Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Will You Ask Me Out on a Date?
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"You... don't tell me you want to become a woman?"
"...Pardon?"
Chayuri Floridel froze at Ian's completely unexpected remark.
It was a question from a direction she hadn't even imagined.
Well, since Ian thought of him as a man, it was somewhat natural in a way.
But more than that, how did he know what was in this vial?
"Hmm... Honestly, I probably should've pretended not to notice, but since I've already seen it, I'll just say it. I'm the type who can't keep my mouth shut once I've spotted something."
"W-what are you talking about?"
"That? It's changeling spinal fluid."
"How did you...? It's just a transparent liquid."
"Well... I have a bit of an eye for that sort of thing."
Chayuri glanced back and forth between the glass vial containing the spinal fluid and Ian.
No matter how he looked at it, it was just a clear liquid.
He could distinguish this with the naked eye?
This guy had an oddly impressive knack for spotting unusual things in all sorts of ways.
Getting caught with the spinal fluid was a problem, but fortunately, Ian had completely misunderstood—in the opposite way.
At least his secret that he was actually a woman hadn't been exposed.
"Uh... it's fine. I respect sexual diversity and all that. Not that I like the idea of becoming a woman myself."
"Have you... ever taken changeling spinal fluid yourself, by any chance?"
"W-what are you saying? I've never seen my own body turn into a woman's!"
Hmm. So this guy had used changeling spinal fluid before too.
No wonder his fine control was so exceptional for a man.
If he'd experienced it firsthand, it made sense that he could identify it to some extent.
Whether he'd spotted it visually or noticed some other telltale sign, Chayuri couldn't say.
Pfft. Alright then. We'll go with that.
"Anyway, what I'm saying is, I respect it. Sexual minorities have their own struggles too, you know? I get it."
Pfft. Chayuri couldn't help but let out a laugh.
He'd struck him as oddly comical before, but this confirmed it.
His words lacked any real refinement, yet the man himself didn't come across as frivolous.
Come to think of it, Ian was a truly peculiar person.
A commoner who'd taken down a 5th-grade beast, who stayed silent even when gossiped about in class, but then boldly confronted a noble cadet badmouthing him during arithmetic class.
Especially impressive was how he'd overtaken Hera's score and challenged her to a 3rd-circle duel.
He ignored petty matters but couldn't tolerate anyone belittling 'magic.'
And there were other oddities, like how he'd let his class placement exam score get tampered with without a peep.
Not one or two quirks, but plenty.
What kind of life had forged a commoner with such values and magical prowess? It was impossible to guess.
One thing was clear: Ian had roamed the world freely, carving his own path and walking his own way as a mage.
Unlike Chayuri, trapped like a stifled doll within confining fences.
For some reason, Ian's recklessness shone brightly in Chayuri's eyes.
"By the way, mind if I ask you a question?"
"What? I can't tell you what it feels like to become a woman."
Chayuri had to graduate as the academy's top student.
His mother had drilled it into him: to become the Floridel heir, to catch the Archmage Duke's eye, he naturally had to claim the top spot at the academy.
That's why he'd targeted the high-scoring Ian during the class placement exam.
He couldn't afford to fail, so running away had been a given.
A low score would have meant enduring his mother's maniacal scolding.
Just imagining it was horrifying.
Of course, if he'd known back then that protective magic wouldn't activate, he might have at least helped him escape.
Anyway, he no longer felt like acting that way now.
There was no immediate way to beat a commoner who smashed 5th-grade beasts with raw skill.
Instead, Chayuri started seeing him in a slightly different light.
Maybe even a way to use him differently.
"What are you doing this weekend?"
"This weekend? Today?"
"No. This weekend's already over. I mean next weekend."
"Dunno. Haven't thought about it."
"Then, will you ask me out on a date?"
Being around this man might let him forget this torment.
And if Ian made plans with him for next weekend, he could use that as an excuse to put off taking the changeling spinal fluid.
"...Are you nuts? What kind of date between guys?"
Of course, reeling this guy in wouldn't be easy.
"Oh, come on. Sorry, but I've only ever liked women—born women. Not... that."
"...That's not what I meant."
Title: The Unimaginable Identity of the Spinal Fluid Buyer (No Spoilers) + Story of Getting a Date with a Guy
Author: Kim Muggle
After the auction ended and I was heading back to the academy, the carriage carrying the spinal fluid buyers was going the same way.
Turns out they were headed to the academy too.
Then one of the two buyers got out of their carriage, and it turned around and left.
Guess who that one guy who got out was?
It was none other than... the top student who ditched me and bolted back then...!!!
The guy was clutching a glass vial of spinal fluid, and I was so shocked I froze on the spot.
But I patted him and said it was okay.
I respect sexual diversity, after all.
A guy wanting to become a woman? Sure, that could happen.
But then the genre suddenly shifted to horror.
I try to comfort him a bit, and he suddenly asks to go on a date next weekend.
Not just 'let's go on a date,' but precisely, 'Will you ask me out on a date?'
But I like women—born women.
And what's with asking me to be the one proposing it?
Anyway, we ended up agreeing to meet.
Turns out he knows an amazing spicy pork stir-fry joint near the academy. Figured I'd at least get some pork.
Unimaginable identity no spoilers
This guy's got no brain cells lololol
This dude just loves pork stir-fry lol
The situation's flowing into peak comedy lololol
Declaring full support for the top student starting today
Top student... runs...!
