Ch.17Cherished Bonds (3)

I hadn’t seen Ju-an in a while, so we made plans to hang out. Recently, he’d been too busy with college entrance exam preparations to meet up, but now those damn entrance exams had become completely pointless.

Ju-an, who had been studying late into the night every day, would probably be crying tears of blood, but since I’d given up on studying for the past 11 years, I actually thought it was fortunate.

Anyway, we made plans to hang out tomorrow. Conveniently, tomorrow is Saturday, so I don’t have to go to work and have free time.

While I was thinking about what we should do tomorrow, Agath spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.

“What do you think about that guy from earlier?”

“Ju-an? He’s a damn deceiver. Handsome face, smart brain, and his personality…”

“Not that. I mean what do you think of him as someone of the opposite sex?”

“He’s not the opposite sex, he’s the same sex.”

“But now you’re the opposite sex, aren’t you?”

Right, that’s how it is now.

I still can’t get used to the fact that my body has changed. After all, I lived as a man for over 19 years, so there’s no way I could adapt to this body in just 4 days.

“Still, he’s my best friend.”

Even if my body has changed, my mindset hasn’t. Especially bonds that have already been formed don’t easily disappear.

After I briefly shared my thoughts, Agath spoke as if saddened.

“I liked you first… and now some gigolo-like guy is trying to take my Lite…”

“We’re not that kind of relationship, are we?”

“Have you already forgotten our passionate memories?”

“I don’t have any such memories.”

“Our passionate memories in the dungeon…”

I shot her a look that clearly said if she continued, I’d kill myself right then and there. Agath promptly backed down.

“…Anyway, we’ve seen everything there is to see of each other.”

“By that logic, I’m closer to Ju-an. We’ve gone to public baths together and spent over 10 years constantly hanging out.”

“So you’ve seen each other naked?”

“Yes, I have.”

We’ve been to the public bath together more than 10 times. So even without intending to, I naturally saw him.

“So how big was his lower part?”

“Disgustingly big.”

As expected of that deceiver, even in that department he was overwhelmingly superior to others.

I honestly envied that, if nothing else.

“What if that went inside your body?”

“For fuck’s sake, please go die somewhere. That’s so disgusting I could die.”

“But now you have a body that can only be penetrated, right?”

I had been feeling good about seeing my friend after a long time, but this tragic fact made me depressed again.

“So what do you think it would be like?”

“There’s no need to imagine something that will absolutely never happen.”

“Just imagine it once, his magnificent thing entering your precious…”

I put an imaginary gun to my head and silently begged her to stop with my eyes.

I absolutely don’t want to think about something that will never, absolutely should never happen. Absolutely not.

Just the thought of being penetrated makes me angry, and the person doing it would be someone I know? I’d rather kill myself.

“It’s a shame I can’t corrupt you into a female myself. How nice would it be if I were a man?”

“Please just shut up.”

“Alright. I’ll support your relationship. And remember to use protection, okay?”

“That kind of thing will absolutely never happen.”

Just because my body changed, I’d immediately start dating a friend of over 10 years? That will absolutely never happen.

If we were strangers, maybe, but I could never date someone who’s known I was a man for over 10 years.

***

What do we do after arriving at work? Just waste time meaninglessly.

Even if we want to do something, no requests come in. So everyone is quietly doing their own thing.

Leo is sitting in front of the computer, typing away. That’s probably related to magic too.

Rebecca is just staring out the window. She’s been doing just that for several hours.

Agath is doing something on her phone. I don’t know what, but it’s probably something suggestive.

Anyway, Friday was passing peacefully and quietly.

Until suddenly, the sound of frantic typing filled the air.

Curious about what Leo was doing on the computer, I went to take a look and witnessed a brutal keyboard battle.

The typing was so fast I couldn’t read everything, but they seemed to be debating whether magic or black magic was superior.

[LOL fucking black magic user acting all high and mighty again. How is mindlessly sacrificing life without any formulas considered great?]

[We can attack in less than a second by using life force. How long does your magic take? At least 5 days, right?]

[For a high-rank mage, basic attack magic takes less than a minute, you brainless black magic user]

[LOL at least 1 minute LOL pathetic]

[You fucking bitch]

It was a bit too aggressive to be called a debate.

“Is black magic legal?”

Usually when you think of black magic, you’d imagine something banned by the state and shunned by people. So don’t people usually reject it?

“Black magic users fought for their rights 200 years ago and it became legal. People should have gritted their teeth and rejected black magic back then…”

“But what exactly is black magic?”

“It’s when idiots who can’t even draw magic circles offer life force as sacrifice to imitate magic.”

Leo’s voice was filled with anger.

“Why do you hate black magic so much?”

“They use lifespan or life force to forcibly increase power and reduce casting time, yet they claim to be superior to magic. It’s not even a systematic structure like magic. It’s just mindlessly offering sacrifices.”

“And the techniques they use are so gloomy. Our divine power bestows blessings and healing, but black magic just curses others and causes harm. All black magic users should be burned at the stake.”

Agath had come over and was supporting Leo’s argument.

“Denying the sacred power of the Goddess? Such heretics should all be crucified and purified with holy fire.”

