I Became the Academy’s Kibitz Villain

Ability users were akin to rampaging beings.

Even a minor mental disturbance could trigger a rampage, transforming the ability user into a demon.

But did an ability user’s rampage always lead in a negative direction?

Not necessarily.

Humans could also rampage in productive and constructive ways.

A prime example of this was “awakening.”

It involves surpassing one’s limits to reach a higher level.

In extreme terms, it’s akin to watching my magic power rating increase in the status window through which I view myself.

This was one of those moments.

Yoon Iseon began to knock on the door of her limits right from the first day of training.

‘It’s not because of the date invitation, is it?’

If so, her fandom was truly remarkable.

Personally, I’d like to think it’s because I gave a good demonstration and explained well.

That’s my personal hope as Yoon Iseon’s trainer, but if the results were positive and there were no issues with the process, then all was well.

[…….]

I observed Yoon Iseon’s changes from the sidelines.

Awakening didn’t necessarily mean a massive change.

Changes like hair color turning blonde, lightning crackling around someone, or hair growing down to the toes were all forms of awakening.

What about Yoon Iseon?

I taught her the technique of the will-o’-the-wisp and indirectly explained the principle behind the transformations of Nana and Yumir.

The real example being me.

The black flames surrounding me as the “suit.”

I didn’t directly teach her because I wanted her to realize it on her own…

‘I didn’t expect her to change like this.’

Fwoosh.

As the pink flames subsided, Yoon Iseon slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me.

From a slightly lower angle than before.

“……Huh?”

[Are you back with us?]

“What happened to…”

[Magic power reveals the earnest desires of ability users. That’s your true desire, your longing.]

“Uh, uhh….”

Yoon Iseon’s face turned red.

Her academy training outfit, which previously fit her perfectly, had shrunk to resemble three-quarter sleeve shirts and pants.

The workout clothes remained unchanged.

It was just that Yoon Iseon’s limbs had elongated.

[You’ve suddenly become a lady.]

“Ah, ah… This, this is, I mean…!”

[Calm down. You’ll return to your original form once the transformation is undone.]

“!!”

Realizing she would return to her original form seemed to snap Yoon Iseon back to her senses, and she gulped down her saliva, nodding.

Her limbs, which had momentarily seemed to pop out of her workout clothes, almost wavered like mist, but she took a deep breath and firmly maintained her physical form.

Her body had been transformed by magical power.

“How did this happen?”

[It’s the result of your desires, ambitions, and cravings all coming together.]

“Could you explain that in simpler terms?”

[It means you’ve achieved the S-class form you desired. Take a good look.]

I pointed at the mirror on the gym wall.

[You wished to become a glamorous beauty of a lady who’s 170 cm tall, didn’t you?]

“…….”

Yoon Iseon was surprised by her reflection in the mirror, then covered her face with her hands as she realized her current reality.

“Is this really what I wanted to look like when I became S-class?”

[Yes.]

“This?”

[Exactly. Don’t deny it. If you do, not only will the transformation be undone, but you might also end up looking strange.]

“I don’t want to deny it, but…”

Yoon Iseon awkwardly examined her hands and feet.

“No matter how I think about it, these look like my hands and feet, but are you saying they’re some kind of illusion made of magical power?”

[Not an illusion, but rather like Mana’s hands and Mana’s feet, which have their own form.]

I reached out and grabbed Yoon Iseon’s wrist.

[Do you feel anything unusual here?]

“…….”

[What’s wrong?]

“Ah, no. Um, I only feel the strength of your grip, sir…”

I had grabbed the part of her workout clothes where her wrists would normally be, but Yoon Iseon only considered it in terms of touch.

[A good sensation. If you thought it was strange, the concentration of magic power would have dissipated.]

“So you mean the moment I feel something’s off, the transformation will come undone?”

[Yes. This transformation relies entirely on mana. If the mana runs out, or if your mental strength, which is holding this form together, wavers, then the transformation will immediately come undone.]

I reached for her other arm.

[Remember well the parts that extend beyond the sleeves of your workout clothes. These are your weak points in this transformed state. Make sure to remember every part I’ve touched.]

“Uh, yes…”

I pressed down on the ends of Yoon Iseon’s sleeves and pants to clearly indicate her weak points.

[If you’re hit hard in these spots, you might think to yourself, ‘Did my wrist just break? This isn’t my real wrist.’ If you think like that, the transformation will immediately come undone.]

“…….”

