Better Off as a Girl ~Previous Plot Summary~
At Pluwitch Academy, a boy named Wiyu lived an ordinary life in his rural village. The boy, who thought he was just a commoner, had no idea his neighbor auntie Merlen was a witch who'd lived for 10,000 years. He didn't even know he was born a witch himself—what more was there to say? That auntie Merlen had cherished and raised the head of a prestigious family for a whopping 1,700 years, and right on cue, she had a daughter. When family-like Aris Witchcraft gave birth to a son, Merlen figured they could just tie the knot. She'd been waiting for the perfect moment since his birth. She dragged the boy Wiyu, who came to see her of his own accord, straight into an arranged marriage arrangement.
At that familiar smack, boy Wiyu thought of his dear mother first.... He hadn't told the top student of his grade, Ephemera Flash, about his family, nor about witches, so how could she know his circumstances? Childhood fiancés who hadn't even been aware of each other's existence!! Where would this hilariously tangled story lead...? And with that, Village Resident B wraps up the recap and coolly exits stage left!
'Someone just narrated in my head...!'
I sighed, staring at Auntie Merlen, who barreled ahead entirely on her own whims. I could tell 200% who my mom took after, so I hid my complicated feelings inside. And at the same time, it all clicked. With someone who'd cared for the family for 1,700 years being a witch, imagine if the prime representative of witches—Witchcraft—wasn't using her powers and just whining like this. Strict noble Ephemera wouldn't approve of her ruining witches' image and tarnishing their honor. Thinking it over slowly now, I realized I'd been stepping on landmine after landmine. Sure, she talked tough and smacked me, but in the end, she started looking after me—that must've been because of the favor she'd received from a witch.
All my questions unraveled in one anticlimactic moment, leaving my head clear but aching in all sorts of ways. Days fly by fast for a boy living his youth, but I couldn't keep up with Auntie Merlen's 0.2-second zero-to-hundred storm of revelations.
"Nobles exchanging marriage proposals is totally normal! Even if you say that, Tendo thought he was just a farmer."
"Auntie... shouldn't you have mentioned that beforehand?"
"He's got enough to live on as a cheese artisan raising dairy cows, right? Would he ever need to flash noble credentials? Though it'd be handy against stuck-up low nobles who pick fights without knowing their place."
"If any such noble steps into my territory, I'll cleave them in half."
Ephemera sighed, grumbling that too many people took titles without grasping their weight. But Auntie replied that life wouldn't change much even if he accepted one, so what could he do? Ephemera nodded as if she got it, thinking of someone specific. Someone didn't even know they were a duke... Yeah, that was probably me.
"Alright, once more! This is Tendo Poppins, our hidden son! He sends cheese and all sorts of goodies to his fiancée every year to keep her healthy—a fine husband-to-be!"
We stood there awkwardly, glancing at each other and flashing awkward smiles. I'd never imagined the top student making that face, let alone guessed what she was thinking now. Then, gracefully lifting the hem of her skirt, the top student introduced herself as the head of House Flash and greeted us.
"I always receive them gratefully. Especially since they helped rebuild the house... Selling the gifts might've been rude, but was it okay?"
"Better than letting them rot. It's fine."
"Hm, being kind to the young lady +100 points."
"Orochi."
"Young lady! As head maid, evaluating the man who'll be with the lady of the house is crucial!"
"He covers 60% of your salary too."
"Now I see the real boss is over there. Our young lady sure is something."
"Don't go off on your own."
Ah, Orochi, the one stuck to Ephemera. So they were mistress and servant? I'd guessed, but seeing it felt weird. Dressed in her maid outfit, she chattered away without even asking her lady's opinion, while Ephemera's face turned tomato-red, on the verge of exploding. Come to think of it, was the family's finances in bad shape...? Her being the head and all... I'd heard some bad rumors before. But prying into someone else's gloom didn't feel right, so I buried it in the back of my mind. Nah, honestly, I forgot while studying. Still, this might be my only chance, so I tossed out a light question.
"If it's not rude, could I ask why your name is Flash?"
"Because I gave it to her! Hehe, I named her expecting a boy, and there was no time to change it."
"...Usually, don't parents rename and give a proper one?"
"Well, before I knew it, me naming them became a house tradition. It's partly your fault too?"
"My fault?"
"You were born a boy... I figured witches would obviously be girls... But since the gender flipped, maybe this was fate?"
She said it so casually.... At least I now knew exactly how much of a mess my auntie was. Ephemera stared in shock, wondering if the name came from the engagement. Sharing the same feelings with the top student—what irony.
"But... you never mentioned it before, and now suddenly introducing us— is that okay?"
"Ah, it's fine. I can understand since you're a male witch. Actually, I'm glad we met."
What did that mean? Then Auntie grabbed the back of my neck with one arm and hoisted me up like pulling a radish. She told Ephemera and Orochi to help themselves to snacks and tea, then dragged me into a private room. Locking the door and casting soundproofing magic, she wore a serious expression unlike before and spoke.
"Phew... Since you know nothing, I should explain witches now, Wiyu."
Thanking her as she offered a chair, I sat. She poured warm corn tea into a cup and began.
"You've learned some at the academy, but witches mostly only bear girls. And with great power comes a price when creating life."
