"Fufu..."
Perfect. Right now, I was a girl through and through.
My confidence was bolstered by the weight of the gazes following me as I walked through the city.
"Hey, look at her..."
"She’s in uniform, but... is she a model?"
"Whoa... man, she’s gorgeous."
"Yeah... she’s seriously something else."
Men and women alike voiced their admiration as I passed.
Heh heh heh... Hahaha!
This felt incredibly good.
As expected, my crossdressing techniques hadn't rusted one bit. Master—along with Abby and Carol—had drilled all sorts of things into me back then. To think the day would come when I could utilize those skills as a student... I was actually a little moved by the situation.
Currently, I was heading toward Diom Magic Academy. Arnold Magic Academy is located in the center of the Kingdom's North District. Diom Magic Academy lies to the west, while Mercrose Magic Academy is situated to the east.
Even within the same North District, the distance was significant. I was making my way toward the carriage stand for the Diom route when...
"Geh..."
An involuntary grunt escaped my lips.
Directly in my line of sight stood Carol.
Perhaps because of her celebrity status, she was wearing sunglasses, but I recognized her instantly. It didn't even take a second for my brain to register who it was.
As usual, her top featured a plunging neckline and her skirt was daringly short. Today, she was wearing long boots; at a glance, she was the one who looked like a professional model.
Her pink hair was styled in its usual loose vertical ringlets. It looked faintly glossy, perhaps from some hair oil.
Well... she actually works in the industry, so her flashy appearance made sense, but still...
"..."
I needed to get out of here. Surely, even she wouldn't recognize me—my past disguises were one thing, but this was a whole different level. I attempted to slip past Carol as she sat on a bench.
I tried to remain indifferent. I treated her as if she were just another part of the background scenery.
In truth, it was a nail-biting battle of wits...
No, it wasn't as if we were actually fighting... but it felt like my very genes were exhibiting a rejection response to being in her vicinity.
"...Phew."
I let out a breath.
I had successfully cleared the hazard... or so I thought, until a voice called out from behind me.
"Hmm~? Excuse me, beautiful girl over there, could we have a little chat~? Kyapi☆"
She spoke in her usual high-pitched, saccharine voice, but I remained firm.
"I'm terribly sorry... I'm in a bit of a rush..."
"Hmm~? Oh! I knew it! That look and that voice!! You're Ray-chan, aren't you? Or should I say Lily-chan?"
"—!"
In that instant, I bolted like a startled rabbit, giving her no chance to say another word.
As expected of Carol. To think she’d see through my disguise so effortlessly!
However, I wasn't unprepared. My plan for being exposed was simple: run for my life. That was the only option... but I wasn't in my usual body. I had the physique of a woman, and these shoes were brand new and unfamiliar.
On the other hand, Carol was her usual self. She might seem like a shut-in researcher, but in reality, she possessed incredible motor skills. More importantly, she was a veteran who had completed a full course of military training.
When the two of us raced... naturally, I was the one who lost.
"Caught you!! Heh heh~, Ray-chan... what are you doing~☆ Why don't you tell your big sister all about it? Hmm?"
"..."
Having been caught so easily, I knew she wouldn't let me go no matter how much I protested. I decided to speak honestly. All the while, I prayed she would release me quickly...
"Heh~! How interesting! An undercover investigation~! Well, these things do happen this time of year, and they're usually handled with a wink and a nod... but I never expected crossdressing~! At your level, Ray-chan, no one would ever suspect a thing!"
"Indeed. So, could you please let me go? I'm in a hurry."
"Ehh~. I want to stay together longer~."
"Please don't be childish. You have work to do, don't you?"
"Yeah... I have an interview after this..."
"See? Then let's part ways here."
"Wait, before that...!"
Carol pulled a makeup kit out of her pouch.
"It’s gotten a bit smudged, and the details are a little soft... let me fix it up for you~☆"
"...That would be helpful."
As expected of a professional, my makeup was further refined under Carol's touch. At a glance, the change might have been imperceptible, but those subtle adjustments could bring about a massive transformation.
In the end, perhaps being caught by her was a stroke of luck. Fortunately, she seemed willing to release me right away.
