"Doo-doo-doo~~"
"Laa-laa-laa-yay~~"
"We are, the brightest duo, Rozaliya & Liliya Sisters!" x2
After singing the song, the two sisters struck finishing poses reminiscent of the "Three Heavenly Kings," with their chests puffed out and hips jutting, announcing the end with energetic yet contrasting voices—one lively, the other aloof.
Rozaliya swiftly approached Wendy, hands on her hips, and asked proudly, "That's our new tune. What do you think? Isn't it amazing? Want an autograph?"
Wendy glanced behind Rozaliya at Liliya, who was trying hard to maintain her stoic expression. However, her tapping foot and frequent discreet glances revealed her anticipation despite her blank facade.
Wendy's face remained impassive as she coldly spoke up.
"Unharmonious. Your voices and styles contrast too greatly; there's no coordination, and your movements don't match the rhythm either. Idols? Really?"
"Huh... Well, actually, our teacher said something similar."
Rozaliya pouted, her head drooping dejectedly, even her pink antenna hair falling limp with lack of spirit.
Liliya also ceased her restless fidgeting. Though still expressionless, it seemed like dark clouds and drizzle appeared above her head metaphorically.
Wendy felt a slight twinge of guilt.
Despite being from Anti-Entropy, upon closer observation, these sisters were just innocent little girls. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so harsh on them?
"Cough! Although I mentioned those issues, it's merely due to insufficient training time. In terms of natural talent, both of you are quite attractive, and your vocal qualities and personalities stand out distinctly. With proper training and practice, your performances will undoubtedly improve significantly."
"Oh! Our teacher said the same thing! Are you also an expert?" Rozaliya's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Wendy involuntarily leaned back, averting her gaze.
Could she possibly reveal that, once upon a time, as an A-Class Valkyrie candidate and among Schicksal's elite of elites, Wendy had been utterly obsessed with a virtual idol—Magic Girl Teriri?
The primary reason for Wendy's obsession was that Teriri's appearance and name bore striking similarities to her most admired role model—the elegant, adorable, stylish, powerful, and intelligent Dean Theresa.
However, after joining the experiment, she no longer had the chance to follow her idol closely and wasn't aware of how the virtual star's career had progressed since then.
And as for Dean Theresa herself, Wendy wondered if she still remembered her at all.
Wendy fell deep into reminiscence, her expression gradually becoming distant.
Meanwhile, Rozaliya had already firmly grasped her hand.
"I've decided—you'll be our on-site mentor! With those teachers being so far away, online teaching just isn't as effective. Having an expert like you guiding us in person will surely help us progress much faster!"
Wendy looked up, meeting Rozaliya's excited, starry gaze. Behind her, Liliya wore a stoic expression, but her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Wait! It's not about modesty, but I truly am not a professional. You should find someone more qualified..."
"We'll pay this much!" Rozaliya held up two fingers.
Wendy tilted her head, puzzled. "Two thousand or twenty thousand? Dollars? Euros?"
"...I don't know! But if you're unsatisfied, we can double it!"
Rozaliya held up four fingers, waving them smugly as if little devil horns sprouted on her head. She leaned close to Wendy's ear and enticed her, "Think carefully now—Big Bro Zeke has loads of cash! He can afford whatever amount you ask for!"
"I don't need money... No wait, that's not the point! I refuse, do you hear me? I don't have time for childish games with you all!"
"This isn't a game! It's Rozaliya and Liliya's dream! Besides, you're not much older than us either!"
"I... it's hard to explain. In any case, I'm not doing this—it's just a waste of time. Miss Seele, I think... Huh? Where did Seele go? Wait! Why is the door locked?!"
Wendy pressed herself against the door, trying feebly with her delicate hands to twist the handle open. Yet, despite being a former S-rank candidate, she found herself unable to budge the ordinary wooden door.
Suddenly, two intense gazes appeared—one from each side—behind Wendy's wheelchair.
"Liliya, quickly tie our new teacher to the wall so we can start practicing the next dance routine!"
"Ooh, alright!"
