3
A plaza in the city-state of Bachils.
The day of the carnival.
In this country of only twelve streets, people were already flooding the roads before sunrise.
“Wh-wh-what is this getup?!”
They were in a palatial women’s changing room. Alice couldn’t help but shout when she looked at the clothes Rin had handed her.
“You never told me about this. What are these…these bandage-like things?!”
“Those aren’t bandage-like, they are bandages.”
“But why?!”
“Because you’re a mummy girl,” Rin answered as she got into her own costume.
“A mummy is a type of horror monster that’s wrapped up in bandages. It’s popular to dress up as scary things for the carnival. Reference the model in the catalog to see how it should look.”
“This girl is only wearing bandages, though! Where are the rest of her clothes…?”
“Yes, the costume is just bandages. Why would a mummy wear a skirt?”
“What?!”
The “mummy girl” in the costume catalog was wearing only underwear and bandages on top of her bare skin.
“If the people discover that a princess such as myself wore such a scandalous outfit…”
“You’re the one who asked for something ‘flashy,’ Lady Alice. You wanted to stand out.”
“This is going too far!” she quivered.
Meanwhile, Rin was wearing black wings and a tail as part of her devil costume. She looked adorable and didn’t need to show much skin. She wouldn’t feel embarrassed at all being seen in her outfit.
“Rin, that’s unfair! I’m going to exchange mine for the same costume as yours!”
“Unfortunately, the last day you could cancel your order was yesterday. There are tens of thousands participating in the carnival, so the management said it would be too difficult to handle costume changes on the day of.”
“Wh-what…? Urgh!”
There was a line for the changing room. If they stayed too long, they would be inconveniencing others. Alice steeled herself and grabbed the edge of her dress.
“F-fine! I’ll dress as a mummy girl, if that’s what you want!”
She changed into nothing but her undergarments. When the other girls around her saw her body, they started to stir.
They were stunned. Her breasts seemed on the verge of spilling out of her underwear. Her slender stomach curved out into hips that demanded one’s attention. Alice’s well-developed body quickly drew the eyes of those around her.
……I—I feel kind of embarrassed.
……I need to change fast!
She wrapped the bandages around her just like the model in the catalog. Despite how awkward she felt, she finished wrapping her arms and legs, then started on the next region. However…
“Oh no……”
“What is it, Lady Alice?”
“This is a crisis, Rin.” Alice pointed at her own much-too-large chest.
Her bust was so prominent that she was having trouble wrapping it. When she tried, the bandages fell off, and she could already tell she wouldn’t have enough fabric.
“Rin, are you sure you didn’t order the mummy costume in your size?”
“Yes. Is there something wrong?”
“I don’t have enough fabric to wrap my chest. I wonder if it’s because we’re such different sizes.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“See, I can’t wrap my buttocks, either. Actually…”
She stared at her attendant. Compared to an early bloomer like Alice, Rin was very petite. Her guard training had given her the body of an athlete.
“I wonder if this might fit you better. Your bust and buttocks are practically flat, after all.”
“Is it a crime to have a small chest?!”
“It’s a compliment. You seem like you’d be able to wear these bandages with ease.”
“That’s not any compliment I’m happy to receive! Wait, what are you doing, Lady Alice?!”
“We’re trading, that’s what we’re doing!”
She caught Devil Rin.
“You can see it’s impossible for me to fit in that mummy outfit. In that case, the only thing we can do is trade.”
“Wh-what?!”
“Rin, take off your clothes!”
“Stoppp!”
Ten minutes later, Rin had transformed into a magnificent, bright red mummy.
Though her bust and butt were hidden by bandages, her taut stomach peeked from between the gaps. She had an entirely different physique.
“Urgh… I—I can’t believe I have to walk around town in such an embarrassing outfit… Lady Alice, this is torture!”
“You were the one trying to subject your own lady to this experience!”
On the other hand, Alice had transformed into a cute devil.
“Let’s head out, Rin. We’ll join the parade first. And I’d like to participate in the costume contest in the afternoon. By entering you.”
“Me?!”
“Of course. That mummy costume is sure to be a hit.”
“Wait just one moment!”
Two girls stood in Alice’s way.
“We can’t let that go after you said that,” one of the two strangers said.
“You think you’ll be a big hit at the costume contest?” the other girl asked. “With us entering?”
