Chapter 51 – ５１ – Masquerade Device Shop

Debut Match Arc

“Yeah, that was delicious. Suzu, Ichi, Marie.”

“It really was, Naru.”

“Thank you very much for treating Ichi and the others.”

“I enjoyed it very much! Thank youuu!”

It was Saturday.

We had come to the shopping mall.

The purpose was to treat them to a meal as a thank-you to Suzu for all the help she’d given me regarding my Skills. Since Ichi and Marie had also helped out from Wednesday onward, I treated them as well.

And that errand had just now concluded.

Now, we’d probably just chat for a bit and then head back to the Inui Dormitory.

“Come to think of it, Suzu and the others have spent this whole week helping me check my Skills, but is everything okay with the confirmation of your own Skills?”

With that, I brought it up as a topic of conversation.

“I’m fine, Naru. I’ve managed to find quite a few Skills that synergize well with my Masked Form’s functions, and I’ve prepared several types of Presets. At this point, I think I’m just waiting for the opponent of my debut match to be finalized right before the start. After all, I have to consider compatibility.”

“I see.”

First, it seemed Suzu was doing fine.

However, the mention of “Presets” suggested she had several effective combinations. Unlike me, her versatility seemed high; I was envious.

“Ichi is also fine. In my case, my combat style was already established due to family circumstances, so it was simple—I just had to build around that style. Like Ms. Suzu, my final adjustments will happen once the opponent is confirmed.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Ichi was also good.

But her combat style was already determined by her family? I felt like I’d picked up hints of that before, so it wasn’t surprising, but it seemed Ichi’s family was indeed quite prestigious.

I’d like to hear more about it someday… but I suppose there’s no time for that right now.

“Marie is also no problem-u. However, to be honest, there is not enough preparation time-u. If I want to win my debut match for sure, I would want another month or so-u.”

“Ah, you mean that?”

“Yes, that is it-u. Well, maybe I should just do my best without it this time. Since it’s a solo match-u.”

Marie was fine too.

However, Marie’s trump card… whether it was a function of her Masked Form or derived from the nature of her magical power, I didn’t know, but it seemed the preparation for the “thing” I had seen wasn’t complete.

That said, that was likely Marie’s secret weapon, so it would probably be better for her to be able to win even without using it.

“Wait, huh? Suzu. Which way are you going? It looks like you’re heading toward the area where Masquerade Devices are sold.”

Suzu began walking in a direction that didn’t lead toward the mall exit, and Ichi and Marie followed suit.

In that direction was… the place where Masquerade Devices were sold.

“Yeah, I know. But considering the future, I thought we should at least take a look once.”

“That… well, I guess so. Though we won’t actually be getting our own until after the debut match.”

For the upcoming debut match, the Device used for Masquerade Activation was fixed to the Academy-issued one. This was because, to evaluate a student’s individual skill, it was more appropriate for there to be no difference in Devices.

And the difference between Devices was significant enough that such a restriction was necessary.

So, I understood why Suzu said it would be better to go see them.

Let’s see, timing-wise, we’d just finished lunch, so there was no problem.

If Suzu and the others wanted to go, let’s go.

And so, I also turned my steps toward the Device specialty shop.

“Now, Mr. Naru. When we say ‘Device,’ the actual forms vary wildly.”

“I can see that…”

The moment I stepped inside, I was overwhelmed.

Lined up in the store were everything from products made by famous electronics manufacturers I recognized to things from countries I couldn’t even identify. They were displayed on shelves and tables, reflecting the store lights.

In terms of shape, the mask-like ones that covered the upper half of the face—like the Academy-issued Device I was currently using—were the most orthodox. However, there were ones that looked like sunglasses, ones that looked like glasses, ones that looked like something you’d wear when you have a cold, ones that covered only half the face, large ones that looked like something a remote tribe would wear, and ones that looked like—or actually were—gas masks… It was as if they were saying anything that can be attached to the face is fair game.

“This one is a very rare shape. It’s attached to the ear rather than the face. If you’re feeling bold, you could even attach it to a bag.”

“That kind of shape exists? A Device…”

“It does-u. Because of the Goddess, they are almost never misused, which allows for this kind of fashionability-u, yes?”

“Hmm, amazing. Back in my and Naru’s hometown, we definitely didn’t have things like this.”

Apparently, it wasn’t just the shapes.

Ichi showed me an ear-type Device. It was a latest-model piece that clipped securely to the ear like an ear cuff, with the Device functions packed into several tubular decorations hanging from it, somehow finished to be usable as a Masquerade Device.

Unfortunately, the performance was minimal; it could only hold one Skill, the Masked Form’s performance dropped significantly, and whether it worked at all depended on compatibility. However, because it didn’t look like a Device at first glance, it was said to be perfect for self-defense.

“Still, fashion with Devices… seeing them all lined up like this, I really do want to pick one that suits my face.”

“The fact that your first thought is to match it to your face is so typical of Naru, is it not?”

“Of course. A design that doesn’t suit this face, or a design that hides it—the world might forgive that, but I cannot forgive myself.”

“In that case, from your perspective, Mr. Naru, the current Academy-issued Device is…”

“Neither good nor bad. I mean, compared to what I saw back home…”

“Its selling point is that anyone can use it safely and reliably in an emergency, but in terms of design… well, I felt the same way,” Suzu added.

“Ah, your parents were like that too, right? In that case, it is actually a choice that should be praised-u.”

“That may be true, but still, that design…”

“Is that the one the whole world recognizes as top-tier in everything except design, including price?”

“Yeah, it really is excellent.”

Where our gazes landed was something that looked like a construction site helmet—or rather, an old Masquerade Device that seemed to be based on a construction helmet.

The difference from a regular helmet was the part covering the face, which looked like a welding mask.

It could be used as a helmet normally, and in an emergency, one could activate the Masquerade to ensure their safety. Because the structure was simple, maintenance was easy, and since it wasn’t designed to pack in many Skills for the general public, the price was affordable.

That was the Device.

Yeah, looking at it again, I can’t do it.

I admit the performance is excellent, but my aesthetic sense rejects wearing that.

If I’m going to wear something, I want to wear something that suits my face.

“Customers. You look like New Students; what brings you here today?”

At that moment, a clerk approached us.

Indeed, this wasn’t exactly a shop New Students would visit before their debut match.

“Ah, sorry. Actually…”

Suzu began to explain…

“I see, is that so? Then please come this way. Based on the data from the Academy-designated Device, we can predict how you would fare using other Devices.”

We were guided toward the back of the store.

(Author’s Note: I heard the Industrial Safety and Health Act was established in 1972. It seems to be the law that mandated the wearing of helmets for construction workers. Therefore, it’s possible that the helmet-type Device has been loved as a visual model for over 50 years. In fact, considering the act of bringing a Masquerade into a general construction site, it is far safer than a mask-type, and the ability to respond in an emergency changes, so there is no reason not to use it. Young people might reject it based on design, but with safety and security for daily use, and a Masquerade for emergencies, it’s a double-push! All set!! / 08/05 Typo correction)