As the start time for the competition approached, everyone, except for the participants and the organizers, had to leave the waiting room.
"I've done my best."
Despite wearing a wig and full makeup, Liana left the waiting room laughing at the comical appearance of Kono Lint, who couldn't help but look ridiculous.
All that remained were about forty participants in the cross-dressing competition.
Most of them had a rather gloomy expression, as if they had committed some crime. Of course, there were also those who looked surprisingly good in their cross-dressing outfits.
These were probably people who had a penchant for this sort of thing.
With over a hundred thousand students in the temple, it's not impossible that some would have such a taste.
And among them, someone who looked extremely dangerous and stood out.
Participant number 40, wearing a hood.
That person was so anxious and nervous that he was biting his nails.
Kono Lint knew the situation was terrible, but he wondered why that person was so anxious.
If he was that anxious, why did he bother to participate?
Was he in the same situation as him?
"Alright, the competition will begin soon. Participant number 40, please remove your hood."
"..."
The participant didn't seem to hear the announcer's instructions and continued to look confused.
"Please remove it."
"..."
Finally, with no choice, he removed the hood. The other participants couldn't help but be speechless at the sight.
"..."
No way.
Is that a man?
That was the look on everyone's face.
Participant number 40, while in a situation where he couldn't possibly smile, somehow managed to put on a strained, forced smile.
"......Did you mistakenly think this was the Miss Temple competition?"
"Maybe......"
A couple of participants nearby murmured as if they knew each other, and Kono Lint began to wonder if that was really the case. In fact, that seemed even more plausible.
Yes, there could be no other explanation.
That face couldn't belong to a man.
That's how everyone started to understand.
They all became convinced that the beautiful girl had mistakenly submitted her application to the cross-dressing competition instead of the Miss Temple competition, and that's why she didn't know how to react to this strange situation.
It would be panic-inducing to see a room full of men in dresses, some even wearing huge ones, when you thought you applied for the Miss Temple competition!
It's obvious she wants to leave, but she's too shy and embarrassed to do anything!
Even though the organizers didn't say anything, everyone began to feel sympathy for the blushing girl (though she wasn't blushing at all).
In the end, someone had to step up.
They had to escort her out, as this was no place for her.
The chivalry that sprouted in everyone's hearts finally took action in one person.
"Um, excuse me."
It was the human tank wearing a dress.
"...?"
Participant number 24, the burly and imposing human tank. In a place where most people didn't look good in cross-dressing, the one who looked the least fitting approached the beautiful girl.
Kono Lint was horrified in his mind.
'No! Anyone but you shouldn't step forward!'
The giant figure was too monstrous to approach the delicate, fragile-looking girl.
The massive, muscular creature in a dress, with long blonde hair from a wig, looked even more vicious as the magical warrior approached the girl.
The girl just stared blankly up at the approaching giant.
She wore an awkward smile, but the corners of her mouth were trembling.
It was clear that she was terrified.
Kono Lint was sure that he himself would foam at the mouth and collapse if such a monster approached him like that.
But of course, the human tank, Richard Howlman, thought he was behaving like a gentleman and tried to offer a gentle smile, completely oblivious to his own appearance.
"It seems like you might have chosen the wrong competition..."
"…?"
"This is the cross-dressing competition, not the Miss Temple contest."
He may have intended to sound cool, but the situation, his outfit, and the fact that he was a participant in the cross-dressing competition made him anything but.
Naturally, all eyes were drawn to him. The silver-haired girl's eyes rolled around.
She seemed to want to say something, but also didn't, her lips trembling with tension.
"Don't be scared. This is just a simple event. So, if you explain it well to the organizers, you can leave..."
The same thought crossed everyone's minds.
That guy. He clearly thinks he's amazing.
Identifying the girl's background class by utilizing his current gentleness and consideration, and maybe even scoring a promise for a meal later on?
The girl, perhaps thinking that silence would not drive away the magical warrior before her, nervously opened her mouth, her lips quivering.
"…I'm… a guy."
Eventually, an ambiguous, indistinct voice, making it hard to tell if it was male or female, flowed from the girl's mouth.
"Pardon?"
Richard Howlman, seemingly convinced that he must have misheard, asked again with a confused expression.
The girl, no, number 40 who revealed she wasn't a girl, bit her lip slightly.
Of course, she was just angry at the monstrous figure in front of her who couldn't understand her words.
Get lost, you bastard.
Her actions were driven by such thoughts, but to others, it seemed like a gesture of resentment towards someone causing her trouble.
Anger and resentment.
Similar but subtly different.
Everyone misunderstood the pitiful creature in their own way.
