"...The strange phenomenon earlier was caused by equipment malfunction at Clockie Studios. The Family sealed the area immediately. No guests were harmed."
"Please rest assured and continue enjoying your stay."
Near the Clockie film district, omnipresent broadcasts kept repeating the official explanation for the aftermath of Acheron's clash with Aventurine.
"I swear to the Aeons, that was NOT a movie shoot!"
A guest was loudly venting his disbelief.
"So many chips rained out of the sky—like, literally rained! I even caught one… and then it just vanished!"
"Excuse me," a pleasant voice spoke behind him.
"Are you referring to the incident at Clockie Studios?"
The guest turned around at once.
"Huh? Yeah—wait… W-W-W-Robin?! Miss Robin?! Am I seeing things?!"
The girl known as Robin nodded gently.
"Yes, it's me. Don't be nervous."
"I'm sorry your dream trip had an unpleasant moment, but what you said about the chips concerns me. Could you describe it again in more detail?"
The guest tried to recall.
After a moment, he answered, "Uh… just regular chips. The kind you see everywhere. Colorful. They fell in sheets, like rain."
"And then they disappeared right away, correct?" "Robin" said softly. "I see… That must be the Iris Family's long-prepared dream-simulation tech."
The guest blinked, surprised. "Huh? You mean… it was part of a show? But I swear I—"
"Robin" cut him off with a finger to her lips.
"Shhh——"
"The technology hasn't been officially unveiled yet. It was meant to debut at the Charmony Festival. I didn't expect an accident to leak it early."
"Could you help me keep it secret? That beautiful chip-rain… was originally planned for my performance."
The guest immediately lit up with excitement.
"S-So that's what it was! That makes sense! If it helps the Charmony Festival go smoothly, I'll absolutely cooperate!"
"Thank you." "Robin" smiled warmly. "As an exchange, I'll give you a small gift."
She produced a red button from nowhere and placed it into his hand.
"This button is…?"
"Press it at a certain moment during the festival," she said sweetly. "You might get a surprise."
"Alright—there are other guests who seem troubled, too. I'll excuse myself. Enjoy the dream."
With that, "Robin" turned away, ignoring the guest's starstruck gaze, and walked off.
The moment her back fully faced him, her flawless idol smile warped—just a little—into a mischievous, foxlike grin.
Because she wasn't Robin.
Her name was Sparkle—a Masked Fool.
After striking some undisclosed deal with Sunday, every "Robin" the guests saw in Penacony right now… was her.
"Ughhh. Playing the perfect good girl is exhausting~"
Sparkle glided forward in "Robin's" elegant posture, still wearing the flawless smile—yet her eyes glittered with wicked amusement.
"But wow—this 'Miss Robin' card is ridiculously strong. I can say anything and the dream-drunk idiots just believe it."
She began juggling several red buttons in her hands like candy.
"'Surprise buttons,' hehe… How many people will actually press them when the time comes? I really want to see the Family scrambling."
Then she noticed someone.
A cautious gray figure, skulking around like they'd just done something guilty.
"Hm? Who's that?"
Sparkle's eyes brightened. The girl wore a plain gray jacket and kept glancing left and right—half searching, half hiding.
"Interesting~"
Sparkle immediately switched back into Robin's gentle, graceful persona and walked toward her.
"Hello, miss," Sparkle asked in Robin's sweet voice, her smile impeccable. "Do you need any help?"
The gray-clad girl jumped, spinning around too fast.
A pretty face—tense, nervous, and completely unconvincing.
"N-No! I'm fine! I'm just… walking around!" the girl blurted, waving her hands.
Sparkle's smile grew even sweeter. Her amusement, however, sharpened.
This reaction was adorable. The girl might as well have "I'M HIDING SOMETHING" stamped across her forehead.
"Is that so? You look very nervous." Sparkle stepped closer, feigning concern.
"May I ask your name? Are you lost? Or perhaps you've encountered trouble? As a member of the Family, I'd be happy to assist."
"I… I'm Firefly," the girl said softly, eyes darting away. "I'm… an Iris Family performer…"
Sparkle blinked.
"An Iris Family performer?" She smiled even more warmly. "How strange. I don't recall the Iris Family having someone as cute as you."
Firefly's body stiffened. "I—I'm new… still in my internship…"
"Oooh~ A newcomer." Sparkle dragged the words out.
