Censorship Magic, Mosaic.
While Yunia’s attire-fixing magic aims at “prevention”, this mosaic magic is designed for “after-the-fact” handling.
“Personally, I prefer Miss Yunia’s magic.”
If exposure is considered an “accident”, then prevention is more critical than response.
Think of it like a fire: while it’s important to know how to respond when a fire occurs, it’s even better to prevent fires in the first place, which minimizes damage and is the most appropriate response.
“But if there’s a difference between Miss Yunia’s magic and this magic… it’s that someone else can cast this mosaic spell.”
I cast a new mosaic magic, covering not only below but also in front of my eyes.
“You can even use it to obscure faces or apply it to the entire body. …Are you watching?”
“Yes, I am.”
Yunia’s gaze stayed below me.
Her red eyes seemed to be gleaming, as if she were trying to “break through” my mosaic by infusing mana into her eyes.
“Do you really want to see that much?”
“Yes.”
“…”
“…Uh, no, I mean.”
Yunia shook her hands side to side in denial.
“What I mean is, I was just thinking about how to deal with this mosaic magic—how to adjust the mana pattern to see through it.”
“That’s what you mean? Nothing that others might take the wrong way, right?”
“Of course. I don’t know how others think, but I imagine it’s similar to what I’m showing now.”
Yunia pointed to her torn undergarments, revealing her lower chest and hip bone.
“I’m not showing this to you because I want to be a tease, but because it’s the safest way to directly demonstrate how the magic works. Right?”
“Right. Same for me.”
Both Yunia and I are just using our own bodies to verify the functionality of the magic for the sake of its advancement.
“So, Phoenix, can you cast the mosaic magic on me too?”
“Probably, though it would feel like brushing over the clothes. But it’s a bit different in this case.”
“Different…?”
“Yeah. The mosaic magic I’m using now is based on the ‘illusion attribute’. Mosaics based on other attributes are… a bit different.”
I generated mana.
I cast a mosaic that wasn’t the usual opaque pixelated blocks but was based on illusion magic.
“Mosaic… [Absolute Zone].”
Whoosh.
In an instant, black mana with the Dark attribute enveloped my lower body, adhering like tight drawers to cover the essential areas.
“How’s that?”
“It certainly covers more than before, but…”
Yunia pointed at my front.
“It could lead to misunderstandings in guessing the shape, I think?”
“Why is that?”
“Well, this…”
Yunia stretched her hand forward, then curved it to the left, before quickly blushing and putting it back.
“…It’s just, well, a little hard to put into words.”
“Right? This magic is actually designed for females.”
“What?”
“Specifically, it’s meant for those wearing skirts. It’s almost like shorts.”
Although it’s called [Absolute Zone] mosaic magic, it’s essentially like making spats with a mana skin.
“And there’s one more: this one uses Light attribute mana.”
I generated mana. The black darkness faded away in place of a bright, transparent light that started to obscure the shape below me.
“How about this?”
“…”
With a serious look, Yunia examined the [Light of Censorship] I cast.
This light was clearly—
“It only obscures the precise shape.”
As Yunia gauged the area with her hand, the white light showed that it was only covering the “essential area” with precision.
“It clings tightly, almost like a mana skin. Right?”
“Exactly. And the benefit of this light-attribute mosaic is that…”
I leaned back a bit.
Throb.
“!!”
I gave a strong flex below.
“What do you think?”
“My goodness. It… it moved.”
Yunia pointed with a surprised expression at the pillar of white light that had shifted.
“Unlike the previous ones, does this pillar of light adjust to the shape?”
“Yes. It never reveals anything.”
The Light of Censorship is the strongest form of concealment.
Simply put, for the most “efficient” use of that censorship light, it’s designed to precisely cover “only the parts that need to be covered”.
For men, this could mean that the shape, form, and thickness of the light pillar might give a certain “impression” of what lies underneath.
‘That’s not obscene.’
This is not indecent; it’s actually designed to prevent indecent situations.