One was a golden-haired girl dressed as a vampire. The other was going as a succubus with black hair. Neither of the costumes was a rental; they looked custom-made. Because they were handmade, there was a freshness and completeness to them that the rental costumes lacked.
“Are you specialists or something?” Rin furrowed her brows when she saw the execution of their costumes. “Lady Alice, these two must be pro cosplayers.”
“Cosplayers?”
“They’re probably models hired on by the people running the event to make it more festive.”
Of course. Alice wasn’t very familiar with the term, but the two women were very cute in their costumes. The one dressed as a vampire was even wearing fake fangs, which looked extra impressive because they were covered in what looked like real blood. The other woman was the spitting image of a succubus, and her getup emphasized her unashamedly exposed cleavage.
If those two entered the parade, they were sure to become the center of attention.
“So what does a pair of pros want with us?” Alice wouldn’t lose to them, however. With her strikingly good looks and glamorous proportions, it would be no exaggeration to say she stood above the rest of the participants. “Rin and I are just here to enjoy the carnival. Is there something wrong?”
“I’ll give you a warning out of goodwill. It appears as though you’re newbies dressed in costume rentals. Are you here for Twelfth Street’s costume contest?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Ah-ha! Ah-ha-ha!”
“How hilarious!”
The pair’s laughter echoed in the changing room.
“The entire world is watching this carnival. And Twelfth Street’s costume contest is a super-elite competition designed for pro cosplayers like us.”
“That’s right. If you’re planning to use rentals, then maybe you should enter the Second Street beginner competition?”
“What was that?”
Had the women suggested that in good faith, Alice would have listened to them, but they were clearly looking down on her and Rin.
“I won’t deny that we’re new to this,” Alice said, “but don’t you dare underestimate us.”
“Hmm? Well, it does look like you’ve got some assets under your devil costume,” the vampire said, appraising Alice after looking her up and down.
“But that still won’t work. The makeup’s so bad, it looks like a kid put your outfit together.”
“We spent a ton of time on handmaking our costumes and researching what makeup to use. We wouldn’t want some amateurs tarnishing the reputation of the contest.”
The differences in their costumes and makeup were evident. However, it wasn’t in the Nebulis princess’s nature to back down from a challenge.
“All right. Now that you’ve said that, I’m fired up to participate!” Alice pointed a finger at the two women. “I accept your challenge! On Rin’s behalf!”
“Why me?!”
“I’m a princess; I can’t attract attention.” Alice grabbed Rin’s hand and marched them out the door of the changing room. “Now, Rin, let’s go to the contest entry desk as fast as we can make it.”
“Lady Alice, w-wait a second. If we go too fast, my bandages will unravel!”
At the same time, on Bachil’s Twelfth Street.
“How is it, Commander? Is it cute?”
“You’re adorable, Nene!”
Nene had transformed into a cat, complete with ears, a tail, and toe bean gloves. Commander Mismis stood beside her, positively delighted by the costume.
“Ugh! I can’t get enough of those gloves and those cat ears! Nene, say ‘Meow’!”
“Me-meow! I’m just kitten around!”
“Too cute!” Commander Mismis hugged Nene. The girl started to wriggle around like an actual cat, looking the picture of cuteness.
“You’re adorable, Commander. That huge hat looks great on you!”
“Hee-hee, thank you, Nene!”
Commander Mismis was dressed like a witch. The large hat and robe looked great on her small body.
In reality, witch was a derogatory term. The Imperials called the Nebulis astral mages “witches” to condemn them, so it was ironic that dressing as one was popular in an affiliate of the Empire.
“Nene, let’s take pictures at that studio over there to remember this!”
“Sounds paw-fect to me!”
“You two are really getting into your roles…”
Nene and Commander Mismis were already in the carnival spirit as Iska and Jhin emerged from the men’s changing room. They seemed unsteady on their feet.
Their costumes interfered with their vision and were difficult to walk in.
“Those outfits look great on you two,” Iska commented. “How are you doing, Jhin?”
“Sheesh. You two seem like you don’t have a care in the world. Meanwhile, we’re dressed in all this stuff.”
Next to Iska was the sniper, Jhin. But their costumes hid both of their faces.
“Um, who are you?” Mismis asked.
“It’s me, Iska.”
