I’m Not Doing This With A Friend Chapter 78

 

The kid who’s always been so sparkly, even when he’s been casting magic, has a nosebleed.

 

Perhaps he’d been using magic all day and was overworked.

 

Carson shook his head and assured me that it was nothing, but…

 

It’s hard not to worry. That didn’t mean I was going to leave him hobbling off to see Miss Arena alone.

 

I followed him to his dorm, tucked him into bed, and stayed with him until he fell asleep next to me.

 

Whew…

 

I looked around, feeling a little lost. Carson and Fjord’s room was surprisingly organized.

 

“I never thought I’d ever set foot in the men’s dormitory, which is the forbidden area.”

 

Well, it was a no-man’s land in name, but in practice, it seemed like everyone wandered in and out.

 

Glancing over at the sleeping Carson.

 

He fell asleep faster than I expected, probably thanks to my patting. I thought it was my presence that was keeping him awake.

 

More likely, he was tired.

 

“See, there’s nothing wrong with sleeping like this, oblivious to the world.”

 

Pursing my lips in disapproval, I lifted his covers and gave them to him.

 

His long eyelashes were drawn down, and I was tempted to touch them.

 

I often napped with Carson in the club room But I usually fell asleep first, so it wasn’t a common sight to see him asleep.

 

“You look like an angel when you sleep. I mean, he’s always pretty, not just when he’s sleeping.”

 

Come to think of it, he was never so pretty when he cried.

 

I would love to see that again. I think it’s a bit mean to tease him and make him cry on purpose…

 

If I ask him to cry, would he cry, and what would he like as a reward?

 

“A kiss on the forehead would be fine.”

 

I was just thinking in a daze.

 

…Huh?

 

I think Carson just flinched.

 

But he rolled over and shifted his position, afraid to meet the questioning gaze.

 

“Oh, I must have been talking in his sleep.”

 

I grinned and stretched, rising to my feet.

 

And then I leaned forward, unexpectedly, toward Carson. His back had been turned against me from his earlier tossing and turning.

 

I whispered in his ear in a playful voice.

 

“Good night, babe, I hope you’re dreaming of me this time.”

 

It was a good act, but I guess your reddened ears don’t lie.

 

🍃

 

Belatedly, I stopped by the auditorium where Miss Arena was being held.

 

Somehow, I figured I should at least see how cross-dressing looks so I could make fun of them later.

 

But the auditorium was already packed with people who had already finished the Miss Arena pageant.

 

Still, if I find Kun and Fjord in time, I’ll get to see them before he removes his makeup.

 

As I craned my neck like a meerkat, scanning my surroundings, a group of people caught my eye.

 

“Congratulations, Fjord!”

 

“I was so thirsty from screaming when you came out.”

 

“Haha, I think you look even prettier up close.”

 

Oh, Fjord has been crowned Miss Arena.

 

Through the crowd, I tried to catch a glimpse of Fjord’s face, but he was surrounded by so many people that it was hard to see.

 

I moved around in the distance, trying to see through the gaps, but I didn’t pay attention and bumped into someone.

 

“Oops, sorry.”

 

“Are you okay… Leen?”

 

I looked up at the familiar voice.

 

A gorgeous older sister with long, navy blue hair was staring down at me.

 

She looked like she could mesmerize any man with a wave of her hand.

 

Not only her aura but also her insane beauty that made me, a woman, drool uncontrollably.

 

But this sister… she has a very husky voice.

 

Wait a minute–

 

She called my name, and I hadn’t even undone the transformation spell yet.

 

My eyes widened as I looked at Sister, and she lifted her lips and smiled.

 

I put all my questions aside in favor of that mesmerizing smile.

 

Alas, she does have a beautiful smile.

 

“Leen, haven’t you seen the competition, I’m Kun.”

 

“Yes, big sister, you’re so pretty.”

 

“…?”

 

“…?”

 

Question marks appear on both of our faces at the same time, and I’m not long in deciphering the words before my mouth drops open in disbelief.

 

Kun?

 

Kun…? The pretty sister?

 

I stared at him, speechless in disbelief.

 

Kun covered his mouth and chuckled softly, “With a reaction like that from Leen, I’m glad I came to the competition.”

 

Kun was tall, but like Fjord, he didn’t work out, so his figure was finely defined.

 

This means that the dress he’s wearing suits him very well.

 

Combine that with Jane’s makeup skills and you get this result.

 

He’s always had a good-looking face, so I thought he’d look good in cross-dressing. …

 

When you’re this pretty, it’s hard to make fun of you. Moreover, Kun was not opposed to cross-dressing.

 

For some reason, my voice sounded a little sullen.

 

“Kun. How did you recognize me, anyway? Did the transformation spell on my face break?”

 

He shook his head and explained, “Leen has a faint earthy scent.”

 

“Earthy…?”

 

I lifted my arm and sniffed. I wasn’t sure.

 

“Kun!”

 

Just then, someone called out in a delighted voice, calling for Kun, running toward us.

But…

 

The elf sister and grandpa I saw this morning?

