"Huaaah—! Yah!" The orc’s sweat-slicked muscles bulged, veins standing out like ropes as his massive cleaver sliced through the air with a vicious whoosh!

The goblin refused to yield. Its colossal mechanical arm—tipped with a spinning black drill—slammed into the cleaver, showering the arena with sparks!

*Thud!* The engineer’s metal fist connected with the orc’s jaw, knocking out teeth and spraying blood.

*Clang!* The orc’s greatsword sheared through the engineer’s hydraulic lines, spewing black oil onto the arena’s yellow sand…

The fight was fiercer and longer than expected. These duelists were truly giving it their all.

I slipped away unnoticed, heading for the arena’s restroom.

But in the dim corridor, Senior Sister Feyn emerged from the women’s washroom.

*Sigh.* I should’ve just teleported back to my suite. But I hated that dizzying teleportation sensation—certainly not worth it just for a bathroom break.

Restrooms were strange places. This one silently reminded me that both Feyn Senior and I were girls.

Truth was, I still felt uneasy entering women’s restrooms. Deep down, I was still a boy. Seeing her exit only sharpened that truth: she was undeniably a girl, and I… was supposed to be drawn to her. After all, this body wasn’t my choice.

"S-Senior Sister," I stammered, awkwardness thick in my voice.

Feyn Senior sauntered over, her tone laced with vinegar. "Well, well. Didn’t expect the *Princess* to grace a public restroom."

She’d called me "Princess" in private. She was truly angry. But I hadn’t done anything wrong.

"Hmph! Even princesses must understand common life," I shot back, arms crossed against the wall.

"Oh? But does Her Highness even *know* how to use these?" Her voice turned honeyed as she leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. I couldn’t handle it. "Shall I… teach you?"

"Eh? N-no need…" I turned away, cheeks burning.

"Fine. Go ahead. Call if you need help. I’ll wait right here."

"I’m not a child! I know how to use a toilet!"

Feyn pinned me against the wall, one hand braced beside my head. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then traced a finger down my cheek, pressing gently against my lips. "That poster. Explain it. Did you model for them?"

I’d forgotten—she hadn’t been there when I summoned Lodis.

"Impossible!" I twisted away, face crimson. "They drew it without my consent! Probably from some magic recording!"

Relief flickered in her eyes. She cupped my chin, forcing me to meet her serious gaze. "I *will* win this tournament. I *will* earn the right to guide you."

"Eh?"

"Or… do you hope Sulia wins instead?"

My voice dropped. "Senior Sister, I…"

"What is it?" Her eyes softened.

"I’m grateful you’d fight for me. Truly. But… you can’t beat Sulia. She’s an Eighth-Rank Sword Dancer. A vampire. They excel in magic and combat—she can fight beyond her rank. She’s the Undercity’s strongest warrior! And Sword Dancers… they thrive in one-on-one duels. You’re only Fifth-Rank. Human. You’d be in real danger."

Feyn exhaled slowly. "So you *were* worried about me?"

"It’s not that! I just don’t want you hurt! Sulia’s power is terrifying—"

"Then you enjoyed dancing in her arms, did you?"

"Senior Sister! I meant—you’re a genius! But Sulia’s over 500 years old! Maybe someday you could—"

"*Quiet.*" Her finger silenced my lips. "I *will* win."

Her eyes held unshakable resolve. She seemed to stare past me, whispering to herself: "I won’t lose again…"

"Senior Sister?"

She snapped back, cheeks flushing pink. For once, the tall, composed Feyn looked flustered—almost girlish. She stepped back, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths. A wild thought hit me: *What if I pinned her against this wall right now?*

But I lacked the courage. Still… I knew I’d try someday.

"Go on. I’ll wait."

"…Okay." The tension made refusal pointless. I slipped inside. Thankfully, the restroom was empty—any other girls would’ve made my male soul cringe.

Alone in the stall, I finally relaxed. *What did she mean—‘won’t lose again’? Why challenge Sulia at Fifth-Rank? …Huh?!*

A sharp, unfamiliar pain shot through my lower body. Panicked, I looked down—

The water swirled blood-red.

"*Yaaah—!* Wh-what is this?!"

I knew periods existed as a boy—but experiencing it firsthand? I screamed before I could stop myself.

"*Kuroti?!*"

Steel hissed free. Feyn Senior burst in, sword raised. Finding no threat, she rushed to my stall.

*Crack!* She shattered the lock with raw force. The door flew open before I could react.

"Eh?" Sword still in hand, her fierce gaze melted into raw worry. *She looks at me like this when she thinks I’m in real danger?*

Instinctively, I squeezed my legs together, yanking my black stockings to cover myself. My pale thighs trembled as I slumped sideways, face burning, unable to meet her eyes. *She saw everything. My shame. My body betraying me. The ultimate slap to my male pride—exposed by the sister I admire most.* I covered my face, time freezing in humiliation.

Silence stretched. Only her steady breathing filled the air. No laughter. No disgust.

Trembling, I peeked up. Her worried expression shifted as she took in the scene—the blood, my tear-streaked face, my futile attempts to hide. Understanding dawned.

Her sharp eyes instantly softened. She sighed, a tender, almost maternal smile touching her lips. "Oh, my little princess… you’ve become a woman now."

"P-please… don’t look…"

She knelt, whispering against my ear: "Shh, big sister won’t look. Don’t be scared. This is normal for girls. It might ache a little—first times are strange. But you’ll get used to it. You don’t know how to handle it, do you? Come. Let me teach you."

"Why… why are you so gentle…?"

"*Sister—!*" I collapsed against her shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.

*The more you comfort me, the deeper this shame cuts. You’ll never understand—this isn’t just embarrassment. It’s a death sentence to who I was!*

This blood… this undeniable proof: *I am a woman. Fully. Completely.*

*I don’t want this healthy woman’s body!*

"*Wahhh—!*"

Feyn Senior couldn’t grasp why I wept so violently. But she felt my terror, my grief. Without a word, she wrapped me in a fierce, unyielding embrace right there on the cold tile floor. Her warmth seeped into my shivering frame. "Hush now. Don’t cry. I shouldn’t have been angry. I’ll protect you. Care for you. Always."

Tears streaked her own cheeks. Her soft peaks pressed against my slight chest as she rocked me, palm stroking my back.

In that moment, I couldn’t imagine surviving this frozen Undercity—this body that wasn’t mine—without her bursting through that door. Without her holding me as my soul shattered.

She wiped my tears, then pulled supplies from her Spatial Ring. Patiently, she guided my hands. *I’m so lucky to have her.*

She could be sharp. Teasing. Overwhelming.

But I loved her.