Chapter 38 – ３８ – Testing the Functions of Naru's Masked Form

Debut Match Arc

“It looks like this room is the place.”

“Hmm, let’s see. It’s equipped with a Barrier device and maintenance is thorough. Exhaust and fire extinguishing systems are no problem. The strength of the walls and windows seems fine, and the soundproofing should be okay.”

“There are no devices related to voyeurism or eavesdropping. There are no magical power reactions detected, so I believe there is currently no possibility of being peered at from the outside.”

“I have locked the door. There are no tricks on the windows or elsewhere, so one can only enter through official means. In short, it is safe.”

We arrived at the room to verify the functions of the Masked Form.

Immediately after entering, Suzu, Ichi, and Marie checked the surroundings and declared the area secure.

“Wait, Suzu, you three. Why the sudden security check…?”

“Naru. You’re the top-ranked New Student in terms of Magic Capacity this year, and you’ve already proven your combat ability by overwhelmingly defeating Fuchibeni, who ranks third. Naturally, there will be people who find you an obstacle. It’s only normal to be this cautious.”

“At the same time, any information regarding Mr. Naru’s Masked Form—even the smallest detail—would be worth a fortune. Information on an incomparably powerful Masked Form can reveal weaknesses or strengths if accumulated, even if a single piece of data seems irrelevant at first glance.”

“Furthermore. There are many people in this world who would attack you and try to pass it off as an ‘accident.’ It is best to nip the seeds of trouble in the bud, so the iron rule in these situations is to ensure everything is locked tight. Do you understand, Naru?”

“I… I see. Thanks, Suzu, Ichi, Marie.”

It seemed that while I had been too relaxed and lacking in foresight, Suzu and the others had looked out for me.

Thus, I thanked them sincerely.

“Now then. Let’s start by verifying Naru’s functions.”

“Is it okay if I go first?”

“This includes checking the operation of the equipment and the procedures. Just move according to my instructions, Naru.”

“Got it. What should I do first?”

“First, perform a Masquerade inside the Barrier.”

“Right.”

And so, we began the functional verification.

I stepped into the Barrier, which was about three meters in diameter and installed in the center of the room, and activated Masquerade.

I transformed into my Masked Form.

“Transformation complete. Next?”

“Wait a moment, Naru dear. Let’s see… first, I’ll take photos from three different angles.”

Suzu began taking photographs.

For the record, I was currently in the state I had shown during the Duel with Fuchibeni: wearing a rider suit and boots, and carrying a large shield.

“I’m mentioning this now, but Mr. Naru’s Masked Form doesn’t wear anything on the face, does it? I wonder why that is?”

“Is it not simply that he is wearing a mask that looks exactly like his face? Like something you would see in a spy movie.”

“Hmm. If we’re talking academically… they say a Masked Form is related to a person’s persona or ego. Since Naru dear rarely puts on airs and has absolute confidence in his own appearance, that might be why his face isn’t hidden.”

“Huh. I didn’t know it worked like that. Personally, I feel like it would be unthinkable to hide my face with something, so this form is only natural to me.”

Ichi’s question was reasonable.

There aren’t many people I know who possess a Masked Form, but I recall that most of them hid part or all of their faces in some way.

The only exception was Ms. Maruta, who only manifested a cage… I wonder what’s up with that?

I’ll ask her if I get the chance.

“So, what’s next?”

“Can you summon and dismiss the clothes, shield, and boots?”

“Of course I can.”

“Can you throw the shield?”

“Uh, no. The moment it leaves my hand, it reverts to magical power. Though I can reuse it without any problem.”

Now, it was time for the full-scale functional verification.

Because magical power is involved, the functions of a Masked Form include various things that are physically impossible.

Most of these can be used by the practitioner from the start, either consciously or unconsciously.

The purpose of this session was to verify those abilities.

However, some functions are those the practitioner unconsciously avoids using, or things that would make an outside observer wonder why they aren’t using them in a certain way.

Apparently, this session was meant to verify those aspects as well.

“Looking at it again, they are huge. I would say they are around an E-cup.”

“Combined with the height, they look exceptionally large.”

“And this firmness and glow… I think some women might actually get jealous of Naru dear.”

“Nn…!”

