Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter SS1

Bonus Short Stories 

Rentt and the Beauty Contest 

“Wow! As expected! What a beauty!” 

This bright and cheerful voice belonged to none other than Sheila, a staff member of the adventurer’s guild. Sheila, in turn, was looking straight at a woman before her—a stunning woman, to be precise. 

Her blonde hair cascaded in hypnotizing waves, its beauty enough to distract any passer-by. Her almond-shaped eyes, further accentuated by her eyeshadow, made the woman seem almost bewitching. A single look sent shivers down the spines of the menfolk, many of whom who may lose themselves to their lust at any moment. 

Even her body was picture-perfect, an impossibly sculpted ideal. The woman had all the right curves, emphasized in all the right ways. Her waist, hips, and just about everything else resembled a work of art. 

In spite of all this, however, she was by no means scandalous or inappropriate. If anything, she was miraculously dignified. 

The woman’s expression immediately changed as she sat down. She seemed tired of this entire affair, and sank deep into the chair like some sort of mollusc. 

She parted her lips. “How did it come to this...?” 

Her voice was a familiar one, belonging to the Scholar-magus of Maalt, a certain Lorraine Vivie. While she was dressed differently, had her hair done up, and seemingly had different facial features, those who knew her well only needed to lean in for a closer inspection, upon which they would undoubtedly recognize this was Lorraine herself, and none other. 

The finery and beauty that Lorraine now exuded were the efforts of many individuals, beginning with Sheila, and followed closely by many other members of the adventurer’s guild of Maalt. 

The story began just the day before... 

“The budget...is tight...” Sheila said, holding her head in her hands as she said so. 

Standing before her in a small meeting room of the guild were Lorraine and myself—Rentt Faina. 

There was no one else here. 

One would wonder why Sheila was suddenly discussing the matter of the guild’s potential bankruptcy with us at this point in time. See, Lorraine and I were secretly the guild’s biggest sponsors, and we could bend them to our will at the snap of a finger. 

I jest. A silly lie, that. 

We were called here due to our statuses as veteran adventurers—to be specific, we have been with the guild for about eight years. Sheila, who had known me for all that time, found it easier to discuss her concerns with us. Of course, Lorraine and I both had our specialties and certain abilities which may come in handy in a variety of situations. More importantly, however, was the fact that Lorraine had always been a relatively beautiful individual. She wasn’t all that interested in cosmetics and the like. 

It was all somewhat beyond me. 

“You see...” Sheila continued, “the guild’s staff union has decided to hold a beauty contest this year. That’s all fine and good, but the rewards... Ugh. That union president of ours got too drunk, you see, and said he would give an impossibly huge reward to the winner, instead of our usual prizes! It would be impossible to purchase such a price on the current budget, and so I wanted to see if anything could be done... So. Would you please attend the beauty contest, Miss Lorraine?” 

Such was Sheila’s description of the problem. 

On another note, beauty contests were, as their name suggested, a contest in which women competed against each other in a display of feminine beauty. The most beautiful lady took home a title, and a prize. This was an event held at set periods by the adventurer’s guild, with the primary aim of helping adventurers find potential wives and partners. This contest was also set up with this aim in mind. 

Under normal circumstances, the prize for coming in first place was helpful but not extravagant—a year’s worth of dry supplies or food, for instance. This year, however, the guild staff’s union president seemed to have gotten a little too drunk, and had announced in a noisy tavern that a most expensive object could be provided as a prize. This, of course, angered the usually gentle Sheila. Honestly speaking, seeing Sheila snap in this fashion was terrifying in and of itself. 

Due to the fact that the announcement had been heard by members of the public, there seemed to be no way around this...unless a woman who secretly sided with the guild would take part in, and win the contest. That way the prize would go back to the house, and no ridiculous sum of coin would be spent. 

“In that case, could you not simply go yourself, Sheila?” Lorraine said, grimly. 

“Ah...but I cannot, as I am a member of the staff, you see...” 

Would Sheila be able to guarantee victory for the staff union even if she did participate? I couldn’t help but think. As if reading my mind, Sheila huffed, visibly irritated. 

