Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: A Pathetic Commoner Like That
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A Pathetic Commoner Like That
Why isn't anyone talking about this, you fucks? You're gonna find out anyway. That shit's a gender-swap potion.
"What?"
A weird noise slipped from my mouth as I read CantDoThisEither's comment.
A completely unexpected identity. Why the hell did they tell me to take something like that?
No way... they trying to force a gender swap on me? I trusted those perverted archmage bastards...!
"You crazy fucks. This means war."
Shit, for real? These perverts are getting banned from the gallery starting today. Nuking with a tactical nuke, get out.
Hold up hold up hold up hold up. Wait a sec, dude. That's just a temporary effect.
We said it was good, didn't say it wouldn't TS ya.
LMAOOOOO gallery ban declaration for real?
What's wrong with a little TS! TS ain't bad!
Becoming a girl once in a while ain't bad.
Hey hey, calm down first and hear me out to the end.
...Explain. If you creeps really gave me this to TS me with some shady intent...
LOL what you gonna do about it
Even if he knew, Kim Muggle couldn't do shit about it.
I just wanted a little sister.
LOL just shut up and become a girl already.
TS Muggle XX gonna get fucked so haaaard...!
Fuck, maybe I should just leave the gallery for real.
I was about to drop a tactical nuke out of frustration when FlapFlap posted a new thread.
Kim Muggle, Look Here
Author: FlapFlap
Yeah, drinking the 'Changelings' Spinal Fluid' will swap your gender. But it reverts after 24 hours.
The first sip will probably hurt like you're dying. Especially if your mana capacity is high or mana affinity is strong.
Because just like male and female bodies have different structures, the way they handle mana is different too. Think of it as the agony of that structure getting completely overhauled when your gender swaps.
The key point is, once you've experienced that other gender's structure once, it sticks around even after the gender reverts. So you keep the magical advantages of a female body. Got it?
Summary: Become a girl for a day, but your magic skills skyrocket.
P.S. Drink the Changeling's Spinal Fluid when your realm is low. Like FlapFlap said, once you've built up your circuits or magic muscles at higher realms, the process hurts way more^^
Women are more flexible, men are stronger—like that, magic has gender differences too. You get both. Too long to explain in detail, so check the concept post that summarizes papers on magic for gender-divided races.
I skimmed the related concept post after reading ExtremeEfficiencyFanatic's comment.
It wasn't as simple as "flexible vs strong" for magic gender differences.
There are countless factors in magic manifestation.
Just like body structures are insanely complex, so is magic.
If you can have both male and female advantages, simple math says you're twice as good as others.
I roughly got the necessity of the Changeling's Spinal Fluid.
Not 100% sure, but the difference between drinking it or not seems huge.
Got the gist, seems good to have.
Most strong mages drink it. Not necessary to raise realm without it, but your options widen a ton.
Beyond gender, experiencing different existences is important. I once lived as a tree for 10 years on purpose. My mana breathing capacity exploded after.
Ugh, Elping;; This is kinda extreme. Every being communicates with the world differently. Magic is communication with the world, so knowing various methods is good. Not easy, most have costs. Changeling's Spinal Fluid is relatively accessible, hence recommended.
Philosophy again, headache. Anyway, drink it, spend one day as girl. Guess I'll do it over the weekend and hole up in the dorm.
A sip is enough, so save the rest. Can sell it for cash, might need it later.
One use makes it permanent, right? Why need more?
You get the magic structure. But body reverts to male. From second time, no pain to go girl.
Who knows if you'll wanna girl again lol
Post girl pics to gallery when you do...! Hnggg...!
Fuck no, never using it again. Get the effect and sell the rest.
It's like an elixir that lets you comprehend a new realm in exchange for becoming a girl.
From the second time, it just turns into a regular TS potion.
Fuck no, not becoming a girl twice.
Get the effect once and sell it right away. Looks like it sells for a good price.
But why did FlapFlap insist on this one specifically?
It's good, but not like it's absolutely essential over the other stuff.
But there was other stuff too, why this one specifically?
Dunno? Only that dragon knows? Plenty other good stuff tbh.
Best at lowest realm. Muggles or too low realm might die from weakness. At your level, it'll hurt bad but bearable.
That shit hurts like hell if you take it after getting strong. I did it late after reaching 8th rank and nearly died. Better early. Fuck, thinking back is nightmare fuel.
Various gallery users chimed in, but FlapFlap didn't show up after.
Wasn't a frequent poster anyway. Probably just meant what he said.
Anyway, gotta go to the academy proper tomorrow, so not today. Weekend it is.
"Wait, not tomorrow—it's morning already?"
Fuck, snapped to and the sun was up.
Started entropy purge at evening for sure.
That shit took so long it's morning now.
"Ah, gotta go to school."
Suddenly no breakfast, no sleep, straight to academy.
Body fine from training earlier, but mental fatigue's a bitch.
"What can ya do, gotta go..."
After last night's mess, dying to skip.
But gotta go. Skipped yesterday, miss more today and it's bad.
Know nothing, gotta pay attention in class at least.
Ah shit, saving this for weekend. No sleep and it's already morning, gotta academy.
