Chapter 39: We Decided To Call It The Killer Smile (2)

A smile determines the majority of first impressions.

You know, there’s a saying that you can’t spit on a smiling face.

Our ancestors knew the power of a smile.

Unless the situation calls for strictness, solemnity, and seriousness, a smile usually does the trick.

And if it’s the smile of a handsome man or a beautiful woman?

I can confidently say it has more impact than any other action.

If a beauty like Orca or Kazein smiles at you, it’s human nature for a man to start thinking about marriage.

So, teaching Orca how to smile was clearly the most efficient lesson.

That was, until Orca actually tried to smile.

“Orca, did you drown someone on your way here?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Why are you smiling like that?

Are you planning to dance on the stairs?

Do you think you’re some kind of villainess?

When I glared at her with a serious expression, Orca relaxed her face and smiled again.

It wasn’t much better.

“…Are you trying to kill me?”

“That’s not it!”

Her voice, filled with indignation, echoed through Orca’s room.

If it’s not, then why does her smile feel so menacing?

I sighed at Orca’s hopeless, dreamless smile.

No, really.

This is too much.

Is smiling that hard?

Just lift the corners of your mouth and smile.

But why are your eyes like that?

Forget the stiffness around your mouth, why are your eyes wide open like some kind of villain?

At this rate, it looks like she’s about to declare, “I will stand in the heavens.”

“Even a dragon would be scared of your smile and look away.”

“…That’s too harsh.”

Orca turned her head sharply, declaring that she was sulking.

Probably.

Her face was as stiff as if it were paralyzed.

How am I supposed to know if it’s WWE or UFC?

“Have you seen Kazein smile? Just smile like that.”

I pictured Kazein’s smile in my mind.

Elegant yet enchanting.

Her smile, with a hint of cuteness, seemed like it could charm any man.

If I were reincarnated as a human man instead of a cat, I wouldn’t be able to take my eyes off her.

But what can I do?

I’m a cat.

No matter what humans do, I won’t get excited.

Just like humans don’t get excited over dogs.

“…But I don’t know how to smile.”

“Don’t you laugh when you see something funny?”

“The Linnaeus family prides itself on staying calm and composed in any situation.”

Well, her parents are a bit strict.

Unnecessarily strict, to the point where it doesn’t help their child’s future.

In fact, in Orca’s story, the conflict between parent and child is one of the main themes.

But that’s something to think about later. Right now, the most important thing is to transform Orca’s murderous smile into a normal one.

With that face, people avoid her?

That doesn’t make sense.

But Orca managed to do it.

The intimidating aura of the orca family combined with Orca’s killer orca-like smile created a terrifying synergy.

I have no idea how she manages to smile like that, but in her current state, it’s nearly impossible for Orca to make friends.

Who would want to be friends with someone who approaches them with a ‘murderous’ smile and overwhelming combat skills?

Not to mention, during sparring, she always beats her opponents so badly that it’s become a game of extreme tension every time.

We need to fix her sparring habits too.

But how do we fix this?

Since I have no clue, it’s better to start with her face.

“First, relax your eyes.”

“I did.”

“…Are you sure?”

No matter how I look at it, her eyes seem to say, “I’m going to destroy whoever looks at me.”

“I’m really trying my best…”

…Well, it’s already been two days.

“Let’s think about it slowly. What do you think a smile is?”

“…Laughing?”

“Right. A smile is a silent laugh. It’s also a crucial tool that determines the impression of all living beings, including humans.”

It’s obvious that a smiling face leaves a better impression than a blank or angry one.

But in Orca’s case, the problem is that while she understands what a smile is in her head, she can’t express it on her face.

“Don’t overthink it. Don’t even consciously think about having to smile. A smile should come naturally.”

“Even if you say that…”

It seemed like she was remembering her past failures as Orca timidly spoke.

She still doesn’t get it.

Maybe meeting an expert is the best option right now.

“Orca, follow me. For now, you need a model you can follow.”

It’s about time we start socializing anyway, so let’s take her along.

I took Orca to meet an expert in cheerful smiles.

————

“This is…”

“The forest.”

“…Are we allowed to go in?”

“Are we not?”

Was there a rule about that?

This isn’t a forbidden forest, so do we really need permission?

It’s not like a bald, noseless guy who split his soul into seven is going to pop out here.

At most, there are a few non-threatening animals and maybe a wolf or two.

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Besides, the wolves are practically squatting here illegally anyway.

Even if we get caught, no one’s going to say anything to Orca.

“But is there really someone here who can teach me…?”

“Yeah.”

Among the people I know, there’s no one who smiles better than her.

She has a naturally smiling face, and she’s just a cheerful person in general.

Since I need to build connections for the party I’m planning, I thought this lesson would be a good excuse to start building some rapport.

“There’s someone here who can teach me how to smile?”

“Have you ever seen me lie?”

She hasn’t changed camps, has she?

We’ll find her as we walk, so let’s just take a stroll.

I led the way, stepping into the forest on two legs.

After about 30 minutes of walking, just as I expected, a brown-haired hunter appeared before us.

“Huh? What’s this? The cat I met last time. Walking on two legs…? And… an orca?”

“…Hello.”

Orca unleashed the killer smile she had been practicing for two days.

“Ah, um. Sorry. That was rude, wasn’t it?”

The effect was powerful!

In a bad way.

She’s scared.

It seems my two days of lessons didn’t yield much.

“No, it’s just…”

Orca trailed off, unable to find the right words.

It seemed too embarrassing for her to say.

Sigh.

When I tapped Orca’s calf with my tail, she finally snapped out of it and introduced herself.

“I-I’m Orca Linnaeus. If it’s okay, I’d like to know your name…”

“Irina Hellynox! Nice to meet you!”

Irina smiled brightly and extended her hand.

Yes, that’s it.

Look at that genuine, radiant smile.

Anyone would feel their favorability rising just seeing that smile.

If she could just smile like that, there would be a line of men at the academy imagining their future grandchildren with her!

As I watched the two shake hands, I spoke up.

“Ahem, Irina? I came today because I need your help.”

“Wha?!”

Irina jumped back like a startled cat, putting distance between us.

Ah, come to think of it, I never told Irina I could talk.

My 30-gram walnut brain must have short-circuited.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

“A, a cat that talks?”

“Never seen a spirit beast talk before?”

“B-but… you’re a spirit beast? But…”

Irina’s gaze swept over my entire body.

“Last time, I didn’t sense any magical power… You weren’t walking on two legs either. I thought you were just a bit smarter than usual.”

“It’s been two days.”

“Two days?!”

Is that really so surprising?

“Well, that’s not important—”

“Help me rebuild the Hunting Department! If our department had a guardian spirit beast, other students would take us more seriously!”

Good grief.

I looked down at Irina, who was kneeling with my front paw in her hands.

Her face was a mix of desperation and hope.

My response was already decided.

“I’ll help, but let’s make a deal.”

“A deal? Just name it!”

Irina nodded vigorously, looking like she’d give anything if asked.

Honestly, someone her age should have this kind of energy.

Orca and Alice are completely lacking in that regard.

One is too calm to the point of being scary, and the other is too timid.

Anyway, I got straight to the point.

“Irina!”

“Yeah!”

Good!

I like that!

“Irina!”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“Be Orca’s special smile instructor!”

“Okay! So what do I do first?”

“Smile.”

“Okay!”

As Solaris decreed.

Let there be light.

A dazzling smile bloomed on Irina’s face.