Chapter 85

Why did they find me so easily? According to the story, they seemed to have lost me halfway. Then, they immediately sealed off the movement routes of each member of the party and proceeded as expected up to this point.

However, I had underestimated Mew's individual capabilities. Searching this town with buildings lined up from the ground would be troublesome. So, she suggested looking from above. Using the advanced sense of "Three-Dimensional Restriction Removal" after "Movement Restriction Removal," she performed even more complex three-dimensional actions, kicking up between the narrow alley walls, jumping from roof to roof, and searching for me from above.

While I was looking down and thinking, she fell silently from above.

The first words I muttered after hearing the explanation were:

"Hey, you. You're not a Paladin, are you?"

"Hehehe... Not that much."

"No, I'm not praising you."

I glared at her, but since I was already found, there was no choice but to give up on escaping.

Crossing my arms, I leaned against the brick wall and chatted casually until the scattered Mew's party arrived.

"Still, big brother. Did you get hit on?"

"Bad choice of words. I just mistook the other person for an NPC. Rather, weren't you watching?"

"Um, I was watching, but... I thought I'd let them have it if anyone laid a hand on my big brother."

Where are you going to send them? And that face, the expression is so blank, it's scary.

I hurriedly changed the topic.

"So, Mew. Is it okay to call me 'brother'? During the game, you called me 'sister,' right?"

"Um, when it's just the two of us, 'big brother.' When there are others around, 'sister.' We decided to split it that way."

"Complicated principles. Well, I won't interfere."

It's probably a small consideration for me, but the direction is always wrong.

Also, today's attention is more intense than usual. Well, Mew's lack of self-control is one reason, but there are other factors. Probably—

"Mew, I can tolerate it to some extent because it's me, but it would be a no-go for others. This time, you went too far."

"Sorry, I went overboard with the joke."

"And you and Nee-san haven't been able to meet up recently, right?"

"...So, I can't hide anything from big brother, huh?"

Mew, who had given a somewhat deflated response, made a slightly guilty face.

"You're the biggest crybaby in the family. You were the most lonely when Nee-san went to university."

"I understand that. University is busier than middle school, and living alone is tough. But—"

"But—"

"I want Nee-san's softness! More than me or mom! That's it!"

Mew, breathing heavily, forcefully argued. It might be envy as a woman, but being said so boldly left me speechless.

So, seeking softness, the vector is now directed at me... Always showing unexpected directions. Sei-nee, please take care of Mew sometimes. I can't take it.

"Alright, Mew. Punishment is certain later. The sentence is to make all the dishes with eringi (king oyster mushrooms)."

"Ugh..."

Mew, who dislikes eringi. Well, it's not that she dislikes them, but rather a dislike without trying. She can eat everything because she was taught to eat all food, but the aversion remains.

The menu should be eringi rice, eringi soup, eringi butter sauté, and salmon and eringi foil bake.

Mew, imagining the eringi hell, had a slightly bitter expression.

"Hey, it seems you've been caught. But, why does Mew look so pale?"

"Don't worry. It's the result of our discussion."

In response to Kohaku's words after receiving the news of my capture, I replied.

"Nee-san, at least, can you change one dish to something else... not eringi?"

"...I don't know why, but Mew's unprecedented panic. How did it come to this?"

"It's because of the harsh treatment I received. I'll make you experience it later. It's a kind of payback."

"Yeah, we also thought we went too far after you ran away. So, don't run this time."

"Frankly, I can't escape with such unexpected methods anymore."

In the current state, no matter how much I strategize, the basic stats and level differences will likely crush my plans.

Then, the members gathered one by one, and I received words of "going too far" from each of them.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that the sense of touch among girls would be uncomfortable for Yun."

"Maybe it's the kind of touch you'd find in a girls' locker room?"

It sounded like an excuse, but I was tired and started to lose the energy to be angry.

"Then, I'm going home."

"““Huh?””"

"What's with that reaction?"

Looking up with a bad feeling, Mew, Relay, and Hino didn't seem to doubt that I would go to Claude's place. For some reason, being decided like that, the anger I thought had calmed down suddenly boiled over, and I could only smile.

"Still no sign of repentance, so should I use a strong medicine?"

What I took out was a red-black liquid and a jade gem.

Before everyone could take evasive action, the magic gem exploded, scattering the liquid around. Everyone was enveloped in smoke and colored mist.

"What, what is this!?"

"It worked. Or, is it a clinical trial because I used a failed product?"

From the clearing smoke, Mew and the others emerged. However, their appearances had shrunk like mine, and their short hair had grown longer, while their long hair had grown a few centimeters longer.

"...This is embarrassing. I understand now."

"Right, right."

Tou-Tobi was looking at her body. Relay and Kohaku were surprised to see each other's appearances, and Rukato and Hino were smiling wryly, unlike their appearances.

Then, I patted Mew's head in retaliation.

"Got me! I didn't expect there to be another girlification potion!"

"Come on, you guys are going to Claude's place, right? Let's go."

Now, there's nothing to be afraid of. Rather, with six people in the same situation, I can do reckless things.

Taking Mew's hand, I walked out to the main street. The others seemed to have given up at this point and were resigned.

As we walked out, as expected, we attracted attention. With all seven of us looking much younger, we gathered many gazes.

(...Still, there are a lot of gazes.)

On the main street with a fair amount of foot traffic, every time we passed someone, I felt their gaze and felt awkward.

