As soon as Sifney finished speaking, the crowd below erupted into a frenzy.
“Really?! Sifney, you’ve already found a solution?!”
“…I didn’t expect Miss Sifney to work so quickly. This truly surprised me.”
“Can we really go back? There won’t be any other problems, right?”
Compared to the others, who were either shocked or excited, Liamy, though also surprised by Sifney’s words, felt even more nervous.
What should I do? What should I do? Sifney has already found a way for me to change back! Should I just go back to how I was? Or should I stay like this? What should I do…
Liamy’s thoughts were a tangled mess, so much so that she didn’t even notice Colin looking over at her.
When Colin heard Sifney say she’d found a way for them to change back, he turned to Liamy, excited. He’d expected to see joy on Liamy’s face, but instead all he saw was worry and anxiety.
Why does she have that expression? Isn’t this supposed to be a good thing for her?
Colin was puzzled; he didn’t understand why Liamy wasn’t happy. Then, a sudden thought popped into his head and startled him: Could it be that she doesn’t want to turn back into her old self?
The moment this idea appeared, Colin quickly suppressed it. No, that’s impossible—why would Liamy think that way? After all, she’s a man… right?
Colin didn’t know why, but he didn’t want to keep thinking along those lines. He glanced at Liamy again and asked himself: Do I really still think of her as a man? Does she really want to stay a man? Should I let her follow her own wishes? Or is this just my selfish fantasy?
Colin was confused about his own feelings. He looked at Liamy once more, then let out a quiet sigh.
Forget it, this is Liamy’s decision to make. No matter what she chooses, I should support her. That’s what I ought to do.
With that thought, Colin felt a bit better and relaxed enough to keep listening to Sifney’s explanation.
Meanwhile, Sifney had already rattled off a whole string of detailed instructions about the method. Although hardly anyone present actually understood, and Colin and Liamy didn’t even listen, that didn’t stop Sifney from showing off her confidence—nor did it affect the enthusiastic applause and praise.
“As expected of you! The world-class genius mage! Sifney, the Grand Magus!”
After pretending to be humble while secretly overjoyed, Sifney waved her hand, and the room quieted down again.
“Ahem, alright. Anyway, that’s the gist of it—I’ve completed a preliminary magic circle that can let you all return to being male! Due to some complications, I can only change a few people back each day, but for now that should be enough. So, who do you want to change back first? It’s best to make a list, so there’s no fighting over it.”
But contrary to Sifney’s expectations, when she suggested they decide among themselves who should go first, the room fell completely silent.
Seeing none of the Holy Knights speak up, Sifney couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “What’s wrong? Do you have issues with the order? Is it that hard to decide? Should we have Captain Laryan go first? No one would object to that, right?”
“I object…”
At this, Sifney looked at Captain Laryan in disbelief, her mouth slightly open as if about to say something.
But just before she could speak, something seemed to occur to her. She slapped her forehead, then exclaimed as if she’d just understood, “Ah! I get it! Captain Laryan, you think that as captain, you ought to be the first to use the magic, but you want to show consideration for your subordinates, so you’d rather let the other Holy Knights go first and go last yourself, isn’t that right?”
Sifney declared with absolute confidence, but all she got in return was Captain Laryan’s silent expression.
Seeing this, Sifney started to panic.
“Uh, so…that’s not it? Then what else could it be…”
Before Sifney could make another guess, Captain Laryan seemed to reach a decision. After taking a deep breath, she spoke up and revealed her true reason for not wanting to change back.
“…I’ll pass. I actually quite like being like this.”
Sifney & Colin: “???!!!”
This time, not only Sifney, but even Colin was stunned. Liamy was also surprised, but the other Holy Knights seemed unusually calm, as if they’d already expected this.
“Wha—what do you mean by that?”
Sifney asked, her voice trembling so much that she forgot to use honorifics.
In response, Captain Laryan, so unlike her usual self, even smiled a little.
“What do I mean? Just what I said, obviously ο(=•ω＜=)ρ⌒☆.”
“Wha—what—you mean it literally?!”
“Exactly, just as I said. Compared to my old geezer’s body, I like living in this cute girl’s body way more. Isn’t that fine?”
Sifney found herself at a loss for words. She wanted to retort, but didn’t know what to say. After hesitating for a while, she finally gave in.
“Th-this…alright. You—no, you’re right. Living with this body isn’t exactly a bad thing. But…do you really think so?”
At the end, Sifney still didn’t quite believe it and asked Captain Laryan again. But unfortunately, she got the same answer.
Seeing this, Sifney could only turn her gaze to the other Holy Knights.
“What about you all? Do you…who’s going to change back first?”
When Sifney spoke this time, her tone was unsteady, because she could already see the same determination in the eyes of these beautiful girl Holy Knights that she’d seen in Captain Laryan.
On the other side, Colin’s brain had crashed ever since his master spoke. By the time he finally recovered, he heard something even more shocking.
“Um, Miss Sifney. Actually…we’re not that eager to change back either. We’ve gotten used to these bodies now, and if we changed back…well, you know?”
I know? What do I know?! What are you all talking about?!
At this, Sifney opened her mouth, but no words came out. In the end, she could only press her hand to her forehead and close her eyes tightly. Then she nodded, accepting the Holy Knights’ wishes.
And standing beside these beautiful girl Holy Knights, Colin no longer knew what kind of expression to wear.
He now felt like the whole world had become absurd, and being a relatively normal person in this place, he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of dissonance.
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