Chapter 9: Lucia’s Offer

Imperial Magic Academy.

It was a prestigious academy personally founded by the Emperor to cultivate capable mages.

Because of that, it boasted an overwhelmingly grand size compared to other academies.

The library was no different.

The library, a collection of knowledge, was not just large but magnificent.

‘It’s amazing.’

Until now, besides the Emperor’s office and my cabin, there was nowhere significant I had been.

Even in my previous life, I hadn’t even been on a proper trip, let alone overseas travel.

To me, this place was entirely new, truly like visiting a tourist spot.

However.

“Haa…”

Coming here, I took several deep breaths.

Even though I became short of breath, I didn’t stop walking.

The former was to release the swirling emotions, and the latter was because I felt I would collapse right there if I stopped.

‘In that sense, it’s fortunate.’

Perhaps because the semester hadn’t started yet?

I didn’t see a single person on the way to the library.

Even more so because the time was early morning.

[Tap tap.]

Looking around, I didn’t delay and entered the library.

My footsteps were hurried.

It also felt as if I was being chased by something.

“Hey student! There’s still time until the library opens!”

A librarian guarding the entrance of the library called out and stopped me.

“Student!”

‘Ah.’

Just let me in.

Really.

Annoyance welled up unnecessarily.

‘Why can’t they just leave me alone?’

The Emperor, too.

Everyone in this academy.

‘What did I do so wrong?’

My body, standing still, trembled once.

Then, finally, clenching my fists, I turned around.

At the same time, the librarian’s eyes widened, and she exclaimed.

“Oh my! You were a professor. I thought… You must be one of the new appointees this time?”

“…Yes. I’ve been newly assigned this time.”

How did she know I was a professor?

I couldn’t tell.

But I didn’t want to know either.

Right now, I just desperately wanted to be alone.

When I was sad, I would read books.

To deeply immerse myself in a book.

It didn’t matter if it was a novel or an academic journal.

If it was a novel, into the protagonist’s emotions.

If it was an academic journal, into the flow of knowledge.

To bury my sadness and surrender myself to it.

“That badge is something only professors can wear. Anyway… There’s still time before the students come, so take care of your business. I needlessly held you up when you’re busy. I’m sorry.”

The librarian spoke to me as if apologizing.

At that, my heart pounded.

She hadn’t done anything wrong.

The one who was truly wrong was the Emperor.

Why was I getting angry at the librarian?

She shouldn’t be the one apologizing.

The Emperor, who tormented me, should apologize.

That’s how it should be.

The Emperor had been constantly tormenting me.

Now, unable to endure it anymore, I had decided to escape.

Everything was because of the Emperor.

That librarian had done nothing wrong.

So, I should say it.

I should correct her.

“No…”

“Yes? Professor, I couldn’t hear your voice. Could you please say it again—”

“I said no!”

I shouted.

The tears I had held back rolled down my cheeks.

It had ignited.

The wellspring of emotions.

The wellspring of emotions covered in gunpowder.

“Pr-Professor…?”

The librarian seemed quite startled by my sudden outburst.

I realized my mistake.

The person I wanted to shout at wasn’t her.

“Ah, no… No, it’s not. Yes, it’s not. It’s really not.”

My voice trembled.

“…”

The librarian looked at me with a puzzled gaze.

The librarian was quite elderly.

They say wrinkles contain a person’s life, don’t they?

Looking at the wrinkles.

Looking at a person’s life, guilt rushed in like a tsunami.

The target of my anger was wrong.

My uncontrollable emotions flowed in the wrong direction.

No, I don’t know anymore.

I just wanted to leave.

[Hiccup…!]

I turned my body.

And then I ran.

“Pr-Professor!”

Ignoring the librarian’s voice from behind me.

I hid deep within the library.

It was too difficult.

I was just a normal high school student.

And I didn’t have the strong mental fortitude to endure the torment pouring down on me just because I was a s*ave.

“Ugh, ugh…”

I roughly clutched the black skirt with my clenched fists.

My white and smooth legs were revealed through the crumpled skirt.

Such frail and beautiful legs.

‘This isn’t me…’

It was like this today too.

No, it had been like this continuously for the past three years.

My voice gradually started mixing with aegyo, and I became sensitive on the days of my period.

I was gradually changing into a woman.

“I don’t want it… hic! Anymore…”

Being tormented.

Changing into a woman.

“Hic, ugh…”

I hugged my legs with both arms.

Was it because the skirt was short?

Cold air entered between my legs.

Again.

The air around me had always been cold towards me.

“Hmm…”

Ariella’s morning routine was fixed.

Wake up early and watch Iris sleeping.

Her plump belly revealed in her sleepiness.

The cute navel wide open in the center.

And sometimes, when her clothes were rolled up high, seeing the bottom of her chest.

Wasn’t seeing that the happiest moment of the day?

It was something to look forward to that much.

But.

“She’s not there…?”

She wasn’t there today.

