Chapter 53: Chapter 53

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Translator: Vine

Chapter Title: A Stalker and a Sleepy Princess

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Sharin Sazaris.

The moment I ran into her in the hallway, I froze.

"What are you doing here?"

Sharin's eyes narrowed.

Over time, Sharin and I had built a relationship that was precariously close to friendship.

But even so.

A male friend infiltrating the girls' dormitory in women's clothes?

Naturally, it wasn't something that could be taken lightly.

That's why I was speechless.

Whatever I said now would just sound like an excuse to Sharin.

At this point, only Iris could truly save me.

Perhaps because I remained silent, Sharin gazed at me for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

"What is it this time?"

Sharin asked in a languid tone.

My eyes blinked at her words.

I'd cross-dressed and infiltrated the girls' dorm, but instead of scolding me, she asked about my situation first.

"...Sharin, are you an angel?"

"So you finally figured it out."

Sharin straightened her shoulders slightly, a smug expression on her face.

Sharin was more merciful than I'd imagined.

"Seriously, it's not like that."

"He's hiding something again!"

Just then, the voices of other girls echoed from the hallway.

Hearing the voices, Sharin walked over to me.

"Let's talk inside."

There was no good reason to be seen talking with the other girls.

Entering Hania and Iris's room, Sharin took off her shoes.

Then, barefoot, she plopped down onto a chair.

Why does she never wear socks?

It clearly wasn't her room, yet she seemed completely at ease.

"So why are you dressed like that?"

Since I'd been caught, there was no point in hiding it. Sitting in the chair opposite Sharin, I explained the general situation.

"To protect Lady Iris."

Of course, I vaguely glossed over the Nikita matter. Sharin didn't press for details either.

She knew that the parts I didn't mention were the parts I couldn't mention.

To Sharin, I'd always been suspicious from beginning to end. There was nothing new about it now.

"So that's why you didn't put me on the team?"

This summer's Magic Palace Han-on team.

Due to what I'd done in the last magic studies class, the magic students wouldn't join our team as rear guards.

So Sharin had offered to join our team.

But this time, I refused.

Since the real me wasn't there, I didn't want Sharin's strength to draw attention and potentially expose me.

That's why I'd hinted to the team members I'd assembled for this time that the 'me' joining them wasn't the real me. But I hadn't managed to hint to Sharin, who wasn't on the team.

"Do the Han-on team members know?"

"I haven't explicitly told them, but they know it's not me. They're the kind of people who understand things like that."

Seron kept trying to ask why, which was a bit annoying, but I solved it by giving him a few snacks.

"Hmph, so you told them, but you kept it a secret from me."

For some reason, her voice had an edge to it.

"...Sharin, are you angry?"

When I asked cautiously, Sharin smiled with her usual expression.

"No."

She's angry, alright.

"Sorry, but since I had to be in this getup, I couldn't just go around telling people."

Sharin stared at my face.

Her gaze was incredibly burdensome.

"I just thought it would be a little funny to see Han-on in a skirt."

Sharin's lips curled up slightly, a teasing glint in her eyes.

It seemed like she'd milk this for all it was worth in the future.

What a terrible hobby.

"But of all people, Hania…"

Sharin seemed to have something on her mind.

"Why? Is there something related to Hania?"

"Hmm, well, should I say yes, or should I say no?"

I don't know what it is, but it feels very ominous.

"I have to stay in this form until tomorrow. Tell me exactly what it is."

Sharin, as if finally deciding, hinted at it to me.

"Hania recently got a stalker."

Huh?

***

A stalker.

It's a crime that creates anxiety and fear by following someone without a legitimate reason.

Naturally, it's a very unpleasant act for the victim.

Hania is apparently being stalked.

"...Who would be so reckless?"

As mentioned before, Hania is the second-ranked student in the Martial Arts Department. What's more, she's the daughter of the Knight Commander.

If she put her mind to it, she could ruin anyone.

"Things in the world aren't always solved by force alone, you know."

"Even so, I don't think Hania is the type to just sit back and take it."

As I saw earlier, Hania isn't the type to quietly endure something like stalking. If she wanted to overturn it herself, she would have done so long ago.

"I didn't hear the details either. I just overheard Isabel talking about it."

Indeed, Sharin doesn't have many close friends to begin with.

She wouldn't have heard it from Hania herself. So it must have been from Isabel.

I thought Hania would surely handle such a problem herself.

"The problem is, I'm Hania right now."

So I'll be stalked for two days, today and tomorrow?

"Yeah, that's why I told you."

"Will there really be a problem?"

Today, I've already finished at the academy and plan to stay in the room. Tomorrow, I'll be in the Magic Palace all day anyway.

Once the Magic Palace event is over, I plan to return to my original form. The stalker won't even have time to follow me.

"Who knows?"

Sharin had only told me just in case. She didn't seem particularly worried.

Besides, I wasn't the actual target of the stalker. There was no particular reason to worry.

"I just hope no unnecessary trouble arises."

The one thing that bothered me was why Hania hadn't dealt with the stalker problem sooner.

