Chapter 47
Ariana, Amy, Elizabeth, and I headed to the venue in the Golden family's carriage.
The venue was the Greifner Magic Academy's auditorium and backyard. It was a massive space capable of accommodating 3,500 students, with a multipurpose hall adorned with chandeliers. The backyard featured a pond, illuminated by floating magic tools that created a fantastical atmosphere.
The venue was lined with buffet-style mobile kitchens, allowing guests to eat and drink as much as they wanted by simply requesting service from a waiter or maid. For someone like me who loves parties and festivals, this was irresistible.
My heart danced! Even though I couldn't eat—because I was on a diet!!
What the hell...
The party had already started. The venue was packed, and several couples danced on the central red carpet to the dance numbers played on the auditorium stage. "Wow, a real ball," I thought—probably the only one who did.
"Everyone's dancing..."
I wasn't alone. Ariana seemed to be seeing this for the first time too.
By the way, you might wonder why Ariana, a noble, had never seen a ball before. The reason was simple—her family was on the brink of ruin. They were cliff-edge nobles with only two territories left, her father was dead, and her mother worked as a palace maid, unable to return home.
With seven siblings, including Ariana, they lived on the edge. If they lost two more times in the Magic Battle Tournament, their remaining territories would be confiscated, and they'd be demoted to commoners. That's why Ariana was desperate to grow stronger.
Her skinniness came from skipping meals at school to bring food home, sacrificing her own share. I cried. I bawled when I heard that. This adorable girl had to fight to keep her family from falling—she carried their fate on her shoulders. I wanted to do everything I could for her.
And yet, she refused to take the money from the Bone Lizard's mana crystals. "Because Ellie was the one who defeated it," she insisted.
She seemed like a young woman with a strong heart.
If possible, I'd even transfer my fat to her. I searched the library for "Fat Transfer Magic" but found nothing. Of course, it wouldn't exist.
But seriously, the outfits were so bizarre that I doubted whether this was even a ball.
The men wore whatever made them look strong—chest plates were standard, and some even showed up in full armor. Full armor at a party? That's cosplay! The only acceptable ones were the mage-types, dressed in expensive robes and boots—though even they looked awkward.
As for the women, well, same as usual. Brown, shapeless leather dresses over white shirts, with slightly fancier hairstyles. Still, defense-focused. Many wore gauntlets, and some even sported chainmail with black leather pants.
It was fun in its own way, giving off that otherworldly vibe... but this wasn't much of a dance party.
When we entered the venue, people stared.
Of course they would—with legendary beauty Amy, capable beauty Elizabeth, and Ariana, a dream for loli-lovers. And their outfits, meticulously crafted by me and Mirrors, were drop-dead gorgeous.
Amy wore a red peplum skirt with ruffled hems, a long-sleeved button-up, and a sweater vest—giving off a feminine college-girl vibe. Her pumps matched her poster, making her unbearably cute. If only tights existed here, she'd have been perfect. I'd have to ask Joe to make some ASAP.
Tights are the epitome of male romance.
Elizabeth, today's star, wore a blue flared skirt with delicate frills—a design me and Joe had redrawn a hundred times. Her sleeveless white summer knit showed off her slender arms, and her bracelet, made of mana crystals, was a gift from her mother. Her hair, parted elegantly, framed her face, and her pearl earrings—harvested only from Rank B Hime-Hotate—captivated onlookers.
Women shot dubious glares and jealous sighs, while men eyed them like prey.
I hadn't gone full ballgown because I knew we'd stick out—might as well advertise our fashion brand.
Before I knew it, a crowd had formed.
"You're the girl from the poster!" "So beautiful..." "Such low defense in that outfit..." "Your name!" "Would you like tea tomorrow?" "So pretty~" "I'll protect you!" "I won't die!" "I'll buy your book!"
I shooed away about a hundred guys swarming Amy like managers, saying, "If you have business, we'll contact you!" The fat ones got a taste of "Electric Strike." And who the hell said "so pretty~"?
Elizabeth wasn't faring any better—twenty guys bombarded her with questions. Otherworldly men were so forward—healthy Japanese boys could learn a thing or two. If they ever came here, I'd gladly teach them... on their dime.
But man, Elizabeth's flustered face was unbearably cute.
I'd leave her be for now.
"Lady Elizabeth, what would you like to drink?"
"I-I'll get it myself."
"No, let me."
"N-No, I'll fetch it."
No, no, Sister Elizabeth!
You should just let them serve you!
When she glanced at me, I nodded and winked.
She blushed and looked down.
Three seconds later, she steeled herself and said, "T-Then... a light champagne..."
Yesss! You did it, Elizabeth!
Like watching a chick leave the nest!
The guys scrambled for champagne, and I rushed to her side.
"So? Any good ones?"
"Ellie... I've never been this popular before."
"Sister, that's only natural! You're beautiful and kind!"
"Thank you, Ellie. You've really changed."
"No, *you've* changed, Sister."
"Oh, you smooth-talker."
"So, which guy do you like?"
"I don't know yet..."
"That's fine! But I hope you find someone who loves everything about you."
I meant it. Though our time together had been short, I'd realized Elizabeth was a good person. Her strictness with the original Ellie had been out of concern, and her obliviousness to how uncomfortable it made Ellie was just her clumsiness. I wanted someone to love this awkward, shy, but earnest Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, Amy was chatting excitedly with classmates. The girls were obsessed with her outfit. Heh, perfect—ditch the defense stats! Toss those ugly leather dresses and clunky boots into storage and sprint to Mirrors!
