Setting Goals – The First Day Grind of Academy Life
Finally, the day had arrived when we first-years would begin our true duties as students at Pluwitch Academy. As I stuffed my textbooks into my bag, I vowed to somehow retain my male identity in this female body and graduate no matter what.
"I'm a man among men!"
"Waaah~ That's so cool~ I'm totally falling for youuu~"
"...That's not some theater line or anything."
"A firm sense of identity is important... I sometimes feel like flying around under a full moon and sucking blood myself. If it's not too much trouble, just one sip..."
""
"There are times when even a heroine must stand firm, even unto death."
""
"You saying I'm less manly than my roommate who was born a girl?!"
Wiyu Witchcraft was pretty shocked by Change's words and shot back with a surge of emotion. Even as she sniffled and insisted she was still a guy despite her body, she was an ultra-cute galactic-level beautiful girl from every angle.
But saying something like "You're too cute!! You're already all female!!" here would just make her pout. Crushing her boundless potential for growth like that goes against the aesthetics of art.
""
"Ahh..."
At Grand Duke's advice to emulate her roommate Meru Lume, who did a full hour of yoga every time she returned to the dorm for body maintenance, Wiyu Witchcraft drooped her head. If the training grounds were unlocked, she'd dash off with a wooden sword for some practice, but maybe because she'd awakened as a witch? The realization that her efforts were futile had hit her hard, leaving her a bit slothful.
Yeah, if you're a man, go for muscles! Back at the dorm, I'll do push-ups, planks, and squats like crazy! With that inner resolve, she set off with her roommate for her very first day of school.
In the brilliant life ahead, these would be the most youthful days at the academy—making tons of friends, creating memories, graduating coolly, and landing a job!!
And that determination crumbled pathetically by third period.
The subjects weren't even listed in the main curriculum, but classes like Korean, Math, Science, and the like wrecked her.
Could someone who'd spent their whole life farming in the countryside possibly understand math? Regrettably, it'd be a miracle if she even graduated knowing her multiplication tables.
Of course, she'd assumed it was just the intro subjects they'd been told about at first, but the regular classes included Korean, math, science, PE, music, art, ethics, and tech/home ec.
It was my fault for not checking the syllabus thoroughly after getting the textbooks, but still, seeing the schedule late and scrambling for books left me in total panic.
"Just don't flunk out."
""
"The other kids have all done advanced prep unlike me..."
Tears welled up at my pathetic knowledge, stuck on problem one. Meanwhile, the others breezed through, saying it was easier than expected.
If I'd known, I would've studied instead of training with the sword...!!
"<...Anyone planning to enter the academy would've at least studied the basics, right?>"
Grand Duke pointed out the oddity in my words, and I quietly turned away.
Indeed, the king of hell... lies don't work on him.
""
"Sob sob..."
The truth was, math was just too hard, and we'd never gotten along... Anyway, did that mean first-years had to study all the professors' lectures, including regular classes? My head felt like it was overheating to the point of exploding.
No wonder—they only showed the specialized subjects when dividing grades.
"Ughhh, I feel like I'm suffocating to death."
Everyone else was bundled in coats, but I run hot, wandering around in just a shirt. Maybe from using my brain after so long, my whole body was scorching, sweat pouring down.
My shirt was soaked through; I fanned myself desperately for some ventilation, but no dice. Grand Duke's wing-flaps helped a bit...
Aah, a real man would just strip off his shirt!
"I just wanna take my top off and attend class like this, Grand Duke."
""
"Hear hear!! I'm roasting too!!"
"No fair—Beatus can strip, so why can't I?"
Beatus, the goat with thick sheep-like fur, was already down to a sports bra. Wiping her pits with some mystery towel in bold fashion, she made the students who already hated her freak out.
I asked if she had an extra towel—negative—so I wiped my face with Beatus's furry scarf instead, ignoring the stares.
"You okay, Kali?"
"No, back off a bit... it's embarrassing as a girl."
One was stripping to undies even with guys around, the other a walking public indecency. At least consider the tall beastkin's position, with the boys blushing and whispering.
