The Master of the Villains Has Disappeared

"How do we fix this?"

That was my first question to restore my body to its original state.

"I don't know."

It was the only answer I could get from the lizard with a smile on his face.

What is this, is he picking a fight?

I can feel a vein popping on my forehead at Orphion's shameless attitude.

It's tragicomic that I don't have to worry about collapsing from high blood pressure since my body has become so excessively young.

Anyway, since the lizard in front of me doesn't seem to understand the seriousness of the situation yet.

"『Frozen』"

"Hey, Asher. Wait!"

As I drew a huge magic circle in the air, pure white frost began to cover everything around.

Only then did he hastily grab my wrist, wiping the smile off his face.

Indeed, the truth that seeing is believing seems to apply even to dragons.

"I really don't know because I don't know. I didn't know this magic would have such a side effect."

What followed was the location where Orphion had found the parchment he had given me in the past.

The urgent voice finally revealed the source of the magic that had turned me into this state.

However.

"Diarkh?"

"Yes. The 'wanderer' said it was hidden in Diarkh's secret vault."

What I heard was the name of an ancient kingdom that had long since perished.

It only reconfirmed that Orphion's claim of not knowing the method was true.

'...Why did it have to be Diarkh of all places.'

Among the various ruins of the continent, the Diarkh Kingdom is one of the most ancient.

The Diarkh Kingdom is an unknown ruin whose history hasn't even been properly uncovered.

In other words, it means that it's very difficult to find both the creator of this strange life-extension magic and the method to dispel it.

Therefore, I asked accusingly why he couldn't have just gotten me a normal life-extension magic.

"You asked for something effective. Said you couldn't hold on any longer with ordinary ones?"

"...That's true, but."

"Then, you reap what you sow."

"..."

I was refuted by my past self who had written a long letter to Orphion - mostly filled with lamentations about my situation.

Eventually, I could only sigh at Orphion's added remark that I got what I wanted as I became healthy.

"Your mana is stable, and your vitality has recovered. What's there to worry about?"

"I've become a girl."

"...Is that such a big problem?"

"At least for me, it is."

"Ah, I don't understand. There are people who would even make deals with devils to become younger."

"The problem isn't that I've become younger, it's that I've become a woman..."

He's wrong.

Being an old geezer who's lived for over 1000 years, his empathy has converged to 0.

It seems he doesn't even understand the concept of physiological embarrassment.

Well, how could a dragon feel emotions related to human gender...

"Well, I think your brats would find it amusing."

"...Ah."

Only then did I remember the existence of my disciples.

As a bonus, I imagined the reactions of my disciples seeing me transformed into a tiny girl overnight.

'This is quite interesting.... ...pfft...'

'I didn't know Master had such a hobby─'

'...I'll order a dress first. Oh, and a ribbon with jewels too─'

'M-Master. Can I make just one body clone? I want to hug you and sleep every day─'

...Another reason why I must return to normal has emerged.

Those kids who are already not in their right minds will obviously play with me like a toy if they see me like this.

However, the truth is that no solution comes to mind right now.

Even looking back at the novel in my memories, there was no such case. Not even a single one.

'Should I try experimenting on my own body...'

As I was having useless fantasies like 'Should I try modifying relic restoration magic for human use?' due to the rising sense of helplessness.

Around that time, Orphion's suggestion to just disappear altogether since things have come to this was heard.

"You won't have a proper identity with that body anyway. How about hiding in some rural area until we find a solution?"

"...What about the kids?"

"Looks like you haven't thought that it might be because of your nature that those brats' manners have gone bad."

A master should also foster independence.

Orphion, with a slightly displeased expression, said so while poking my forehead with his index finger.

"They're already past the age where you need to take care of them, Asher. How long are you going to worry about every little thing?"

"I didn't expect to hear such words from you."

"I'm saying this because it's frustrating to watch. Why are you so stupid when it comes to this side of things..."

Honestly, I wanted to refute.

The reason I couldn't open my mouth was that, thinking about it, I might have raised them too indulgently.

It seems there were parts where they caused more trouble because I always cleaned up after them no matter what kind of incidents they caused.

As Orphion said, it doesn't seem so bad to spend some time apart.

As I was thinking about this and pondering the future, a familiar piece of stationery fell onto Orphion with a thud.

Orphion tilted his head and opened the letter, and exactly 10 seconds later.

"'I, Asher Astoria, leave a memory modification orb to my friend Orphion. Also... ...Please, even if I'm gone, take care of my disciples...' ...Hey, Asher?"

It was revealed that the identity of the letter was my will prepared for any contingency.

The problem is that I'm perfectly alive.

"No, the real problem is that you entrusted your brats to me. Why should I be responsible for those kids?"

"...I couldn't think of anything else. But if you look at the memory modification orb, you'll understand me... ...No. Let's talk about this later."

Anyway, what's important right now is why the will magic was activated.

We needed to find out why the will magic judged me as dead, even though I'm currently in the healthiest state I've ever been...

"...Don't tell me. Because I turned into a woman?"

The answer came surprisingly simply.

After all, the 'male' Asher Astoria currently doesn't exist in this world.

