"Really? I thought so? Hahaha!"
"Yeah, I came here today to talk about this rather than training."
I spread out the paper on the training ground for easy viewing.
Leon, who had been smiling as if his worries had been relieved, checked the content and smiled with a different meaning.
"…Don't you think it's logically impossible?"
"Common sense would suggest that. But something extraordinary is happening. I'll explain it to you now."
Leon waved his hand at those words.
"Wait a minute, before you speak. Do you know that if you go out, rumors will start to spread? The school knows that you keep your mouth shut like you usually do, so they won't talk about it. The outside world will only know that you're acting like a normal person. People outside won't have time to notice that you're still acting like a social misfit since they don't see you all the time like your school friends!"
"What are you worried about?"
"Don't worry, Inma."
I've never really acted like a social misfit… .
In a situation where it was urgent to improve one's skills, I didn't bother to grab someone and talk to them, but that's probably how it looked to him.
Should I like this or not?
"…Yeah. Anyway, of course I know. You wouldn't plan something like this without that level of countermeasures. Now, did you know that the number of cases of demon damage has increased sharply this year? That's why the Magical Security Headquarters started granting individuals the qualifications of cleaners."
"It's famous to that extent. But as far as I know, there aren't many applicants."
"Yeah, that's right."
Most wizards are from the noble class.
The stronger the magical power, the higher the rank usually. Magic power is hereditary, and the rank is something that has already been bestowed upon one's ancestors.
Therefore, the reward for subjugation does not serve as a good incentive for skilled magicians.
Moreover, since the demons cannot invade the places where wizards live, they cannot help but be insensitive to danger.
There is no reason to do this kind of work, especially since it doesn't dramatically increase your reputation.
Eventually, the structure continued in which only non-magicians who had difficulty making money volunteered for this job.
And, offices in each region, all made up of local residents, have been secretly passing through such people and dealing with them.
Although this fact is not widely known yet.
Then Leon said, looking embarrassed and ripping through the paper.
"You'll stand out more since there won't be many people looking for your office. But first, let me ask you this: Are you going alone?"
"That's right. I brought it up because I wanted to ask you about the artifact craftsmanship."
Leon was lost in thought for a while before opening his mouth.
"Let's think about one practical problem first. You can't work under your own name. Since you're a student, they'll be checking your identity thoroughly. Everyone in the capital will know your face, so how are you going to get away with it?"
Yeah, I guess you could think that way.
But when you actually go there, this extremely common-sense expectation will be shattered.
"I've already investigated. It's not as thorough as you'd expect. And of course, you should change your identity just in case. I've thought about it all."
"…I'm sorry to tell you this three times, but did you know that you're already famous in the empire?"
"I know."
Leon looked at that answer as if he was looking at some crazy guy.
"You can change your status quite easily. Even if you cover your face, how are you going to cover your eyes? Every citizen of the empire will know the color of your eyes."
I nodded at those words.
The pink irises that Lucus possesses are rare in the Empire.
No, to be exact, it is the exclusive property of the Pleroma.
The color of magic is related to the color of the iris, so it is similarly close to pink, which is also the color that represents the pleroma.
Lucus iris color was quite exceptional, as everyone in his family had light brown or blue irises.
Even if I cover everything up, it's still possible to find out who I am just by the color of my eyes and the magic I use. It was natural for Leon to react like this.
'Actually, since I have the divine power trait, I've already solved the magical power.'
In your case, you can just use divine power instead of magical power.
The problem is the eyes. The eyes cannot be solved by simply covering the face with a mask.
But, I already know the method the novel's protagonist used.
"Yes, there is a way to do that. Instead, you have to put in some effort."
"Me? Why?"
Leon asked with his eyes wide open.
• * *
I poured the medicine Leon had made into my mouth.
Leon crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes questioningly.
"…Where did you learn about this? It has side effects, so even the adults in my family don't want to use it."
I used the side effect to change my eye color.
That medicine has a side effect of changing the color of your magic.
