Chapter 59

The following morning.

With Mili’s help, I washed my face and changed clothes.

“Sister, I’ll dry your face, so please close your eyes.”

“Hmph…”

Mili and Sita, who come to help me when I sleep in from time to time.

At first, it was extremely embarrassing to be washed and dressed by a woman, but with continued exposure, I eventually became accustomed to it.

“Thank you every time, Mili.”

“No problem. Hehe…”

Mili replied with a bright smile.

But why did I take a nap yesterday when there was no particularly exhausting task? Lately, I’ve been feeling sleepier…

While having such thoughts, Mili skillfully took off my pajamas and dressed me in the academy uniform. My outfit changed quickly and efficiently.

“You look incredibly cute today, Sister.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

Mili beamed, and come to think of it, Mili no longer stutters when speaking in front of me.

According to Sita, she’s been attentively listening during classes and training diligently after school, which has led to good grades and evaluations—whatever the reason, it’s fortunate that she’s adapting well.

“Shall we go then, Bungbungi?”

[Beep. / (｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )]

As Bungbungi approached me, Mili lightly lifted me and had me sit on Bungbungi. Then Hands, which had been waiting, equipped the necessary gear onto my body, completing the preparations.

“Let’s go then.”

“Yes, Sister.”

We opened the door and stepped outside. Just as we did, the door nearby opened as if they had been waiting, revealing a girl I knew well.

She had short jet-black hair, delicate features, and though she was a bit shorter in stature, her well-toned body had beautifully feminine qualities.

“Edu, good morning.”

“Yep, good morning, Nisia.”

Nisia Den.

A classmate and the protagonist of this world.

Her eyes, as always, faintly shimmered with the trademark hues of a protagonist.

“Mili, and Sita too, good morning.”

“Ah, good morning.”

“…Good morning.”

Mili, who was behind me, and Sita, who had come earlier and was waiting for us, exchanged greetings with Nisia.

“Shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

Together, we headed towards the academy. Here and there, students gathered in small groups, their uniforms adorned with badges symbolizing their grades.

“Hmung.”

“Edu? Is there something good happening?”

“Somewhat.”

Surely, with the help of the principal assured, all that’s left is to deal with the spies planted by Gyeojeok. Once that’s resolved, the threats to the academy will be eliminated, allowing me to focus on rescuing Freya.

“Then, see you this evening, Sister.”

“Ah, work hard today!”

“Thanks. Mili and Sita, work hard too.”

“See you later!”

After entering the building and parting ways with them, I headed towards our classroom.

“They’ve arrived.”

“Good morning to both of you.”

As soon as we entered the classroom, Edward and Jack greeted us after recognizing us. Edward adjusting his glasses slightly contrasted with Jack casually waving his hand.

“Yep, hello.”

“Good morning—”

After exchanging greetings with the two of them, we returned to our seats. Then came a clicking sound. Turning around, I saw the “troublesome trio” glancing at us.

‘They’re still the same.’

For a moment, I entertained the dark thought of framing them with a false accusation, but no matter how much they annoyed me, I couldn’t let my own mission fail by my own hands.

“Hmph.”

After giving them a pointed look, the bell signaling the start of class rang.

The theoretical class session passed quickly.

When lunchtime rolled around, I asked Nisia for her understanding and went to look for that person with Bungbungi.

Surely, at this time—ah, there she is.

“Clarissa.”

Upon calling her name to the girl standing in front of the cafeteria, she turned to look at me.

Her hair was a bright silver, with streaks turning a distinct shade of blue towards the ends, forming a two-tone style. Her slender figure and unblemished face exuded the grace characteristic of young ladies.

But more noticeably, her elongated ears indicated that she was not a regular human but an elf, a race not commonly seen in AOE and yet so familiar that their absence in a fantasy setting would feel peculiar. This was Clarissa’s race.

“Hmm? Did you call me, Edu?”

“Yeah, do you have a bit of time?”

“If it’s not something confidential, could we talk while I have lunch?”

After pondering for a moment, she asked me, but I shook my head.

“It’s a bit difficult to talk about…”

“Is that so? Then please wait a moment.”

Upon hearing my answer, she stepped out of the queue and headed towards the cafeteria’s snack shop. After a little while, Clarissa returned carrying a black envelope.

“Shall we go, then? Where would you prefer?”

“I think the dormitory would be best.”

