Son...

Son?

Son!!?

Hahaha... Teacher Serica’s such a joker. What kind of mom mistakes her daughter for a son? Hahahaha...

...

This Elf’s a boy!!?

I was still reeling from Teacher Serica’s shocking words when Furide—that “male Elf”—glared at me weirdly and yelled, “You’re that Arisa!?”

He grabbed two wooden swords from the rack and tossed one to me.

The moment he saw me, his face flushed red with anger, his long ears turning cherry pink.

“You’re the one making humans point at me daily and spreading weird rumors, right!?”

“Hey! I’m a victim too, you know!?”

I rushed to explain, but this Elf wouldn’t hear a word.

“Maybe you even started those rumors!”

No way! Who’d want anything to do with you? We just met!

“If... if Mom hadn’t forced me, I’d never step foot in this human-filled place! Then I have to go on a blind date with some human princess, and rumors are everywhere... Humans suck!”

Blind date!?

Wait, weren’t you here to steal Lorian from me!?

Before I could ask, Furide snapped.

“W-well, since this is sword class, let’s settle it like men!”

He swung his wooden sword. “If I win, you stop spreading rumors! I’m not into guys!”

Neither am I, Furide! And I didn’t spread them! We’re both victims!

...

Furide’s sudden challenge twisted things weirdly fast—our images were already... complicated.

The moment we stood together, the crowd spiraled out of control.

[Awawawa... F-f-fight! Teacher Serica, they’re fighting!]

[Shh! Quiet! Fuu and Arisa... amazing! Swearing on Elf art, I’ll draw this for the Queen!]

Strange murmurs rose, but Teacher Serica didn’t stop us.

I didn’t care, but Furide was losing it.

Provoked by gossip, he lunged at me before I could state my wager.

[Thud!]

I blocked hastily with my vambrace—no time for my sword.

The training ground erupted. Students dropped everything, whispering about us.

[Teacher Serica, w-wait... who’s top and bottom? I’m team Fu-Ari!]

Furide, frustrated, swung wildly at my head like a berserker. This wasn’t sparring—he was taking out rage.

[Nonsense! Arisa’s skirt hides something bigger than Fuu’s! Ari-Fuu is canon!]

I frowned, dodging easily.

Then Furide snapped.

“Mother!! What are you babbling about!?”

Flushed red, he whirled and yelled at Teacher Serica, who was “debating intensely” with students.

But...

Duels need focus. His mental strength was trash—crumbling over gossip?

While he was distracted, I grabbed my wooden sword and tapped his forehead lightly with the flat.

[Thud!]

“Match over, Furide. You lost. Oh, my wager—I want you to give up on Lorian...”

I watched the stunned Elf.

His face paled, then greened, then flushed red—ears turning lovely pink.

Embarrassed? Bitter? Rules are rules. I’d won.

Or so I thought.

Next second, he knocked my sword away and thrust at my stomach.

[Thud!]

“Hiss... Oww...”

I dodged, but the blade smacked my waist.

“Hey! Blondie Elf! What the hell...”

Pain was minor. What pissed me off?

This proper-looking Elf was cheating!

...

I couldn’t speak—Furide swung his sword like a madman, shouting nonsense.

“It’s... all your fault! Because of you, rumors are everywhere!”

[Smack!]

“Saying I like men! How could I! You spread those lies!”

I didn’t want to wear a skirt here either!

It’s your fault!

Just say you’re not into Lorian!

Now you lost, cheat, and cry while yelling...

“N-now everyone asks if I like men! Elders shove ‘corrective’ books at me! It’s... all you!”

[Smack! Smack! Smack!]

“You... skirt-wearing freak! No manliness! That Lorian princess? Who’d meet her? Some rude human, anyway!”

Beautiful Elf, vicious mouth.

...

“Elf, enough!”

As his sword swung again, I snapped.

I couldn’t argue “skirt-wearing freak,” but I wouldn’t ignore his Lorian insults.

I grabbed his sword and squeezed.

[Crack!]

It shattered into splinters.

My other hand gripped his pale neck, pinning the cheating Elf down.

On the ground, Furide finally looked scared—eyes wide, ears trembling.

I slammed my fist beside his ear. This time, I used force—the ground cracked under the shockwave.

...

Silence fell. Teacher Serica, who should’ve kept order, panted while sketching.

I didn’t want a “race war.” But this Elf’s prejudice against humans—especially Lorian—needed “education.”

“How’s this for manliness, Furide? Stronger than yours, right?”

Ignoring the stares, I loomed over the stunned Elf.

“The skirt’s forced on me. Honestly, it gives me manliness—I can actually talk to women normally.”

“...”

Furide opened his mouth to speak.

I had no time.

Not because of his cheating, but the growing crowd.

Stay longer, and tomorrow’s rumor’d be “Arisa forced Furide.”

“You, Furide—distracted by gossip? Is that manly? Only women obsess over whispers!”

I yanked his wrist roughly, hauling the dazed Elf up.

“And you dismiss Lorian unseen? Petty women do that... Huh, forget it.”

Furide was still stunned. I had no patience left.

Before more students gathered to gawk, I’d better bolt.