The Magics Chevalier was held at an arena in the Central District, popularly known as the Colosseum.
The structure was designed so that the audience surrounded the action, looking down at the battles taking place in the center. The stands were arranged such that the seats started low at the front and rose higher toward the back.
According to Elisa—a die-hard Magics Chevalier enthusiast—the lottery odds for the front-row seats were incredibly high, and securing them was an immense ordeal. However, for this tournament, our Amelia Cheer Squad had managed to secure seats in the very front. Well, not everyone was in the first row, but we had secured three full rows starting from the front.
This achievement was entirely thanks to our Club President. After saying, "What? You're worried about seats? Hmph... leave it to me," he had personally arranged the tickets for the entire squad.
And so, Clarice and I successfully entered the venue. Currently, we were listening to Sera-senpai as she took charge and managed the Management Committee members gathered from every academy.
To summarize briefly, roles were divided into various tasks: guiding visitors, recording match data, providing information to the participants, and cleaning the arena after every match. Among these, Clarice and I had been assigned to the cleaning crew.
In truth, we hadn't been chosen; I had personally pleaded with Sera-senpai for the role. Since we also had to work as vendors and participate in the Amelia Cheer Squad’s activities, I figured the cleaning crew offered the most flexibility.
Sera-senpai had been kind enough to accommodate my selfish request, so Clarice and I were officially part of the cleaning crew. We wouldn't be working every single match, of course; a rotation had already been established for the cleaning shifts.
I particularly wanted to be free to cheer during Amelia’s matches, and it seemed the schedule had been crafted with the students' various requests in mind.
I truly had to hand it to Sera-senpai.
I had promised to go buy flowers with her after summer vacation, and I intended to properly show my appreciation then. I really was indebted to her.
"All right. The Management Committee side is handled."
"Yes, it seems so~"
Once the committee meeting inside the Colosseum concluded, Clarice and I headed toward our next destination.
Since our duties didn't start until the matches began, and it was only seven in the morning, we had plenty of time to spare. The gates would open at nine, the opening ceremony was at eleven, and the matches would start at noon.
However, there was something we needed to do first.
"Sigh... I’m starting to feel a bit heavy-hearted about this..."
"It’ll be fine. I’ve brought in a professional for this occasion."
"A pro?"
"Yeah."
"Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve hired someone incredible..."
"Actually, it’s someone you already know, Clarice."
"Wait, who...?"
"You'll see once we get there."
When Clarice and I reached the meeting spot, the members of the Environmental Research Club had already begun setting up.
They were erecting a food stall and unloading massive amounts of corn along with the Ainsworth-style secret sauce. Naturally, they had also prepared several large barbecue grills.
It wasn't just the club members, either; people who appeared to be the Club President’s family were already busy with preparations. I approached them immediately to exchange greetings. They were all very kind and welcomed us warmly. Incidentally, they all shared the Club President’s massive, muscular physique.
After the greetings, I spoke with the Club President again.
"Ray."
"Yes, President."
"Take this."
"Thank you very much."
"How much time do you need?"
"I can be back within the hour."
"Good. Then I’m counting on you. This year’s sales will surely be the highest in history. You three will be the ones to create that momentum."
"As you command..."
I gave a respectful bow and departed. Clarice and Elisa followed close behind me.
"Uuuuu... I-I'm so nervous..."
"You too, Elisa?"
"Yeah... What about you, Clarice-chan...?"
"I-I am a little, too... you know. I'm not exactly used to this sort of thing..."
"It’s okay, you two. You’ll get used to it soon enough."
"Why are you so calm!?"
"Hmph... foolish question. It's because I'm ascending to the next stage."
"Honestly... I’m done trying to talk sense into you..."
I looked down at the reservation slip the Club President had given me. It was for a lodging house located right next to the Colosseum. It was primarily for athletes and tournament officials, but we had secured a room there for a specific purpose.
Specifically, it was to prepare for our roles as vendors.
"Ah, Ray-chan! And you two as well~! Yahho~! Kyapi☆"
Waiting for us in the entrance hall of the massive lodging house was Carol. Ordinarily, I would have been trembling in fear and looking for an exit. But this time was different. I was the one who had made the request to Carol.
I had asked her to handle the makeup for the three of us.
"Wait... Carol-sensei?"
"Ah! So the person Ray was talking about was Sensei? Since when were you two so close? She’s one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers—she’s a superstar..."
