第１１０８堀：少女変身 (Part2)
The voice that returned the greeting was not Naila’s, but Mikos’s. The door swung open immediately.
"Come on in, Yuki-sensei."
"Excuse us."
As we stepped into Naila’s room, I noticed it was significantly tidier than when I had first barged in. Or rather, the cleaning process was still very much underway. Enola and Stasia were both busy hauling away piles of belongings.
"Oh, you’re already here?"
"My apologies. It’s still quite a mess."
"Don't worry about it. This is Naila’s room, after all. We were talking in here earlier without even a cup of tea, so it’s a bit late for formalities."
"That’s true. Besides, I’d be suspicious of any tea served in this environment—it might be poisoned. I’m sure the kitchen is in a similar state of chaos."
He had a point. It would take a brave soul to drink tea brewed in a kitchen ruled by such unknown entropy.
"How rude," a voice chimed in.
The girl who approached us had long, glossy pink hair tied back into a ponytail that reached nearly to her feet.
"And who might you be?"
I searched my memory, but the face was completely unfamiliar. The only pink-haired women I knew were my wife Ratz, whose hair was curly, and Lilishe, whose hair wasn't nearly that long. I had absolutely no idea who this was.
"Master. Judging by that pink hair, I believe this is Naila-dono."
"Ah, that voice—it’s you."
Only after Kirika pointed it out did it click. Yes, Naila did have pink hair. I hadn't been able to see her face through that "Sadako-style" curtain of hair, but now that I heard her speak, the voice was unmistakable.
"Why did you identify me by my voice?! What about my face?"
"Well, until a moment ago, it was completely hidden by that tangled mess of hair."
"Oh, right."
"Yes, yes. I’ll handle the tea, so Naila, you just sit down."
"Okay."
At Kagura’s instruction, Naila sat obediently on the sofa.
"What’s this? You actually listen to Kagura?"
"Yeah. She’s annoyingly strict about grooming. If I even try to say I’m fine the way I am, she launches into a lecture that goes on forever."
"Well, showing up in front of a Duke’s daughter looking like a wreck is basically a death wish. You could even be executed for disrespect."
Failing to dress properly when meeting someone of high status is a subtle way of saying you don't acknowledge their position. Unless you were completely ignorant or lacked the financial means to do otherwise, it was a dangerous game. But in Naila’s case, that excuse wouldn't hold water. As the top student at the academy, she should have been well-versed in aristocratic etiquette.
"I know, I know. That’s why I listened. Honestly, I thought I wouldn't need any of this as long as I stayed at the academy, but I guess that’s not the case anymore. *Sigh*... I wonder if asking for your help was a mistake, Yuki."
"Just give it up. You’ll have to deal with people wherever you go. If you hate it that much, you should leave the academy and go live deep in the forest."
Though, I suppose that would mean living all alone.
"Hmm. I don't really want that. Besides, thanks to my 'dear' father, I think I might have a bit of social anxiety."
"Yeah, I got that impression. You had a weird way of laughing."
That "heheh" sound wasn't exactly a normal laugh.
"…I know it’s a problem, so I’ll do my best to fix it."
"I don't think it’s necessarily a bad thing to have quirks. But tell me, did you just put your hair in a ponytail?"
"Yes. That’s all. I just gave her a bath, brushed her hair properly, and ironed her uniform. It’s amazing how much of a difference it makes, isn't it? She’s actually quite fun to coordinate."
"Mhm, mhm. I agree with Mikos-chan. Who knew Naila was such a beauty?"
I had to agree with Kagura and Mikos. Despite her previous "Sadako" appearance, the pink-haired girl standing before me was a genuine, classic beauty. It was startling how much a woman could transform.
"Ah... I’ve never really thought of myself as a beauty. I was a child born to a mistress; I never had the luxury of worrying about my appearance."
She really had been living on the edge of survival.
"Well, I’m glad you’re feeling refreshed. Now, can we talk about work?"
"Oh, is that what this is about? Wazfi said her explanation was finished, so I suppose it’s my turn?"
"Exactly. I heard from Wazfi that you’re making magic tools, and I’d like to see them..."
"I see. Sure, give me a second."
Naila headed toward the back of the still-cluttered room...
*Crash... Clatter.*
"Eek!?"
"Honestly. Yuki, wait here. You three, come with me."
"Understood."
I just hoped her magic tools weren't broken. It occurred to me once again that researchers like Wazfi and Zargis, who kept their rooms clean, were the rare exceptions in their field.
Women really do transform. I suppose the "glasses-off beauty" trope exists for a reason. So, the pink-haired ghost girl was a beauty after all. Though, in her case, there was certainly a lot more going on beneath the surface.