"At least we can open a cafe. Let's study there after class."
"We'll suffer 'cause of this witch girl who can't keep up."
"I can't keep up either."
"...What? I'm the brains here? Our group's doomed."
Beatus denied it desperately, but regrettably, she was the smartest of our trio. Protests that we nobles should've had basic education fell flat—one lived in the sea, the other farmed.
"With such an amazing mom, her daughter's a total letdown."
"You've never even seen my mom."
"I have?"
Beatus's casual retort left me baffled, but the answer came sooner than expected.
★★★
"About 50 years ago now. Famous, right? The world-threatening Great Demon King of Destruction descended. A war lasting a full 10 years, with even the gods joining in, was resolved by the Hero Party."
History class started with the teacher spinning the hero party's tale, figuring first class meant the most exciting story. I'd seen it in comics, but it was way before I was born, so I didn't know much. The shocking recent reveal? My mom was in it.
"The demon mage became the current Magic Tower Lord, the elf archer got a World Tree sapling and returned home, and the hero's now this kingdom's king."
The dwarf warrior and beastkin fighter became legends, the saintess returned to the Holy Kingdom, but...
"Only Witchcraft, who stepped down as Tower Lord, vanished afterward—we didn't know she'd married and had a kid."
The history professor's eyes sparkled, staring at me like Tell us what you know!.
Regrettably, I'd only known Mom was a witch for less than 10 days, so nothing to say. Not knowing Dad either, I hid behind my textbook, dodging her gaze.
"Hm... well, the return of Aris Witchcraft—current empress of witches and this kingdom's duchess—is the hottest topic today."
Not just returning, but with a daughter, drawing hordes to uncover the mystery truth(?). Professors warned historians and reporters were dangerous, even classmates—cue my sigh.
Where was the normal academy life I'd hoped for?
The hero and comrades' 10-year epic thrilled the class, but I felt eyes on me, suffocating. They all know and aren't saying, right?!
"My mom who rolled around at home is that amazing? She couldn't even do magic, let alone dishes properly!"
""
""
"Like an author fooling readers by pretending there's something there when there's nothing."
""
Already dying of heat, with the whole class staring, it felt like a sauna. Sweat dripping so much my butt print might stick to the seat.
Beatus fretted I'd melt into chocolate milk, so we headed to the after-class cafe.
"Studying together makes it easier."
"Library for research materials."
Math homework with Beatus's help, history by raiding the library. Cool cafe breeze hit us—no AC installed, why so chilly?—gulping iced tea, crunching ice.
"—Alright, decided."
"Huh? Gave up on math?"
"No!! Next unlock: the swimming pool!!"
What fun in the countryside? Just diving naked into cool rivers, swimming, catching fish. Kali clapped, Pool sounds great!. Beatus, not a water fan, worried if cafe was enough.
"After sweating buckets, nothing beats cool water...!"
"Just hit the bathhouse?"
"Beatus's words make me want the pool even more... Ah~ Can't take it! Hot!"
Patience snapped; I manly-hauled off my shirt. Binder on, should be fine. Head boiling, thoughts fuzzy.
"Haaa. Finally livable. Uh...."
"Like water? Bathhouse. Whew, what flower scent?"
"Witch sweat smells unique."
They sniffed close; I shoved hard. Draped soaked shirt on chair, scratched head over math.
Some stares, but guys watching? Whatever. After Grand Duke called me girly, time to show rugged boy vibes.
"Body's a girl's, but I'm a man, heh heh heh..."
"Kali, her brain broke from math."
"Uuu... hot..."
"Damn, she's regressing."
Beatus, stuck babysitting headache friends, shrugged and stripped too. Steam rising from sweat-drenched Beatus teaching math, us two sweating and studying. Grand Duke watched the youthful scene, smiling warmly.
—Eager to see how the boy, clueless about swimsuits post-pool unlock, would react.
''
But he says nothing! A gentleman doesn't spoil it! For now, maybe lock the pool post-unlock, dive naked solo. Grand Duke savored the present, imagining endless possibilities.