The sturdy and secure student dormitory.

It was also where a good number of students went to nap after lunch to catch up on sleep.

“That makes sense; please lead the way.”

“Yeah.”

With that, I returned to the dormitory with Clarissa.

As I was about to open the door using the Hands device, I felt a finger poking my cheek.

“Clarissa? What is it?”

“No, it wasn’t me.”

“Huh?”

At her response, I turned my head only to—

“Yeeep!”

“Waaah!?”

Let out a startled cry when a large shadow suddenly appeared, laughing with a cheeky giggle.

“Hihihihi, did I scare you?”

The playful voice belonged to someone I knew well.

Zeni Agria.

Freya’s younger sister, with the same fiery red hair braided on both sides, and a noticeably petite build. To give an idea of how small she was, even compared to me, she barely reached just above my head.

While at first glance she might appear as an ordinary girl with an innocent air, Zeni possessed something extraordinary.

Her chest—indeed, perhaps the signature trait of the Freya family—boasted two magnificent peaks, striking but not overwhelming, and certainly not insignificant.

“Huh? What’s the matter?”

“No, nothing.”

As Zeni pointed it out, I quickly turned my head.

“Hmm? Then what were you two doing here?”

“Edu called me because she wanted to have a conversation,” Clarissa answered.

“Hmm~.”

Upon hearing this, Zeni narrowed her eyes in curiosity.

The gleam in her eyes betrayed her excitement for an interesting story.

“I want to listen too!”

“Hmm…”

“Eduuu~ Please tell me too! Pretty please?”

As she spoke, Zeni clung tightly to me, burying my arm between her generous pair.

‘!!!’

The softness of her chest transmitted directly through my arm with surprising intensity, evoking a tingling sensation unlike the comfort of Banetta’s embrace.

“Um, wait—”

Blushing with embarrassment while trying to pull my hand away, a sudden realization struck me.

Wait, I’m a girl, right? Why should I be embarrassed?

My left brain replied:

– That’s right.

My right brain followed:

– Exactly.

And finally, my heart delivered the finishing blow:

– Move on.

What have I been thinking all this time?

The Junior inside is dead. There’s no use clinging to the past and obsessing over ‘acting like a guy’ when I should be embracing who I am now.

Besides, they say if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it. Right now, I’m a girl. And today’s a special day to be Edu as a girl.

The moment this realization dawned on me, the innate instincts of a girl merged with the desires of a boy deep within me.

Awakening.

What else could describe this transformation?

At this new level of consciousness, I no longer felt repulsed by physical contact with the same gender.

“Edu? Is something wrong?”

“No, let’s go in together.”

“Really? Can I stay too?!”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks!”

After saying that, Zeni hugged me tightly. Her active pair of hills pressed firmly against my cheek, though not as overwhelming as Banetta’s.

“Hmph.”

“Edu?”

“No, let’s just go inside.”

We entered my room together, and after getting off Bungbungi and sitting cross-legged on the bed, Clarissa and Zeni naturally took their places on either side of me. The faint scent of perfume drifting from both of them tickled my nose slightly.

This alone was enough to lift my mood, but lunchtime was limited, so I began the conversation.

“Ahem, first of all, what I’m about to tell you is extremely important, so I’d like you to make one promise.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, you promise not to tell anyone outside this group what I’m about to share.”

As I set the tone, Clarissa’s eyes narrowed slightly, while Zeni tilted her head in curiosity.

“Hmm, what could it be that requires such secrecy?”

“You’re right, Edu, can you explain further?”

Although I put it that way, both of them are comrades from AOE, so I could trust them. Thus, I revealed the crux of the matter.

“There’s a spy in the academy.”

“Eh? A spy?”

Clarissa’s face, like Zeni’s, reflected a sudden shock.

“Who? Why?”

But it was brief. Zeni quickly tilted her head, asking in return. Her reaction suggested genuine ignorance.

On the other hand, Clarissa’s expression darkened and she cautiously spoke:

“Government agents, I assume. They are the only ones opposed to the academy to the extent of sending spies.”

“Huh? Is that so?”

This time it was Zeni who looked at Clarissa with a questioning expression.

“Yes, the discord between the government and the academy runs deep. But how did you find out about this, Edu?”

“Because of some personal reasons, the principal entrusted me with this task.”

“The principal…?”

“Huh?”

The two were surprised again.

