Chapter 153: Hamburgstatter

Men looking like women, what kind of magic is this?

Viel was currently racking his brain. This was probably the first time he was seeing something like this. Right up until now, he didn't think that a man could look like this. The weird feeling that he felt earlier was all but gone and was now replaced by a feeling of betrayal.

"A-are you alright, sir?", the one with the braided hair leaned nearer to Viel.

Viel instantly backed away as soon as he felt the deep voice getting near him, "Who are you people!?", Viel said.

"W-we just said, sir", the tallest one stuttered, "We're the Ascheerit brothers"

"Ah!", the shortest one raised his voice, "My name is Fareed!"

Realizing that they haven't introduced themselves by name, the remaining two could not help but widen their eyes in nervousness.

"I am called Ibrahim", the tallest one slightly bowed as he introduced himself.

Fareed and Ibrahim? Even though Viel was unfamiliar with the kind of names the people in front of him had, he was sure that these were the manliest names he has ever heard in his life.

Viel then looked at the one who had still not introduced himself.

Noticing that Viel was looking at him, the braided foreigner slightly fidgeted as he introduced himself nervously, "M...my name is Jiff"

"And together, we are the Ascheerit brothers, sir!", the shortest one, Fareed, winked towards Viel.

Viel… was definitely weirded out. He was still not sure how a man can look even more beautiful than a woman, he was sure he had not met anyone like these three before.

"We weren't expecting to meet an officer of your stature here, sir", Fareed continued, "Have you come to help us rescue the othe-"

"Viel?"

Before Fareed could finish what he was saying, they heard a voice from behind them. It was Sofia, who seemed to be done talking with the handsome man clad in white robes.

"Who are these people?", Sofia could not help but ask.

"They are-"

"Thank you for telling us where the tavern is. We will take our leave", the three covered their heads again as they quickly left, not even letting Viel talk.

Throughout the whole exchange, Viel's dumbfounded face did not rest for even a second. He still had no clue what was going on. Did they mistake him for someone else?

"Did those women need something from you?", Sofia squinted her eyes as she stared at the backs of the three people.

"...They are men", Viel whispered.

"What do you mean?"

"They are men!", Viel's eyes were wide as he motioned in between his legs, "The world truly is mysterious, for there to be men as beautiful as them", he sighed.

Sofia, however, narrowed her eyes as he looked at Viel.

...Was Viel, completely unaware that he too, looked like a girl? If not for the clothes he was wearing, Viel would look even more beautiful than the three just now.

He was even wearing a dress the first time he saw him, looking like a porcelain doll. But it was probably best not to tell him, and let him find out about it by himself.

"I...I see", Sofia fixed her glasses, "So, did they want something from you?", she repeated her question.

Viel shook his head, "I think they mistook me for someone else. They were saying some weird things like disguise and someone being taken", he then squinted his eyes, "They were definitely not from this world, though. They are drifters, just like us"

"Hm…", Sofia could not help but furrow her eyebrows from Viel's statement, "Speaking of drifters, one of the applicants is from-"

"Did the two of you wait long?"

Before Sofia could finish her words, Xing Cai approached the two of them, followed by Guang Yan.

"We have something to talk about to Headmaster Fu, do you want to come?", Xing Cai said.

"Headmaster Fu?", Viel tilted his head, "Taizhou Academy?"

Xing Cai nodded her head, "Maybe you want to see how it changed since you last attended?"

"Eehh…", Viel doesn't really have that much memory of the academy, "Not rea-"

"We would love to go"

Before Viel could refuse, Sofia answered for both of them. She was highly curious about the academics of this world.

Sofia was going to live in this world from now on, so she must gather as much information as she can about it. And the academy seems like the best place to start. Plus, Viel also attended that academy, so there might be something there that would help Sofia unlock the mysteries surrounding him.

Viel, however, was not as enthusiastic, "Ehh… There's really nothing there. I remember the food being bland, though", he complained. But sadly, no one seemed to have heard him as the three were already walking outside of the building.

