Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 182 (Part 2):

Alea looked at him.

“…”

“But it’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”

That sounded like he respected her circumstances as they were, causing Alea to flinch.

It felt as if a fire had been lit. Her frozen heart melted, and the words she had hidden surged to her throat.

‘Should I tell him now? My name is Alea, and I’m actually a girl who has been pretending to be a boy due to certain circumstances, just that much. Even if I only tell him that much…’

Helmut wouldn’t get angry or demand an apology.

And he would keep Alea’s secret just like that. He wasn’t one to gossip.

But as Alea hesitated, the cross-dressing contest began amid noisy cheers.

Most of the cheers quickly turned into jeers when the first participant appeared on stage.

“Are you kidding me? That’s clearly a man, how could that be a woman!”

“Get off the stage now!”

“Damn, who wants to spoil their eyes! Get down quickly!”

The hostility was overwhelming as the first-year student from the swordsmanship department who had been forcibly sent out looked mortified.

Given his age, he was unusually large. His broad shoulders and well-developed arm muscles looked ready to burst out of the yellow dress.

The dress barely fit around his muscular torso, highlighting his abs.

It was a lackadaisical effort; he had simply thrown on a wig and a dress.

As no one from the first-year swordsmanship students wanted to participate, the one who finished last had to cross-dress. It was a cruel punishment based on academic performance.

The higher grades weren’t required to participate, but the first-years had to.

The host dramatically covered his eyes.

“Oh, the host’s eyes are rotting too! But unfortunately, he is a legitimate contestant! New participants who will cast purification magic on these rotting eyeballs will appear soon, so please bear with us!”

“Get rid of him! Kill him!” Angry shouts erupted but soon subsided as the next participant who came out was decently made up.

The cross-dressing contest continued with intriguing developments from the start.

Asuka’s turn came up sooner than expected.

“Have you been waiting? A celebrity from the third year of the swordsmanship department! He has transformed into a perfect woman today! You’ll be surprised! Expectations are high! Ta-da!”

The host spread his hands toward the back of the stage.

“Third up, second-year from the swordsmanship department, Miss Asuka!”

“Don’t add ‘Miss’ to my name! Unless you want to die!”

Asuka’s irritated voice faintly reached the ears.

The host flinched and moved aside as someone confidently walked onto the stage.

The moment that figure was revealed under the lights, the audience collectively gasped.

“Is that really Asuka?”

“Did they switch someone else in? How could Asuka look like that!”

“Looking at the face, it seems right… Could this be on the level of disguise magic?”

Everyone was in disbelief. The person who had walked onto the stage was a girl with finely braided blue hair cascading down, exuding an innocent charm.

The innocence was nuanced, however, with a beauty mark under the eye giving a slightly impish vibe.

The top part of Asuka’s dress was sky blue on a white lace dress that suited him very well. His lips were a pink shade, and his makeup was skillfully done.

He was shockingly different from the previous contestants, a beauty that no one would doubt was a girl if he hadn’t participated in the cross-dressing contest.

Only his temper, unable to be hidden by makeup. The fierce tilt of his eyes revealed his true personality.

Asuka crossed his arms with a dissatisfied expression, strangely harmonizing with his appearance. Regardless of his attitude or outfit, his face completed the look.

He was only the third to appear, but he was already a strong contender for victory.

The second-year students from the swordsmanship department murmured among themselves.

“See, I told you he should have gone for a provocative style. Something red or black, something revealing!”

“Think you’d survive if you tried to make Asuka wear that? No, he wouldn’t even try it on! he wore this style because he could barely tolerate it!”

“Hmm, I see.”

Asuka looked disdainfully at the audience with a crooked stance.

‘Look all you want, if you have eyes, you’d obviously pick me,’ his attitude seemed to say.

Even without a smile, he was stunningly beautiful.

“His face is really something. Absolutely amazing.”

James, who had encouraged Asuka to enter the cross-dressing contest, boasted.

“See, I told you Asuka was perfect for this. With him, victory is guaranteed!”

“That’s totally my type! Ah, where can I find a girl like that?”

“Make sure to tell Asuka that.”

Applause erupted. The shouts were completely transformed from before.

Beautiful! The best! You are the winner! Asuka was displaying overwhelming prowess at the cross-dressing contest.

It was probably the first time since he got the nickname ‘Crazy Dog’ that he was being noticed in such a positive light.

‘What? I thought he was a woman.’

Alea was a bit surprised. She had initially said Asuka was pretty to start a quarrel, but it was also her genuine impression. Asuka was indeed a good-looking guy.

But seeing him dressed as a woman, it wasn’t just about being good-looking.

‘If he had come to the dorm dressed like that, he could have fooled everyone without magic.’

Helmut, watching Asuka, felt something different from the others.

Raising an eyebrow, he noted the effectiveness of cross-dressing.

“Cross-dressing is a useful tool. If done like that, it’s unrecognizable.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Magic gives off an aura, but cross-dressing doesn’t. The effect is similar, but it’s less noticeable. As long as you can look like a woman, it’s perfect.”

Helmut was entirely serious. Hyde has likely been figured by the Black Hawk. Because of that, a different appearance was necessary.

Alea asked hesitantly.

“…So you’re saying, if there’s a chance, you might try cross-dressing?”

“If necessary.”

Alea closed her mouth. She wanted to discourage him yet also felt an odd encouragement.

The host, momentarily distracted by Asuka, resumed the proceedings only after Asuka raised his fist.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please pause your cheers and let’s move on to the next part!”

The atmosphere in the venue distinctly heated up.

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