Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: Infiltrating the Girls' Dormitory
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After scolding Darling once, Krash explained why he needed the medicine to turn into a woman.
And having heard the full explanation, Darling tilted her head while rubbing the bump on her forehead with her hand.
"So, you need the medicine to sneak into the girls' dormitory?"
"Don't skip all the context leading up to it."
As Krash showed signs of scolding her again, Darling quickly pulled a pill from her pocket.
"Here, this is a TS pill that lasts about a day."
About a day? Meaning there were ones that lasted longer too.
Krash took the pill with an uneasy feeling.
He felt a boiling impulse to smash it but held back with effort.
"But you're just planning to swallow the pill and head straight in?"
"Well, yeah, that's the idea."
"You're still in your boys' uniform."
Hearing that next question, Krash blinked.
Then he looked down at his own clothes.
Indeed, just as Darling said, even if he transformed into a girl, walking in wearing a boys' uniform would draw suspicion.
Bio-ren's sudden change from boy to girl had caused quite a stir for a while too.
"Want to borrow some?"
Darling offered readily, as if it were no big deal.
It wasn't a bad deal for Krash either.
"Yeah, lend me some."
"Got it. Then take the pill so I can get your measurements."
And that's when Krash realized why Darling was being so accommodating.
She wanted to watch him turn into a girl right in front of her eyes.
He considered decking her one more time, but Krash obediently uncapped the vial.
He needed the uniform anyway, after all.
Krash quickly swallowed the pill.
'Strawberry milk flavor.'
What kind of medicine tasted like this?
As Krash smacked his lips, a series of cracks echoed from his body.
Having transformed into Crador once before, he waited with some familiarity.
Then his field of vision gradually lowered.
His height was shrinking.
A moment later, a tightness gripped his chest, accompanied by a wedgie from his pants.
At the same time, his throat tickled; Krash let out a false cough.
"Ahem. Hm."
The voice that emerged was far higher-pitched than before.
On top of that, the back of his neck felt heavy. When he reached back, his hair had grown longer too.
Krash turned his head.
There stood Darling, staring blankly.
"Turned out okay?"
His usual tone clashed oddly with the high-pitched voice.
But even to Krash's question, Darling just kept staring vacantly.
Then something dripped from her nose with a plop.
It was a nosebleed.
For some reason, Krash felt an intensely unpleasant sensation and wrapped his arms around himself as he stepped back two paces.
As contempt filled Krash's eyes, Darling belatedly covered her nose with her hand.
"Ah, sorry. I stayed up late last night. Happens sometimes."
Of all the timings.
Darling plugged her nose with some tissue and pulled out a hand mirror.
"Check it out here."
Krash took the mirror from her and examined his face.
He immediately felt an urge to smash it.
It perfectly replicated his mother's youthful appearance.
"Damn it."
Krash utterly despised his mother.
So naturally, he recoiled at looking exactly like her.
That aside, though, the looks were undeniably exceptional.
The sharp edges he had as a man were softened by femininity, enhancing the effect even more.
On top of that—perhaps due to his Moon Yin Physique—his skin had turned strikingly pale, amplifying the cold aura.
"Why'd I have to end up looking so creepily like her."
Krash shoved the mirror away like he'd seen something he shouldn't have.
In the meantime, Darling had stood up and was openly eyeing Krash's body.
"Girlfriend, mind stripping down for a sec?"
Darling had even switched to a new nickname; Krash's gaze turned murderous.
Darling waved her hands frantically, insisting it was a misunderstanding.
"I mean, our builds look different. Women's clothes are super size-sensitive. Might not fit right."
Krash clicked his tongue and shrugged off his coat.
Darling stepped up behind him and tugged firmly at the front of his dress shirt.
She eyed the taut chest for a moment, then nodded.
"Nice view."
And for that, Darling earned another punch.
In front of the girls' dormitory.
A woman stood there, fidgeting uncomfortably with the hem of her skirt.
Even at a glance, she was a stunning beauty who had drawn eyes the entire way here.
[Quit acting so shifty. You're just making yourself more suspicious.]
Crimson Garden chuckled from atop the dormitory roof.
Easy for you to say—it's not your problem.
Krash ground his teeth and let out a light breath.
Then he tossed his dyed-black hair and started walking.
His natural hair color was too distinctive, so he'd dyed it on purpose.
Stepping boldly into the girls' dormitory, he saw various young women passing by.
Not one cast a suspicious glance at him entering.
Proof that Darling's potion worked flawlessly.
"Phew."
Krash let out a short sigh after safely passing the entrance.
Perhaps because they were nobles mindful of propriety.
Even in an all-girls space, everything was impeccably orderly.
No wonder a faint, sweet fragrance lingered in the air—unlike the boys' dorm.
The residents must have used plenty of perfume.
'Mary's on the third floor.'
Having learned her floor in advance, Krash headed straight for the stairs.
"Really? He actually confessed?"
"Totally!"
Giggling voices echoed from higher up the stairs.
Unlike outside, they wore relaxed loungewear and were chatting as they descended.
