Ellie Golden and the Mischievous Transformation: Even an Ugly, Fat Girl Can Become a Handsome, Elite Guy

Chapter 16

As I tried to ignore it and leave, someone grabbed my shoulder.

When I turned around, Bob Ricky was looking down at me with a smug grin. Behind him were three flunkies—a freckled boy, a fat one, and a cocky guy with square glasses. The way they wore their uniforms sloppily made me want to laugh and say, "What a bunch of kids."

"You listening or what?"

I almost snapped back with a "Huh?" glare, but stayed silent and looked at Bob.

"Starting tomorrow, don't come to school. Having an ugly pig in the same space makes me feel sick."

The three flunkies laughed with a loud "Gyahaha." Hey fatso! You're fat too, aren't you?!

"You're the one who shouldn't come."

"Haa!? Who do you think you are, talking back, you fat piece of crap?"

"So, I'm saying you're the one who shouldn't come."

"Hmm? Can't hear you. Speak human, will ya?"

The three flunkies laughed again with a loud "Gyahahaha."

I thought, I can't deal with these guys, and tried to leave the classroom quickly.

Maybe Bob and the trio didn't like being ignored, because they moved closer to say something else. But just then, a sweet, carefree voice called out to me.

"Ellie~ are you here~?"

The one who popped her head into the classroom was my beloved Sister Amy.

"Ah, Sister!"

I rushed over to Amy with my heavy body.

When I glanced at Bob and the others, they looked dumbfounded, faces red, awkwardly averting their eyes. Only Bob quickly returned his gaze and began staring intently at Amy.

Ah-ha. Looks like he likes Amy.

Too bad for you. She's way out of your league.

"Oh? Are these your friends?"

Unaware of the situation, Amy tilted her head. Her fine blonde hair fell delicately from her shoulder. Even I couldn't help but be captivated.

"Just classmates."

"I see? Do you have anything to do after this? If not, let's go home together."

Amy gave a polite nod. Bob and the others hastily bowed their heads as well.

"Let's go, Sister."

Without even glancing at them, I took Amy's hand and quickly left the classroom.

Whether she noticed the bullying or not, Amy looked at me worriedly as we walked. I feigned ignorance and asked, "What is it?" She replied with a shy, "It's nothing." Damn, she's adorable!

At the school gate, some students seemed to be leaving by carriage, and the entrance area of Greifner Magic Academy was bustling with the going-home rush.

Seeing that scene, one major question popped into my head.

It couldn't be, right? I mean, it's a fantasy world, an alternate world where people can use magic, so surely—they must have that, right? I mean, surely. With hesitation, I asked Amy.

"Um, Sister Amy. I have a question..."

"What is it?"

"Everyone walks home... right?"

"That's right. If everyone used carriages, it would clog up the main street."

"Then... why doesn't everyone just fly home? You know... like riding on broomsticks."

"Huh??"

"W-Wait, what?"

"On broomsticks?"

"Yeah, yeah! Like, riding a broom and floating off into the sky..."

"Ellie, are you okay?"

Amy placed her hand on my forehead.

"No fever... it seems."

I couldn't hide my shock at her reaction.

You can't fly?! No broomsticks?! What the hell! Jeeeesus!

"Why are you suddenly spreading your arms to the sky..."

"Sister, you can't fly with magic?"

"Not me~"

Amy gave a cute little wave of her right hand in front of her face as she laughed and denied it. Not the time to get charmed!

"There seem to be people who can fly, but that magic is super hard."

"How hard is it?"

"Um, it's a magic called Levitation, an advanced 'Sky' spell from 'Wind' magic. It makes you float gently."

"Then you can't go zoom and fly around...?"

"Nope, you can't."

Amy flatly denied it.

"Gaaah"

"...Ellie. What's 'gaaah'?"

"It's the sound when you're shocked."

"Pfft."

Amy laughed adorably with a cheerful "Ahaha."

"That's funny! It really does feel like 'gaaah' when you're shocked!"

"Right?"

"Ellie, you really have changed. You're so much brighter than before."

"Was I really that gloomy before?"

I cupped my face with both hands.

"Gaaah"

"Pfft."

Amy laughed again with a cheerful squeal. Her natural smile was so vibrant and adorable.

As we giggled together, a small crowd had formed at the school gate, saying things like "Lady Amy is laughing," "Big Sis is smiling," "So cute!!" and "I feel healed~" while staring at us intensely. It felt like fans waiting for their idol.

"Bye-bye, everyone."

Amy waved cheerfully, and everyone blushed and smiled like melting jelly as they waved back.

That's... a serious case.

"Sister, you're really popular."

"They're just teasing me."

Amy puffed out her cheeks. The gap between that and her beauty was irresistible.

"I don't think so?"