"...Price?"
"To bear you, your mom gave up immortality. She never told you, right?"
Witches could live almost eternally without issue, but bearing new life started the cycle of aging, like normal people. —Or even without that, power fades with long life, leading to old age, Auntie added.
"Girls are fine, but boys are trouble. Unlike girls, boys matching their talent lose all abilities. Your witch powers were so exceptional, you ended up in a mana-less body."
Even undead and corpses naturally have mana flowing through them. Auntie said being born rejecting that natural order as an unnatural male witch was why. "Male witches don't even match human lifespans. Aris hid the truths about nobles and witches, living ordinarily in the countryside with you because she loved you that much."
"So enemies of Mom could target me?"
"She wiped them all out the day you were born—not a single one left."
"Ah."
Auntie said to relax since she'd erased even the slightest possibility by wiping continents off the map. Was that okay...? But I was weak, unable to use mana, with a short life, so she wanted to age together by my side forever.
"Aris probably sealed her own power to age slowly and live an ordinary life with you. Maybe she couldn't face a world without you."
"....."
"But when you insisted on the academy, she agonized. In the end, knowing she couldn't change your mind, she paid an unimaginable price to turn you into a girl."
Simple gender-swap magic wasn't enough. Witches' very conception was complex—Aris Witchcraft paid dearly to create the reality of "Wiyu born as a girl." That's how "Wiyu, the witch with talent surpassing her mother" was born—not mere transformation.
"If the Constellation of Gender Swap helped, maybe, but it hasn't contracted anyone since hero Radamu. No choice."
How would gender-swapping help a hero? The question bubbled up, but the shocking truth left my mind in chaos; I couldn't speak.
To bear me, she gave up immortality, then worried I'd get hurt at the academy as a boy, so changed the price to make me a girl. Overwhelmed by such immense maternal love, my throat tightened; I didn't know what to say.
"So no one knew about me?"
"Male witches must be hidden and protected. To witches, they can feel like a curse sometimes."
Auntie pitied Echo-senpai, the male witch at the academy, calling him poor. Wondering what life a senior faking breasts for crossdressing lived.... It made me gloomy.
"Why not tell me? I wouldn't have gone to the academy."
"Because she loves you."
What more reason does a mother need when she loves you more than her own life? Her words left no room for resentment, only guilt welling up, stinging my eyes.
"...A mom who wasn't honest with her son, but she still loves you, right?"
"Of course... Ha... So that's why the top student's reaction was like that."
"Anyone would hide it."
Auntie pushed me out, saying wipe the tears and meet my fiancée now that I understood. Wait, wouldn't I turn back into a girl when the potion wears off? She'd send periodic potions, she said with hamster-like fanatic love in her eyes, locking me in the same room as my fiancée regardless. Her obsession to pair the witch she raised with the family was terrifying.
"Um... is the talk over?"
"Yeees... Uh... you okay? Suddenly popping up as your fiancé must be awkward."
"Haha, most nobles can't even marry who they want? Love comes after marriage."
"If anything, I should ask if you're okay."
"Er... uh...."
Marry and have kids? Guaranteed witch. That witch would be loved by Poppins and Witchcraft houses. Husband Tendo was one of the rare artisans making magical cheese to feed a whole duke's house. Plus, Merlen Poppins was a 10,000-year-old witch, a major buyer of ingredients nationwide. Even without that, Auntie had cared for the family 1,700 years without cost—her son as fiancé? For a declining duke's head, what choice with blood ties strengthening the house?
'The top student looks like a pure romance manga heroine...'
Where'd that fierce, charismatic lady go? This princess gap was insane; I desperately changed the subject. Worst case, claim I have a girlfriend and bluff.
If I'd known before the academy, no mess!! Hate Mom and Auntie...!!
"Tendo? While we're at it, visit our cute Flash's home! Lots to deliver, needed a courier. You've done it often, right?"
"Pardon? Sure... Got it."
"Stay overnight if you want. Male witches can make witches galore, no issue—ohoho!"
Man, I missed Grand Duke today.
"Poke holes in the condoms."
"We can hear you."
"Kuh."
Amid my distress, what evil plot was Orochi scheming?! Ephemera eyed my thick arms greedily, sparkling like lasers, swallowing at the calluses on my palms.
"Ah, forgot to mention."
"More you haven't said?"
I yelped, terrified, but Auntie laughed it off as no big deal. The part-timer boy here—take him too. One who failed academy entrance, prepping in the city. Relieved it was minor, I went to meet the live-in helper.
"Hahaha!! The part-timer's the famous imperial idiot youngest—3rd Prince! Shocked? Good we prepped with Poppins!"
Ah, damn. Didn't see this variable coming.
"Hm! Doubting I'm royal? Look—rhombus golden pupils! Imperial trait!"
"Never doubted...."
"Our imperial knight's husband-to-be so dashing! Bright future for the house!!"
No, when I met him as a girl, he seemed polite and noble. My imperial fantasy shattering in real time...
"Not marrying..."
"My childhood friend Ephemera— what's lacking?! Breasts?! Hips perfect for easy birth!!"
"What are you saying!!!"
Crash. The top student appeared with a flying kick straight to the prince's face. Shattering glass, the prince soared out the third-floor window. I missed Grand Duke.