"Yeah? I knew it! Hahaha!"
"Right. I came to talk about this more than to train today."
I unfolded the paper on the training hall floor, making it easy to see.
Leo, who'd been laughing with relief, checked the contents and his smile shifted into something else.
"…Doesn't this seem, by any common sense, impossible?"
"By common sense, sure. But something uncommon is happening. I'll explain."
Leo waved a hand to stop me.
"Wait, hold on before you start. You do know that if you start wandering around outside, rumors will spread instantly, right? The academy knows you just keep your mouth shut like usual, so there's no real talk. But outside? They'll only know you've started looking presentable. Outsiders don't run into you constantly like schoolmates. They won't have time to realize you still act like a social misfit!"
"Is that worry or what?"
"It's worry, you idiot."
I hadn't particularly acted like a social misfit….
It was just that raising my skill was urgent, so I didn't bother holding conversations. I guess from his perspective, that's how it looked.
Not sure if I should be pleased or annoyed.
"…Right. Anyway, I know that. Obviously. I wouldn't plan this without countermeasures. So. You know magical beast incidents have spiked this year? The Magical Public Safety Bureau started granting private individuals cleaner licenses."
"That much is common knowledge. But from what I hear, not many apply."
"Yeah, correct."
Most mages are from the noble class.
Stronger magic usually means a higher title. Magic is hereditary, and titles are inherited.
So, extermination rewards aren't a good incentive for skilled mages.
Plus, magical beasts can't invade where mages live, so they're naturally indifferent to the danger.
Taking on this grunt work doesn't dramatically boost your prestige either, so there's even less reason.
The structure perpetuates itself: only non-mages, for whom the pay is decent, volunteer.
And the local offices, staffed by fellow residents, have been quietly passing those people through to handle the beasts.
That fact isn't widely known yet.
Leo made a pained face, shuffling the paper.
"Few people visit the offices, so you'll stand out more. Let me ask this first. You going alone?"
"Have to. I brought it up to ask you about an artifact craftsman."
Leo fell into thought for a long moment before speaking.
"Let's consider one practical problem. You can't operate under your name. They'll check identities thoroughly for students. Anyone in the capital would know your face. How do you plan to get past that?"
Right. A reasonable assumption.
But once we get there, this perfectly sensible expectation will shatter.
"I already checked. It's not thorough at all, contrary to your guess. And of course I'll change my identity for contingencies. I've thought it through."
"…Sorry for saying it a third time, but you know you're already famous in the Empire, right?"
"I know."
Leo looked at me like I was insane.
"You can just change your identity, can you? Even if you cover your face, what about your eyes? Your eye color is known by every imperial citizen."
I nodded.
Luca's pink irises are almost non-existent in the Empire.
No, to be precise, they're the exclusive domain of Pleroma.
Magic color correlates with iris color, so his magic is also pinkish—another color representing Pleroma.
Since all family members have light brown or sky-blue irises, Luca's eye color is a massive exception.
Even fully covered, my identity could be given away by my eyes and the color of magic I use. Leo's reaction was natural.
*'Actually, with divine power traits, the magic is already solved.'*
I can just use divine power instead of magic over there.
The problem is the eyes. Covering my face with a mask won't fix that.
But I already know a method the novel's protagonist used.
"Right, there's a way for that too. But you'll have to put in some work."
"Me? Why?"
Leo's eyes went round.
* * *
I tipped the medicine Leo brought into my mouth.
Leo crossed his arms, squinting suspiciously.
"…Where'd you learn about this? It has side effects, so even the adults in our house avoid using it."
I was exploiting a side effect to change eye color.
That medicine has the side effect of altering magic color.
It's not simple dye—it affects the core, causing you to output power different from your original strength. So everyone avoids it.
I answered Leo calmly.
"Studied. If you know anyone in the royal family, maybe suggest they consider regulating it soon—could be abused for crime. Say, around next year."
Not bad to mention it, since I preempted the protagonist's move.
Of course, only to the extent the protagonist wouldn't get suspicious.
"…This guy uses everything exploitable and then says to regulate it…. Anyway, did you study abroad or something? Hard to know this well within the Empire. Or did you study magical pharmacology?"
"Something like that. Thanks for preparing the medicine."
Convenient, him filling in the story.
Leo smiled at my attempt to change the subject.
"You're welcome?"
"Yeah."
I looked away from the medicine to Leo.
There had to be a reason for that expression, after all his skepticism.
When I gave him a look that said *spit it out*, he got to the point.
"If you're grateful, do me a favor."
"What."
"I'll handle the artifact commission. In return, I'm coming with you. Don't worry about the pay—you keep it all."
*What is this guy on about….*
I shrugged.
"Fine by me, but why is that a favor? Waste of your time."
"No need to worry about my time. I still can't trust your skill."
"From what I've seen the past week, hunting some magical beasts shouldn't be that hard. I'll start safely with lower grades."
"Even intermediate grades probably aren't hard for you. That's not it. I'm scared you'll burn everything around you to a crisp."
I agreed internally.
True, from a skilled person like Leo's perspective, my handling wouldn't be satisfying. Now that I've learned control, I won't cause complete devastation.
And having one more person along wouldn't hurt.
"Sure, I'm fine with that."
And so, the next day, we headed straight for the office we'd located.
Leo grimaced and sidestepped away from me.
"…Stay back. It sounded weird when I just heard about it, but seeing it is worse. What are you, a thief…?"
"You think I like dressing like this?"
