Clothes were strewn all over the room.
I sat with my chin resting on my hand, trying to figure out how to get back to the dorm.
‘This is bad. What am I going to do?’
I leaned against the wall, thinking deeply, but no solution came to mind.
If I went out like this, I’d just be a flasher wandering around the academy naked.
Using Radiant Aura was out of the question too—I was low on mana.
Truly a dilemma with no way out.
But thankfully, I didn’t have to worry for long.
Apparently worried that I hadn’t returned for quite a while, Liliana came looking for me at the training grounds.
“Kyaah! Lord Behirit…!?”
“Oh. You came at the perfect time. As expected of you, Liliana.”
“W-Wow… Ahem! Um, but why are you naked?”
“Just to make it clear—this was an accident. I definitely didn’t want to end up like this.”
“What exactly happened?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain once we get back to the dorm, but first, could you… get me some clothes…”
“Ah. Yes, understood!”
Liliana replied, blushing furiously.
She covered her eyes with both hands, but still peeked curiously through her fingers at my privates.
Gulp—
In the quiet room, I could clearly hear the sound of her swallowing.
I managed to speak, addressing her unrelenting gaze.
“When are we leaving?”
“Ah! I’ll go right now!”
Tatata—
Liliana dashed off in a hurry, her twin tails flying behind her.
Her skirt swayed in rhythm with her sprinting.
I watched the curve of her bottom peeking from beneath the short skirt, then leaned back against the wall.
“Phew…”
A sigh of relief escaped my lips.
I’d almost been mistaken for some perverted noble who enjoyed public exposure.
It wasn’t that I had a body to be ashamed of, but that didn’t mean I could walk around naked.
I felt genuinely relieved that the crisis had passed.
“Hm. But just sitting here doing nothing is boring.”
Even my inner thoughts were quiet for once.
Standing around doing nothing felt like a waste of time—should I swing my sword a bit?
“…Nah. I’ll just sit here.”
“Swinging a sword naked… that’s totally perverted.”
In the end, I had no choice but to sit on the floor and close my eyes.
“…”
Alone in the room.
Time passed in the silence.
When would Liliana arrive?
Just as I started thinking it was taking longer than expected, I opened my eyes at the sound of hurried footsteps, and Liliana rushed into the room, panting heavily.
“Ha… ha… Here. I brought underwear and some clothes you can wear.”
“Thanks a lot. But it took a little longer than I thought.”
“I-I’m sorry. I had to find Behirit-sama’s clothes…”
“Didn’t you already know where my clothes are?”
“Well… that is…”
“Anyway, thanks to you, it’s all sorted out. I can’t imagine how long I would’ve been stuck in this room if it weren’t for you.”
“It’s nothing. Hehe…”
Liliana wiped the sweat from her face and gave a sheepish smile.
Her face, slightly lowered, had a faint blush on it.
I patted Liliana’s head, then started putting on the underwear she handed me.
‘Huh?’
But as I put on the underwear, it felt a bit sticky and damp.
Had it not dried properly?
She should have checked it properly before bringing it.
It seemed like an unusual mistake for Liliana.
While I was confused, putting on my pants and shirt, Liliana spoke up.
“U-Um, Behirit-sama.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t know if I should say this, but…”
“Yeah?”
“Y-You look even more handsome now.”
Liliana said, staring at my face intently.
More handsome?
“All of a sudden?”
“I mean… you’ve always been the most handsome in the world, but now, it’s like… your expression has become brighter than before. Oh, should I lend you my mirror?”
“Huh. I should see for myself.”
“Wait a moment. Here, I’ll give it to you.”
Liliana dug through her pocket and handed me a small cosmetic mirror.
“That’s surprising. You look brighter.”
So, the changes from ascending my realm weren’t just internal?
From what I’d heard, it seemed there had been some external changes as well.
I picked up a mirror with one hand and examined my face closely.
“…Huh?”
But as I stared into the mirror—
I was at a loss for words.
‘What the…’
Reflected in the mirror was a breathtakingly handsome man with black hair and red eyes.
To be precise, it was a version of me that looked like before, only even more good-looking.
‘What the hell happened?’
Could it be…
Had I undergone something like hwangol daltai— a complete transformation of the body and bones, as they say in martial arts novels— just from reaching a higher realm?
I thought maybe I was seeing things, so I looked into the mirror again.
But there was no mistaking it.
I really had changed.
How should I put this…
Just like Liliana said, the decadent, sharp look in my eyes had softened, giving off a warmer vibe.
And overall, my facial features looked like they’d been naturally enhanced—like a celebrity after some subtle beauty treatments.
Even before, I was well-known in high society, but now? I was practically a virgin-slaying heartthrob.
“It’s real… I can hardly believe it.”
“Ugh… Lord Behirit becoming even more handsome… That’s not good…”
“Hm? What do you mean, ‘not good’?”
“There are already so many women around you, Lord Behirit… and now there are going to be even more.”
Liliana said this with a worried look on her face.
Well… what can I even say to that?
If Liliana is going that far to say this, I really should be more cautious about adding more women into my life.
Meeting new people is nice and all…
But cherishing the relationships I already have is just as important.
‘Hmm. Maybe just one or two more won’t hurt.’
Yeah, that should be fine.
I nodded to myself, reasoning it out internally.