When the magical warrior wasn’t able to be dismissed with a single word, number 40 said curtly.
"I… I came to the right event…"
"!"
At those words, not only Richard Howlman but also the expressions of the others froze.
Sometimes, people find it hard to believe what they see.
They couldn't believe what they saw, and now they had it confirmed verbally.
That creature claims to belong to the same biological category as themselves.
"It... it can't be..."
Richard Howlman wore an expression as if he had just lost the love of his life.
The soul-sucked human tank trudged back to his seat. However, the others couldn't stop sneaking glances at participant number 40, whose face was flushed red and head hung low.
With a face stained with shame and embarrassment as if red water would fall from it, number 40 bit his lips and said nothing.
-Aaahh
Damn it.
I washed my hands at the sink in the bathroom near the waiting room, with the water running.
I couldn't wash my face or relieve myself.
Just being in that place made me feel like I would snap at someone, so I couldn't stay there any longer.
Damn it.
I thought Kono Lint might be in the audience, but why on earth is he participating? And in that state?
I almost had a heart attack, worried that Liana, who did my makeup, would recognize me.
When I first arrived, the organizers questioned if I was really the one who signed up to participate, and if I wasn't someone else. I broke out in a cold sweat trying to explain.
Fortunately, my makeup and disguise were so perfect that nobody recognized me, and some even said I looked like an entirely different person.
So Kono Lint didn't recognize me, and even that human tank guy I faced in the tournament didn't recognize me. In fact, he even seemed to be trying to be nice to me.
But seriously, what the hell?
Do I look so stupid that I would mistakenly submit my Miss Temple application to the cross-dressing contest?
-Aaahh
"Whew..."
Really.
I feel like I'm losing my mind.
I need to stay focused.
If I lose my cool, Kono Lint might recognize me.
Only Reinhardt could pull off that kind of expression, right?
Wait a minute.
A crazy twist like that might actually happen.
I need to smile.
I must maintain my composure and ensure no one recognizes me until the end.
"Uh, uh... S-sorry...!"
"…?"
"Huh? Is this the men's restroom...? Ah."
Even the competition staff mistook me for a woman.
Damn it.
It's a problem when things go too well.
Too much of anything is bad.
I must have gone overboard this time.
And my participant number is 40.
They said it was random, but there are only 40 contestants.
I'm sure they deliberately assigned me number 40. I'm certain of it.
The long-awaited, if not grand, cross-dressing contest, which belonged to their own league, had begun.
-Well then, let's begin the 8th annual Temple Cross-Dressing Contest, hosted by the Temple Student Council!
A cross-dressing contest held every year for eight years.
Although there was no overwhelming cheering like during the tournament, the auditorium, rented from an ordinary class, was packed.
There were ordinary people who came out of curiosity for such a bizarre competition, and many students who came to witness their friend's lifelong embarrassing moment as a punishment.
Even though there wasn't a thunderous cheer, the audience was filled with people who were ready to laugh and watched with excited expressions.
Among them was a group from the Erazon class who came to witness Richard Haulman's embarrassing moment.
Also, there were Royal class students Liana de Grantz, Heinrich von Schwartz, Erich de Lafaeri, and Cayer Voiden, who came to watch the cross-dressing competition.
The four Royal class students were there to witness Kono Lint's embarrassing moment.
Heinrich looked at Liana, who was sitting next to him, and asked, "Is everything okay?"
"Um, in what sense?"
Everyone joined forces when the guy who said it wouldn't matter if it weren't just him fell into his own trap. They were all looking forward to seeing what bizarre appearance Kono Lint would show.
Erich asked Liana, "What number is he?"
At that question, Liana grinned and looked at Erich, "Number 1."
"Ugh."
"Heh."
They couldn't help but giggle at the fact that he was the first up in this hellish competition. Imagining what Kono Lint's expression was like at the moment was enough to make them happy.
"Alright! We have many fierce contestants this time! Introducing the first participant in the long-awaited cross-dressing competition! Let's introduce him right now!"
The host was filled with excitement for this strange competition.
"First-year Royal class! Introducing Kono Lint! Please welcome him with thunderous applause!"
Although it wasn't thunderous, the mention of the Royal class triggered a grand round of applause.
"Woah! Aaaak! Kiiyaaaak!"
For some reason, Liana de Granz was even more excited than when watching a tournament, screaming and clapping wildly.
It was hard to believe that she was a noble lady, but even those who were not very close to her knew that she was a person who had little to do with such things.
The three no-good siblings, now joined by one more, were taken aback as they watched Liana.
They were the same, but to be so intensely excited about someone else's misfortune.
