Chapter 21: The Painful Birthday Gift (Part 2)

  After finishing that terrible cookie in Ilya, Eriol finally felt at ease and lit the candles for the cake. Looking at those burning candles representing 12 years old, Eriol suddenly had a feeling of entering middle age to reflect on life but suddenly returning to childhood, yet unable to change her mindset back, which was laughably pathetic.

  It seems like the situation is even worse than some four-eyed boy detective.

  Li Hua pulled up the curtains, and the room darkened: "Little Aili, what wish are you going to make?"

  The little loli answered without hesitation: "Let me become a boy next year."

  A loud crackling sound, and the people in the room turned into stone fragments scattered all over the floor.

  "No way~~~~~~~~~~~~!!" Li Hua suddenly came to her senses and pounced on Eri, "How could you do this to me!? I'm the one who's good at getting benefits!"

  Eriol drew out the Oath Victory Sword and with a casual swat, sent Li Hua's voice flying to the ground: "Don't worry, I'll make Miseria make a gorgeous bento for you."

  Then Li Hua's voice suddenly stopped, and his two legs were still shaking, with both hands grasping the floor wildly.

  Eriol walked up to the cake, clasped her hands together and closed her eyes to make a wish. Before she could even think of what to wish for, that cold, icy voice without any tone echoed in her mind again: "It's now special reward time. You have one chance to exchange for an artifact, no matter what it is. Please decide before midnight today, or the offer will expire."

  This pseudo-god has not appeared for a long time, Eriol hesitated for a moment, and then she exchanged without any hesitation the hardware that would not be lost, could not be damaged, had infinite energy, and could automatically upgrade regularly, while also not attracting the attention of local residents.

  The latest style laptop computer that can connect to the Internet on Earth.

  The little loli excitedly took out her notebook and turned on the power.

  Luoke Liupu: "I specifically gave you a chance to exchange for a divine artifact, but you actually exchanged it for a laptop!?"

  Little Lori: "This laptop is already at a divine level just by looking at its properties."

  "Then tell me, what did you exchange your laptop for?!"

  Little loli: "Look up information."

  Luoke Liupu: "I don't ask you to open Baidu when saying this, but at least turn off the Storm Video playing 'Yin Ta Ma' on your screen, okay?!"

  Eriol was finally able to relive her pseudo-house life, and with a satisfied heart, she blew out the candles and quickly cut the cake to share with everyone. Then, amidst the screams, they smeared whipped cream on her face, turning it into a big flower. Next, the room turned into an intense battlefield of smearing faces at each other.

  I am a divider line

  Eri raised her head to look at the clock, it was 4:55 pm. She began to carefully examine the travel case on the floor in order to find out where the lolicon might have hidden a trap mechanism.

  The box was about one meter high, all black, with a pattern of blooming roses on the surface, looking elegant and mysterious. Except for the handle on top, there was no suspicious place outside. But when Eriol grasped the handle tightly, there was no reaction, and it seemed that the handle was normal too. If there really was a mechanism, then only the inside of the box was left - perhaps the so-called gift inside the box was just an enormous prank? This was truly a mind-boggling question, so Little Lori decided to stop thinking about it.

  Under the gaze of other department members who were also waiting for their turn, after a while, when the college's bell rang to signal the time, the suitcase finally changed.

  It let out a "ding" sound, causing Alisha, who was staring at it intently, to roll onto the ground instantly.

  Don't go cosplaying with a microwave oven, you're ruining a good suitcase!!!

  The box remained still, and an impatient Eriol pressed a button near the handle and opened it.

  She was a beautiful little angel, at least she used to be. Wearing a dark Gothic princess dress and small leather boots with hair accessories of the same color as her clothes, adorned with red roses, giving off an elegant impression, she slowly opened her eyes and woke up. In an instant, Eriol's gaze was captivated by her purple-red pupils; however, what caught Eriol's attention even more was her lonely, confident, cold, and slightly sorrowful eyes. Matching her long hair as white as the purest snow in the world, and her black wings folded behind her back like the deepest night sky, made her look extremely proud and unapproachable, calm and wise, to the point where even the most excellent people could only find sarcasm, disdain, and mockery in her eyes, as if she were the most perfect being in this world, full of Gothic beauty, mystery, and nobility.

