Let Me Measure Your Slimes

On the streets of Mondstadt...

Sucrose walked along, with Ellin following behind her.

Besides that, Sucrose was also hugging a pink teddy bear pillow.

Whenever she recalled what had just happened in Ellin's room, Sucrose couldn't help blushing. She was so embarrassed that her toes practically curled through the soles of her shoes.

As for how she'd gotten the pillow in her arms...

Faced with Ellin's teasing gaze, she'd panicked and lied that she really liked the pink teddy bear pillow. The moment she said that, Ellin's gaze grew even more teasing.

Then, being the little angel she was, Ellin hadn't pressed the matter and had generously given Sucrose the pillow.

She must have figured it out...

Ah!! Why did I do something so embarrassing?!

Did she notice what I was really trying to do?!

She probably did, right? But if she knew and still gave me the pillow, doesn't that mean she...

Ah!! No... this is still so embarrassing! What will she think of me after I did something like that?!

People with social anxiety generally had very busy inner monologues, and Sucrose was nearly drowning in the embarrassment brought on by the little drama playing out inside her head.

Yet whenever she caught the pleasant scent coming from the pillow in her arms, the corners of her lips unconsciously curved into a peculiar smile.

Oh, whatever. Let it be embarrassing. At least... now I'll always be able to smell her scent!

When I get home, I'll find a glass cabinet and seal it up tight so the pillow's scent won't fade, then put it beside my bed!

A radiant smile blossomed on Sucrose's face.

Watching Sucrose clutch the teddy bear pillow and practically squirm with all the thoughts running through her head, Ellin couldn't help twitching the corners of her mouth behind her.

It wasn't as though she hadn't noticed Sucrose's little ulterior motive, but so what?

As she'd said before, she liked every character in Genshin Impact. So if Sucrose liked it, it was only a pillow. She might as well go along with it and give it to her.

As long as Sucrose is happy! Ellin's reasoning was that simple.

Besides... isn't this little pervert streak pretty entertaining? Ellin thought cheerfully.

Following Sucrose through streets and alleys, Ellin soon arrived at her home.

The moment she stepped inside Sucrose's house, Ellin was stunned by the sight before her.

From the entryway to the living room, all the way to the bedroom door, assembled animal skeletons of every kind filled the space.

"Wow! Anyone who knows better would realize this is your house, but anyone else would think you'd brought them to a museum!" Ellin's eyes widened.

"Hehe..."

"Let me introduce them. This skeleton belongs to a frog, this one's a wild boar, and this one's a lizard. The one in that corner is a Hilichurl skeleton. I even gave it a big club. It looks pretty cool, right?"

"Ah... I can't wait! Seven Hilichurl Berserker skeletons and two Abyss Mage skeletons..."

"With those, my dream of filling the whole house with my skeleton collection will finally come true!"

Like a child showing off new toys to a playmate, Sucrose happily introduced every piece in her collection to Ellin. Ever since they'd come through the door, the smile hadn't left her face.

Meanwhile, Ellin silently watched the green-haired girl beside her with a tender gaze.

"Hm? What's wrong? Are you not interested in skeletal specimens?"

After a long while, Sucrose finally finished introducing her collection and turned to Ellin, who seemed lost in thought.

Ellin smiled. "Not at all. I just think little Sucrose, smiling so brightly while introducing her collection, is much prettier than the skeletal specimens..."

"Ah... prettier... you... you can't keep saying strange things like that!"

Sucrose's face instantly flushed red. She lowered her head and stammered, unable to get her words out properly.

Not daring to meet Ellin's eyes again, she ran straight into her bedroom. A short while later, when she came back out, the pillow that had originally belonged to Ellin was no longer in her arms.

By then, Ellin had already reached Sucrose's backyard.

"Oh my goodness!"

Although she'd long known from the game's friendship descriptions that Sucrose's home was unusual, Ellin was still dumbfounded when she actually entered the backyard.

Sucrose's backyard was filled with all kinds of bizarre plants.

An enormous pumpkin two meters across!

Sweet flowers three times their normal size!

Sweet flowers that could fly like dandelions!

An enormous mist flower!

A windwheel aster a meter across, whirring wildly in the breeze!

An apple tree bearing only two apples, each nearly half a meter across...

All sorts of unimaginably strange plants filled the backyard, leaving Ellin so stunned that she briefly wondered whether she'd entered a fairy-tale world.

"Pretty, isn't it?"

Sucrose sat down on the stone steps beside Ellin.

She scratched her head sheepishly. "Hehe... it's a little embarrassing to talk about."

"Have you ever heard of Wonderland?"

"Legend has it that somewhere in Teyvat, there's a Wonderland with pink flowers as tall as a hundred people, little fairies flying everywhere, and enormous apple trees. Anyone who reaches Wonderland can find everlasting joy and happiness."

"But I don't have the ability to find Wonderland yet. Still, even if I can't find it, I can become its creator."

"That's why I study alchemy, and this backyard is the result of all my efforts over the years."

"What do you think? Do you think I'm childish?" Sucrose asked, a little embarrassed.

Ellin shook her head. She knew why Sucrose was so fixated on Wonderland, and even putting that reason aside, everything in this backyard was impressive enough on its own.

So she gave a sweet smile and said, "Not at all. That's a wonderful dream. You're amazing, Sucrose!"

"Right!"

Sucrose's eyes curved into crescents, and her two animal ears twitched with happiness.

She told Ailin earnestly, "One day, I'll definitely create a Wonderland of my own!"

"Oh, right, Ellin. Let me see your blueprint again!"

"Sure!" Ellin handed it over.

Looking at the blueprint again, Sucrose still couldn't help marveling at Ellin's design.

"The design of these cups, shoulder straps, and strap clasps is truly ingenious. The support points can hold the Slimes securely, reducing the burden their weight places on women."

"Ellin, this invention of yours will surely save countless women across Teyvat!"

"That's an exaggeration!"

The corners of Ellin's mouth couldn't help twitching. Yes, what she'd given Sucrose was none other than a blueprint for a Slime bra.

She had no choice. As her Slimes had grown yet again, they were becoming more and more of a burden, though that was only a secondary concern.

The main issue was that without anything to support them, her Slimes kept bouncing whenever she walked, often drawing plenty of attention on the streets.

Damn it! I, Ellin, a strapping man, now have to worry about Slimes and wear something this embarrassing!

And the worst part is, they don't even sell these things. I have to design one myself!

Does anyone know how hard it is for a macho guy like me to dig through the few memories I have of Slime bras from my previous life?!

I'm so mad!

The more Ellin thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.

While Ellin silently lamented her plight, Sucrose put away the blueprint beside her.

"Mm-hmm! I've looked over the blueprint, and I understand how to make it now."

"Next, Ellin... take off your clothes and let me measure how big your Slimes are."