I spoke to Mew, who was holding my hand, in a low voice, but she seemed to be enjoying it. Why is she smiling so happily even though she's been girlified? Looking around, there were three wry smiles, one blank face, and one blissful face. Relay had an unchildlike expression.

I subtly listened to the surroundings.

(They're little girls) (Multiple little girls) (A black-haired little girl in a white dress) (A white-haired little girl in armor) (Are they real little girls?) (Are they NPCs? Or new little girl players?) (But, are the children NPCs in this game that cute?) (New quest discovered?) (No, their walking style isn't like an NPC. NPCs walk in a regular pattern) (So, they're players. If they're mages, they're magic little girls. Heartwarming) (No, a little girl swinging a sword. gulp...) (That's a scythe, isn't it?) (You guys, don't send such rude gazes. They'll notice) (Rather, is one of them trembling from our gazes?) (Ah, the black-haired girl is looking around) (Send strong gazes and see the teary-eyed little girl) (Officer, it's him) (Whoa, what are you going to do... I still have ambitions (You will crush your dirty ambitions!)) (I will protect that girl's smile!)

...Yeah. Now, one evil has been destroyed. No, those gazes are directed at me!

Thinking about it, acting suspiciously would only make me more noticeable. So, should I act confidently? But the gazes from the surroundings won't stop.

What's happening behind me? I slightly turned my head to check, and the movement was like that of a seasoned soldier, but in different directions, avoiding the gazes of those looking at us. People who were looking at Mew and the others noticed a few seconds later.

They couldn't hide that they were trying to look secretly. Even female players were looking at me. One of them stopped turning away and glanced at me again.

"Wow, it's interesting. When you get such obvious reactions—"

"Mew, it's not interesting for me."

"Well, I can understand why we attract attention. The combination of being rare and cute is eye-catching!"

No, you don't have to argue. Are a lot of young-looking kids and cute? Well, when Sei-nee, Mew, and I were together, we were always called cute by people we met...

"It's not that much to attract so many gazes."

A deep sigh was let out. And it was perfectly synchronized by all six.

"Yun, how about trying to respond to someone who meets your gaze?"

"Respond?"

"If one-sided gazes are unpleasant, take action and see their reaction. For example, I would smile at that person."

There, Rukato pointed to a woman with distinctive green hair that was a bit wavy. She met Rukato's gaze, looked away awkwardly, and scratched her cheek.

Rukato smiled broadly. The woman saw this, smiled back, and waved her hand slightly. Rukato returned the gesture.

"Like that, wordless communication. Just smiling at someone who meets your gaze would be good."

Suddenly being told to smile... Hmm. Acting like a child's innocent smile. If I naturally raise my cheeks and tilt my head, it looks more childlike, right? I met someone's gaze on the opposite side. I smiled... Thud, thud?

"...Hey, they fainted."

"What kind of destructive power is that? To make everyone around you faint with just a smile."

Tou-Tobi was shocked and trembling. No, I don't understand it myself.

"Hehehe, if I hadn't known in advance, I would have joined them. Cough..."

"Stop, Relay! You're still in bad shape!"

"Final words. Impressive. Choke."

"—Relay!"

"Okay, okay. Relay and Kohaku, that's enough."

"“Okay.”"

What was that three-line play just now? We're walking along amicably as if nothing happened, but should we not wake up the people who fainted? More importantly, there's no system damage, right? Just personal excitement, right? Both are not good, but...

Mew also spread her smile and fainted in party units like me.

Then, Kohaku and Hino joined in. Relay and Tou-Tobi, and Rukato just watched, but their presence was still felt.

"The young Yun and Mew are the most impressive. They're in a different league."

"Rukato, of course. My family member, Yun-nee's smile is a national treasure. Fainting is natural!"

"Stop it, Mew. Don't shout. We'll attract more gazes."

"It's too late. Tou-Tobi, you should smile too."

"I think Tou-Tobi is fine as is. Two smile duties, one blank face, one comedian and straight man, one organizer, and I just observe from a step back."

"...I'm not used to smiling."

In response to Tou-Tobi's words, the girls protested very discontentedly and cutely.

"Tou-Tobi and Nee-san should spread more smiles. Smiles are important in interpersonal relationships."

"No, I think it's a bit different in this case."

I'm getting tired of correcting them. I'm easily swayed and too lenient. Then, a devil whispered to me, who was about to be swayed.

"Hehehe... Yun, Yun."

"What is it, Relay?"

"Don't you want to get back at Claude?"

Listening to those words, I also smiled wickedly.

Riding on this situation for evil. Let's go all out.

In a certain heated thread:

"Someone reported seeing a suspected loli walking with other new lolis." "No way! I have to go see it now." "Don't, you'll be charmed by their smiles. There are already many casualties." "I see them. They're our heaven, my angel." "Slime drop items are gel-like, right? Slimy." "...I got an idea." "I reported it." "Heyyyyyyy!" "If you keep being looked at with a disdainful gaze by a blank-faced child, you might open a door you don't know." "You need to go to the hospital." "What's your preference? I like the ones doing a comedy routine while walking." "I like the black-haired and white-haired ones who seem to get along well. Maybe they're sisters?" "Alright, I understand your preferences. So, you're lolicons." "No, I'm also a lolicon!" "That's even worse!"

Yun snapped. → The drug went off → More little girls appeared.

Next time, seven little girls will attack Claude's shop.