Chapter 709: Housewarming Party ② (1/2)

While watching Zwei-san being teased by Ein-san…… or rather, as she tries her best to somehow pull Ein-san, who was teasing her, I continued listening to Alice.

[Well, in a good and bad way, that child is really serious…… so perhaps, that's why she was often misunderstood in her family.]

[Is that so? However, she certainly is strict in many ways but…… Even I, who have only met her for a short time, can tell that Zwei-san cares about her family.]

It's true that Zwei-san is strict about etiquette and scolds Dr. Vier for her mistakes. However, I also understood that this is because she cares about her family.

Dr. Vier and Neun-san were also scared of Zwei-san, but from what I could read with my Sympathy Magic, they didn't seem to have any ill feelings towards Zwei-san.

If one had to describe it, ”they like her for being a family-oriented big sister, but they're afraid of her strictness”. With that image in mind, I don't feel like I'm misunderstanding her……

[No, in the first place, Zwei-san…… She ”isn't strict at all” though?]

[……Unnn?]

[There are two main evaluations that Zwei-san's family had towards her. ”Those who think of her as a strict but family-oriented big sister”, and ”those who think of her as a kind and family-oriented big sister”.]

[Those evaluations looked like they're polar opposites…… Why did her family's evaluation towards her diverge that much?]

[Well, that's the biggest point for that misunderstanding. Wait a minute, I'll get someone from each of those two patterns……]

Saying that, Alice disappeared for a few seconds before two people appeared in her place.

[Ayaya? Kaitokun-san! Hello~~ Congratulations!]

[Raz-san…… Errr, thank you.]

[Yes!]

One of them was Raz-san, who had a big smile on her face as she used her small body to express her congratulations…… Unnn, Raz-san would definitely be on the side of those who think that ”Zwei-san is a kind and family-oriented big sister”. She and Zwei-san seemed to be on good terms back at the Six Kings Festival…… Well, to begin with, I've never seen anyone who doesn't get along with Raz-san, the communipower monster……

[Miyama-kun, hello. Thank you for inviting me today…… So, errr, why did Shalltear-sama told me to come here?]

[Dr. Vier, hello.]

The second one was Dr. Vier, who spoke to me with a gentle smile. I guess she would be on the side of those who think that ”Zwei-san is a strict but family-oriented big sister”.

The clumsy Dr. Vier seems to be scolded a lot, and although she doesn't hate Zwei-san, she seems to be quite afraid of her.

As I was thinking about this, Alice appeared again and talked to the two of them.

[Both of you, look there for a moment. See Zwei-san over there?]

[Uwaahhh! It's Big Sister Zwei! She's been so busy lately, so I'd like to talk with her later!]

[Gehh, it's Big Sister Zwei…… W- W- W- What should I do? Miyama-kun, do I look strange?]

Their reactions truly were far apart. Raz-san smiled happily when she spotted Zwei-san, while Dr. Vier looked flustered and began to worry about her appearance.

[Well, these are the two patterns I mentioned earlier.]

[U- Unnn. I understood what you meant by that…… but in the end, what misunderstanding were you talking about earlier?]

[You'll find out the answer to that soon enough. Raz-san, may I ask you something?]

[Yes? What is it, Phantasmal King-sama?]

After lightly chuckling at my words, Alice turned to Raz-san and spoke.

[Since Raz-san has been hanging out with Zwei-san for a long time, have you ever been scolded for your manners and etiquette?]

[Of course, she has. ”Stop that!” she said.]

[I see, I see…… Incidentally, when you were scolded, was there a ”long sermon”?]

[Unnn? What's that? Big Sister Zwei is very kind, so ”she isn't giving me a long sermon”, you know? The longest she had scolded me is just about ”10 minutes”?]

[Eeeeehhhh!?]

Hearing the words Raz-san said, sounding really curious as to why Alice was asking her that, Dr. Vier's eyes widened in astonishment. I guess her acting like that isn't strange, because I'm actually surprised too.

According to Dr. Vier and Neun-san, Zwei-san's sermons are extremely long, lasting several hours. However, Raz-san said that her longest sermon only took 10 minutes, so there was a big difference between their statements.

[R- Raz!? What do you mean? Y- You've never received a long sermon from Big Sister Zwei?]

[No? Is it different with Big Sister Vier?]

Apparently, Raz-san never really received a long sermon. Turning towards Alice with a questioning look on my face…… a wry smile appeared on Alice's lips again as she continued.

[Yes, this difference in perception is their big difference. And the reason for this is…… Vier-san, what do you do when you are being scolded by Zwei-san? Is it that you sit quietly and listen to Zwei-san's sermon until she finishes?]

[T- That's right……]

[Big Sister Vier, you shouldn't do that!]

[Eh? I- I shouldn't?]

[Yes! After all, if Big Sister Vier just stays silent, Big Sister Zwei ”wouldn't know if Big Sister Vier heard what Big Sister Zwei said or not”!]

[Eh? Ehhh?]

Fumu, what is this…… I think I'm starting to see what misunderstanding Alice was talking about. Alice said that Zwei-san has an overly serious personality, both in a good and bad way, and with the difference in perception and response between Raz-san and Dr. Vier…… and from the words said just now……

[Hey, Alice. Could it be that Zwei-san's sermon being too long…… was just ”Zwei-san repeating the same thing over and over again because she thinks the other person didn't understand what she was saying”……?]

[ ! ? ]

[Correct. And because she is overly serious, she even adjusts the phrasing and content of her sermons every time she repeats herself.]

Coming upon a realization, Dr. Vier looked completely stunned.

[For the time being, Kaito-san, now that Ein-san's teasing is over and Zwei-san seems to have calmed down, please try saying what I'm about to say to Zwei-san.]

[A- Alright.]

[Vier-san, please stay here and listen. You should be able to hear them from this distance, right?]

[……Y- Yes.]

Even as I was surprised by what she wanted me to tell her, I agreed to what Alice said and walking towards Zwei-san, I told her what I heard from Alice.

[……Zwei-san, ummm, thank you for your hard work.]

[Miyama-sama. My apologies for showing you something unsightly.]

[N- No, don't worry about it. That aside, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, Zwei-san……]

[Questions? Yes, if it's anything I can answer, ask away.]

Probably because my impression of Zwei-san had changed after the conversation we had just had, but I didn't feel as nervous as I had been before when I talked to her like this. There was almost no change in her facial expression, and her sharp eyes make her look stern…… but putting aside my preconceptions, Zwei-san is someone polite and considerate.

Even now, when I told her about suddenly asking her a question, she responded without question…… I guess it really is as Alice said, she really is a kind person.

[Errr, I heard that Zwei-san often guides your family, but isn't it troublesome?]

[No, if it's for my important family, I would never feel like it's troublesome. It hurts my heart to scold my sisters and brothers, but I can't regret it if I overlook it and my family gets embarrassed in the outside world. Even though it pains me, but sometimes, I sometimes scold them a little too harshly.]