"W-wait for me!"

***

"A cultivation school?"

It took a couple of minutes before they arrived in the academy, nothing really changed much. One can even say that it did not even feel as prestigious as before. After the appearance of dungeons, fewer and fewer people were enrolling in the academy.

Now, only those who had the talent to really make it as a cultivator were the only ones to enroll. Most opted to just try their luck inside the dungeon.

"So you learn… how to fight and get stronger in school?", Sofia fixed her glasses.

"Pretty much", Viel shrugged his shoulders.

Xing Cai and Guang Yan were already in the Headmaster's office. Leaving Sofia and Viel to roam around the academy by themselves.

"And people like your sister and the people from the Golden Pavilion are called cultivators?"

People in Viel's world could live for hundreds of years, was that their secret?

"Yup", Viel nonchalantly answered as they continued to walk around the academy.

"...So you're a cultivator as well?", Sofia could not help but ask.

"Of cou-", Viel was about to answer, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He placed his hand on his chin and closed his eyes. He was trying to rack his brain…

...Is he? Is he a cultivator?

No one has really asked that question to him before so he didn't really think about it. And so, with a slight hum, he hesitantly answered Sofia.

"I… don't know", he breathed, "I do remember they have stages that you need to surpass, dancing fetus stage or whatever"

"Interesting…", Sofia's eyes were full of curiosity, "Then… Can I become a cultivator?"

"Eeh… You'll enroll in the academy?", Viel widened his eyes.

Honestly, now that Viel has mentioned it, maybe it was worth a try?

"You're too old", Viel blatantly said, "I think it's already too late for you to even unlock your dancing iron fetus stage"

Sofia could not help but twitch her eyes. Was there really an age requirement? She wasn't even in her 30s yet, she's not that old.

"Uhmm, there's no stage like that", as the two were talking, a voice suddenly resounded from behind them, "The earliest one is the Earthen Core realm"

Viel and Sofia looked behind to see who it was. It was a girl, probably of the same age as Viel, wearing the uniform of the academy.

"Iron fetus isn't a thing?", Viel widened his eyes in disappointment as he looked at the female student, "But I clearly remember Mr. Hamburgerstatter teaching that!"

"N-no!", the girl stuttered, "Where did you even learn… Wait, did you say Hamburgerstatter? D-do you mean Professor Hamburgdole?"

"Ah, yes! That's him! The one with the fake hair!", Viel clapped his hands.

Sofia could not help but place her palm on her forehead. Viel doesn't remember the teachings of the academy, but he remembered that kind of detail?

"F-fake hair!?", the female student released a tiny gasp. This was a revelation. No wait, that wasn't important right now, "You know Professor Hamburgdole? Are you… a student here? Why aren't you wearing your uniform?"

"Well, you cou-"

"Ah! Could you be a new student!?"

Before Viel could answer, the female student grabbed his hand and dragged him across the hallway. "Good timing, Professor Hamburgdole's class is about to start!"

"W-wait, no!", Viel's desperate screams echoed throughout the hallway of the academy.

Sofia could only sigh. She had no choice but to follow the two until they reached a certain classroom.

"Professor Hamburgdole! I found a new student loitering around the hallway!", the female student opened the door to the classroom without any reservations.

"Ancient saggy tits!", a man with slick golden hair shouted as soon as the female student barged inside the room, "Miss Wei Ning! What did I tell you about opening the door softly!?"

"S-sorry, Professor Hamburgdole!", the female student called Wei Ning immediately bowed, "But I found a lost student!"

��A lost student?", Professor Hamburgdole then tilted his head and turned his attention towards the person behind Wei Ning.

"I haven't heard of any new students joining-"

Before he could finish his words, his eyes widened and his jaw almost fell to the floor.

"I...it's you!?"

***AUTHOR's ANNOUNCEMENTS***

I have another book called "My Hermes System" which is in a contest. I would very much be glad if you could vote for it if you have the spare powerstone! Please, and thank you! I really hope to win a contest once in my life. lol