The Genius of Disguise
As another day passed for the genius of disguise, the full list of participants for Hwangyeon was finally decided. After classes ended, students gathered during their free time in groups based on their chosen events to squeeze in extra practice. In my case, since I wasn't participating in anything that required drilling with a partner, I could head straight back to the dormitory and relax without a care.
Do you truly not need separate practice?
"I mean... I probably should practice a bit."
Especially the final event that actually needed it. After all, I had a certain someone I needed to meet, and this gave me the perfect excuse.
Four more days had passed since we'd begun serious preparations for the festival.
"Shall we get moving?"
At this hour?
You're heading out instead of sleeping?
I finally began to move with purpose. The time was ten at night. Normally I'd be going to sleep so I could enter the Soul's Training Ground, but today I had someone to meet. It was a shame, but training would have to wait.
Rustle. Rustle.
Did we really need to come all the way out to such a deserted place?
Right? I don't get why we'd have to trek this far just to practice.
"There are limits to what I can do practicing by myself."
Then why not prepare with Mir?
I agree. There's no need to come all the way out here...
Cheonma cut himself off mid-sentence, his attention suddenly locking onto a particular direction. Had he noticed? If even Cheonma was staring with that fascinated look, then the person I was searching for had to be there.
I hurried my steps and reached the spot Cheonma's gaze was fixed on.
"I offer this glory."
Rustle.
"For all the dreaming children."
Thud.
"I shall reproduce your melody."
Ding.
There, beside a small lake, someone was performing a play. A one-man show. Yet to my eyes, it didn't feel like a solo performance at all.
The cheerful bard spinning melodies would suddenly become a steadfast knight of iron conviction. Blink once, and they'd transform into a beautiful noble lady who seemed to manifest living flames. It was an utterly incomprehensible sight. I couldn't tell when or how the changes happened.
Not just me—Cheonma and Hoya were both staring blankly at the scene.
Yeah, it's amazing for you two as well, isn't it?
The genius of disguise. Naiven. The protagonist of ghost stories famous not only across the academy but throughout the entire world.
The fact that my earlier words sounded strange wasn't your imagination. You might wonder if I meant phantom thief instead, but no—it's definitely ghost stories. Though Naiven was currently a student at the academy, the figure before us was the central character in countless eerie tales spread across the world.
"How bold of you to spy on a maiden's daily life."
You got caught?
That woman. Or man? Whatever they are, they don't look all that strong, do they?
"Please, come out now."
I slowly stepped forward and revealed myself to the figure who had already changed into the appearance of a farmer.
"I was out for a night walk when I heard sounds and came to check. This is... completely unexpected."
"You are Zeon from the first-year class, correct?"
"You know me?"
"Of course. Right now, no one in the academy is more popular than you."
The person whose gender remained unknown was in their third year. I could understand second-years knowing me, but to think even third-years had heard my name.
"Let me give you some advice, junior. Wandering around so late isn't wise. Especially not in this academy."
"Thank you for the advice, senior."
At the word senior, the corners of their eyes twitched. They were clearly suspicious about how I'd known.
"Oh, were you not a senior?"
"...I am. This girl is currently in her third year."
Huh. It's incredible even seeing it right in front of me.
Isn't that basically transformation magic at this point?
For the person who actually uses transformation magic to comment on it like that, the level must be extraordinary. As expected, Naiven's disguises were no joke.
Clank.
"Then I'll be returning now."
Naiven, now clad in silver armor as a knight, pointed toward the dormitories. But I couldn't let us part ways here.
"Um, before you go, may I ask one question?"
"What is it."
"How do you become someone else like that?"
I sensed the eyes behind the helmet flicker at my question.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I happened to see your performance earlier. The way you instantly switched from bard to knight, noble lady, and farmer."
Click.
"This butler is already aware of that. What I am asking, young master, is what you meant by the phrase 'become someone else.'"
Huh. They'd changed again in that brief moment. An elderly butler wearing a monocle bowed at the waist as he spoke.
"I do not become other people. I simply change into another version of myself. The bard, the knight, the noble lady, and the farmer you mentioned are not strangers—they are all different facets of me."
Another self, huh.
Hmm, that's a different way of thinking than mine.
That's because you transform into other people.
Exactly. I fundamentally approach transformation magic with the mindset of becoming someone other than myself. So right from the way we think about it, we're different.
Swish.
"Hohoho. Yet why would you ask such a thing of this one?"
"Well... it's because I'm participating in a disguise event for this Hwangyeon."
"Disguise?"
Blink. Blink.
Naiven's eyes widened dramatically. The fan that had been covering their mouth slowly lowered, and I could see the corners of their lips trembling as they fought to rise.
"...Are you entering the TS Contest?"
Got them.
"Yes. I am."
Grab.
The moment I confirmed it, Naiven instantly switched into the masked appearance of an academy student and seized my shoulder. That must be their default look while attending classes. Even up close like this, I still couldn't tell if they were male or female.
In the game, Naiven's gender had never been revealed. A strange being who could become either a man or a woman. Some even speculated that Naiven wasn't human at all, but a monster. After all, the doppelganger Mir and I had fought before could perfectly mimic human forms.
"To think such a wonderful junior existed!"
The reason I'd come here was to build a connection with Naiven. Mentioning the TS Contest was practically a cheat key that would make them warm up to me instantly. The massive difference in their attitude before and after bringing it up proved that information had been accurate.
"So what appearance is our junior planning to use?"
"Um, I haven't decided yet. I'm basically a complete beginner at this."
"Haaack! Haaack!!"
"......?"
Uh. What was this? The reaction seemed genuinely off.
The way their eyes sparkled behind the mask and how they wiped away drool made me seriously not want to get any closer.
"New... newbie! To think a fresh newbie would appear in a place like this."
What? So it was just an old veteran getting excited over a newbie?
That I could understand. I nodded to show I got it and closed the distance again.
"Our freshman newbie has such a pretty, handsome face that any look would suit you perfectly. If this goes well, I might discover another you at a level similar to my own?"
Naiven's hands roamed across my face and various parts of my body. Yet there wasn't the slightest hint of desire in those touches. If anything, it felt like the pitiful effort of a hardcore veteran focusing every nerve to keep the newbie from bolting, moving solely for the art of disguise.
That—that bastard!
Is it a girl? Or a guy? Wait, maybe a girl after all?
I ignored the pair who seemed even more confused than I was and simply watched as Naiven stepped back, scribbling something onto their watch.
"Yeah. This one has more impact for sure. But this profession would work nicely too. If we're going by that logic, how about this part?"
"Um, senior?"
"No, no. Still, we should let our newbie enjoy it at their own pace. Something safe yet satisfying."
Oh dear. They'd already slipped into their own world. Once they reached that state, nothing I said would get through.
I guess I'd stop here for today. I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket, wrote down my number and name, then placed a small stone on it so it wouldn't blow away and left it clearly visible in front of Naiven. After that, I turned my back.
You're leaving just like this?
"I've achieved my goal."
Now Naiven would frantically send messages to the new newbie, looking for the perfect timing to contact me. Through that process I'd obtain what I wanted, and if I met them with Naiven acting as the bridge...
"I guess you could call it half a success."
I don't know what you're talking about, but let's hurry back and train already.
No. It's already late, so let's just sleep tonight.
It was now 11:59. Even if I returned to the dormitory and trained, there wouldn't be any major issues.
I clearly told you to rest.
"Yes."
Hmm. Rest is important sometimes! Since I'd be taking a lot of mental damage on the road ahead, I might as well take it easy tonight~.