I adjusted my mask and snapped back at his complaint. Unlike Leo's neat attire, I was swathed head-to-toe in a black robe and hat.
Leo gave me a dubious once-over and sighed.
"At least the irises changed properly."
Only the piercing blue eyes, a stark contrast to the original pink, glittered in the darkness.
A common enough color—hard to identify someone by it.
Leo cast a spell to keep our voices from leaking and spoke quietly.
"Remember. You're just a retainer I hired privately. If anyone asks about your getup, I'll say you're a traveler recently arrived from the Papal States, so keep your mouth shut. Got it?"
"Got it. What about forms of address? A lowly person can't just call you by name in front of others."
"Hmm… skip the unnecessary titles. Omit as much as possible."
After a long walk out of the forest, a wooden building with damaged outer walls came into view.
Leo frowned, using his wand to cast light and check the surroundings.
"Wrong place? This is the right direction."
"No, it's correct."
I remembered the protagonist's scathing remark about a 'building on its last legs.'
Since this was the most ruin-like structure I'd seen, it had to be the place.
I knocked on the door naturally.
After a long silence, Leo tilted his head.
"No response. No one here?"
"No, someone's here."
I knocked harder.
Then, a small window in the middle of the door opened irritably.
A pair of annoyed eyes turned toward me.
"What?"
"Here to clean."
*Slam—!*
The sound of the window shutting violently made Leo flinch.
Stunned by this unprecedented rejection, Leo's jaw dropped.
"What the…!"
"Wait."
No need to panic. They did this to the protagonist too.
Then, the door swung wide open.
The terrifying glare from before was gone as if it never existed, replaced by a flush on the other person's face.
They held out a worn notebook.
"Didn't expect anyone to come work at this hour. Write your name here."
"I brought identification documents. Are they not needed?"
At my question, the other person shrugged, surprised.
"You have them? Show me if you do. But you know, if we demanded all that, no one would come to catch those things. If someone says they'll catch them, we're just grateful and let them in."
Leo spoke up with a pitying expression.
"I heard this place is understaffed. Seems true."
"Not understaffed—there's just no one. All week, the only people knocking were lost travelers. But…"
The attendant looked us up and down, then laughed with a resigned expression.
"You've got guts. Looks like you didn't bring weapons. You can use what's here and return them tomorrow morning."
"Ah, we already have ours."
"Huh?"
When the attendant stared blankly, Leo showed the wand at his waist.
"We don't plan to stay long today, so swords aren't necessary."
"…Mages?"
The attendant's eyes widened.
Leo answered with a puzzled look.
"Yes, mages. Only mages are qualified to handle magical beasts in the first place…."
As if not hearing Leo, the attendant stood dazed for a moment, then paled and bowed deeply.
"My apologies! W-we've never had real mages come here, so I just…!"
"No, we're fine. But… non-mages come here?"
"...."
"Please tell us what's going on. We're fully aware it could threaten your safety. We won't tell anyone."
"W-well, usually…."
They obviously couldn't continue.
I tilted my head and whispered in Leo's ear.
"Think they'll trust noble words and speak comfortably? Didn't you notice their speech changed?"
"…I realized after I said it, so don't snipe."
Leo gave a dry laugh and pushed me aside.
This problem can't be solved unless headquarters changes. So even if we told someone, it'd just be a hassle. Better to cut it off cleanly.
I spoke instead of Leo, who was choosing his words.
"We understand the situation. Let's leave it at that. We came here after reading reports about increased magical beast activity. We'd like to enter, but heard we need permission."
"Ah, yes. S-so, are you both mages?"
"Yes."
At Leo's answer, the attendant hurriedly checked the notebook, then looked at me with confused eyes.
They wouldn't send us back now, but my appearance—wrapped head-to-toe in a black robe and mask—was suspicious to anyone.
"This person here is…"
"I'm from the Papal States. Currently, I'm with…"
"M-my retainer! Hahaha! Said they were traveling the Empire!"
Leo, anticipating my words, hastily pushed me back and answered.
"I see. We're deeply moved you came in person. Do you plan to depart immediately?"
"Yes."
"Then take this magic stone. There's a barrier—you can't enter without it."
"Yes, thank you."
After the formalities, we left the building.
Walking a while to reach inside the barrier, I snorted a laugh.
"Why so rushed? What did you think I was going to call you?"
"Didn't expect you to say anything proper…"
He muttered, his face dark.
He already looked drained, as if all energy had left him, and we hadn't even met a beast yet.
"Wait."
Then, a foreign smell mixed into the calm breeze.
I stopped and scanned the area.
"Blood."
"Huh? Can't smell it."
Without answering, I turned toward it.
Leo, sensing something, cast a thick curtain of magic ahead and followed.
With each step, the sound of some creature busily scraping something grew.
"…!"
*Scritch— scratch-scritch—!*
"Lovely."
I stopped and looked down.
Purple-tainted rats were gnawing on each other.
No—their forms were too twisted to call them rats anymore.
Pus and blood mixed into an indescribable stench.
"…Damn…"
His stomach turning, Leo covered his nose and stepped back.
"They'd eat people too…. Not just one or two. Is there a nest around?"
"Looks like it. And most seem frenzied."
"Yeah."
"They'll come for us soon."
"…Yeah, damn it all…"
Leo closed his eyes tight, took a deep breath, and swung his wand. It transformed into a sword of suitable length.
"Don't complain. Starting with these things is a welcome."
I smiled and drew my wand.
Already catching our scent, red dots glittered from all directions.
—-----------
T/N:
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