Chapter 56
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: I'm Okay If It's Ian
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Crunch crunch.
"Hey, you loser! You're late, so why are you being so quiet? Want some snacks? Why'd you bring that broom?"
Elrim, sitting next to me in the carriage, chomped away at her snacks as she asked.
In the end, I didn't resist and boarded the carriage.
This field trip was unusual—all cadets up to the third years were participating.
Probably the headmaster's old hag's doing.
With me on the last carriage, all the cadets were now heading to the destination.
"If you're late, of course you're gonna stay quiet. Do I need to brag about it or something?"
"Isn't that obvious? The protagonist always shows up late! You can't miss the chance to steal the spotlight! But hey, can I borrow that broom for a sec?"
"Yeah, go ahead and have your fun..."
I snagged a few bites of Elrim's snacks and sprawled out on the seat.
Elrim, fascinated by my flying broom, fiddled with it every which way.
The reason we were heading to the field trip site was simple: a method had emerged.
A certain high-nik had suggested it in a secret message. No idea why it was secret.
But one thing was certain—it was a method with low odds of success.
Everything hinged on me, and honestly, I still wasn't confident I could pull it off.
The high-nik had only told me to "wake him up" and given a few clues—no concrete steps.
In other words, I had to figure it out myself with just those hints until I woke the high-nik.
"Haa..."
"Hey, loser! Let's play the game I brought! Scared? You chicken?"
"Yeah, I'm scared... Play it by yourself..."
Elrim, bored with the broom, pulled out a magic board game.
I pushed away Elrim's face as she shoved the board game at me and yammered on.
Damn, should've sat somewhere else. I had a lot on my mind, and her noise was giving me a headache.
Anyway, the decision was already made.
And if it worked, it was a way for everyone to survive. It was just tough to pull off.
No other options. They'd caught on somehow and left early.
Being caught by Professor Neyk meant any funny business could've turned dangerous.
For now, the key thing to figure out was why they'd left early.
Depending on the reason, we might have to fight the moment we arrived.
Title: Anyway, I Got On, Fuck
Author: Kim Muggle
I'm on the carriage, heading to the field trip.
I'm on the last one.
No other way. Got caught by snake professor, so any shenanigans could've been risky.
Of course, there was a chance I could've luckily escaped and survived, but besides that, a method popped up to deal with the taboo mages and save the academy too.
But pulling it off is gonna be insanely hard.
To do it, I gotta go there.
Can't say what it is though—the provider asked to keep it secret for now.
Probably dimension-related, so y'all might have limits on helping anyway lol.
Instead, if I need help in specific situations, I'll ask then.
What is it, fuck, seriously
Provider? Which galler among us gave Kim Muggle a secret mission via DM or whatever?
Seems like it? Who is it? Why are you having all the fun alone!!
Tell us pleeeeease!!
This guy's just slapping "pleeeeease" on everything now like it works every time
Just tell everyone together, why secret DM! I'm curious!
Who the hell is it fr;
Anyway, sounds like there is a method. Might be cases we can't know about. Whoever it is, make it happen.
If you fail, that guy's getting banned from the galler
Dunno which galler it is, but hope they don't disappoint.
The Archmage Gallery folks grasped the situation right away from my scribbled post.
Like with Orgasm before, they step up when they're confident in their approach.
That's why the others follow the one who's taken the lead.
The other gallers probably had their own ideas too.
But Archmages tend to act cautiously unless they think it's the best way.
Conversely, the secret-posting high-nik was convinced this was the optimal path.
And that the best path was this difficult...
Meant the situation was seriously bad.
Title: So Why Do You Think They Suddenly Advanced the Schedule?
Author: Kim Muggle
Anyway, super nervous but gonna have to fight once.
Can't just abandon jewel professor, and with all these cadets who'd die, sitting idle feels wrong (I'm such a hero lol barrier lol)
And time to school that headmaster hag.
So, what we need to figure out now is their intent.
Why'd they bump the schedule up a day?
They definitely noticed some interference with their plans, one way or another
But what if they activate magic the moment we arrive? Then Kim Muggle has to do something right as we get off the carriages
I don't think so :) Reason is cuz we purified the taboo magic that was turning top student into a 'vessel'
Ah, so at least it'll take them time to remake top student into a vessel
That magic to turn a human into a 'vessel'—decoded it, and it takes time for the target to fully become one. My analysis says about 24-36 hours.
I let out a deep sigh. My tension eased a bit.
So at least nothing would happen the moment we arrived.
We'd bought at least a day. Protecting Chayuri could buy even more time.
That's when something clicked.
Why they'd suddenly advanced the field trip schedule.
Ah, so they noticed the top student's taboo was purified? With up to 36 hours needed, the original 3-day 2-night schedule makes it tight to remake the vessel and pull off the huge magic. They'd need to cast the taboo today at latest for a safe plan.
That's it. Adding my thoughts: they noticed the purification, and probably guessed there's someone in the academy who can do it. Not sure it's you, but they'd rush the schedule, drag him there, nab top student on-site, cast magic, and execute the huge array once vessel's ready.
Oh, if there's a taboo mage among the profs in class, they'd check top student's status
Come to think of it, that traitor prof's class was this morning
There was Professor Plma's morning class.
So he'd reported that Chayuri was purified.