"Hold on! Don't be ridiculous! Let me go! I want out of here!"
In the living room, Seele, who was wiping down a table, suddenly turned toward the direction of the practice area.
"Did I hear some strange noises? Must be my imagination. Hopefully, she'll get along with Rozaliya and the others soon and make friends!" Seele gently smiled, touching her cheek.
Then, noticing Raven—clad in a maid outfit, hands clutching at her short skirt with an awkward expression—she asked kindly,
"Sister Raven, how's the outfit and housework treating you? Seele made alterations to the uniform; if there's anything unsatisfactory, please let me know."
"...Um, isn't the skirt a bit too short?"
"No, it looks perfectly fine! I followed the proportions from a fashion magazine."
"What kind of magazine were you reading?" Raven's lips twitched, managing a forced smile.
Blushing slightly, Seele waved her hand dismissively. "Well, um...don't worry about the details. Let's...let's continue cleaning!"
Raven, holding a mop, watched as Seele abruptly picked up her pace, swiftly tidying the entire living room. In no time, the already spotless space shone even more immaculately.
Seele touched her forehead and gently exhaled, her gentle smile, framed against the sparkling background, radiating an exceptional air of grace.
Is this what they call having the qualities of a devoted wife and nurturing mother? Wait, why does such a little brat give off such strong homemaker vibes?!
Raven glanced at Seele's still slightly flat chest, then looked down at her own—Ha! So what if she has high "homemaker vibes"? In the end, I'm still winning here!
"Look, Sister Raven, cleaning is just that simple," Seele said with a smile. "Have you got it now?"
Leaning forward and lowering her head, Raven could finally see the small patch of floor she had been mopping for half an hour. With visible stains remaining, its damp appearance formed a stark contrast to the other gleaming areas.
"What do you think?" Raven retorted.
As a sniper, Raven was top-notch.
Housework? Sorry, not on her skillset list.
Feeling awkward, Seele scratched her face.
"Well, um, I believe these tasks are all quite straightforward as long as you put your heart into them. If I can learn them, Sister Raven definitely can too. Hang in there, fighting!" Seele raised her tiny fist, cheerfully offering encouragement.
Raven pursed her lips and silently continued working.
There was no escaping it anyway; where she lived or how she survived didn't matter. All Raven wanted was to keep going.
Surviving itself was a defiance against cruel fate.
Is doing chores really that big of a deal? She'd become proficient at it soon enough, just like killing. With determination and effort, there's nothing one can't learn.
Watching Raven's back as she turned away, Seele silently sighed.
'Wendy seems to be doing alright; she'll quickly make friends with everyone. As for Sister Raven, I feel like she carries so much inside her. I truly hope she integrates soon. We're all wonderful people—given some time, she'll surely understand.'
"Hey, 'all wonderful,' you say? Don't know which little dimwit gets scared stiff whenever they see that pink-haired girl with different eye colors!"
'Eh? It's you! You finally came out to talk again! Where are you? Do you have a name? My name is Seele. Can we be friends?'
"Enough with the incessant chatter—it's deafening!"
'Did I bother you? Sorry about that. Is Seele's inner voice too loud?'
"...Just keep being this naive. Sooner or later, someone will bully you to tears."
"No way! Seele has so many friends—Big Bro Zeke, Big Sis Bronya, and Mommy Cocolia will all protect me! And Sin isn't really bad either, just kinda fierce sometimes. But she hasn't actually bullied me at all."
[Hmph, better be true! Next time, show some backbone; if you embarrass yourself like that again, I'll make sure to teach you a lesson!]
The voice in her mind vanished, leaving no response no matter how much Seele called out.
After a long moment, Seele dejectedly bowed her head.
"Wahh... Do you hate Seele now?"
[Nope! Now let me sleep! Stop bothering me!]
Seele's eyes lit up, and she nodded with a grin.
It seemed she had made another new friend. Should she tell Big Bro Zeke and Big Sis Bronya about it? Hmm, maybe not yet—at least not until she learns this friend's name first!