Furide, hopelessly obsessed with “art,” was utterly useless to me now. My investigation into “Whisper Teacher” had hit a dead end.

The prime “suspect,” Serica, wasn’t the “underworld big shot Whisper Teacher” at all. This widowed Elf, who’d lost her spouse years ago, owned every single work by Whisper Teacher from debut to present—a die-hard fan!

The trail went cold. Worse, Serica had caught me red-handed! Using my “possession of lute works during school” as leverage, she forced me to accept countless inhumane conditions.

[Be a live model once a week], [Rehearse scenes from the works with Furide for her enjoyment]…

By the time I escaped this widowed Elf’s clutches, it was deep into the night.

The Elder Elves’ visit loomed. I had zero leads. And my personal safety was now threatened by that terrifying Elf woman!

Just thinking about it killed my appetite for dinner with the elders. I locked myself in my room, staring blankly.

…

I don’t know how long passed before a familiar voice came from outside.

“Huh? So Young Master Ya didn’t even touch his midnight snack? Let me check on him.”

“N-no… that’s not it, Miss Hill, haha… I-I wouldn’t use anything weird now…”

“Ah!! The ** I worked so hard to get from the Elves!”

After a suspicious commotion, Lorian walked in with an angelic smile.

Don’t think I don’t know your first plan, little devil.

“Young Master Ya, feeling unwell?”

“Y-yeah, a bit.”

I replied weakly. As the door closed, Hill outside gave me a reassuring “it’s fine” look.

She’d probably confiscated all suspicious items from Lorian already.

It was late. Lorian, worried about me, wore an apron and thick cloth gloves. She placed a fragrant bowl of stew on my desk.

The clever girl didn’t ask about my troubles first. She focused on my health.

“If the maids’ snack didn’t suit you, try mine?”

Lorian’s cooking skills were no secret in Rosric Palace. My homely childhood friend sometimes cooked for the elders herself.

She’d learned young. Back then, my dad was always “at war” with his stepmothers at home. I, too lazy to eat, forgot meals. So the princess mastered cooking through trial and error.

“Mm…”

I took a symbolic sip. Days of worry made it taste like wax.

If I didn’t find that adult comic author “Whisper Teacher” soon, I wouldn’t just skip soup—I might eat my last meal before the Elder Elves arrived.

Sighing, I glanced at the “evidence” on my desk.

*Cross-Dressing Boy X Cross-Dressing Master! Volume 1 of the Smash Hit Series Now in Print!*

How could this evil, terrifying creation of fallen angel Lucifer sell out!?

Ah—Lorian was right here!

I snapped awake, rushing to hide the comic. Too late.

Lorian snatched the manga first.

“Young Master Ya…”

“W-wait! Listen! I have zero interest! I only brought it as evidence! A-although I peeked at a page or two, this evil book shouldn’t exist!”

As they say, art knows no borders! I was purely appreciating the characters’ physiques!

“Hah… So you bought it too, Young Master Ya.”

Lorian’s reaction was calm. Even with Furide and me “grappling” in an “intimate” pose on the cover, she sighed like she’d seen it before.

“That idiot teacher actually drew me as the villain! Next letter, I’ll scold her properly!”

Exactly!

Lorian was my childhood friend! The definite female lead! She should stand beside me on the cover! Yet that shameless artist made her a backshot-only villain!

Lorian, scold her hard for me!

…

…Huh?

“Lorian, what did you just say!?”

…

A few minutes later.

This sudden “pleasant surprise” had me gulping down Lorian’s stew, burping as I spilled all my worries.

I never expected this! Lorian had been pen pals with adult manga author “Whisper Teacher” for ages!

This was a crucial lead!!

“S-so, Lorian! I must find this author ASAP and clear the misunderstanding! Or when the Elder Elves come, it’s over!”

I clasped my hands, pleading earnestly.

“Mm, I know her. I was an early reader. When she almost quit, I wrote to encourage her. We’ve stayed in touch…”

“Then hurry—”

My eyes sparkled.

What was my bond with Lorian!? Since childhood, she’d never refused my requests.

But this time, she frowned slightly.

“Yet before, you didn’t consult me—you took that suspicious Elf woman and left. So she’s more reliable than me?”

No, actually, it’s a male Elf kid…

No! Is this the time for Furide!?

“Sorry! I’ll consult you about everything from now on!”

I pulled her into my arms to coax her.

Honestly, I’d avoided Furide lately. He seemed interested in weird manga now.

“Hmph~ Better.”

Lorian sat on my lap, writing an address on paper.

I nearly cried from relief!

Lorian truly was my childhood friend, my favorite girl! Her “domestic skills” alone made those Elves with weird hobbies incomparable!

One Elf boy obsessed with adult comics. One widowed Elf teacher blackmailing students!

Only Lorian was reliable!

“But I never expected her work to affect you this much…” Lorian muttered while writing. “Teacher said she adapted it from real-life experiences.”

Real-life experiences…

Wait—my guess was right!? “Whisper Teacher” was someone close to me?

But top suspect Serica was just a fan. Who else could I interact with often…

Fu… Furide?

Fuu… this isn’t funny. What mindset lets you draw a doujin of us?

“A-anything else?”

I suppressed my terror, asking nonchalantly.

“Nope. Just pen pals—we didn’t chat much. This book’s story? Material from her older brother… she said.”

“Older brother?”

Phew…

I breathed relief.

Great—as long as Furide didn’t draw it. Or I’d rethink facing him tomorrow…

But before I relaxed fully, a terrifying thought struck me.

[Material from her older brother…]

Didn’t Furide have…

a younger sister!?