Chapter 36: Natural Change #2

Chapter 36: Natural Change #2

“Look at her? She’s shy again.”

A mischievous smile spread across Mitchell’s lips.

The elf, completely naked, giggled and approached me.

“Hey, clothes! Put on some clothes first. Dry yourself off. You’re dripping water on the floor.”

“Ah, what’s the big deal.”

A wave of warmth rushed towards me from Mitchell’s body, fresh from her shower.

I quickly averted my gaze and stood up from the bed.

I need to leave first.

There’s nowhere for my eyes to go.

The current situation is too disadvantageous for me.

“Kid, where are you going?”

“Put on clothes. I’ll come back later.”

“Just stay- You’ve seen it all, what’s the point of leaving now-“

I felt Mitchell’s rough hand grasp my shoulder.

Even with my eyes closed, Mitchell’s naked form vividly appeared before my eyes.

Her white, smooth skin, devoid of even the slightest bit of body hair.

Her clearly defined 11-shaped abs.

And, a pair of luscious breasts that swayed naturally, free from the cumbersome pressure of clothes-

“Flora, look at her face. She’s blushing again. It’s really funny.”

Mitchell’s hearty laughter echoed.

“Oh man, you’re cute the more I look at you.”

“Ugh, get away from me.”

“Whoa? Now you’re touching me so openly?”

Sway.

My fingertips, swung with my eyes closed, touched something soft.

Warm, cozy, and something that felt like it would never get tiresome no matter how much I touched it.

Mitchell and Flora burst into laughter.

“Even though you say that, Estel, you don’t seem to dislike it.”

“Right? You pretend to be shy, but you seem to secretly enjoy it. Hey, are you even a girl? Maybe your shell is a girl’s, but the inside is something else?”

Kuhum.

Mitchell’s rambling words struck a nerve.

Of course, Mitchell isn’t saying this with any knowledge.

“This won’t do. I need to personally educate our perverted party leader. Flora, help me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Let’s drag her to the bathroom. If we wash her from head to toe with warm water, this kid’s lewd heart will be purified too.”

“That sounds plausible.”

Mitchell, fine, but Flora, are you also going to torment me?

I thought I could trust you…

Before I could even resist, twenty fingers simultaneously descended upon my body.

This is truly dangerous. It’s not just talk.

These bitches genuinely intend to strip me. They plan to bathe me too.

I struggled violently, but soon Mitchell’s rough hands held me firmly.

“Flora, you come in too.”

“Okay- But didn’t you just finish washing, Mitchell?”

“I’ll wash again.”

The two girls chatted amicably as they unbuttoned my clothes.

“⋯Stop it.”

I tried to get angry, but only a weak voice came out, contrary to my will.

“What?”

“I kept telling you to stop…”

Here it comes again.

Just like in the Contaminated Deposit, a fragile, girlish demeanor emerged against my will.

I should be shouting “Get lost, you bitches,” but…

Why can’t I speak properly?

Why are tears welling up instead of vulgar curses?

“⋯Kid, you’re not crying, are you?”

Mitchell’s grip on me loosened slightly.

The anomaly was progressing quietly, yet surely.

As I became accustomed to Estel’s body,

Estel’s girlish sensibilities were also eroding my mind.

Denial is useless. This has been confirmed.

‘I’m really becoming a girl.’

I thought, wiping the tears that had gathered at the corner of my eyes with my fingertips.

It’s ridiculous, but it’s entirely plausible.

Humans are animals governed by biological hormones.

All emotional responses, like crying, laughing, rejoicing, and getting angry, are determined by hormones.

Lovers in love romantically talk about love at first sight or destiny,

but what makes humans ecstatic is not Cupid’s arrow, but serotonin hormones.

‘Good heavens.’

I thought I was a man.

Even if my appearance changed, I thought my heart would remain the same.

But my body betrayed my belief absurdly.

Look at me now, sitting dejectedly in my disheveled clothes on the bed. Who would think I’m a man?

I felt a chill.

Perhaps the day will come when not just the shell, but my very core becomes that of a girl.

“Ah, seriously, fuck.”

I deliberately let out a rough curse, as if to deny my weak self.

At the same time, I used my abilities.

「Ability Unleash」.

Summoning even the power stored in the Reliquary, I blew Mitchell away with high-output telekinesis.

CRASH-

Mitchell, with her eyes wide open, was slammed into the wall without being able to resist.

“Cough- Hey, s-stop! It really hurts! Khh-“

Mitchell, pressed against the wall, coughed repeatedly, as if she couldn’t breathe.

“I told you to stop.”

“Okay- Let go for a sec, this-“

“Huh? I told you to stop. I told you to stop.”

“M-my apologies.”

When I released the telekinesis, Mitchell finally let out a long sigh.

I could have destroyed the wall and thrown her out if I had intended to,

but I went easy on her because she’s my party member.