Of course, it is not a simple dye, but a problem that affects the core, so it emits a different power than the original. So everyone avoids it.
I answered Leon's question calmly.
"I studied it. If you know anyone in the royal family around you, please tell them that it could be used for criminal purposes, so please consider regulating it. At least next year."
Since the main character has already done something, it wouldn't be a bad idea to mention it.
Of course, as long as the protagonist does not suspect anything.
"…This guy uses up everything he can and then regulates it… Anyway, did you go abroad to study? It's hard to know this much within the empire. Or maybe you studied magic pharmacy."
"I guess so. Thanks for preparing the medicine."
It's convenient because it makes up the story automatically.
Leon smiled at my greeting as I tried to change the subject.
"thank you?"
"huh."
I took my eyes off the medicine and looked at Leon.
There must be a reason why he suddenly makes that face after being so skeptical all along.
When I gave him a look telling him to say something, Leon got to the point.
"If you're grateful, please grant me a favor."
"What is it?"
"I'll take care of the artifacts for you. In return, I'll go with you. Don't worry about the reward, and take it all yourself."
'What is this guy saying… .'
I shrugged.
"I don't care, but why are you asking me to do this? It's a waste of time."
"You don't need to worry about my time. I don't have confidence in your skills yet."
"As you can see from the past week, I don't think it's that hard to take down the demons. I'll try to be safe and start from the lower levels."
"Intermediate won't be too hard for you. It's not that I'm afraid you'll burn down everything around you."
I secretly agreed with that.
Of course, someone as skilled as Leon would not be satisfied with my handling of the situation. Now that I have learned how to control it, I won't completely burn it down.
And it can't hurt to have one more person.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
So, we headed straight to the office we had found the next day.
Leon frowned and stepped aside.
"…Get away from me. It was strange when I first heard about it, but it's even stranger when I actually see it. He's not some kind of thief…."
"Do you think I do this because I like it?"
I adjusted my mask and answered Leon's complaint curtly. Unlike Leon, who was neatly dressed, I was wrapped in a pitch-black robe and hat.
Leon looked at me with a disgusted look and sighed.
"Still, the iris changed properly."
Only the bright blue eyes, contrasting with the original pink, sparkled in the darkness.
It is a very common color, so it is difficult to identify people by this color.
Leon opened his mouth quietly, casting a spell to keep his voice from leaking out to those around him.
"Remember, you are just my personal attendant. If you ask me why I am dressed like that, I will just say that I am a traveler from the Papal States not long ago, so don't open your mouth. Do you understand?"
"I know. What about your title? A person of lower status can't call you by your name in front of others."
"Hmm… Don't use unnecessary titles, and try to omit them as much as possible."
After walking for a while outside the forest, a wooden building with a damaged exterior wall came into view.
Leon frowned and checked his surroundings with the light from his wand.
"Did I come to the wrong place? This is the right way."
"Yeah, you're on the right track."
I remember the protagonist harshly criticizing it as a 'building that is about to collapse'.
This building looks the most ruined I've ever seen, so this must be it.
I knocked on the door naturally.
When there was no sound for a long time, Leon tilted his head.
"There's no response. Are there no people?"
"No, there is."
I knocked on the door with all my might.
At that moment, a small window in the middle of the door opened nervously.
Two eyes with an annoyed expression turned towards me.
"What?"
"I came to clean."
Bang-!
Leon's shoulders flinched at the sound of the window slamming shut.
Leon opened his mouth in bewilderment at the first ever cold shoulder he had ever experienced.
"What is this…!"
"Just wait."
There's no need to panic. It happened to the main character too.
At that moment, the door opened wide.
The scary look from earlier disappeared as if it had never been there, and a color returned to the other person's face.
The other person handed me an old notebook.
"I didn't know there would be people coming to work at this hour. Write your names here."
"I brought my ID too. Do you need it?"
The other person shrugged his shoulders as if he was surprised by my question.
"Do you have them? If you have them, show them to me. I know, but if you ask for all those things, there's no one to catch them. If you just say you'll catch them, I'll be grateful and let you in."
