Chapter 68

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 68

Chapter Title: Chayuri's Revelation and Midterm Shock

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Midterms?

"C-Ch-Ch-Chayuri? Wh-What's wrong with your body?"

"Chayuri? Y-You, uh, are you oka—no, is that really you?"

Hisenna and I were utterly flustered, our mouths hanging wide open.

It was practically jaw-dropping.

And that was even though I already knew Chayuri was a girl.

Fine, showing up without her usual disguise made sense, but that outfit was way too explosive.

Isn't the exposure a bit much?

"Why do you say that?"

Chayuri asked calmly, as if she had no idea what the problem was.

Her movement made her melons jiggle, drawing everyone's eyes like magnets.

The guys especially were sneaking peeks with low "Ooh yeah..." murmurs.

"And what are the two of you doing here? Your clothes are soaked..."

Chayuri's entrance was so shocking that we couldn't even critique it—we just blurted out what we were up to.

"What's the problem with that? Clothes get wet, you just change them quick, right?"

"No, the issue is everything's see-through... Never mind."

Hisenna started to say the problem was her underwear showing through, but she trailed off upon eyeing Chayuri's outfit.

How could a little see-through underwear matter to someone flashing that much cleavage?

"Oh. Are you cold from being wet? Here, take my outer jacket. Hisenna, please accept it."

"N-No, no, no! I'm fine! You should be the one covering up a bit, Chayuri? Wait, why are you even dressed like that?"

"W-Wait, Chayuri! Put this on!"

Chayuri casually shrugged off her outer jacket with her utterly absurd mindset.

Once it was off, her outfit turned even more outrageous, so Hisenna and I hurriedly stopped her.

"I'm truly fine. The weather's nice, so I want to walk around freely without it."

"Freely without—no way!"

"It's okay. Here, Hisenna, take it."

In the end, Chayuri draped her outer jacket over Hisenna.

It covered Hisenna's wet shirt, but something even more spectacular was now on full display to the world.

Well, if the person herself is fine with it, then it's fine, I guess.

My mind went blank for a bit before I grabbed our stuff.

"Let's head back to the academy first. Hisenna, that should be okay for you now, right?"

"Y-Yeah. It's covered up fine, but Chayuri... Is that really Chayuri?"

"Let's just get back to the academy. Too many eyes here."

We needed to get out of there.

More and more stares were piling up on Chayuri's bold outfit.

Hisenna and I needed to change anyway. At least we'd covered her up somewhat.

Heading back to the academy seemed best.

I grabbed both of them and speed-walked away.

"Ugh, these assholes..."

I'd posted about it to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gallery in my panic, and the reactions exploded.

As always, in the pervy direction, of course.

Archmages only spew nonsense instead of real advice when it counts.

Still, spotting the occasional sane comment helped me regain some composure.

Yeah. Obviously not taboo magic—nothing felt off about it.

Like Meditation King said, maybe it's just rebound from years of suppression.

They'd talked about liberation before too.

That makes sense, but this is still too much.

No clue where to look.

A bit later, we made it back to the academy and ducked into an empty building.

"So, what happened? Is that really Chayuri?"

Hisenna, dragged along in a daze, fired off questions.

Before I could answer, Chayuri started explaining.

"Yes, it is. Actually..."

Chayuri laid out her situation plainly, without a hint of deception.

Forced by her mother to live as a boy, but now the Archmage Duke knew, so no need anymore.

It had seemed fishy.

Her mom's side was tied to taboos, so the Archmage Duke must've handled it.

Handled? That was an understatement.

Hisenna and I were speechless at what came next.

"So, the family head killed my mother."

"Wh... what?"

"...Pardon?"

Chayuri stated her mother's death so matter-of-factly.

Her excited expression from earlier was now completely blank.

"She was furious about contact with a taboo mage. And from now on, holidays will be spent at the Floridel Archmage Duke castle."

At least the Floridels had taken her in.

Chayuri wouldn't be cast out.

"Y-You okay? No clue what to say for comfort."

"Uh, um. Chayuri, if it's tough, tell us anytime."

Despite the shock, Hisenna comforted her.

As she approached to pat Chayuri's shoulder, their chests bumped, startling her back.

"If it's about Mother's death, I think I'm okay now."

"Really?"

"Yes. In a way, I wanted to escape. Now... yes, probably fine. Actually relieved to reclaim my true self."

She said she was okay, but her expression wasn't great.

Makes sense—even hated family leaves a weird feeling when gone.