"Am I really that easy to tease? Ellie, you're mean. Even Satsuki-chan teases me. Today, she taught me a new magic spell that goes, 'I, my favorite food, apple pie,' so I kept chanting it over and over. Everyone in class was chuckling, and I thought something was weird. Then she told me, 'That spell's wrong!' I was so embarrassed!"

At the very least, I now understood that Amy is a total airhead. Her pouty anger was radiating waves of cuteness, and it was obvious that this Satsuki girl just wanted to see that side of Amy. I bet we'd get along.

"Ellie, isn't that Clarice over there?"

Kicking up dust as she sprinted toward us was unmistakably the old maid Clarice. Her running was Olympic-level. She skidded to a stop in front of us, bowed respectfully, and couldn't help but ask,

"Miss Ellie! How was the aptitude test?!"

"...Clarice, don't tell me you ran all the way here just for that?"

"My lady! How did it go?!"

"Are you even listening?"

"Of course I am! So, so, how was it?"

"...Light, I guess."

"Oooooooh!"

As if saying "Thank the heavens," Clarice clasped her hands over her chest and offered a prayer.

"As expected of you, my lady! The same aptitude as that great adventurer Yukimura Sekino!"

"I've had Light since first year, you know."

"Yes, but this was your first test as a personal maid! How could I not be excited?!"

"Ah," Amy let out a voiceless gasp and suddenly began patting my face.

"Sister, what is it?"

"Ellie, your magic circle exploded, right?!"

"Ah... if you're talking about that, it's nothing serious."

"My lady! What did you just say?!"

"Too close, Clarice."

Like a fighter jet pulling a tight turn, Clarice brought her face close.

Gently pushing Clarice aside, Amy stepped away from me.

"Ellie's magic circle exploded during the aptitude test. It was amazing! After a blinding flash of light, it exploded, wind blew, water burst out, everything went dark, and the ground went rumble rumble rumble and rose up!"

As Amy said it all in one breath, Clarice trembled all over and dropped to her knees.

"The great adventurer... just like the legend..."

"Ah! Now that you mention it..."

"That's right, Miss Amy. According to a certain biography, all magic burst out during the great adventurer's aptitude test as well... Ah! As expected, my lady is a genius!!"

"Amazing amazing! Ellie is amazing!"

It was just an accident, but seeing the two of them holding hands and jumping around made it hard to tell the truth. I decided to stay silent—neither yes nor no. Letting them dream for a while is part of a man's duty.

After their excitement had settled down, we saw the Golden family's carriage approaching.

The one holding the reins was Clarice's husband, Barry.

Apparently frustrated by the traffic, he glared fiercely at the sluggish carriage in front, growling, "You've got a whip, don't you?! What's the whip for, huh?!"

Please stop, you're scaring people.

You look like one of those scary guys from a certain profession.

Look, the passenger next door saw Barry's scar and rabid-dog expression and flinched.

Noticing us, he threw the reins and dashed over.

"S-So, my lady, what were the results of the aptitude test?!"

"Too close. Too close, Barry."

"My apologies, I got carried away. So, the results?"

"...Dark."

"....................................Huh?"

"I said, Dark."

Barry fell to one knee, face twisted in anguish like he'd just been told the world would end in five minutes, and wailed.

"N-No way... our Miss Ellie has Dark affinity?!"

He slammed his fist into the ground with a thud.

"Our pure, perfect, and beautiful Miss Ellie has Daaaark?!?!"

Barry slammed the ground repeatedly, shouting "Uwoooohhh!" with both hands.

"Damn you, false god Washashiel! Give back our lady's Light!!"

The ground gradually began to collapse.

"My lady! A retest! I respectfully request a retest!!"

He looked ready to charge into Greifner Magic Academy, so I put a hand on Barry's shoulder. Time to stop—people were staring. And the ground was dented.

"...That was a lie."

"Fwah?!"

"Just a joke."

"............My lady?!"

"You idiot. There's no way our Miss Ellie would have Dark Magic aptitude!"

Clarice smacked Barry hard on the shoulder.

"Uwoooohhh, my lady. Thank goodness, thank goodness, thank goodness for Light..."

I apologized to the sobbing Barry, "I'll never make such a half-hearted joke again."

While being comforted by a flustered Amy, I returned to the carriage with Clarice and Barry.

It seemed Clarice had come to fetch me for another reason as well.

"My lady, the shop owner from Mirrors insisted on seeing you today, so I came to escort you. Is your schedule free?"

"Yes, I don't mind. Sister, want to come too?"

"Where are we going?"

"To the clothing store."

"I'm going!"

With Barry finally back to his calm self, the carriage headed toward Greifner Street.

Clip-clop, the carriage moved forward with rhythmic hoofbeats.

Having a rough idea of the purpose, Amy and I gazed out at the slowly passing scenery through the window. Thinking about how I had a naturally airheaded beauty of a sister nearby, I figured maybe this wasn't so bad.