Bed Communication

There was still some leeway left, so I just needed to attend the Academic Society soon and prove that it was me….

But there was still a problem with that.

Would they acknowledge me as ‘Asha’?

…Perhaps if I went with Master-nim or Veronica, it could be resolved.

If all else failed, maybe if I asked Claire… it might work out…?

So, I wasn’t too worried about that part.

It was something achievable if I put my mind to it.

The biggest problem, however, was that if I did that, I wouldn’t be able to hide the fact that my body had changed. While I wouldn’t openly talk about it, it would inevitably spread discreetly.

…I could only pray that it wouldn’t reach the ears of Her Highness the Princess or my Family/House.

Aside from that, what bothered me was….

Was it because I hadn’t found a way to return?

Going to the Academic Society and saying that ‘Shaa’ was actually ‘Asha’ felt like cementing the fact that I had become a woman… and I wasn’t too keen on it.

But what could I do?

I couldn’t make the people who bought my potions into illegal potion buyers.

I had no choice but to do it.

…If you ask if it’s because of money, I’d want to reply, “Isn’t that obvious?”

If you don’t have money, you starve, you know?

Ahem.

Anyway, if I had any sin, it would only be the sin of living a busy life.

It’s the fault of the people who didn’t inform me.

I just lived a busy life without time to contact anyone, and now it’s illegal?

What kind of law is that in the world?

“Stop with the idle thoughts and pack your bags.”

“…Yes.”

Regardless, it was another big move.

Master-nim and Veronica naturally had to follow to vouch for my identity, and if I moved, Claudia would automatically tag along too.

I couldn’t leave Cecil alone at Master-nim’s Hideout, so of course… everyone had to return to the Capital.

…I hadn’t intended to fulfill my desire to eat at that Dining room again in this way.

Still, thinking about the food I ate back then made my mouth water.

The sweet, salty, and spicy foods I had forgotten. And the crunchy vegetables.

Now that I know the taste, it’s even more terrifying.

The departure was the very next day.

After leaving Master-nim’s Hideout and arriving at the forest entrance, a Carriage was waiting. It was fortunate that it coincided with Master-nim’s timing for contacting the outside world.

Since the Carriage was full of only women, it smelled nice.

It was interesting to smell the different scents when I took a whiff like this.

Amidst it all, there was a somewhat sticky smell mixed in.

Asking what that smell was… would probably be suicide, wouldn’t it?

We headed towards the Capital, stopping the Carriage intermittently for breaks.

Even during those times, Claudia exercised, perhaps trying to loosen up her body.

It was closer to training than just exercise.

Well, isn’t it similar?

Watching Claudia move her body while standing on flat ground… I thought she moved well despite carrying such jiggling masses of fat.

The abs visible between her fluttering clothes inspired admiration rather than lust.

When our eyes met, she smiled sweetly and performed a trick, spinning once in the air.

When I clapped my hands without realizing it, she bowed like an actor on a stage.

…Was I too excited?

Seeing Cecil clapping along beside me, I felt a little embarrassed.

Claudia, having finished her exercise, wiped her sweat and approached.

Was it because she had been moving? Claudia’s cheeks seemed slightly flushed.

I handed a drink to Claudia, who plopped down beside me, and said,

“Isn’t it okay to rest a bit when we’re traveling by Carriage?”

Gulp, gulp.

I heard Claudia drinking her beverage. Some of the drink, spilled from her mouth due to her hasty drinking, dripped onto Claudia’s breast.

Feeling inexplicably awkward, I averted my gaze, and saw her tail wagging back and forth.

Without realizing it, I reached out and stroked it.

Hmph.

I felt the tail tense up, so I quickly pulled my hand away, and Claudia’s voice was heard.

“…Shaa. What do you mean, touching me suddenly?”

“Ah… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Claudia, who would normally chuckle and ask if I wanted to touch her, chided me this time with a slightly growling voice.

Flustered, I profusely apologized, and she, with a look of realization, stroked my head and then climbed onto the Carriage.

Not that she got into the Carriage, but literally climbed onto the roof of the Carriage.

Then, she declared she would ride on the roof to keep watch, something she hadn’t done until now.

…Why is she doing that?

Did I do something wrong to Claudia?

To say she was angry… it didn’t seem like it, considering she stroked my head.

And I couldn’t stop her if she insisted….

