"Well then, let's get started."
We, the people with the Magic Power Grade A rating, moved onto the stage and stood in a circle of ten.
The auditorium surrounding the stage was packed with all the students and their parents, a total of 1,000 people.
I'm not sure if it's a live broadcast or a filming, but there are several impressive TV cameras there.
There was also a figure in what seemed to be the VIP seating area, so someone must have been there.
The whole venue was buzzing with excitement, everyone waiting for what would happen next.
What?
The moment when I perform the masquerade.
"First up, the person who came in first in this year's magical power measurement ! Please come to the center of the stage Naruki
I move to the center of the stage.
"Then, activate it whenever you like!"
I know how to use the device.
This is because what you need to do is shown to you in a visually-driven way.
So I follow the instructions, reach for the device, and switch it on.
Just by doing that, the device sucks magical power from my body, and the hood assists the flow.
And then, less than a second after I flipped the switch, my vision went dark.
■■■■■
"Where am I?"
It was on the shore of a beautiful lake that reflected light like a mirror.
At my feet was lush, short grass, and a little distance away was a forest so densely packed that the sunlight could not penetrate.
The only other thing that stands out are the daffodils.
"To put it simply, it's a place that could be described as your subconscious. To have come this far with your first masquerade... you really are an exceptional person."
I heard a voice answering my mutter, so I turned towards it.
There was a woman there who was like the sun.
"Well, I will tell you briefly what needs to be said. Normally, during the first Masquerade, the device draws out magical power, and the mask that combines the properties of the magic and the thoughts of the user is automatically and naturally assembled. However, you had doubts and an immense amount of magical power. That is why you came to this place, and why you met me."
Uh, hmm?
I feel like I understand, but I'm not sure...
I mean, in the end, what am I supposed to do?
"It's simple. Just speak your desires, what you like, what makes you happy, what makes you angry, what makes you sad, what you enjoy, what you dreamed of as a child, your random fantasies, anything that you have hidden inside of you. I will create your masked form, your Masquerade, to match those desires. That's why you came here, and that's why I was invited."
It doesn't matter what it is, just say it.
Something, I wonder...
"To be honest... I've been blessed. I've never had trouble with food. I've never had trouble with clothes. I've never had trouble with a place to live. Everyone around me has been kind. I may be a fool compared to the other students here, but I'm not stupid enough to think that committing a crime is OK. My face and body are undoubtedly first class, and while I'm proud of them, I definitely don't despise them."
"I see"
"So, when you say wish, I don't really understand. I don't really know what I should be looking for. When you say a different me, I can't really imagine it."
"I see."
"Even so, if I had to bring something out… I might want to see a version of myself that has changed but only in ways that don't hinder me from being me. Rather than a mirror image, it would be a partially reversed version, but that's the version of me I want to see."
『Hmm.』
I speak what comes from my heart.
Let it all out as it is, without holding anything back.
The woman listens to what he says intently and begins to create something.
"You... love yourself and those around you. You wish to protect yourself and those around you. You can clench your fist for the sake of yourself and those around you. In that case, it would be appropriate for you to remain as you are, but with some changes."
"..."
Somehow... I think what the woman said is spot on.
It's true that I love myself and the things that have shaped me, and I want to protect them, and I wouldn't mind even fighting to do so.
"Now, look into the lake. You will see your new self there. When you see it, you will naturally wake up."
"Understood"
I turned my back to the woman, stepped into the lake, and looked at the water's surface.
The figure there was somehow thinner, with silver hair and blue eyes, but I was sure that the majority of the features were mine...
"..."
"fart?"
"...I see. So that's how it is."
It was as if the thin line was drawing me in, and I sank to the bottom of the water.
■■■■■
And then I woke up.
She activates her masquerade and takes on the masked form of a completely naked woman.
As I knew what happened after that, even though I had only shown off my beauty to the audience, I was locked in a cage by the disciplinary committee chairman or so I was told, and am currently on my way somewhere.
Yeah?
I feel like I have a strange mix of thoughts going on right now.
Show me my beauty?
As for my good looks, from what I can see, they are definitely beautiful.
But showing it off?
Did I have the kind of thoughts and ideas that I would go out of my way to show off?
"Ah, is this the excitement that comes with your first masquerade or something like that? I feel like Ajitori-sensei said something along those lines."
My voice echoes inside the cage.
And when I tasted it, it all made sense.
At the same time, I remember what Professor Ajitori had said.
"When in Masquerade, it's easier to tell the truth. Emotions become more easily exposed. You can't lie. If you decide you can't control it, you should cancel Masquerade, I think...No, I can control it. I'm not going wild or anything."
"In fact, it would have been better if you'd gone on a rampage, you slut!!"
"Ugh!?!"
A loud metallic sound echoed, as if the cage had been kicked.
It also shakes violently and my body hits the cage with great force, but it doesn't hurt as much as I thought it would.
"Hmm... Ah, so voices can be heard normally from outside this cage."
"Oh, that's right. By the way, I can see what's going on inside. We'll be at the interrogation room soon, so deactivate your masquerade when we get there. Then I'll let you out of this cage."
"I won't cause any trouble, okay?"
"Say that line only when you're in a position where your breasts won't move around when you move!"
The cage is kicked again.
Hmm, I wonder if it's really okay for someone who is so quick to step in to be the discipline committee chairman at this school.
No, this cage is probably a masquerade as well, so perhaps this is also an effect of making it easier for true feelings to leak out?
"Sigh... This is the first time I've seen a violator make me this tired... Oh, we've arrived at the interrogation room. Listen, deactivate your masquerade. Everything else will come first after that. If you obediently follow our instructions, this incident will be deemed an accident and we'll finish the process without anyone getting hurt. So, you can do that now, deactivate your masquerade."
"You don't have to insist so much..."
"Understand that this is a situation that requires your confirmation, slut."
"..."
To be honest.
Right now, I feel like I want to use a big mirror to get a good look at my whole body.
Because it's absolutely beautiful.
Because there would be an image of a woman there that would captivate everyone who saw her, and that would be incredibly close to my ideal image.
However, he also knew that if he continued to stick around like this, his wish would never come true.
I barely feel like I'm consuming magical power, but since I've just participated in a masquerade for the first time with the Discipline Committee President, who is the top student among the upperclassmen, even though I have more magical power, I'm sure I'll be the one to end the masquerade first.
....
Ah yeah, the discipline committee chairman is right in this case.
Certainly, right now I'm in a state where I need to be reminded.
"Understood. Masquerade...cancel."
So I obediently followed the chairman of the disciplinary committee, deactivated my masquerade, and removed the device.
"Ah, finally. Really..."
At the same time, the discipline committee chairman also made the cage disappear.
"Well then, let's begin the interrogation. I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you a few questions about your masked body."
"Oh, okay. I understand."
What came into view was a small room with only one desk and two chairs, which could only be described as an interrogation room.
Apparently I'll be asked a lot of questions.