Chapter 69: Change of thinking (1)

Fortunately, clearing up the misunderstanding wasn’t too difficult.

The very idea that Lancia thought “Sion was using drugs” was ridiculous from the start—a baseless delusion.

And when there’s no evidence to uphold such suspicions, it’s usually easy to dispel them.

Sion skillfully mixed truth and lies, improvising a cover story on the spot.

She explained that her body had been severely weakened from receiving something akin to a curse during her fight with Tarkus.

To remedy this, she had sought advice from the headmaster and obtained a treatment.

However, the medicine evaporates rapidly once unsealed, so she had intended to use a syringe from the alchemy lab to administer it more effectively.

It was easy to make Lancia believe this story.

All Sion had to do was prompt the Holy Sword nearby to vouch for her claim.

With the “truth” laid bare, Lancia, looking utterly bewildered, trembled and dropped to her knees.

“I-I-I’m so, so, so sorry…! This time, just like last time, I made a completely ridiculous assumption—”

“Haha… it’s alright. Don’t worry about it. I can always make more of the medicine,”

Sion replied, forcing a smile to reassure her.

So, the misunderstanding was somehow resolved, but the ordeal wasn’t over.

Lancia clung to Sion, asking for a chance to make amends, whether by gathering materials to remake the medicine herself, calling on a high priest, or at least offering compensation.

In truth, dealing with Lancia’s persistence became the real challenge, more so than the initial explanation.

Sion had to work hard to shake off Lancia, who kept clinging to her.

After some time had passed and the princess finally left, Sion muttered under her breath.

“….Damn it….”

As soon as Lancia was out of sight, Sion’s face twisted with frustration, like a rapidly rotting piece of fruit.

Exia, who had been observing cautiously from the side, asked nervously,

-“So… what will you do now? The precious medicine is broken… Did you have any backup plan in mind?”

“No…”

Sion sighed deeply.

“It’s such a unique situation, and regular medicine won’t work this time. The only option I could think of was that bead from Nelia.

There’s no other choice—I’ll just have to go and get another one.”

-“Huh? Is that possible? I thought there was only one left…”

“Normally, the spirit bead can be made regularly—about twice a month.

Recently, it hasn’t been produced at all due to extreme spiritual exhaustion, but that’s something we can help with.”

Then, Sion put her hand to her forehead.

“The problem is… while a new bead is being created, I’ll be completely immobilized for the two or three weeks it takes.

It’s not forever, so if I keep holding on like before, I should be able to endure it… but… ugh…”

Sion shivered, recalling the last week of hardship.

Did she really have to go through it all again?

And for twice or even three times as long this time?

She had barely survived the previous week by clinging to the hope of somehow escaping soon, but to do it again?

Despair crept up in Sion’s heart.

“Damn it, why did she have to pass by the lab just then?

My luck is unbelievably terrible!”

-“Uh… hang in there,” Exia offered a weak word of comfort, at a loss for what else to say.

Sion vented her frustration for a while, then eventually gave a resigned shrug.

She perched on the edge of a desk, muttering softly,

“It can’t be helped. What’s done is done.

Dwelling on my misfortune won’t do any good—I’d better just find something productive to do.”

-“Like what?”

“First, I’ll need to find Mana and make sure she’s in on the cover story I told Lancia…”

Sion’s face darkened.

In truth, there was a solution she’d thought of long ago, but she’d deliberately avoided it because it would take a heavy toll on her mental state.

But with things as they were, she had no choice but to try every possible option.

It would be better than feeling flustered around a guy for the rest of her life, after all.

“I’ll have to go… find the one person I know who could possibly help me with this mess.”

With that, Sion thought of a certain girl she’d recently found it particularly difficult to face…

Marianne Valois Rambouillet’s daily routine was exceedingly simple.

Being introverted and a homebody, she rarely went out or socialized.

In stark contrast to her outgoing sister, Marianne went straight back to her dorm after class, spent an hour or two on homework, then indulged in manga, novels, and anthologies for the rest of the day.

No matter how much she consumed, she was like a glutton that could never be satisfied, devouring new creations endlessly.

