“Wow! These cosmetics are so cute!”

“Yes, they are. But they're not real.”

I remembered playing house with my older sister when I was little.

We used to spread toy cosmetics all over the table and play with them.

“Wow! This makeup is so cute!”

“Yeah, but it's not real.”

The exact same situation. The same lines.

Now, as an adult, I see a bunch of makeup-shaped objects spread out in front of me.

Of course, they're not toys.

　—They are all spy gear.

“So, which one do you want to hear about first? Which one do you want to try?”

Mariko-sama asked me with sparkling eyes.

She must be eager to explain her masterpiece.

“Then...this lipstick.”

“That's a substance dissolver!”

“What's that scary name...”

　Mariko-san placed a piece of glass about the size of an A4 notebook in front of me, who was taken aback.

“Try applying the lipstick to this glass.”

I did as I was told.

However, when I removed the cap, I couldn't see any difference from ordinary lipstick.

Feeling puzzled, I applied the lipstick to the glass.

Then, the applied area began to dissolve while bubbling.

“Wow! That's scary!!”

A hole had formed where the lipstick was applied.

Even though the glass was fairly thick...

“Isn't that amazing?”

“Umm... yeah. It's scary, though.”

What would happen if I accidentally applied it to my own lips?

"With this color of lipstick, you can perfectly create a hole in glass. For other materials, like metal, you'd need a different color. See, there are so many colors. By choosing the right color for the material, you can cause it to ‘melt.’"

“That's amazing technology...”

“Alright, next, try spraying this hairspray on the glass!”

I sprayed the glass as instructed.

　Foam was sprayed out, covering the glass in white foam.

Soon, the foam popped with a hissing sound.

“What!? What's going on!?”

“Surprised, aren't you?”

Miss Mari smiled smugly.

The hole that had been there a moment ago was sealed, and the glass was back to its original state.

“This is ‘glass repair material.’ It can only be used on glass, but it can restore a hole that has been opened back to its original state. With this, even if someone breaks the glass to enter, they can erase the traces.”

Miss Mari's technical skills... truly remarkable.

I have no idea what kind of technology it is, but it's exactly the kind of amazing tool you see in anime or movies.

“Then, what is this mascara?”

“It's a marking tool. This mascara contains powdered microchips. You can track the target you apply it to via GPS.”

“It looks like ordinary mascara to me...”

Even when observed closely, it's impossible to tell.

Microchips? I didn't notice them at all. Could the sparkling glitter be the microchips?

“What about this nail polish?”

“It's cute, but... is this a weapon?”

“Yes! This nail is a ‘nail gun,’ a weapon with a small gun mechanism built into the nail. It can shoot poisonous needles.”

“Poisonous needles? Do I have to assassinate someone?”

“Just in case! Plus, it's a paralyzing poison, so it won't kill the target.”

“Well, that's okay then...”

I feel a bit complicated about this.

Sure, we did end up fighting someone with a Japanese sword, but our organization is tasked with information gathering, not combat.

Hirasawa-san said we're not a combat-focused organization. I hope we never have to use this.

“Also, it can be used not just with a gun but also with a hand blade.”

“A hand blade is a karate technique, right?”

“Exactly. Snake Fist works too. The claws themselves are blades coated with poison, so if you can injure the opponent with your nails, you can paralyze them.”

“I see.”

Somehow, I feel like I might accidentally injure myself with the nails.

If I forget about the poison and scratch my cheek or head, the paralysis poison could enter my body through the wound...

“And finally, this!”

A wide variety of items.

I'm already full.

I muttered that to myself, but seeing how excited Miss Mari looked, I decided not to say it out loud.

“What a stylish black umbrella. Is it a sun umbrella?”

“Yes! It can be used as a sun umbrella, but it can also be used as a stick weapon, and when opened, it can be used as a shield to block bullets!”

　Miss Mari handed me the umbrella-shaped weapon.

However, it was surprisingly light. The stiffness seemed adequate as well.

“With this umbrella, I could even fight a Japanese sword!”

“I don't want to fight someone with a Japanese sword again...”

I imagined using this umbrella to block an attack from a Japanese sword.

...No way. I definitely don't want to do that!　It's too scary!

“Do you like it?”

“Well, I think it's amazing.”

—Before liking or disliking it, I want to avoid being in such a situation in the first place!

—That said, the battle with that Japanese sword woman was sudden.

—I had no idea that such a dangerous person existed beforehand.

—So, this spy gear might save me in an emergency.

“Plus, it's stylish that it's shaped like cosmetics. Using cosmetics and cute items to fight feels like a cool female spy.”

“Right! Right!”

Miss Mari put the cosmetic spy gear in her pouch and handed it to me.

I gratefully accepted it, and Miss Mari then handed me a map.

“I told Mikoto-chan and Shinji-chan to go on a date earlier, but I want you to go to the location on this map.”

“What is this map…?”

What is it? It seems to be a map of the smart city, but there is a flower mark on a place called the “business area” where companies are concentrated.

"The location indicated by this mark is where our allies are. Like me, there are others who have already established bases within Smart City."

“I see. There are others besides us.”

“Yes. I'll explain as we go along.”

“Oh, there are others as well?”

Staring intently at the map she had been given, she muttered softly.

“Here comes a new character.”