Chapter 65

〈 Chapter 64 〉 3. It's Advice, Not Technology Theft! (4)

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I'm flustered.

To be more specific, I'm flustered by the sight of this foreign magical girl standing in front of me, her whole body shimmering with iridescent light.

"Hehe, why are you turning your head like that?"

"Of course, it's because of your state!"

"What is this?"

Yumir pointed to her transformed self.

"It's a costume that embodies the charm and spirit of Korea, isn't it?"

"Aren't you a bit too obsessed with Korea?"

"Foreigners have to dress this way to avoid getting criticized by people, don't they?"

That's true.

I was the one who said that, and Yumir faithfully created the costume based on my suggestion.

The problem is that she didn't entrust it to a professional costume maker but made it herself.

And she didn't sew it with thread but created it with magic.

"Are you wearing mana now?"

"Yes!"

"Good grief. What happens if the mana wears off?"

"I'll be naked!"

"Hey!"

I let out a loud exclamation.

"Oh, you startled me."

"What are you going to do if this wears off?"

"Hehe. If I take off the transformation, I'll be naked right away."

"......"

Sure enough.

Just like Baek Seulhee's 'fuzz,' Yumir almost had a 'fuzz' moment.

"Didn't you practice this in your room?"

"I did, but I only wore my underwear."

"Didn't your roommate say anything? No, wait. You said your roommate wasn't coming in at that time, right? Ugh."

"Yep. So I checked it myself. It's designed to make the underwear disappear with the release of mana."

"Ugh...."

This is a bit of a dilemma.

Yumir, who seemed to have more mana than me, is facing the same problem.

The clothes are stripped off due to the sudden release of mana during transformation.

To be precise, the clothes can't withstand the pressure of the mana and explode.

They explode as if being shattered into particles or molecules.

I haven't fully understood the principle yet, nor have I overcome it.

'It's not like the 'Naked Transformation Law' or anything.'

This phenomenon, where clothes are torn during transformation, seems to be a natural law of this world, almost like the law of universal gravitation.

It's not just me; everyone who learned my technique experienced the same thing.

"Student Yumir, is there no way to solve this? Can you restore your clothes?"

"I can't restore the clothes, but there are two possible solutions."

Yumir casually sat on my bed and held up two fingers.

"One is to maintain the clothes as they are and move to a changing room. That way, I can quickly change into something else in a safe place."

"You can't keep flying around the academy with your clothes flying off, can you?"

"There's another way, though. I can keep supplying mana to maintain the clothes until I run out of mana."

"Student Yumir, I know it's a bit of a sensitive question, but since you're E-class, shouldn't your mana run out quickly?"

"...For a typical E-class, yes. Hehe."

Yumir winked and touched her finger to her lips.

"I have a secret weapon?"

"What is it?"

"Hey, I can't just show you my joker, can I?"

"Sorry. Did I ask a too sensitive question?"

"No, no, no, no!!"

Yumir jumped up, waved her hands, and denied it.

"The question is a bit sensitive, but it's okay with you, teacher!"

"...Huh?"

What was that strange feeling just now?

"Why is it okay with me?"

"Ah, well. Um... Teacher! Let me ask you something else first!"

Yumir seemed to have made a decision, clenched her fists, and approached me.

"This is definitely not about me!"

"Sure, sure. It's about someone you know, or a friend you met online?"

"Yes!"

Pfft.

She doesn't even think about hiding the fact that she's Solar Platinum.

What does she want to achieve by impressing me with her incredible abilities?

"If someone has to hide their superpower from the whole country and the world for some reason, and you find out their secret, what would you do?"

"I would keep their secret."

"Even if you could gain immense wealth, fame, and power using their ability?"

"I'm not really interested in that."

I have enough wealth, a notorious reputation, and the power of a legion within a guild.

"Ah, that might be a bit tempting."

"What is?"

"Stories I haven't seen yet."

"...Stories?"

"Yes."

I pointed to the paper books I borrowed from the library on my desk.

"I love novels. I enjoy reading various stories I haven't seen before. It's not just novels; it includes movies, anime, musicals, and even... 'reality.'"