Then, I asked Liliana something that had been on my mind.
“By the way, I’ve been inside the training hall this whole time, so I’ve lost track of time. How long has it been since I came in here?”
“Ah, well… When I left the inn to come find you, it was around four in the morning. So, some time has passed since then.”
“…What?”
Wait a minute.
So you’re saying I really stayed here all night?
“Liliana. What time is my lecture schedule?”
“You have a lecture at 10 a.m. later this morning for the entire faculty. I was going to wait until you came back, Behirit, but since there’s not much time left before the lecture, I had no choice.”
Liliana fidgeted with her fingers as she spoke.
I see. Ten o’clock, huh.
Fortunately, there’s still some time before the lecture.
I guess I can go back to my quarters, rest up, get ready, and head to the lecture hall.
But still…
‘No wonder her face looked a bit tired…’
Had she been waiting for me all night without sleep?
I was about to say something, feeling both sorry and grateful,
when Liliana spoke first, a worried look on her face.
“Um. About the lecture later.”
“Hm?”
“I’m not sure how to say this…”
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Well… the thing is, all the students attending are women.”
“…….?”
I froze at Liliana’s words.
Wait. Hold on.
I’m pretty sure the class was open for up to a hundred students.
All of them are women?
That doesn’t make any sense.
“I don’t understand. Even if it’s a lecture open to the whole faculty, how is that possible?”
“From what I’ve heard, it’s because there’s a high chance you’ll become the de facto ruler of the Empire someday, Behirit.”
“…So they’re after my hand in marriage for power?”
“Not all the young ladies, of course. Some of them just came to see your face, apparently.”
“Hah.”
“So many noble ladies flocked to enroll in the lecture that the male students couldn’t even register.”
“…Unbelievable.”
Even so, not a single male student got in?
So I’m going to be giving a lecture surrounded by a hundred female students?
‘What is this, some kind of gender-swapped fantasy world?’
It was, to say the least, a completely absurd situation.
My mind was a mess.
I took a deep breath to calm myself and opened my mouth.
“Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Yes. There… won’t be any problem, right?”
“Probably not. For now, let’s just head back to the dorm.”
“Okay…”
Liliana trailed off anxiously.
Jeez. There’s really no need to worry that much.
‘Come on. Just because there are a lot of female students doesn’t mean anything’s going to happen, right?’
I figured I’d just do some basic lectures and that would be that.
And so, I found myself unexpectedly about to meet a hundred female students.
In the sweltering summer dawn,
Liliana and I left the training ground and headed back to the dorm.
* * *
A few hours later.
Academy lecture hall.
Inside the spacious and pleasant classroom, countless female students were waiting for someone.
Every single one of them was dressed up to the nines.
As if they were attending a matchmaking event, they sat demurely, sneaking glances toward the entrance of the classroom, their faces filled with anticipation.
“The Grand Duke will be here soon. What do I do? I’m so nervous.”
“He looks amazing even from afar, but what must he be like up close?”
“Right? I heard his voice is really nice too. I hope he comes soon.”
The girls seated together whispered among themselves.
They seemed familiar with each other, chatting freely.
Amidst their excited conversation, one of the girls whispered softly,
“Hey, did you know? The Grand Duke isn’t engaged yet.”
“Of course. Every noblewoman in the empire knows that.”
“Oh my… He’s handsome, holds a Grand Duke’s title, and he’s single. On top of that, he’s strong and righteous, saving people—he’s like a hero from a storybook.”
“I… heard rumors that he’s a bit of a womanizer though…”
“Well, he is a Grand Duke. More than that, I’m just curious who will end up being chosen by him.”
One of the girls said.
Who will become the Grand Duke’s wife?
As soon as the curiosity arose, their gazes naturally turned in one direction.
Seated there was the imperial princess, her hair a brilliant golden hue.
The other students in the lecture hall also cast subtle glances her way.
Soaking in the attention of countless eyes, Justia bit her lip gently.
‘Ugh… Why are there so many girls here?’
Today was the day the Grand Duke would give his first lecture at the academy.
Given how incredibly charming he was, she had expected a large number of female students to attend.
But, oh my.
There wasn’t a single male student present.
She never imagined things would go this far.
‘This is bad…’
From the conversations she had overheard, she’d already figured it out.
Each and every one of these girls held some form of affection for the Grand Duke.
That knowledge made Justia uneasy.
Because she was a selfish girl who wanted to monopolize the Grand Duke.
A spoiled child who always wanted to have his attention.
But whenever that anxiety crept in, she could easily soothe it by feeling the warmth in her lower belly.
‘Grand Duke…’
Justia gently stroked her lower abdomen, where her womb was.
She could still feel the lingering heat from when the Grand Duke had passionately poured himself into her.
Did the other girls know?
That among everyone in this room, only she carried the Grand Duke’s love inside her belly?
Among a hundred rivals gathered here—
Only she was special.
‘Hehe…’
Justia smiled faintly.
Just then—
There was a sound from outside the door.
And the eyes of every girl in the lecture hall turned toward the entrance.
“…”
The chattering lecture hall fell instantly silent.
All the girls focused their attention on the man about to enter.
Moments later—
The firmly shut door creaked open.
“!”
The girls in the room widened their eyes and covered their mouths in astonishment.