A Woman's Transformation is Innocent (2)
Prankster's Disguise Kit. It could alter the user's appearance. A disguise bordering on transformation. That was the effect of the magic tool.
"Ugh, this feels weird..."
Allen's ears twitched. The long, pointed ears sprouting from her head expressed her bewilderment in her stead. The human woman had become a beastkin—a werewolf—thanks to the magic tool's effect. Her curly blue beast ears blended seamlessly with her blue hair, accentuating her beastkin allure.
"How do I look?"
"Super cute."
"Thanks!"
Allen grinned bashfully. She beamed like a child at Yushin's praise. Her golden eyes now radiated an even wilder ferocity in her beastkin form. The elongated, beast-like pupils unerringly revealed the predator's danger.
"Whoa."
"The kingdom's top beauty, for sure!"
His subordinates couldn't hide their awe. They marveled at Allen's instant shift into a werewolf woman the moment she donned the necklace. As the saying went, a woman's transformation was innocent. Anyone seeing Allen for the first time now would swear she was a beastkin. She suited the role perfectly—especially those golden eyes exuding raw beastly charm.
"She's a werewolf, right? This magic tool reflects the wearer's traits to determine their race and looks."
"That's why it fits her so well."
"Perfect for hiding your identity. Beastkin are third-class in the Elf Kingdom, same as half-elves. Easier than fourth-class humans. All humans there are slaves, but beastkin are regular citizens. The issue is ID..."
"Thanks for the help without me even asking."
"You've helped me plenty, Teacher. Gotta repay somehow. Though I'll keep it on the tab, of course."
True to Santander family form. Leticia winked at Yushin like a merchant racking up a tab.
The Santander house had skyrocketed to immense wealth. Wielding massive financial power in the Elf Kingdom, they excelled at profit and calculations. Leticia, the Santander heiress, had inherited her father's shrewd business acumen.
"Prankster's Disguise Set. Crazy expensive magic tool. Disguise-related ones are especially rare."
"Looks pricey to me too. Beyond just fooling appearances—it fully transforms you into another race."
"The debt's huge."
"I'll pay it off over time. Installments okay?"
"Naturally. I know you can't pay upfront, Teacher."
Leticia hummed cheerfully, looking delighted as if to say, You'll be paying this off forever. In this world, few bonds were as enduring as debtor-creditor ties. As long as Yushin owed her, their connection wouldn't fade.
Man, I wanna ask if I can touch those ears.
But no way. The second I open my mouth, she'll rip my face off.
Fluffy fur ears... Damn! Who could resist? Lady Allen would only let the boss, obviously. Boss is so lucky!!
Allen fiddled curiously with the beast ears atop her head. They were soft and plump. How did beastkin even attach ears like that? A matching wolf tail—blue-furred and fluffy—swayed from her rear, the ultimate beast symbol. Her subordinates gawked every time it swished side to side.
"One thing I'm curious about, though."
"What?"
Leticia asked, and Yushin answered.
"Why isn't Valua Kingdom going all-out to rescue you, Teacher? You're the third of the Kingdom's Seven Swords. They should pull out all the stops, even just for such a valuable asset."
Leticia calculated Yushin Gilliard's worth from a merchant's view. One of the kingdom's top fighters—worth tens, no, hundreds of millions of gold to Valua. Why no aggressive moves? They should reignite war if needed to reclaim him. Yet they'd only negotiated ransom, showing no signs of force.
She found it deeply suspicious.
"And it feels like you and your subordinates are hiding something."
"Sharp. You could be a detective."
"Detective was my childhood dream. Dropped it when I realized it doesn't pay. Don't dodge, Teacher—it's not looking good for you."
Busted. Yushin shrugged at Leticia's jab.
"I already know you're an Another One. From another world, right?"
"...Who told you?"
"Alonne. Spilled everything without me even asking."
That idiot. A high elf who'd sell her soul to the devil for academy friends. But it wasn't a secret worth hiding. Yushin had never planned to conceal being an Another One from anyone. He'd told Alonne straight up.