Rebecca, the atheist, had suddenly become a devout believer.

“…Weren’t you denying the existence of the Goddess just yesterday?”

“Denying the existence of the Goddess can wait until after we’ve eradicated all black magic in this world.”

Rebecca spoke very calmly, but her eyes and voice were filled with anger.

The three of them gathered in front of the computer and started hurling all kinds of insults at black magic.

I should just search about black magic myself. That would be much easier to understand.

I took out my phone and searched about black magic. And I found a useful article.

[The Origin of Black Magic.]

***

According to my research, black magic is mainly used in combat, unlike magic, and isn’t used much in other fields. And the techniques used are the exact opposite of divine power.

That’s it. There’s no evil power or anything like that. So the reason those three hate black magic is a kind of concept.

It’s similar to when humanities and science students fight fiercely.

Although their words seem sincere and they really seem to hate it, let’s just call it a concept.

Time passed meaninglessly again, and soon it was time to leave work.

“Should we really meet up to fight in person?”

“Yes. I’m in favor.”

“The Goddess would surely want that too.”

By the way, those three were engaged in a fierce keyboard battle until closing time.

It would be pretty funny if a hero showed up for a physical fight. Though it would be hell for the person involved.

Anyway, I returned to my beloved home.

***

Friday nights are always enjoyable in many ways. Literally, even just lying still can be enjoyable.

So I really just lay still and fell asleep. Thanks to that, my Friday night completely disappeared.

Anyway, the clock on the wall was showing that it was just past 7 AM. I should prepare breakfast and get ready to go out.

What should I have for breakfast today? Should I just make a simple steamed egg? Or should I make a stew that I can eat until tomorrow?

Since I don’t have to go to work until tomorrow, making a stew would be better.

Having decided on the breakfast menu, I went to the kitchen.

“You’ve completely become a housewife now, ready to be married off.”

While I was cooking kimchi stew enough to last until tomorrow, Agath came and spoke to me.

I’ve definitely become like a housewife in this house in just 5 days. I handle all the housework like cooking, cleaning, and laundry by myself.

About being married off…

“I’d really like that.”

The wife goes out to earn money, and I just do housework at home. That would truly be an ideal life.

But that won’t happen. Whether I can even get married is a big question to begin with.

“…Are you serious about that?”

“Yes. I want to quit work and everything and just stay at home.”

“Then how many children are you planning to have?”

“How can a man give birth to…”

Day 6 after TS. I still don’t have the awareness that I’ve become a woman’s body. And it seems like it will continue for a few more months.

First, I should correct my slip of the tongue.

“There was a misunderstanding just now…”

“It’s okay, I understand your desire to be married off to that boy. Good luck!”

Agath said what she wanted to say and went back to her room.

I’m slowly getting used to this kind of treatment. So I’m not as angry as before. Rather, I’ve reached the point where I just let it slide.

The saying that humans are animals of adaptation isn’t for nothing. Still, I don’t think I’ll ever adapt to this body.

***

I’ve finished eating, completed the embarrassing shower, and gotten dressed. Now I just need to go out.

Looking at the clock, it was pointing to 11:50. If I leave now, I’ll arrive exactly at 12.

So I should lounge around for about 30 minutes before leaving.

Right, when making plans with boys, if you set the meeting time an hour earlier than you actually want to meet, you’ll gather at exactly the time you want.

So if you want to meet at 1, you should say to meet at 12. This is the harsh reality of boys.

For that reason, I was comfortably lying on the bed resting when Agath opened the door and came in.

“Lite? Didn’t you say you have an appointment at 12?”

“Even if I leave now, I’ll have to wait at least 30 minutes.”

“Then why did you set the appointment for 12?”

“That’s just how boys are.”

Agath made a puzzled expression as if she didn’t understand.

“Don’t try to understand. It’s just one of those rules.”

So I continued to roll around on the bed.

***

I really left the house after 30 minutes had passed.

And by the time I arrived, Ju-an was already waiting in front of the office.

“You’re a bit late today. Did something happen?”

“Yeah. Our house fish almost drowned after going into the fish tank, so I was late trying to save it.”

“You were just lounging around and got late, right?”

“What else would it be?”

I never knew this meaningless conversation we always had until my reincarnation would feel so nostalgic.

Since it’s around lunchtime, we should eat first before hanging out.

“Since I was late, I’ll pay for lunch today.”

“Alright. What do you want to eat?”

“Hmm, should we go to a Chinese restaurant?”

“I’m in favor.”

While we were looking for a Chinese restaurant for lunch, Ju-an smiled faintly and said.

“It’s really reassuring to have someone I know beside me.”

Ju-an was thinking the same thing as me. Maybe because I felt a sense of kinship, a smile escaped my lips.

“Yeah, somehow having you beside me is really reassuring.”

A person I can truly trust. Such a person is beside me.

Unlike the crazy hero, the perverted priest, and the pessimistic saint, he’s a truly reliable friend.

Thanks to him, for the first time since coming to this world, I was able to smile brightly without any worries or concerns.

Now that we’ve met after a long time, let’s have a blast!