'Is there some reason for it?'

I pondered deeply about the 'Flame Butterfly' arc.

Hania is a supporting character who always stays by Iris's side.

Her martial arts skills are definitely good. Her overall stats make her a well-balanced character.

But as Lucas rapidly climbed the ranks from below, she eventually lost her second-place position.

'With her looks and her pure devotion to Iris, she was quite popular.'

However, as is often the case with supporting characters, Hania's information was limited.

Furthermore, in the latter half, she got injured while by Iris's side and became an unusable character, so her active role was minimal.

'Nothing specific comes to mind.'

I don't know. *Creak—*

At that moment, the door opened.

"Hmph."

Iris had returned after taking a bath.

Damp and wet, Iris was drying her hair with a towel when she lifted her head.

She must have sensed another presence besides mine.

Iris's eyes met Sharin's. Iris slowly tilted her head, then looked back at me.

"Even so, this is my room, so please refrain from bringing your girlfriend here."

Girlfriend, she says.

"It's a misunderstanding. I brought her here to explain the situation since my identity was revealed."

I quickly explained the situation before things got awkward.

At that, Sharin covered her mouth in shock.

"How could you? I thought Han-on was serious about dating me."

At least change that blank expression before you say that.

"You should take proper responsibility."

Iris chimed in, playing along.

Caught between the two of them, I quietly swallowed my frustration.

The top student of Martial Arts and the top student of Magic Arts bullying me.

Someday, I will definitely get my revenge on both of them.

*Grrrroowl—*

At that moment, a sound rumbled from my stomach.

The hunger I'd momentarily forgotten while meeting Sharin returned.

"Hania doesn't make sounds like that."

At that, Iris pointed out my rumbling stomach.

This isn't something I can control, you know.

***

After a late dinner, enduring Sharin and Iris's teasing, the next day dawned.

I stretched luxuriously and got up vigorously.

'I'm tired.'

Perhaps because it wasn't my usual sleeping place. I must have slept a little tensely.

'I wonder if things are alright over there.'

I did tell my roommate, Card, about Hania.

'Card isn't the type to cross the line.'

He wouldn't mess things up by needlessly provoking the Knight Commander's daughter.

"Mmmph."

Just then, I saw Iris stirring in her bed.

She was completely buried under the blanket, showing no signs of getting out.

Instead, only a few strands of her long black hair peeked out.

Iris hadn't slept until late last night.

She had sat by the window, lost in thought, until late.

Because she suffered from insomnia, she couldn't easily fall asleep.

That's why Iris is very weak in the mornings.

Sometimes she spends the night wide awake, while other times she falls asleep too late and can barely get up in the morning.

Hania is in charge of waking up Iris in such cases.

On Iris's desk, I saw the Honeyer Honey Tea I had recommended to her previously.

And the Suyeocho candle was also extinguished, leaving behind a fragrance good for sleep.

It seemed she had been doing various things to help her sleep, just as I advised.

"Lady Iris, it's morning."

Today, I was Hania. So, to faithfully perform the role, I approached Iris's bed and called out to her.

But Iris showed no sign of getting up.

Knowing indirectly how agonizing Iris's insomnia was, I, too, wished I could let her sleep longer.

However, today was the day of the Summer Magic Palace. If I let her sleep any longer, we'd be in trouble.

"Lady Iris, you really must get up now."

Left with no choice, I pulled back the blanket, revealing Iris's fair face.

Long eyelashes and rose-tinted lips. And the deep shadows beneath her eyes gave her an almost decadent look.

How could her unique charm ability be active even when she was asleep?

It was an astonishing face, even upon a second look.

Moreover, she wasn't in her usual uniform but comfortable pajamas, so I didn't know where to look.

I felt like I'd have no excuse even if knights burst in and arrested me right then.

"Lady Iris…"

At that moment, I felt a pull on my wrist.

I turned my head to find Iris's hand tightly gripping my wrist.

My instincts screamed at me. Pull your wrist away right now.

A surge of strength coursed through my body.

I would show the results of my training so far.

And then I was pulled right in.

The wall that was Iris, the strongest imperial, was too high.

My strength, cultivated for only a few months, couldn't overcome Iris, who could already wield aura even in her sleep.

Pulled into Iris's embrace in an instant, I fell silent.

A soft sensation from her face and entire body enveloped me.

Her unique, gentle scent, permeating my mind, disoriented me.

Is this some kind of mental magic?

I can't escape.

In reality, the difference in our physical strength was overwhelming.

No matter how much I struggled, I couldn't break free unless Iris let go.

Just then, Iris, who was embracing me, slowly opened her eyes.

With eyes heavy with sleep, she gazed at me quietly, then smiled softly.

"Good morning…"

It was fortunate I was in a female form thanks to the Veil Bandage.

If I had been in my male form, there would have been problems in many ways.

Just then, Iris began to close her eyes, about to fall asleep again.

Any more of this, and I'll reach my limit.

"Lady Iris."

I politely raised my hand.

"Please forgive me just this once."

And then I delivered a flick to her forehead, meant to wake her from her morning slumber.