A gigantic dog and rabbit were standing in front of Commander Mismis. Iska was the dog, and Jhin was the rabbit. Though both animals were mascots of the carnival, the costumes were so large that they seemed intimidating.
“We’re the carnival’s mascots. I’m the dog, Bowell, and Jhin is the rabbit, Rabi.”
“Why are you in character costumes?”
“I’m carrying my swords, and Jhin needs to hide his gun. Our only option was to dress as mascots.”
They were on the lookout for witches and had to hide their equipment in their costumes so they wouldn’t be uncovered as Imperial soldiers.
“Commander, Nene, what about your weapons?”
“We have guns on us, too. I have one under this huge hat.”
“The cat’s out of the bag,” Nene replied. “These paws are packing.”
They were equipped even while wearing their witch and cat costumes.
“Nene, how long are you going to make cutesy cat puns?”
“I’m feline like I could do this all day,” she replied.
“Okay, I guess it’s fine since it’s adorable.”
Moments earlier, Nene had been waffling about putting the costume on, but now she was fully into her role.
“So, Commander, should we head to the paw-rade, too? Or are we just gonna lo-itter around and guard the town?”
“Right. Okay, let’s go. Iska, Jhin, you come, too.”
“Whoa? P-please wait, Commander. We can’t run in these costumes!”
The streets were bustling with people as they walked.
A girl running down the street in the same direction as Iska ran right at him at the same time.
“Whoa!” Iska exclaimed.
“Ah! I-I’m sorry!”
They brushed by each other slightly.
“Oh, um…pardon me!” the girl said.
She was in a devil costume.
The girl was around the same height as Iska, and her faintly glistening golden hair looked beautiful, but unfortunately, he couldn’t see much from within his character suit. On top of that, the little bump had caused the head of the costume to tilt slightly, so he couldn’t see the girl’s face.
“Lady Alice, you’re rushing too much!” Behind the girl dressed as a devil was someone who seemed to be a mummy. “I said it would be dangerous to run.”
“Wh-what else am I to do?! The costume contest closes entries in fifteen minutes!”
Wait.
Iska thought he recognized the two girls’ voices, but from inside his costume, he could barely make out what they were saying.
“A-anyway, sorry for bumping into you, guy in the dog costume!”
I’m fine, he wanted to say, but he just waved instead.
Iska was wearing the costume of the mascot, Bowell, and the rules of the carnival stipulated that anyone dressed as a mascot needed to remain silent to avoid spoiling the magic.
“Let’s hurry, Rin. You’re going to win that costume contest.”
“That’s ridiculous! And don’t forget that we’re here to gather intel!”
The devil and mummy ran off.
Nene popped her head out from around the corner in front of Iska.
“Hurry up, Iska! There’s a ton of people gathered for the paw-rade. We might find some witches in there, so if you see anyone suspicious, make sure to tail us about it right away.”
“I know. I don’t think they’d be anywhere near us, though.”
They lined up for the parade and got going. Then Commander Mismis showed up.
“We’re going to the costume contest registration desk after the parade is over, Iska.”
“This is a lot of work! I feel like I’m part of the carnival’s cast at this point!”
“They said they don’t have enough help. Apparently, they have twelve different contests all over Bachils.”
“Wow…,” Iska replied.
“It’s famous worldwide, after all. The Twelfth Street contest is especially well regarded. It’s a contest for super-cute cosplayers!” Commander Mismis’s eyes glittered brightly underneath her large black hat. “Pro models come from all over the world to enter. The judges are big shots, too, so anyone who wins gets a ticket straight into the upper crust!”
“Huh. I didn’t know it was that big of a deal.”
Come to think of it, Iska seemed to remember that the girls he had bumped into had said something about the Twelfth Street contest.
“A contest, huh? If Alice were participating, I bet all eyes would be on her…but she couldn’t possibly be here.”
He looked around. He felt a sense of apprehension, since he could have sworn he’d sensed someone like her nearby.
“She couldn’t be…”
The Ice Calamity Witch Aliceliese was a Sovereignty princess. She wouldn’t wander into enemy territory, and there was no way she would enter a costume contest, either.
“Iska, we should get going to help the entry desk soon.”
“Got it.”
Commander Mismis signaled for him to come, and Iska left the parade.
“All right, we’ve made you wait long enough!