Left a quick comment about heading to academy and stepped out of the dorm room.
My official first day in A-Class was two days after the Class Placement Exam.
Meaning I started academy life a day later than everyone else.
Biggest worry: getting bombarded with questions from cadets for being late.
Hard for a shut-in loner like me to handle attention.
Fortunately—or unfortunately—the manipulated info had spread already.
Cadets knew my score was a display error.
So no one came up to grill me.
"That guy's the one? The display error dude."
"Makes sense. How could he get 1910? And a commoner."
"Still, original 910 is weird too?"
"Yeah. Even without error, beating Chayuri for 2nd? Bet he cheated. That's why his zone's system glitched too."
"Could be. Commoner taking 2nd doesn't add up."
"Annoying... Academy said system's still under investigation. Something fishy's up. Might come out later."
"I'll stab if I smell anything before then. Being below a commoner like that pisses me off."
They're not approaching me, but A-Class reactions were iffy.
Score correction was accepted-ish, but the commoner thing was the issue.
Even 910 is 2nd place high.
Commoner 2nd + system error = 'that fucker cheated' vibe everywhere in A-Class.
'Fuck, at least make it 800 or something. This draws more eyes.'
Didn't account for me being commoner? Or 1910→910 simple change?
Chancellor's dumb handling made me the unjust outcast.
Wait, is this level of suspicion normal?
Beat Hisenna in entrance exam, beat Elrim in spar pre-opening.
Only some saw those. Whole school might not know.
But someone saw, yet suspicion this high?
Answer came quick.
"Heh heh. See? A real pathetic-looking commoner like that. Heh heh."
Elrim was in the gossip group, chiming in with her "pathetic~".
"But wasn't there a commoner cadet who beat Perryhill in entrance exam? Isn't that him?"
"...Huh, maybe? Face was small on screen, hard to tell."
"Looks like a generic commoner. Plain black hair. But if it's him, kinda fits?"
"Elrim, didn't you spar someone pre-opening? Rumor you lost to some no-family cadet... him?"
"Wh-what? No way? You ever seen me lose a spar?"
"True. Elrim wins all spars."
"Exactly. No way Elrim lost?"
"Th-that time I just taught magic to a pathetic weakling. And the commoner who beat Perryhill entrance ain't him. Look, would a loser like that beat Perryhill?"
"Yeah. Commoners can't score that high anyway."
"Right! Definitely cheated!"
...Fuck. Turns out Elrim started the gossip.
Why lie so obviously? Scared if my Hisenna win spreads, people'll believe she lost to me too?
Gotta re-educate Elrim later.
Wanna snap back, but scary for shut-in loner to confront bully packs...
Show strength later, truth outs.
Public re-education on Elrim, suspicions fade.
Prove with magic, no need verbal fights.
Of course, stuck eavesdropping and outcast for now.
It's fine... Used to loner life. Got gallery.
Thanks to suspicions on me, no one knew or mentioned the 5th-grade beast.
'Only 3 witnessed 5th-grade beast anyway.'
Me, Chayuri, and the dying nameless cadet.
Dead cadet processed as dropout, like Chancellor said.
Painful ignoring a death.
But nothing I can do now.
No family backing either.
Memory wiped by Chancellor too. Without gallery, would've lived amnesiac.
Mad, but only path is get stronger.
Dunno when, but strong enough not to bow to grannies like her.
Painful, but rationally, best is train till that day.
'Chayuri got gagged too? Or staying quiet.'
Other witness Chayuri sat in class corner, just reading book.
If caught, Chancellor would've done something.
Or family backing untouchable.
Or fled without being witnessed.
Or memory-wiped like me.
Whatever, incident buried solid.
Talk to Chayuri later about it.
'Chill out. Chill.'
Alive, memory intact.
Meditated to shake anxiety.
Tried following Meditation King's gallery post.
Mind eased.
Yeah. Do what I can. Nail today's classes first.
What's class now?
Reached for schedule, professor entered.
Cadets seated in huge tiered lecture hall.
"As announced yesterday, test today."
Fuck, sudden test.
What test? No idea?
Probably announced when I skipped yesterday.
Frantically scanned for familiar face.
Elrim with her gossip crew.
Fuck, re-educate her proper next time.
Hisenna sat not far, lucky.
Slunk over, tapped her shoulder.
"Hisenna. What test is this?"
"I-Ian? Oh, r-right. You, uh, weren't here yesterday?"
Hisenna replied robot-stiff.
Why she acting awkward sudden?
Anyway, test first.
"Professor will explain soon. Just said test yesterday. [Precision Magic Studies] class, so probably related."
[Precision Magic Studies]?
Probably precise magic use.
"Look at him. Doesn't even know what class."
"Busted in test today. Let's see how good."
"Bet he sucks. Raise suspicions right after."
Spoke too loud, surrounding cadets murmured.
Fuck, gossip behind back, come say to face.
Wanna go yell.
But won't actually.
Shut-in loner trait: rage inside, freeze front.
Then prove with skill.
Ace test, no more gossip.
Problem: ace unknown test...
Hmm.
Guys emergency walk walk walk walk super urgent just got here and precision magic test??? Wtf do!!!
Post to gallery first.