Chapter 153: The Angel Who Crossdresses (3)

Episode 153: The Angel Who Crossdresses (3)

What was the method Leffrey had thought of?

What could he possibly do to infiltrate St. Lucia Academy, a place that only allowed women, and find the Fallen Hero candidate?

“Guys, is everyone here?”

Leffrey raised his head to look at the three girls.

Hongwol, the cat beast folk with flowing pink hair. Yumari, the elegant black-haired beauty with a small horn. And lastly, Soya, the grey witch who might be short compared to those two, but was just as beautiful.

“Yes, I’ve been waiting.”

“Heh, of course, as you can see.”

“So, boy, hurry up and get to the point.”

Leffrey addressed the three girls.

“Th-then I’ll tell you all about what happened.”

His voice as bright as morning light and clear as the blue sky filled the cathedral. The three girls managed their expressions while enjoying this moment as the gentle voice echoed around them.

And that voice spoke of this.

That the Demon King was raising a Fallen Hero, and that this Fallen Hero was on the verge of awakening. To prevent the Fallen Hero from awakening, he had to infiltrate St. Lucia Academy and track the karma, but…

“As you all know, St. Lucia Academy is a no-boys zone.”

“Yeah. Lucia, the ancient saint of the other world, was famous for never having touched a man’s hand until her death.”

Soya, as always, jumped at the opportunity to show off her knowledge. However, the only one who reacted to her behavior was Leffrey.

“Then…”

“That’s why I need your help. Could you go to St. Lucia Academy, where I, a man, cannot infiltrate, and find the Fallen Hero in my place?”

This was Leffrey’s plan.

To entrust the tracking of the fallen hero to these three girls, who could read karma after awakening as heroes.

‘Although they haven’t been awakened heroes for long and their ability to handle karma isn’t very good…’

But Leffrey knew how to awaken their ability to sense and read karma.

‘If I can teach them how to read karma…’

Then they would be able to find her.

With three heroes searching together, a fallen hero who hasn’t awakened their karma yet is bound to be easily caught.

“So we participate in the two-week exchange program…”

“Infiltrate St. Lucia Academy, then find the Fallen Hero.”

“And stop her from awakening, right?”

“Yeah!”

Leffrey answered enthusiastically.

The three girls were speechless at the boy’s energetic reply.

Chirp chirp—The chirping of birds could be heard from outside the cathedral, welcoming the morning. The fact that the birds’ singing, which had been drowned out by their chatter, was now audible meant that…

…They had stopped talking.

And the chirping of birds once again faded after Yumari opened her mouth.

“Leffrey.”

“Yes?”

“There are a few problems with your plan.”

Problems with the plan? A little shocked by that statement, Leffrey asked again.

“Wh-What problems?”

“First of all… if all three of us go to find the Fallen Hero, then who will protect you, Leffrey?”

And for two weeks, no less. Yumari shook her head in disbelief. Leffrey, seeing that, tapped his chest and said.

“What do you mean? I’m strong.”

“While I don’t doubt Leffrey’s strength…”

Yumari muttered coldly.

“Those who target Leffrey are strong too. In many ways.”

“U-Uh…”

“I have to be by your side to protect you. So, for you to ask me to leave for two weeks…”

The other girls, hearing that, interjected.

“Somehow, the way you’re saying it is a little weird.”

“Right, if we’re talking about protecting the boy, I should be the one to stay!”

“N-No, I’m the one who should…”

Yumari put on a smile that was completely insincere and continued speaking.

“Second, we’re not yet skilled at handling karma. We can’t hold a candle to you, Leffrey. With our current skills, would we really be able to sense the karma of a Fallen Hero?”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll teach you.”

Mari, seeing Leffrey confidently nodding, shook her head once again.

“Teaching a superhuman how to sense and recognize new powers like mana, esper ability, or even spirit energy takes a lot of time and training.”

That was true. How much effort and time would a superhuman who knows nothing about mana need to become sensitive to mana?

“And you’re saying that you’ll be able to make us awaken to karma, a power whose very existence is uncertain, so quickly. While you might have been able to do it, Leffrey, could we really manage that?”

“…Now that you mention it, that’s true.”

At this point, Leffrey had nothing to say.

Thinking about it more, even Iriel had seemed a little shocked when she saw how quickly Leffrey awakened to karma.

Even though they were heroes under Leffrey’s protection… It didn’t seem likely that they would awaken within two weeks, even at the shortest estimate.

“Then what should we do?”

In the end, Leffrey had no choice but to ask Yumari. Yumari answered with a bright smile, as if she had been waiting for this question.

“Why don’t we go together?”

“Go together?”

“Yes. We’ll go to St. Lucia Academy and find the Fallen Hero together. It’s the option with the highest chance of success.”

She was right. Really right, but…

Leffrey had to ask again.

“But St. Lucia is a no-boys zone, right? I mean, I’m a boy…”

Hearing those words, Yumari just smiled silently.

Suddenly, Hongwol nodded beside them, making sounds like “Heh, good idea.” Soya tilted her head, not understanding what the two were thinking.

Mari opened her mouth again.

And said something that could be considered shocking.

“…Have you ever tried crossdressing?”

“Huh? No, I haven’t. Why?”

Leffrey, hearing those words, just stared at her confused.