Not many people knew that I was close to Ryuje, so it made sense that Zeni and Clarissa would react this way.

“So, have you noticed anyone suspicious or behaving oddly among the class members?”

“Um~”

“Hold on.”

As I questioned them, they both became thoughtful. But soon enough, both shook their heads.

“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone particularly suspicious. Were there any actions that seemed out of the ordinary?”

“I didn’t notice anything like that either. Perhaps the spy isn’t in our class?”

“I don’t think so. That spy is after me.”

“Wha? Edu?”

“Tell us more about it!”

“Alright—”

I explained to them as much as they needed to know. Clarissa showed a variety of expressions while listening to me, while Zeni nodded seriously, surprisingly so.

After the explanation was over, Clarissa nodded earnestly with a solemn expression.

“Understood. I will fully cooperate with you, Edu.”

“I’ll help too!”

Raising her hand, Zeni declared with a lively voice.

“Thank you both. Let’s find the spy together!”

With the formation of the spy-hunting team, lunchtime was almost over, so we headed to the practice grounds for the practical class.

Walking into the building, we saw familiar faces, as well as those we hadn’t paid much attention to until now.

“So Edu, what’s the plan? Checking one by one would take too long, right?”

“Don’t worry about that. There’s a method.”

“Ooh~ What is it? What is it?”

As she spoke, Zeni playfully nudged my ribs. Clarissa also looked at me with eager anticipation.

“See, villains have certain traits.”

“Traits…?”

Countless works and subcultures have revealed timeless truths, and now was the moment to put them to use.

“For example, do you see that person over there?”

In the corner of the training ground, there was a girl surrounded by several boys, her hair shining a bright pink.

“Huh? You mean that pink-haired girl?”

“Yeah, she’s a super sleazy pink.”

Saying this, I sighed with a “tch.” Zeni faltered for a moment before asking.

“Pi, pink sleazy…?”

“Yeah, pink sleazy.”

A pink sleazy, also known as a femme fatale, who lures and corrupts countless men.

“A pink sleazy person has hair the color of pink, they’re basically living piles of pheromones. They always seduce and lead others to ruin.”

This is a fact proven by the tears of many betrayed men in various stories.

“So, is that person the spy?”

“No, not her.”

Although pink sleazys are evil, they are generally too dumb to be spies, so we can exclude her from the suspects.

As I continued to scan the area, another person caught my eye.

“Edu? What are you looking at?”

“Over there, do you see that person?”

I pointed at someone in the corner of the class making strange “Whoo~” noises.

“Yeah, the one with the tanned skin and blonde hair, right?”

“Yeah, that’s a Gold Sun. A truly despicable breed of human.”

I said with true disdain.

“Is, is that so…?”

“Yeah, although occasionally a mutant Gold Sun appears, they’re just regular guys pretending. Basically, Gold Suns are harmful.”

A demonic breed that infiltrates pure love stories, claiming savage marriages. That’s what a Gold Sun is.

If we weren’t classmates, I would’ve already drilled 22 gauge slugs into their heads to punish them, but alas, he too was a classmate I had to tolerate.

“So, is he the spy?”

“No, definitely not.”

“O-oh?”

Gold Suns typically have brains no bigger than a junior high school boy’s, so there’s no way they would have the capacity to be spies.

While eliminating possible suspects one by one, I finally spotted the enemy.

Disguised as an ordinary student, but my keen eyes saw right through them.

“Found him.”

“Eh, already?”

“Really?”

Unshakable evidence. Being certain that the guy was a spy, I nodded at the two.

“Do you see that guy?”

“Yeah, the one squinting his eyes?”

Appearing like an ordinary student, but his eyes were half-closed. Yes, he squints!

“Yeah, squinters are villains.”

Squinters, often appearing in strong and dependable roles, but when they’re antagonists, they’re exceptionally dangerous. Because squinters have the trait of doubling their combat power the moment they fully open their eyes.

Generally, the central story-related squinters tend to be good and loyal, but squinters outside of that are usually villains or henchmen.

This is a truth proven countless times by subculture squinters, making it a perfect piece of evidence.

“Alright, let’s immediately—”

“Uh, but Edu, what about that person over there?”

“Huh?”

As Zeni pointed somewhere, I followed her gaze and was shocked.

“Ah, damn…”

An involuntary sigh escaped me.

That’s right, Zeni was pointing at another squinter.

“Squinters… two?!”