Helplessly, the Carriage departed with Claudia on its roof.

As I pondered why she was acting that way and gazed out the window, Master-nim, who was burning Spirit Grass, opened her mouth.

“Did you two fight?”

“No, it’s not like that….”

Smoke from the Spirit Grass wafted from Master-nim’s mouth. A scent that calmed the mind.

“Hmm… Well, I’m past the age of lecturing you on your social relationships.”

“You treated me like a child just now….”

“Hah, are you upset? Alright then, would you like some milk?”

Seeing Master-nim place her palm below her breast as she said that, my face flushed.

“No, why did the conversation suddenly go there?!”

“It’s a joke. A joke. Why are you getting so angry?”

“Veronica is right next to us. Please don’t shatter Veronica’s illusions.”

“Huh? Me?”

Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise as her name was suddenly brought up.

“Sorry, what were you talking about? I wasn’t listening, my mind was elsewhere.”

“…Nothing.”

I glared at Master-nim, who was chuckling, then shifted my shoulder to make Cecil, who had fallen asleep and was leaning on me, more comfortable.

After stroking Cecil’s head and closing my eyes, sleep came quickly.

As I drifted into a drowsy state with a gentle vibration, I felt a hand stroking my head.

…It must be Master-nim, obviously.

I fell into a deep sleep and woke up to find we had already arrived at the Capital.

I got out of the Carriage with the sunset at my back.

Perhaps because I had been sleeping, my body felt stiff and sore.

After doing some clumsy stretches to loosen up, we decided to eat at the Dining room we had visited last time. It was too late to go to the Academic Society.

After treating Master-nim to the taste of Korean Cuisine, the homeland of my soul, this time we truly decided to stay overnight at Veronica’s Workshop.

I hadn’t been able to visit last time because I had to follow Claire’s stubbornness, so I was a little intrigued.

I stepped inside, full of anticipation, but felt a bit deflated as it was more ordinary than I expected.

No, I mean, I thought it was excellent and well-reflected Veronica’s personality… but in terms of household facilities, my own house was better, and for anything related to Alchemy, Master-nim’s Hideout was superior, so I suppose it was a natural impression.

Still, just being located within the Capital was impressive.

It meant having one’s own house on prime real estate.

Actually, because of Claudia, the house didn’t really catch my eye.

Ever since she climbed onto the Carriage roof, I felt a strange distance from Claudia.

She smiled when our eyes met, so it didn’t seem like she was angry… but it kept bothering me.

Of course… it’s natural to be bothered when someone who always clung to you suddenly keeps their distance without a word.

…If it was a strategy to make me consciously aware of her, then it could be considered a success.

Since I planned to report to the Academic Society and also browse their data, it was possible I might have to stay longer than expected.

Continuing like this made me feel uneasy.

At times like this, what works best is… a drink, perhaps?

I hadn’t had much opportunity in this life, but in the media from my past life’s memories, I often saw people resolving awkwardness or inexplicable sadness by having a drink together.

Wouldn’t it be better if we all went together?

However, Master-nim refused, perhaps tired from riding the Carriage for the first time in a while.

Cecil fidgeted at the mention of drinking Beer.

It seemed Beer was ingrained in Cecil’s mind as a bitter, tasteless drink.

It was as if the Cecil who wanted to follow me and the Cecil who didn’t want to drink Beer were fighting in her head.

Unable to watch Cecil like that, Master-nim took her away.

That left Veronica….

“I have some work to take care of while I’m here… Sorry. Let’s go next time.”

In the end, it was just Claudia and me.

…I had hoped someone would come along as a buffer, but it ended up just being the two of us.

Seeing Claudia scratch her head with a slightly troubled expression before agreeing to go….

It made me feel a bit strange.

Like I was being subtly ostracized.

I knew intellectually that wasn’t the case… but perhaps because of my changed body, I was taking it a bit emotionally.

I’m not a child.

Out of a pointless rebellious impulse, I ended up at a slightly expensive Bar I wouldn’t normally visit.

Was it to make them regret not coming along?

…Well.

It would be a lie to say otherwise.

So, with Claudia, who was somehow awkward.

Just the two of us.

We sat facing each other in a private Room.

I even thought it might be a good opportunity. There were things we needed to talk about, after all.

Would that make it even more awkward…?

…I don’t know.