Chapter 58: Makeup

The “Radiant Hero Festival” was about to be abruptly canceled…

Only 27 minutes remained.

Every hero backed by a company had their own team, and “Pure White Storm”’s Sista was no exception.

As the start time approached, in this modest-sized backstage area, Sista was surrounded by her manager, assistant, stylist, makeup artist, and exoskeleton maintenance technician.

Without exception, they were all young and beautiful women, making one wonder if there was some unspoken requirement during hiring.

Though it was work, Sista looked like she was being pampered by a group of beauties…

Beautiful boys really are popular, huh?

Clara felt a tiny pang of envy.

As a squid monster, she was the type who’d probably have people calling the police just for trying to talk to women, so witnessing such a stark difference in treatment made it impossible not to feel a bit sour.

However, at this moment, Sista had no time to consider Clara’s feelings because she couldn’t even speak while having her makeup done. Finally, it was Miss Damo who suggested:

“Clara, why don’t you go line up at the booth first? After all, if you’re short, it’s better to stand in the front row.”

Clara was completely treated like a fan.

She replied, “No need. I can learn by watching you work here. Besides, I can still go out after the event starts…”

In truth, she wouldn’t learn anything just by watching, and leaving the backstage wouldn’t bother her either.

It was just that Nyx, who was in her head, insisted she stay.

【No need to envy. Nyx can handle these tasks through learning as well.】

As a super AI, Nyx wasn’t just capable of learning, it could also multitask, simultaneously observing and analyzing everyone’s behavior and structure.

【From now on, Nyx will be your personal manager.】

Nyx’s learning speed was thousands of times faster than humans. Clara, whose only decent skill was art that had already been replicated, knew this well. So picking up makeup skills was naturally no problem.

But…

Being an intangible AI, no matter how hard Nyx tried to learn, it couldn’t give Clara the experience of being “surrounded by beauties.”

So envy was still envy.

Ogata Damo scratched her head, feeling awkward about Clara just sitting there.

She thought for a moment and proposed:

“How about using the makeup here to try doing your own makeup?”

“Ah?!” Clara was surprised by the suggestion.

“I’ll teach you. Although your skin is quite good, a girl who doesn’t know how to apply makeup can’t get by. It’s an essential skill for surviving in society.”

Hearing Ogata Damo say this, Sista also turned her head slightly to look at Clara. Her expressionless eyes held curiosity and anticipation.

After all, makeup could make something cute even cuter.

Sista, who liked cute things, couldn’t help but care about Clara’s makeup.

Ogata Damo had already brought over the makeup box and gestured for Clara to sit at another dressing table.

【I can guide you too.】

Nyx chimed in, but since its little tentacles hidden in Clara’s hair couldn’t be shown, Clara had to try the makeup herself.

For career women, makeup was an unspoken rule. Since Clara couldn’t turn back anytime soon, learning a bit couldn’t hurt, right?

“Alright, I’ll give it a try…”

With a mixture of nervousness and unease, Clara sat at the dressing table.

【First, cleanse your face. Oily skin makes applying base makeup difficult…】

Just as planned, Nyx began methodically guiding Clara through makeup application. Though most of its advice wasn’t reliable, its explanations about makeup were surprisingly detailed.

Of course, this was helped by Ogata Damo’s demonstrations and her patient, hands-on introductions to each cosmetic product, like a meticulous teaching assistant.

Since Clara had accepted the idea of makeup, she took the lessons seriously. Following Ogata Damo’s lead, she learned and practiced from facial cleansing, foundation and concealer, then eye makeup, eyelashes, blush, lip color, and so on—completing the entire routine herself.

At the end, she puckered her lips, pressing the sparkling lipstick evenly onto them.

“Hey, makeup isn’t that hard after all?”

This even made Clara think she might be naturally gifted…

But it was just an illusion.

【You have an art background and an understanding of aesthetics. These help you get the hang of makeup faster. If you treat your face as a canvas, then makeup products are various paints and brushes. As long as your sense of beauty is sound, makeup isn’t difficult for you…】

Nyx pointed out the problem with an upswing followed by a downbeat.

【However, makeup isn’t better the more vivid it is.】

That’s right—Clara’s makeup was too heavy.

It wasn’t ugly, just unsuitable for her identity. A young girl heavily made up looked out of place, like she was sneaking makeup while her mother was away…

Especially the bright flaming red lips, which aged her by several years, resembling a 350-year-old woman disguised as a fifteen-year-old brat.

“Pfft~”

Nyx was emotionally restrained for an AI, but Miss Damo beside her couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Clara, are you longing for a mature look? Although the makeup is good, this style on you would need another ten years to pull off.”

“Hmm, is it really that bad?” Clara frowned slightly, studying herself in the mirror, thinking she didn’t look too bad. After all, she didn’t consider herself a child…

【You must recognize your own appearance.】

Nyx’s words made her pout in dissatisfaction.

【Hmm, that expression really fits your identity.】

Coincidentally, Sista had just finished her final look for the stage and turned around to check on Clara. The ice-cold beautiful boy’s lips lifted naturally by 5°.

He even praised, “As expected of Miss Clara, you have a real talent for dressing up.”

But Clara didn’t thank him.

“Hmph~ Even if you force the compliment, I won’t be happy~”

Though she said that, her expression showed she wasn’t unhappy.

Clearly, she had no resistance to compliments—just a little praise and she floated on air. She was the easy type to please.

Nyx took the opportunity to suggest:

【Then, shall we take a couple of photos before removing the makeup?】

Photos?

Clara thought it over.

Opportunities to wear makeup like this were rare…

Though she had recently become female, she’d heard about the prices of makeup products, especially the many bottles and jars taken out of the makeup kit—varied and expensive.

Though Nyx compared makeup to painting, makeup definitely cost far more than art supplies.

Besides, she had worked hard to get her face looking like this, and just wiping it off felt a little wasteful. Taking pictures as a memento seemed like a good idea.

Convinced, Clara took out her phone.

“Alright, let’s take a few photos as a keepsake~”

Then, without any instructions, she began to explore suitable selfie angles and cute expressions on her own.