Chương 61: [1.61] Lovely Assistant (Part 2)

Angelica often wondered what Transfiguration looked like to the outside eye. One of many Demon-related questions that most others probably didn't think about. When she went from an invisible Imp to a flesh-and-blood person, was there any sort of bizarre transition? She'd watched herself change in the mirror a few times, but it was instant and unimpressive. Maybe that was due to her Lucidity, though, being able to see the truth. For others, was there any sort of spectacle? An attention-grabbing or -diverting poof?

Maybe they saw her Puffball body shift and distort into the shape of a person. And what of those not Magically Proficient? Did she just appear out of nowhere? Did their minds make up an excuse for the suddenly appearing entity? Ziesta was probably the wrong person to ask in that regard, but he still looked on in anticipation as Gelic transformed into a stranger: a lovely brunette girl with a face that was a bit more defined and mature than her regular one.

The magician gave her a big smile, but that steadily slid into a more stern expression.

"I have notes. First, overall, it's decent. You know how to become a good-looking human woman, which removes the biggest barrier. But it's not quite what my audience wants. They want someone a bit more eccentric, whom they wouldn't see in their everyday lives. You are pretty, yes, but still a bit plain. Jazz it up, mess with your hair, become someone larger than life.

"And speaking of larger…" His eyes gave her another once over, examining every aspect.

"Since you're a Demon, you probably don't understand human preferences to a finer extent. Specifically, we need to up the ante, if you catch my drift. Which I'm sure you don't. Be a bit bigger all around. You'll make a larger splash if you're a bit more… voluptuous." The man made a matching hand motion, as if etching bulges around his body. His charades were unmistakable, making Angelica internally sigh. She knew what he wanted, and damned if she didn't feel just the slightest bit insulted.

While she had made her head completely different, the rest of the build was pretty much her everyday body. Angelica never cared much about her sizes, and things, never felt insecure or lacking. She'd long accepted that she wasn't very well-endowed in any area, and her general scrawniness certainly didn't help. But fine. The role of the lovely assistant was an inherently misogynistic one, except for a few duos that flipped the script.

Such progressive takes weren't happening here, so she'd give the man and the audience what they wanted, something to ogle at.

"How's this?" Angelica suddenly felt the increased weight of her inflated curves. It pulled her off balance, but she reined it back in quickly. The key aspects all over her body had been roughly doubled, tripled in spots. To match the change, she'd altered her dress as well, into one of long, flowing, silky, sparkly purple with matching gloves that went up the length of her arms. And for her hair, since her master insisted on calling her Cotton, she figured she may as well lean into it.

Both color and fluffiness, a mane of cotton that would make anyone want to give it a brush. The woman who now looked a fair bit older even altered her voice, one more sultry and alluring, softer but grabbed the attention of any who would hear it.

"Perfect, my dear!" Ziesta sized her up once more, nothing but emphatic appreciation on his face.

"Now, for the final piece." He walked over and held up a necklace, waiting a moment to pause and show her the item before wrapping it around her neck.

"This will really draw the crowd to you, place them under your spell." [Rune: How Intriguing Lv. 15 equipped] [New Rune discovered. Gnostic Attunement increased]"How Intriguing." She was really just repeating the words, but, well, it turned out to be appropriate.

"Yes, a very valuable Skill for any in this line of work." The magician clearly prided himself on having such a tool in his arsenal.

"It bolsters natural intrigue. Any who come across you, especially those with lower Lucidity, will be increasingly curious about you. They will want to get to know you, learn what makes you tick, fascinated by everything that you do. And it's already enchanted with Fraud for extra oomph." Damn, that actually sounds annoying. Angelica kept the commentary to herself. For showbiz, sure, made sense. But to a hermit like herself, it sounded miserable for a standard day.

If every passing stranger turned their heads at her, that would just be egregiously uncomfortable. People she didn't know randomly talking to her out of nowhere was one of her biggest peeves. Something like a Rune that made her just more likeable would be better. Of course, there could be plenty of useful applications, still, like interviews, both job and otherwise, so there was merit. Just not something she'd want all the time, which made it perfect in Rune form.

And of course, that made a greedy twinkle appear in the Demon's eye.

"Can I keep it?" Even if her request was denied, she would find time to sketch it down and add the Rune to her Reprint collection. So losing it wouldn't be the end of the world. But it was of a higher level than any she could currently make. Plus, the craftsmanship was actually pretty good, the necklace looking like something that would cost a few grand at a fancy jewelry store. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Sure, I have plenty, and that's a low-grade one. Doesn't remotely compare to the ring I wear." Ziesta presented it, boasting with a grin. Lv. 53?! Damn! A quick Scrying Eye left her floored. She didn't know Runes, or even Skills, for that matter, could even go up that high. Well, she had no reason to doubt that they could, but she'd been futzing about in the single digits all this time. With a Skill that high, no wonder she had been so drawn in by his call when she was Summoned.