“IN ANY CASE! I won’t win even if I do participate! Yes! I know! But...if Miss Lorraine goes...I feel like we could really turn this around!” she said, through gritted teeth and balled fists. Sheila was undoubtedly serious. 

I turned to look at Lorraine, our eyes meeting. We both seemed to understand this was a difficult request to turn down. But Lorraine suddenly seemed to find all this very funny, a small smile creeping onto her lips. 

“If you put it that way, Sheila, I suppose I have little choice... Very well. I shall accept.” 

“R-Really?!” 

“I do, however, have some conditions.” 

“Um...conditions...?” 

“But of course. Firstly, that I will participate under a false name, then...” 

Lorraine leaned in to Sheila, whispering a fair amount of secretive conditions into her ear. 

Sheila nodded in intervals. But her expression slowly turned into one of anticipation and mischief. Finally, she stared at me pointedly, as if meaning to bore holes through my very being. After a short silence, Sheila nodded deeply before declaring her acceptance in a strangely unsettling voice. 

“Ooooookay. We will do just that!” 

“Pffft... It fits you well...Rennie...? Ha...” 

Lorraine had a blonde wig sitting on her head. She was, however, looking straight at me. 

Yes... 

It was I, Rentt Faina, who was standing with Lorraine in the beauty contest’s waiting room. A room only contestants were permitted to enter. 

I was currently dressed as a woman. 

It wasn’t a shoddy job by any means. My make-up crew had ensured I would appear as nothing but a woman, even going so far as to fit me with a corset. For all the right curves, they said—and of course, certain...prosthetics were added, to my behind and chest. 

This was Lorraine’s secret condition: that she would only take part if I did the same. 

What a mess... Perhaps the sort of mess Lorraine enjoyed. In any case, I was in no position to decline. 

I was curious as to how far they would go with the whole thing, and as such didn’t expect I would be standing in this room...with Lorraine. 

“Right! Our next contestant is...” a staff member announced, holding the door to the waiting room open. 

They then announced the name of the next contestant... 

“Miss Adeline Fran!” 

Said name was, unfortunately, the false name Lorraine had came up with...for my use. 

“Ah, they are calling for you, are they not? Go forth, Rennie... Ah. Perhaps Ren-Ren would be more fitting? Steel yourself! You are next!” Lorraine said, cheerfully waving me toward the venue. 

Damn it all... Just you watch, Lorraine. I will pay you back in full for this humiliation... 

Oh well. I suppose it will be done. Perhaps I will just take a portion of her next guild request’s rewards. 

Slowly but surely, familiar words rang out through the air. 

“Ren Ireed! You’re up next!” 

Obediently but unwillingly following the announcer’s instructions, I slowly shuffled out of the waiting room and headed toward the venue. 

Of course, the winner was none other than Lorraine. And, as expected, the runner up was yours truly. 

I jest. That was a silly lie... Although it didn’t quite end that way, no one suspected who I was, and the contest passed without incident. I did, however, make it into the final selections—and the entire time I sought answers for this terrible predicament of mine. I couldn’t say much, obviously, and instead suffered in silence. 

“Do I have a feminine face, Lorraine?” I asked, walking by Lorraine’s side as we headed back to her abode. 

Lorraine had long since changed out of her costume and disguise. Turning to me, she gave her answer in a strangely serious tone. 

“Hmm. I would not exactly say that, Rentt. It is just that you do not have many...distinguishing features. It allows the make-up to stand out, you see. You also have a light build and musculature... I would not call you muscular by any means, for instance...” 

In other words, I was apparently suitable for ventures that involved cross-dressing. Not exactly something I could be proud of. 

That aside... 

“It was a given that you’d win, Lorraine. You’re quite beautiful, after all, so there was no doubt.” 

“You, saying such things in broad daylight...” 

“It’s the truth, no?” 

“Hmph. Say what you like. However...it is a bit of a waste if we let this end here. What do you say, Ren-Ren? Want to do this with me again sometime?” 

“I will politely decline...” 

Personally, I felt like such an event would hardly repeat itself, but, just in case it did, I fervently offered my prayers up to the gods—that I would never have to do anything like this ever again.