And so, they were “verifying” things…

“Hmm, the rear is also magnificent. Truly a work of art from every angle.”

“I’ll record the top and under-bust measurements for now. Ah, the other parts too.”

“Yes, please. Since a Masked Form shouldn’t grow further, if we measure everything properly now, we can use the data forever.”

“Mmm…”

Wait, is this really a functional verification?

After I had summoned and dismissed the shield and clothes a few times, Ichi pulled out a measuring tape and began meticulously measuring every part of my body.

Furthermore, Marie was kneading my breasts and buttocks, and Suzu was recording something with incredible intensity… No, is this really a functional verification?

No, I should trust Suzu and the others.

If it’s them, it can’t be anything bad. Probably.

“Now, Naru dear. Try wearing this next.”

“This is… a uniform?”

“Yes, the Duel Academy girls’ uniform. Ms. Tarui gave this to me and told me to test whether you could incorporate it and wear it freely, just like the rider suit.”

“I see.”

I put on the girls’ school uniform.

However, as soon as I did, I noticed something.

“Hey, Suzu. I can’t fasten the top button of the shirt, and I can’t close the front of the blazer.”

The size was wrong.

The skirt and socks were fine, and the sleeve length of the shirt was fine, but for some reason, the jacket didn’t fit.

“Ah, that’s on purpose.”

“On purpose?”

“It’s a test to see if it’s reproduced exactly as it was after being incorporated, or if it’s reproduced with size adjustments if Naru wishes. In other words, this is also part of the functional verification.”

“I see…?”

Well, if it’s a test, I have no choice but to keep wearing it.

As for how to incorporate clothing, I already knew.

Just like with the shield and boots, I just had to saturate the object with magical power to take a mold and record it.

I found out later that any object I saturated with magical power received structural reinforcement at that moment, making it incomparably more durable than a normal object for my use.

However, this benefit only applied to me; others couldn’t benefit from it, and in fact, it made the object difficult for others to reuse.

Because of this, the large shield I had rented ended up being bought out by me the moment this was discovered.

Digression aside.

“Hmm, I’ve tried it on… but the skirt feels restless. Also, the bouncing of my chest feels like it’s going to ruin the clothes.”

“Mr. Naru isn’t wearing any underwear, after all. It’s only natural that it feels restless.”

“But, if Suzu has not brought any… shall we go buy some this coming weekend? Women’s underwear.”

“Underwear… underwear… as a man, I feel a certain… stirring… about that…”

Wearing the uniform, I moved around lightly while saturating the fabric with magical power.

But there was a sense of anxiety, or rather, a feeling that it was forced.

In terms of visual beauty, there was no problem, but in terms of durability and psychological comfort, it was just…

If what Ichi said was true, wearing underwear would solve the problem… but to wear women’s underwear for a while, incorporate it, and then summon and wear it… isn’t that a bit too perverted?

“Naru dear. There are women’s undergarments that can enhance your beauty, and even if there’s nothing good off-the-shelf, someone in your position could get them custom-made. It’ll be fine.”

“I see. Then, let’s go buy some this weekend.”

“Yes, let’s do that. Naru dear. Oh, please wear your current outfit when we go. It’ll make things easier to explain. Also, make sure you figure out how to incorporate the uniform and fix your habit of stripping.”

“Got it. Suzu, help me pick them out when the time comes.”

“Of course, Naru dear.”

Yeah, if there are things that enhance my beauty, there’s no reason not to wear them.

And come to think of it, going from being naked to wearing underwear means I’ve become more wholesome, right?

If that’s the case, there was no reason not to go buy some.

As for the stripping habit, with the current feel of the fabric, I can probably endure it for about an hour, and in the worst case, I can just deactivate Masquerade. No problem at all.

“As expected of a childhood friend. Such skillful manipulation…”

“Ichi thinks she made the right choice in siding with Suzu.”

Marie and Ichi seemed to be saying something, but I didn’t need to worry about it.

“Now, while Naru dear is incorporating the uniform, shall we verify my Masked Form?”

“Got it.”

“Indeed.”

“Then, I shall assist.”

And so, Suzu and I swapped.

It was time to investigate Suzu’s Masked Form.

Being mobbed by women is the flower of TS.