Chapter 6: The Dormitory Compromise

Finally, Christine came out, following closely behind Liya.

“Ah, Professor Christine, may I ask about the assessment results…”

“Oh, passed. Liya’s level is actually quite high. Very good.”

“Really?! Thank you, teacher! Liya, come quickly. Thank the teacher.” Ailiya said joyfully, while Liya bowed her head modestly to express gratitude to Christine. However, as Christine looked at the little girl before her, her thoughts drifted back to a few minutes earlier.

“Teacher, if I told you I was actually a man, would you believe me?”

“Ah?! A man?”

Christine stared dumbfounded at the young girl before her—golden wavy hair, a doll-like delicate face, fair and tender skin. No matter how you looked at her, Liya was a standard little girl. Though only ten, one could tell from her foundation that she would grow up to be a femme fatale.

And yet such a beauty thought she was a man?!

Christine immediately realized the severity of the problem.

In fact, this kind of situation was not unheard of. In Christine’s impression, many geniuses had all sorts of bizarre hobbies or thoughts, completely different from ordinary people. As for Liya… most girls would choose the path of a mage for their future, but she chose to become a martial artist. Perhaps it was this aspect that caused her to have a psychological problem of thinking she was a man…

The more Christine thought, the more serious it seemed. No, this wouldn’t do. She had to find a way to help Liya overcome this psychological problem, to make her realize the fact that she was a woman—a beautiful little girl!

“It’s nothing, teacher. I was just joking.”

When she came back to her senses, Liya had already smiled and denied what she said before. But Christine could not agree at all. When Liya said she was a man, her eyes had been quite serious and earnest…

She could only assume it was a cover-up, right?

“Teacher Christine? Teacher Christine? Teacher Christine?”

Christine’s thoughts wandered, and she was momentarily dazed. Only after Sister Ailiya called her several times did she react. She glanced at the expressionless Liya, paused, and then said:

“Grandma Ailiya, your child’s talent is beyond doubt. She fully meets the school’s requirements. Even as she is now, she is enough to be ranked among the top students.”

“Really?! That’s wonderful! Liya is amazing~!”

Looking at Ailiya’s beaming face, Christine ultimately could not bring herself to mention the psychological illness Liya might have.

‘I will help her realize that she is a woman!’ Christine decided in her heart.

On the other side, the expressionless Liya was caught in inner conflict.

‘Foolish! I am so foolish! Too foolish! Is it because I’ve suppressed it for too long?!’

‘I never thought I would blurt out such earth-shattering words in a moment of impulse. Fortunately, the other party seemed not to take it seriously and dismissed it as a child’s nonsense; otherwise, I would definitely be taken for a lunatic…’ Liya thought bitterly.

Although Liya had never admitted to being a woman up to now, to outsiders it was an unshakable fact. So until he found a way to change back to a man, he had to continue to endure… Damn it! I will never admit I became a woman!

When he came back to his senses, Ailiya was already holding his hand and walking over to Christine.

“Then, Teacher Christine, I entrust Xiao Ya to you. Please take good care of her. Xiao Ya likes to drink a glass of milk in the morning and prefers eating meat. If possible, please give her some extra attention…”

“Rest assured, Grandma Ailiya. The school allows students to go home on weekends, so the separation won’t be too long.”

“Yes, yes… It’s just that as one grows old, one becomes a bit sentimental.”

After Ailiya finished her sentiment, she turned to look at Liya and stroked his head.

“Liya, the Martial Academy is a boarding school, so you may not be able to come back to the church to see everyone often. But you must work hard. The path you choose, whether right or wrong, you must walk to the end.”

Liya’s expression brightened. Ailiya’s words deeply resonated with him. Indeed, regardless of right or wrong, the path he chose could not be abandoned halfway. That was the spirit of a martial artist.

Pausing, Liya took out the pendant from his neck and showed it to Ailiya.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. I will take care of myself.”

“Mm!”

“Then let’s get ready to go, Liya. There’s a teleportation array here that goes directly to the academy. I’ll take you on a tour of the academy.”

“Understood, Teacher Christine.”

****

In conclusion, Liya’s finances were not generous. Ailiya had only paid Liya’s tuition and given him a small amount of living expenses. After all, the church couldn’t allocate too much money for Liya to squander. This meant that during his upcoming school life, Liya could only eat the free food in the cafeteria and use the textbooks and equipment provided by the school. Some special facilities that required money to enter were basically out of Liya’s reach.

The only relatively valuable item was the academy uniform. It was loose-fitting, suitable for fighting, and seemed to have a Vajra spell applied, giving it some defensive power and magic immunity. It was the most expensive piece of equipment.

Because of the time, when Liya and Christine entered the academy through the teleportation array, it was already afternoon. Most students had started their classes and were not wandering around, so the vast academy felt somewhat empty.

“It’s already afternoon. Do you want to go have lunch first?”

“No need, teacher. I brought some dry provisions.”

Liya politely declined and took a vegetable cake from his bag. Taking a bite, he said as he ate, “This vegetable cake is the best near the church.” Especially the rustic simplicity and flavor of the countryside had always been to Liya’s liking. He had specially bought some as rations for the academy.

But for some reason, Teacher Christine looked at him eating the delicious vegetable cake with a puzzling expression… Did she want to eat some too?

“Liya… it’s okay. The cafeteria has free meal sets. You don’t have to force yourself!”

“Huh? I’m not forcing myself. Teacher, would you like to try one? It’s very tasty…”

“Mm! Teacher understands!”

For some reason, the teacher seemed to intensify her concern, and tears even welled up in her eyes… Strange.

Because of Liya’s insistence, Christine ultimately did not take him to lunch. She only showed him around the cafeteria, classrooms, and a few large arenas before leading him to the dormitory.

But there, they encountered a huge problem.

“G-G-G-G-Girls’ Dormitory?!!!!”

Although Christine had more or less guessed, she did not expect Liya to react so strongly.

“Yes. Liya is also a cute girl, so of course you should live here. There are many older sisters here too.”

“What?! Many older sisters?! I refuse! Refuse! I want to go to the boys’ dormitory! That’s where I should be…”

“Even if you say that, it’s not allowed.”

“Then, then I’d rather sleep on the streets! Don’t worry, I’ve trained. A mere wind-blown street is nothing to me!” Liya’s expression and tone were rarely agitated.

“No! The academy has rules. Liya, you must live here! Of course, since you are a transfer student, you will be temporarily arranged a single room…”

“What?! A single room?!”

Hearing those dreamlike three words, Liya’s eyes sparkled with light.

“Okay! If it’s a single room, then I can accept it! Mm!”

“Is that so? Good that you can accept it… You know, Liya is very cute, as a girl.”

Seeing Liya’s resistance diminish, Christine also smiled. This was of course her plan. Since she had anticipated Liya’s psychological problem, she had to find ways to subtly influence him. Although it was a single room for now, Christine had already decided that within a month at most, she would move Liya to a multi-person room. That way, she could better help Liya realize his true gender.

‘I might unexpectedly become a psychological counselor?’ Christine couldn’t help thinking as she looked at the delighted Liya.