-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Fan Service Scene
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Waaaaaah!]
This is driving me crazy.
The author's crying showed no sign of stopping.
There was no choice.
I really, really didn't want to do it.
Even now, I hesitated for a long time, wondering if I should really say it.
Could I really do it?
But wouldn't it be better than letting her keep crying like this?
...Right?
"Wh-what you want."
[Sniff. ...Huh?]
"I'll grant you one wish."
[...!]
The author's crying subsided.
It definitely worked.
...The problem is the aftermath. I have no idea what kind of request she'll make.
But there was no choice.
If this kept up, she'd clearly be crying all day.
Even if I tried to comfort her, I was currently branded as the culprit.
No amount of comforting would work.
Ultimately, the only thing I could do to appease the author was to *do* something for her...
Material things were impossible.
And the situation wasn't conducive to giving her something emotional either.
The only answer was a wish.
...Though I'd reached that conclusion and spoken the words, I was honestly starting to regret it.
I shouldn't have said it.
Because I was already starting to dread what kind of request I'd get.
Sure enough, the request the author blurted out shocked me.
[Th-then... Can I develop one fan service scene?]
"What? B-but we agreed not to do that!"
[But...! You said you'd grant me one wish!]
Ah.
...I really shouldn't have done it.
"B-but I'm a man?"
[You're a woman now! Besides, I heard everything! You're a man, so you wouldn't go back on your word, right?! Grant me one wish! I've decided on this! A fan service scene!]
No, it's not too late yet.
Even if it's a fan service scene, I don't necessarily have to participate.
If I just secretly observe Amelia and Yoo Siwoo being lovey-dovey...
[The academy is also a school, so a swimming class wouldn't be strange, right? Hehehe.]
They say you should always be careful when you speak.
I painfully realized that advice, which I had always taken for granted.
Through the disaster I brought upon myself.
Indeed, the mouth was the root of all evil.
***
"This is your first command, Lyra."
"..."
Gulp.
Lyra's Adam's apple bobbed.
Lyra, stiff with tension, worried endlessly about what kind of command would be given.
...Assassination of a key figure?
Or terrorism?
It might even be robbery.
No, if not that, she might just be treated as a disposable pawn...!
"For the academy's swimming class, what kind of swimsuit would be best?"
"...Huh?"
Lyra, who had unconsciously repeated the question, instantly clapped a hand over her mouth.
Who knew what would happen if she defied that woman.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to mind much.
"No, what kind of swimsuit do women wear...? I don't know."
"Um, excuse me. I don't quite understand what you mean..."
Ignoring Lyra's flustered appearance, Arte simply said what she wanted to say.
At least, that's how Lyra felt.
"Alright. This is a command, Lyra. Get me a swimsuit that fits. ...One that's as modest as possible."
"A s-swimsuit...?"
"We'll have a swimming class soon. Hehe, embarrassingly, I don't have a swimsuit."
...Is it some kind of code?
No, this is the first command.
Besides, in a situation with just the two of them, there'd be no need to use a code.
She really just wants me to buy a swimsuit?
"Oh, first, buy it and bring the receipt, and I'll give you the money. Don't worry."
"Yes, yes..."
"As modest as possible. Please?"
Arte's slight smile was unsettling.
There wasn't supposed to be a swimming class in the first place.
There was no such class in the academy's curriculum she had received so far.
There had been no mention of a swimming class being added either.
But Lyra nodded.
It was useless to think about it now anyway.
She must have gathered information from somewhere again.
She was the type who knew about the existence of the Übermensch as if it were obvious.
It's safe to assume she also knew secret information about the academy.
"I underst...and."
"Good. If you perform well, I'll give you a reward. You can look forward to it."
Lyra dismissed Arte's words.
A reward? She figured it wouldn't be anything special anyway.
***
"Everyone, pay attention. This is an official announcement."
After school, as students chatted and waited for Teacher Claire.
When Teacher Claire's voice rang out, the students' gazes turned to her.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know. Did someone transfer out again?"
A transfer, huh.
A bitter smile spread across Amelia's lips.
Lyra was handled that way. A transfer.
According to Yoo Siwoo, Lyra was either hostile towards Arte, or if they were from the same organization, their relationship must have been extremely bad.
As a result of Arte and Lyra's confrontation, Lyra died.
Arte didn't seem to have any intention of killing me.
...That's what she said.