“This is the thirty-seventh Bachils city-state costume grand prix! Royalty, the entertainment industry, and artists have an eye on this contest, no matter where in the world they are!
“Who will have the honor of winning this time?!”
They were at the Twelfth Street plaza. At least a few thousand people had gathered to watch, and that was a conservative estimate. Since the whole thing was broadcast on TV, the contest was already firing up.
“I’m surprised it’s this big…”
They were backstage. Alice listened to the cheers of the crowd from the waiting room for the candidates.
“They’re very excited. I must say it’s quite impressive, even for an ally nation of the enemy.”
“Um, Lady Alice, can we talk…?” In contrast to Alice, who was in awe, Rin, the person actually entering the contest, seemed uncomfortable. “I know it’s cowardly, but may I please withdraw? An average person like me won’t stand a chance in this thing…”
“The competition does go far beyond what I imagined,” Alice admitted.
All the contestants were stunningly gorgeous men and women. The costumes ranged from tried-and-true witches, to werewolves, to zombies, to vampires, and more. Every single one of them seemed to shine bright, and their costumes looked authentic.
Their outfits had all been custom-made, and they even had makeup artists.
“Uh, um… Everyone else is so much taller than me and better looking… Um, Lady Alice, you might be able to compete, but someone like me…”
Alice’s elegance and appearance were fit for royalty, and they would give her a fighting chance.
But Rin was just an attendant. When it came down to it, she worked behind the scenes in the shadows, so she wasn’t used to being in the spotlight. Alice could understand why she was feeling uncomfortable.
“Right… I hate to admit it, but that vampire and succubus were correct. We’re out of our league.” She sighed and placed a gentle hand on Rin’s shoulder. “Rin, you should pull out. You have your talents, and there’s no point in fighting a battle that you don’t need to.”
“Lady Alice!”
Tears filled Rin’s eyes.
A loud roar came from the spectators in the plaza outside.
“Oh? Is it starting?”
The judges had gotten onstage along with the host, who was holding a microphone.
“Allow me to introduce our guest and chief judge! We have an excellent guest, just as we do every year! Dare I say it, but I think we’ve outdone ourselves this time!” the host announced with excitement.
As applause rang out, an elderly man appeared onstage.
“I present to you our judge—the Empire’s treasure, nay, the treasure of the entire world. This man, who is the distillation of what an artist should be, has singlehandedly pushed the definition of beauty to its next stage! We have for you the living treasure, Master Daiban Ga Pinchi!”
“Salutations!” A man with a magnificent white beard walked onstage. He was beefy, like a pro wrestler. A sharp glint sparkled in his eyes, and as he stood there, he exuded the overpowering air of an expert martial artist.
“I’m the living treasure Daiban!” he said.
“He couldn’t possibly be?!” Alice cried out without thinking as she looked up at him.
Alice wasn’t the only one who’d had that reaction. Even the other famous judges onstage had widened their eyes in surprise.
“M-Master Daiban?!”
“You mean the legendary artist has left the Imperial capital?!”
“Master Daiban, I’ve been your fan ever since I was a kid. Please let me shake your hand!”
One of the judges, a big shot from the movie industry, froze up, and another, an actress, began to cry as they all welcomed Daiban.
Daiban, the living treasure.
The man was a legend who resided in the Empire. His work spanned every form of art, from ceramics, calligraphy, poetry, sculpture, painting, music, even to gourmet food, and he pushed every medium to its fullest extent. His name had crossed borders, earning him passionate fans from countries all over the world.
“It’s Master Daiban?!”
And Alice was one of those fans, of course.
In fact, there was only a single person present who was unfamiliar with him.
“Who’s that overbearing old man?”
“Rin! You don’t know the master artist?! He’s a treasure to the world!” Alice latched on to Rin’s shoulders and shouted as her eyebrows rose up. “If I went into the Empire to destroy the capital, I would never touch Master Daiban’s workshop. Not if it meant harming any of his pieces…”
“What if you did?”
“The entire world would denounce the Nebulis Sovereignty. Every nation across the globe would declare war on us!”
Even a Nebulis princess stood no chance against this old man. In other words, he lived up to his title as a living treasure.
“Ridiculous!”
“That’s how important Master Daiban is!” Alice insisted.
All the other candidates backstage were looking excited.
“W-wait, it’s actually Master Daiban!”
