It had truly been a long day. I’d attended a faculty meeting. I’d installed Cain as head cadet and sent him off to the Empire professors. I’d wrestled with the Disciplinary Bureau in Zone 4. And yet—it was still just evening.
I was finally about to go see Gray when, suddenly, words materialized before my eyes.
「 ⧉ [Main Story] No.2 Betting Table 」
Ah. So it’s starting already.
Act Two of the story.
Earlier than expected. I thought it would begin after the Empire Agreement passed. But I suppose it kicks off with Gray’s journey to the Empire.
As you could tell from No.1 「Betrayal and Collapse」, the “Main Story” doesn’t refer to a single event, but rather a grand progression.
If 「Betrayal and Collapse」 was about something already concluded, then 「Betting Table」 would be the complete opposite—long, drawn-out, and possibly ongoing through Main Story 3, maybe even all the way to Main Story 7.
‘This is where it truly begins.’
And starting from this point...
The Single-Horned Demon Clan appears.
In the form of a concept known as [The Demon King’s Raid].
It’s a mechanic separate from the main story, where indiscriminate terror attacks erupt across every nation.
⋮At least, that’s how it played on [Hard Mode].
No idea yet how it’ll unfold on [Hell Mode].
‘Could be worse.’
Last time, “Jinksythe” was among the mid-to-high ranking single-horns, so he probably won’t appear for now...
But demons just slightly below his tier will crawl out, alongside droves of hornless demons.
More than anything, there’s no telling when or how Error Spaces and bugs will manifest. I need to stay alert. I could be caught in a swarm of problems at any moment.
Still, I don’t believe there’s anything I can’t solve.
***
x.
A single word floated through Gray’s head.
If you fleshed it out, it was essentially:
x I’m screwed.
It was tomorrow. The Empire. The studio at Assassination Daily headquarters—her departure was scheduled for tomorrow morning!
“Uhhbbbuuhh...”
Although she was usually known for her poise and maturity (according to Gray herself), this was the first time in her life she’d stood at the brink of such a massive opportunity.
‘I have to do well...’
In the short term, this would define the public image of Hiaka Academy—which didn’t exactly enjoy a shining reputation across the continent.
In the long term, it was the first chance to present Glass Butterfly, the nearly forgotten legacy of her clan, to the Empire and beyond.
It was a chance to take one bold step toward the dream long held by both Gray and the Habanero family.
‘I have to do well...!’
With trembling hands, Gray clenched her fists.
She’d prepared! She’d read all the past cover model interviews, their photoshoots, everything printed in the magazine.
What kind of place was Assassination Daily? Trashy enough for even that idiot Elize to know it by name! Their content was almost offensively sensationalist—but the cover models had always come off genuine. Principled. Cool.
Gray had so much to say herself. She’d filled a literal trash bin with draft scripts and rewrites until she had her lines memorized perfectly...
‘W-Wait...?!’
But as the moment drew closer, she suddenly realized she’d forgotten the single most important thing.
‘What do I wear?!’
She threw open her wardrobe—and it may as well have been a garbage bin.
A model’s job was to be seen. To show herself.
As the face of Hiaka’s Department of Assassination... what was she supposed to wear? How should she present herself?
She had. No. Clue.
“H-Help...! Help...!!”
Soon enough, Elize, her maid Lucy, and—somehow—even Rebecca showed up in her room to join the panic.
“No short skirts! No cleavage!”
Elize, the dog who loved people, immediately tried to wrap her up in layers.
“Shouldn’t you look modest and pitiful? Maybe casual clothes would work better?”
The maid, skilled at reading the room, insisted they needed to play up Hiaka’s underdog image.
“Value is defined by the buyer. Do you know what the highest-selling cover model of Assassination Daily wore?”
The princess, who saw people as tools, popped open the top buttons of Gray’s cadet uniform, revealing skin.
“Uhh—?!”