Then their eyes met Krash's, and they all widened theirs in unison.
A cold beauty with flowing black hair was ascending.
"Wow."
One of the girls let slip an exclamation as she passed.
But Krash didn't spare them a glance and kept climbing; the girls blankly watched his retreating figure.
"Who is she? Never seen her before."
"She's gorgeous. Cool hair color, and those eyes are like jewels."
Just as men like pretty faces, so do women. They stared after Krash, mesmerized.
Krash, meanwhile, felt his gut twist—worried those stares might breed suspicion.
Getting exposed here would shatter the image he'd built up until now.
A Valheim direct descendant crossdressing to infiltrate the girls' dorm?
Horrifying just to imagine the backlash.
Thus, heart pounding, Krash finally reached the third floor.
There, he spotted a familiar silhouette.
Coming down the opposite corridor was someone yawning utterly unguarded.
As if she'd napped after classes—her black-and-purple hair was slightly mussed on one side.
With summer approaching, she wore just a sleeveless tee and shorts.
It was Haring Lagren.
A female classmate of Krash's.
She usually looked so put-together, but this was her dorm look?
Krash's gaze inadvertently followed her for a moment before he turned away.
Eye contact would be trouble if she recognized him.
Just as he brushed past Haring.
Suddenly—
Haring halted abruptly.
She whipped her head around, her sleepy expression replaced by puzzled curiosity.
"...Krash?"
The moment she spoke, the hairs on Krash's neck stood up.
But he showed no reaction whatsoever and kept walking.
Haring tilted her head, watching his back.
Her work with poisons made her sensitive to scents—and she'd definitely caught Krash's just now.
Yet the one passing by was a black-haired beauty with zero resemblance to him.
She tilted her head a bit longer, then remembered her own outfit and struck an awkward pose.
If that really had been Krash, she'd just shown him an unseemly side.
Good that it wasn't. With that thought, she hurried off.
'That scared me.'
Only after Haring left without calling out again did Krash calm his racing heart.
His frequent shameless acting must have paid off here.
Once fully settled, he finally stopped before his original target: the door.
Room 311.
Mary's room.
The hallway was utterly deserted.
No students came near, as if they all avoided the area.
Less chance of drawing eyes—perfect.
Krash took a deep breath and knocked.
"Mary."
After the knock, silence.
'She's inside, though.'
Clearly ignoring him on purpose.
Probably buried under the covers.
Krash clicked his tongue briefly and knocked harder.
"Open up. We need to talk."
Still no response from within.
He'd thought showing up in person would get her to open; she was tougher than expected.
'Wait—my voice is different now.'
Realizing too late, Krash decided to reveal himself.
"It's me, Kra..."
"What are you doing there?"
At that moment, a voice from the side made him flinch and turn.
There stood a figure holding a bento box.
Healthy tanned skin, reddish hair.
Adorned with various accessories—none other than the 9th Princess of Poseus Kingdom, Karanthis Poseus.
Karanthis tilted her head at Krash.
Such a striking appearance, yet unfamiliar.
But somehow... familiar all the same.
As she showed her doubt, Krash straightened up.
"I have some business."
"With Mary Diana?"
Karanthis eyed him steadily.
Then, as if piecing something together, her gaze turned suspicious.
"Here to blame her some more, I take it."
And with that, she'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.
As Krash blinked, Karanthis let out a short sigh.
"You're one of Lady Sigrin Epania's followers, right? That day's commotion wasn't all Mary's fault, so please go easy on her."
Krash looked at her in surprise.
She'd always acted like bitter rivals with Mary.
Karanthis defending her? Unthinkable.
"Weren't you two on bad terms?"
Krash asked, and Karanthis snorted derisively.
"Of course we are. But we're still both in the special class."
Mary had failed her midterms, true—but her special class status remained unchanged.
The professors all knew her true skill.
"You look out for your own. What's the point of classmates otherwise?"
Was Karanthis always like this?
Krash had pegged her as a gold-digging seductress chasing men to upend her life.
Apparently, she had unexpected depths.
"So please leave her be. Mary needs peace to eat, and she hasn't been at all lately."
With that, she hung the bento bag on the door handle.
Evidently, Karanthis had been the one bringing Mary food while she holed up.
"No. If that's the case, I have even more reason to go in."
As Krash spoke, Karanthis tilted her head.
Then Krash raised his hand and pounded on the door.
"Mary, it's Krash. Let's talk."
The moment those words left his mouth, Karanthis's eyes began to widen in delayed realization.
And as the familiar face clicked, her expression turned to panic.
"Kr... Kra..."
"Shh."
Krash leaned in close to her face and pressed a finger to his lips.
Her face gradually flushed bright red.
Seen up close, his beauty shook even her composure.
As her lips parted, a crash echoed from inside.
Proof she'd been listening.
A moment later, the door creaked open slightly. Krash grabbed Karanthis's bento and waved it at her.
"Thanks again, Karanthis."
With a smiling wink, he slipped inside, leaving Karanthis standing there in a daze.