the bathroom? We’ll send you if you tell the truth!”
“Admit that you are the thief who stole the pudding!”
Esme and Monica slowly walked towards the criminal while speaking.
Yet, the white-flowered hairpin seems familiar… Where have I seen it before?
“Pu, putting poison in pudding…!”
The culprit trembled violently and tried to move his legs.
However, he couldn’t shake off Talorin, the Earth Spirit, who stuck to him with a squishy sound.
“T, those despicable ones really did as that woman said… G, goodnight…”
The culprit, clutching his lower area more pitifully with both hands, clenched his lips and shivered.
“Hurry up and answer!”
“Didn’t you also use magic to put the adults to sleep?”
Citrine placed her finger on the trigger of the net gun.
If Nicasia wanted, grabbing and lifting the culprit in front of her eyes would be easier than eating cold porridge.
“Ugh…”
─ Squirt, squirt!
Instead of telling any truths, the culprit grabbed his lower area with both hands and wet himself.
“Eek…”
A golden stream burst out and flowed down his thighs in an embarrassing manner.
I feel guilty for doing such terrible things…
“Eh… Eeh…?”
“Wow…”
Even Esme and Monica, who were all geared up to scold the culprit, were momentarily stunned by the powerful… accident.
“Y, y, you wicked and despicable ones!!!”
Wow…
Murmur is shouting with a face red with righteous indignation.
“I hate everything!!!”
The kid shouted loudly and extended his hands forward.
“Huh?!”
“Kyaaak?!”
– TANG!
Citrine quickly fired the net gun, but it was useless.
Because a sudden gust of wind blew us all backward, rolling through the air.
“Ugh…! Over there! Stay still, ugh…?!”
Nicasia wobbled greatly but quickly lunged forward, but the kid was faster.
The brat created another strong gust of wind, pushed Nicasia away, and sprinted down the corridor like flying.
“Ugh…! Don’t think of running away!”
Nicasia quickly chased after the kid.
Since neither dessert nor sleep answered, this kid must be the culprit!
“Murmur-sama! You should run together with me!”
Monica quickly grabbed my hand, Murmur.
A shimmering blessing filled my whole body, allowing Monica and I to run swiftly toward the mansion’s entrance without needing to summon the Wind Spirit.
“Don’t follow!!! You perverts!!”
What a fool! Your body is soaked from peeing, and you’re thinking of going outside where snow is falling heavily?!
“Don’t think of running away!!”
Nicasia viciously lunged toward the kid, running straight into the blizzard.
And Monica and I, Murmur, holding hands, followed behind.
…Wait a minute!
“Monica!!! Nicasia!! No! We need to go back!”
This feels completely wrong from the start with odd characters, but isn’t this the beginning of the “Survival Event”?!
Realizing this only after getting lost, I, Murmur, desperately called out to Nicasia who had disappeared far away, but she was too fast.
There’s no way to catch up with Nicasia, whose Agility is 12.
“Eh… Eh?”
“Ah…”
Instinctively, Monica and I, Murmur, turned around.
Since ahead was the white snowstorm, we thought of returning to the chalet.
“… We got lost.”
It’s over.
Who ever heard of trying to catch a Dessert Thief and ending up stranded?!!!
*
『A new event has been detected!』
《Survive the Blizzard!》
《Reward: Knowledge, Skills》
I, Murmur, finally realized after getting stranded.
The identity of the kid with the white flower hairpin was the Witch from the Survival Event.
But wasn’t the Witch supposed to have a stunning figure, curvy and sexy beyond measure?
She even wore extremely scandalous high-cut outfits—why is she a kid now?
“We couldn’t find the way back.”
Unlike my plans, Monica and I, Murmur, ended up stranded wearing only pajamas, without even thick coats.
We didn’t even manage to bring any food.
“But Murmur will keep you warm, so don’t worry.”
Still, I wasn’t going to just shiver and do nothing.
As soon as we found the entrance to the Ice Cave, I sat Monica down, gathered firewood, and lit a bonfire.
Even the hands of a fifth-grade elementary student like Softy can conjure magic to light a fire easily.
“It’s exactly as the future I foresaw.”
In front of the crackling bonfire, Monica looked troubled as she spoke.
“In that future, Murmur wasn’t there.”
“That’s… correct! With Murmur-sama, we wouldn’t get this warm!”
Monica instantly regained her energy and grabbed my arm tightly.
It’s fine that we didn’t dress properly.
Anyway, this “Survival Event” ends once we enter deeper into the Ice Cave and talk to the Witch hiding there.
Now that I know the kid is the Witch, I’ll just grab her and give her a spanking.
“Murmur knows how to return home, so don’t worry.”
“I understand. I trust Murmur-sama!”
Monica clung to my arm, rubbing her face against it.
It’s terribly cold, and her heart must be pounding.
Getting stranded in the Witch’s evil magic after stepping out the front door must be confusing.
“Murmur will stay calm and move…”
– Hiiyaah!
What is that?
Suddenly, a strange scream echoed from outside the cave, through the snowstorm.
“Something…! Is coming!”
Monica was startled enough to create a blessed weapon with both hands—it was an incredibly loud scream.
“Help me—”
“– Yaaaaaaaah!!!”
Through the snowstorm, Esme came rushing in like a snowman.
What? Why is she half-covered in snow and running like that?!
“Murmur?! Monica?! Save me! Please save me!”
Esme blindly ran until she saw us, then sobbed and hid behind me, Murmur.
“Eh… Eh?”
Confused, Monica and I watched the snowstorm Esme had fled from.
– Thud! Thud!
Heavy footsteps sounded as massive lumps appeared.
“W, monsters! Monsters! Extremely terrifying monsters were chasing me!!!”
Esme covered her face with both hands, crouching down and trembling violently.
– Thud!
With a heavy thud, the lumps revealed themselves through the snowstorm.
“Murmur is curious. Were these children scary to Esme?”
“A, children?! How terrifying… eh?”
Esme turned red and tightly shut her eyes.
“B, from afar, I thought they were monsters!”
Well, Esme may be scared of many things, but ice cream isn’t frightening, right?