“I can’t believe it. If we win, well, he’s super famous!”
Even the vampire and the succubus who had picked a fight with Alice had a twinkle in their eyes.
“Huh, so I guess he’s an impressive guy. But that has nothing to do with me anymore, since I’m withdrawing. Let’s go, Lady Alice.”
“What are you saying, Rin?”
“……Huh?”
“Master Daiban is here! You can’t run now!” Alice grabbed her attendant’s hand before she could leave. “You need to participate, Rin! I’m sure you can do it. You need to win and let me take a picture to commemorate this fortuitous experience with Master Daiban!”
“That’s not what you said earlier!”
The costume grand prix had opened. Things kicked off with the judges’ greetings.
“Please go ahead, Master Daiban!”
“All right.”
The living treasure walked to the front of the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, what is art?!” he howled, pointing at the audience. “I am always in constant pursuit of it. Art is the battle with the universe within you! You build up both your spirit and your creativity until you create a new universe. Do you follow?”
“What? What is that old man say—?”
“Quiet, Rin.”
“Mrff?!”
As Alice clamped a hand over the mouth of her attendant, the old man continued with his greeting.
“And this competition is no exception. It’s a clash between souls who have pursued personal betterment of their own accord. Present to us a new age of art that will make even me gasp in amazement! Usher in a new dimension of creation!”
“Maybe we should take that geezer to the looney bin…,” Rin murmured rather riskily.
On the other hand, Daiban seemed to be filled with a sense of accomplishment after his speech.
“Whew… I always feel excited talking to the youth, no matter the generation.”
“Thank you so much, Master!”
The host gave him a slight bow, and behind him, applause roared out from the audience.
“Amazing…”
“Master Daiban is incredible. I feel the same happiness seeing him as when I watch a first-rate concert.”
“Yeah, my ears feel like they’re in heaven.”
The three other judges looked like they were satisfied.
“There’s definitely something wrong with this! Why were they so moved by that speech?!”
“Quit it, Rin. Stop complaining and get ready. We’re about to start.”
As Alice and Rin watched the stage, the candidates walked up one at a time under the gaze of the audience.
“All right! The first one looks wonderful! Please welcome Dietfriet the werewolf to the stage. He’s a theater actor from a neighboring country. His handsome face and muscular build have earned him success as a magazine model. We already have one amazing candidate for the grand prix onstage!”
The crowd didn’t hold back their applause. The cheers of the younger women were particularly impressive, even drowning out the host’s voice.
“This is too much, Lady Alice. There’s an actual actor out there!”
“Yes. The audience is really responsive, so you need to get great results, too.”
Dietfriet had found the perfect contrast by pairing his handsome good looks with the horrific image of a werewolf. He was also bare-chested, and his muscular physique was a staggering sight.
“That body paint subbing in for fur on his muscles really works. It shows how powerful a werewolf is. A mummy girl who’s just wrapped bandages around herself will have some tough competition,” Alice commented.
“This isn’t even a competition if it’s plain impossible for me to put up a fight! How can you think I have a chance against him?!”
“Shh. Rin, the judging is about to begin.”
The murmuring crowd quieted.
“First, we’ll have the three judges give their scores!
“We’ll hear from the playwright Michael, the composer Nasrivon, and the winner of the best international actress award, Flamie.
“They may award each contestant up to ten points. The total points anyone can receive is thirty. Judges, if you please!”
The judges gave seven, six, and eight points, for a total of twenty-one.
The moment the judges’ scores showed up on a board, a large cheer filled the area.
“And there you have it, a twenty-one!
“That’s an average of seven from our discerning judges. Last year’s winner had a total of twenty-four, so this is actually a pretty high score!”
Even Dietfriet looked pleased and nodded from the stage.
However…
The true judging would only begin now.
Only those who received a fifteen or higher from the first three judges could move on for a judgment from Daiban.
“Rin, listen closely. Based on my quick research, the next judgment isn’t based on points.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s all or nothing. If Master Daiban raises his flag, then you go on to the second judgment round. If you don’t, then you’re dropped out on the spot.”
“That sounds harsh…”
“Yes. That’s why it’s a nerve-racking moment.”
It was quiet again.
“All right, Master Daiban, please give your evaluation.”
The elderly man sat in his special seat. As the spectators looked on in anticipation, Daiban crossed his arms and didn’t so much as move an inch.