Elize yelped and hastily buttoned them back up.
“What are you doing?!”
“She can’t wear that, Princess...!”
“Why not.”
“My dad said girls shouldn’t show their legs or bodies...”
Lucy flinched. She knew the princess didn’t take kindly to objections.
But surprisingly, Rebecca wasn’t her usual high-handed self in this casual setting.
“Normally, yes.”
“Right?”
“Especially you.”
“Huh?”
The sudden wave of attention zeroed in.
Everyone was secretly aware of it—Elize was big. In every way.
As tall as most boys. Big hands. Big feet.
And her bust... well, it made her cadet uniform buttons look painfully strained. Her silhouette down to the hips was something else entirely.
If she were a dog, she’d be a Great Dane.
“For someone like you, covering up looks good. For me, revealing looks good. Meanwhile, she’s small in build but covered in tattoos. Think of her as a blank canvas that’s already painted. That’s a different kind of beauty.”
Beautiful tattoos.
A bit delinquent, but also unique.
Rebecca elaborated.
“Humans all crave their ideal. And sometimes, those ideals contradict each other.”
“They want a mighty man to be obsessed with just them, or a woman who’s innocent but seductive. It’s impossible, but they still desire it.”
“In that sense, Gray is young, but tattooed. So her outfit should conceal in a way that reveals.”
She explained it like this was how Gray would leave an impression on the public.
Lucy was secretly horrified—Rebecca’s reasoning was a little... warped.
“Umm... Princess... I don’t think that’s quite right...”
“I am right.”
“Still, wouldn’t something safe be better?”
The debate went on.
Rebecca mostly scolded the two of them, but Elize stood firm on her values. Lucy kept pushing for minimalism too.
No one could agree.
And so—
“Try it on.”
The only option was to see it for themselves.
“Umm... okay, I’ll start with this one.”
Gray went into the changing room and put on the outfit Rebecca recommended.
Then she stepped out.
Unwrapped the towel around her—
“Ta-da...?”
It was a highly revealing variation of the cadet uniform.
Far more extreme than anything Gray would normally wear.
“Have you lost your mind...?”
Elize looked horrified.
“No. No, Princess. No. Gray, I absolutely can’t support this.”
“Bold. But pretty.”
“No! No! Not pretty! No way! If she wears that, I’ll burn down Assassination Daily! I swear!!”
Elize nearly had a meltdown.
Lucy asked,
“Then what do you recommend?”
“Huh? I... this.”
Next, Gray changed into Elize’s pick and came out.
“Ta-daa...??”
It was an assassin-woman’s outfit—completely black, thick, concealing her hair and leaving only the eyes visible.
“...Are you kidding me?”
The princess scowled.
“You sending her on a terror mission?”
“Why? She looks like an assassin...”
“Don’t ‘why’ me! That’s a cheap disguise outfit every foreign assassin group uses. You’re gonna dress Hiaka’s cover girl in that? Take it off. Now.”
Elize pouted, grumbling under her breath.
Then it was Lucy’s turn.
“Gray, want to try my pick now?”
“Yeah... I really have no clue anymore.”
“When things get complicated, sometimes the simple choice is the best.”
This time, it was Lucy’s turn.
She unwrapped the towel.
“Ta-da...?”
Just a simple outfit.
A plain white t-shirt and jeans.
“Hm. What do you think? It’s been a while since I wore something casual. Feels weird.”
The three fell silent, each deep in thought.
“......”
Elize liked it—it covered her legs, stomach, and chest.
“......”
Rebecca liked the contrast—the simplicity emphasized the uniqueness of Gray’s tattoos.
“......”
Lucy thought: this is what would make the continent see Hiaka as innocent victims.
“I like it.”
“Do you? What about you, Princess?”
“Hmm.”
“Is it okay? Maid-unnie?”
“I picked it. Of course it’s okay. It’s pretty. Safe.”
Then it was settled. Casual fashion, it is...!!
