Chapter 84

"Hey, why would you try to hide something so interesting!?"

"It's your fault!"

I, who had been manhandled by the girls, explained the situation after temporarily closing the atelier. During this time, I was in a very embarrassing state.

I was seated on a chair that didn’t fit me, tightly hugged from behind by my sister, and treated like a child. To make matters worse, pomegranates were also clinging to my arms, forming a vertical line of large, medium, and small. It was both embarrassing and pitiful.

"Wow, this hug. It’s as good as a life-sized plushie, why do you have such a charm, big sister? No, Yun!"

"Why are you repeating that? Or rather, you’re not charming me! Let go, Mew."

"No, you are! You’re spreading a charm status effect! You’re a bad girl. Besides, you’re my big sister, right? So cute. I always wanted a younger sibling because I was the youngest. Cheeks, squish squish."

"Stop fooling around! I haven’t made a potion with such an effect."

I argued, pouting, but even as I glared at everyone around me, they looked at me with a warm, almost indulgent gaze, as if I were a slightly mischievous little girl.

Resistance was futile due to the physical disparity, and I couldn’t really put up a fight.

"…Are you really Yun? Your clothes do confirm it, but…"

"I’m the real deal, but this smaller form and hair might be confusing."

In response to Toubi’s words, I sighed and fiddled with a strand of my hair. I thought I had taken a potion with an absurd effect, but it turned out to be seen by someone I didn’t want to see.

"This happened due to a potion-making failure. The Yun you saw until now was a decoy created by Rui."

"You really are multi-talented, Yun."

Luca, surprised, took my multi-talented nature as a compliment, but I really wanted Mew to stop, as she kept petting my head, making it feel like it might fall off. Every time I tried to push her hand away, I saw her relaxed smile, which made it hard to reject her.

"That’s not right. Really not right."

"…Rirei."

Rirei’s softly spoken words. Her words about my pitiful situation almost made me tear up with gratitude.

"Indeed, Yun was beautiful. That’s why the clothes suited her, but now, as a cute, innocent little girl, this slightly darker outfit doesn’t fit at all. I don’t like it. So, it’s really not right. Change it."

"What kind of thing do you say to someone’s misfortune? But, you’re right, it does look a bit off. How about a ribbon?"

Rirei’s comment was followed by Kohaku’s critique, as she pulled out a white ribbon and a brush from her inventory, displaying them.

These were appearance-altering items, a type of avatar item that didn’t affect stats like equipment.

"Fine, do what you want."

"Then, how about twin tails?"

As my hair was brushed and tied into two tails, more high-pitched squeals erupted. My hairstyle was changed one after another.

Ponytail, three braids, bun, updo, side part, top knot, and various other styles were tried, each time with my long black hair being manipulated to the fullest. My spirit was worn down, and I was thoroughly exhausted.

"Hey, hey."

"…What?"

"Can you, just for now, use 'I' instead of 'I' and speak more politely?"

"Huh!? What’s the point of that?"

There’s no point, it’s just romantic. Or so she might argue, but she’s a girl. She tilted her head cutely and asked, "Can’t I?" It was too sweet.

"I, I… can’t, it’s not me."

"You’re so cute, blushing like that. Just mimic me, smile, and say 'nico'."

"Enough, let me go."

"Ah, you haven’t changed much since you were little. Just a bit more…"

"I’m a high school student now."

Bringing up old times. When my parents jokingly dressed me in Sei’s clothes, and I, in turn, changed into them, it was a past I wanted to forget. Ah, at this moment, I was almost grateful that my avatar was female. If my black history was exposed, the ambiguity of my gender might help keep things vague.

"Hehe, this tired, unmotivated little girl. I’ll show this form to the others…"

"Who are you calling next? Enough, please."

"Still, the clothes don’t fit well, even with different hairstyles. Claude will provide a new outfit. …Hehe."

Her creepy smile and the mention of Claude made me tense up. I imagined her suggesting military, sailor, gym, or maid uniforms, and I frowned slightly.

However, Rirei also frowned.

