The restaurant's food was excellent with every course that came out.
However, Kaiden barely touched his food, only watching me eat.
"Aren't you eating?"
"I am eating. It's delicious."
Kaiden took a small taste with his fork and smiled with his eyes.
"Actually, I feel full just watching you enjoy your meal, Dian."
"You're not using illusion magic to trick yourself into feeling full, are you?"
"That's amusing."
Kaiden smiled gently.
"I've been wondering about something."
Kaiden tilted his head with a questioning look.
He always reacts that way whenever I'm about to ask something.
With his beautiful features, he gives the impression of an exquisite purebred cat.
It's no wonder people at the Academy were surprised about his gender when they first met him.
"Don't take this the wrong way."
"How could I? I'm prepared to happily accept even insults from you, Dian."
Just listen to him talk. His personality hasn't changed at all, just like his appearance.
"You're really a man, right?"
"Is that what you were curious about?"
Kaiden smiled.
"You've already confirmed that with your own eyes. Didn't we bathe together occasionally during our Task Force days?"
That's true. Both Linus and I had visually confirmed several times that Kaiden had male genitalia.
So we never questioned it further. Besides, back then, Kaiden couldn't even use illusion magic.
And in the original story, Kaiden was clearly described as male.
Though since he was characterized as a reclusive mage, there wasn't much about his past, so it could be a narrative trick—but why bother?
If it were a narrative trick, there should have been some revelation by the end, but there was none.
If he were a cross-dressing woman who never revealed her gender until the conclusion, there would be no need to include such a cumbersome element of hiding gender.
"Are you suspecting I might be using illusion magic?"
Kaiden tilted his head to the other side and smiled with his eyes.
"If you're really doubtful, I can let you confirm again. You can even touch if you'd like. Do as you please."
"Ah, no. I'll pass on that."
"Hehe."
Kaiden covered his mouth and laughed at my reaction. When he does that, he looks completely like a woman.
But something still feels off.
Ten years ago was one thing, but looking exactly the same now is strange.
Even the most youthful, beautiful man should show some changes due to hormones at his age.
Yet Kaiden, despite not being an elf, looks so identical he could have stepped out of yesterday.
When we met for the contest, I was only focused on evaluating his illusion magic and didn't think much about it.
"Then perhaps some magic that slows aging?"
"No such magic exists, Dian. You seem suspicious about my unchanged appearance."
Kaiden brushed his hair behind his ear as he spoke.
"Has someone been confusing you with claims that I'm hiding my true appearance with magic?"
"Nothing like that. I was just curious. It's fascinating."
"There's nothing fascinating about it. You also look just as handsome and impressive as you did ten years ago—enough to make my heart flutter."
"Ahaha... thank you."
"Anyway, regarding magic, I can't think of any reason why I would do such a thing."
Kaiden spoke softly.
"What benefit would I gain from magically maintaining my appearance from ten years ago? Preventing aging? But Dian, even after ten years, I've barely passed twenty. And though it's embarrassing to say myself, I don't think my appearance is so hideous that I need to hide it."
Kaiden placed a hand on his chest and gave a refreshingly sweet smile.
"Rather, why would I waste magical energy on something that only causes needless suspicion from you? Maintaining magic all day is extremely tiring for me too."
"Hmm..."
Kaiden reached out and took my hand.
"So please, Dian. Don't doubt me. You and I are old comrades who've survived numerous life-threatening situations together. And frankly, does it really matter whether I'm a man or a woman?"
"Hmm..."
"If you hear anyone around you casting suspicions about me, please ignore them. I have absolutely no reason to deceive you, and if I wanted to, I have plenty of methods that wouldn't raise any suspicion at all. As you know, I am a mage."
Kaiden's calm voice has a strange power to draw people in.
And when he counters so logically, I don't see much room to press further.
"Alright. I won't ask anymore."
"Thank you."
Kaiden gently patted my hand and asked.
"But who told you such things?"
"No one. I just felt that way on my own."
