Chapter 44: You’re so mature

How could this happen? I’d just spent a lovely day with Sister.

I looked up at her; she seemed angry. Her eyes blazed, as if about to shoot lasers. Her face was red, steam practically rising from her head.

Where was my sweet, kind sister? Come back.
I pleaded silently, but her anger didn’t subside.

“Ellie? I’ll ask you one more time.”

“U…um…”

“What are you supposed to do when someone at the academy talks to you?”

“Um…reject them firmly, because they’re probably perverts…?”

“That’s right.”

“Hee hee.”

I was so smart, even for someone living their second life. Would Sister get jealous of my intelligence?

Her expression softened. She stroked my hair, the gentle touch making me giggle. But she still seemed suspicious. She asked,

“What if they have breasts as big as mine?”

“Call them perverts and run away!”

“What if they’re as big as Mother’s?”

“Um…ask if they need help…?”

Oops. She was angry again, her eyes blazing. I quickly corrected myself,

“Ask if they need help…secretly, without telling you!”

“…”

Wrong answer. She looked like she wanted to spank me.

I didn’t like being spanked; it made me feel…strange, like I wasn’t myself.

I started backing away. Then, a timely interruption gave me a chance to escape.

Knock, knock—

Someone knocked on the door.

Ellie, are you ready?

“Just a minute!”

It was Linne. Were we… supposed to go somewhere together?

I didn’t have time to question it; I was grateful for the distraction and ran towards the door.

“No, wait!”

Sister cast a spell, the kind that could stop even a charging warrior. But it couldn’t stop me.

“Linne!”

I threw open the door and practically jumped into Linne’s arms. Sister grabbed me, but the door was already open, our…state revealed to the world.

Success! Sister couldn’t spank me now!

I smiled triumphantly at Sister, then I finally saw…us.

“Um…Ellie…and…your sister?”

Linne, her face as frozen as mine, asked,

“…Why are you both naked?”

I’d forgotten. We’d been naked since our shower.
I could only stare at her, speechless.

Wait, what if this pervert developed a crush on Sister…? I snapped out of my daze and rushed to Sister, hiding behind her.

“Don’t look…!”

My face burned; I hid behind Sister, her smooth back a welcome coolness against my cheek.

“Um…after showing everything so openly…?”

I peeked over Sister’s shoulder. Linne was smiling at…Sister, her eyes scanning Sister’s body appreciatively.

“Yes. She’s more…mature than Ellie.”

What was that supposed to mean?

Before I could process her words, Sister’s hand shot out.

Whoosh—

A wave of heat washed over us. The air crackled with energy.

“Sister! You can’t just incinerate an academy student!”

She’d be expelled! I stamped my feet in protest.

But Linne seemed unharmed, much to Sister’s apparent disappointment. Sister clicked her tongue, as if she’d really intended to harm Linne. I knew better, though.

She must have controlled the flames, making them…warm and comforting.

“If it weren’t for that uniform…”

I didn’t hear Sister’s muttered words.

****

Sister continued glaring at Linne even as we walked to class, dressed in our uniforms. Linne seemed oblivious.

“Linne, was it?”

“Yes.”

“How dare a commoner address me so casually… You have guts, I’ll give you that.”

“Sorry, force of habit.”

Sister was putting on a serious act, her awkward attempt at formality making me giggle.

“Sister, you’re so cute!”

“Be quiet!”

“Hee hee hee, shooo cuuuute!”

Oops. She was angry again, her face as red as a tomato, about to explode.

I looked at Linne, who’d already turned away, sensing the danger. I was alone.

“Um…Sister? I…well…”

“Hee hee…! Oops, I wasn’t laughing… Mmmph?!”

Too late. Sister’s hands cupped my cheeks, squishing and kneading them gently. It wasn’t even painful…was this a reward?

I was no longer myself. Expecting another…episode, I leaned into her touch.

“Hee hee…Linne, you’re jealous, aren’t you?”

“Yes. Can I touch them too?”

“Absolutely not, you pervert.”

I could feel their gazes on me, but I focused on the pleasant sensation.

****

“This is…unbelievable…”

I stared in disbelief as I entered the classroom after parting with Sister.

How could this be…?

Students huddled in groups, staring intently at something. Round, blue, glowing orbs. Sara’s…lust-inducing crystal balls.

Every group seemed to have one.
They’d brought those obscene objects to class? This place was a den of iniquity.

I shuddered and walked past them, trying to avoid the strange whispers emanating from the crystal balls. Perhaps they had a new…function.

“Eek! So cute!”

One of the students watching the crystal ball suddenly shrieked. The commotion spread, and the wave of madness soon reached me.

“Um, Elena? Or was it…Ellie?”

“Ugh…what do you want?”

A girl I’d never spoken to before addressed me, surrounded by her…entourage. I eyed them warily.

I couldn’t show weakness. They were small fry, no match for me.

I steeled my resolve, but my voice still trembled. I tried to suppress my nervousness.

“Nothing, really…just wanted to…say hello.”

She introduced herself, followed by each member of her group. It was difficult to keep up with the flurry of names.

They left, giggling excitedly. Normally, they’d avoid me because of Linne, but…what was going on?

“…Linne?”

“…”

Linne sat at her desk, staring intently at something. I called her name, but she didn’t respond. I looked closer; she was staring at a blue crystal ball.

…I’d decided to ignore her. A pervert was a pervert, after all.

****

I stared at the complex formulas on the chalkboard, wondering about their practical applications.

Did they really need to be this complicated to use magic efficiently? I’d rather not use magic at all. Was this why I couldn’t use magic anymore? I hadn’t been able to use even basic spells lately.

No, that couldn’t be it…I shook my head, dispelling the thought, and looked at Linne, who was asleep at her desk. Even she, a relatively skilled magic user, couldn’t stay awake. This clearly wasn’t my fault.

The boring lesson finally ended. It was afternoon already.

But the outdoor training wasn’t much better.

“Ugh, Linne, is this really necessary…?”

I pleaded, feeling the crushing weight on my body, but she just responded nonchalantly,

“Of course. Increasing gravity with magic is the best training method.”

“Hngh…then why don’t you do it…?”

This training was ridiculous. It was torture, and I couldn’t think of anything nice to say.

“You need to get stronger, Ellie. So you can protect yourself.”

“Gasp…! You increased the gravity again?!”

“Hee hee, you noticed.”

“It’s obvious! And stop giggling, you idiot!”

Where did she get such confidence in her methods? It was almost religious.

But I was too tired to argue. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I could barely move a finger.