Chapter 44
"Zukoooon!"
Seeing Elizabeth's outfit, I exaggeratedly flopped over.
Complete with sound effects, of course.
Max Denonslart, the competent office-worker rabbit-kin man beside me—nicknamed 'Usax'—was so startled he fell on his butt, and Clarice, stunned, froze for a moment before rushing over to me.
"Ellie!?"
Elizabeth was also surprised and came into the room in worry to support me.
I'm fine, I'm fine, Sister...
But that outfit is absolutely not fine...
"Sister, that is...?"
My brows furrowed unintentionally at the sight of that outfit.
"It's the dress I plan to wear to tomorrow's ball... What do you think?"
"What do I..."
What do I even say to that?
I felt the urge to completely roast her, but I had to restrain myself. This person is beautiful and Ellie's precious sister. She's the second daughter of the Golden family.
"Well? What do you think?"
But still... ugh... what the hell should I do...?
"I'm asking what you think."
Elizabeth gradually returned to her usual assertive big-sister attitude.
Her sharp eyes, in contrast to mine and Amy's, narrowed.
"I asked Amy. She said Ellie has great fashion sense, so I should ask you too. That's why I swallowed my pride and came to ask you."
She said it in a strong tone. Probably partly to hide her embarrassment.
I see. If she's going that far, then I'll steel myself too. But seriously, of all things, this is what you chose... Oh God! Say it isn't true!
"...Sister, I tend to be blunt when I speak, is that all right?"
"Yes, of course."
"Are you really sure about this?"
"I am."
"There's a chance you might be a little bit shocked."
"I don't mind."
"Are you really, truly, absolutely sure about this?"
"I'm really fine with it."
"Even if I say it straight?"
"Say it straight. That's why I came all the way to Ellie's room."
"You're sure?"
"You're so persistent, Ellie! If I say I'm fine, I'm fine!"
"...Understood. Then... I shall speak."
"Yes, please do."
I glanced at Elizabeth's outfit, and a magma-like fury started to surge within me.
It didn't take long for that rage to hit its breaking point.
From the tips of my toes to the top of my head, burning rage exploded in an instant.
"Sister Elizabeth!!!"
"Y-Yes!!"
At my shout, for some reason, Elizabeth stood up straight at attention.
I glared up at my tall sister like she was my mortal enemy.
"Siiiiiisteeeeeer!!!!!!"
"Yeeeeeeees!!!!!!"
This is it! I've reached my limit!
My rage gauge has maxed out!!
"Siiiiiisteeeeeeeeer!!!!!!"
"Yeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!"
Uwooooooooh!!
Enough with the jokes alreadyyyyyyy!!!
"What is that outfit! What is that incomprehensible pink frill! What is that shiny, sparkling yellow ribbon that looks like a comedian's! What is with those bloated enamel-like boots I don't even want to ask where you bought! What is that caterpillar-like scrunchie on your arm! And to top it aaaaaall offfffff, that glitter-covered, I-don't-even-know-if-it's-a-frilly-dress-or-a-one-piece monstrosity you're wearing—what in the everloving world is thaaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!"
"I'm soooooooorrrrryyyyyy!!!!!!"
Enraged, I ripped off the frills, tore off the yellow ribbon, yanked the scrunchie from her arm, swept Elizabeth off her feet with a leg sweep, pulled off her boots, and threw everything out the window while firing "Electric Shock (Impulse)" into the air.
Gyagyagyagyagya!!!!!!
Baribarigagabariiiiii!!
With a screech almost like a bird monster's cry, "Electric Shock (Impulse)" flashed with lightning and obliterated the clothes Elizabeth had been wearing into charred fragments. The electric blast scattered like fireworks in the air, spreading out like a spiderweb before fading away.
Like winter leaves falling, the scorched remains drifted to the ground.
"Save meeeeee!" cried Usax.
"Have mercy, I beg youuuuu!" shouted Clarice.
"I'm sooooooorrrrryyyyy!" wailed Elizabeth.
"I might have gone too faaaaaar!" I screamed.
Ogyah ogyah!
Flap flap flap flap
Neigh!
Crash-bang-clatter-crash!
Hee-ho hee-ho!
One after another, a nearby baby started wailing, birds resting at the perch took flight all at once, a horse neighed somewhere and dropped its cargo, and an unfortunate Hee-Ho bird nearby began wheezing like it was having a panic attack.
Isn't this the usual pattern...?
——Crap, I went too far.
The only saving grace is that a hot spring didn't erupt.
——FSSHHHHHHHHH!
A huge blast of hot water burst from a house three doors down, filling the area with steam.
...Yup, there it is—hot spring.
○
"I'm sorry, Sister Elizabeth."
After fumbling through a half-baked excuse about the magic, I sat formally on my knees on my room's floor and offered Elizabeth a heartfelt apology.
I was angry at myself.
I had shattered my cute sister's values. The outfit she had earnestly chosen, thinking it looked good on her—I had completely destroyed it. It might have been something irreplaceable to her. A carefully thought-out coordination she worked hard on.
What a terrible thing I've done...
If there were a hole, I'd want to crawl into it for two years...
"I-It's okay, Ellie. I must have been wearing something that made you that angry, right?"
"Um, this is super hard to say... but yeah. That outfit didn't suit you at all, Sister... Not even the tiniest bit, like the tip of a Little Lizard's tail... I just don't see how it could ever work..."
Yeah, the more I remember it, that frilly thing was totally a no-go.
No matter how many times I replay it——still no.
I did the right thing. Yeah. No doubt about it.
I really am a genius. Hell yeah.
Elizabeth had a tearful smile on her face and covered her cheeks with both hands.
She was shaking her head in disbelief.
Just as the heavy mood was about to set in, Clarice brought out herbal tea for everyone. Thanks to the pleasant aroma, Elizabeth, Usax—who was still paralyzed on the floor—and I finally began to calm down.
"Sister, I hate to ask, but... where exactly did you buy that outfit?"
"A store called Cupid of Love."
I knew iiiiiiiit!
That overly made-up madam of a manager you can't forget even if you try. The frill-covered gothic lolita clothes. There's no way that suits someone like Elizabeth, with her elegant, mature beauty.
"But Ellie, you used to buy from there too!"
"I've graduated from that store!"
"But it's cute and has great defense stats! I just don't think it's that weird!"
"It's fine in general, but it doesn't suit you, Sister Elizabeth!"
"N-No way..."
Elizabeth collapsed onto the bed and burst into tears.
I rub her back.
A timid-looking man with rabbit ears on his head, Usax, sipped his herbal tea awkwardly while glancing back and forth between Clarice and me. His rabbit ears drooped apologetically. To think he'd run into this commotion on his first visit to the Golden family—poor bunny ears.
Usax... what a completely unlucky bystander you are...
I'll give you a bonus later, so forgive me.
Things grew restless outside the door, and then there was a knock.
When I answered, a slightly angry Amy came into the room.