For some reason, I had a strong intuition that I shouldn't tell Kaiden the truth, so I made something up.
"I see."
As always, Kaiden accepted my answer without further questioning.
"I apologize for confusing you, Dian. But even if you doubt everything else, there is one thing that will never waver, never change, and always remain in the same place."
"What's that?"
"My respect, affection, and love for you."
Kaiden's hand tightened around mine.
"Always, from when I met you ten years ago until now, and forever into the future."
Kaiden's eyes curved like crescent moons.
# # # # #
"Oh! There they are, there they are!"
As Kaiden and Dian emerged from the restaurant, Hindrasta made a fuss while hiding herself below the window.
"They're going in a different direction. Shouldn't we follow them?"
As Merylda peeked through the curtain gap, Knightley kicked Hindrasta's backside as she lay prone.
"Hey, you. Are you sure about this? That the Head Professor of Theory is using magic to monopolize Professor Dian?"
"I'm telling you, it's true!"
"Why would the Head Professor of Theory do that?"
"Why? Because Professor Dian is obviously a good person that anyone would like!"
Hindrasta snapped.
"These days, I feel like I could die of happiness just seeing Professor Dian's face!"
"What...?"
Surprised by this unexpected confession, Merylda and Knightley looked at each other with dumbfounded expressions.
Indeed, Hindrasta had recently started to like Dian.
It began when he fought a dragon to recover her money.
Even without the blond-haired guy around, Dian had fought the dragon and managed to extract the money, allowing Hindrasta to feel at ease.
Since Dian could easily subdue the polymorphed Hindrasta by himself, it wouldn't have been strange if he had just ignored her request for help, given her a knock on the head, and told her to forget about the small sum.
Yet Dian had helped Hindrasta anyway.
"So I can't stand someone preventing others from approaching such a wonderful Professor Dian. Who does he think he is! Don't you agree?"
Without waiting for an answer, Hindrasta kicked open the carriage door and jumped out.
"Let's hurry and follow them! We'll lose them!"
The three students pushed past pedestrians, trailing behind Kaiden and Dian.
The two were walking and talking about something inaudible from this distance when they suddenly changed direction and entered an alley.
Afraid of losing sight of them, Hindrasta shoved people aside and rushed forward.
"Huh? What's this?"
Standing in front of the alley that Dian and Kaiden had entered, Hindrasta's eyes widened.
The alley was empty.
It was a straight path to the exit on the other side with nowhere to hide—how could they disappear in just a few seconds?
# # # # #
On the main street, Kaiden suddenly led me into an alley.
"Why are we coming here?"
"I told you earlier. I want to give you a gift today as thanks for everything."
Kaiden turned to face me and smiled.
"The gift is here?"
"Please close your eyes and turn around for a moment."
Feeling extremely suspicious, I closed my eyes and turned my back to Kaiden.
"You can open your eyes now."
When I turned around, I stared at Kaiden wordlessly for a moment.
"What do you think, Dian?"
Kaiden had transformed into a woman.
The usual black robe was gone, replaced by a white sleeveless turtleneck.
For some reason, he appeared much taller than usual, and with visible breasts—completely feminine.
What is this guy doing!?
"What do you think, Dian? Why aren't you saying anything?"
As I kept my mouth shut in disbelief, Kaiden gently urged me to respond.
"Perhaps this body type isn't to your liking? I see."
As soon as the words ended, Kaiden's breasts and hips grew even larger.
"I haven't forgotten you mentioned that Hindrasta's appearance was attractive. What do you think? Is this somewhat similar?"
Kaiden smiled while turning his body this way and that to show it off.
"I've always wanted to repay you for your help since your appointment. Tonight, spend time with me in this form, Dian. This is my gift."
Illusion magic.
A mysterious magic that distorts the target's five senses to make something feel real.
"Kaiden. Let me ask you something."
"Go ahead. Anything except about gender."
Kaiden smiled brightly.
"It's not about gender."
"Then what is it?"
"You. Who are you?"