I figured those morons who can't resist a pretty face had blabbed every secret those idiots told 'em to keep quiet.
Yushin muttered, glancing at his subordinates. They were too busy ogling werewolf Allen to notice. Allen, ignoring their stares, locked eyes with Yushin—her tail wagging furiously in eager response. She looked just like a pet dog waiting for walkies.
Ardena periodically sparred with Alonne to test her progress. This time's results were excellent. She confirmed Yushin, her education overseer, was managing her little sister flawlessly. Ardena smiled faintly at Alonne's steady form as she exhaled and prepared her next move—a smile so subtle even Alonne might miss it, but one of genuine joy.
Her breathing's steady, instincts and reflexes sharp. Countering attacks flawlessly too. Must be from near-real-battle spars—experience that perfects her swordsmanship.
Ardena eyed the real sword in Alonne's grip. A blade glowing blue with sword aura. A proper Mana Blade. The once-faint aura now held clear form along the edge.
The issue was stamina. Alonne could sustain it in combat for just ten minutes now. Graduation required thirty-plus, so she needed to grow stronger.
"Senior Captain!"
The academy instructor had visited the student's home personally. Ardena's distant junior—the eleventh of the Twelve Warrior Captains. Liana Linehold, silver hair to her shoulders.
Liana flushed with excitement at seeing her revered senior captain up close.
"Liana Linehold?"
"Yes! Liana Linehold here. I humbly hold the eleventh Warrior Captain seat!"
Liana beamed. Overjoyed that Ardena remembered her name and face.
Ardena Valencia—the strongest knight who swore an undefeated oath at fifteen and claimed a Warrior Captain seat at twenty! Her legendary tales guarding the Elf Kingdom were model material for squires.
"What brings you to Valencia Castle?"
Not begging bribes, I hope. If so, she'd smash the junior's head with her wooden sword. Fortunately, Liana's visit wasn't for that. She'd come to check her student Alonne's progress.
"Alonne's my precious sister. But no special treatment. Exams must be fair."
"W-Well... I only teach Alonne."
Liana had come to verify progress, but really to vent to her senior about her plight. Students ignored her. She needed to complain or risk bursting. Surely Ardena-senior would guide her wisely—she was an elite with experience. Less teacher visit, more junior seeking advice.
"That's on you. Students crave wise guidance. Become their compass, a true educator, and they'll flock like clouds."
A generic answer. But Liana nodded fervently, deeply moved—like a student absorbing life advice from a master teacher. Ardena's words were basic, yet they struck Liana's heart profoundly. Yushin would've mocked them as cult leader and follower.
"Why call Sis 'Senior Captain'? Sounds super fancy."
Alonne asked, and Liana replied.
"Because Senior Captain Ardena is the third eldest among us Warrior Captains..."
Liana tried earnestly, but Ardena's eyes blazed murderously, forcing her to shut up.
Yushin returned to Valencia Castle that afternoon. Upon arrival, he witnessed a shocking sight.
"S-Sorryyy... Senior Captain...!"
"Drop the 'Senior Captain' crap."
The academy part-timer struck a full prostration before the student's watching sister. Head ground into the floor, hands behind back, ass up—precariously balanced. Her flushed face suggested she was nearing her limit.
"Even elves got their hierarchies screwed up. Valua Kingdom was the same—worse in the Royal Guard. Made us headbutt corks once."
Yushin shrugged. What could ya do? He munched bread from Santander Castle with Alonne, watching Ardena chew out Liana.
"Dodged a bullet not enlisting here. Coming to this world might've been a blessing."
"Stories from your world?"
"Yeah. In my country, you got drafted at twenty. Nation scarred by forced labor excelled at forcing it."
Yushin shared tales of his homeland. Alonne chewed like a hamster, eyes sparkling. Stories of her master's world—irresistible for a high elf disciple.
"Nngh..."
As master and disciple chatted warmly, the foolhardy rookie endured the full wrath of her folly.