He didn’t even make a move to pick up his flag.
“Oh my…looks like Dietfriet didn’t make it, folks! The flag is still down. Master Daiban has blocked him!”
Evidently, Daiban wasn’t going to compromise. If he didn’t like what he saw, he wouldn’t even give the person praise or empty commendation. He was the type of man to mercilessly incinerate his own artwork if it didn’t meet his standards.
Hence he was known as the Artist of Fire.
“S-so, the next candidate is the fairy Bridgit! I’m sure this young acting prodigy needs no introduction!”
No one could deny she was cute. Even Alice thought she looked like a beautiful fairy straight from a fable.
“All right, let’s get the three judges’ scores. Oh! Looks like we’ve got a twenty. Now that’s a good score, like our first candidate!”
But the audience wasn’t cheering nearly as much. Everyone there had already realized something: The true trial came after the judges gave their scores.
“A-all right, Master Daiban.”
“…It’s all wrong.” The artist kept his arms crossed. “She doesn’t have the beauty I’m after, either. Better luck next time.”
“Looks like that wasn’t a pass, either! It seems she hasn’t measured up to Master Daiban’s eyes, just the same as the first candidate!”
Alice didn’t understand what was going on. She couldn’t see how the costumes could be improved, so why did Daiban look so sullen?
“Uh, um, Master Daiban, so why did the last candidate not pass muster…?”
“Who do you think I am?” The elderly man’s eyes opened wide as he glared at the host. “Compared to the princess of Mien from the beautiful and faraway country to the east, that girl’s fairy costume isn’t even cute.”
“I—I see. So you’ve met the legendary princess, then?!”
“Not only that, but the only one who could compare in feminine charm is the Nebulis Sovereignty’s First Princess Elletear. No one can measure up to her beauty.”
“Oh, oh my…!”
“Isn’t charm and charisma the equivalent of art?” The old man’s words echoed firmly throughout the place. “Bridgit is cute, and yes, her costume looks authentic. But just because she can attract attention doesn’t mean she can move people’s hearts. What I seek is something that will breathe new life into the arts and shake up the world!”
“I-I’m terribly sorry! Of course, Master Daiban!”
The other candidates backstage looked grim as they listened to the man’s passionate reasoning. No wonder he was a great artist and a living legend. Just because someone was conventionally attractive didn’t guarantee they could sway him with their looks.
“You see, candidates! You need to challenge yourself to create a new universe that will make me burn with creativity!”
The evaluations continued, going through the third candidate, then the fourth, and the fifth, all beautiful men and women whose features were enhanced by their equally gorgeous makeup.
“No! Wrong, all wrong!” Daiban angrily shouted. “This isn’t even close to the art I want to see!”
“Which means…?”
“Another rejection!”
“Wh-what a difficult grand prix we’re having this year, folks!”
The host gulped.
“So we’ve gotten through half of the hundred candidates and have zero who have moved on to the second round. This competition seems to have the highest barriers for progression we’ve ever had!”
They were in the second half of the judging, but Daiban had yet to uncross his arms.
Then they finally reached the ninety-ninth contestant.
“Lady Alice! Those two women are going up! The vampire and succubus who picked a fight with us in the changing room!”
“Oh! Now these two ladies here!” the host said.
The audience suddenly grew excited.
A blond vampire and a black-haired succubus came up as a pair.
“There they are! The pride of Bachils! Our young charismatic models Hiellen and Caldelia. They’re the favorites tonight!”
The vampire was both frightening and beautiful. The succubus was captivating. Their reputation was well-earned. They had the charm to captivate anyone who saw them. Even the women in the audience could see that beauty was right in front of them.
“All right! We’ll get the three judges’ scores! Nine, nine, and ten!”
The total was twenty-eight. Their high marks were undisputed.
“And what does Master Daiban think? Of course these young women would…sir?”
The entire stage went silent.
The main judge, Daiban, didn’t make a move. When he showed no sign of picking up his flag, the host and the other judges seemed surprised.
“W-wait a second!”
“We’ve been watching the whole time, and we’re the last ones!”
The succubus and the vampire were both shouting.
The two women walked past the host and came right up to Daiban’s special seat.
“What do you think you’re doing, old man?! You can’t behave like this just because you’re a famous artist.”