Elisa already knew my circumstances, so she accepted it quickly, but Clarice looked utterly bewildered.
Well, I planned to tell her eventually. But for now, time was pressing. We had to get ready.
After showing the slip at the reception desk, we were promptly shown to a large room on the first floor.
"Now then! I’m gonna make everyone super cute~☆ Kyapi☆"
"Yeah. I’m counting on you."
Once inside, I set down my large backpack. I pulled out the costumes I had prepared and spread them across the bed one after another. I had also brought every cosmetic item Carol had told me to prepare.
"So, Ray-chan... you can do most of it yourself, right?"
"Of course. By the way, you understand the theme for this time, don't you?"
"But of course~. Hehehe... that kind of makeup is my specialty, after all~☆ Leave it to me!"
This airheaded woman, Carol Caroline.
Usually, she was the definition of flighty, but in this specific field, she was genuinely useful. She was the personification of competence. Everything had its place.
When I had made the request, she hadn't asked for money. However... she had set a certain condition, and I had accepted it. It was all for the sake of hyping up the Magics Chevalier. And for everyone to have fun together.
If that was the price, I would gladly sell my soul to this demon.
I would never sell my body, though...
I immediately began applying my makeup. I layered the base, and after it was set, I used a curler to lift my lashes before carefully applying mascara. I continued through the process with practiced ease. Since Elisa and Clarice had almost no experience with makeup, they left everything to Carol.
Finally, I applied a clean line of lip color. I coated my lips thoroughly, and the base was complete. All that remained was for Carol to provide the finishing touches.
"Carol. I’m finished. I’m going to change."
"Okey-dokey~☆ I’ll check your work in a bit, Ray-chan~"
I stood up from the mirror and reached for the costume on the bed.
"Hey, Ray."
"What is it?"
"Whoa... That’s incredible. You really can do it yourself..."
"Of course. This level of skill is indispensable for infiltration work..."
"Right... yeah... I’m not even going to ask..."
Carol was currently working on Elisa’s makeup, and Clarice was on standby, so she likely felt a bit restless. As we spoke, I began to pull off my uniform.
"W-Whoa! Don’t just strip out of nowhere!"
"Hm, my apologies. However, you should be used to seeing it after our time at the training camp."
"Th-That’s true, but... Ah! Speaking of which, for your crossdressing body... you change your muscle and bone structure, right?"
"I do. Why?"
"Can I watch?"
"I don't mind."
"Gulp... I wonder what it actually looks like."
Clarice stared intently at my physique.
Hmph, I understood being captivated by my muscles, but I had to perform the technique quickly. This skill was a pinnacle reached only by those who mastered Inside Code.
The name of that magic was Metamorphose.
True to its name, its origin lay in the way biological organisms undergo metamorphosis. I ran the Inside Code through my mind.
<<Prima Materia = Encoding = Material Code>> <<Material Code = Decoding>> <<Material Code = Processing>> <<Embodiment = Inside Code>>
"—Metamorphose, activate."
In an instant, my body began to shift with a chorus of sickening cracks and pops. I had already stored the structural format for a female body within my Code Theory. All I had to do was wait for the transformation to finish.
In less than ten seconds, it was complete. My body had been perfectly reshaped into that of a woman.
"W-Whoa..."
"How was it, Clarice?"
"It was... kind of gross."
"Hmph. I see..."
I wasn't hurt. Not at all.
This technique was actually classified as a Grand-tier Magic, and even among masters, there were almost no practitioners. It was a rarity among rarities. Acquiring it had taken an immense amount of time and blood-soaked effort. But that was just my opinion; if Clarice felt it was creepy, then I supposed it couldn't be helped.
Yes... it couldn't be helped... sniff...
"Well, then."
After donning the costume, I moved on to the wig. Once that was set, I was essentially finished, save for Carol’s final adjustments.
"H-Hueeeeee..."
"How do I look, Clarice?"
"I mean, seriously... it’s amazing. No one would ever guess you’re a guy..."
"Hehehe... isn't that right?"
"Whoa! Your voice changed, too! Hmm... looking at you like this, you really are a cute girl. Though it's a bit different from the last time. Rather than a standard beauty..."
"Yeah. The theme this time is 'gal.' That’s why attacking with the 'cute-and-flashy type' is the standard strategy."
And so, a trio of gals was set to sell corn. Just what would the results be?
No, the results had been decided long ago.
It was obvious that it would end in our total victory.
Fuhaha!