The ladies would love me. I've been working out. Me, so manly.
I'll attract all the women! Not that I'm interested in romance right now.
Whether I am or not. There's one issue.
"Why can't I GROW MUSCLES?!" I fell onto my hands and knees. Grieving over the fact that my cutesy, squishy, and flabby body hasn't changed.
I train and eat constantly. But I haven't gained any muscle mass.
How?! Why!
It's kind of depressing…
My thighs and behind were slightly plumped up. I'm not super bony. Nor am I fat. I'm just squishy. Cuddly even.
I mean, a love confession? Am I really that girly?
Yeah, okay, I might have long white hair. It's delicate, silky and smooth. Girls would probably be jealous. And MAYBE I have feminine features.
Rounder face and cheeks than normal guys, a small round nose, and tiny but cute lips, as my mother says.
Not even an ounce of body hair. And a very small, tiny… you know? Between my legs.
It doesn't help even my voice is feminine. Honestly, if you slap some sacks of meat on my chest, I'd fool the entire world. I love my eyes. They're bright and golden. I don't mean to say I hate my body. I accept and love myself, but I wish I could be more… manly? Or something.
My mother wanted a daughter, so she's a little happy that I'm so feminine and cute. I like seeing my mother smile. She's beautiful. And if seeing her smile means letting Mother dress me up every once in a while, I put up with it.
But seriously. A love confession. He even commented on my soft-looking lips.
Sorry, Rafano. You're a cool guy, but… I'm not interested in men.
Also, I'm… weird. My face is very human-like, other than these small, stubby black horns.
I also had a humanoid face with small black horns protruding from my forehead. Meanwhile, all of the other Minotaurs had bullheads and large white horns.
Some more time passes. A couple of weeks. I continued training. Strengthening my body and learning more about magic. Things were progressing smoothly and I was extremely happy with my progress.
There's just one thing. It's gradual and weird, but I noticed it.
Again?!?! Why do my clothes keep disappearing? And they keep getting replaced by feminine clothing! What is my mother trying to do to me?!
Even stockings and hair accessories. Mother… No matter how much you wanted a daughter, do you really have to slowly turn me into a girl like this?!
"Kyaaaah~ You're so cute. Nevrim. No, Nevri-chan." My mother rushed over and hugged me while I was struggling to properly get the hair accessories in.
She smiled and aided in my efforts. She gathered my long hair and tied it up in a ponytail using the cute black bow.
"I know it makes you uncomfortable. I know it's weird. You just remind me so much of my adopted little sister from when I was younger. Once you grow up some more and leave the tribe or find a partner… I won't be able to do this anymore." She said while running her hand along my hair before patting my head.
"Mother. You protected me from the scornful and discriminatory gazes of our tribemates. You've shown me nothing but love and support me. If I remind you of your beloved foster sister. Then… just for a little longer, you can dress me up and apply whatever makeup you wish." I pecked her cheeks after turning around and smiled at her.
Whew~ Some more days of hard work, effort, and training! I can't believe I can enhance my clothes. I knew I could enhance weapons, but clothes? I guess it makes sense now that I think about it further.
Mm~ Feels soo gooood~
My mother was currently doing my hair and teaching me how to apply makeup. I liked the feeling of her fingers running through my hair.
While it's weird, I enjoy the time I spend with my mother.
I enjoy it, but why am I wearing panties? Not only that but a bra, too? I don't have anything there!
They feel weird. It isn't unpleasant, but wearing this as a guy…
Stocks, panties, bra, bow-like hair tie, and lastly, I'm wearing a white lightweight, loose-fitting garment. My cute, somewhat flabby arms and shoulders were exposed. On the other hand, the fabric loosely extended from my neck to slightly below my waist. Which barely overlapped with the black short-skirt I was wearing.
And I mean short. It barely extended past the halfway point between my waist and knees. I think my panties were slightly exposed or would be at any amount of wind. Thankfully, I had stockings covering my smooth, hairless legs. The stocking went all the way up to my skirt, so I wasn't showing much skin. Mainly just my shoulders and arms.
Lately, I don't wear it only around my mother, but even during training. While conversing with others and sparring with my dad.
Am I starting to enjoy wearing feminine clothing? No way… Mother made me a pervert.
I'm dirty.