No proof. But Sparkle's instincts screamed it: this girl couldn't lie to save her life.
A stowaway.
"So, Miss Firefly," Sparkle circled her like a cat around prey, "if you're an Iris performer… why are you creeping around like this?"
"Are you looking for something? Or… hiding from someone?"
"I'm not!" Firefly denied immediately—then her voice dropped. "I'm just… getting familiar with the environment…"
Sparkle suddenly leaned in until her face was inches away. Firefly stumbled back, startled.
"Relax~ I'm not going to report you… yet." Sparkle giggled.
"Miss Firefly… you're a stowaway, aren't you?"
"I—I'm not…" Firefly tried, but her frantic eyes betrayed her.
Sparkle's amusement only deepened.
"You know, in Penacony, stowaways get tossed straight into prison by the Family."
She lowered her voice dramatically.
"The guards there are scary. The food's awful… horrible."
Firefly's face went paler. Her fingers clenched her coat hem.
She wasn't afraid of being jailed—Penacony didn't have many people who could catch her if she decided not to be caught.
But if she exposed herself now, she feared she'd ruin Senior's plan.
"However——" Sparkle's tone flipped bright and playful again. "If you play a little game with me, I can pretend I never saw you."
"What game?" Firefly asked, wary.
"A super simple game~" Sparkle produced another red button and wiggled it in front of Firefly's eyes.
"Just press this, and I'll keep your secret. Deal?"
Firefly stared at the button. "What… is it?"
"A surprise button!" Sparkle said, grinning like a devil.
"Press it, and maybe something good happens~ Or maybe a tiny prank. Who knows?"
Firefly hesitated. Her instincts screamed this "Robin" was off.
She knew Robin's public image. But this personality? This behavior?
Still… she didn't see better options.
Firefly reached for it—then jerked her hand back.
A girl's sixth sense: if she pressed that button, something bad would happen.
"I… I can't just accept things from strangers," Firefly mumbled. "My… my grown-up taught me that…"
Sparkle actually froze for a beat.
Then she sighed theatrically.
"Aww. What a kind, well-raised child~"
But her eyes sharpened again.
"Still… do you think you have a choice?"
Sparkle suddenly raised her voice toward some patrolling Family guards in the distance.
"Hey! Over here, I think there's a—"
"I'LL PRESS IT!" Firefly blurted in panic, snatching the button and slamming it down.
Beep.
And then…
Nothing happened.
Firefly looked around, tense—everything was normal.
She exhaled, confused, and turned to Sparkle.
Sparkle burst out laughing.
"Got you! It's just a regular toy button! No function at all~"
Firefly choked on indignation. "You…!"
Sparkle leaned close and whispered, "Your panic face was so cute."
Firefly glared at her, cheeks faintly red—like a furious little animal.
Sparkle looked delighted.
"Alright, game over~"
She clapped her hands.
"But Miss Firefly… did you really think that's the end?"
Firefly's guard shot back up. "...What do you want?"
Sparkle tapped her chin as if considering.
"Well, you see… keeping secrets is exhausting."
"And you were so funny when you pressed the button. I had a great time~"
She stepped closer, eyes sparkling with unignorable insistence.
"So as hush money—and repayment for entertaining me—how about you become my little servant for a while?"
"A… servant?" Firefly's eyes widened. "Impossible! I… I have things to do!"
"Oh?" Sparkle tilted her head, smile bright and dangerous.
"What's more important than not being thrown into a dark prison by the Family?"
"Unless…" Her tone softened into a taunt. "Miss Firefly has a mission so important she'd rather expose herself than give it up?"
Firefly's heart sank.
This "Robin" was far more troublesome than she'd expected.
Sparkle watched her struggle like a cat savoring a cornered mouse.
"Don't be tense~ It's only temporary."
"Just easy little errands. Running around. Carrying things. Chatting with me when I'm bored…"
"It's light work!" Sparkle chirped. "When I get tired of it—or when the festival ends—I'll let you go. How about that?"
Firefly's patience snapped.
Enough was enough.
Just as she was about to explode—
A calm voice cut in.
"Sis. What are you doing here?"
Sparkle and Firefly both froze and turned.
A refined, steady man in elegant attire walked toward them—Sunday.
Sparkle's eyes narrowed. Why was the chicken-wing boy coming over now?
