Chapter 25: The Gender-Swap Trope Announcement Dragon

"That is all I have to report."

"I see. You have my thanks. You did well."

I finished recounting the events of the mission to Alter and waited for a reaction.

"To think Asuna would turn against us... No, that’s not quite right."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing for you to worry about. Is Burnatville dead?"

"I suspect he’s still alive. A power that immense likely comes with some form of safeguard or restriction."

"I suppose so. You’re dismissed. Go and get some rest. I have some tedious business to attend to, so my secretary will show you out."

As Alter spoke, a figure emerged silently from the nearby shadows.

"May I ask your name?"

"...Undo."

POV - Alter

"Sorry, did I keep you waiting?"

"You’re late. Thirty minutes late, to be precise."

Asuna finally showed up, and I turned to look at her.

"What in the world are you wearing?"

Of all things, she was dressed in a baggy T-shirt and shorts that looked like lounge wear. She wasn't wearing a trace of makeup. Even so, her beauty was in a league of its own; even compared to the other Lica-series models, her features were strikingly refined.

"Heh. Sorry. This is all I’ve got."

"I suppose that’s only natural. First, we’re going clothes shopping."

"Are you sure I should be hanging around? I might be a traitor to Paradise, you know."

"It matters not. I may not know the person you are now, but how many decades do you think we spent together? You’re just the same as ever. You’ll simply prove that my judgment wasn't misplaced."

"I like that! That’s the Alter I know. Alright, let’s get going."

"So that’s how Asuna speaks now..."

"I don't care what I wear, just pick something!"

"Don’t be a fool. Clothes are like the shell of a clam. Without the shell, why would anyone bother searching the shore?"

"Fine. Then this and this."

"These are all men’s clothes! Try to enjoy being a young lady for once!"

"No way, it’s embarrassing!"

"You have a figure I could only dream of! Give me some of that height!"

"Stop throwing miniskirts at me! You can practically see my underwear in this!"

"A lady should not be shouting about her underwear so casually!"

"Alright... I changed."

"Now, that is much better."

Ultimately, we settled on a sleeveless thermal sweater, cargo pants, and a light hoodie. There was a relaxed, mature air about her that contrasted beautifully with her delicate appearance. The slight bashfulness of the new experience only made her look more charming.

I realized something then. I can't let her go out in public like this.

"We’re buying a hat too."

"Fine, whatever. I give up..."

"Pwah! ...Ugh, bitter!"

"That bitterness is the best part."

We had rented out my usual izakaya. I watched her wash down a snack of synthetic meat crumbles with a gulp of beer. Even though it was 100% soy, it didn't taste like beans at all. It made me realize how much things had changed since the old days.

"I’m not feeling a buzz at all."

"Alcohol is a toxin, after all. A Phantasm Girl’s resistance will break it down almost instantly."

"Maybe I’ll ask Rabia to teach me how to break my resistance organs next time."

"Don't. That girl is an anomaly."

Rabia was a Phantasm Girl in the Resistance Research Department who had joined for the sole reason that she 'wanted to get drunk.' At first, she used incredibly dangerous methods like physically damaging her organs to weaken her resistance before going to the surface. She was recalled for maintenance constantly, but since her research was top-tier, the higher-ups just had to grit their teeth and watch.

The day she finally figured out how to break the organs so they only failed to process alcohol, Asuna and I could only stare in disbelief (though I never knew exactly what Asuna was thinking back then).

"Excuse me! One order of garlic pepper fries and a soda, please!"

"Coming right up!"

"Now... let us get to the point. How did you break the curse of the mass-produced models?"

"My head got blown off, and while I was regenerating, I was hit with a recall order. I think the initialization caught the error and reset everything."

"You’re being surprisingly honest."

"Well, it’s you and me, Alter."

"I see. Next question. Where did you get that power?"

"Here you go, fries and a soda!"

"Thanks."

Asuna washed the grease from her mouth with a sip of soda before she began to speak.

"This is going to be hard to believe."