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Chapter 51 – The Sniffer, Yasutaka Kouhei
Several days after Wataru made contact with Koyuki…
As expected, Koyuki’s transformation became a major talking point in the entertainment world.
Moreover, viewers were shocked by the visible change on their television screens.
At first glance, she appeared to be over ten years younger, and in some cases, nearly twenty years younger.
This obvious change surprised people and greatly piqued their curiosity.
Women desperate to defy aging, those in positions of power, and the super-rich were particularly keen.
However, this transformation didn’t result in any special features or interviews for viewers.
This was because Koyuki showed no willingness to answer questions, adhering to her contract and promises.
This stance was strictly enforced by her senior colleagues and her agency superiors.
Consequently, all kinds of speculation ensued.
“Did you see Ayano Koyuki’s face?”
“Yeah, I saw it! She must’ve tried some new cosmetic surgery, right?”
“Nah, I heard our company hired her to test new cosmetic technology.”
“Maybe she’s testing new anti-aging medical technology?”
I asked her about it during another interview, but she didn’t answer.”
“Ayano-san was in that Daiichi Beauty Pharmaceuticals commercial, wasn’t she? Isn’t that her angle?”
“If that’s the case, she’s already got enough production value. We should get follow-up news.”
“Seriously, though, that sex appeal combined with her youth…isn’t that crazy?”
“I get it. She has the face of a high school girl and the body of a mature woman. That imbalance is insane.”
“And she’s so kind to us, too. I want to get close to her—”
“No way. First, you need to fix your face.”
“That’s harsh!”
“Wahahaha!”
Writers from weekly magazines gathered and speculated about Koyuki’s transformation, but none of them came close to the truth.
At best, they voiced vulgar desires.
They showed no real intent to pursue the truth.
Without any scandal or credibility, it was just filler content. Even for a popular weekly magazine, there was no real value in pursuing it.
But one man was different:
Yasutaka Kouhei, a thirty-eight-year-old freelance writer, was different.
With his protruding belly, unshaven stubble, and clothes with stretched collars, he had an unkempt appearance.
He darted his eyes around, was sensitive to whispers of secrets, and often made a living by snagging and selling scoops.
His relentless pursuit of sources was brutal. He had driven some out of the industry and had even pushed people to suicide. His peers used him conveniently, yet they deeply disliked him.
His buyers weren’t limited to weekly magazines.
Often, he approached the source of the story directly or through their agency.
“How about buying this story before it blows up?”
The price of the information varied, sometimes exceeding ten million yen.
Yasutaka’s keen instincts and experience told him something big was brewing.
Something big was brewing.
If handled right, it could mean a massive payday.
He had to get to the bottom of it.
“Maybe I should look into it a bit…”
From what he had heard, Koyuki’s change happened just within the last few days.
Just a few days ago, she was exactly how the public perceived her.
Such a drastic change occurred in just a few days.
He also asked acquaintances in the beauty industry about it, but Koyuki’s transformation seemed beyond what could be considered normal.
For example, laser spot removal uses laser beams to destroy the melanin pigment that causes spots.
The skin becomes inflamed immediately after the laser treatment, and the spots don’t fully heal in just a few days.
Methods for improving skin firmness and radiance include hyaluronic acid injections, expensive serums, and creams containing a heparin-like substance, but these also fall short of producing dramatic changes.
Wrinkle removal involves injecting botulinum toxin to relax the skin muscles, but overuse can lead to unnatural facial expressions.
Considering the pros and cons of each method, it’s impossible to replicate the results achieved here with standard cosmetic techniques.
She became more beautiful, but rejuvenating to the level of a high school girl is inconceivable.
In other words, something miraculous must have happened during these past few days.
“Osaka. Something happened there.”
Investigating Koyuki’s actions over the past few days confirmed that she had business in Osaka.
While the specifics of who she met or what her business was remain unclear, it’s entirely predictable.
She met someone capable of performing a rejuvenating miracle.
In fact, that’s the only plausible explanation.
Check Koyuki’s social media activity.
If even one post mentioned seeing her in Osaka, it would provide a clue as to her whereabouts.
But nothing came up, not in her own posts nor in those of ordinary people.
“Of course. She’d be disguised, at the very least.”
Since she hadn’t shared any details, she must have met secretly.
It was entirely predictable.
But there was no disappointment.
“Guess I’ve got no choice. I’ll head to Osaka myself.”
If such beauty products exist, then it’s impossible that Ayano Koyuki is the only one using them.
Another user is bound to surface.
He’ll track them down no matter what.
If Ayano Koyuki is meeting someone, it’ll be somewhere fitting, given her active presence in Tokyo.
Taking a taxi to a less crowded area would draw too much attention.
Light feet are a freelancer’s specialty.
Fortunately, the previous scoop—”Secret Meeting Between Married Actor at the Height of Popularity and Idol Forbidden to Date”—had fetched a high price, enough to cover his travel and lodging expenses.
