A Lucky Day

“…It’s not that I don’t believe the two of you, it’s just that I can’t believe it.”

The Alchemist from the Academic Society waved their hand towards Veronica and Master, a troubled expression on their face.

Soon, their flustered gaze turned to me.

When I shrugged, their face changed as if to say, ‘Is that right…?’, but soon they cleared their throat and opened their mouth.

“It seems there’s no precedent for this… Could you please wait a little longer? For now, I’ll postpone the disqualification… no, the forfeiture.”

That means I’d have to come here again sometime.

It also meant I’d have to stay in the Capital until it was recognized.

That was troublesome in many ways.

“Isn’t there any other way?”

“As I just said, this is the first time such a case has occurred….”

“Can’t you just think of it as having a tail and ears because I drank a Beastification Potion?”

“Do you think that’s the same as this?”

“What’s different about it, then?”

The Male clutched his temples, as if his head was throbbing, and muttered.

“It really does seem to be true….”

“What did you say?”

“…Nothing.”

The struggle between me, who didn’t want the hassle of coming and going, and the disbelieving Academic Society seemed like it would continue for a long time, but it ended anticlimactically thanks to someone who suddenly intervened.

“Then… what if I vouch for them?”

When I turned my head at the familiar voice.

Claire stood there, with her shimmering chestnut hair and wearing strange clothes that looked neat yet somehow stimulated lewd thoughts.

Veronica muttered in a dazed voice.

“…Claire?”

Then Claire smiled faintly and lightly waved her hand at Veronica.

“Long time no see.”

After exchanging brief greetings with Veronica, Claire approached me from behind and grabbed my shoulder.

“You’re wearing… nostalgic clothes?”

She muttered that, then spoke to the Academic Society Alchemist.

“I will vouch that this Girl and Astarote Asha are the same person.”

“…Are you serious?”

“Of course. That… no, should I say ‘her’ now? I’ve known her for a long time… and I met her recently and confirmed it myself.”

With that, the discussion quickly concluded.

They reasoned there was no reason to object when it was not just an ordinary Priest, but Saint Claire-nim herself vouching for it.

“I’ll contact you soon.”

Claire whispered that, then said she had business and suddenly left, just as she had arrived.

…I didn’t know that meeting her last time would help in this way.

I didn’t know why Claire came to the Academic Society, but I figured it was good that things turned out well.

The talk about contacting me soon was a little… concerning, but considering the experience of spending a day at the Temple last time, I didn’t think anything major would happen.

“…Well, it worked out somehow.”

“Indeed.”

Master was burning Spirit Grass with a somewhat displeased expression.

I felt like if I bothered them, sparks would fly, so I stayed quiet.

“…I’ll go see the old folks for a bit.”

“Go ahead.”

After sending off the displeased Master, I was left alone with Veronica.

I had left Cecil and Claudia at the Workshop just in case.

So, what now?

Should I go buy some clothes?

I can’t keep looking like this.

“While Master is talking, maybe I should buy some clothes….”

As I muttered that, Veronica replied.

“Instead of that, how about we look through the Academic Society’s data while we’re here?”

“…I can buy clothes first and then look. I should be able to come and go as I please now.”

“There’s no need to bother going back and forth, is there?

…It’s not wrong, but… it’s a little embarrassing.

Veronica, acting somewhat stubborn.

Alright, let’s just look while we’re here.

“Okay. Let’s do that then.”

“Good.”

I didn’t like that my legs felt chilly… but since the hardship would end today, I decided to endure a little longer.

I headed with Veronica to the Academic Society’s archive, which also served as a reading room where books were collected.

The scent of books, which I hadn’t smelled in a long time.

The smell of money was good too, but sometimes this wasn’t bad either.

As Veronica and I spread out to browse various materials, I somehow felt a commotion.

Feeling my brow furrow, I peered in and saw a group wearing Academy Uniforms.

Coincidentally, they were all Females.

Observing them slowly, they seemed to be students from the Alchemy Department.

They looked tearful, as if something wasn’t going well.

Come to think of it, could Academy students use this place too?

My memory was vague.

I think so?

Well, if you graduate from the Alchemy Department at the Academy, it’s pretty much the same as joining the Academic Society, so there’s no reason it wouldn’t be allowed.

As I briefly looked at the juniors whose faces I didn’t know with a pleased gaze, our eyes met.

When I gave an awkward smile, they tilted their head and approached me.

It was a female student with impressive blonde hair that looked like melted honey.

“You’re a new face…?”

…Of course.

Because I was practically a non-existent person.

And… you might not believe it, but I’m your senior?

…Though I can’t say it openly.

The female student, who had been silently staring at me, grabbed my hand and began pulling me towards the group.

“Uh… w-wait a minute.”