"Is that reality about heroes or villains?"

"Those too."

This is a story for later.

"I'm thinking of weaving together the stories of those who are now celebrated as heroes and those who are condemned as villains."

"Like a wiki?"

"More like turning it into a 'novel.'"

Someone said that.

All readers are potential aspiring novelists.

Some might start dreaming of becoming a novelist after being moved by a well-written novel—

—Wow, what a crude piece of writing?

—I could write better than this.

—Damn, why don't I try becoming a writer? What if I start living the life of a writer instead of a reader?

I'm the same.

"It's just one of my goals. And if the protagonist of the story has to hide their identity, I would tell them this."

"What would you tell them?"

"All superpowered individuals who tried to hide their identity eventually had their cover blown. So, make sure to either hide your identity completely or reach a position where it doesn't matter if your identity is revealed."

"...That's an interesting perspective."

Yumir's eyes sparkled with interest.

"I'll try my best to keep my identity hidden, but what does it mean to reach a position where it doesn't matter if my identity is revealed? Are you suggesting I become a villain?"

"No. I mean, clearly distinguish between when you're using your powers and when you're a regular person."

Like me.

"For example, let's assume Student Yumir is the strongest S-class, or even higher."

"Me?! Me?"

"Don't be so surprised. It's just an assumption."

"Ah, ahaha. Right. An assumption. IF. What if."

"......"

Hey.

It seems like her secret might be exposed.

She's so clumsy.

'Even if her secret is exposed, I don't think she'll break down. But if it does, I'll have to recruit her into the guild.'

With talent like hers, she could aim for a position higher than a cadre, if not the leader.

"Assuming I'm the strongest in the world, what then?"

"Hmm... If you can create a doppelgänger?"

"......Oh?"

Yumir's eyes sparkled.

"A doppelgänger?"

"Yes. Another version of yourself that can move remotely. There are various methods. For example, you could infuse a remote-controlled robot with mana, or make a mannequin move with mana, or even transform into a completely different appearance."

"They all sound difficult."

"If you're the strongest in the world, shouldn't you be able to do that?"

"True, if I succeed, it would be useful, but is there an easier solution?"

"An easier solution."

There is.

Just like Baek Seulhee did, you can overlay mana on top of your clothes to create an external armor.

After meeting Baek Seulhee, I studied related materials and came up with another transformation method. If I tell Yumir to 'overlay mana on top of the current clothes,' she will surely find her own solution.

But.

'I have a bond with Baek Seulhee.'

I can't just tell her that.

Instead, I can hint at another method.

"If there's a way to be exposed in Korea without it mattering, wouldn't that be the best solution?"

"What is it?"

"This."

I turned on my smartphone and pulled up a piece of data.

"Transform into someone who upholds our traditions and is implicitly recognized as someone whose identity should not be revealed casually. At the same time, it should be someone whose appearance can be shown publicly."

"Is this... a scholar?"

"No, not just a scholar."

In the data screen, a scholar was holding a round object in front of him and shouting something loudly.

"He's an undercover inspector."

"Are you telling me to become an undercover inspector?"

"It's just an assumption, an assumption. And with just two more additions, you can do it in this state."

I ran my hand over my face.

"All you need is a magic tablet for the transformation gimmick. You don't need to cover your face. Instead—"

I pointed to Yumir's hair and eyes.

"What if you transformed into a completely different person?"

"...My face?"

"Yes. A complete transformation before and after."

It's a simple method.

"To put it bluntly, if Student Yumir transformed into someone else, like the granddaughter of the president, and shouted 'Magical Girl Reporting!' who would think it's you?"

Face change.

Voice change.

And Deepfake [Mana].

"Whether you're a hero or a villain, a superpowered individual will always be in the spotlight, but it won't be you, so it shouldn't matter, right?"

"...I see."

Yumir placed her hands on her cheeks.

"First, transform into a completely different person, and then, while in that transformed state, become the undercover inspector magical girl!"

That's the right answer.

"Not as Yumir, but as a completely different person!"

Magical Girl.

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