Chapter 64: A Surprising Birthday

“El! There’s something I want to buy, let’s go out together!”

It was the first weekend in a while, and as usual, Anne’s energetic voice filled the room.

“Should we? I don’t have anything to do anyway, so why not go out?”

“Yep! I’m already all set, so let me know when you’re ready!”

Now I understood why she had been so busy earlier, washing up and picking out clothes.

For some reason, Anne had gotten up early on the weekend and was getting ready to go out.

But if that was the case, she could have told me beforehand.

“Huh? Aren’t Celian and Yuri coming with us?”

“Haha… I actually have something else to do…”

“I also have something to take care of. You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”

Normally, Anne would have invited Celian and Yuri as well, but they were both quietly staying put, so I asked them, and it seemed they each had their own plans.

“Really? Should I pick something up for you on the way back?”

“No, it’s fine, just come back.”

“Hmm… okay.”

I had thought about picking up a cake or something on the way back, but they didn’t seem particularly interested.

Leaving Anne, who was sitting on the bed, shaking her feet and waiting for me, I headed to the bathroom.

Every time I wash up in the morning, I’m reminded of how amazing TS magic is.

Even if you wash quickly, cleanliness is maintained, and if only the side effect of gender reversal could be eliminated, TS magicians would probably be sitting on piles of money.

All the nobles and women would have poured their money into receiving magic from him.

Putting those pointless thoughts aside, I rubbed my eyes, which were completely free of sleep, and washed my face.

Even when I was a man, I didn’t put much effort into it, but now I’m doing even less, yet magic is still incredible.

With just a quick application of lotion, which I didn’t even need to put on, my preparations for going out were complete.

When I looked in the mirror, I saw a face that made it hard to imagine I had just woken up.

“Yep, it’s definitely El!”

When I opened the bathroom door, Anne, as if she was used to it, spoke as she got up from the bed.

At first, Yuri and Anne were shocked when they saw me washing up, but now both of them seemed completely accustomed to it.

“So, shall we go?”

“Yep!”

“Alright, we’ll be back later. See you!”

As Anne and I left the room, I waved to Yuri and Celian.

“Take care.”

“Since it’s been a while, just take your time and enjoy yourselves.”

Leaving Celian and Yuri behind in the room, Anne and I headed out into the city.

The street, which I hadn’t seen in a while, was just as it always had been.

The haggle of a lady fiercely bargaining, the blacksmith sweating as he sharpened a sword on a whetstone, and the sight of a child running and laughing were all familiar sights on the street.

“Hey… El, is there anything you like?”

While we were walking through the everyday scene, Anne suddenly asked me this question.

“Well, I like delicious food, reading novels, and swinging a sword… I guess I like a bit of everything.”

I’ve definitely improved a lot compared to before.

Back then, it was a luxury just to know what I liked or disliked.

Even in those miserable circumstances, if there was anything I liked, it was probably the cheap meat I occasionally got in the rations.

I didn’t know anything back then except for eating. I’m lucky I didn’t turn into a pig.

“Hmm… I always go out to eat delicious food, Celian knows a lot about novels, and we’ve already been training together, but…”

“And we can’t forget… our Anne!”

I said as I hugged Anne, who was lost in thought.

Hmm… Every time I hug her like this, I feel like I’m hugging a big doll because Anne is so small.

Anne often comes to hug me first, but when I hug her first, she gets shy, and I think it’s really cute.

“So, where are we going?”

After I let her go from my embrace, I asked Anne, who was standing still without saying a word.

She shook her head and finally spoke up.

“Huh? I was following El…”

“I was following Anne?”

Both of us tilted our heads in confusion at the same time.

But, wasn’t it Anne who said she had something to do and went out in the first place?

“Then… don’t you want to go somewhere?”

“I don’t really have a place in mind. I didn’t even plan to go out today.”

“Hmm… that’s not good…”

“What was it that you had to do? Can’t we just go straight there?”

It seems like my lazy habits from the vacation haven’t completely worn off. If there’s nothing to do, all I can think of is finishing whatever I have to do quickly and heading back to my room to rest.

However, it seemed like our Anne wasn’t going to let me go that easily.

“No way! I… I have to wait until lunchtime…”

“When I saw you preparing early in the morning, I thought it was urgent… Should we just go to a café and kill time?”

“Y-yes! Let’s hurry up!”

“Then should we go back to the dorm?”

“What about your business? Didn’t you say you had something to do before lunch?”

“Hehe… I think I was mistaken! Let’s just go back!”

When we were heading to the café, Anne had hurriedly dragged me along, but now, as lunchtime was almost over, she apologized for the mix-up, saying she had been mistaken. However, I didn’t blame her at all.

I knew that if I didn’t force myself to move around, I’d find it hard to get rid of my lazy habits, so any opportunity to get moving, even with an excuse, was welcome.

