[Waaaaaaaaaah!]

I’m going crazy. 

The Author’s crying didn’t stop.

There was no choice.

I really, really didn’t want to do it. 

I wondered for a long time if I should even say this.

Should I really do it?

But wouldn’t it be better than letting them keep crying like this?

…It would be better, right?

“What should I do?”

[Sniff…What?]

“I’ll grant you one wish, whatever you want.”

[…!]

The Author’s crying subsided.

It was certainly effective.

…The problem is the aftermath. I have no idea what kind of demand they’ll make.

But there was no choice.

At this rate, they would clearly cry all day. 

No matter how much I tried to console them, I was already pinned as the culprit.

No matter what I said, it wouldn’t get through.

In the end, the only thing I could do to console the Author was to make up for it.

Material things were impossible.

And the situation wasn’t suitable for giving something mental or emotional either.

The only answer was to grant a wish.

…Even though I came to that conclusion and said those words, I was already starting to regret it. 

I shouldn’t have said it.

I was already starting to dread what kind of demand they would make.

As expected, the demand the Author voiced left me stunned.

[Then…can I write a fan service scene?]

“What? But we agreed not to do that!”

[But…! You said you’d grant me one wish!]

Ah.

…I really shouldn’t have said that.

“But I’m a man?”

[You’re a woman right now! And you’ve already heard everything! Since you’re a man, you won’t go back on your word, are you?! You said you’d grant me one wish! I’ve decided on this 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. 

I could just peek at Amelia and Siwoo cuddling…

[An academy would have swimming classes, too, right? It wouldn’t be weird, hehe.]

They say you always have to be careful with your words.

I deeply realized that advice that I had always taken for granted, 

Through the disaster I brought upon myself.

The mouth is indeed the root of all evil.

***

“This is your first order, Lyla.”

“…”

Gulp.

Lyla’s swallowed nervously.

Completely tense and stiffening her body, she scrutinized intently what kind of order would come.

…An assassination? 

Or maybe terrorism?

It could even be a robbery.

Or if not, maybe she’s just being treated as a disposable…!

“What kind of swimsuit would be best to wear for the academy’s swimming class?”

“…Huh?”

Without realizing it, Lyla asked back.

She immediately covered her mouth, fearing what punishment she might receive for defying that woman.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem to bother her much.

“Was I not clear enough? No, what kind of swimsuit do women wear…?”

“Um, I don’t quite understand what you’re…”

Not caring about Lyla’s flustered state, Arte just said what she wanted to say.

At least, that’s how Lyla felt.

“Okay, this is an order, Lyla. Get me a swimsuit that fits me…One with as little exposure as possible.”

“A swimsuit…?”

“There’s a swimming class coming up soon. Embarrassingly, I don’t have a swimsuit.”

…Is it some kind of code?

No, this is the first order. 

And there’s no need for codes in this one-off situation.

She really just wants me to buy a swimsuit?

“Ah, first buy it and bring the receipt, and I’ll reimburse you. Don’t worry.”

“Yes, yes…”

“Get one with as little exposure as possible. That’s the most important part?”

Arte’s smile seemed gloomy.

There was no such thing as a swimming class to begin with.

There had been no swimming class in the academy’s curriculum so far.

There was no mention of a swimming class being added either.

But Lyla nodded her head.  

It was pointless to think about it now.

She probably gathered the information from somewhere.

It’s someone who knew about the existence of Übermensch, so something this pointless was a matter of course.

She must have some secret intel on the academy as well.

“I understand…”

“Excellent. If you do a good job, I’ll reward you. You can look forward to it.”

Lyla ignored Arte’s words. 

A reward? It’s not going to be anything special anyway.

***

“Everyone, pay attention. There’s an announcement.”

As the students were chatting and waiting for Claire after class, 

When her voice rang out, the students’ eyes turned towards her.

“What’s going on?”  

“I wonder if someone transferred again?”

Transferred.

A wry smile crossed Amelia’s lips.

Lyla was “transferred” out of the academy.

According to Siwoo, Lyla was likely an enemy or part of the same organization as Arte but had a terrible relationship with her.  

As a result of the confrontation between them, Lyla died.

Arte didn’t seem to intend to kill Siwoo.

…That’s what she said.

It must have been a burden for the academy to have incidents happen one after another.

Looking at how they covered it up as a “transfer.”

Well, it wasn’t incomprehensible.

A student turned traitor.