“You’re putting on airs. I bet you’re just jealous of young talent like us.”
“…” Daiban said nothing to them.
“H-hey! Answer us!”
“You brats.” He finally did as they asked.
“Urgh?!”
The glint in his eyes pierced them as sharply as a knife. They backed away.
“Which part of the stage were you looking at?” he asked.
“……Huh?”
“The two of you didn’t even look at the audience once you got onto the stage. You only stared at me the whole time. Isn’t that right?”
“Uhh?!”
“W-well…!”
It was as though he’d recited a holy incantation. The succubus and the vampire staggered when Daiban said this, like they’d been hit with purifying light.
“Why are you dressing up, and who is this carnival for? And where is your gratitude for the people who came to cheer you on?”
Thousands were behind Daiban to support them, but the two young women hadn’t even given the audience a passing glance.
“The true star of the show isn’t me, it’s the thousands of spectators gathered here. Don’t you think you’ve lost sight of what the true spirit of this carnival is?”
“…Urgh. Ah…”
“Y-you’re right…”
The pair fell to their knees.
“How could we forget something so fundamental…?”
“I can’t believe we were so caught up by our status that we forgot to be grateful and overlooked the true spirit of the carnival.”
“However!” The old man rose to his feet. Then he grabbed the two ladies’ hands and forced them up. “There are infinite possibilities within you. You must remain strong. Stand and pursue the right path of the arts from here on.”
“I’m so sorry, Master Daiban!”
“We see the error of our ways!”
The two women hugged the man. He was like a stubborn old grandfather reconciling with his granddaughters in a heartwarming scene.
“Splendid!”
“That’s what makes him Master Daiban!”
“Yeah, he saved the two women from drowning in talent and brought them right back. What a beautiful ending to a superb show!”
The judges were all crying.
Even the audience gave them a generous applause.
The mellow atmosphere led right into the conclusion of the contest.
“How moving! This is all so moving! We had no winners, but I’m sure the thirty-seventh grand prix will live on as a legend.
“All right, everyone, see you next—”
“Please wait!” Alice shouted, dispelling the festive atmosphere. “You still have one more candidate left! My attendant, Rin!”
“Lady Alice, please don’t! They were just about to forget me and finish it, and you ruined it!”
“C’mon, just go up!”
“Ahh?!”
Alice pushed Rin onto the stage.
“Oh, I’m sorry! Looks like we had one more contestant all along! So, mummy girl, I’m handing it off to you to introduce yourself!”
“I-I’m Rin, the mummy girl…”
Her face was bright red.
She managed to squeeze out an introduction, but it sounded as though it would taper off at any moment.
“I—I can’t believe someone like me is on a stage like this…and wearing this outfit. It’s humiliating…”
Rin had never been in front of an audience of several thousand before—and to make matters worse, she was dressed in nothing but bandages.
“You can do it, Rin! Just get over your distress, and glory will be yours for the taking!”
“But I don’t want glory like that!” She was so mortified that her face turned an even brighter shade of red when Alice cheered her on.
“All right, Rin! Sell yourself!”
“Y-yes…”
They had a minute to introduce themselves.
A succubus would give the audience a sexy pose, and a werewolf would try to howl to show his ferocity. That was generally what people did.
However…
Rin couldn’t even attempt anything nearly as daring as that. As someone who had dedicated herself to becoming a guard and to martial arts, she had no tricks up her sleeve to help her on a stage.
What could she do?
“Th-the only thing I can do…is a little martial arts.”
“Oh? Now that’s an interesting party trick. It seems very practical.”
“Th-then I’ll show off my technique with a dagger…”
She unwrapped the bandage on her right hand and to reveal a hidden knife. Even dressed as a mummy, she’d made sure to keep a weapon on her person.
It took only a moment.
The audience hadn’t even been able to tell when she had pulled out the dagger.
“Huh? When did you get a knife?”
“Th-then I’ll start. Ugh! Desperate times call for desperate measures!” she yelled, red in the face.
As she held her knife, she fluttered through the air.
She was quick.
Rather than those of a ballerina or dancer charismatically flitting through the air, her movements exhibited the strength of a goat leaping through rocky terrain.
“Uh, so this is unexpected…” The host looked dumbfounded. “W-wow. This is amazing…but, um, Miss Mummy? You do realize this is a costume contest, don’t you?”