When her energy ran out, she would collapse and sleep, only to be dragged awake the next morning by her natural alarm clock—her sister.

There was no room for anyone to interrupt this well-established cycle.

Having found her own happiness, Marianne had settled into a lifestyle that squeezed out every last drop of that happiness.

She was so committed to her solitary life that she actively avoided socializing.

In most circumstances, no one would have any reason to approach her now.

But exceptions always exist in this world.

-Knock, knock, knock.

“Hm?”

Marianne, who had been sprawled on her bed, happily immersed in a novel, turned her head at the sudden knocking.

It wasn’t her sister.

Therese had a spare key to Marianne’s room and would never knock so politely.

If anything, she’d pound on the door furiously.

As for her personal maid, she’d been strictly instructed not to disturb her at this hour.

That meant it was someone else entirely.

“Ugh… Alright, I’m coming…”

With a sigh, Marianne pushed through her reluctance and got up.

She threw on the nearest coat she could find over her lingerie and negligee.

After a moment, she opened the thick door.

“Who’s visiting at this hour…?”

Marianne trailed off, gasping.

The person standing outside was unexpected.

“Good evening, Marianne. I hope I’m not disturbing you, but may I speak with you for a moment?”

“Y-you’re… the Hero…?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

Why had the Hero come to visit her, and at this hour? Had she done something wrong?

Memories of her previous… overenthusiastic behavior flashed through her mind.

That time, she had failed to control her excitement and lost all composure in front of the Hero.

“U-Uh… Ah…”

“Um, Marianne?”

“I’m so sorry for what happened back then!”

Marianne abruptly bowed her head at a 90-degree angle.

Naturally, Sion, who had no idea what was going on, was taken aback.

What was this girl apologizing for out of nowhere?

“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly apologizing?”

“Uh, well… I think I may have acted out of line last time…”

It had indeed been quite an incident, leaving both Sion and Exia visibly shaken.

However, not wanting to reveal the details directly, Sion forced a smile.

“If that’s what’s on your mind, don’t worry. I too was at fault for making a careless remark about a work you were passionate about.

But actually, I came here today to ask a favor.”

“A favor?”

Marianne blinked in surprise.

The Hero had a request for her? And not for her sister?

What could it be?

Seeing her puzzled look, Sion lowered her gaze, as if finding it hard to speak.

“…There were a few stories you showed me before… the ones where male characters like me transform into women?”

“Oh, you mean TS (gender-swap) stories. What about them?”

“I… if it’s not too much to ask… I’d like to borrow some of those books.”

“!!!!”

Marianne’s eyes sparkled in astonishment.

Did the Hero just express interest in gender-swap stories? The Hero, of all people?

“J-Just give me one moment!!”

With a bang, Marianne shut the door and hurriedly began tidying her room, frantically picking up books and random pieces of clothing strewn about.

A moment later.

“P-Please, come in.”

“Ah, yes. Thank you.”

Following Marianne’s invitation, Sion stepped inside.

Despite the quick tidying, the room still wasn’t exactly tidy.

It had that unmistakable, lived-in feel of a reclusive homebody’s room—blankets spilling off the bed, a water bottle cap poking out from under the bed, and other similar details.

But Sion barely noticed any of this.

Her eyes were glued to the overwhelming sight before her.

“W-What is this…?”

Books. Books. Books.

The walls, save for the entrance side, were lined entirely with bookshelves.

Every inch of space was crammed with books, except for a few essential pieces of furniture.

While Sion stood frozen in shock, Marianne proudly puffed out her chest.

“How is it? Impressive, right? It’s my own personal library and fortress, built with dedication.

It contains works of every genre you can think of—fantasy, romance, BL, GL, TS, and more! Feel free to borrow anything you like!”

“…….”

We haven’t even been enrolled for a month, have we?

How did she fill her shelves so completely already?

Though Sion was chilled by the sight, she decided not to ask questions.

She felt this was not her place to intrude.

After glancing around for a moment, Marianne walked over to the bookshelf on the right.