Even if they managed to get past the monster incident, an even bigger incident occurred shortly after.  

They must have done their best to cover it up.

“…You all enrolled at the academy to become heroes. As heroes, you must be able to rescue civilians in an emergency.”  

The students agreed with Claire’s words.

The safety of civilians is the top priority.  

It wasn’t a wrong statement.

“Tomorrow’s class will be swimming as preparation for water rescue training in case of an aquatic disaster.”

“Ooooooh!”

Swimming class?

The excited chatter of the students echoed from all around.

They’re still students at an age where they love playing in the water.  

It’s only natural they’d be excited about swimming.

“Quiet! …A hero must be able to swim. In a water disaster, can you call yourself a hero if you’re the one being rescued?!”

“No, ma’am!”  

“Right. Come to class tomorrow with your swimsuits. That’s all.”

After Claire left,  

The students’ excited voices flowed from all around.

“Swimming, I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah. I wonder if the one I bought last time still fits?”

“You should definitely get a new one. You got fatter, didn’t you?”  

“…You wanna fight?”

Swimming.

With the students’ noisy chatter in the background, Amelia suddenly touched her stomach.

‘…I probably didn’t gain that much weight, right?’

“Do you know how to swim, Amelia?”  

“Of course I do. It’s basic, isn’t it?”

“I guess so. That’s a relief.”  

At Siwoo’s words, Amelia replied curtly but then suddenly froze.

Seeing Amelia’s abrupt stop, Siwoo called out in concern.

“A, Amelia? …Are you okay? Did you get hurt somewhere?”

Siwoo.

Swimming class.

Arte Iris. 

And her, Amelia.

…This is it!

Simulations ran through Amelia’s head.

With this, they might be able to find evidence of that “Author”! 

Amelia was convinced.

“Listen, Siwoo.”

“O, oh, thank goodness. I thought you were hurt somewhere…”

“That’s not the important part.”

“…Huh?”

Didn’t he realize the significance when he heard about the swimming class?

I decided to ask if anything came to Siwoo’s mind.

“Swimming class, a swimming class. …Do you understand the meaning of this?”  

“No, I don’t.”

How could he not think of this?

Amelia felt frustrated.

She had no choice but to explain her brilliant idea to Siwoo.

“For her to communicate with that ‘Author,’ there must be some kind of device, like a tiny transmitter.”

“I suppose so?” 

“And for the swimming class, we’ll only be wearing swimsuits in the water, so she can’t keep anything in her clothes.”

“…Ah!” 

That’s right.

He finally realized it.  

Siwoo, who came to the same conclusion as her, brightly smiled.

“During the swimming class, we can secretly inspect her clothes…!”

“Right. We can find evidence. Then, we can cooperate with the teachers.”

“Wow, brilliant. I couldn’t think of that.”

Siwoo seemed impressed by her brilliant idea. 

And rightly so.

This is truly a perfect plan.

“Then, while I keep watch on her, can you…”

“Huh? What do you mean? You’re the one inspecting her clothes, not me.”

“What?”

What’s with that confused reaction? 

Did she say something wrong?

“You’re not the one investigating?”

“You’re not friends with Arte, are you? Can you really stick by Arte’s side the whole time?”

“Well, that’s…”

Right.  

Siwoo isn’t friends with Arte.  

While Arte seems very interested in Siwoo and secretly watches him, outwardly, they don’t seem close at all.  

He can’t suddenly act like they’re close friends.

“I’m friends with Arte. I can naturally move around with her and let you know her location.”

Amelia occasionally hung out with Arte to maintain our friendship.  

So it wouldn’t be strange for them to be together for the entire swimming class.  

But there are too many variables for Siwoo to monitor Arte the whole swimming class.  

In other words, monitoring her should fall to Amelia, not him.

“So you end up with the natural remaining role of inspecting her clothes. Got it?”

“…Do I really have to?”

“Of course. It’s a chance to discover that ‘Author’s’ true identity.”

Though Siwoo looked unsatisfied, he eventually nodded.  

Good.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. A chance to get a hold of that ‘Author’s’ identity.”  

“Y-Yeah, I guess.”

‘As expected, I’m the one.’

It was a perfect plan.  

A sense of pride spread across Amelia’s face.

Author’s Notes

You guys know that you shouldn’t imitate things like that, right?

Because it’s a crime.

Translator’s Corner

Title really is clickbait lmao.

-Ruminas