“Wh-what is this…?!”
Bellver woke up to a completely unfamiliar landscape.Under dazzling lights, with blinding decorations and luxurious furniture, not a single thing looked familiar.
The only relief was realizing he hadn’t returned to Earth.He didn’t want to go back there anyway.He needed to enjoy this new life.
Carefully getting up, Bellver noticed the differences immediately – the weight, the height.The hair flowing over his neck and back, the delicate hands – none of these belonged to him. They belonged to a woman.
“Where’s a mirror around here…?”
Bellver concluded he was definitely in the Academy Dormitory.It wasn’t Earth, that much was clear from the room’s style.Most likely, he had possessed another character’s body.Since most characters were at the academy…
Finding a mirror on one side of the room, Bellver approached awkwardly.He inspected the woman’s face he now inhabited.Maybe it would be someone familiar?
And indeed, the “maybe” turned into reality.
“What the hell is this!!!!!”
Seeing his current face in the mirror, Bellver couldn’t help but scream.It was the same face he’d seen earlier.Worse yet, it was a face that seemed like it would never scream like this.
“Why am I Bellatrix?! This is so random!”
At least he had hoped to possess one of the heroines or main characters.They were strong enough to protect themselves, kind people.He thought if roles were reversed, they could calmly discuss switching back without issues.
But not Bellatrix.She’d try to tear his soul apart upon discovering a commoner like Bellver inside her body.To her, that would be entirely justified.
“No way… This is just a bad ending…”
Bellver slumped to the floor.He saw no possible way to survive today as Bellatrix.Neither his knowledge of settings nor the original novel offered any solutions.All he foresaw was a future where escape meant capture.
-Knock knock knock
“Miss? May I come in? I heard a loud noise. Are you alright?”
Bellver snapped out of his daze upon hearing the voice outside the door.Regaining his composure before sinking through the floor mentally, he responded.Thankfully, Bellver knew much about Bellatrix from the setting guide.He decided to impersonate Bellatrix until she arrived.
“Nothing’s wrong. Don’t disturb me.”
Bellatrix’s tone differed depending on who she spoke to.
To outsiders: cold and authoritarian, devoid of any interest, dismissing them outright.
To insiders: surprisingly gentle and casual.Though perceived as intimate, it carried an inherent pressure since she viewed them as inferiors requiring care.
Not knowing the nuances, Bellver mimicked what he thought was appropriate.Unfortunately, instead of Bellatrix’s characteristic intimidating gentleness, it came out as genuinely kind.
To the point where the maid outside froze momentarily.
“Ahh, yes!”
Never having heard Bellatrix speak so kindly, the reaction was understandable.Still, professional instincts kicked in.
Curious but obedient, the maid followed orders precisely.After all, disturbing someone when told not to would be improper.Especially since she’d witnessed Bellatrix using magic in her room before.
“Phew… That was lucky.”
Successfully dismissing the maid, Bellver sat on the bed.This smaller body left his feet dangling above the ground on the slightly taller bed.A subtle difference reminding him of the reality of his situation.
Now came the hard part – deciding what to do next.Bellatrix would inevitably arrive sooner or later.What could Bellver accomplish in the meantime?
“Nothing comes to mind…”
Without even basic magic skills, what could he possibly do?Going for a walk might work, but what if he encountered someone who knew Bellatrix?
Resigning himself to waiting for Bellatrix’s arrival, Bellver felt regret.If he’d known, he would’ve experimented more while in his original body.Despite eagerly anticipating learning and using magic at the academy, he never actually tried it.Even though his original body possessed unmatched talent in everything.
“Can I use magic in Bellatrix’s body?”
An idea struck him.He avoided using magic in his original body to prevent accidents.Circuits unused by himself could potentially explode if mishandled.
But in Bellatrix’s developed body?
Might he be able to utilize his theoretical magical knowledge?
Thinking quickly, Bellver acted immediately.Better to try magic once before dying.
“First, feel the energy flowing through your veins… Or something.”
Recalling similar sensations, Bellver detected an unfamiliar presence coursing through what should’ve been empty veins.This must be mana.
“Next, shape the sensed mana as desired. Strongly imagine and command it.”
Surprisingly, the mana obeyed perfectly.What spell should he attempt first?Fire? Water? Wind?
Before deciding, a small light orb formed above his palm.A safe spell usable indoors without risk.Simply creating an elemental light orb.
“Light.”
Overjoyed at successfully casting his first spell, Bellver played with the orb.Though intangible, it produced a peculiar sensation.
“Why’s it doing this…?”
As Bellver played, the orb began brightening unexpectedly.This shouldn’t happen.The size remained constant, no heat generated, but it kept growing brighter.Like it might explode soon.
“Huh…!”
Realizing the danger, Bellver closed his eyes immediately.Moments later, the orb vanished in a blinding flash.So bright it illuminated beyond the window despite the setting sun.
Fortunately, Bellver avoided blindness by closing his eyes quickly.Even a slight delay would’ve resulted in meeting Bellatrix blind.
“Guess I made the right call not trying magic before…”
Even in a well-developed circuit like Bellatrix’s, things went awry.Attempting untrained circuits could’ve caused much worse disasters.
-Knock knock knock
“Miss…?”
“Didn’t I tell you not to disturb me?”
The dismissed maid returned to the door.What could be the issue?Please don’t let her enter.
Bellatrix’s maid wouldn’t disobey orders lightly.This must be important.
Bellver prayed it was something he could handle.
“I remember too, but a visitor has arrived… Please forgive me…”“Who…?”
Caught off guard by the word “visitor”, Bellver’s natural tone slipped out.Could Bellatrix already be here?Surely wandering in a man’s body for hours isn’t unreasonable?
Bellver prayed it wasn’t Bellatrix.He wasn’t ready to d*e yet.
“It’s a male student. Seems to be a freshman like you. He mentioned an appointment. Is that correct…?”“Yes. Let him in.”“Yes, understood.”
It’s Bellatrix.Definitely Bellatrix.No one else fits.
Desperately hoping to survive the night, Bellver sat upright in a chair awaiting Bellatrix’s arrival.Moments later, the door opened revealing the man he’d spent a week inhabiting.
The first words out of the newcomer’s mouth were:
“Don’t you think this suits you better?”“Huh…?”
Bellver didn’t know how to respond.Instinctively covering himself with his arms against Bellatrix’s scrutinizing gaze, unaware it matched her earlier comment.