[Your fingers seem slightly longer than before. Since your physical balance has completely changed, you’ll need to adapt quickly after the transformation. It might feel like switching between driving a sedan and an SUV…]

“Is there anywhere else that’s changed?”

Yoon Iseon bit her lip and pointed at herself.

“I can’t really tell just by looking…”

[…….]

This woman.

Was she possibly thinking that right now?

My intuition was accurate; there’s no need to assume.

[Well. Did your thighs shrink a bit?]

I boldly grabbed above her knee, over the workout clothes.

[Perhaps to maintain a more balanced physique, your thighs seem to have shrunk. They looked good before, but now they’re more proportionately reduced.]

“Can you really tell all that just by looking?”

[Think of me as something like a professional fitness trainer.]

If all fitness trainers made physical contact like this, they’d all be sued for sexual harassment. But if the woman gave permission, approaching without any ulterior motive was fine.

I have had ulterior motives.

If anyone could do it, it’s Yoon Iseon.

[The pelvis seems unchanged.]

“Wow…”

[The pelvic line was already nicely curved, so it appears no adjustment was needed there. The waist seems to have lengthened. Perhaps mana has settled between the vertebrae, slightly stretching the joints or something.]

“Is that still okay?”

[Oh. It’s not a physical change forced by external factors, but a pure transformation using your own mana.]

Even though she grew over 20 cm in an instant, the current Yoon Iseon was just an S-class ability user herself.

[Why? Feel like you’ve become a demon?]

“……No, not really.”

[You seem like you hadn’t even considered it.]

“Uh, well. Now that you mention it, I’m a bit worried. This isn’t turning into a demon, is it?”

[If you had turned into a demon, your skin color would change, and tentacle-like tails would sprout from your back.]

“Uh…!”

Yoon Iseon was horrified, but there was nothing on her back.

“Huh?”

[Even if you did produce a tail with your abilities, it wouldn’t be considered part of the human body. You still think of tails as something you actively bring out.]

Becoming the bombshell Yoon Iseon was one thing, but turning into foxgirl Yoon Iseon was as easy as switching on and off.

[Want to try bringing it out?]

“Just a moment. Then…”

Fwoosh.

“Wow.”

A pink tail spread out behind her like a blooming lotus.

The tail, wide enough to cover her entire body, made her look like a full-fledged nine-tailed fox-

[Is this a side effect?]

“Ah?!”

Fox ears sprouted on top of her head.

With fairly long fox ears, even fur popping out from the inside, Yoon Iseon trembled all over.

“This, this isn’t something I did on purpose!”

[Bringing out nine tails and becoming ‘more fox-like’ is just instinct. It can’t be helped. There’s no changing it.]

A nine-tailed fox lady with fox ears and tails, each larger than her head.

The protagonist was originally a woman, so it wasn’t a big deal, but there was a reason all the men in the original work fell for her.

Originally, she was supposed to awaken as an S-class during a crisis after a conversation with the original protagonist, but now her transformation was triggered by a more earnest desire.

[Since you’ve awakened in this form, shall we continue our date?]

“…Continue?”

[Yes.]

I stepped back from Yoon Iseon, then brought my hands together as if in prayer.

Flutter.

[Does this look a bit similar?]

I created a form made of magic power behind me.

Not as beautiful as Yoon Iseon’s form, the black, angular branches resembled mechanical arms.

The four black branches, angular yet wiggling like octopus legs.

[If you’ve transformed with your ability, you’ll have to learn a new fighting style suited to it. But before that, you’ll go through the process of adapting to that body.]

“……”

[What? Why? What.]

A date with the trainer being training was only natural.

“…My expectations-”

[Just kidding.]

Clap.

I clapped my hands and extended the branches from my back to turn off the gym lights.

It was quite a distance, but the branches stretched out, exerting physical influence.

[I’m not planning to make you run before you’ve even learned to walk.]

“…Really?”

[For now, just focus on maintaining that form as long as possible without letting the transformation undo.]

I pointed outside the gym.

[Let’s go for a light drive.]

Beep.

Outside, my car was waiting, and I opened the passenger door, gesturing inside.

[Get in.]

“Excuse me.”

Yoon Iseon sat in the passenger seat, and I immediately took the driver’s seat and grabbed the steering wheel.

“Where are we going?”

[A 24-hour outlet.]

“…Why?”

[Well.]

I lightly scanned Yoon Iseon from top to bottom with my eyes.

[You need to get clothes that fit first. It must be a bit tight, right?]

“…….”

Yoon Iseon blushed and turned her head toward the window as she tried to fasten her seatbelt.