“You come quickly and help too. We’re going to fail this assignment if we keep this up.”

“Actually, I….”

I hesitated, then found myself dragged among the female students.

A fragrant scent wafted.

In contrast to such a fragrant scent, the female students with dark circles under their eyes were laying out something and having a serious discussion.

Awkwardly squeezed in among them, I looked at the materials laid out on the table and found them familiar.

Seeing this, it became clear that they were students from the Alchemy Department.

Looking a little closer, a faint memory surfaced.

I definitely remember it being a very difficult group assignment from a demanding professor.

I think it was around my second year.

Unconsciously, I traced my memories and moved my pen briskly.

When I came to my senses, all the other female students were staring at me.

I flinched and trembled at their gaze, and the female student who had dragged me earlier put her arm around my shoulder and bounced excitedly. Her soft flesh jiggled and brushed against my face.

“You’re super smart, aren’t you? If you knew, why didn’t you say something sooner!”

…Well, it’s because… I had learned it, and since no one around me cooperated, I practically solved it alone, so it was vivid in my memory.

But before I had a chance to explain to them, the female students screamed in joy that the assignment was finished.

Soon, a caretaker appeared and chased the female students out.

It seemed this wasn’t the first or second time this had happened, as the caretaker’s face looked very tired.

They also seemed somewhat cautious.

As I watched the female students gather the items on the table and shuffle out.

The caretaker spoke to me.

“…Why aren’t you leaving?”

“…Huh?”

I, too, was chased out of the reading room.

When I stepped out the door, the students who had been kicked out were waiting for me.

They smiled happily and pulled my hand.

“We were going to leave anyway, so this works out. Since we’re out, let’s go to a Cafe.”

“…A Cafe?”

A Cafe… is it what I’m thinking of?

When did something like that appear….

No, that’s not what’s important.

“W-wait a minute, I have someone waiting for me….”

“It’s fine! It’s right up ahead, so let’s just stop by for a bit!”

“Yeah, we’ll treat you.”

…Treat me?

Hmm… then maybe I’ll go along for a bit.

It’s definitely not because they’re treating me for free that I’m following them.

It’s just… I’m curious.

Indeed, if I think about it, a Korean Cuisine restaurant appeared, so there’s no reason a Cafe wouldn’t exist.

Rather, it’s strange that it didn’t exist until now.

With a bit of curiosity, I was led by the female students into the Cafe located right in front of the Academic Society.

Upon entering, the welcoming aroma of coffee was impressive.

The interior isn’t particularly unique.

The students noisily took their seats, ordered various things, then led my hand to a spot with a good view of the outside.

“We ordered on our own, is that okay?”

“Ah… yeah.”

While I looked around the shop, coffee and a slice of cake were placed on the table.

Picking up the cup and examining it, there was a subtle atmosphere.

The blonde female student who brought me here first.

…Seeing blonde hair brought back unpleasant memories, but.

Anyway.

It seemed clear that she was the center of this group.

Judging by the way she lifted her coffee cup, she seemed to be a Noble.

A little… very easygoing.

And some of the other female students mixed in also appeared to be Nobles.

The rest seemed to be non-Nobles.

…Though I couldn’t perfectly distinguish them just by how they drank coffee, you only see as much as you know.

Even for the Academy, I thought it was a rare sight.

Usually… they often kept to themselves like oil and water.

In that sense, I wondered if the blonde female student, who seemed to be the leader of the group, played a significant role.

Well, it’s rare, but not entirely unheard of.

Watching them chat happily, I sipped the coffee in front of me.

…It’s delicious.

Then, the blonde female student smiled awkwardly and spoke to me.

“Did we talk too much among ourselves?”

“…It’s fine.”

I didn’t have anything to say anyway.

“By the way, who are you really? I don’t remember seeing such pretty pink hair in class.”

“…Hmm.”

What should I say?

The truth is, I’m not a current Academy student but a graduate, and I was originally a Male, but my body changed and I didn’t have any clothes to wear right away, so I’m wearing an Academy Uniform?

I somehow got dragged here… and being asked that, I was extremely troubled about how to answer.

“Well, does it matter who you are? What matters is that you helped us with our assignment.”

“That’s true.”

Then, suddenly, their attention began to focus on me.

“By the way, your hair is incredibly soft. What do you use to manage it?”

“And why are your hands so soft?”

…It was a bit too much attention.

Just then, a splendid Carriage stopped in front of the Cafe.

A blonde Woman stepped out of the Carriage.

The blonde next to me suddenly stood up from her seat, grabbed the railing, and waved her hand.

“Older Sister!”

“It’s dangerous, so step back.”

An ominous premonition struck me at the familiar voice.

My eyes met with the Woman below.

Her blue eyes looked at me and held a strange light.