Talulah sometimes felt that the world she lived in was far too surreal. A matter as serious as the one they faced could somehow be turned into something so utterly ridiculous by these people.
Why did such an important issue have to involve her wardrobe? She didn't think her fashion sense was poor at all; this was something Talulah would absolutely never admit!
The reason she wore military fatigues was that they were practical for combat, comfortable, and resistant to dirt. Besides, did that Black Snake really think she didn't know what he was thinking?
There was absolutely no way she, Talulah, would ever wear a skirt! Something like that could fly up if she didn't control her Originium Arts properly—how could that possibly look better than her current military uniform?
Talulah was somewhat incensed by Kashchey's comment about her poor taste, but on second thought, it wasn't like she had to change right this second. Maybe if she agreed to it now, the whole thing would be forgotten later?
While Talulah was planning to stall for time and hide her way through this, she didn't notice the glint in the eyes of the two people standing beside her.
After exchanging a glance, the two of them high-fived as if they had reached a mutual agreement, and then slunk off to a corner to secretly research something.
Talulah, whose eyes were somewhat hazy from exhaustion, didn't notice at all that the two were discussing what kind of clothes would look best on her. Her most trusted friends had, in that short span of time, betrayed her and joined forces with the Black Snake, extending their demonic claws toward the unsuspecting dragon...
The next morning, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a fairy tale about a fire dragon's unprovoked attack on a human and her domesticated reindeer unfolded perfectly before the villagers.
Jeanne was seen carrying her beloved "reindeer" Alina on her back, fleeing from the terrifying "fire dragon" Talulah. Talulah was not wearing the military uniform she had donned for so long, but rather a violet dress that had clearly undergone significant alterations.
It was evident that there was a considerable difference in build between Talulah and the original owner of the dress. Even though the chest area had been modified with pleated styles to shrink it, it still looked slightly loose...
In truth, it was Jeanne's dress, which the two of them had spent the night altering to fit Talulah. The problem was that the physical difference between them was too great, so they had to make do.
Jeanne had gone to great lengths to change Talulah into these clothes without waking her. At one point, Talulah had almost woken up, but Jeanne had managed to keep her muffled and unconscious with a "face-wash" (shimenai) hug.
When Talulah woke up and saw herself in this outfit, her whole being felt wrong; even her tail was standing on end. She hadn't expected that in just one night, her two best friends would betray her and defect to Kashchey's camp.
Frostnova, having woken up, pulled up a chair and sat in the courtyard like an old person drinking tea, sipping vegetable soup from a bowl and occasionally taking a bite of bread while watching this youthful chase.
"Big Sister, you're not much different in age from them. You can't sit here like an old woman reflecting on youth! Here, I have a dress I've cherished for years. Put it on and go chase after your youth with them... Ah!"
And so, the "death-seeking" Yeti was dragged away by Frostnova to practice Originium Arts. The surrounding Yetis quickly picked up the snow-white dress.
This was a garment they had painstakingly tailored! Do you know how much trouble it was for a bunch of men in the Yeti Squad to secretly sew a dress?! This was no longer just a skirt; it was the faith of the Yeti Squad! Sooner or later, they would make their Big Sister wear this dress into battle! This was their conviction!
At that moment, Frostnova, who had already left, actually came charging back! She looked at her teammates holding the dress, unsure for a moment whether they suffered from Oripathy or mental illness... or perhaps, they were simply perverts?
Unfortunately, by the time the Yetis realized what was happening, it was too late. They saw their Big Sister looking at them with a "benevolent" expression, but she didn't say a word.
This made them feel like fish on a cutting board. For a moment, a group of Yetis huddled together, their bodies beginning to tremble...
"Big Sister, say something... Or punish us, scold us a bit! Don't be like this, we're scared..."
Looking at the white rabbit's "skin-deep" smile, they all felt more or less terrified.
"Don't you all like skirts very much? Now, all of you go make skirts, and tomorrow, everyone will wear them during training!"
As soon as Frostnova finished speaking, a chorus of wails filled the air. The degree of misery was enough to make anyone unaware of the situation wonder if Frostnova had done something inhumane.
"Big Sister, you can't do this to us! We've performed meritorious service for the Guerrillas! We've bled for the Guerrillas! You can't treat us like this!"
"Commander! We want to see the Commander!"
"Oppose Big Sister's tyranny! Freedom belongs to the Yetis!"
The departing Frostnova didn't bother with her squad's antics. Seeing how lively they were, she actually revealed a relieved (?) smile.
On the other side, Talulah had been chasing Jeanne (who was still carrying Alina) for a long time without catching her. Panting, she looked at the "beast" ahead of her, who hadn't even broken a sweat after running for so long...
Was she actually a Forte who had sawed off her horns and cut off her tail? That physique is perfect for plowing fields; you wouldn't even need a Tumorbeast.
"Alright, alright, don't be angry! We just helped you change your clothes. Look, doesn't it look beautiful?"
Jeanne, having dropped Alina off for her lessons, saw that the Talulah chasing her had finally stopped. She walked over heartlessly to persuade her. Looking at her smug expression, it was clear she was very satisfied with her modified clothing.
"But it really isn't as suitable as my military uniform, and it's so light! If the wind picks up, the skirt might blow up!"
Talulah truly had no interest in such clothes. In her mind, the practicality of clothing far outweighed its aesthetics. Those ornate and precious clothes coveted by others held no appeal for her.
"And how do you have the nerve to say this fits? If I'm not mistaken, this was modified from your old clothes, right? The difference in our builds is just too ridiculous."
Talulah looked speechlessly at the loose fabric over her chest, feeling a strong sense of their physical difference for the first time.
"Come on, just try wearing it for one day! You can't spend the whole year in those same clothes, right? Everyone changes their clothes after a while; just think of it as changing your outfit for the season."
"Wearing a skirt in the dead of winter... only you would come up with this kind of 'seasonal change'..."
There were so many points to criticize in Jeanne's words that Talulah didn't even know where to begin.
"But... wearing this, I actually don't feel cold... It's just like the clothes you made for Alina before!"
Talulah was curious. Logically, such a thin dress should freeze someone to death in this harsh winter, yet she didn't feel the slightest bit of cold. And she wasn't using her Originium Arts.
"Of course. This dress is made of the same material as Alina's outfit. It won't be ignited by your flames, so it can protect you from being burned by your own Originium Arts."
"I would never be burned by my own flames! What kind of idiot would do such a thing!"