Chapter 38: The Second Identity Revealed

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Translator: Soafp

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One day, while I was devouring the research materials on mental magic that I had received from Elisto, the head of the Forbidden Magic Research Society…

I was suddenly summoned to the student council room by Victoria.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“…That you are No-Face, right?”

“No waaay.”

There's no evidence left anywhere that would reveal I'm No-Face. That can't be it.

At least, that's what I thought when I arrived at the student council room…

“So the true identity of No-Face-sama is you, Ask?”

“No, I am not.”

“Say it while looking me in the eyes.”

“No, I am not.”

“Mm. Your eyes are darting all over the place. Don't bother playing dumb—there's already proof.”

Saying that, Victoria pressed in close, staring at me with absolute conviction.

Proof?

As I froze in panic, Nee-san stepped forward to shield me.

“Princess Victoria, pardon me for interrupting, but on what basis are you making such a claim?”

“Mm. Since the entrance ceremony, I've been eating anpan and drinking milk while investigating every student in the academy.”

“Nee-san, Nee-san—Victoria's been acting like a Showa-era detective this whole time.”

“Showa…?”

“I don't understand what Ask is saying, but on every day No-Face-sama has appeared, you left the dorm. Suspicious as hell.”

…This is bad.

Even if I try to lie, it's all happening too fast—I can't think of anything.

Time to leave it to Nee-san.

I shot her a subtle signal behind Victoria's back. Nee-san nodded and delivered a brilliant, flawless excuse.

“That's because of… you know. Right, Ask? That.”

“Yeah yeah, exactly that. Very that-like.”

“Mm. If you can't think of an excuse, don't force it. Just confess quietly. Don't worry, I'm not planning to punish you.”

“…Let's say, hypothetically, my brother—Ask—were No-Face. What exactly would you intend to demand?”

“Mm. I'd just have him become my husband.”

Just “a little”? Really?

Nee-san also seemed too shocked to come up with anything better.

Oh, right.

“…I've heard that No-Face carries a giant scythe that he can't let go of no matter what.”

“Mm. And you've been carrying a scythe too. Ever since the day after No-Face-sama returned from the dungeon. Pretty convenient coincidence.”

“But look, my scythe is just a regular scythe.”

“If it's an artifact, it wouldn't be strange for it to shrink.”

Could she stop countering every excuse I come up with…?

I really don't know what to do.

“Mm. If you confess, I'll forgive you as long as we flirt every day.”

“…And if I don't?”

“Then every day I'll ‘beep (censored)' you and ‘beep (censored)' you. It's fine—the royal family has a special virility drug made for producing heirs. If you take it, you can ‘beep (censored)' nonstop for a week without dying.”

Hmm. Confessing is starting to sound like the safer option.

“…Well, yeah. I guess so. I'm No-Face. Want me to show you the mask as proof?”

“Mm, I knew it. I've suspected for a while. …Show me the mask later.”

“When did you start suspecting me?”

“Ever since I visited the Medicus territory and met you for the first time.”

“That's from the very beginning!”

“Mm. Finally… finally, I can make you mine. Don't worry, I won't tell Christina-sister yet. I'll let her know after we've done everything together.”

“There's absolutely nothing comforting about that.”

Victoria approached me slowly, breath faintly heavy despite her blank expression.

She's scary.

Time to—ahem—take cover behind Nee-san and think.

If this continues, she'll toy with every inch of my body.

To be totally honest, a big-breasted beauty coming onto me isn't exactly unpleasant, but the primal fear is real—like facing a predator.

“What should I do…”

If only I'd had a little more time, I could've mastered mental magic and erased her memories of investigating me.

…Ah. That's it.

All I need to do is go somewhere out of Victoria's reach and learn mental magic at my own pace.

“Nee-san.”

“…What?”

“I'm going to go missing for a while.”

“Huh?”

Leaving only those words behind, I made my escape from the student council room.

But Victoria was sharp.

As if anticipating my escape, she immediately cut off the exit route with magic.

“Mm. Running is pointless. —Icicle Wind!!”

Victoria froze the entire door in ice.

No escape that way.

But that's naïve of her. As naïve as cola mixed with honey and sugar.

I crossed my arms, then jumped straight toward the window.

Smashing through the glass with my shoulder, I escaped through the student council room window.

“Kya!? Wh-what!? Wh-what is happening!?”

“Mm?”

As I jumped out, someone happened to be standing right below.

It was Lidiel, the exchange student from the Hero Academy.

…Actually, maybe I should just flee to the Empire.

Nee-san said Lidiel is a girl with a strong sense of justice — perfect to use—ahem—to cooperate with.

I called out to the confused Lydia.

“Lidiel, please help me.”

“Huh? Um, you're from the student council…”

“The truth is, at this rate, I'm going to be forced into marriage by Princess Victoria. I'll explain while we run.”

Looking over my shoulder, Nee-san was desperately holding back Victoria, who was about to jump out the window after me.

Very dangerous. Good job, Nee-san.

“—I see. So the princess fell for you and is abusing her authority to force herself on you!!”

“Something like that.”

“Fu,fufufu…”

“…?”

“I knew it. I knew a day like this would come!! A classic hero-like moment where I help someone being oppressed by tyrannical authority!!”

I don't really get it, but she seems motivated, so that's fine.