"Well then, Ray-chan. Good luck~☆ I'm rooting for you~☆ Kyapi☆"
"Yes, thank you. Well, I'm off."
With my tone now fully shifted into that of a young woman, I thanked Carol and headed toward Diom Magic Academy once more.
After a few dozen minutes in the carriage.
I arrived at Diom Magic Academy. In terms of scale—or rather, the basic layout—it wasn't much different from Arnold Magic Academy, yet... I could feel a distinct difference.
The caliber of the students here was different.
By "caliber," I mean the atmosphere they radiated. Just as the rumors suggested, it was clear the academy placed heavy emphasis on practical combat. Even from the outside, the level of their training was evident. The muscle mass of the male students was easy to see even through their uniforms... but the female students were not to be underestimated either.
They had slender, long limbs. Their posture was perfect, and they walked with a certain grace.
Based on those observations, I reaffirmed that the students here were formidable... as I began my infiltration.
"Alright... let's do this."
Naturally, I couldn't just walk through the front gate. They would likely be on high alert during this season, and I didn't want to take such a risk.
I swiftly scaled a nearby wall and successfully entered the grounds... but as expected, the area was laced with magical traps. At a glance, they were a variety of Delay Magic... but I wasn't the type to be caught by such things. Although they were cleverly hidden, Prima Materia was faintly leaking from them.
As I proceeded while weaving through the Delay spells... I suddenly encountered a student.
"Hmm? I thought something moved just now... well, probably my imagination."
"...!"
I froze perfectly still.
After a few moments, the student moved on.
Why was I overlooked? Because I was inside a cardboard box. According to Master, a cardboard box is the pinnacle of portability and concealment. Of course, a box sitting in a strange place would normally be suspicious, but this time, it was ignored even though it was right in the middle of a thicket.
Humans rarely feel the need to investigate something strange if they can just walk past it.
Hmm? Oh... a cardboard box, huh.
Their awareness usually ends right there. Having safely cleared the thicket of Delay Magic, I reached the vicinity of the school building.
"Phew... clear for now."
Emerging from the box, I skillfully folded it up and hid it in the brush. Then, after brushing out my hair, I began my investigation of Diom Magic Academy.
The target was Ariane Algren.
Her appearance was distinctive; she had platinum hair that she reportedly styled in vertical ringlets. Since it was the same hairstyle Carol used to wear, I expected her to be easy to find...
With that in mind, I prepared to enter the school building... but then my eyes fell upon a small girl standing before me.
"Waaaaah! Big sister, where are youuuu! Waaaaah!"
The one crying was a child. Still very young... probably only five or six years old. While it wasn't unheard of for families to visit the academy on holidays... had this girl come here all by herself?
Her platinum hair reached down to her shoulders, and her young skin was flawlessly clear. She had a well-defined nose and large, bright eyes. She would surely grow up to be a beauty... but right now, her face was a mess of tears.
If I prioritized the mission, I should ignore her. The few students nearby were choosing to simply look the other way.
Strictly speaking, calling out to her wasn't a wise move. My objective was to gather intel on Ariane Algren. I didn't want to do anything that would make me stand out, but... leaving a crying child behind... went against my principles.
If this led to my cover being blown, then so be it.
Without further hesitation, I decided to approach her.
"Little miss, are you alright?"
I knelt on the ground, bringing my eyes level with hers. While stroking her head to calm her down, I prepared to listen.
"Ugh... hic... My big sister... she's gone..."
"I see. In that case, shall we look for her together?"
"...Eh! Really...!?"
"Yes. I don't mind at all."
I gave her a gentle smile. Since her face was a mess of tears and snot, I wiped it clean with a tissue.
"My name is Lily White. What is your name?"
"I'm... I'm Tiana Algren!!"
"...I see. Then let's go, Tiana-chan."
"Okay! Thank you, Lily-chan!!"
I took her small hand in mine and prepared to enter the school building... though I was well aware of the situation.
This girl was undoubtedly Ariane Algren’s sister. I had checked the family records just in case, and I recalled a much younger sister named Tiana.
I wondered if this would allow me to make contact with Ariane Algren smoothly...