Chapter 59: Caught Between Two Gates: A Tiger at the Front Gate and a Wolf at the Back Gate

――After I deactivated my transformation, I walked alone toward the girls’ dormitory of the academy.

"...If I couldn’t make the tentacle suit, I would’ve died right then and there."

I sighed and checked the sleeve of my uniform. The sleeves had been burned so vividly that the tentacles were already in tatters, and I’d briefly wondered whether the magic power itself had disintegrated the fabric beyond regeneration. I was proven right. The moment I’d slipped into the bathroom to transform and become completely naked, I’d been in genuine panic. I had no exhibitionist tendencies, you damn fool.

Thankfully, the same principle that produced the hoodie and pants I used as Atel Octo had let me recreate the uniform just barely. It was a close call, but at least it hadn’t been fatal.

Yeah. A close call.

――Wait a second... So from now on am I supposed to live my entire academy life in this tentacle suit?

The thought hit me like a cold bucket of water. Even as a guy, the mental drain was enormous. Girls could probably sell something like this on the black market, but for a guy? The hell am I supposed to do with it? I should just become a male girl and start over.

Besides, I didn’t have the money to buy a fresh set of uniforms. I could call home and ask Mom and Dad to cover it, but I had no idea how to explain why every single piece had been destroyed. A complete disaster of a day.

Time to go home and sleep. That was my plan.

The very second the thought crossed my mind, I heard it: a dragging, scuffing sound, slow and uneven.

It was coming from the shadows. Only to my ears did it sound like human footsteps.

――Monster Villain!?

I tensed and headed toward the noise. I’d rather keep my transformation status clear until I figured out where Knight was, but if it was a Monster Villain, no questions asked—I had to stop it.

I peeked into the shadows and froze.

"...What the hell are you doing?"

I’d found my senpai—blonde, foreign-looking, and now carrying a junior on her back.

The junior was in pajamas, the fluffy medieval-noble style, with vertically rolled blonde hair. Sweat dripped from every pore, her limbs trembled violently, and she was babbling nonstop, eyes darting everywhere.

"N-not like I got kidnapped or anything, okay?! Just... keep this between us... haha..."

Then the name finally registered.

"—What, Senpai Chijima?!"

"What the hell, and if you’re that ashamed, at least act more composed!"

She was even more suspicious than a cornered culprit in a detective manga.

"I-I don’t know how to explain it..."

I glanced at the girl on her back. A beautiful blonde girl in pajamas—puffy, elegant, the kind of dress a princess from the Middle Ages would wear. I knew exactly who she was.

I’d never met her in person, never even seen a photo. But in two-dimensional space, on a computer monitor... I’d seen her countless times.

――Grace Wayne.

The true identity of Sacred Knight. The top warrior of the light mages in the alternate world Calmate—Sacred Knights.

Even I, who knew the original story, found the sight of her breathing raggedly in her sleep utterly fragile. The Sacred Knight who had stood before me and tried to burn me alive was a completely different person.

"...Where are you taking her?"

I had a few options. Since she was in no state to fight, this was obviously the kindest thing.

But what if I left her here and something happened to her—would Leas suffer? The moment that question crossed my mind, I acted.

"Eh? Ah, I was thinking maybe take her to my room at the dorm... but the stairs seem like a bad idea. Elevator? I’m scared someone will see us..."

"Got it. Hand her over."

I took Grace from Zero Ko with a single, firm motion. I was a guy to begin with, and my strength had skyrocketed the moment I became a Monster Villain. No problem.

Zero Ko stared at me with wide, dazed eyes.

"Yo, lead the way. Or take her to my room? That’d be way too weird, dude."

"U-um, y-yes! Sorry, thank you, senpai!"

Don’t mention it.

I grinned at her and carefully adjusted the position of the girl I was carrying—two enormous, soft, heavy breasts pressed firmly against my back.

――Oh shit... This is massive. The sensation is like nothing I’ve ever felt.

I had achieved the truth of this world.

That is, OPPAI IS GOD...

The phrase was brain-dead stupid, but it was the only honest way to describe something that overwhelming.

Yeah, small breasts were beautiful too, but damn, these were huge! It was unfair!

"...Senpai Chijima."

"O-okay, I’ll guide you while keeping an eye out—trust me, junior!"

Zero Ko kept glancing at me like I was roadkill, so I hurriedly straightened.

"Roger that. Then follow me."

I had helped her up, and I had just enjoyed the feeling of an unconscious girl’s breasts. Both things canceled out to zero net gain, so I kept walking. But... this was me carrying a girl, so my gait was a little sluggish, wasn’t it?

Zero Ko and I climbed the stairs toward the girls’ dormitory together. Because the elevator existed, almost no one else was using it, so we ascended in relative peace.

Halfway up, Zero Ko turned and gave me an odd look.

"...Senpai, you’re stronger than I thought. Or at least have good stamina."

"Hm? Well, I’m in the culture club, so I’m a guy. I’ll probably lose to the athletic girls, but compared to you I’ve still got more muscle—hey, jealous?"

"If you want me jealous, maybe try acting more gentlemanly. You’re a gentleman, but a pervert gentleman."

"Can’t really deny it. Besides, what choice do I have? Guys are animals that love girls’ bodies."

"I’m not saying you’re not a guy, but maybe tone it down a little. Isn’t Kazu-senpai like that?"

"Don’t ask all Japanese male students to have the rationality of Naganawa Rei."

"I’m not saying you should be like him, just that you could learn a bit from him."

Well... she probably wouldn’t, but Zero Ko gave me a mischievous little laugh and pitter-pattered down the stairs.

She was laughing so hard she snorted. But I didn’t care about that.

There was something else far more pressing.

――Even though she’s wearing tights, does it make sense for her to be fluttering her mini-skirt while running up stairs?

Since she thought it was safe to show, she didn’t bother holding it down and bounded up each step, skirt flipping and flipping with every movement. The round curve of her ass, the line between her thighs, everything became clearly visible. My gaze was locked.

I knew I was staring too hard and she’d snap at any second. I forced my eyes away, and the very next moment the soft weight of her breasts against my back sent a jolt straight through me.

――This is exactly the front-door tiger, back-door wolf thing!

The visual and tactile contrast was too dramatic...! I wanted to shift my tongue around to fake a taste, but the salt from the sweat on my tongue wasn’t enough. I was reacting way too strongly and I was actually in trouble.

If Zero Ko screamed even once under these circumstances, my life would be over.

"Ah, this floor has my room—Senpai, are you okay? You’re sweating so much..."

"Ah—yeah... I’m at my limit, mind if you guide me to the room...?"

"Ooh? You’re trying to show off to the junior, huh? You’re holding back like it’s killing you~"

I exhaled in relief as she finally unlocked her door. Thank God. She’d even interpreted my exhaustion as a literal "I can’t hold it anymore" excuse.

――Not even my pervert sense can complain about that.