"Well, do your best, Sister."
"W-Wait! Stay close, Ellie!"
"Hehe~ The trick is to only talk to guys you like. Easy, right?"
"Ellieee!"
As Elizabeth whined like an abandoned child, the champagne brigade returned. Go get 'em, Sister!
○
I turned to look for Ariana—only to find her right behind me.
"Ellie... *munch munch*"
"Ariana?"
She held two plates, tomato sauce smeared on her lips. With practiced ease, she balanced both while wielding a fork. In her clerical one-piece with a white collar, she looked like a cute doll enjoying a feast.
"Ariana, doesn't the spring roll look delicious?"
"How about this rare Goblin Princess jelly?"
"Try my big, hot sausage!"
Three middle-aged men were panting around her.
The sausage guy was definitely a creep.
"Thanks. Can you take my plate back?"
"O-Of course!"
And Ariana just treated them like servants...
No! Don't fall for dirty adults!
"Ariana, let's save the food for later and explore the venue."
"Okay. Don't want this..."
Leaving the dejected perverts behind, we wandered the venue—admiring chandeliers, listening to live music near the stage. The dancers in the center laughed gaily, lost in the rhythm.
When the music turned lively, a group of energetic youths appeared, linking arms and stepping into a tango-like dance.
Shadows of their steps flickered under the chandeliers, glasses clinked, and women's laughter echoed. The exotic instruments ensnared my heart.
Maybe it was the fatigue from the magazine shoot, but I felt drunk on the atmosphere—until an unpleasant noise cut in.
"Oh, look—the black pig's here."
Bob Ricky and his lackeys stood before us.
○
"Hey, fatty, you got the guts to show up at a ball looking like that?"
"Let's go, Ariana."
"Fatty and a stick—what a pair."
As I took Ariana's hand, she swiftly hiked up her clerical one-piece and drew the wand strapped to her thigh.
With blinding speed, she cast the basic dark spell "Dark."
Shadows swallowed Bob's vision—along with his smug, bushy eyebrows.
The fundamentals of dark magic were:
Beginner—"Dark": Creates a small shadow.
Intermediate—"Darkness": Creates a shadow about a meter wide.
Advanced—"Dark Fear": Creates a shadow that affects the mind.
It was considered useless unless mastered to the advanced level.
Yet Ariana concentrated the "bottom-tier" spell solely on Bob's vision.
"You brat! What the hell?!"
Bob—a large, fourteen-year-old third-year—flailed blindly. His three stooges (freckles, fatso, and square-glasses) floundered. Such small fry.
"Leave me be... But if you insult Ellie again, I won't forgive you."
Ariana dismissed the spell with a flick of her wand and stared impassively at Bob.
His face twisted in rage—a spoiled brat who couldn't stand not getting his way.
"What's your name?"
"You don't deserve to know my name."
"You used dark magic."
"Well..."
For some reason, Bob smirked, his gaze akin to a child tormenting an animal.
"If you don't want something important broken like that fatso over there, behave yourself."
Something important...?
"Excuse me, what do you mean by 'touching my things'?"
"Hmm? Ahh~ Wonder what it could be..."
Bob theatrically ruffled his neatly trimmed hair and tilted his head. The three idiots leered with vulgar grins.
"Rough luck, fatso. That orphanage you slaved away at for points—it's wrecked now~"
"......What do you mean?"
"Huh? Just what it sounds like. Since it's our jurisdiction, cleanup was a pain."
"Cleanup...? You didn't lift a finger. Some adult must've handled it."
"Plus, those brats got snatched away somewhere~"
The three idiots cackled in unison.
"Skinny girl, if you don't wanna end up like that, obey us."
"You..."
"Hey, that black dress—you wearing it 'cause you wanna be called 'Black Piggoo,' right?"
"......"
"Why don't you two average out? Oh wait—Black Piggoo's too fat to balance with just one!"
The lackeys burst into raucous laughter again.
I couldn't tell if it was my rage or Ellie's.
My hands trembled violently in sync with the frenzied live music, my skull near bursting from the heat. *He* did this. *He* ruined the orphanage—Ellie's home. Damn it, damn it!
I chanted *stay cool* to myself, but fury surged uncontrollably.
"You scum..."
A crude phrase, unbefitting Ellie's voice, escaped my lips.
A crackle of electricity sparked from somewhere in my body.
"Wasn't my fault. Maybe if you weren't so fat, the orphanage could've been saved~ My family oversees it, after all~ Pity, huh?"
"I don't... understand..."
"Moron. If you weren't fat, I could've pulled strings—boosted security, sent more search parties for those brats. Not that I would."
Bob's taunts and the idiots' laughter blurred into muffled noise, like distant sirens. Only the stage music felt brutally clear.
I'm done......
Crackles of electricity flickered before my eyes, vanishing into the air.
These bastards... right here, right now...
"Where'd those kidnapped kids go......... Hell if I know!"
"GYAHAHAHAHA!!!"
The stage music climaxed, ending abruptly with a decisive *fine* instead of fading out.
——I'LL KILL THEM!!!!!
Just as I raised my fist at breaking point—
"Ellie, NO!"
Ariana grabbed my arm.