“Welcome! ☆”
Raising our voices, we continued to attract and serve the bustling crowd.
The A Set was far and away our best seller, which meant that among the three of us, I was doing the most work. Of course, since corn was flying off the shelves, the Club President and his team were working at a breakneck pace in the back.
Using magic, I carefully diverted the billowing smoke so it wouldn't bother the customers as we all poured our hearts into the operation. Sweat was pouring down my face, but I kept a bright smile as I wiped it away with a towel.
After all, we were professionals.
Rumors of my appearance had already begun to circulate—though, fortunately, no one had realized it was a guy in a dress—and the number of customers coming specifically for Elisa and Clarice was also on the rise.
By now, the line showed no sign of ending.
There was less than an hour until the opening ceremony of the Magics Chevalier, yet the flow of people didn't falter. If anything, it was picking up speed. At this rate, we would undoubtedly sell out of today’s stock.
The scorching sun beat down mercilessly on my skin, but I bore it. Beauty is endurance—that was the lesson Carol had hammered into us. Elisa and Clarice were also gritting their teeth and persevering.
If I didn't lead the way here, who would?
“I-I’m rooting for you!”
“Thank you so much! ☆”
For some reason, I was being mistaken for an idol or a model on the rise. People were constantly offering me words of encouragement as they left.
I couldn't exactly waste time denying it and slowing down our turnover rate, so I simply expressed my gratitude and kept the line moving. It was then that I noticed a striking figure among the crowd.
It was a woman holding a parasol. She wore a black dress, but her arms and legs were covered by black protective sleeves, suggesting she was taking extreme precautions against the sun. Almost no skin was visible besides her face.
While skin protection is a priority for many women, I quickly understood why she was being so thorough.
—I see. This must be…
While tending to the customers, I stole another glance at her.
Likely congenital leukism—otherwise known as albinism. It is a condition where melanin pigment is naturally deficient, resulting not just in white skin, but hair of pure white. And her eyes were a deep, crimson red—the Burning Eyes.
She possessed a beauty that looked as though it had stepped right out of a fantasy.
Recently, there have been academic theories suggesting that albinism is on the rise due to magical factors. Some attribute it to Inside Code, while others suggest that because Outside Code settles in the brain the more it is used, the cause might lie within Code Theory itself.
The truth remains a mystery. However, while such individuals are certainly more common than they used to be, they remain a rare sight. Still, I didn't dwell on it for long.
Instead, I felt nothing but gratitude that she would wait in line under such a punishing sun just to visit us.
“Hey, miss, you’re pretty cute.”
“Yeah, totally. Wanna go somewhere fun with us later?”
The men standing in line in front of her began to harass her.
Looking closely, the girl had quite youthful features. With her snow-white skin and hair, she looked as if she were completely detached from the world around her.
Her hair was cut in a graduated semi-long bob, with bangs swept to the side so only one eye was visible. On the side where her hair was tucked behind her ear, I could see numerous piercings—not just on the lobe, but all the way up the cartilage.
It gave her a flashy appearance, but her actual expression seemed rather timid.
I could understand why they’d want to talk to her, but the hand she used to hold her parasol was shaking. There was only one thing to do.
“C-u-s-t-o-m-e-r-s! ☆”
I called out with a beaming smile. The men turned to me with startled looks, and I used that opening to slide between them and the girl, shielding her from their gaze.
“Right this way! ☆ Come now, please make your selection quickly! ☆”
“Ah… yes.”
“U-Uh, right.”
I took the two men by the hands and practically forced them to order. Meanwhile, the girl stood there, blinking in confusion.
Whether they were intimidated by my energy or just caught off guard, the two men chose Elisa and Clarice. The girl was next.
“Welcome! ☆ What can I get for you?”
“Um… excuse me…”
“Is something the matter?”
“Th… Thank you very much!”
“Don’t mention it! It was my pleasure! ☆”
She snapped her head up and gave a deep bow.
As our eyes met, I felt a strange sensation. Albino individuals are rare, certainly… but she reminded me of someone I knew.
“Um…! May I… ask your name?”
“I’m Lily White! ☆”
I gave her a dazzling smile. Her face immediately flushed a deep red. Against her snow-white skin, the change was incredibly obvious.
“Ah. Then… um… I’ll have the A Set, please…”
“Yay! ☆ Thank you for choosing me! One A Set, coming right up!”
“Coming up! One A Set!”
When the Devil’s Corn was ready, I held a piece up to her lips.
“Here, say ‘aahn’! ☆”
“A-Aahn…”
She took a bite, and her face lit up as if a flower had suddenly bloomed. It was a radiant, beautiful smile. But I felt like I had seen that expression somewhere before. That’s right—it felt like I had seen it just this morning.
“It’s… it’s delicious!”
“Really? I’m so glad! ☆”
Normally, I would have moved on to the next customer, but she stopped to tell me her name.
“Um… my name is Maria Bradley!”
“Bradley…? Could it be?”
That was it.
Now that she mentioned it, the resemblance was clear.
If you only looked at the skin, hair, and eyes, you might miss it, but the structure of her face was remarkably similar to someone I was very familiar with.
She looked just like Rebecca-senpai.
Given the name Bradley, there was no mistake. This was Rebecca-senpai’s younger sister.
“Are you perhaps Rebecca-senpai’s sister?”
“Eh!? You know my sister?”
“Yes. I’m a first-year who just enrolled this year, and she’s been very kind to me.”
“I… I see…”
I thought she would be excited, but a slight shadow fell over her face.
Hmm… come to think of it, Rebecca-senpai had never mentioned having a sister. Perhaps they weren't on the best of terms? But I wasn't so tactless as to pry into family matters here.
