"Ugh... too tight... doesn't fit at all..."
"That's because you're too big. Can't you shrink a little?"
"I'm a man!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Inside the hotel room, Naoki—now clad in Riddell's leggings and skirt—stood before the mirror with an uncomfortable expression.
Seeing the leggings straining against his legs and the skirt barely able to zip up, Riddell sighed in dismay: "It really feels like you could burst at any moment if you take a step. Why are your butt and thighs so big?"
"I'll ask you the same—why should I have slender arms and legs?"
As he spoke, Naoki tried adjusting the leggings and skirt again, prompting Riddell to quickly grab his hands: "Don't be so rough! These are my clothes—what if they tear?"
"I don't have a choice, it's uncomfortable! Don't you have anything bigger?"
"Weren't you the one who insisted on wearing my actual outfit for authenticity?" Riddell retorted irritably. "This is the exact set I wore—plenty of people would pay to have it, but I'm lending it to you for free. You should be grateful."
'Even if you say that, I don't feel happy about it at all.'
With a sour expression, Naoki paced in front of the mirror a few times before pinching the hem of the skirt: "Still too tight. I can't take wide steps—if I run, it'll probably split open."
"Then don't run. Just walk slowly. The point is to distract the reporters."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
After donning the wig, colored contacts, and oversized sunglasses, Naoki spun in place and asked Gray: "Gray, take a look. Any differences left between me and Miss Achelotte?"
"Uh... appearance-wise, it's very close. If I had to point something out, maybe your height is much taller than Miss Riddell's, and your voice and posture."
Honestly, Gray was almost shocked.
Aside from the issues she mentioned, Naoki's current appearance was nearly identical to Riddell's. Unless reporters stared closely and compared him to photos, it'd be hard to spot the difference—especially with the 80% resemblance in face and outfit.
"I can fix the voice with disguise Magecraft. For height... suggestion Magecraft should work."
"The most important thing is that the face isn't an issue. It helps that your features are naturally soft—just a bit of makeup and you look like me. Though if it really doesn't work, we can always use a face mask."
"Are you Belladonna or something?"
Naoki couldn't help but quip before continuing: "So the disguise is done? All I have to do now is maintain this look, go out for a short walk, and come back, right?"
"The concert's still four days away. Until then, you'll need to do this daily—about two hours each time."
"Four days... Gray and I came here to vacation. How are we supposed to enjoy ourselves like this?"
"Ara~ Then after the concert, I'll personally take you two around Paris." Riddell smiled. "I'll have free time post-concert anyway. Consider it a bonus—I don't mind accompanying you two on a date through the city."
"No thanks. I don't want to be hunted down by your rabid fans as their mortal enemy. Besides, you're an idol—if you're seen with a guy like me, won't rumors spread instantly?"
Riddell waved a hand dismissively: "Rumors can be handled with money. I've dealt with scandals for years. Besides, do you really think you're worthy of being my rumor partner?"
"But you're surprisingly considerate about this. Didn't expect you to care about others."
"I'm the type who avoids inconveniencing people—because the aftermath is always a hassle." Naoki sighed. 'Well, there's also the fact that I blew up her lab...'
Checking the time, Riddell patted his shoulder: "Let's head out. Those reporters have been lurking all day, making me uneasy. Go distract them all for me."
"Yes, yes, Miss Achelotte."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Seine Riverbank.
Standing by the river, taking in the scenic view of the Seine and breathing in the fresh air, Priest Dawn couldn't help but sigh in contentment: "Beautiful scenery. The romantic city of Paris—I'm starting to understand the meaning behind that title. Don't you agree, Ciel?"
"Stop wasting time, Priest Dawn."
Not far from Dawn, Ciel paced back and forth, gripping a crucifix.
Though Magecraft was officially prohibited, the Church permitted certain exceptions—Mystic Codes included. The crucifix in her hand was one such tool, commonly used by Executors.
The Church described it as "[a holy relic that reacts to demons and heretics, revealing their location]", but to Ciel—who, for certain reasons, possessed extensive Magecraft knowledge—it was simply an abnormal Mana detector. If even a trace of irregular Mana was nearby, it would react.
True, it could locate demons and Dead Apostles, but it was also prone to errors—mistaking ordinary humans in magically unstable areas for heretics and executing them wasn't uncommon.
Seeing the unresponsive crucifix, Ciel scowled in frustration: "Damn it, nothing here either. Is the boss toying with me?"
"Should we head to Luxembourg next? Or the Panthéon district?"
"Same difference—distance is about the same."
Watching Ciel's agitation, Dawn couldn't help but console her: "Don't stress too much, Ciel. By the way, Dead Apostles are mostly active at night—wouldn't it be pointless to search now?"
"That's exactly why we're searching during the day. They're weakest now—if we find one, we can finish it quickly."
Ciel's gaze at Dawn was practically "are you stupid?"
"But you're not entirely wrong. Precisely because they know they're vulnerable, Dead Apostles hide desperately during daylight. With this tool, who knows how long it'll take to find one."
"True. Should we contact the local Church branch? There's no harm asking for their help."
"Fine, go ahead."
Ciel exhaled in exasperation before turning her gaze to a cruise ship on the Seine.
"An idol concert... ignorance truly is bliss. Holding a concert in a city targeted by Dead Apostles..."