“Miss Yunia, which of the three do you think is the most appropriate?”
“…”
Yunia examined the pillar of light with a serious expression, nodding.
“I think the mosaic is still the best.”
“Why?”
“If we’re in a dark place like a dungeon or cave, a pillar of light might draw arrows or attacks toward it. That would be… awkward.”
“Yeah, that’s a fair point.”
Even I wouldn’t want to risk drawing enemy attention to my weak points.
“Looks like I’ve got more research topics for the weekend. Really, Phoenix, whenever I’m with you, I end up with so much to study.”
Yunia laughed, throwing herself onto the bed.
“So, could I ask you for a mana massage today as well?”
“Of course. But the clothes—”
“You’re wearing yours, aren’t you?”
With a subtle glance, Yunia lifted a piece of her torn undergarment.
“It doesn’t matter for me, and you’re already wearing a mana skin, so it should be fine, right? There’s no direct contact, and it’s all done over clothes.”
Hmm.
“That makes sense.”
Since the massage happens over clothes, and I’m using mana through my hands, there’s no issue.
“Close your eyes.”
It’s already been proven through Instructor Esta that there’s nothing inappropriate about this.
Swoosh.
Thus, the time with Yunia ended with me releasing the mana and fatigue built up in her body.
* * *
[Saturday morning, the second week of March.]
“Working out early?”
“Yes, Phoenix.”
I headed to Ludmila Lionheart’s room as she had asked for help with her morning “training”.
“Just looking at your outfit, it seems like you’re ready to go for a run outside near the old school building.”
“Does it?”
Ludmila had her hair pulled back in a ponytail, wore a black tank top, and had on form-fitting black leggings.
If a woman showed up dressed like this with a running crew, nine out of ten men would think she was out to “attract someone”, and the remaining one would think, “This woman is serious.”
A professional runner, confident in her own body without feeling the need to be self-conscious.
That’s Ludmila right now.
“I’m not planning on running outside.”
But Ludmila wasn’t planning on going for a run.
“I called you here today to help with some body training.”
Ludmila stood in place, slowly lifting one leg upward.
“Could you come closer here?”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
I moved to the spot Ludmila had designated.
Though it was directly across from her nearly vertical leg, I took my position without comment since it was where she wanted me.
“Hold my ankle, please.”
Following her instructions, I held Ludmila’s raised ankle as she leaned her torso to the side and began stretching.
Crack.
A loud sound echoed, as though her joints weren’t just loosening but almost breaking.
Meanwhile, Ludmila continued moving her upper body side to side, stretching. All I could do was hold her ankle firmly to keep her posture steady.
Although there were moments we almost brushed against each other, Ludmila maintained her balance without touching any part of me other than her held ankle.
“Hoo.”
With a refreshed expression, Ludmila straightened her upper body as if nothing had happened.
“Now, could you hold my wrist instead of my ankle?”
As I released her ankle, Ludmila stood straight in front of me, placing her heel in front of my big toe. She then bent forward.
Push.
“Miss Ludmila?”
“Hmm, it feels more stable than I expected.”
Her lower body touched beneath me.
Keeping her legs straight without bending her knees, she extended one hand toward her lower back, gesturing for me to take her hand.
“Hold my wrist, please.”
“Alright, but…”
I pointed to her other hand.
“What are you planning with that?”
“Stretching.”
Ludmila pressed her hand against the wall, lifting her lower body even higher.
“It’s… stretching.”
“…”
“You’re the only one in the old school building with a build that matches mine for this exercise.”
“That’s true.”
“That’s why. Ugh—”
As Ludmila stretched, her body arched gracefully like a bow.
“Haa…”
Ludmila’s expression looked truly relaxed as she stretched.
“…”
Of course.
I could clearly see that she was thinking of something else.
“Um.”
Ludmila turned her head slightly to ask.
“Could you firmly hold my hips?”
Stretching for half-beastfolk seems to have its own unique style.
