How to Cook Elf Sisters Donburi (6)
Night fell late, but Sis never came back. She finally returned at dawn, collapsed face-down on the bed without a single word to me, and passed out. When I woke in the morning, she was gone again.
"Seriously, she's totally bewitched..."
Leon Sodus. That man was ruining my sister. To pry that short-lived male off her, I needed proof that he was an utterly untrustworthy pervert. Steel ing myself, I headed to Amelie Grace's lodging first thing in the morning—but no one was home. I pounded on the door repeatedly, but got no response.
"No way... don't tell me... from the morning already...!"
If I was lucky, I could confirm the suspicions swirling in my head. Clutching a small camera, I hurried to Leon's place. If I snapped photos and showed Sis his filthy state, surely she'd snap out of it.
He's definitely there again, screwing around with that disgusting human like before... Huh?
My footsteps, light with anticipation, halted at the training grounds. I'd spotted hair swaying beautifully like cherry blossoms.
"She's here...?"
Amelie Grace, the kingdom of Emor's finest knight. She was hard at training from dawn. Soaked in sweat, pushing her body to the limit, she channeled mana into the training grounds. Illusions of real monsters burst from the floor, lunging at her. Fake foes made of mana, but the whoosh of air they cleaved was razor-sharp.
"...Hup!"
Steadying her breath, she leaped high and drove her sword into the monster's brow. A clean, flawless strike without waste. Her upright swordsmanship mirrored her character. The keen blade tip didn't waver an inch, slicing true. The bisected monster corpse dissolved back into mana, absorbed into the grounds.
Finishing her routine, she brushed sweat-matted stray hairs from her neck and turned to me.
"What brings you here, Estelle? Do you have business with me?"
Her voice brimmed with confidence, her movements precise. And that bold posture. Could a knight this upright really do something so filthy...?
Before coming here, I'd been dead certain. But facing her, my confidence evaporated like a mirage.
Maybe it was all my imagination... But then, who was it...?
She eyed my dazed confusion curiously.
"Estelle?"
"Oh, uh, well..."
"If there's no business, I'll return to training."
Saving Sis is more important...!
No time to waste. I squeezed my eyes shut and grilled her.
"D-did you... do it!?"
My bold opening shout shrank to a mumble as I went on.
"Do what?"
She arched one brow, demanding explanation.
I blurted it all out in one desperate rush.
"I mean, did you dress like Sis and have sex with Young Master Leon!? Dirty sex!"
The words tumbled out like a startled rabbit bolting. I should've just confronted her straight-up from the start... Regret flooded me.
Her reaction was inscrutable. A complex expression crossed her face, followed by a soft breath.
At least I expected anger... No way?
"You're asking if I had sexual relations with Young Master Leon, dressed like Hero Lora?"
Her cheeks flushed faintly with anger. Her flat tone dripped low contempt, chilling me to the bone.
"Y-yeah, that's it..."
She stepped forward; I retreated two.
"Eek!"
"I don't understand the question. Why would you think that?"
"Huh? Oh, um, yeah..."
"Do you believe I'm Young Master Leon's lover, Hero Estelle? Is there clear evidence?"
"Ah, well... I..."
Too late for regrets. I'd hurled an outrageous insult at an upright warrior. Blinded by worry for Sis, I'd committed this idiotic rudeness.
She stared into my eyes, then slowly shook her head.
"I'm not in that kind of relationship with Young Master Leon. Besides, such a question sullies the honor of both him and me."
With a light sigh, she scolded me.
"S-sorry..."
"I'll chalk it up to your unfamiliarity with humans causing this mishap."
She smirked, flicked my forehead hard, and said,
"Ow..."
Rubbing my forehead, I looked up to her grinning face.
"That's punishment for tarnishing my honor."
Forgiven. It was a massive blunder that left me speechless even if she'd raged—but she brushed it off playfully with magnanimous grace.
"Sorry..."
Watching her, I realized there were respectable humans worth admiring. As she resumed swinging her sword, I sank back into deep thought.
