50 The Plan 2 a.k.a The Sudden Training Session! I Didn'st Even Want to Live, But God Forced Me to Reincarnate!

We are standing in front of the big mirror right now.

"All this time, you've been practicing to alter yourself by covering your body in mana, right?"

"Yes~"

"That's the art of illusion magic. As for transformation magic... the two of them are quite similar but the essence is different. In transformation magic, you pour your mana to your body and change it. Yes, it won't just be an illusion, but your actual body will feel the sensation of changing."

"...Pouring... my mana?"

"Yes. It is harder—but wanna try it?"

I nodded, and proceeded to close my eyes—trying to pour my mana to one of my eye—yup, changing the color of it seems the easiest thing to do.

When I tried to pour my mana in my eye—I feel a tingling sensation! It feels weird!!

Perhaps it showed in my expression, as Alt suddenly asked.

"Are you feeling weird, Lyra?"

"Uhhh, yeah, it's... ticklish or... I can't really explain. It's weird."

"Well, this is the tricky part. Try to focus even when you are feeling that sensation and try altering your body part that you just poured your mana in."

"Okay—"

I tried to do as instructed and opened both of my eyes once I felt like I've done it.

"!!"

My red eye turned slightly blue—yes, slightly.

"Congrats, Lyra, you've got the feel of transformation magic. How is it?"

"...it is harder to do... and my body feels weird."

"Well, of course, since you're essentially altering your body... and that is why, for normal people, transformation magic is hard to do and dangerous. Since we have our or—I mean, secret arts, we can actually do transformation magic without such difficulty. That's why I told you two to keep it quiet—even to my fellow spies that would come along."

"G-got it, Dad!"

Before, Dad seemed to slip on some words—and I had my suspicion on it—but how should I confirm it? That the secret arts could be... And that he's slipping because he is conflicted as he hasn't fully explained it yet to me, but there's Altaire that seems to already know a lot.

"Eh, Dad, if you and Mom are working, will we be left alone or will we come along?"

Alt-nii's sudden question made me lose my chance to confirm my suspicion.

"No worries, at least one of the spies would be staying to take care of you two when we are departing for the action."

"Is... it really okay for us to come? Won't we just hinder your work?" I asked timidly.

"No, it's the common practice for us during group operation. At least one person will be left behind, so just in case we got into some kind of troubles, we can always have back-ups."

"...will they be fine with babysitting, though?"

"Hahaha! It's fine. They are my comrades—my best friends."

"Whoa, so we will be traveling with spies? Cool!" Alt-nii's eyes sparkled.

"...Altaire, you do remember that your dad is also a royal spy, right?" Dad asked, I can sense that he feels a little bit down hearing Alt-nii's remarks.

Alt-nii only laughed mischievously.

It's time for me to ask—

"Speaking of which, seems like they will be here soon," Dad said and all of us went towards the guest room—causing my question to end up being in my mind.

And his hunch is just right.

Two young spies arrived at our home after walking... geh, did they walk all the way here or...?

I can't see any carriage nearby when I peeked from the door.

"Cyan, we are here~!" The man which seems to be younger—shouted energetically.

"...sorry to intrude," says the one who seems older—and calmer than the former.

Whoa! The older spy is so pretty, tall, and slender! The big sister type?

"Rupert, Gale, welcome. It must be your first time in forever to come here, right? Please go and have a seat."

Dad then lead them towards the living room, where everyone has gathered.

"Ah, you two must be Cyan's treasured pride and joy, Altaire and Lyra, huh?! I'm Gale, nice to meet ya!" The younger one introduces himself.

Based on his look, he seems to be a young adult—somewhere around 16 years, I guess?

A fresh-graduate spy?

But he seems to be overly familiar with my dad...

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Altaire!" Alt-nii responded, and that's my cue to also respond.

"N, nice to meet you. I'm Lyra," I slightly bowed from my seat.

"Haha, no need to be that formal—wait, I don't need to formally address you, too, right? Well, you are all nobles and all..."

"It's fine, Gale. No worries. Just like how the Royal Spies don't uphold formalities inside them, there is no need to act too formal to my family," Dad reassures the flustered Gale.

"Phew, thank goodness. I'm bad at being all formal and stiff!"

"...I'm Rupert, it's a pleasure to meet you all," said the pretty spy with brown skin.

Rupert's brown skin really goes well with her cold grey eyes and her short ashen grey hair. She let her right bang grows until it covered her right eye. She is definitely the cool type.

In contrast to Rupert's cool vibe, Gale's soft peach skin, his light brown hair and his friendly matte brown eyes reeked off youth.

"Both Rupert and Gale have always been my best comrades in the Royal Spies—and they have guided me a lot when I first started," Dad said.

Oh, I see.

...wait, what...? Both of them—guided Dad?

It's understandable with Rupert as she's brimming with a mature aura although she sure looks young, but Gale should be younger than Dad, right?!

"Eh? Wait, what? But Gale...," I shifted my eyes at Gale.

He chuckled.

"Haha, you're not the first person to think that I am still young, eh?"

"...Huh?"

"Young lass, there is the blood of dwarf and elf in my veins—although the human blood is more dominant."

"...what?!"

Whoa, mixed breed!

The combination of human-beastman, human-elf, human-dwarf, human-oni hybrid is not that rare. However, the combination of elf and dwarf...? Hmm, it is still possible as they are living in coexistence since the olden days.

Oni-beastman hybrid should be there, as well, if the theory of coexistence holds some truth.

However, I have yet to see the other combinations.

Not to mention, oni-elf hybrid seems impossible.

After all, Oni have bad blood towards elves—and since dwarves side with elves, and beastmen side with Oni... well, no wonder that the other combination is not that common.

Most of the mixed breeds have human blood—well, we humans are the neutral faction, after all~

We can meld with anyone, that way!

"I am way older than I look, hehe," Gale rubbed his nose and smiled.

"Oh, hey, Rupert, you should also—"

Before Gale can finish his sentence, Rupert shoved her index finger to Gale's lips. Se then turned to face me and the corner of her mouth slightly formed a smile.

"Gale, there is no need to tell unnecessary information," she said.

"Hmm? Ah, Rupert-san, you're so pretty!" I tried to express my fascination to her. I definitely want to be a cool woman too!

"Drop the -san, please... And... huh?" Rupert showed her wry smile.

What's wrong?

Should I tell her that she's cool, instead?