I Became the Academy’s Pink Airhead Chapter 51

"..."

Hilde's voice echoed from the receiver. Despite the noise on the fantasy world's phone line, I couldn't mistake that clear, distinct voice.

'Hilde recognized my voice imdiately.'

Perhaps it was because I had chattered endlessly beside her during our first year that my voice stuck in her mory. Even now, I lived with a pretty filter on, but back then, it was different.

As a man in a woman's body, the clumsy words I had used to get closer to the girls… I wondered what impression those words had left on Hilde now, and I was too afraid to ask.

'Because, for a brief mont… I had seriously considered Hilde as…'

A sudden rush of emotions from the past. When my male identity was much stronger. The fleeting feelings that passed by. Emotions I never wanted to reveal now.

"!"

I quickly shook off the resurfacing mory, lightly slapping my cheek with my free hand to ground myself.

Tap tap…

The light sting and the sensation of my cheek waking up.

'Get a grip… this is a critical mont.'

With Bell up from her seat, I had to inform Hilde of the outpost's situation and coordinate with the . I also needed to hear about any anomalies and decide on a course of action.

Even though I sorted it out in my mind, I still felt my words getting stuck.

'Hilde must be surprised I'm in the outpost office.'

We shared several seconds of silence, which felt like an eternity.

"..." "..." "Um...☆" "Um."

Oh no… we spoke at the sa ti.

"..." "..."

Silence returned. I inwardly chuckled at myself, then tapped my cheek again to regain focus.

Tap tap tap…

As reality settled in, so did the embarrassnt.

'Act your age…'

At that mont, a faint noise echoed from the phone. It was a classic thunderclap, reminiscent of a horror or old Chinese movie's background sound.

Rumble――

"...?"

Another thunderclap, louder and clearer.

Rumble――!

"...?!"

I was startled.

'This isn't the sound of the line cutting off, is it…?!'

I didn't know the principles of magical engineering, but hearing electrical noises on the phone wasn't normal. I didn't know when the beastkin or the eared ones might cut the line.

'This is serious. I need to speak quickly.'

The safety of many students depended on this call. So, pushing aside the part of that wanted to cower, I spoke in a cheerful tone.

'Let's keep it simple…'

I chose a neutral greeting.

"Hi☆ Hilde, how have you been? I was so happy I couldn't even move my lips―☆" "I was, so, happy. I couldn’t... even move… my lips. That’s... really."

Rumble――

"Good."

Another thunderclap. And Hilde's voice grew fainter.

"Th-" Clink―

Maybe she dropped the phone. Or the signal was weak. Unsettling static made it seem like Hilde had gone silent.

"..." "Hilde? Hilde―☆ Wait, don’t hang up―☆"

Oh no. Did it really disconnect? Did I miss my chance like a fool? Is this my catastrophe?

"..." "Hilde! Hilde? Hilde―☆ Please pick up♪ Let hear your voice―☆"

I spoke, feeling a bead of cold sweat run down my back. The image of the beastkin and the eared ones, flicking their sly tongues and cutting the line, flashed in my mind.

'If I catch those beastkin and eared ones, they’ll regret it.'

I grabbed the receiver with both hands, tapping my cheek with one hand. As cold sweat ford on my forehead, my mind began to settle.

'But what’s the use… it’s about to cut off!'

Fortunately, Hilde’s voice ca back clearly.

"Lala. Sorry, I dozed off for a mont." "Dozed off… what do you an―☆"

No, that's not the point now…

I almost said more but decided against unnecessary remarks. Who else could be as desperate and weary as Hilde in the current situation? She might have dozed off from sheer exhaustion.

'I should be thankful she still shows this unguarded side.'

Grateful for her familiar, everyday deanor, I moved past unimportant details and accepted it with gratitude.

'Always thankful to the heavens…'

I thought, and then explained the current situation in the northeast and our action plans to Hilde. Hearing about the Eastern Alliance's movents and our central breakthrough plan, Hilde understood imdiately.

"I see… using the tickets Bell handed over…" "Yeah…☆ Thanks to that, we got here comfortably♪" "Lala, are you hurt?" "I'm all better―☆" "Really…?"

Her doubtful voice made feel small. I responded timidly to that tone.

"Y-Yeah… just my body…" "Any other injuries?" "No, no―☆" "Good. As long as you’re not hurt… that’s enough. For now." "Y-Yeah…" "If you get hurt again, I might really… take you away." "..." "For now, just… stay safe." "…Okay."

The warmth in her words made my chest ache, and I hastily explained the situation.

"So, we’ve joined forces and are waiting for your next move―☆ By the way, Bell is out leading the kids♪" "I see."

Hilde fell silent for a mont, then spoke. Her voice carried a tinge of defeat, a bitter feeling.

"As expected, gradually closing the distance like Bell did was important. I'll take note." "Huh? What do you an―☆" "Nothing."

Hilde then briefly explained what was happening in the center. It closely matched Freya’s predictions.

"The student council and many aristocratic faction students have begun occupying the north of Golden Street. They must be targeting the western