Chapter 52 : Bandage

“I’m a genius.”

“Huh?”

“I said, I’m a genius.”

I’ve thought this before, but I’m definitely naturally gifted. My body may not keep up, but my mind is undeniably brilliant.

I took off the school uniform jacket I had just put on and pulled something out.

“Arwen, help me with this.”

“Huh? With what… W-what are you doing?! Put your clothes back on!”

What do you mean, what am I doing? It’s not like it’s her first time seeing me undressed. I always wear loose clothes when I’m in my room.

Granted, right now, I was completely topless.

“Help me wrap this.”

I handed her the bandage and turned around.

A bandage! Just like the saying, “if you don’t have teeth, use your gums,” I could use a bandage instead of a bra!

I clearly remember seeing female characters wrap their chests with bandages when cross-dressing in other novels or comics. While my case is

a bit different, this might make wearing the uniform more comfortable without the usual physical sensitivity. Ever since my body changed, it

seems like bad things keep happening.

Reluctantly, Arwen wrapped the bandage around my chest like she was wrapping a roll.

It was a bit embarrassing, but since I couldn’t reach my back, I needed help from someone else.

Even if I’m smaller than others, I’m still a proper woman, so a lot of bandage was needed.

“Ooh.”

Nice. I twisted and turned my body as a test. This would make it totally fine to wear the uniform without anything underneath. Feeling good

for once, I thanked Arwen and left the dormitory. She waved at me with a helpless expression.

In school-life stories, there are two staple events.

One is the spar between classes, and the other is the dungeon training.

Surprisingly, this novel adopted both of those tedious clichés. What kind of writer would do that?

Probably not a normal person. A god, maybe? Even gods plagiarize, huh. If you’re going to copy, at least do it well.

Actually, it’s a good thing for me. Honestly, neither of those developments are any threat to me.

They were filler episodes in the original story, too. I just have to enjoy this school life and ace the tests like I’m eating cake. That thought lifts

a bit of weight off my shoulders.

The duel location was the same field where sword practice took place.

The arena, now larger than before, stood tall and sucked in the students.

“I have arrived.”

[You’re here?]

Today’s match is between the first and second-year students. Since both Amither and Teferi are upperclassmen, they had already arrived.

In truth, Trea wasn’t supposed to be this deeply involved with Teferi, but that couldn’t be helped.

I should’ve been barely in the intermediate class, but I got placed in the advanced one. I’m not someone who hides my strength in the

shadows.

“…You’ve come.”

Amither sat a little distance away from me. Her face was slightly redder than usual.

“Ah, yeah…”

I also felt awkward facing her. I shouldn’t have looked that stuff up yesterday.

Instead of focusing on her face, I looked around. The place was packed and noisy.

“There are a lot of unfamiliar faces.”

After all, I read the novel, not watched a video or seen pictures.

Even if I knew the names, I couldn’t tell who was who just by face. Honestly, I didn’t remember that many names either.

‘But I definitely know one of them.’

In the advanced class section, surrounded by countless girls, sat a male student who caught my eye.

Dark blue hair and a cold aura. Pontego Trivago. The one I’ll have to meet soon.

“Wow, he really looks like a painting.”

Is that what it means to be a naturally chosen male lead? Girls gather just from him breathing. Actually, is it even realistic that women flock

to someone just for existing?

Amither looked in the same direction I was staring and smirked.

“What, do you like him or something?”

[…There’s talk of a proposal.]

“What?”

A dark emotion flickered in Teferi’s unfocused eyes. Even Amither looked at me in surprise.

“Seriously?”

“I’m just meeting him, that’s all. Just meeting.”

I waved my hands to make it clear.

I only agreed to meet him at the ball’s opening night, and now he’s walking around with girls all over him. Any interest I had is quickly fading.

Just by looking at his face, you can tell he’s a playboy.

“So, what if you end up liking him?”

“Why are you so nosy all of a sudden? If I meet him, I meet him.”

Why is she acting like this? I don’t even plan on dating him. Can’t a friend try to stop being single for once without all this drama?

I don’t know why they both suddenly went gloomy. Was I too blunt?

Dust had been flying around for a while now. Amither’s tail drooped low and swayed slowly. Control your tail, come on. I’d love to yank it and

tell her to knock it off, but after what I read yesterday, I’ll let it slide.

“It’s starting.”

While we were chatting, everyone had taken their places, and the event was beginning.

The noisy crowd fell slightly quiet as all eyes turned toward the stage above the arena.

Professor Heights, who teaches swordsmanship, stepped onto the podium and began a brief explanation.

Though still inexperienced, first-year matches are valuable learning experiences. Watching upperclassmen duel helps broaden their understanding. And today’s duel between the first and second years—

It’s a chance for first-years to face stronger opponents and for second-years to test themselves and mentor juniors.

You might get advice, or you might gain insight mid-duel.

It’s a great activity meant to help everyone grow by watching together.

‘But probably not for people like us.’

After our previous fight, it seems the professors had a discussion.

Students? These two surpass even the professors. It’s difficult to have them in class or leave them out.

Since the academy promotes equality, they can’t just keep throwing tough missions at us for four years—it’s unfair.

But treating us like the rest is a problem too. It’s not just that we wouldn’t learn anything; it could harm the other students.

In the end, the academy gave us a “floating piece” role.

Like uncles babysitting kids—participate, but don’t go overboard. They knew we’d break the balance, so we agreed…

What kind of half-baked academy is this?

“Boring.”

We probably won’t get to participate unless it’s the very end. Amither looked satisfied with that, though.

Teferi, still hiding his strength, joined the others since he could participate as an upperclassman. He thinks he’s being subtle, but…

Ugh, so frustrating. My body feels stiff.

“Maybe I’m not a genius after all?”

“…Where’s that coming from all of a sudden?”

Just this morning, I was so confident that it was a great idea. But the bandages wrapping my chest are making it hard to breathe.

Maybe those comics and novels were lying to me.

Normally, the chest moves with the lungs as you breathe, but the bandages are pressing it down, making it hard.

Now I understand why Arwen looked at me like I was pathetic. This is worse than fabric brushing against bare skin.

“Sigh.”

I’ll just take it off. I sighed softly and slipped my hand under the collar of my uniform.

It might stretch a bit, but the material is stretchy enough, so my arm slid in easily.

“W-what are you doing now?!”

Amither jumped in front of me, blocking me with her body. Why? I can’t see. Move.

I wiggled around, trying to reach behind and undo the bandages.

“Hold on, it’s tighter than I thought. Hard to untie.”

“Why are you doing this now?! In front of people?!”

What people? Everyone’s attention is on Professor Heights at the podium.

If people were actually watching me, I wouldn’t be doing this. But we’re in the very back row. No one’s looking.

After struggling for a while, I finally unraveled the bandage around my chest. It’s pretty long.

Amither looked at it with disbelief.

“You had that wrapped around your chest?”

“Yeah. Clothes kept brushing against sensitive spots. But I’m done with it now.”

Never doing that again. It’s just uncomfortable. I’d probably get heat rash if I did that in summer.

I rolled the bandage up into a ball, and she took it from me.

“…I’ll throw it away for you.”

Saying that, Amither slipped the bandage into her pocket.

There weren’t any trash cans nearby, so I guess she planned to toss it later.

A wise choice.