"Now that you look the part…" Her master walked over to the multitude of props and wheeled over a large box that sort of looked like a locker.

"It's time for you to learn the routine. Let's begin." ◆◆◆"Ladies and Gentlemen, for your entertainment tonight, the Porter King, Ziesta!" Three days passed in what felt like an hour. The magician and his new assistant had rehearsed their routine so much that one act blurred into another. From dusk till dawn, it was nothing but trick after trick, to the point that Angelica felt she may never be able to watch magic properly ever again.

So much had been disillusioned for her, to the point that if she saw an act now, she'd just be stuck trying to figure it out the whole time instead of enjoying the moment. But there was a new satisfaction. Each part of the routine was like a new puzzle piece they figured out together into what would hopefully be an amazing show. Fortunately, she was well-refreshed.

Her master had allowed her to Return to her own apartment at the end of every rehearsal to rest, and then called her back when it was time to work again. And thanks to Transfiguration, there was no upkeep, no makeup, no squeezing into her way-too-tight dress, which actually wasn't very tight at all, since it was part of herself; it just sort of existed without hindering her movements.

And despite having figured out all the secrets behind the acts, many of which relied on Demonic arts, there was still a lot of work and impressive skill involved in the deception. Ziesta appeared on the stage as if from nowhere. But really, it was a trap door obscured by pyrotechnics. That had actually been a genuinely tedious pain to set up each run, but it let her flex a more mechanical part of her brain.

"Thank you all for coming!" The magician went through his spiel about how wonderful of a night he had planned for the audience.

"But I can't do it alone. Accompanying me tonight is a very special lady. Give it up for the buxom bundle of joy, Cotton!" He waved his arms off to his side in a grand gesture, as if the woman was supposed to appear in a similar fashion to his own entrance. But nothing happened, so he did it again—no magically appearing assistant.

"Cotton, where are you, Cotton? You're keeping our audience waiting!" He called out as if he was performing a play.

"I'm up here, Z!" A spotlight shone up near the ceiling, revealing the woman clinging to the rafters.

"Well what are you doing up there?!"

"I wanted to get a better look at our audience, and what a wonderful audience they are!" Angelica could hardly believe the drivel she was spewing. It was so fake, so phony, exactly what those who came to see the show would eat up. Her alter ego was undoubtedly her saving grace. She had been forced into a play in middle school where she performed as a peasant with all of two lines. But even that had been nightmarish, on the verge of throwing up throughout the entire performance.

Now, though, she was Cotton, and Cotton had to live up to everyone's expectations.

"Get down from there at once!"

"Okay, will you catch me?"

"Catch you? No way can I catch you! You'll crush me!" He looked over to the audience as if exchanging a knowing glance.

"I'm jumping, Z. Catch me!" With no fear, the purposefully ditzy woman leapt to what could very well be her death.

"Alright, I'll catch you, but with my magic!" Ziesta did another showy gesture right about when Gelic should have gone splat. Instead, she floated about a foot in the air, suspended for just a second, before her heels delicately clacked against the stage. It wasn't his magic that had saved her, though, but her own. [Flutter Lv. 3] [Might, Competence increased] [Balletic Attunement increased] About time the thing levelled. They'd practiced that drop so many times, to a tedious degree.

But it was only one little Flutter each take, so progress had been slow-going. Of course, it levelled during the performance, at the most distracting moment, but she didn't let it throw her off her game. Honestly, what was more distracting was her own random wonderings about the show, like what did the audience think they'd done to pull off the trick? The majority probably thought wires, maybe mirrors, or some fancy cushion. But enough guessing, since she still had to focus.

"See, I knew you'd catch me! I can always count on you, Z!"

"Well, I can't count on you, it would seem!" The magician spat his fabricated ire.

"Late for our show, and you pull something reckless like that. When will you start taking this seriously?"

"I think you take this seriously enough for the both of us," Cotton jabbed back, forced to play along with the apparently required unwitty banter that magic shows thrived on.

"But if you're going to keep being mean to me, then I'll… I'll… wahhh!" She raised her hands to the sides of her eyes and rubbed them with enthused exaggeration. From the sides of her fists, small ice pebbles began to fall, resembling large sparkly tears.

"Don't think your phony tears will get you out of trouble!" Ziesta huffed.

"You're in need of a time-out." He went over to the large locker-like prop and opened the door.

"Get in the box."

"Hmph, if I must," Cotton pouted.

"But you better be nicer to me when I get out. Or I'll... Or I'll… not talk to you for the rest of the show!"

"Wouldn't that be a treat." Ziesta gave another knowing glance before slamming the locker shut with her inside. The great magician then went on to perform a few solo tricks, so it was time for his assistant to perform her own endeavors in the background.