"Big brother!" she said instantly, switching back into a perfectly sweet, clingy voice.
She slipped her arm around "Sunday's" like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"I was just chatting with Miss Firefly. She says she's a new Iris Family performer. I really like her—I was going to invite her to be my assistant for a while."
"Sunday" calmly scanned Sparkle—then looked at Firefly, who was both relieved and even more nervous.
"A new Iris performer?" he said evenly. "I don't recall hearing about any recent additions."
Firefly's heart jumped again.
Sparkle rushed to cover, smiling brightly and pinching "Sunday's" arm hard enough to scream cooperate.
"Oh come on, big brother—you're busy all day, how would you remember little things like that?"
"I think Miss Firefly is adorable. And I've needed help with some pre-show chores lately."
"Sunday's" eyes flicked to where Sparkle was clinging.
"Sis," he said mildly, "you seem to have forgotten the Family's rules."
"Any Iris Family staffing changes—especially anyone directly assisting a core performer of the festival—must be personally approved by me."
Sparkle's smile twitched.
How could he possibly know the details?
And why was he… opposing her?
Was he trying to put her in her place because she'd been needling him?
Sparkle forced a pout.
"Big brother… you've been so busy lately. I just didn't want to bother you…"
"Not wanting to bother me," he cut in, "means you can recruit someone with an unclear identity at will?"
He gently but decisively pulled his arm free, the motion polite and very, very distant.
"Robin," he said, voice cool, "have I been too indulgent with you lately?"
Sparkle: "???"
Firefly watched the "siblings" square off, sensing instantly that something was very wrong.
And for some reason, looking at "Sunday" made Firefly feel… strangely familiar.
Like she'd seen him before.
But she couldn't recall where.
Sparkle's face cooled. The sugary mask cracked.
"Chicken-wing boy, are you getting addicted to acting?" she said sharply.
"We don't have a relationship where you get to meddle in my fun."
It was her turn to stop pretending.
He needed her. She'd been doing his dirty work for a long time.
And now he was policing her?
"Who gave you the guts?"
Sparkle leaned closer, voice bright with menace.
"I thought we had an agreement."
"I play your boring role. But I didn't agree that I'd need your approval just to entertain myself."
"Is this stowaway that important to you?"
"And don't forget," Sparkle's smile sharpened, "I know your secrets. A lot of secrets."
"So what?" "Sunday" stepped forward.
Pressure—heavy, wordless—rolled off him. Sparkle reflexively stepped back half a pace.
"You can try telling them," he said calmly.
"Let's see whether your rumor spreads faster… or I silence you faster."
Firefly's feeling intensified.
That sensation—she absolutely had met this man before.
Sparkle's eyes went razor-sharp.
This wasn't Sunday.
The disguise was perfect, but the tone wasn't.
Sunday was a spider, precise and controlled. He never spoke like this—never for something as irrelevant as a random stowaway.
"You're not him," Sparkle said coldly.
"Who are you? Impersonating an Oak Family head… bold~"
"Sunday" didn't flinch.
"If you insist."
He raised a hand—and with a casual motion, peeled an invisible "mask" away.
Sunday's face and clothing dissolved like stage paint rinsed by rain.
The man beneath was someone else entirely.
Wei Qing.
"…Senior?!" Firefly gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth.
Now she understood the familiarity.
Sparkle froze too—because that "mask" just now… looked a lot like the kind she used.
A Masked Fool's trick.
But stronger. Much stronger.
And the moment Wei Qing revealed himself, Sparkle felt it in her bones:
This man could punch her into dust, then make her pay him back with interest.
"Ha… ha…" Sparkle laughed stiffly.
"Big brother… I was just kidding earlier…"
"How about you put the chicken-wing boy face back on? I'll behave, I swear!"
Sparkle instantly swapped to her sweetest innocent expression, like the earlier confrontation never existed.
"Big brother, you're so mean—suddenly playing tricks on your little sister, you scared me!"
Wei Qing didn't respond.
Firefly, meanwhile, was trying to process the whiplash:
"siblings," then sudden identity swap, then Sparkle turning into a whipped "little sister" in under a second.
And she—the supposed "stowaway"—had basically become background scenery.
But Firefly didn't forget why she was here.
"Senior… is it really you?"
Wei Qing looked at her, his gaze softening.
"Mm. It's me."
