Human beings were entities that could not be judged by what is visible on the surface alone.
After all, understanding another person is an act of peeling away the faults they wear, with bare hands, to look inside. It is not something that can be easily achieved.
Indeed, it is truly difficult to perform an action without caring whether your hands will become dirty, not knowing whether it will result in a gain or a loss.
The matter concerning Judith Harroway could also be understood in this context.
Usher found her difficult.
Judith was someone who was always followed by strange rumors within the faculty, and her attitude toward others was notorious for being insincere.
In fact, after a brief conversation, one might feel as though they were being looked down upon, so it would be hard to have a good image of her.
But let us peel away that attitude.
If you engage in a slightly deeper conversation and observe her actions, the real Judith Harroway becomes apparent.
She was simply a person with a different perspective.
Because of that, she was someone who could see things others could not.
Usher felt curiosity and even affection toward her.
Of course, this wasn’t from a rational perspective, but from a human one.
Ah, this person is just awkward with expression.
She seemed to be someone who could reach out to others’ faults but was too shy to offer warmth while doing so.
So, Usher treated her more comfortably and showed trust toward her.
It was also the reason he entrusted all the remaining preparations to her.
Although, looking back now, Usher regretted it.
“Why did it come to this?”
Usher spoke with a hollow expression.
He was wearing ragged clothes, standing on a small ferry.
That part was fine.
After all, infiltrating the enemy’s camp meant the outfit didn’t really matter.
The problem lay elsewhere.
“Do… do we really have to go this far, even you, sir?”
Why was a skirt draped over Bersia?
Why did he have to witness such a dreadful sight of his own body wearing women’s clothing?
Bersia was dressed in a wide, rag-like women’s outfit.
She was also wearing a long, black wig, and her entire body was covered in soot, blurring her features. Judith, similarly, was dressed in an outfit almost indistinguishable from a rag, with soot smeared on her face as she replied.
“Why? Because we decided to pretend to be runaway slaves from the southern islands. Begging for our lives, sticking close to them, and once we arrive, we can naturally make contact with the island’s owner.”
“…And then?”
“And then what? In this state, if we’re hiding weapons, a skirt is better, don’t you think? With clothes this thin, you can’t even hide a dagger in pants. They might even search our bodies.”
“Just because it’s a skirt doesn’t mean they won’t inspect us…”
“They’ll be less cautious. And they won’t inspect us.”
Judith gave a sly smile.
“You’re top-tier as a woman, aren’t you? Think about it from their perspective. Oh, a woman’s washed up on this dreary island? But since top-tier quality is reserved for those in higher positions, maybe they’ll offer her to the captain first? That’s how it’ll probably go. In such a society, class distinctions become more pronounced.”
“Wh-why do you choose such words?! Top-tier quality? And ‘reserved for those in higher positions’… That’s…!”
Usher’s face turned bright red, flustered.
Even so, treating a person this way seemed inhumane and wrong.
Trying to muster a stern expression, Usher spoke as though lecturing.
“Such words aren’t appropriate! Words define a person’s character…”
“Yes, yes, the curse of a female,” Judith interrupted with a mischievous tone.
The lecture was impossible.
At least, not while wearing Bersia’s body.
Judith clicked her tongue and continued speaking.
“Anyway, the skirt is necessary. And the wig is a blessing. I don’t know why it’s on a pirate island, though. And your knight has a slim body, doesn’t he? He’s not all bulky, so he can pull off cross-dressing. Otherwise, he’d be hanging here like my knight.”
Usher immediately closed his mouth.
When Judith mentioned “here,” she was referring to below the ship, in the water.
Melvin was currently hanging upside down beneath the ship, holding his breath.
Looking at him, giving a thumbs-up with a grin as if saying “trust me,” many thoughts flooded Usher’s mind.
…The saintess can’t be made to endure such humiliation.
He sighed.
The fact that this was the only option was truly saddening.
Bersia, watching Usher like this, whispered softly.
“I’m fine. It’s just awkward because it’s been so long.”
That made sense.
She had been a woman originally, and wore skirts often, so what would she be embarrassed about now?
Moreover, since it wasn’t even her own body, there was no worry of losing her honor!
Usher, trembling, whispered in response.
“I’m not okay…!”
However, nothing changed because of it.
Inside, Usher’s impatience only grew.
Ah, I need to meet the owner of the eastern island quickly!
That way, I won’t have to see this mess anymore.
Usher grabbed the oar with a sharp thunk and began to row, struggling to pick up the pace.
At that moment, splash! Melvin’s head popped up from the water, flashing a toothy grin as he asked:
“Shall I paddle for you?!”
“…Would you?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Normally, Usher would never have agreed to such a thing, but in that moment, all he wanted was to cross this sea as quickly as possible.
With that, he increased the pace—truly, Melvin was a knight of the highest caliber.
Just by using his legs underwater to paddle, he dramatically increased the boat’s speed…
“Oh, there it is, I see it.”
They arrived at the eastern island just in time.
And there, they encountered the pirates of the island.
“Now, go ahead, scream.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Your knight’s voice is too deep to manage it, and I don’t know how to raise my voice, so I can’t do it.”
The latter sounded like an excuse, but what could be done?
Usher blushed, took a deep breath, and then, as desperately as he could, with a look of someone who had just found hope, shouted:
“Please, help us! There are people here!!!”
The pirates on the shore noticed him immediately.
He could see their eyes widen in surprise, and now that he had become this body, he was particularly sensitive to where their gaze landed on him.
A chilling sense of predatory lust emanated from their stares, sending a shiver down his spine.