I hadn't known their goal back then, so I couldn't predict this.
If I'd known the taboo on Chayuri was like that, I wouldn't have let him attend class.
Kim Muggle's insight damn
Growing up, from monkey to human level
Tbh anyone would think that much lol
(Magic girl praise rune! Kon)
Then what to do on arrival is set: protect top student from getting dragged off, find jewel prof, and do what that provider said. Right?
Good that final showdown isn't immediate lol
But top student left early, so might already be nabbed?
Right. Chayuri was on an earlier carriage than me.
If they approached him right on arrival...
"Hey, loser. When did Chayuri board?"
"Hmph. Don't talk to me. I'm busy right now? Pfft. That's all you got? I'm overtaking you like this? Total loser~"
"Grr...! Rematch!"
I hurriedly asked Elrim, who was deep into a magic board game with the cadets next to her.
Since I wouldn't play, she'd roped in others to taunt.
She was celebrating her wins over the other cadets, calling them losers and trash-talking.
"Hey. When did Chayuri board?!"
"Hmph. Win the game, and maybe I'll tell you?"
"Wanna die? If you lose, get off the seat and do a grand prostration till we arrive."
"Th-that's..."
"Chicken? Knew you couldn't win, huh, loser?"
"N-no! I can lose at anything else, but not this!"
No such thing as a quiet day with her.
And the magic board game she pulled out was definitely new to me.
Rules weren't too complex, so I picked them up quick and won the first round handily.
"Sorry for getting cocky despite being a loser...!"
"So when did Chayuri board."
"R-right on the carriage in front...!"
"Keep it up till we arrive."
"N-nooo! It's bumpy and I'm gonna puke!"
"Should've won then."
Elrim was face-down under the seat, mid-grand prostration.
The carriage shook a lot, so it looked rough.
But she could lean on the seatback in front, so she wouldn't topple easily.
She deserved this much for her antics.
Top student's on the immediate front carriage, might be savable
Anyway, Chayuri was on the one right in front.
Had to find him the second we got off.
Moments later, the carriage stopped.
Elrim let out a gag as she flopped to the floor, and I leaped over her to hop off.
"Chayuri!"
Chayuri and Hisenna had just arrived too and were getting off their carriage.
I rushed over to check Chayuri's condition.
If vessel conversion was underway, we'd be in trouble.
"Ian? Where were you?"
"Ian! We were looking everywhere! You vanished during afternoon class too!"
Fortunately, Chayuri seemed normal.
They wouldn't cast taboo magic openly in a carriage, obviously.
"Hey. Stick by me for now. Don't follow any professors, no matter what."
And so I glued myself to Chayuri, guarding him.
I felt professors' gazes a few times.
But they didn't try anything right away.
Once all cadets gathered, the field trip briefing began.
After that, class assignments. Two per room, same gender, naturally.
Luckily, I got roomed with Chayuri.
We arrived late afternoon, so no schedule after.
We headed straight to the lodging.
"Hey, loser! I'll get revenge later, so come to our room!"
"No entering opposite gender rooms, Elrim."
"Th-then meet in the lounge! There's games for four!"
We parted from Elrim and Hisenna, and Chayuri and I entered our room alone.
Only after locking the door could I finally catch my breath.
I told Chayuri everything I'd learned.
He looked pretty shocked to hear he'd become a vessel.
"No way..."
"So you absolutely can't get caught by them. If you become their vessel, they'll wipe out all the cadets."
But they'd try to nab Chayuri somehow.
Them showing up tonight wouldn't be weird.
Hell, they could quietly kill me and take him.
Needed to plan defenses starting now.
"For now, maybe stay out in crowded places. They won't use taboo where people can see."
"Cadets would scatter if they saw a prof using taboo. But..."
Chayuri suddenly stammered.
His face flushed, and he started squirming.
"Um, anyway, I'd like a quick shower first. Rushed prep right after morning class."
"Yeah? Go ahead then. But if they're them, they might pop up even in the bathroom to kidnap you. Come in with me, then. Bathroom looks big enough."
"Wh-what?!"
"Why? We're both guys anyway..."
That's when I realized I'd messed up.
Up till now, I'd naturally thought of him as a guy, rooming together and chatting.
"Oh right."
Come to think of it, this kid was a girl.
Kept thinking guy, so it slipped my mind. Day was hectic anyway.
"Th-that..."
"Um..."
Once aware, Chayuri suddenly looked different.
Even smelled nice all of a sudden. And that pose, arms covering her body.
The huge watermelons, hips, and pale thighs from changing her clothes flashed in my mind...
"Nooo!!"
"I-Ian?"
Whew. Close call.
Almost got hard in front of a girl... Wait, she is a girl. But... fuck, confusing.
One thing clear: sharing a room with Chayuri now.
And had to stick without a single gap.
Wait, meant spending the whole night glued to a girl.
Shower together, even stay for bathroom breaks if needed.
This wasn't what I wanted—it was to keep Chayuri safe, couldn't leave her alone even a moment.
"Ian?"
Every glance at Chayuri brought the watermelons to mind.
The view from pulling down her pants was burned crystal clear.
Hm. Hard to look at her for some reason.
"So... what do we do?"
"I get we have to stick together. It's unavoidable... I'm okay if it's you, Ian."
"What?!"