Firefly's heart finally unclenched.
She hurried to his side, grabbing his sleeve unconsciously like a small animal finding shelter.
Sparkle's heart sank.
So they knew each other.
Sparkle immediately brightened her smile again, shifting to smooth diplomacy.
"Ohhh! So Miss Firefly is Big Brother's friend!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier? Haha—what a misunderstanding! One big happy family~"
While talking, she quietly tried to inch backward—toward a safe exit.
Wei Qing's voice stopped her like a hook.
"Did I say you could leave?"
Sparkle went rigid and slowly turned around, forcing a smile that looked more like pain.
"B-Big brother… what else do you need?"
Wei Qing watched her with calm amusement.
"You seemed to be having fun earlier. 'Surprise buttons.' 'Little servant.'"
"Misunderstanding! All misunderstanding!" Sparkle waved her hands frantically. "I was just joking! Keeping the mood lively!"
Firefly, deadpan, quietly added: "Senior… she really did try to force me to press the button. And she said she wanted me as her servant."
Sparkle: "!!!"
How dare you narc—
Wei Qing looked back to Sparkle.
The pressure doubled.
Sparkle felt her scalp go numb.
"Seems like you've been too idle lately," Wei Qing said.
"If you enjoy role-playing so much…"
His voice stayed light.
But Sparkle's eyes filled with alarm.
"Then you can experience what it feels like to be forced into a role."
He raised a finger. A strange light flashed and sank into Sparkle's body.
"W-What did you do to me?!" Sparkle squealed, instantly patting herself down.
Nothing seemed different—
Then the change hit.
Robin's glamorous dress peeled away like it was made of paper.
In its place appeared a drab, crude maid outfit.
Not only that—Sparkle felt her voice, her posture, even her "presence" being pressed into a humiliating template.
Like reality itself had decided she was small, obedient, and lowly.
"W-WHAT IS THIS?!" Sparkle stared at herself, shaking with rage.
Wei Qing sighed pleasantly.
"Little sister, you know something?"
"Bratty girls… are meant to be disciplined."
"If you like collecting servants," he said, watching her like she was a new toy, "then start by being one."
"During your time in Penacony, you'll wear this and serve as my temporary maid."
"WHAT?!" Sparkle shrieked.
But the voice that came out was thin and squeaky—completely lacking intimidation.
"Absolutely not! I'm the great Masked Fool Sparkle! You can't—!"
She tried to channel her Elation powers.
Nothing. Like throwing fireworks into the ocean.
"Still don't understand your situation?" Wei Qing raised an eyebrow.
Sparkle's maid dress tightened slightly—just enough to make her gasp.
A frilly lace headpiece manifested on her hair like the universe itself was mocking her.
"You—!"
Sparkle's eyes went glossy with humiliation and fury.
Firefly watched, speechless, torn between sympathy and the urge to laugh.
"Senior… is this… okay?" she asked quietly. "She's still impersonating Robin…"
"I know what I'm doing," Wei Qing said calmly. "Letting her taste what it's like to be toyed with might be good for her."
Sparkle stamped her foot. "When I get out of this, I'm going to make you suffer the same!"
"Before that," Wei Qing said, lazily, "do your maid duties."
"Go get us drinks."
"Drinks?!" Sparkle looked horrified. "You want me to go do serving?!"
"What else would a maid do?" Wei Qing countered. "Have the master serve you?"
Sparkle refused to move.
And then—
Her body moved anyway.
Her legs started walking toward a nearby beverage counter as if controlled by invisible strings.
Sparkle panicked, trying to fight her own muscles.
"H-Hey! What is this?! Did you curse me?!"
"Just a small restraint," Wei Qing said, utterly at ease.
"Until you sincerely accept your role, your body will automatically carry out my reasonable commands."
Sparkle's face twisted.
She was being marched away in a cheap maid outfit—
And she couldn't even stop herself.
Behind her, Firefly stared at Wei Qing with a mixture of awe, relief, and dawning realization.
Penacony was already insane.
And Senior… was about to make it worse.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter260)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter135)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 240
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 280
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 260
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 135
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 91
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 90
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 100
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 90
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 105
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 85
After Maxing Out Every Class 85
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 70
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 55
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 55
From Trilobites to Titans 55
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 66
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 70
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 50
Honkai: The Fire Devil 30
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