......until someone arrived at the Dormant Dragon Cadet Hall.
Professor Dante.
Elize and Lucy both gasped—“Ah!”
Dante Hiakapo?
He had a signature formal aesthetic—blazers, shirts, suits—that many cadets secretly tried to copy.
So maybe he’d have good advice on this?
Just as they were considering it, Dante paused in front of the room full of girls, scanned the vibe, and dropped a bombshell.
“Gray Habanero. What are you wearing?”
Lucy raised her hand.
“Ah, Professor. This is the outfit we prepared for tomorrow’s Assassination Daily. We were just—”
“Change it.”
“...What?”
“You mustn’t wear that.”
What?
Before {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} anyone could respond, Dante dropped another bomb.
“Kreutz is coming to Assassination Daily tomorrow.”
...What???
He explained further. Specifically, that the daughter of the Carolina family—a famed illusionist bloodline—was scheduled to appear on the monthly cover alongside Gray. It was intel just acquired by the royal shadow unit. The academy intended to go through with it.
All their faces changed. The most extreme reaction came from Elize.
“WHAAAT?!”
Even calm, quiet Elize squealed. That’s how shocking this was.
Lucy started protesting too—“No way, that’s insane!”—but the actual subject of the issue was strangely quiet.
And Gray?
“......”
Gray was frozen.
The Carolina family had always been the Habanero family’s ancient rival.
Now fully digesting the chaos, all three turned to look at Gray again.
And were instantly dismayed by her plain outfit.
“Did Cheongru uncover this?”
“He did.”
Rebecca checked her Crystal Orb and finally found the message from Cheongru.
It wasn’t rare for her—Rebecca often napped during the day and only replied to people when she felt like it.
After dropping his bomb, Dante exited.
“Professor—wait!” Rebecca scowled and chased after him, but turned back to bark at Gray:
“Oh, and take that off. Now.”
“Uh... then what do I wear...?”
A glint of murder danced in the princess’s eyes.
“I’ll handle it.”
Elize winced—please no—but Rebecca didn’t mean what she thought.
“I thought this would be a picnic. But even sticking a spoon into the stew has limits. Those rat-bastard Kreutz...”
She muttered coldly.
“What time’s the shoot tomorrow?”
“1 p.m. We leave at 9.”
Too tight.
They wouldn’t have time for trial and error tomorrow.
They had to act now.
Rebecca made a call.
“Summon the royal chambermaids. Now.”
“C-Chambermaids?!”
“Princess...!”
Elize and Lucy panicked. The Royal Chamber? That was the exclusive powder room reserved for the royal family!
But Rebecca wasn’t in the mood to hold back—not with Kreutz involved.
Exactly five minutes later—
Five royal chambermaids appeared at the dorm hall. They arrived via [Teleport] with a royal mage.
“What is your command, Princess?”
No need for explanation.
“Tomorrow, an illusion cadet from Kreutz appears in Assassination Daily.”
The maids’ expressions darkened.
Kr-e-u-t-z...?
Just then, the subject walked in.
“Oh, I finished changing and—huh... who are you...?”
The maids studied Gray. Her base appearance was good, but the tattoos were a bit much. A little wild, too.
But it didn’t matter.
She had to outshine that Kreutz girl. No matter what.
No matter what.
That’s why they were here. Five of the Royal Chamber’s highest-grade maids. Each one a specialist—hair, skin and condition, dress, nails and accessories, makeup. Combined, their experience totaled 137 years.
“Leave it to us.”
From this moment on, Gray would become the goddess of Hiaka.
“Come along now, little cadet friend.”
“Eh? Me...?”
“Yes, yes, come quickly. We don’t have much time.”
And so, Gray was grabbed by the hands and dragged into the makeshift powder room by the maids—
Like a stray cat from the countryside being plopped into a wash basin by old aunties.
“...W-Wait—”
And the curtain closed.