  Facing this great existence that can make all figure enthusiasts' souls burn, the little loli was silent for a while before finally squeezing out a sentence:

  "Yo."

  "Yo." A fallen angel, as if stepping out of a colorful oil painting, replied from inside the trunk.

  Then Arishia picked up a piece of cake that had survived the previous messy battle and smeared her small face, which she had just washed clean, again.

  Eriol didn't expect that the lolicon-loving cheap brother would give her a doll. If it were an ordinary doll, she could just use it as a pillow or something. But who would have thought that the one in front of her was actually the famous "Shirokiyami" from "Rozen Maiden"? Note that there's no mention of "figure" here, which means that this is a living, breathing, sharp-tongued, and bullet-dodging... The little loli didn't even have time to react before she realized that this was her first conversation with the president.

  What a wonderful and profound exciting dialogue it is, the little loli was so excited that she was speechless and even slapped herself in the face.

  "If you thought that this stupid way would make me happy, then I'm glad to tell you - you failed." The mercury lamp stood up and walked out of the trunk, saying "Why did I end up with such a brainless master?"

  If you know you're a gift for someone else, don't add such terrible adjectives in front of the "recipient"!

  "Alicia, what's this?" Sophia asked while busily picking up the fan that had fallen to the ground due to surprise.

  "The work of a genius alchemist - a puppet driven by magical power." Eriol gazed at the mercury lamp, thinking to herself that finally someone even shorter than her had appeared, although they weren't human. "I didn't expect the so-called birthday gift to be this extravagant."

  "But she just spoke a moment ago!?" Cecilia shouted on the side.

  The mercury lamp unfolded its wings magnificently, drawing a beautiful arc in the air before landing lightly on Eliysha's specially raised chair and sitting down. With elegance, she took a sip of the red tea in front of her and said, "Even a little girl like you who doesn't even have basic manners can speak, why can't I?"

  "Hey, wait a minute. Never mind the chair, but that cup of red tea in your hand is mine, isn't it?" Eliysha's face was covered with black lines.

  And don't pretend to be connoisseurs of red tea either! Aren't you two sworn enemies?!

  Cecilia was almost frantic: "This isn't the time for jokes, is it!? She's actually talking to us!"

  I know that with the current level of alchemy in this world, it's impossible to create a work like Rozen Maiden, which is why you're so shocked. It's like people from Earth in the early 21st century seeing an unlicensed car transform into a robot right before their eyes - unthinkable, right? No, at least those people might be more calm about it because they may have seen a movie called "Transformers" whereas here there is no anime series called "Rozen Maiden".

  Alicia shrugged and said: "What's wrong with talking? Can't you see she's drinking tea?"

  "But now with our current level of alchemy, it's impossible to create a doll like that, right?!"

  "It's better not to know some things in this world." Sophia pulled Cecilia back, trying to dissuade her. It seemed that she had mistaken the mercury lamp for a product made by a alchemist secretly cultivated by the Harris family under Elija's brother's orders as a birthday gift for her. Such matters involving the secrets of the great families were naturally not suitable for further inquiry.

  Cecilia was also reminded of this and fell silent.

  "But this little doll is really beautiful!" Michelle walked in front of the mercury lamp and smiled at her, "Hello, my name is Michelle. Do you have a name?"

  Perhaps due to her natural affinity, Mercury didn't use her poisonous tongue on Silverlight. She nodded at the little girl who was smiling and looking up at her with her head tilted: "I'm Silverlight."

  Then, Shuǐyín dēng suddenly found that Erysha was rummaging through something in her trunk and couldn't help but feel strange: "Hey, what are you looking for in my trunk?"

  "According to the manual," said Little Lori, raising her head solemnly. "All high-level alchemy items have a soul-binding process, and since you're so special, I'll definitely follow the manual."

  "...Don't translate anymore, there's no such thing. Just ordinary dripping blood is fine."

  "Oh, sauce purple." The little loli walked over and also picked up the cake knife to cut her finger.

  "You're using the cream on the cake as a face mask, and your IQ is still lower than that of a slime! Wash your face clean before coming here!" Mercury Lamp scrunched up her eyebrows in disgust. "Hasn't anyone taught you any manners?!"

  Then forgot she was a big flower face little loli and rushed to the bathroom in tears.