"If not Amelie, then who...?"
Lost in reverie, Sis startled me.
"Estelle? There you are."
As if she'd never pushed me away before, she treated me with her usual warmth. Seeing her back to normal nearly brought tears; I wanted to burrow into her arms.
But we had to settle this.
"...Sis, I need to talk."
"Heehee, what about?"
She took my hands, gazing at me with that same kind smile.
"Young Master Leon isn't the good guy you think he is."
"Hm?"
Her face said that again?, clearly annoyed.
I gripped her hands tight.
"Listen, Sis. I'm dead serious... It's not jealousy."
"...I'm listening, Estelle."
Had my sincerity gotten through? She leaned close, ears perked.
Finally! I spilled everything I'd seen while searching for her—his ugly lust.
"He's trash who lusts after us elves, Sis! He disguises someone from the hero party like us to vent his filthy urges!"
Sis smiled mysteriously, stroking my hair.
"...Sis? Did you hear me?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I heard it all. Shocking stuff."
"Right...?"
Her dazed look unnerved me.
"You believe me?"
"Of course, Estelle. Why would I doubt my cutie pie?"
She hugged me tight, summarizing my words.
"So, he's a man who lusts after elves, can't control his vulgar desires, and is utterly base?"
"Exactly...! I don't get why you see him as good, but it's all a sleazy ploy targeting you!"
She held me closer.
"You've been so worried, Estelle."
Burrowing into her chest soothed my frazzled nerves. A cold black gem on a metal chain brushed my sniffling nose— a necklace I'd never seen.
"What's this necklace? It has a weird scent..."
"Heehee, like it? You can sniff it all you want later."
Grinning, she gripped my shoulders hard.
"Sis, can't breathe... heehee."
"Sorry for making you anxious, Estelle."
She hugged tighter, as if refusing to let go. So tight breathing grew hard. My face buried in her cleavage, I barely gasped air. The cold gem pressed my nose, unleashing a potent scent that assaulted my senses—like the earlier odd aroma, but concentrated.
"R-really can't breatheee... ugh."
Still hugging, she whispered in my ear.
"You thought I was being tricked, huh? Must've been tough."
Stroking me, she smirked.
"Lusting after us like trash... heehee..."
"Hng... Sis...?"
Her warm smile started feeling creepy.
"The Leon you described is exactly the one I know."
"...Sis? What do you... hngh...!"
Sis hugged me. No—grabbed me. Inhaling the intense scent from her cleavage, my limbs went numb. They wouldn't obey, flopping like a jellyfish.
"Sis? What's h-happening...?"
Muscles forcibly relaxed; even speech slurred.
Looking down at me sprawled on the ground, she said,
"Aww, my poor cutie looks exhausted... Was this stunning necklace too strong?"
Stunning necklace? That's the vile tool short-lived slave traders use to hunt elves! And Sis used it... on me?
"Sis... what the hell..."
"Roys Chapel got it for me since we needed one. Suits me, right?"
Madness gleamed in her eyes—something I'd never seen.
"That's not the point...! Why are you doing this...!"
"Sorry, Estelle. Master ordered me to make you a slave. Tried the usual method so far—how's it working?"
Her innocent smile and tone were just like always, but the words and actions? Unthinkable from her.
"Master? What...?"
Vision blurring from the restraint necklace.
"Hard to grasp yet? You'll get it, Estelle. Soon you'll know Master's good side too... ♥"
No way... Sis...
Leon Sodus's curse had sunk deep into her. Pitiful, ensnared by the black tendrils swallowing me too. She wasn't herself—clearly manipulated or mind-broken.
"Sis... I'll save you for sure..."
My desperate last plea earned a sunny smile as she closed my eyes.
"No, Sis will save you from this life for sure ♥"
Tears welled at her twisted form, but I couldn't break. I'd restore her, no matter what. With that vow, consciousness faded.
I awoke again, caged in damp iron bars.