---------- Carolain's Point of View ----------
[Ahhh...]
Lying on the bed, I let out an annoyed sigh as I drop my phone to the side.
[Too much silence...] — It's been less than two days since the brat left, and the peace already feels suffocating.
Besides, Alice seems to have entered some strange rebellious phase; she spends all day outside, playing with those weird monsters. At first, I wanted to complain and tell her it was dangerous, but honestly, the most dangerous things in this house are her and those creatures.
Still, she's forbidden from going more than two blocks away.
[My poor little sister, she used to be so sweet...] — It's all that damn brat's fault.
[Whatever.]
Feeling a bit grumpy, I leave the room and head down to the living room.
[Ummm]
The scene that greeted me was strange in many ways.
[There, there.]
[Ummm.]
[So spoiled~~]
Sitting on the sofa, Louise—with a face so neutral she looks dead—is burying her face in Amelia's chest while being comforted by her and Carmelia.
[What's wrong with her?] — I ask out of politeness, though deep down, I don't want to hear the answer.
[She's depressed because her newly acquired "boyfriend" went on a trip.]
[It took me so much effort to get him...]
[Ara, he was practically yours from minute one.]
[...But I waited a year for him; that counts. I have needs; my virginity isn't going to lose itself.]
[Ara~~]
[W-wait, what? W-what are you saying?]
Their adolescent drama annoys me for some reason...
[Where are the others?] — I decide to change the subject.
[Nika is training in the backyard, Kiti is examining some random fluid your sister brought her, and she left again right after delivering it.]
[Yeah, I shouldn't have asked,] — I say as I head to the kitchen to raid the refrigerator.
............…..
[The Rat Kid's little sister needs authority to patrol a wider area!]
The first thing Alice did upon returning in the afternoon was demand such nonsense with her hands on her hips and her chest puffed out, while Zeus lay in the middle of the living room with an indifferent yawn.
[Yeah, that's not happening,] — I snap at her while taking another bite of my tart. Currently, we're all in the living room enjoying a snack.
It's outrageous how my diet and snacks have improved exponentially during the apocalypse.
Is this the life of a housewife with a provider husband? I love it. Why on earth are there so many complaints about this on the internet? It's obvious to me now that those shitty women have never worked a day in their lives.
Working is horrible; this is the only way to live.
All those wasted years being "independent," when all I had to do was use my body to charm a decent man. Now I feel like I just wasted my time.
[It's not fair!] — While I was having my epiphany, Alice was puffing out her cheeks in reproach.
[Life isn't fair, little sister,] — I reply, stretching lazily.
Ahh, the good thing is I'm still young—twenty-three... I can still aim for a middle-income man, right?
The brat always says I have a good body, and he's definitely not the type to lie out of pity. In fact, I think I can aim higher, but I've heard plenty of stories: women who play at being "high value" end up alone or divorced by thirty.
Actually, I don't need much: good food on my table, an occasional night out... Maybe two kids, a girl and a boy... maybe a dog? ...And a cat. I'll call him Pancho. If it's a female, Pancha.
I don't want the house to be too big either; more to clean, and I'm lazy.
In terms of looks, I don't demand much; I'm fine as long as he takes a little care of himself. Since I'll be the one cooking, I can control his diet... I have to learn how to cook, don't I? Should I ask Amelia?
[Sister... you... you're FAT!]
[TAKE THAT BACK!]
I immediately pounce on Alice. How dare she curse the perfect life I'm imagining?
[Gueee, let go of me...!] — Alice squirmes as I tug on her cheeks.
[Take it back, right now!] [Noooo, I want... guuu!]
Damn brat.
[Actually, it's a good time,] — Louise said suddenly, interrupting our scuffle. — [We need to start moving as well.]
.................
[Ahhh... I'm dead...] — I let out a sigh of relief as I collapse onto the sofa.
[See? You are fat.]
[Now you've done it.]
[Kyaaa!]
I lunge at Alice on the sofa.
[I don't want to hear that from the girl who spends the whole trip riding on top of the giant dog!]
[Hahaha, no! I'm sorry! Hahaha, not the tickles!]
Alice quickly surrenders under the tickle attack.
[Thank you for your hard work,] — Amelia said, arriving with a beer and some juice.
[Hiaaa, please, teach me how to be a good wife,] — I plead honestly after taking a long swig.
It doesn't surprise me that the kid nicknamed her "Little Mama"; her "wife-level" is way too high. Definitely over nine thousand.
[Eh?] — Amelia makes a surprised face, but I ignore her.
[What about the others?]
[They're already changing or in the shower.]
I nod as I settle back into the sofa.
In the end, under Louise's suggestion, we decided to start exploring consciously starting today. The idea is simple: three groups centered around the brat's pets as guardians.
The goal isn't just to establish precise control of our surroundings and find provisions or useful items. We'll also constantly switch partners to get used to working together and learn each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Everything is in a controlled and meticulously planned environment to avoid setbacks. In other words: under the guise of exploring and gathering resources, we are training for emergencies.
It was far too well-structured to have come from the mouth of a teenager, but I guess that's the point.
[Amelia... can I ask you a question?]
[Eh? Sure?]
[Tell me... Louise... who is she real—]
My words were cut off halfway.
BOOM
[[[[KYAAA?]]]]
From one instant to the next, the air seemed to vibrate, accompanied by a shockwave that made the walls tremble.
[GET DOWN!] — I shouted, pulling Alice and Amelia to the floor and covering them with my body. Almost immediately, Zeus protected us all with his.
Through the window, the sky lit up with a golden light, quite similar to the day this whole shit-show started.
[Now what?] — I couldn't help but complain.
......…..
[To summarize: our idiot fought Cthulhu's long-lost son?]
[Basically.]
[All because he was helping some "friends."]
[Correct.]
[We're going to beat the crap out of him when he gets back, right?]
[Obviously.]
Listening to the somber conversation taking place in such a relaxed atmosphere, I can't help but choke on my breakfast.
Isn't the possessiveness of these girls a bit too high? Not that they're wrong, but...
Well, forget it. I won't be the one to defend him; knowing the brat, he surely didn't have pure intentions when helping those girls.
[Well, it's been two days since that strange phenomenon. Should we resume our incursions? I'm running out of materials.]
[It might not be a good idea. He's about to reach the police station, right? What if he calls and needs something?]
[I agree with Mika on resuming the explorations. He won't call us to handle the situation, and I can't help more than I already have. We must focus on what we can do.]
Once again, my "freeloading housewife" paradise is in danger.
And then...
Ding, dong.
The familiar sound, yet somehow out of place in this apocalypse, echoes through the house.
[[[[Tsk]]]]
Brat, you really are a terrible influence.