The investigation began swiftly, its initial phase surprisingly straightforward.

I merely flashed a charming smile at the girls secretly reading manga, and they spilled everything about their beloved "Whisper Teacher."

They stared at me as if the manga’s male lead had stepped off the page, surrounding me in a circle and chattering away about that "darn artist."

Whisper Teacher’s real name was unknown. Their appearance, address—even gender—remained a mystery among fans.

Not that it was surprising. Unlike elegant artists leading mainstream trends, Whisper Teacher’s work, while art, belonged firmly to the realm of *human anatomy*.

True, their comics featured intense battles—but set in "forests," "beds," and "bathhouses"...

Naturally, such an artist would hide their identity. Anyone drawing such indecent—*cough*—vulgar scenes had to be a total creep.

Whisper Teacher had debuted in the underground manga scene over a decade ago. Their skill had evolved from crude doodles to a current style so *steamy* it made hearts race and cheeks flush with just one glance.

Mounting evidence among fans proved Whisper Teacher was a self-made legend who clawed their way to the top. Early works were now priced beyond reach, collected even by nobles.

Lonely noblewomen, husbands absent on duty, relied on Whisper Teacher’s art—and their table legs—to endure long, hollow nights...

...

Hearing this, I finally understood.

Admittedly, the girls’ idol was famous. But...

"He’s just a pervert, right?"

"*No way!*" the girls shot back instantly.

"Teacher’s style is super versatile! Their early works were pure romance! Arisa, you *must* read their masterpiece *Etiquette of the Moonlit Cross-Dresser*!"

"Mid-career works leaned into humiliation and... *ahhh*, elf-girl captivity scenes! I’m so shameless..." One girl covered her burning face.

Frankly... I saw zero shame in her grin.

"And their latest? Bold cross-dressing male leads together! It’s... *amazing*! Arisa, could you—could you do that signature pose for Furide? Like in the manga?"

*Signature pose?*

I glanced past the crowd to Furide.

Trapped by human girls, Fuu’s expression was thunderous.

"Just... pinch his chin and tilt it up slightly. *‘Interesting. Is my arranged marriage partner a ♂boy this time?’*"

*Like hell it is!* Not interesting at all!

I shoved through the circle, yanking Furide away in a panic.

...

Whisper Teacher’s new release had thrown the academy into chaos.

Worse, the manga’s "male lead" and "♂protagonist" bore an uncanny resemblance to Furide and me. Wherever we went, sticky stares followed.

I finally dragged Furide into an empty classroom, dodging prying eyes.

"Master, what exactly are you afraid of?"

Furide, deep in the rumor vortex, showed zero awareness.

"Gossiping, spreading lies without regard for others—that’s just lowly human nature. Ignore it~"

"*I wish I could*, idiot!" I rapped his head.

Normally, I’d agree. As a future Hero surrounded by hormonal teens, I’d learned to shrug off whispers. Good upbringing taught me to care only about elders’ opinions.

But this was different.

Grandpa warned that in days, an Elvenfolk delegation—led by the Discipline Elder, Fuu’s own sister—would arrive for "cultural exchange."

If she saw her brother in a maid dress, blushing while trailing a human man... whose father had eloped with their Queen for over a decade?

A racial war would be the least of my worries. That Discipline Elder might just lop off my *manhood*.

Seeing Fuu still clueless, I spelled it out:

"Fuu, straight question: What punishment awaits humans who defile Elvenfolk?"

Fuu’s face twisted viciously.

"Any lowly human foolish enough to try? We’d break their manhood first—to teach them respect—*then* hand them to human courts."

*Thanks, Fuu.* My fate needed no guessing.

"*Exactly!* We *must* find this manga artist and kill these rumors before the Elders arrive! Look at this!"

I slammed several glossy comics onto the desk.

The cover showed a black-haired "girl" and elf "maiden" tangled intimately—the artist even drew strands of saliva between them...

Furide’s eyes went wide.

"Master... this is..."

"The artist’s work. I bought them yesterday while you were at the bookstore." I sighed.

Seeing them nearly made me faint. I’d ordered every copy to burn them all—until Hill stopped me, urging me to keep samples for "investigation."

*Whisper Teacher... this Hero’s coming for you.*

Furide froze the moment he saw the comics.

Trembling hands lifted one volume like sacred treasure. He held his breath, turning a page with reverence.

"*This... this is!!*"

He stared at the scene where the two ♂leads first met—a setting unmistakably mirroring Furide and my own first encounter.

***[Interesting. Is my arranged marriage partner a ♂boy this time?]***

The artist’s skill was undeniable. The black-haired girl smirked darkly, pinching the elf’s chin—their dynamic clear from frame one.

"Now you see, Furide," I sighed. Even he must grasp the urgency. "If the Elders see this and recognize us? *Disaster.* Do you still think we can ignore these rumors?"

...

No response.

Furide’s gaze remained locked on the color pages.

"Hey... *Fuu!*"

"W-well... maybe it’s not so bad, Master..."

After a long pause, he ducked his head, face crimson, mumbling like a mosquito.

"N-no need to stop it... ah... this scene..."

...

*We absolutely do, you idiot elf!*