 

My eyes squinted. Grandpa was Kun’s godfather, so that made sense, but did the elf sister know Kun?

 

That was a strange connection.

 

“Mother was here, too.”

 

“What?”

 

In surprise, I looked back and forth between my sister and Kun.

 

…That’s right.

 

Kun’s half-elf and his mother was an elf.

 

I knew in my head that my elven sister was quite old. But she looked so young that I didn’t even think to associate her with Kun.

 

Soon she was at our feet, smiling brightly and taking Kun’s hand.

 

“Son, you look so pretty today!”

 

A strange feeling came over me as I watched my pretty sister, who looked to be around my age, call Kun her son in addition to saying he was pretty.

 

It was even more so because it was real.

 

Grandpa casually interrupted their conversation. His voice was full of frustration.

 

“No matter how you look at it, Lord Kun, the contestants are a bunch of minced garlic. There must be something wrong with the way you didn’t win.”

 

The elder elf’s eyes flashed indignantly.

 

“You old fool, what is minced garlic? Watch your language in front of a child.”

 

“I guess I’m not bad enough to be an old man in front of a child.”

 

“Are you and me, the same?”

 

“How could we not be the same?”

 

“You think you can be on the same page as me, Kun’s mother?”

 

“I don’t know if you can call a woman a mother who abandons her son to seek freedom.”

 

“I abandoned my son? Ha, is that what you’re saying?”

 

I was wondering if I should stop them from arguing.

 

Kun stared at the scene as if it were a familiar one, then asked me in a low voice.

 

“Leen, what does it mean that it was full of minced garlic?”

 

“…I think it means it has been crushed.”

 

“Leen?”

 

“Did you say, Leen?”

 

Both of them, poised to fight, snapped their heads back at the sound of my name from Kun’s mouth.

 

“She has a different face, son?”

 

“It’s a different face, Lord Kun.”

 

I quickly admitted, unable to resist their heated glares.

 

“It’s magic.”

 

As if realizing the situation, her eyes widened.

 

“Oh, my, did you know my son?”

 

“Uh, yes. We’re friends.”

 

“Did my mother also meet Leen?”

 

Frozen in my tracks by Kun’s question, I opened my mouth before she did.

 

“I don’t want you to get the wrong idea, but I was the one who got help from my sister.”

 

“Sister…?”

 

Kun gave me a quizzical look, as if he was uncomfortable that I had called his mother my sister.

 

“Now, do you know how I felt when she called you son, Kun?”

 

“…I didn’t even realize Leen was surprised.”

 

The elf sister tousled my hair and made a deep, meaningful smile.

 

“Hmph, it’s a match made in heaven, isn’t it?”

 

It wasn’t unreasonable for her to say that. The daughter of a friend from decades ago was friends with her son.

 

It doesn’t happen often, does it?

 

“Kun.”

 

“Yes, Mother.”

 

She placed her hand on Kun’s shoulder and declared earnestly.

 

“I am in favor.”

 

“Yes? What do you mean you’re in favor of…”

 

“That’s a secret, so just know that your mom already voted yes.”

 

The elf sister smirked as she left Kun with a clever remark.

 

Then, Grandpa, who had been watching us silently as if deep in thought, opened his mouth.

 

“I…I wonder.”

 

“Oh, right! Lien, I saw you in the distance earlier, weren’t you looking for someone?”

 

I was somewhat taken aback. The elf sister had suddenly turned to me and asked.

 

She seemed to have interrupted Grandpa. Perhaps things were worse between them than I thought. It’s best to stay out of adult arguments.

 

I answered her question as if I had no idea about it.

 

“How did you know I was looking for someone?”

 

“Hoho, it’s harder to tell when you’re moving around with your head stuck out like that.”

 

The elf must have good eyes.

 

“If you’re looking for Miss Arena, she’s already left the building. She said she was going to remove her makeup.”

 

“What? Really?”

 

I look over to where Fjord and his friends are, and they’re gone.

 

No way…!

 

If I couldn’t make fun of Kun, I had to make fun of Fjord. Besides, how could he beat such a pretty girl like Kun?

 

My heart raced as I realized I had to see Fjord before he removed the makeup.

 

“Did you see where he was going?”

 

“He went that way.”

 

She shrugged, then raised her hand and pointed in one direction.

 

“…I’m going to head off to find my friend, and you both have a good time with Kun!”

 

Without a proper goodbye, I rushed off.

 

It had been a long time since I’d been in such a hurry to find the Fjord.

 

Fortunately, I hadn’t gotten far before I spotted the woman I assumed was Fjord.

 

All I could see was the back of his head, but it wasn’t hard to recognize him.

 

Fjord had a hairstyle that bore a striking resemblance to the wig he had brought to the club the other day.

 

…The dress was tight on his upper body, giving a clear view of the muscles he hadn’t been able to hide.

 

Fjord had bravely defeated all of his friends and was now alone.

 

Thankfully, I was able to call out to him with confidence.

 

“Fjord!”

 

“Leen?”

 

He turned around slowly at the sound of his name. The hem of his flowing skirt fluttered. His face finally met mine.

 

…Ah?