It seems that to the will magic, it's as if I had evaporated from the world overnight.

When you think about it that way, it's not a strange situation.

No, you could even say it's fortunate in a way that the magic worked normally.

Just because of one reason that Orphion wasn't the only target of the will magic.

"...We're in big trouble."

"What now?"

"That will, it would have gone to the kids too."

"That is troublesome indeed."

My head throbbed involuntarily.

Accidents that should be enough to experience once in a lifetime are happening one after another today. What's wrong with this day?

However, Orphion seemed to think that this series of events was rather fortunate.

The meaningful look on his face as he added some flesh to the suggestion he had made to me a few minutes ago was proof of that.

"I'll introduce you to a nobleman. He'll take you in as his adopted daughter."

"What...?"

"Think about it, Asher. If you're going to disappear anyway, isn't it better to disappear completely?"

There's nothing more certain than becoming a completely different person from the original.

Orphion, with an expression that seemed to have some scheme, stood up after saying those words.

"What are you trying to do now?"

"Preparing to turn you into a noble lady."

"...You're going to have me adopted into a noble family?"

"Don't worry. Dven is a decent guy. He won't do anything stupid."

If Orphion says he's okay, he must really be a good person.

The problem is that he seemed to be enjoying the current situation for some reason.

"Your brats... they'll be fine for now. They won't disobey the will of the master they followed so devotedly."

"How do you know what I left as my will to them?"

"It's obvious. Something like don't cause trouble, live a good life, right?"

"...That's right."

"See?"

In the end, I was also defeated by Orphion's logic.

In other words, it means I have to live with the new identity Orphion has created for me until I find a way to return to normal.

Looking at it optimistically, it seemed like an opportunity to correct my disciples' bad habits.

There would be no shock greater than my death (fake).

If they try to do something strange, I can stop them then.

I hoped that they would realize that I can't be by their side forever and make efforts on their own to live a more desirable life.

Thinking like this, I feel quite mixed emotions, as if I've really become those kids' parent.

"Well, don't worry. Even I wouldn't do anything harmful to a friend."

"...You only call me a friend at times like this."

"I mean don't worry unnecessarily. There's nothing more regrettable than an interesting person like you dying young."

Orphion followed up by saying he would look for a solution in his own way.

Hmm, does he want to turn me into a noble lady that badly?

"I'll be honest. Is there anything more fun than making a 'sage' live as a beautiful young lady?"

"...I should have known."

"Well, there's no loss on your side either. You just need to live quietly as a noble young lady."

Almost simultaneously, snap.

Orphion's fingers snapped once.

What was used was a more advanced clothing magic.

A dress and accessories close to those of a noble were overlaid on my body.

"...You had this kind of taste?"

"That's dressing you modestly."

"This is?"

"Think about when you first met the princess. Remember what she was wearing then."

"..."

In the end, I was at a loss for words again.

Why is this guy, who usually lives without much thought, so excessively logical only at times like this?

Eventually, a teleportation magic circle appeared right in front of me.

As if striking while the iron is hot, Orphion took me to a certain count's family.

And.

"Greet her, this is the one who will become your adopted daughter. Her name is... Leta would be good."

"...I understand."

Leaving those words to a man who looked about my original age, telling him to adopt me as his daughter, he returned to his lair.

However, the man who suddenly became my adoptive father didn't have any doubts.

Something about it being Lord Orphion's will or whatever.

'...How on earth did he convince him.'

Nevertheless, I had to follow the man in front of me into the mansion right now.

After all, the priority was to figure out what kind of life my new life would be.

Even though it was a life limited to 'until I find a way to return to normal'. It felt like experiencing it itself wasn't so bad.

And, just 10 minutes after that.

"First, let's take a bath. The water is already heated."

"...Huh?"

"Alice. I leave Lady Leta to you."

"Excuse me?"

"Now, young lady. Please follow me slowly so you don't fall."

I became very embarrassed at the series of moments I was experiencing for the first time in my life.

Come to think of it, it was similar to when I raised young Karian, but being 'raised' by others was something I had never experienced even once.

'...Umm...'

In the end, I fell into deep thought as I was even bathed by a maid named Alice.

However, my body was also submerged in the warm water of the bathtub, making me feel increasingly languid.

...Is this what dragons find fun?

○

"You have quite a worried expression."

The ancient dragon Orphion, who was in his lair as usual, muttered so as he stood up.

After all, there was something he needed to make clear to the uninvited guests who started barging in one by one, starting with the assassin full of killing intent in front of him.

"You lot are in such a state. He said only I could handle you."

"...Where is Master?"

"Why don't you just breathe with your precious Master's permission?"

"This is no time for jokes!"

"...Jokes?"

-Crack.

Orphion's red irises split vertically.

The wide and huge wings that gradually began to sprout from around his shoulders.

-Crack.

-Crunch.

Decisively, the thick scales and long tail that began to cover his entire body.

｢Did I look that easy to you, you little bloodlings?｣

-Shudder.

He bestowed a sense of intimidation upon the uninvited guests who had fearlessly barged into the ancient dragon's lair.

Nevertheless, not a single person took a step back, causing him to unconsciously smirk.