This new scoop looked set to bring in just as much, if not more.
“Hehehe, I’m counting on you. Be my sugar daddy.”
He had extorted money through interviews countless times before.
Money wasn’t his only goal, though.
He loved seeing people’s flustered expressions and attitudes when confronted with inconvenient truths.
He loved the moment when men and women, marketed as beautiful and polished on the surface, had their filthy true natures exposed.
Yasutaka adored that moment.
Chapter 52 – The Rumor of the Fitting and Lord Moye’s Arrival
After selling Hot Spring Essence to Koyuki, Wataru and the others arrived in the other world.
This was because Buck needed to adjust the fitting.
Tailors often use different fabrics for fittings or use the actual fabric from the start. Methods vary.
The most common approach is to use soft fabric or paper for fittings.
Buck was no exception. He used temporary fitting fabric, which he likely kept in his workshop, and had Wataru try on the suit that was still in progress.
Even for a temporary fitting, it must resemble the final version as closely as possible; otherwise, the fitting loses its purpose.
Therefore, even at this stage, the general shape was clear.
Unlike a classic suit that hugs the body tightly, this one leaned more toward a modern, fashion-forward style.
The shoulders were cut generously wide and reinforced with stiffening material.
Additionally, perhaps because people in this world ride horses, the center back vent is cut quite deep.
The sleeves appear designed to roll up, likely for sudden combat.
Overall, the suit uses ample fabric and is cut quite roomy.
“Hmm, raise your arms. The other side, too. Turn around. That’s it. Good.”
“It already looks pretty good to me. Does this really need adjustments?”
“You don’t seem to have much experience with full custom orders.”
“I was practically poor until recently. This is my first time getting anything tailored.”
“Well, just look forward to the finished product. You’ll understand why people pay such high prices and go through all this trouble.”
Buck exuded confidence, hinting that this was far from the final result.
It’s something to look forward to.
Wataru wondered what it would feel like to wear it.
Last time, the measurements took until nightfall, but this time they were finished before sunset.
Because of the previous attack, Wataru and the others wanted to head back early. However, Buck said,
“Speaking of which, it seems the new lord has arrived. It was a topic of conversation in our guild.”
“Oh, really? Finally.”
Up until now, the magistrate governed, but who knows what’ll happen now.”
“His governance of Moon Gazing Hill, his own territory, was excellent. This place will become a key hub for trade, won’t it? It should really start to thrive from now on.”
“Huh, you know a lot about it.”
“I have a bit of a connection. It looks like you’ll be getting busier, boss.”
“Ha! We’ll take it easy. Or maybe I’ll just dump it all on the apprentice. Right?”
Buck snorted.
He still had plenty of work, and for an old man like Buck, getting too busy probably wasn’t something he’d welcome.
“Give us a break,” another artisan grumbled. Buck chuckled merrily.
It seemed like a good workplace where masters and apprentices understood each other.
〇〇〇
Is there no sign of those unknown attackers?
Aire and Cloche scanned their surroundings with heightened vigilance but found no trace of them.
They hurried along Craftsmen’s Street as fast as they could, determined to reach their destination before sunset.
The narrow alleyway was barely wide enough for two people to pass, and the uneven, chipped cobblestones made for uncertain footing.
It was far less stable than the hallway of an old, cheap apartment building.
Wataru thought again about how they had managed to walk through this in pitch darkness last time.
“Cloche, do you smell anything?”
“Nothing, Onee-sama. Have you seen any lurking figures or signs of invisibility?”
“None. Was the last encounter just a coincidence?”
“Or are they merely trying to lull us into a false sense of security?”
“That’s a possibility. Master, turn left next.”
“Understood.”
He normally avoided back alleys, but since Aire and Cloche had joined him, he occasionally ventured into them deliberately.
The sparse foot traffic made it easier to shake pursuers.
Of course, that also meant a higher risk of being attacked by other rogues. However, Aire and Cloche seemed to sense such dangers beforehand.
“Are we safe now that we’ve reached this point?”
“I suppose so. We shouldn’t be attacked on a public street. Aire and Cloche are keeping watch.”
“Honestly, I wish I could relax with all this constant vigilance.”
“Getting too accustomed to it leads to carelessness. I don’t want you to face any danger, no matter how slight.”
“That’s precisely when danger lurks. Carelessness is the enemy.”
The constant tension was exhausting, but he would just have to endure it for now.
Wataru thought it might be worth consulting Moye about this.
“But Baron Moye…or is he Lord Moye now? He’s here. I suppose I should go greet him.”
“Absolutely. As an official merchant, it’s essential to greet him. Besides, he did us a favor the other day.”
“Right. I already bought the kaleidoscope, so maybe I’ll bring another item.”
Moye was a collector and an exceptionally wealthy man.
If he liked something, he could pay a fortune for it or offer valuable information or goods in exchange.
Incidentally, what Wataru wanted most right now was a transformation accessory.
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