“Um… excuse me!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“M-May I call you ‘Oneesama’?”
“Well… I don’t mind. May I call you Maria-san in return?”
“Y-Yes! Lily-oneesama…”
Lady Maria looked at me with eyes full of adoration. Whether it was from the heat or some other reason, her cheeks were stained a rosy pink.
“I’ve decided! Next year, I’m going to Arnold Magic Academy so I can be your junior, Oneesama!”
“Fufu… is that so? I’ll be looking forward to it!”
With a radiant smile, she waved goodbye and headed toward the arena.
“Oneesama! I’ll come back to see you!”
“Yes! I’ll be waiting for you!”
Unfortunately, even if she enrolls next year, Lily White won’t be there. Well, I might have another reason to cross-dress someday, but I didn't want to shatter her dream. I decided to keep the truth to myself.
“Hey…”
“What is it, Clarice?”
“You really are a sinful woman…”
“Fufu. Am I?”
“Yeah. That girl is going to be so excited for next year now.”
“Well… that’s just how it goes…”
“True… but what a fleeting fantasy…”
Clarice had leaned in to whisper to me, but Elisa uncharacteristically raised her voice to scold us.
“You two! We’re busy, so no chatting!”
“Ah, sorry…”
“My apologies!”
“…It’s actually annoying how cute you make that sound!”
A short while later, Ariane and Lady Tiana arrived. Ariane was wearing her academy uniform as before, her beautiful platinum hair styled in elegant ringlets.
Today, Lady Tiana had the same hairstyle as her sister. She wore a pure white dress that suited her perfectly.
“Lily-oneechan! Two A Sets, please!”
“My! Tiana-chan! It’s been a while!”
“Yeah! Lily-oneechan looks a little different today!”
“Yes. Today is the ‘gal’ version!”
“Gal?”
“That’s right. It means someone flashy and cute!”
“Heh~! You’re right! Everyone looks so cute!”
“Fufu. Thank you!”
While I was talking to Lady Tiana, Ariane spoke up as well. Her expression was one of complete exasperation.
“Ray, the next time we meet…”
“…Shh! Tiana-chan is right here!”
“Ah… right. Though, honestly, I can only see you as a woman now…”
“Well, for today, I am Lily-chan.”
“I… I see. I hope to meet the real you again someday…”
After the two of them enjoyed their A Sets, we got back to work. We continued to handle the unending stream of customers in the sweltering heat without a single break. Since the demand for the A Set was so high, Elisa and Clarice were doing their best to keep up.
As for me, this level of work wasn't enough to make me collapse, so I kept smiling and selling.
Then… I spotted another familiar face.
A woman in a wheelchair being pushed by a maid… it was Master. Today, she was dressed casually in a short-sleeved shirt and a long skirt. As the line moved, she eventually came right to the front.
“I came to see Ray… but is he not here?”
“Master, it’s me.”
“…Wait, what?”
“It’s Lily White. The name you gave me, remember?”
“Y-You… you’re Ray?”
“Please call me Lily for now ☆”
“I-Impossible… how are you even…?”
It had been a long time since I’d seen Master look so stunned. She seemed truly, deeply shocked as she stared at me in a daze. Carla, on the other hand, was smiling warmly at the sight of me.
Since she was usually expressionless, it was a rare sight. Her gaze shifted from me to the Club President and the other members working in the back. Perhaps she had an acquaintance among them?
Still in character as Lily, I continued the conversation with Master.
“I had a lot of help from Carol!”
“I see… but your Metamorphose is incredible… no, it’s almost too perfect…”
“I can even use Inside Code to some extent in this form!”
“Is that so… I’ve never seen you like this since your growth spurt began… Good grief… are you a genius in this field too? Where exactly are you heading with this…? But, I suppose it’s fine. Fufu, you look like you’re having fun, and that’s what matters.”
Master gave me a gentle smile, and I responded with a serious tone, though I kept my voice pitched high.
“…Master, thanks to you, I’m truly enjoying my time at this academy. That’s why I intend to savor every moment of it with my precious friends.”
“I see… that sounds like you, Ray. Serious and kind to the end. I’m happy to see you looking so joyful. Keep it up.”
“Yes, ma'am!”
After I gave Carla and Master their A Set feedings, Carla looked extremely satisfied, and Master looked happy as they headed toward the arena.
Hmph… it seems my skills have even surpassed Master’s expectations.
Filled with a sense of accomplishment, I returned to work.
“Oneesama! Ten A Sets, please! The maximum limit!”
“Oneesama… I-I want the maximum limit too…!”
“I want her to step on me…!”
“Lily-san, ever since I saw you at the academy, I’ve been longing for the day we’d meet again!”
Even the students I’d met at Diom Magic Academy had come, presumably having heard the rumors. I continued to serve them all with my best professional smile.
An hour later…
“This is the last of it! We’re sold out for today! Thank you all so much!”
““Thank you very much!””
The three of us bowed in unison as we put up the ‘Sold Out’ sign. The Devil’s Corn had sold at an incredible speed—remarkably, we had cleared our entire daily stock in just a few hours.
“Ray.”
“Yes, Club President.”
“A magnificent result. I’m counting on you again tomorrow. And on you two as well.”
The massive man bowed to us. Naturally, we returned the gesture.
“Leave it to us!”
“Y-Yeah! I’ll do my best!”
“I-I guess I’ll help, since I have to!”
Thus began the legend of the Devil’s Stall.
It was said to addict customers with its devilish flavor and its devilish cuteness… and that the truth could only be understood by those who had tasted both.
We all felt that this success was something that would go down in history. But at that time, we didn't yet realize that things going too well could be a problem in its own right…