  After Eriol left, the room was left with only a few girls who were leisurely drinking tea while watching the mercury lamp. Sorry, and there was also Ilya who was sleeping - this guy would always fall into a coma-like sleep after eating Misha's or Cecilia's top-notch cooking - or should I say that just falling asleep is already an incredible feat?

  "Sophia fell silent for a moment before finally asking: 'Mercury lamp, you seem to have your own consciousness. Why are you willing to become a gift to be given away?'"

  "It was my creator's wish." The mercury lamp turned its head towards the door and said, "He hoped I could stay by that little girl's side so she wouldn't feel lonely - although now it seems like she has made friends with all of you, she won't be lonely at all. It's a bit unnecessary, isn't it?"

  "No, it's not a waste of time." Eliya said while wiping her face with a handkerchief as she walked in from outside the door. "All encounters in this world are fated. Uh, sorry, I guess ginseng really doesn't suit me, so you all don't have to stare."

  After completing the bloodletting ceremony - no, I mean the soul binding ceremony for Little Loli, the President finally made his official debut as a regular character. At this moment, all the other characters who had few opportunities to appear and were almost always just extras throughout the story...

  Li Hua gazed at the two beautiful Lolis in front of her, biting her finger and drooling profusely. After calming down, she pretended to go get a chair and approached them, then suddenly jumped up and tried to hug both of them at once: "Haha, let me pamper you both thoroughly!"

  Then she flew out of the second-floor window with Lightning Arrow and Black Feather.

  A boy's scream, the sound of something heavy falling to the ground, and then a voice shouting in unison with Eri-chan... It seems that Rihuaon hit Mahjong Club member Kiyotaro, who was pulled by Saki Yuki.

  This should also be a kind of FG, right? With that thought in mind, Eriol picked up the magical image device that Kassier had put aside for maintenance and took a snapshot of the scene that could be used as a killing blow.

  After eating so much tofu with the girls around you, you finally made a move on the boy. Huayin, should I congratulate you or what? By the way, this scene is too pleasing to the eye, I never thought you'd wear such ordinary pure white cotton underwear! Where's your semi-transparent sleepwear? Your lace camisole? All those revealing clothes? Okay, fine, I admit I was wrong, but you're just wearing something so plain because you don't have money, right?!

  "She's, she's, she's going to cast a magic attack!?" Cecilia, who had originally intended to maintain her calm demeanor, finally jumped up again after seeing Mercury's magnificent black feather barrage, this time almost hitting the ceiling.

  "And besides, your magic level is higher than mine." The little loli said calmly.

  The mercury lamp glared at Little Loli with great dissatisfaction: "Don't compare me to that novice rookie!"

  Then Cecilia turned gray and white, squatting in the corner of the wall painting a circle - this time even little loli's head was sweating.

  After a commotion at the entrance of the first floor, Li Hua appeared at the door with a black feather still stuck in her hair, limping and using the college's ceremonial sword as a crutch. At this time, she looked like she had lost her soul, mechanical, wooden, and stiff, completely unlike her usual energetic self.

  "What's wrong, Huayin? Were you bitten by a zombie?" Eriol was almost in tears.

  "Ah, the sky is so blue." A completely irrelevant response.

  "Medic! Captain Li Hua is injured!!" Elisia shouted.

  "Can't you guys take a joke?!?" Finally, the color returned to Li Hua's face, "I was actually molested by a guy!!! Can't you see that I'm covered in hives all over my body?!"

  "Indeed, complaining is the driving force of life. And what's with your hives? Are you perhaps a long-lost sister of Kanako Miyamae?"

  "Alright you two." Sophia reminded them, "Isn't it about time for dinner now?"

  Miki clapped her hands together and suddenly realized: "Ah, I forgot! By the way, Suigetsu, you can eat too, right? What do you want to have for dinner?"

  Before Mercury could respond, Eriol exclaimed: "Of course it's yogurt!"

  “……Although I like it, do you think that just drinking yogurt can fill me up? Sorry, I shouldn't have compared Slime's and your IQs, that was an insult to the race that provides experience for novice adventurers who aim to defeat evil dragons.”

  "Perhaps I should add honey to your menu from now on." Eriol said helplessly after being defeated by the legendary chairman's sharp tongue.

  "I have no interest in becoming a tsundere. With you and that pink-haired girl around, it's enough." Mercury lamp glanced at the little loli and Sophia with a cold hum.

  "Let's go."