Kim Muggle) Why support the top student, you lunatics? ;;; I like women
This guy's just clueless lol
Environmentalist) Kim Muggle's just plain dumb
Haaah... it's out...!
He's the only one who doesn't know right now lol
LOLOLOL how is this coincidence even possible
Hmm. Gotta eat that pork.
Did the dorm supervisor tell him to take the spinal fluid just to set this up?
How far did you even see, you chicken?!
What an insane coincidence. But don't worry, whatever you think happened won't. Since it's like this, chat him up and dig for info. Feels connected to the 5th-grade beast incident no matter how I look at it.
Yeah, he might be tangled in something without knowing.
Oh shit, did he release the beast to kill me?
Nah, the top student nearly died too. Just go and come back safe.
Ao, what the hell are your eyes for?
Why the fuck?
Back in the dorm, after posting about what happened with Chayuri, a bunch of incomprehensible comments poured in.
Why were these idiots suddenly on about 'cluelessness'?
If a guy asked you on a date, you'd be happy?
Feeling unnecessarily offended, he was about to pick fights in the gallery when a new post went up.
It was from the antique collector who'd helped at the auction.
Oh right, he'd said he'd tell him how to awaken the relic he'd bought later.
Ian was dying to know what this bracelet really was.
Title: How to Awaken the Relic, Apparently
Author: AntiqueCollector
Sorry, took a while looking into similar relics.
The relic you bought today looks like it's been dormant for a very long time.
In cases like this, the embedded magic might have lost its function.
First, check if the relic is working properly.
Pour some mana into the relic.
If there's no change, follow the procedure below.
Ian channeled mana into the bracelet as the antique collector instructed.
But the dusty bracelet showed no reaction whatsoever.
The mana just slid off the surface like it was an ordinary object.
He continued reading the antique collector's post.
Judging by the bracelet's form, it's definitely a relic where each bead has a different effect.
I'll teach you the magic formula to restore the relic.
(Photo of a faded paper with a 7th-circle magic formula drawn on it)
Using this magic should bring back the bracelet's light and reveal the embedded magic formula inside the beads.
It's a formula that can awaken most relics, so this should do it.
Ian examined the 7th-circle magic formula the antique collector had posted.
No way. How was he supposed to use this?
Even for him, casting such a complex 7th-circle spell on the spot was impossible.
His max so far was 5th-circle—and that was only possible because MagicIsNotHard had simplified the formula.
No way I can use this ;;;
LOLOLOLOL dumping a 7th-circle spell on Muggle lolol
And it's a ridiculously hard one lol
Grandpa, kids these days can't do this stuff!!
Mana cost is 71,100 too. Kim Muggle'd need to cultivate first to use this.
Kim Muggle hasn't cultivated since his mana capacity hit 1960
Mana cost of 71,100?? Seventy-one thousand? Was that even possible?
This wasn't a matter of skill; it was straight-up impossible right now.
Antique grandpa can't keep up with post regen so he doesn't even know Kim Muggle's a muggle for sure
Right? You're grandma too
(Furiously swinging a tree branch elf icon)
Wait, do high-circle spells always have mana costs that jump like this?
Not all of them. This spell's mana cost is abnormally high because of its nature. It's like a cure-all for relics—designed to awaken any type of relic in every scenario. That's why it packs every possible function, jacking up the cost.
Got it. Like preparing everything because you don't know what it'll need.
Then can't you strip out just the parts needed for this relic and make an easier spell?
Of course it's possible^^ But antique grandpa's got presbyopia so he can't break down the formula piece by piece. I'll do it for you, so wait a sec^^ Come on out, grandpa :)
You brats
Then MagicIsNotHard started bantering back and forth with the antique grandpa in the comments.
He had no idea what was going on, but it seemed like there was a way.
In the meantime, maybe he should cultivate for the first time in ages.
He definitely needed to boost his mana capacity.
Careful not to lose track of time like last time, he cultivated in one-hour sessions.
About three hours later, MagicIsNotHard left a comment.
Phew... Done^^; I separated just the functions that seem needed for that bracelet.
She pulled it off
Splitting formulas is hard enough, but guessing what's needed from antique grandpa's ramblings too
Talking to antique grandpa is no joke;
Whatever it was, she'd done it.
So he just needed to use this.
(Photo of 4th-circle magic formula) Awakening relics is basically awakening their memories, so it takes a ton of mana by default. Minimized it as much as possible, but this spell's cost is 2240.
Thx thx, cultivated while waiting and it should be doable
Perfect^^ With just this formula, awakening the relic is a breeze :)
Preparedness is king as always
Pretty tough for a 4th-circle
Wasn't that way harder than the 5th-circle back then? Can you even do it?
Succeed quick and tell us what the relic is, curious
(Con holding fork and knife in anticipation)
Fortunately, he'd boosted his mana capacity with cultivation while waiting.
Even after using this spell, 200 would be left, so no mana exhaustion.
Ian looked over the magic formula MagicIsNotHard had provided.
Even trimmed from 7th-circle, it was still a solid 4th-circle.
And the components weren't simple by any means.
One of the four components was a thick, long line connecting the other three—straightforward enough.
But the remaining three were quite intricate.
Probably tougher than any spell he'd used so far.
"Gonna need some practice."
It probably wouldn't work on the first try.
If he pulled an all-nighter, could he master it before class tomorrow? No clue.
No choice but to give it a shot.
Ian began his first-ever 4th-circle spell computation.