As Bellver slipped through the commotion, it became crystal clear what was going on.
A male student was bullying another male student.
He knew both the bully and the victim all too well.
It was impossible not to recognize the extra villain who was first to showcase the protagonist’s genius.
If the one doing the bullying was the extra villain, then naturally, the one being bullied had to be the protagonist.
The illustrious Bellatrix was getting toyed with by someone she wouldn’t even make eye contact with under normal circumstances due to their vast difference in status.
For a girl who never used physical strength, she was surprisingly adapting and growing through her body’s talent to counter the increasingly aggressive attacks—but that was all.
Even with her rapid growth, there was still an insurmountable gap.
“What are you doing here anyway? Did you cheat your way in?”
“You talk too much.”
“Huh? Guess I can’t let this slide easily.”
Bellatrix was flustered.
She hadn’t expected such arrogant provocation without reason right from day one.
Under normal circumstances, this situation would have been impossible for her—except now, she was inside Bellver’s body.
Thus, she worked hard to block the attacks without causing any serious harm to his body.
The silver lining was that she could feel herself growing stronger.
“Nice defense. Been hit a lot, huh?”
“Shut up already.”
Bellatrix realized that her real-time growth wasn’t enough to compensate for the glaring disparity.
Her opponent, though of lower nobility, had spent his life aspiring to become a knight, honing his skills.
She could sense his attacks becoming faster and stronger with each passing moment.
And soon, she feared, she’d inevitably allow a powerful strike to land.
Watching Bellatrix struggle against her sealed magical prowess, Bellver pondered deeply.
In the original plot, a professor would soon arrive, recognizing the protagonist’s talent and guiding him.
To let Bellatrix take over and save the world, he thought it best to merely observe.
But he didn’t want to.
This situation itself was an unjust absurdity, and seeing her so helplessly toyed with filled him with reluctance.
She was as close to a friend as he’d ever had.
At that moment, a sharp “ping” echoed in his mind, like something snapping.
He felt magical energy gathering around the extra’s wooden sword.
There was no way Bellatrix could block it, even if she tried.
She wouldn’t even notice it coming.
After all, she couldn’t manipulate magic within Bellver’s body yet.
She was going to get seriously hurt.
All thoughts ceased, replaced by a chilling unease spreading through his body.
The icy calmness drove him forward.
Just as the extra was about to swing the magic-infused wooden sword, Bellver stepped in, uttering a frosty line.
“Dare I ask what you’re doing?”
In that fleeting instant, the entire world froze at the mere sound of his voice.
Even Bellver himself would’ve been astonished to learn he could sound so cold.
But he didn’t hear it now.
All he saw were the extra frozen mid-action and Bellatrix, wide-eyed with surprise.
Had he failed to anticipate his intervention?
Or had he missed the fact that someone was watching the whole time?
“Dare I ask again what you’re doing? Shall I repeat myself?”
Bellver asked once more.
The extra broke out in cold sweat from the sudden intrusion but quickly flashed a despicable grin.
“I was just educating this insolent commoner! Look at that haughty gaze! I intended to break him properly!”
The extra boasted proudly, having recognized who interrupted his game.
Confident that Bellatrix, infamous for treating non-nobles as inferior, would surely side with him.
Had it truly been her, she might not have noticed anything amiss in this scenario.
But now, Bellatrix wasn’t herself; she was Bellver.
Lost in silence while sorting through the overwhelming unpleasantness, the extra mistook it for approval or consent and eagerly continued his explanation.
Bellver, meanwhile, mulled over ways to silence that obnoxious mouth.
The notion of ‘educating’ commoners as a noble virtue held no water with him.
Rather, it only fueled his disdain.
To him, all humans were equal.
“Shut your mouth and leave. This is your last chance. You, follow me.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Deciding he’d heard enough, Bellver issued his decree and grabbed Bellatrix’s wrist.
Breaking through the chaos, he led her away from the Fifth Training Ground, deeming the matter unimportant for now.
Walking quietly, Bellatrix wondered if the person beside her was truly the same Bellver who had been on the verge of tears just an hour ago.
The performance moments ago was unlike anything she’d seen her mimic before.
She knew exactly how she presented herself.
Her own reflection was never quite as bone-chillingly cold as what she’d witnessed earlier.
Separately, Bellatrix reaffirmed her belief in her decision.
Initially, after their bodies switched, she had considered illegal measures to retrieve Bellver from her body.
But upon further reflection, she decided the switch wasn’t entirely bad and chose collaboration instead.
Had she attempted every method to return to her original form, she might’ve missed experiencing this peculiar situation.
“This should suffice, right? There’s a bench nearby; let’s sit.”
“I’m fine… Right? Are you hurt anywhere…?”
Upon hearing Bellatrix’s concern, Bellver turned around and began patting her body, worried she might’ve been injured despite knowing otherwise.
Though troubled, he couldn’t shake off the feeling.
Bellatrix suppressed a hollow laugh at Bellver’s sudden change in attitude.
Still, she found his fretful worrying oddly endearing.
How could someone show so much affection toward someone they’d known for less than a day?
His innocence and purity were undeniable.
Seeing this made her want to tease him endlessly.
His reactions were simply too adorable to resist.
“My heart feels so heavy and melancholic. Could you grant me one favor?”
“Anything. Just tell me.”
“They say touching a woman’s chest cheers a man up. Shall I touch yours?”
“Wha?! No way! That’s perverted! And that’s not even a request!”
With a swish, Bellver instinctively crossed his arms over his chest, feeling heat rising to his face.
He genuinely cared, yet here he was making lewd remarks.
Caught between shame, embarrassment, and irritation, he barely refrained from shrieking aloud, aware of the crowd around them.
Attempting to calm down with deep breaths, he almost succeeded—until Bellatrix spoke again.
“Then I’ll just do it myself.”
“THAT’S HARASSMENT!!”
Unable to contain himself any longer, Bellver let out a shriek.
Now, nothing else mattered except the smugly grinning Bellatrix in front of him.
Feeling wronged, embarrassed, annoyed, and humiliated, she was all he could see.
Determined to cut her off at the source, Bellver prepared to shout again—until she suddenly pulled him into her embrace.
Startled by the unexpected move, he stiffened completely in her arms.
“How far do you plan to tarnish my image? Is this your revenge?”
“No! And stop saying things like that… It’s cheating! It feels weird…”
“Yeah, I know. But I mean it. My ears are sensitive. Stop screaming. And don’t lift your head. We’re pretending you’re just me, okay?”
Hearing this, Bellver snapped his mouth shut mid-shriek, realizing the crowd surrounding them.
Having already shouted something embarrassing, he was undoubtedly drawing attention.
Forced to endure this humiliating position and whispered taunts until the crowd dispersed, Bellver sighed in relief when Bellatrix finally seemed satisfied.
At least she stopped making inappropriate s*xual remarks.
All he had to do was endure the pose.
“You can go now if you want. Or stay longer if you prefer.”
“I’m leaving. Let me go.”
“Alright.”
Bellver exhaled deeply, sitting back down beside her.
He didn’t know Bellatrix was like this.
The Bellatrix he knew was always dignified, sacrificing everything to triumph over a single rival—not this frivolous, lewd character.
He felt betrayed.
Should he be grateful she only teased him moderately?
Sighing inwardly, Bellver contemplated how to achieve a happy ending with such a Bellatrix.
Despite everything, he resolved to try his hardest.
Because despite her light-hearted nature, she did have solemn moments.
“Such a pity. Your embrace was soft and delightful.”
“Show some restraint!!”
Watching Bellatrix lament while holding onto his waist, Bellver felt his vision darken.