Crossdressing. A man dressing up as a woman. Crossplay, drag queen, also known as *otokonoko* and ‘trap.’

(TL Note: *Otokonoko* (男の娘) is a Japanese term for a male character who dresses and acts like a female. ‘Trap’ is an internet slang term, usually used to describe a character, or a person, who appears to be female but is actually male.)

“Then would you like to try crossdressing this time?”

“T-that’s a bit…”

“Why, boy? I bet you’ll look super cute!”

Leffrey took a step back. Yumari took a step forward in response.

“But administratively…”

“Leffrey is close to all the professors, so we can easily get through the Central Superhuman Academy’s administrative procedures.”

“Right, if it’s the boy’s request, even that stubborn Park Jin-ho melts and listens to anything Leffrey says. And he calls himself Iron Blood.”

“Leffrey… crossdressing…”

Leffrey took another step back, and Yumari and Hongwol stepped closer.

“But I don’t really know how girls act…”

“Don’t worry. You have a talent for it, Leffrey.”

“T-Talent?”

“Honestly, I agree with that. Boy, you don’t need to worry. Sometimes even I’m surprised.”

“Surprised? Surprised by what?”

I don’t need this kind of talent.

Leffrey wanted to shout those words, but he couldn’t.

“B-But I’m a man!”

Leffrey, even though he doesn’t really look like one, still had a sense of himself as a man. To be asked to crossdress, no less.

It was only natural for Leffrey’s face to turn as red as a radish.

Hearing those words, Yumari stroked Leffrey’s golden hair and said.

“Leffrey, do you know this?”

“Know what…?”

“Crossdressing is the manliest act of all.”

What kind of nonsense is this.

To say that crossdressing is the manliest act of all.

“J-Just what are you talking about?”

“Only men can crossdress. Women can never crossdress.”

Yumari said with a smile.

“That’s why crossdressing is the manliest act.”

Leffrey looked around. It seemed that Mari was actively in favor of crossdressing, and Hongwol also seemed to be on board.

That meant Soya, who was standing alone over there with a grim expression, might be the answer.

“Soya, what do you think?”

“…Crossdressing, well, it’s better than being separated for two weeks, I guess.”

Thus, Leffrey’s hopes were betrayed. Leffrey was now trapped with no way to escape being crossdressed…

‘To have to attend an all-girls academy for two weeks while dressed as a girl…’

Is it really possible for him to pull it off without being discovered. Leffrey was already starting to feel scared.

“Now, then… shall we begin?”

Yumari smiled softly.

Maybe it was Leffrey’s imagination, but it looked like her horns had grown slightly bigger.

* * *

‘Is this really the only way?’

As Leffrey felt the girls’ touches, he was lost in his own thoughts with his eyes closed.

‘Of course, nothing Mari said was wrong. Time is running out, and the heroes aren’t very good at handling karma yet. In this world that’s filled with dark karma, picking out the slightly darker fallen hero candidate won’t be an easy task.’

Then Leffrey had to do it. After all, he was the only one here who handled karma best.

‘But crossdressing. To infiltrate St. Lucia Academy, a no-boys zone.’

No matter how he thought about it, it felt morally wrong. Truly this was, Leffrey the Conservative Angel.

“Should we keep the boy’s extensions this length?”

“Yes, that would be best. Leffrey might be uncomfortable if they’re too long.”

Hongwol and Yumari whispered together excitedly.

‘I guess fighting alongside each other against the demon king’s avatar at Mariana Camp really helped them become close.’

Leffrey, hearing their conversation, felt a little touched.

“Okay, this should be enough for makeup. Considering Leffrey’s image is more like the morning sun, a warm and pure image, right?”

“…Impressive. I was thinking the same thing.”

A morning sun, they say.

A warm and pure image.

To hear such words from others.

‘C-cringe. Is this what girls’ daily life is like?’

But Leffrey said nothing. This might actually be what daily life is like for girls. (It’s not)

And so, feeling their gentle touches on his face, being carefully dressed while keeping his eyes closed…

The pleasant scents of cosmetics and perfume caressing his nose.

As this girlish time passed, Yumari whispered in Leffrey’s ear.

“Leffrey, open your eyes.”

“Ah, is it done already?”

And Leffrey opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was a beautiful girl looking back at him in the mirror.

Flowing golden hair swaying past the shoulders with each breath, and skin that was originally too white now had a slight pink tinge thanks to Hongwol’s makeup skills.

And she was wearing what seemed to be a St. Lucia Academy uniform. A black skirt, a white blouse, and even a small brooch.

Truly, a beautiful girl who would attract attention wherever she went.

“…Is-Is that me?”

Uttering those cliché words, Leffrey stared at his reflection.

Actually, they didn’t really change much from his original appearance. But just having hair extensions and changing his clothes made such a big difference in his appearance.

“I’m a little surprised. I didn’t think crossdressing would suit me this well.”

Leffrey muttered, feeling a strange sense of awe.

To suit him this well.

Was this a good thing? Or a bad thing? One thing was for certain, he was a little embarrassed.

While Leffrey couldn’t answer that, he could answer another question.

“Guys, do you think this will work at St. Lucia?”

Surely they wouldn’t even suspect him.

As long as the documents were perfect.

“……!”

Soya, who had been left out because she wasn’t good at dressing up, was completely shocked after seeing Leffrey all dressed up as a beautiful girl.