She should have been sleeping in bed by now.

Even searching through the window cracks, even using magic, Iris wasn’t there.

What on earth could have happened?

A question mark appeared in Ariella’s mind, and she was the kind of person who had to solve her curiosity to feel at ease.

[Creak—]

She opened the door of Iris’s house and entered.

“Hmm…”

At the same time, the corners of Ariella’s eyes began to form an elegant curve.

This smell.

This scent that tingled the tip of her nose.

“Sniff…! Haa… Iris, you pleasured yourself, didn’t you?”

This strange smell was clearly the scent of vaginal fluid.

So strong.

And deep. She must have done something last night.

There was more than one piece of evidence.

There was a damp blanket in the room.

‘She must have done laundry at the nearby stream.’

Thinking that she carried the blanket alone and struggled, a smile naturally formed.

However.

That effort was in vain.

“Sniff…”

Ariella buried her nose in the blanket.

It was concentrated.

The thick, concentrated scent soaked her brain through her nose.

“Is she the type who’s very wet…?”

With such a strong smell, the blanket should have been completely soaked.

Ariella’s imagination ran wild in her mind.

It was at that moment.

“S-Surely…!”

Ariella screamed.

Because a single thought came to her mind.

“Did she have s*x?!”

Vaginal fluid flowed out this much.

No matter how wet a woman was, this was too much.

Unless they had s*x passionately all night long.

“Th-That’s impossible…”

To think she had been beaten to the punch already.

Ariella’s mind began to fill with confusion.

It felt like an ice cream she had been saving to eat slowly had melted away in the hot sun before she could even eat it.

“Ragrasha…”

Ariella ground her teeth together.

There was definitely a crystal ball installed in this room by the Emperor.

If another man had tried to have a relationship with Iris.

‘That crazy bich wouldn’t have left him alone.’

Then there was only one culprit.

It must be the Emperor.

“I intended to go easy, but that’s not going to happen now.”

The Emperor was the one who made the first move.

If Iris had already tasted pleasure.

And if she fell for Ragrasha because of it.

She couldn’t make her her own anymore.

So.

“Look forward to it.”

I will make you feel paradise.

Ariella’s eyes shone eerily.

[Sniff.]

Clutching the book tightly, I kept sniffling.

I didn’t know that holding something could bring such peace to my heart.

This also felt like I was becoming a woman, but.

In fact, I knew.

No, the flame of emotion that was burning fiercely had died down, and I had finally returned to normal.

‘It’s true that I’ve become a woman.’

But even in a field of thorns, flowers bloom.

I would not lose the masculinity within me.

Because the me who has lost masculinity is no longer me.

[Hiccup!]

That’s what I thought.

“Hey… What are you doing?”

A voice was heard.

It was a young voice.

Responding to the sound, I lifted my head.

“Whoa..! You cried? Why? Did your boyfriend cheat on you or something?!”

The child who saw my face began to show an exaggerated reaction.

Her blue eyes, resembling the sea, widened.

Her sky-blue hair, like the Milky Way, fluttered like animal ears.

“Wait a minute. I’ll wipe it for you.”

The child hastily took out a handkerchief from her arms.

Intense kindness received for the first time.

For a moment, dumbfounded, I said “Uh uh” as the child’s small white hand reached for my face.

“What were you crying about so much? You look like a new student. I’m a new student too.”

“I, I’m…”

I’m not a new student.

The child cut me off before I could say that.

“It’s okay. It happens. All guys are wolves, wolves. That’s why I hate guys.”

It was clear she was greatly misunderstanding something.

“So, I…”

“Uh-huh. You don’t have to say it. I know everything. Just swallow it. It only hurts your heart more if you talk about it needlessly.”

“…”

“Good! You’re doing well.”

The child, who cut me off once again, smiled brightly and stroked my head.

I had no idea what she was talking about.

But, the child’s goal was halfway achieved.

Because I was dumbfounded.

My upset feelings flew far away.

“My name is Lucia Gracie. It’s a shame I was second in the exam, but… still, I’m quite strong, you know?”

The child introduced herself as Lucia Gracie.

Lucia jumped up and offered me her hand.

“Sorry about the boyfriend thing. But you can’t just stay here crying. You have to move forward! And get revenge. By making a pretty girlfrie… no, boyfriend!” “No, so—”

“Want me to kill your boyfriend?”

“What…?”

I, who had been about to refute her words, closed my mouth at Lucia’s following statement.

Lucia seemed happy just because I was interested.

[Giggling.]

Lucia, who laughed beautifully, continued.

“The boyfriend who made you suffer. I’ll kill him for you.”

[Intrigued.]

Lucia’s words were interesting.

At that, I decided to abandon my pride.

[Nodding.]

With my face turning bright red, I conveyed my affirmation to her words.

“Hehe. Alright! I’ll take responsibility and kill him for you. In return… tell me your name!”

A friend who was excessively energetic had found me.