  I am a divider line

  The power of rumors is great, it can make a beggar who picked up a gold coin in the mouths of three aunties and six grannies become an advanced model of getting rich overnight, even if he himself just made a wish at the Temple of Five Organs. After taking the mercury lamp to the cafeteria, Eriol felt very calm about the various versions of rumors that might appear, because on Earth, this kind of thing would only be more exaggerated.

  The next day, when she brought the mercury lamp into the classroom and was asked by her classmates if this small doll would cast a forbidden spell, Eriol very calmly told them that this little thing, only 92.3cm tall, had absolutely no relation to a certain pink-winged decorative angel-type robot.

  The mercury lamp was very calm and composed in the face of everyone's gaze, which could be seen from the scene where Joey, who had just tried to deceive her and was now lying on the ground foaming at the mouth and convulsing, and Tom, who had performed an opera with him on Valentine's Day and had a deep affection for him, were squatting on one side with worried expressions.

  Don't think that being a self-regulating magical doll makes you invincible. The reason you're now lying there, defeated by the poisonous tongue's beautiful strike, is simply because Chairman-sama doesn't even bother to pay attention to you. If it were Suisei Kashiwagi instead, she would guarantee that you'd be so thoroughly deceived that you'd be on cloud nine.

  Looking at the Hope Garden, which has been swindling a large amount of money, materials, equipment, and crystal stones from countless students and teachers since the start of school, and is known as "even if you know he's lying, you'll still be deceived", the rising star of the scam master who is said to be able to deceive people with his words is now on the ground, pretending to have a seizure. The surrounding students in Class A are extremely delighted by this incident. As a result, the popularity of Suigetsu, who already had a large number of fans due to her own charm, has skyrocketed once again.

  It wasn't until the school bell rang that the area around Eriol and Mercury gradually quieted down.

  After a long wait, the classroom door was opened.

  Norman walked in, drenched from head to toe, with a small cat perched on his shoulder, and sat down beside the two of them under the astonished gaze of Little Loli "I'm used to it" and Mercury Lamp.

  "What's going on with this big guy? Did he fall into the water?" asked Shuǐyín Dēng, unable to hold back any longer.

  "Whatever happens to this person is just a habit, it's one of our class's daily routines."

  You climbed up to rescue the little cat that couldn't get down from the tree by the lake, and when you hugged it in your arms, the branch broke under your excessive weight, and before falling into the water, you threw the cat onto the shore, right? I can guess it all.

  As usual, Norman came in not long after and then their class teacher, Chris, also walked in with her hair uncombed, face unwashed and wearing a crumpled shirt while sucking on a chocolate stick.

  Is this scene really ordinary...…

  Kurisu looked up and glanced at Eliyaha and Norman, two people who clearly didn't fit in with the classroom atmosphere, and said to herself, "Everyone's here, right? I have something to announce next."

  "Hey! Some of your students have brought dolls and pets into the classroom, and one is even sitting on a desk while another is being worn on someone's head! You can't just ignore this, at least remind them to put them away during class. And Norman, stop wearing that cat on your head. If you want to cosplay as Cindy, you're not even close physically!"

  Every year at the end of March and beginning of April, Hope Garden will organize a one-week outdoor training for students in grades 1-3. At that time, you will be led by teachers to different locations to fight small monsters and practice your skills. Generally speaking, there is no danger as long as you don't get lost or fall behind.

  This year, we'll be starting on March 30th. Don't think about sleeping in the open air and eating grass skin, hurry up and get your luggage ready! We will team up with the same grade martial arts class A from the opposite side for a trial exercise. Don't embarrass me in this aspect, or I'll make you regret it! This year's trial location is an abandoned mine dug by dwarves, where some mouse people wielding wooden sticks as weapons have occupied the caves near the surface. Our goal is those timid guys. They don't have much wisdom and their bodies aren't strong either, even a magician can win against them in close combat. (Elisha: Are you using yourself as a standard?) So, you don't need to worry, this is just an outing.

  It's said that the dwarves dug a road leading to the underground world and all moved there - if we walk a bit further into the mine, maybe we can still meet some dwarves. They're a very hospitable race, I'm really looking forward to meeting them. (Eri: You just want their liquor, don't you?) If possible, it's best for you to buy a map so you won't get lost.

  "Our trial grounds are... the famous newbie training spot, Gerstle's Mine Caverns."