I didn't pry out of consideration.

She stopped talking, squeezing her eyes shut like she wanted to forget something.

Clearly something bad had gone down.

"But that outfit... what is it?"

"Don't normal girls dress like this?"

Normal girls? What did Chayuri think "normal" meant?

"Um, Chayuri. Normal girls don't wear such revealing clothes."

"Is that so? But it's cool and comfy. Feels liberating."

"That's... sigh, whatever. Cover up more from now on."

"I like this."

"Do what you want."

Chayuri had full-on exhibitionist vibes now.

Anyway, seems she's coping.

Worried after hearing about her mom, but she's handling it.

"You're not coming to academy like this, right?"

"Of course on class days, I'll wear the cadet uniform."

"Still worried..."

We chatted a bit more before heading to our rooms.

Chayuri went to the girls' dorm—guess Floridels had arranged it.

And the next day, true to her word, Chayuri showed up in uniform.

The women's version was expected now, causing a huge stir in class.

Even that was outrageous.

Underwear only beneath a shirt with buttons undone to flash full cleavage.

"Chayuri's actually a girl?"

"This make sense? But ooh..."

Cadets' reactions were as expected.

With so much chaos lately, it blended into the mess.

"Wh-What?! Chayuri's a girl?! No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more Limpdick, we can game in dorms together now!"

Late-arriving Elrim learned the truth and freaked out predictably.

Her simple mind accepted it quick.

Class settled once lessons started.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Ugos Perryhill, the new professor for 1st-year Class A."

Staff shakeup meant new class profs too.

Archmage Duke hire wasn't surprising.

But ours was a Perryhill like Hisenna.

"Hisenna. Know him?"

"Heard the name, but not close."

Perryhills had plenty direct lines.

Multiple wives or one prolific? Hisenna didn't specify.

Not Floridel-level prolific philanderers, at least.

"As you know, the academy's just stabilizing. But schedule proceeds as is. Midterms in three days, over three days as planned."

Cadets groaned "Ehhh~."

Ugos slammed the board at the complaints.

Scary. I like gentle profs.

"Post-midterms, classes ramp up hard. Curriculum overhaul to match recent events."

Not the end.

With chancellor approval and more Archmage Dukes, old curriculum changing.

Already tough, but low for their standards.

Academy was kindergarten to kindergarten for them.

Hard to imagine mage society scale if academy was this.

Ugos briefed the massive revamp.

Cadets' faces darkened as it dragged.

"Unhappy? To be great mages, endure it someday. Drop out if you can't."

Ugos scary prof type.

Gallery relayed it; galers sided with him.

Mages can't take easy paths, blah blah.

Good for me anyway.

Better to toughen up fast.

Ugos wrapped the academy patch notes briefing.

"That's the revamp. But good news for you too."

Thought done, but Ugos kept going.

Cadets perked from gloom, cheering first time.

"Revamp starts next week. Internal cleanup pending. Midterms will be simple. Last breather."

Midterms easy-ish.

No brutal test right away. Silver lining.

But,

"Midterms will all be written exams."

-Ioooooo!

Cadets cheered "written exam."

I froze, unable to join.

Asked Hisenna beside me.

"Why's everyone happy? Written exam good?"

Didn't get cheering for written tests.

Prior classes mostly practical anyway.

Theory existed, but too hard—skimmed it.

Others seemed casual on theory too.

"Written? Nothing to study. Basics done pre-enrollment."

"...What?!"

"Entrance was practical only—written too basic."

Kuung-

Like the sky collapsing.

They skimmed theory not 'cause hard, but knew it already?

"Grad/post-grad depth maybe not, but 1st-year theory? Standard to pre-learn."

Early education issue. What're academies for?

Ah, why revamp to raise level.

Midterms stick to old easy theory for their prepped knowledge.

I got no early education.

"Even post-revamp, midterm grades count. Do your best."

Ugos's closer terrified my future.

"Wait, Hisenna. Grades decide next semester class, right?"

"Yes. Bad this term? Could drop to B or lower next."

Screwed. Midterms weigh heavy.

Bomb written, finals ace won't save total—demotion risk.

Can't demote. Need cadet stipend perks.

Practical I'd manage, but written?

Others near-perfect, my gap too big—finals recovery tough.

'But I got the gallery.'

Reconsidered, calmed.

Gallery cheating possible anyway. Overworried.

Gallery clutch.

Posted laughing it off to gallery.

But reactions weren't as expected.