Though Rin’s display showed off her physical prowess, it wasn’t what the judges were looking for.
“Uh, umm.”
“Th-this is the only thing I can do, though!”
She spun through the air.
Rin landed with enough beauty to put a gymnast to shame. The show had all worked out fine until that point, but Rin had forgotten about the force that went into doing a full rotation. Along with the fact that she was dressed only in bandages instead of her usual outfit.
“Oh……”
Swish… Her costume started to unravel.
Her slender torso and stomach were laid bare. Then even the bandages around her armpits and neck fell to the floor.
“Nooooo!”
She was very nearly naked.
Rin quickly tried to hide her chest, but the entire audience had already gotten a good look at her bare skin.
“N-no one wants to see my skinny little body!”
“What an unexpected incident! Looks like we can’t go on. Unfortunately, we’ll need to disquali—”
“Waaaaait!”
The host’s announcement was interrupted by a roar from the special guest.
“This girl isn’t just anyone!”
“…Huh? Master Daiban?”
The audience and judges stirred.
The previously unmoving artist had finally risen from his seat.
“Let us carefully observe the mummy girl!” he said.
Rin sat on the floor, seeming mortified as the audience’s eyes focused on her.
“Mummies hide themselves under bandages, yet this mummy girl has removed hers on her own. How original! Rin, or whatever your name is, this is the aesthetic I was looking for!”
“But it was just an accident!”
“No, it’s an emergence. Just as a butterfly breaks through its chrysalis after metamorphosis, the mummy girl removes her bandages to discover herself. That must be it!”
“N-no, I wasn’t trying to—”
“How spectacular! What a finely calculated performance!”
“Listen to meee!”
Daiban disregarded Rin’s protests.
“And also—” Daiban was staring straight at Rin, who was almost totally naked. “—take a close look at her without her bandages.”
“Please don’t!” she cried.
“Gaze upon her beautiful physique. She’s not just anyone!” Daiban, who was well acquainted with the human form, opened his eyes wide. “Every bit of her body has a use. She has no fat, which means she has no waste.”
“I’m so sorry for barely having breasts, okay!”
“And her physique wasn’t artificially created through going to the gym. Her body is like that of a lion. Like a beast striding through the wilderness!”
Daiban was actually right. Rin had originally trained her body for martial arts, so she wasn’t built like an actress or a model.
“What a frightening girl you are. Once you abandoned your bandages, you revealed a body of steel. That is the mummy girl’s transformation. I’m astounded!”
“Okay, that’s really enough…”
“This was truly the costume marking a new age of art that I was looking for!” Daiban yelled.
“Master Daiban. In other words, do you mean Rin the mummy girl is…?”
“In my eyes, she isn’t lacking in a single area!”
Daiban pulled out a folding fan and held it over Rin’s head. The word Bravo! was written across it in his own handwriting.
“She is most certainly the winner!”
There was a great cheer. The entire audience and the judges all gave her a standing ovation. Not a single person was in their seats.
And in the midst of this moment of triumph…
“I don’t get it…”
Only Rin herself seemed dissatisfied.
Rin had won.
At the very end of the show, all the participants took a photo together. Alice placed herself right next to Daiban and was quite pleased.
“Rin, that was superb! Even I was proud of how you handled that!”
“Th-thank you, Lady Alice. I’m afraid I can’t say that I share the same sentiment…”
“Chin up, Rin! Be proud!”
The commemorative photo also happened to have the two mascots, Bowell and Rabi, in it as well. They were both wearing large costumes, so Alice had assumed that men were inside them.
“Hey, Iska, move to the right more.”
“I just can’t see anything. Jhin, you get closer instead.”
They were whispering to each other, so Alice couldn’t make out most of what they said.
“Ahh…because I won, I got hit with a ton of interviews and lost all that time. We didn’t even have enough time to gather intel on the enemy state…”
“But you know what, Rin? I was satisfied with everything you did.”
Yes. Alice didn’t have any complaints about this trip.
But if she could say one very small thing that she would have liked…
“I wish Iska had been here so we could have had a costume showdown. Oh well.”
“Lady Alice, did you say something?”
“No, nothing.”
She wondered what kind of costume he would wear if he had been here.
As she pondered that, Alice took the picture with the mascots who were directly behind her.
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