Disguise

"Can I also join this competition?"

Along the way, I blurted out what I was thinking. Well, I really want the orb and this time, there's no pledge that I needed to make. I just need to win it and take the Orb for myself.

"Daisuke-kun, do you like bullying someone weaker than you?"

Yumiko asked. She has an idea on how strong I am right now so joining a competition meant for Natal Spirits and Fused Spirits is somewhat overkilled on my part.

However, Jayna didn't know that.

"Why? He's still a Natal Spirit. I think he will lose to a Fused Spirit soon enough. Sorry Daisuke, I didn't mean to be rude."

Ah. This girl is quite well-mannered unlike a certain Princess from the World of Systems. Err… If I was not introduced as Yuko's fiance, maybe she would also treat me quite well. That bro-con princess.

Though this girl looks young, the normal custom here to find their spirit-pair is around 30 years old. And she's already 20 years old. Yumiko mentioned that Jayna already looks like this when she met her when Harlan first brought her here. After 3 years she still acts clumsily, that's why Yumiko was so fond of her.

"Ah. Yumiko was right at saying that, Jayna."

I answered her with a smile. She still didn't know the extent of my strength after all. I'm confident to win that competition if the participants were limited to Natal and Fused Spirits.

"He's stronger than he looks, Jayna. Will you believe me if I tell you he's possibly even stronger than you?"

Yumiko teasingly questioned her which made her confused. I'm clearly a Natal Spirit in her eyes, for me to be stronger than her, she probably finds that idea ridiculous.

"Does that mean he can really call on other spirits like you?"

Still pushing the possibility of me having the same ability as Yumiko, Jayna checked me out but there's no way she could determine it with just that.

"No. You better ask him yourself. Even I still don't know how strong he is. But since we'll be adventuring together, being friends with another is better."

Yumiko even clapped her hands at the idea of us being friends. Having known each other for three years, I guess I'm the one who needs to somehow adjust here. I'm mostly in an Otherworld and our only time to interact with each other was when we're training in the Pocket Dimension and here when I accompanied her. And it's only been one day.

"He said he wants to join the competition."

Jayna didn't seem to mind Yumiko's suggestion and she then went back to the thing I asked. Since it's a competition that was originally for finding her spirit-pair, maybe her father still has a plan to groom the winner.

Is she thinking I'm aiming to become her spirit-pair? Let's clear that doubt first. This girl is trusted by Yumiko and it's not like she knew about the orbs.

"I'm actually interested in that stone. You see..."

Trailing my voice from there, I pulled out the necklace I was wearing, the pendant on it is the Orb of Enhancement which came from Avelin.

When they saw it, both of them couldn't help but get near me to take a better look.

"It's that Stone. Why do you have it?"

Jayna reached her hand out to touch the pendant.

"No. Look closely, it's different from your stone."

Though I don't know if Yumiko really saw the difference between them, she just knew that it's not possible for me to have Jayna's stone.

"This is the reason why I want to join the competition. That stone is special, Jayna."

"What do you mean special? True, I use it to prank those guards to let them feel ill out of nowhere but that's all it can do."

Feel ill out of nowhere? Is it something that debuffs the enemy? So this time, it's an item which I can actively use in combat but what about its cooldown? Will it be the same?

"I see, so that's the effect of the Orb this time?"

Spilling out what I called the stone they're referring to, the two was confused

.

"Orb?"

"Yes. This here is called the Orb of Enhancement, it can make you stronger but it needs a specific type of energy. Tell me, do you inject Spirit Energy while using that stone?"

Explaining the use of my Orb, it will be useless for them since they don't have the necessary Brute Energy to activate it.

"…Yes. Are you telling me the truth? That stone is special?"

Her eyes sparkled in interest as she wanted to confirm what I just said. Will she take it back from her father? Then I won't be able to get it easily.

"Well, yes but maybe only me can use it to its full potential."

