Let Me Teach You the Language of My Country

"Dea-kun, good news! Your sister seems safe! You'll probably see her the day after tomorrow!"

"R-really!?"

"My bathhouse friend just so happens to be the lord's mother. She said your sister's under protection and on her way home."

"… I'm glad. But… without me?"

Uh-oh, is he sulking?

As in, 'I was worried sick and sis just left without me!?'

"No, no! She didn't abandon you, Dea-kun. They simply had no leads on you, so they had no choice. Honestly, it's my fault for stealing too perfectly… Sorry?"

"No! You did nothing wrong, Karina-neesan!"

Yeah… if I hadn't meddled, they probably would've just protected you the normal way. I might've gone a bit overboard.

"Oh, right, Karina-neesan. I found some useful things."

"Ooh? Like what?"

"Evidence of wrongdoing, money… We couldn't move the furniture, but there's quite a bit."

Hmm. I'll gift the evidence to Maria-baachan. She'll use it well.

"There was also a full-length mirror."

"A big one that shows your whole body?"

"Yes. Likely an alchemical luxury."

I haven't really gotten a good look at myself.

Not since I watched the Goddess put my body together. From my own perspective, my chest blocks most of the downward view.

"Oh, Dea-kun. Did you see your pretty-girl self? You did, right?"

"Uh… I-I did. Why?"

"Super cute, right!? Didn't you think you looked ridiculously cute!?"

"… N-no comment."

His ears turned scarlet. He totally did!

"Where was it… Ah, here. Yoink."

Shupon — mirror acquired. Glass with silver backing; nice and clear.

Ooh, I'm very well put together.

This face and body are like a grown-up version of the Goddess. Watching myself move however I want in the mirror really drives it home — this is me now.

Huh? I might be in a pretty similar situation to Dea.

Male on the inside, female on the outside, thinking 'This is… me?'

The only difference is that I'm fully a girl now and can't go back.

Well, we're in this together. Might as well make Dea a girl too, right?

"Um… do I still have to dress like this?"

"Yes. You look super cute, so please keep it."

"I-I'm a boy…"

"Fufufu. Let me share some wisdom from my homeland — repeat after me: Crossdressing is the manliest act that only a man can do!"

"C-crossdressing is… the manliest act… that only a man… can do!?"

Dea was dumbfounded by this dubious Japanese saying.

Yes! What you're doing is very manly! Be proud! But also feel the shame!

"I'm not falling for that though!?"

"Fair."

It's like saying 'getting genderbent into a girl is the manliest thing you can do.' I'd punch someone for saying that.

"Also, having you dress like a girl is… important for the job the Goddess asked of me."

"…! What possible meaning could there be in having me dress like a girl?"

"Can't tell you. But remember this: your embarrassment is not in vain. Not one bit!"

Shame is what the Goddess requested! Don't tough it out — be embarrassed!

Speaking of which…

To stoke his embarrassment — and turn him into more of a 'trap' — I'll have him do something.

"Dea-kun. Face the mirror and say, 'I'm cute.'"

"W-why would I say that!"

"Please!"

"U-ugh… I-I'm cute…"

He said it, blushing. Adorable.

"Look at yourself properly and say it again. With confidence — because Dea-kun is cute."

"I-I'm cute…"

"Keep going."

"C-cu-cute."

"Cuter than any ordinary girl — because you're an elf. No, because you're Dea."

"Cute…"

"You're absolutely mesmerizing. That adorable kid in the mirror is you, Dea-kun. Got it?"

"Uh—"

"Say 'cute.'"

"C-cute."

Humans have a tendency to accept what they say out loud as truth.

Call it the power of words.

So if I keep having him say 'cute' to the mirror, Dea-kun will eventually believe he really is cute—

"Isn't this literally a brainwashing technique!?"

"Oops. You knew that, huh."

"I'm more surprised that you knew about it! Were you in some kind of intelligence unit!?"

Whoopsie. Tehe!

But seriously, Dea really is cute. I think we can make this work… Hm? Wait, has all this praising brainwashed me instead?

Eh, it's true anyway. I'd hate it if he ended up looking manly later, but with elves it might be fine. I don't know much about elves; maybe he'll stay youthful-looking until I die!

"Anyway, Dea-kun! We beat the pirates and you'll see your sister soon! Let's celebrate — let's go out to eat!"

"You're blatantly changing the subject! Onee-san!"

"Don't sweat the small stuff! It's fine — my treat. We've got pirate money, after all. C'mon, celebration time!"

"… Mm. Fine. But we're having a proper talk afterward!"

And so I took Dea-kun out to eat.

… He'd forgotten, but he was still wearing that very cute dress. I noticed, of course — and kept my mouth shut.