On the way back, I thought about picking up a slice of cake for Yuri and Celian, but remembering how they had declined this morning, I decided against it.

Anne seemed to be in a really good mood, smiling all the way back to the dorm.

“Is something good happening?”

“Huh? No, nothing! Hehehe…”

Unable to contain herself, Anne kept laughing, and even though she had a clumsy side, her youthful appearance and personality made it feel natural and not awkward at all.

“Do you think Yuri and Celian have eaten yet? Let’s get back quickly before they eat.”

“Yep! Quickly! Hurry up!”

“Is there really a need to run like that?”

“Ugh!”

Anne, who had run ahead of me, noticed I wasn’t running to catch up and was walking at a faster pace instead. She grabbed my hand and started running.

“Come on, let’s go in!”

“Huh?”

She had hurried earlier to go back, but when we reached the door to our room, she stepped back a bit behind me.

I entered the room thinking that Anne was acting strangely today.

“I’m back…”

“Happy birthday!”

“Happy birthday!”

Bang bang

The sound of small fireworks went off along with their congratulatory words, startling me.

As I stood there in confusion, Anne, who had stepped back, embraced me from behind and confirmed again.

“Happy birthday, El!”

Right. Today was Elysia Frentz’s birthday.

I hadn’t told my friends about it, but Yuri, who was probably a childhood friend, must have remembered my birthday and planned this kind of event.

I was completely caught off guard, my eyes wide open in surprise. I covered my mouth with my hand, unable to say anything.

I felt a single tear fall down my cheek.

Celian approached and started removing the remnants of the fireworks from my hair, speaking up.

“Today is El’s, Elysia Frentz’s birthday. Don’t forget it from now on.”

“Yeah. I won’t forget.”

“Now, now. Stop standing there dazed, and quickly blow out the candles on the cake!”

Anne, who had been behind me, pushed me into the room, drew the curtains, and turned off the lights.

In the dark room, only the flame of the candles on the cake faintly illuminated the surroundings.

I slowly approached the cake and blew out the candles, and my three friends clapped instead of fireworks.

“We have a birthday gift for you, but… first, accept this!”

When the curtains were drawn back, the room brightened, and Yuri handed me something.

Inside a small box, just big enough to fit in the palm of my hand, was a ring.

“Tada.”

Anne extended her hand, and Yuri and Celian also raised their hands, showing me the rings they were wearing.

On the index fingers of all of them was a ring identical to the one I was holding.

Following them, I raised my left hand and slowly slid the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, almost to the point of being magical.

“Hehehe!”

As soon as I put on the ring, Anne grabbed my left hand and started playfully fiddling with it.

Even though I wasn’t very familiar with jewelry, I wasn’t so oblivious that I couldn’t understand the meaning of wearing matching rings.

They had shown me their trust and friendship.

I was deeply grateful, happy, and a bit sorry.

Later that night, as everyone slept, I absentmindedly fiddled with the ring on my finger under the covers.

Because of its perfect fit, the ring stayed firmly on my finger without any wobbling. Instead of the coldness typical of metal, it felt warm.

I’m not sure whether it was because the warmth was caused by my body temperature or if it was the warmth from the kindness of those who had chosen the ring for me.

And within the warmth that I felt through my finger, there was also a hint of coolness.

I put aside my emotions for a moment and replayed the events of the day in my mind.

Was my surprised expression when I entered the room natural?

Did I shed my tears at the right time, not too much?

Was my joyful expression awkward?

Had I successfully tricked my friends?

Did they fall for it?

Was I wrong?

Was I right?

I don’t know.

There’s no way I could forget Elysia Frentz’s birthday.

Before being assigned to the mission, I had memorized Elysia Frentz’s personal details so well that I could recall them even in my sleep.

Even though several months had passed, after I had truly decided to become Elysia Frentz, I had repeatedly reviewed everything about her to ensure I wouldn’t forget.

Therefore, when I went out alone with Anne today, leaving Yuri and Celian behind, when Anne kept me on the street, wasting time, when we quickly returned to the dorm, when Anne stepped back in front of the door, and even when I was startled by the sound of fireworks, I already knew.

I simply pretended not to know, so I could act more convincingly.

I had never experienced receiving birthday wishes, so I didn’t understand the emotion, and to be honest, I didn’t even know when my real birthday was, let alone Elysia Frentz’s birthday.

So I thought I could just act as usual, but unnecessary thoughts kept stirring in my head.

The fact that I would have to wear a mask and act this way for the rest of my life because of their sincerity.

I had sworn to become Elysia, but I never expected my resolve to falter so easily over something as simple as a ring.

Reflecting on my weakness today, I hope to take one step closer to Elysia Frentz tomorrow.