Judith gave a sly smile and said,
“Well done. While you’re at it, why not shake your chest a little? That’ll really get them going.”
“…Are you doing this on purpose?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Perhaps this was her revenge for the time he had gotten angry during their preparations before leaving.
Usher narrowed his eyes and glared at her, suspicious, though he had no proof.
Judith, of course, played innocent.
Surprisingly, Bersia defended him.
“You don’t have to do that. The saintess is beautiful just as she is.”
“…Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”
He didn’t feel thankful in the slightest.
Usher’s expression grew sour.
In the end, the encounter with the eastern pirates went exactly as planned.
They didn’t deviate an inch from Judith’s expectations.
“Hmm? You ran away? Begging for your life? We’ll grant it, heh heh…”
“Friend, there’s no paradise where you fled.”
“No paradise, you say? But you’ll show us Nirvana, won’t you? Heh…”
Melburn remained hanging beneath the ship until the pirates retreated.
Only Usher, Judith, and Bersia made it ashore.
Naturally, the pirates’ attention was focused on Usher.
“Come here…”
A group of about five or six pirates surrounded the three, cutlasses in hand.
Even so, their gaze stubbornly clung to Usher.
It was an unavoidable situation.
Judith’s slender and tall frame didn’t outwardly emphasize her femininity.
As for Bersia—well, Usher’s original body—there was no need to even discuss it.
Usher was struggling.
It felt like his mind was draining of all energy.
He had never been one to prefer violent solutions, but at that moment, he felt a strong urge to smash everything in his path and grab the captain by the throat.
He held back those feelings, struggling to contain them.
Finally, they arrived at the center of the island, a massive stone building.
From what he had heard, this was the residence of the leader of the rising power among the two factions that divided the eastern island.
“Well, I suppose we should report to the captain first?”
“Heh, yeah, I guess so. You’ll take good care of us starting tomorrow, won’t you?”
One of the pirates reached toward Usher’s backside.
In that instant, Bersia subtly blocked his path.
Thwack!
The pirate’s hand made contact with the stone-like, muscular backside.
“Oh my.”
Bercia spoke in a high-pitched, affected voice.
The pirate seemed momentarily confused, blinking in shock, before quickly taking a step back with a frightened “Hiiick!”
Had it looked that strange?
No, it seemed that way, perhaps.
Usher felt an indescribable sense of unease.
He met Bersia’s eyes.
She smiled reassuringly, but that only made him feel more unsettled.
In any case, they entered the interior.
The thought of finishing this charade as quickly as possible filled his mind, and just before that wish could come true, they reached the captain’s quarters.
The door slammed shut.
Usher raised his head.
And then, he saw it.
“……”
A young man with a rugged, bandit-like appearance stood before them.
A massive figure, his body completely filled with muscle.
“…A woman. Is she a woman?”
Usher swallowed dryly.
His expression turned serious.
Is he a mana user…?
It seemed that someone who controlled this territory exuded a different kind of presence, as a strong aura of power emanated from him.
The man, with a brown beard that covered half his face, grinned with his gleaming eyes.
In that moment, the atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming threatening.
An unmistakable sense of lecherous intent filled the air.
Now that they had come this far, Usher would try to negotiate in any way possible, but he had to keep in mind that such attempts might not succeed.
In that case, I’ll need to overpower him…!
Prepared for any contingency, Usher clenched the talisman in his hand.
Just as the pirate had done before, Usher couldn’t shake the feeling that the man’s lustful gaze was directed at him.
No one, no one, would be allowed to touch this body.
As long as this body was in use, preserving its dignity was not just a choice—it was his duty.
The tension had built to its peak when, at that moment, the captain rose from his seat.
He approached, his heavy steps echoing.
Thud!
He knelt before them, extending his hand.
“Your bone structure is that of a beautiful woman.”
—The captain reached toward Bersia.
“Bear my child.”
“???”
“If the child carries our bloodline, we’ll be able to drive away the enemies of the island. Will you become my queen?”
“???”
Usher’s mind came to a sudden halt.
His lips moved, then paused, as he belatedly grasped the situation.
What?
Was he choosing Bersia over Judith and himself?
Bone structure? Was a well-defined physique his ideal?
But if you looked closely, you could tell she was a man, right?
Was it because he liked men? No, that couldn’t be it… Maybe it was because the soot made distinguishing her difficult?
What now? Should he reveal his identity?
Countless thoughts raced through his head.
Usher, caught off guard and unable to predict such a situation, suddenly imagined the captain groping Bersia’s body, and the horrifying image took shape.
His subsequent decision was rushed and desperate.
The logic running through Usher’s mind was as follows:
The most important thing right now was to get out of this situation.
He needed to create a peaceful moment for conversation, one that wouldn’t upset the captain’s mood while still preserving his own dignity.
Yes!
He needed to find a reason why this man couldn’t take Bersia to his bedroom.
What reason could that be…?
Ah!
“What if she has a partner? That should work!”
According to Usher’s common sense, hitting on someone who already had a partner was something you just didn’t do. Everyone knew that!
It was a universally acknowledged truth, even gods couldn’t interfere with it!
With that thought, Usher sprang into action.
Thwack!
He pulled Bersia into a tight embrace.
Then, with a rush of urgency, he said:
“She, she’s taken!”
The wary expression on Usher’s face was definitely not intentional. It was simply the result of the situation unfolding as it did.
“Mm?”
The captain blinked, clearly not understanding.
Usher squeezed his eyes shut in frustration and shouted again.
“S-She’s mine!!!”
A declaration of love.
The very act of making such a declaration made Usher feel inexplicably embarrassed, his ears turning bright red.