“Get out.”

“B-but kid, this is my room…”

“Aren’t you leaving?”

Mitchell looked like she had something to say, but perhaps overwhelmed by my demeanor, she put on her clothes and left the room.

Flora also looked worriedly at my face, then followed Mitchell out.

“Hoo.”

After venting my intense emotions, a deep exhaustion followed as a backlash.

I already knew it myself.

It wasn’t just Mitchell’s teasing that made me angry.

What I truly feared was the change that had begun without my will.

“This is driving me crazy.”

I scratched my head vigorously.

Will the day come when I have no choice but to accept the change?

Would it be easier if I did?

If I forget my past self and embrace my new form.

Suddenly, my reflection in the mirror caught my eye.

A melancholic girl was looking back at me from the mirror.

***

“I admit it was a bit much, even for me. Right?”

“Yes.”

“But why are you doing that? You’ve been like that since earlier.”

In Mitchell’s room, in the lounge area.

Flora was sitting demurely on a chair, with both arms raised.

“I’m being punished.”

Flora replied with a sullen expression.

Mitchell chuckled.

“Do you think that will make her feel better? There’s no one watching, so stop putting on a show and just sit normally.”

“Still…”

Flora sighed.

“I think I was wrong.”

“About what?”

“I thought we had become a little closer, Estel. I was under the mistaken impression that we were breaking down emotional barriers by casually hanging out together.”

“Emotional… barriers?”

Mitchell asked.

She wanted to dismiss it as nonsense, but Estel’s sensitive reaction just moments ago was hard to ignore.

Her extreme aversion to exposure, even between people of the same gender.

Her reaction of disgust, even shedding tears.

Mitchell swallowed her words. She had a vague inkling of something too.

“Did something bad happen to her before…?”

“I don’t know about that. What I do know is that we should have paid more attention to Estel.”

“Grrr…”

Mitchell pouted like a duck and grumbled.

Soon, she also climbed onto the chair where Flora was sitting.

“Move over a little.”

“Yes?”

“Let me do this for a bit too.”

Mitchell stretched her arms above her head.

“You shouldn’t play pranks carelessly.”

“Indeed.”

Without being told, the two young ladies stood in punishment for a while, reflecting on their actions.

“Speaking of which, she’s really strong.”

Mitchell said, rubbing her collarbone. Although she didn’t show it, her whole body ached.

The impact of being crushed by Estel’s telekinesis just moments ago still lingered vividly in her body.

“It didn’t even feel like her full power. She was definitely holding back, even then. Arrogant… No, maybe not arrogant.”

“She’s kind. Even though she was furious, she still took care not to hurt you too much.”

“Tch.”

Mitchell didn’t argue with Flora’s words.

Mitchell thought so too.

‘Come to think of it, she was amazing during the last hunt too.’

She recalled the image of the kid charging forward with cold swords in both hands.

Estel’s combat prowess in real combat far exceeded Mitchell’s expectations.

‘If she really fights seriously, won’t I lose?’

Mitchell tilted her head.

***

A little later.

Since they didn’t return after waiting, I went out and found the two of them in the lounge.

“What are you guys doing?”

Flora was standing with her arms raised, being punished alone, and Mitchell was dozing next to her.

“Why are you here instead of coming inside?”

“You told us to get out, so we waited outside.”

“That was just words. I didn’t mean for you to stay out all day. Besides, it’s not even my room.”

An awkward silence filled the lounge.

The turbulent emotions had subsided, but things were not the same as usual.

As we fumbled for words in the unnatural silence.

“Uh, well- I was just resting for a bit, but I was holding my arms up until just now too. Flora, right?”

“⋯Did I tell you to stand in punishment? Why are you acting so unlike yourself?”

“Hmm-“

Mitchell let her words trail off, then looked down at my feet and said.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I went too far. I didn’t know you’d hate it so much.”

Mitchell hesitantly extended her hand.

I stared at her hand for a moment.

The sight of the boisterous elf apologizing first, looking at me nervously, felt strange.

Slap-

I grabbed Mitchell’s palm firmly, as if slapping it.

“It’s fine as long as you understand.”

Only then did Mitchell smile broadly.

“I’m sorry~ I won’t do it again. Okay?”

“From now on, no more unsolicited physical contact. If you do it again, I really won’t forgive you.”

“Yes, yes- I’ll keep that in mind.”

As Mitchell smiled, Flora also seemed relieved and lowered her raised hands.

“Alright.”

Mitchell nodded.

“To cheer up the kid, I’m treating today. Follow me!”

“Huh? Mitchell, where are we going?”

“Just follow me without asking. I know a great place.”

Something feels suspicious.

If it’s a place Mitchell would find amusing, the destination is obvious.

“You can look forward to it. Tonight, let’s let loose and have some fun together.”

Mitchell grinned, slinging an arm around Flora and me.