At those words, Leon opened his mouth with a regretful expression.
"I heard there's a shortage of people here, and I guess that's true."
"It's not just that there aren't enough of them. For the past week, everyone who's knocked on the door has been lost. But…."
The manager looked them both up and down, then chuckled with a look of disappointment on his face.
"You look good. I see you didn't bring a weapon. Just use what I have here and come back tomorrow morning to return it."
"Oh, we already have it."
"huh?"
When the manager looked at him as if asking what he was talking about, Leon took out a wand from his waistband and showed it to him.
"I don't plan on staying long today, so I don't need anything black."
"…wizard?"
The manager's eyes widened.
Leon answered the question with a puzzled look on his face.
"Yes, I am a wizard. In the first place, only wizards are qualified to deal with demons…."
The manager, who had been standing there blankly, as if he hadn't heard Leon's words, soon lowered his head with a pale face.
"I'm sorry! Uh, there's never been a real wizard here before…!"
"No, we're fine. But… a non-magician is coming here?"
"...."
"Please tell me what happened. I know full well that it is a threat to your safety, so I will not tell anyone."
"That, that, usually…."
Naturally, the other person was unable to continue speaking.
I tilted my head and whispered in Leon's ear.
"I trust the noble's words and will speak freely, right? Didn't you notice that the way he speaks has changed?"
"…I realized it after I said it, so don't be sarcastic."
Leon chuckled and pushed me aside.
This problem cannot be solved unless the headquarters changes. So even if you talk about it somewhere, it will only make you tired. You have to cut the situation off appropriately.
I opened my mouth instead of Leon, who was choosing his words.
"I understand the situation. Let's wrap up this story here. First, we came here because we saw an article about the recent increase in the frequency of demonic appearances. We want to go inside, but they said we need permission."
"Oh, yes. So, are you both wizards?"
"yes."
At Leon's answer, the manager hurriedly checked his notebook and looked at me with confused eyes.
I wouldn't send you back now that you've come this far, but your whole body covered in black robes and a mask look suspicious to anyone.
"This person…."
"I come from the Papal States. Now, I am here next to you…."
"Here are my attendants. Hahaha! I heard you're traveling the empire!"
Leon, who had anticipated what I was going to say, answered, hastily pushing me back.
"I see. I am deeply moved that you came here in person. Are you planning to leave right now?"
"yes."
"Then take this magic stone with you. There is a barrier, so you cannot enter without it."
"Yes, thank you."
After going through the various formalities, I left the building.
After walking for a while and arriving inside the barrier, I burst out laughing.
"What are you talking about so urgently? Do you know what I'm going to call you?"
"I didn't really expect you to speak properly…."
The man muttered with his face turned black.
Even before meeting the devil, he was in a gaunt state as if all his strength had been drained from him.
"wait for a sec."
At that moment, a strange smell blew in through the gentle breeze.
I stopped walking and looked around.
"The smell of blood."
"Hmm? I'm not feeling well."
I turned toward him without answering.
Leon noticed something and followed me, putting up a thick curtain in front of me.
As I walked, I could hear the sound of some creature scratching something diligently.
"…!"
Crunch— crunch—!
"this."
I stopped dead in my tracks and looked down.
Purple-tainted rats were gnawing at each other.
No, it was already so distorted that it couldn't be called a rat.
There was an indescribable smell of pus and blood mixed together.
"…shit…."
Leon pinched his nose and took a step back, perhaps because his stomach was hurt.
"They would eat people too… There are more than one or two of them. Is there a habitat nearby?"
"Yeah, they look like they're going crazy. And most of them look like they're going crazy."
"okay."
"It will come to us soon."
"…Yeah, this fucking thing…."
Leon closed his eyes tightly and let out a deep sigh, swinging the wand in his hand. The wand transformed into a sword of appropriate length.
"Don't complain too much. If they were like this from the start, they would be welcome."
I smiled and pulled out the wand.
Red dots were twinkling all around, as if they had already smelled someone.