Hearing these words from me, Jayna was in disbelief.

"How do you have the confidence to say that?"

With Yumiko just silently watching us from the side, Jayna pressed on.

"Uhm. It's kind of a trade secret. But I'm honestly telling the truth, that's why I want to join the competition to get it."

I'm not inclined to divulge all my secrets to her yet so explaining it like this is fine.

"But that's mine! I'll take it back from my father. Then show me how special it is."

Eh? Are you actually a spoiled brat? Though what those who will join the competition want is your father's tutelage, I only needed that Orb. That's more special since I don't really need a tutelage but enough knowledge to reach the higher stages in the future.

"Err..."

I looked at Yumiko to ask for her help. She's kind of enjoying herself watching us so I thought of pulling her in.

"Why don't we let him join the competition then after he wins, he'll show you how special it is?"

Understanding my intention, Yumiko went next to Jayna and pulled her from me.

"Uhh… but the stone will be his by then."

She became this hung up on her Pranking Stone after I told her that it might be special.

"But Jayna, if he didn't tell us about it, it would be fine for you even if it's given to the winner, right? We'll be together so the stone won't be far away from you."

Seeing Yumiko try to convince Jayna, I felt like I should thank her for this. She can be playful but most of the time, she's this considerate to her companions.

"… You're right, he was honest with us. He could keep it to himself but he honestly told us about how the stone might possibly be a special item."

After thinking for a while about what Yumiko said, Jayna also gave in and almost immediately, the point of me telling them about the Orb went across her.

Ah. This girl's personality was somewhat erratic and Yumiko already grasped it.

"Thank you for understanding. Then, can I join?"

Repeating my question, I directed my gaze to the both of them.

"No, you can't join."

Jayna answered.

"You can't join as yourself, we need you to assume another identity."

Yumiko followed up.

At first, I thought I was rejected but it seems Yumiko already thought of this and thinking about it again, I also don't want to join using my identity. The Invading Forces might catch wind of my existence and Jayna's father will most possibly still groom the winner to become his daughter's spirit-pair in the future. I only need the Orb so after getting it, I need to disappear since I can't run away from a Noble Spirit yet.

After saying that, Yumiko gestured to Jayna to do something. Understanding what Yumiko wanted her to do, Jayna first pulled down the covers for the carriage.

After it, a visible transformation happened to Jayna's body, just like how Yumiko can grow her wings, her whole body shined with greenish light, then her elegant dress somehow vanished and was replaced with a somewhat thin green silk robe which made her look fairy-like or rather a Nymph. Partnered with her green shoulder-length hair, she's really like a Nymph that was often described in myths.

So this is her as a Transformed Spirit.

"Jayna can transform your outer appearance using her connection to the Spirit Ocean, not even her father could see through it. Unless someone can dispel Spirit Energy, you'll be assuming an identity she will forge for you."

Yumiko explained.

Err. I can probably dispel it, right?

Seeing an ability like this that uses the connection to the Spirit Ocean, there are really slight differences between these energies even though they will converge at one point.

Jayna put her hand on my shoulder and from there, I could feel her Spirit Energy travelling throughout my body as it coated me, my Spiritual Twin included. Though I didn't feel any discomfort, I felt like I was wearing a whole-body mask.

"Wonderful! Tell me, Jayna, is this your ideal type of guy?"

Yumiko exclaimed before teasing the still fairy-like Jayna.

That thin silk robe could barely hide her bulging chest so I kept my gaze up to their faces.

She successfully put on a disguise for me. When I looked at my Spiritual Twin and saw that its face also changed, I determined that what I'm seeing from it is my current disguise.

Eh? Red, flowing hair, green eyes and a sharp oval face, is this the beauty aesthetic here?

"No, of course not. I just made it so when we dispel his disguise, he won't be suspected."

Jayna explained before returning back to normal, her elegant dress draped over her again.

Soon after that, the carriage arrived at our destination.