From Elise, formerly Eric's perspective

Akira and I overwhelmingly secured first place in the Kirin class during the cave exploration race, and without dispute, we advanced to the Phoenix class.

Similarly, Allegro and Sonata also proudly ascended to the Phoenix class by finishing in second place.

The only goal left was to achieve promotion to the senior class, the Dragon class.

At the same time, I managed to acquire three specific magics I desperately wanted from the cave.

One was a magic that returns souls possessed by machines back to human bodies.

With this, I could save Mr. Salieri if we recover his body.

Another was a magic that nullifies the effects of a forbidden spell of mind swapping.

With this, I could return to being a man whenever I wanted.

This was the magic I had longed for all this time.

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However, I was conflicted.

Did I truly want to return to being a man?

Akira had asked me to marry him.

I didn't dislike Akira.

On the contrary, I had strong feelings for him.

But accepting his proposal meant having a relationship with him as a man and a woman.

Needless to say, I am originally a man.

Could I truly accept him?

I wanted to confirm his love, but I was also cursed to die if my true identity was revealed.

The only exception that could save me from this curse was if I became pregnant, which would permanently fix our bodies in their current states.

If Akira could impregnate me, I could avoid death.

I was certain of Akira's genuine affection.

But how serious was he?

Could I accept his proposal without fully understanding this?

Was I deceiving him?

I was frightened.

But there was something even more important.

While retaining my identity as a man, could I live as a woman?

Could living as his partner hold a meaningful place in my life?

I needed to seriously think about this.

To think it through, I needed to prepare.

I prepared to cast the third magic I had ear-copied.

This magic could potentially decide the fate of my future.

Akira had come from a city called Koufu in Japan.

However, returning to his birthplace was not an option.

Now, I could travel to this city of Koufu.

I had the chance to visit Japan once in my lifetime, for only three days.

I wanted to see for myself where Akira had grown up.

As I finished chanting the magic, a portal opened in another dimension, and my body lightly floated in the air, my skirt fluttering in the breeze, before being drawn into it.