"Is that so? As expected, right? Hahaha!"
"Yes, today I came here to talk about this rather than for training."
I spread the paper on the training ground floor so it would be easy to see.
Leo, who had been laughing as if relieved, checked the contents and then laughed for a different reason.
"...Doesn't it seem impossible by common sense?"
"By common sense, yes. But something irrational is happening. Let me explain."
Leo waved his hand at my words.
"Wait a minute, before you start talking. Do you know that if you walk around outside, rumors will spread for sure? The school knows you always keep your mouth shut, so there's not much talk. But outside, people will just find out you're behaving like a normal person now. People outside don't run into you as often as your school friends do, so they won't have time to notice you're still acting like a social outcast!"
"Is this worry or what?"
"It's concern, you bastard."
I never really acted like a social outcast...
I just didn't bother talking to anyone because improving my skills was urgent. From his perspective, I guess it looked like that.
Should I be pleased about this or not?
"...Yeah. Anyway, of course, I know. I wouldn't plan something like this without any precautions. Look, you know the cases of beast attacks have surged this year, right? So the Magic Security Bureau has started granting individuals the qualification of a cleaner."
"That's well known. But from what I hear, there aren't many applicants."
"Yeah, that's right."
Most mages are of noble status.
The stronger the magic, the higher the rank. Magic is hereditary, and ranks are already given to the previous generation.
So the hunting reward doesn't act as a good incentive for skilled mages.
Moreover, beasts can't invade the places where mages live, so they're insensitive to the danger.
Taking on such odd jobs doesn't dramatically elevate their honor, so there's even less reason to do this work.
As a result, only non-mages, who aren't making much money, volunteer for this job.
And local offices composed of residents from the same area secretly let these people handle the beasts.
Although this fact is not widely known yet.
Then Leo, with a puzzled face, rustled through the papers and said.
"Since there are few people seeking the office, you'll stand out more. First, let me ask this. Are you going alone?"
"That's right. I brought it up to you because I wanted to ask about an artifact craftsman."
At those words, Leo thought for a while and then spoke.
"First, let's think about a practical problem. You can't operate under your own name. As a student, they will thoroughly verify your identity. Everyone in the capital knows your face, so how are you going to get past that?"
Yeah. It's natural to think this way.
But once we get there, this utterly reasonable expectation will shatter.
"I've already investigated. Contrary to your expectation, they're not thorough at all. And in case of emergencies, I plan to change my identity, of course. I've thought it all through."
"...Sorry to say this for the third time, but you do know you're already famous in the Empire, right?"
"I know."
Leo looked at me as if he was seeing a complete lunatic.
"Changing your identity, sure. But even if you cover your face, how will you hide your eyes? Everyone in the Empire knows the color of your eyes."
At his words, I nodded.
Luca's pink irises are almost nonexistent in the Empire.
Or more precisely, they're exclusive to Pleroma.
The color of magic is linked to the iris color, so it's also close to pink. This, too, represents Pleroma.
All the family members have light brown or sky-blue irises, so Luca's iris color is exceptionally rare.
Even if I cover everything, people can identify me by the eyes and the color of the magic I use. Leo's reaction is quite understandable.
'Actually, since I have divine power, I've already solved the magic problem.'
I can simply use divine power instead of magic.
The problem is the eyes. Covering the face with a mask won't solve it.
But I already know a method used by the protagonist in the novel.
"Yes, there's a way. But you'll have to help."
"Me? Why?"
Leo asked, widening his eyes.
*
I swallowed the potion Leo had prepared.
Leo crossed his arms and squinted suspiciously.
"...Where did you learn about this? It has side effects, so even the elders in the family don't use it much."
I used the side effects to change the color of my eyes.
This potion changes the color of magic as a side effect.
Since it affects the core, it produces a power different from the original, so everyone avoids it.
I answered Leo's question nonchalantly.
"I studied. If you know anyone in the royal family, tell them to consider regulating it to prevent criminal misuse. Maybe around next year."
Since I preempted what the protagonist would do, mentioning it isn't a bad idea.
Of course, only to the extent that it doesn't raise suspicion.
"...You're saying regulate it after you get all the use out of it, huh. Anyway, did you study abroad? It's hard to know this much within the Empire. Or did you study magical pharmacology?"
"Something like that. Thanks for preparing the potion."
He conveniently made up stories on his own.
Leo smiled at my attempt to change the subject.
"Thanks?"
"Yes."
I looked away from the potion and stared at Leo.
There's a reason he suddenly put on such an expression after being skeptical the whole time.
I gave him a look, urging him to speak up, and Leo got to the point.
"If you're grateful, do me a favor."
"What is it?"
"I'll handle the artifact commission. But let me go with you. Don't worry about the reward; you can take it all."
'What's this guy saying....'
I shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't mind, but why is this a favor? It's a waste of time."
"Don't worry about my time. I just can't trust your skills yet."
"I've been dealing with beasts for the past week, and it's not that hard. I'll start with the lower ranks for safety."
"For you, even mid-rank beasts wouldn't be difficult. But I'm afraid you'll burn everything around you."
I silently agreed.
Surely, someone of Leo's caliber wouldn't be pleased with my handling. Now that I've learned control, I won't completely scorch the area, though.
And having one more person isn't a bad thing.
"Fine, I don't mind."
So, the next day we headed to the office I had found.
Leo frowned and stepped aside.
"...Stay away. It sounded weird when you explained it, but seeing it in person is even stranger. You look like a thief...."
"Do you think I like going around like this?"
I adjusted my mask and grumbled at Leo's complaint. Unlike Leo, who was neatly dressed, I was wrapped head to toe in a black robe and hat.
Leo looked at me with a reluctant expression and sighed.
"At least your irises changed properly."
The originally pink irises now shone a deep blue in the darkness.
It's a common color, making it hard to identify anyone by it.
Leo cast a spell to prevent our voices from leaking out and spoke quietly.