“Let’s see… I’ll pick out a few beginner-friendly, light TS stories…”

As she ran her fingers along the spines, she pulled out several books, clutching them to her chest.

As Sion watched this scene in a daze, Exia, standing nearby, whispered a question.

-“Um, Sion?”

-“Hm?”

-“Why the sudden interest in gender-swap stories? Have you decided to accept your fate or something?”

-“Huh? You think I’d willingly do that?” Sion scoffed, dismissing the idea with a laugh.

As long as I live, I will remain a man in spirit. That is an unchangeable, eternal truth.”

-“Then why are you suddenly looking for gender-swap books?

Last time, you nearly coughed up blood from reading them, didn’t you? And yet now, you’re voluntarily asking for recommendations.”

-“Well, there might be a solution in there somewhere,”

Sion replied, folding her arms.

Her reasoning was simple.

If gender-swap, or TS, was a fully developed genre, then maybe it also held some clues on how to reverse the effect.

Particularly if it’s well-researched and accurate, the fictional “Sien” character within would surely be fighting to regain her sanity, just like she would in reality.

-“I mean, even if there isn’t a proper solution, it’s fine. I’m not holding my breath or anything since it’s all fiction anyway.

But maybe, with a little luck, I’ll come across a useful idea—maybe a clue the character couldn’t use but that could work for me.”

-“Hmm… do you really think it’ll be possible? I’m a bit skeptical…”

-“Well, it’s better than just sitting around, isn’t it?” Sion shrugged.

Anyway, the magical medicine she relied on required two or three weeks to regenerate.

During that time, she had nothing else to do except endure and survive each day.

In such a situation, she’d do well to pursue any path that might break through her predicament.

“Here! This is my recommended list!”

While Sion and Exia were talking, Marianne had finished her selection and brought over a stack of books nearly as tall as her torso, placing it on the table with a heavy thud.

The sheer height of the pile was intimidating, even from a distance.

“This should keep you full for three days or so!”

“Three… days?”

Did she mean three months instead?

Despite feeling slightly daunted by the vast selection, Sion closed her eyes, steeled herself, and picked up the top book.

If she cowered in fear, she’d never make any progress.

Only those who take action, however small, can solve their problems.

With that resolve, Sion bravely opened the first page—

“Ah! Wait!”

—only to have it snatched away by Marianne.

“Oh, sorry! Wrong book!”

“Wrong book? How so?”

“It’s not a TS story. It’s a similar genre, maybe, but not quite the same.

I must have mixed it in by mistake because the cover looked so similar. Sorry…”

She bowed her head repeatedly, apologizing.

A similar genre?

This even has subgenres?

Sion gave her a questioning look, and Marianne blushed as she began explaining.

“Well, it’s, um… it’s sort of…”

And then followed a long, detailed explanation. Blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, yada.

“So, yeah, that’s it. Got it?”

“…..”

Sion’s eyes widened as she processed her words.

“Anyway, since it’s different, I’ll just go put this one back—”

“No.”

“What?”

“Give it to me! Now!”

Sion’s voice was firm as she practically lunged for the book before Marianne could respond, pulling it back and diving into its pages with fierce concentration.

“W-What…?”

“……”

Marianne was stunned by Sion’s sudden intensity, but she was too absorbed to care.

Her gaze was fixed on the text, utterly focused.

Moments later…

“Heh… hehe…”

A satisfied, almost triumphant laugh escaped her.

“I found it.”

Honestly, she’d barely been hoping for anything, more like clutching at straws.

But it had paid off—she’d found an idea to break through her predicament.

A reversal of common sense.

The destruction of conventional thinking.

It was a mental pivot she hadn’t considered, one that could completely shatter the core of her troubles: a revolutionary Plan B.

In this manga, it was nothing more than an unrealistic setting, a concept on paper.

But for someone like her, who understood the principles of the universe and the logic of magic, it could work.

It had to.

“Heh… hehe… HAHAHAHAHA!”

“W-What…? Hero…?”

Watching the hero burst into maniacal laughter, Marianne took a couple of frightened steps back, wide-eyed.

Was it her imagination, or did Sion’s face seem to darken ominously?