'Demonic...'
While everyone was thinking that, the first participant with a red face, Kono Lint, was stepping onto the stage.
Liana's makeup was perfect.
Her costume selection was perfect.
The wig selection wasn't bad either.
"Pfft!"
"Ugh!"
"What the heck is that?!"
However, there were quite a few flaws in the clothes hanger.
All four of them here seemed to understand why, despite the strange title, the cross-dressing competition had been held annually for eight years.
They didn't know about anything else, but it was funny, at least.
"Lint, you're a Royal class student, right?"
"Yes."
"You're really cute. You can be confident."
"…"
At the host's words, Kono Lint glared at him as if to say, "Don't mess with me."
"Oh, I misunderstood. It wasn't Lint who was cute, but the outfit."
"Ah."
The host's words soured Lint's expression, and the audience burst into laughter. After all, the cross-dressing contest was just that kind of event. Participants who had to join due to some embarrassing situation, and the host who gently prodded them, were the main points of interest.
"Did you do your own makeup?"
"…No. A friend did it…"
"A friend? Surely someone who's here watching, right? Their skills are impressive. Who is it? Can they raise their hand?"
At that, Liana, who had been watching from the audience, quickly raised her hand. Even with the attention on her, she showed no signs of embarrassment.
The host looked back and forth between Lint and Liana.
"Oh, it's a lady. Is she your girlfriend?"
"Absolutely not!"
Liana's extremely repulsed expression elicited laughter from the audience once again.
The hopeless trio looked at Liana as if she were a monster.
She was a master at openly mocking people.
"Lint, are you hurt by her strong denial?"
"No! Why would I be hurt?!"
The more Lint adamantly denied it, the more he seemed to be hurt.
"Why did a Royal Class join the cross-dressing contest?"
"Isn't it the same as the others? Like a punishment or something."
"They're just like us, aren't they? I don't think so…"
While the devilish Royal Class students were busy laughing, the audience's reaction was a bit different.
First of all, Lint had the Royal Class premium attached to him.
In a school with nearly one hundred thousand students, there are only about one hundred Royal Class students. Naturally, being a Royal Class comes with a certain level of prestige.
Most common-class students see the Royal Class as an elite group and arrogant bunch.
But there in front of them, wearing an absurd cross-dress and looking lost, was a Royal Class student?
For some reason, the once-distant Royal Class now seemed approachable.
With the Royal Class premium attached,
"Isn't he cute?"
"Yeah, yeah."
The female students' reactions were particularly different.
While Lint wasn't considered handsome, he was just cute enough to earn some compliments.
Add to that Liana de Grantz's makeup skills, and he looked cute enough to warrant some positive comments. Of course, the male students wouldn't agree, but among the female students, there were many who found the shy and awkward Lint adorable.
"Cute!"
"Brother, you're so cute!"
The middle school girls waved their hands and squealed, and Lint, not knowing what was happening, had eyes that were ready to pop out.
After a series of various questions, the host moved on to an important one.
"Anyway, it says here that Kono Lint is a Supernatural."
"Oh…."
Supernatural powers.
People know that such things exist, but very few have seen them in person. After all, even in the academy, it's mainly the Royal Class students and Supernaturals who possess these powers.
No matter how real Supernatural powers are, they are still a foreign concept to most people. That's why the expectation for the Royal Class student who appeared in a ridiculous cross-dress is amplified when they hear he's a Supernatural.
It's no coincidence that Lint was placed first and Reinhardt 40th, falsely claiming it was a random order.
Upon hearing the word "Supernatural," not only Lint but also the other Royal Class male students' expressions stiffened.
"It seems like you haven't decided what to do for the appeal time, so why don't you show us your Supernatural power? Teleportation, that's amazing!"
"!"
"Wow!"
Everyone who knows him knows this.
Kono Lint's Supernatural power is not something that can be shown to the public.
Of course, the penalty has been somewhat offset by now….
But still, he can only teleport in his underwear.
"No, I can't! I absolutely can't!"
Lint's desperate cry rang out.
The male students were left speechless by the crisis that could potentially double Lint's dark history.
Even Liana seemed to think this was too much and was left with her mouth agape. If she had lost her mind even a little, she might have yelled for him to show it. However, Liana was still maintaining her reason.
But.
There were people here who didn't know the details.
"Show us!"
Starting with someone's shout.
"Show us! Show us!"
Everyone shared the same desire to see the Supernatural's demonstration of his power.
"What... what should we do?"
Liana mumbled blankly as she looked at Heinrich.
"I don't know…"
No matter how much Lint had fallen into his own trap.
This time, it was a truly desperate crisis.