Tainted.
I'm supposed to be a man.
A proud male of the mighty Minotaurs.
So why? Why does it feel right?
Was I a female in my last life or something?
That has to be it. It's not because I'm weird!
I'm just carrying on traits from a previous life!
Yeah. A smile formed across my face as I convinced myself that it couldn't be helped.
Thankfully, I shouldn't worry about becoming more feminine because… I'm fully converted already. Make-up. Feminine outfit. Even panties and a bra. There's no next step.
So, what does that mean? I'm going to train.
So! Magic. Haha! That's a thing, right? If I focus on magic, I'll forget I've become a pervert.
Finally!
I should try fighting Father now!
He and my mother would praise me for my growth.
They must think I've just been exercising and wearing feminine clothing for the past couple of months Ha!
I've been rigorously training my [Enhance]. Now, I can enhance my clothing, not just my weapons or body.
I mean, that's just an added bonus.
But the true fruits of my efforts are incomparable.
Starting with my bones, I tried keeping them enhanced throughout the day. It took a few weeks, but I managed and then started on my muscles and after that, my skin.
Now, as long as I'm not asleep, I can consistently [Enhance] my bones, muscles, skin, and even clothing throughout the day.
This is cool, but I'm missing something. Sure, I can stay enhanced for long periods of time, but the strength of enhancement is the same.
That's why I've been trying to gather my magic, not any specific skill, but pure and unfiltered magic.
Wait, what if?
Oh? I think it's working!
I figured, what if my magic was already gathered? In some place, like an organ or mana crystal.
Then, I'd just have to let it flow throughout my body.
It's an improvement, but I think I can condense the magic and gather it in a specific place. Like, what about my fists?
Yes! Enhancement helps increase everything. Speed, power, and defense. But condensing my magic powers into a certain portion of my body should greatly increase the strength or defense. It doesn't seem to make me faster, but that's fine.
I thought I didn't have enough power to deal damage to stronger enemies but with this!
I should head home. I traveled quite far to this cave for peace and quiet. But I'm ready to spar with my dad! I mean, I'll probably still lose, but maybe I can deal some damage this time.
Let's go! The future King of Minotaurs has made their first step to greatness–
What? What is that?
A great fire had engulfed the tribe's village.
What is that smell? It's horrible. My nose. Guehhh. Is— is that a body? It's charred and smells awful.
Everything was burning. The stench of death filled the air. Charred bodies were strewn about the ground.
Wait… What about my mom? Dad?
"MOM, DAD! WHERE ARE YOU." I rushed through the flames and started making my way through the village. Quickly passing each house and countless bodies.
While running through the village, Debree would fall, and large, burnt planks almost buried me multiple times. Using enhance, I was fast on my feet, so I managed to dodge everything, but the smoke was filling my lungs, and the horrid stench…
It should be just up ahead. Please! Be alright, mother! Father! Don't leave me alone. Please. I'll be a good boy. I'll wear whatever you like, Mother. I won't argue and slack off on chores. I'll become a proud minotaurian warrior like father!
These thoughts kept running through my head as I ran through the village.
My tears evaporate instantly. This fire can't be natural. It's too hot!
I'm here—
No! No! noNonononono.
"Father…" I hugged his body, which, unlike the rest, wasn't burnt. Instead, it seemed he was attacked by something with large claws.
Where's Mother? I frantically craned my neck in every which direction looking for my mother.
"Son… I'm sorry. I couldn't protect your mother. That b—" he was interrupted by coughing up blood, but resumed shortly.
"A dr-ragon. It a-ate your mother whole. I–cough— tried to avenge her. I'm sorry I was weak."
"Father!" Tears formed as quickly as they evaporated.
"I'll become strong father! I'll become stronger than anyone. I'll slay that dragon. I recently found a breakthrough with my magic and wanted to show you. Now how–" My head fell onto his body as I couldn't muster any more tears. I was dried out.
There wasn't any point in continuing because he had already died.
Father… Mother…
I struggled to drag my father's massive body out of the village before burying him in the nearby flower patch that managed to survive the fire. He apparently confessed to mother here. I found Mother's axe and buried it with you, Father. I hope that's enough.
After grieving for a day or two, I'm not even sure. I gathered myself. There's only one thing to do.