Even for an academy, a continuous string of incidents must have been a huge burden.
Considering they covered it up as a 'transfer'.
Well, it wasn't hard to understand.
A student turning traitor.
Even if the monster incident was somehow dealt with, not much time had passed before an even bigger incident erupted.
They must have done their best to cover it up.
"...You all enrolled in the academy to become heroes. If you're a hero, you should be able to save citizens in case of an emergency, right?"
The students agreed with Teacher Claire's words.
The goal heroes should pursue is the safety of citizens.
It wasn't wrong.
"Tomorrow's class will be preparatory training for rescue operations during aquatic disasters. ...In other words, swimming."
"Oooooh!"
Swimming class?
Excited chatter from students echoed from everywhere.
They were still students. At an age where they loved playing in the water.
It was natural for them to be excited about swimming.
"Quiet! ...A hero must never be unable to swim. How can you be called a hero if you have to be rescued during a water disaster?!"
"No, ma'am!"
"Good. Bring your swimsuits by tomorrow. That is all."
Immediately after Teacher Claire disappeared.
Voices filled with anticipation flowed from everywhere.
"Swimming, I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too. I wonder if the one I bought last time still fits?"
"How could it? Didn't you gain weight?"
"...Wanna die?"
Swimming, huh.
With the noisy chatter of the students as background noise, Amelia suddenly touched her stomach.
...I haven't gained much, have I?
"Amelia, can you swim?"
"Isn't that obvious? It's basic."
"Right? That's good."
Amelia, who had responded brusquely to Yoo Siwoo's approach, suddenly stiffened.
Seeing her suddenly stop, Siwoo grew flustered and called out to Amelia.
"Oh, Amelia? ...Are you okay? Did you get hurt somewhere?"
Yoo Siwoo.
Swimming class.
Arte Isis.
And me, Amelia.
...That's it!
A full simulation ran through Amelia's mind.
With this, I might be able to find evidence of that 'Author'.
Amelia was certain.
"Hey, Yoo Siwoo."
"Oh, thank goodness. I thought you got hurt..."
"That's not what's important."
"...Huh?"
He didn't notice even after hearing 'swimming class'?
She decided to ask Yoo Siwoo if anything came to his mind.
"Swimming class, I said, swimming class. ...Do you understand what that means?"
"No, I don't."
He couldn't think of this.
She felt frustrated.
There was no choice. She had to explain this brilliant idea to Yoo Siwoo.
"To communicate with that 'Author,' there must be some kind of device, right? Like a miniature communicator."
"Right?"
"And in swimming class, you have to wear only a swimsuit and go into the water, so you can't carry any mechanical devices on your body."
"...Ah!"
Exactly.
He finally understood.
Yoo Siwoo, who had reached the same conclusion as her, said with a bright smile.
"If we secretly search her clothes during swimming class...!"
"Yes. We can find evidence. And then we can cooperate with the teachers."
"Th-that's amazing. I didn't think of that."
Yoo Siwoo seemed impressed by her brilliant idea.
And he should be.
Because this was truly a perfect plan.
"Then while I watch her, you...!"
"Huh? What are you talking about? You're the one who's going to search her clothes."
"What?"
What? Why are you so flustered?
Did I say something wrong?
"Not me searching?"
"You're not friends with Arte, are you? Can you stay with Arte the whole time?"
"Th-that..."
Exactly.
Arte and Yoo Siwoo aren't friends.
Even if Arte was very interested in Yoo Siwoo and was monitoring him, it was always done secretly.
Outwardly, they weren't close, that's the point.
They couldn't suddenly become close.
"I'm friends with Arte. I can naturally move with her and tell you her location."
I occasionally spent time with Arte, maintaining our friendship.
So it wouldn't be strange for me to stay with her throughout the swimming class.
But there are too many variables for Yoo Siwoo to monitor Arte throughout the swimming class.
In other words, the role of monitoring her should be mine, not Yoo Siwoo's.
"So you'll naturally take on the remaining role, which is searching her clothes. Understand?"
"...Do I really have to?"
"Of course. It's our chance to uncover the 'Author's' true identity."
Yoo Siwoo had a somewhat displeased expression, but when I pushed him firmly, he eventually nodded.
Good.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. A chance to uncover the 'Author's' true identity."
"Oh, r-right."
That's me, alright.
It was a perfect plan.
A proud smile spread across Amelia's face.