"…She’s busy, so she can’t come. I understand. Yes, I understand. We will…"

It seemed to be a friend communication. From her words, I couldn’t tell the content, but her expression suggested it wasn’t good.

This might mean…

"She’s busy, so we should go to her."

"Rejected."

If she’s busy, there’s no need to take me out.

I made it clear that I wouldn’t move from here, but Mew easily picked me up and carried me away. I had anticipated that they might resort to such forceful measures.

However, I couldn’t tolerate such excessive actions, so I decided to escape.

"Sorry!"

Because I hadn’t resisted much, Mew seemed to have let her guard down and was easily hit with a potion. As she froze, I slipped out of her arms and started running, not caring where I went.

"…Can’t move…"

"It’s no good. Mew is paralyzed."

My new potion—a paralyzing agent. Made from plants I cultivated, which I obtained during an event, it induced a status effect. It was a level 3 paralysis, lasting about 15 seconds, during which I tried to get as far away as possible.

I paused in front of the store, thinking. Should I blend into the crowd or escape to an empty area?

After quickly considering the pros and cons, I decided to use a portal to escape to another town.

"Rui, Pomegranate! Follow me! [Add]—Speed!"

With that, Pomegranate jumped onto my shoulder, Rui disappeared, and I could vaguely sense her location.

I headed towards the town center, but I knew I would be caught soon. I slipped into a narrow alley, trying to lose my pursuers.

"Phew… Finally lost them. Hmm. A smaller body is easier to navigate through tight spaces, but the short limbs feel strange."

I checked my appearance in an unknown alley. My short limbs made me stumble several times while running, and my body felt heavier, possibly due to reduced strength and stamina.

"First, I’ll use a portal to move to another town…"

Leaning against the wall, I noticed my outfit. The ocher-colored clothes with black accents. If I went out like this, I would be easily recognized and might even start a rumor.

Moreover, a ribbon was tied in a bow at the top of my head.

"I need to change my clothes to avoid standing out."

I switched my equipment in the menu. A dress I had received as a spare, a vest that only covered half my back, and short pants. I hadn’t expected to wear this outfit again.

"Now, I’ll escape. If I go this way, I should reach the main street…"

I headed towards the portal, but I had taken a side street, and they were already waiting.

"Ah… Rirei. She’s watching this area alone. That means the other five are…"

The other five were either scattered, searching, or watching likely areas I might go to. The town’s structure had gates to the east, west, south, and north, and a central transfer portal as the only exits.

"If they’re watching the main streets, there’s no place to run."

Magi’s shop was near the portal. I might not be seen, but it was also close to the library, where they might be positioned. Claude and Riri were facing each other on the east street, so one person could cover that area.

The south street, facing the atelier, eliminated the possibility of returning or escaping through the south gate.

And one person was positioned to the west, sealing off all escape routes.

"Only one person can move freely. No, Mew knows me, so she might contact someone who knows me. If they negotiate and secure Magi’s or Riri’s shops, the search party will grow. What should I do…?"

The potion’s effects hadn’t worn off after an hour. The expected duration was two to six hours, but it was shorter due to the failure, though it hadn’t ended yet.

"Can I escape? If not, I might have to break through… No, being too flashy will draw more attention. Maybe I should pretend to be an NPC. If I act alone, I should send Pomegranate and Rui back. —[Summon]"

The two disappeared, and their summon stones were stored in my inventory.

"Where should I break through? The portal is crowded. The east and west streets have a lot of traffic. So, the north and south. No, the north and south are easier to spot. Then, I’ll blend into the crowd…"

I closed my eyes and thought. I considered several options, weighing the pros and cons, and the obstacles to achieving my goal, trying to find the best solution.

But I had stayed in one place too long. I heard footsteps approaching.

"Uh oh… I need to move."

I started wandering the town, choosing routes that Mew and the others wouldn’t see.

I moved through areas with little foot traffic, through alleys and empty lots, past a square where NPC ladies were chatting, and a tidy garden where an elderly couple was gardening. I tried to blend in, moving naturally and not drawing attention.

I walked along the edges of the roads,