兄貴

"I-I refuse to accept this outcome! How dare you dig a trap for me! You stinky fox, just you wait..."
After several failed attempts to climb the walls with his bare hands, Zechs is forced to admit that as a ten-year-old child, he isn't tall enough to get out, so he
chooses to shout out challenges at his opponent, Ein, instead.
After hearing Zechs' shouts, Ein squats beside the pit and looks down condescendingly. His excellent eyesight allows him to see the defiant expression on his oppone
nt's face clearly, and he can't help but sigh in his heart...
As the tribe leader's eldest son, Ein is often told to take care of the children younger than him in their tribe. This is his duty as their older brother.
But Ein is also just a child and doesn't know much about taking care of children, so he can only copy what his mother usually does and scold them when they make mis
takes.
You're not allowed to eat too many cold foods. You're not allowed to run around wildly. You're not allowed to make trouble... He thinks he is doing a good job, so w
hen Zechs, whom Ein regards as his younger brother, expresses his dislike by telling him to shut up, even someone as calm and composed as Ein fails to maintain the
smile on his face.
"When scolding doesn't work, then it's time to dish out a beating." Upon remembering his mother's usual approach, an idea forms in Ein's mind.
However, his opponent is a famous little troublemaker among the children who has never lost a fight and resolves all arguments by fighting... It'll probably be difficult to make him surrender with brute force alone.
This leads to the event that just took place...
Zechs drew his newly sharpened sword and charged at Ein, falling right into the trap Ein prepared in advance.
This trap involves a vertical drop that is impossible for a child like Zechs to climb out of due to his height. Moreover, Ein has removed all rocks and weeds that can be used for climbing. He even smeared some peanut oil on areas that Zechs could use as footholds.
Ein waves a hemp rope that he had prepared in advance and says, "You've lost. Now call me older brother."
"Never!" Zechs instantly becomes furious. "I didn't lose! When I climb up there, I'm going to shave your tail bald."
Considering Zechs' current situation, this statement isn't threatening to Ein at all, so he nods calmly and gives him a friendly reminder. "We're a long way from the tribe, and nobody really comes here, so you can shout as much as you like. No one will come to save you even if you shout until your throat becomes hoarse."
"You black-hearted fox, you did this on purpose?!"
"Isn't that obvious?" Ein rubs his ears that are tingling painfully because of Zechs' roaring. "Why else would I ask you to meet me here? Didn't you have any doubts at all?"
Probably because he was irritated by Ein's matter-of-fact tone, in the trap, Zechs' eyes turn red with anger. "Don't think I don't understand that you're saying I'm stupid. I won't call you older brother even if I spend the entire night and starve to death in this pit."
*swishing*
Ein's tail sways gently behind him, sending some dust beside the trap and a few dead leaves into the pit, which makes Zechs' bad situation even worse.
Ein looks up at the sky and sees that half the sky has turned red in the sunset.
"It'll be completely dark soon..."
"You want to scare me with the dark? No way! I'm not afraid of the dark!"
Ein ignores Zechs' interruption and sniffs all around him. "The air is so humid. I think it'll rain tonight."
Zechs touches the damp tip of his nose and doesn't retort for once. Almost everyone in their tribe dislikes their fur getting wet, and he is no exception.
One minute... two minutes... five minutes... ten minutes...
Just as Ein can't help but stand up to stretch his stiff shoulders and neck, he finally hears Zechs' voice, which is as weak as the buzzing of a mosquito.
"O-Older brother..."
"Hmm? What did you say?"
"I called you older brother! Pull me up now!"
"That won't do." Ein says as he shakes his head. "Did you forget what the teacher taught you at school yesterday? You need to say please when you ask others for help."
"Older brother! Please PULL ME UP!"
The rolling dark clouds in the sky force Zechs to make a quick decision. The hemp rope Ein drops appears in front of him right after he speaks.
Given Zechs' agility, this rope is all he needs to climb out of the trap. Ein, however, has no intention of waiting there and continuing to compete with someone as obsessed with fighting as Zechs, so he gets ready to leave after making sure the rope is secured tightly.
After thinking for a moment, he leaves a note next to him: There's an umbrella in the tree hole on the left. I borrowed this hemp rope from your family, so bring it back with you.
"Ah, I'm such a considerate older brother." Ein thinks to himself.
Zechs releases a wolf howl five minutes later. Surely that must be a howl of gratitude.