— Hi, Naaza.
Waving my hand, I walked up to the counter. Naaza, as always, was in her usual clothes, her tail swaying behind her.
— Hi.
— I see you're at work, as always.
— One has to work.
— Yes, I understand. But know, I'm not falling behind either.
Placing the pouch of money on the counter, I finished.
This time, I put down all the money I had earned from selling the equipment, but that was not so important. The most important thing was to create the appearance of work, even if it was not so necessary. After all, even if I bring very little, she will not say anything to me, because every coin counts. But Kopii never spared money for Miach and always gave everything he had.
«And for that, I hate him.»
I plan to play the perfect role, as I gradually change, so there was not such a large sum there, but still.
– Don't overwork yourself so much.
As always, the same phrase; it had even started to irritate me a little. But I did not show it on my face; I maintained a positive attitude, just as Kopii would have done. After all, if they believe that everything is fine with me, then there will be no one else, and no chance of figuring me out.
They are his closest people, whom he fully trusted, and then comes Ais. But that is another conversation, and I still have plenty of time to think about how to screw her.
– Hee-ha.
I could not hold back my laughter, anticipating the future with impatience. But, catching Naaza's strange look, I cleared my throat, returning to my usual self, and spoke:
— Don't worry, Naaza, I am caution itself. But there is something strange…
— Strange? – Her gaze fully focused on me.
— Yes.
— And what is it?
Seeing a hint of interest in her sleepy eyes, I replied:
— Just look.
Taking off my glasses, I looked straight at her. Her eyes widened for a second, and surprise and confusion could be read on her face. She was so surprised that her tail froze in one position. And she could not hide the tension in her body from my eyes, but I pretended not to notice. I knew her reaction would be like this because of her fear of monsters, and these eyes could remind her of only one thing — the horrors she had experienced in the dungeon. But she had to be the first to say it herself.
–... Black eyes... – Tension could be heard in her voice.
Because if she believed it — she, for whom a single mention of the dungeon evokes horror, even if it is the weakest monster, she could not defeat it — then it would mean my performance was perfect.
My smile fell; I took on a more bewildered state.
— Yes. I don't know how it happened. I noticed it when I was brushing my teeth. Without thinking long, I came here. I assume it's somehow connected with my skill, and I came to talk to Miach.
— …I see. – She said more relaxedly, but there were still notes of tension in her voice.
— Oh, and by the way, is he even here?
— He's here.
— Good, I won't distract you from your work any longer. Don't overwork yourself!
I shouted, going up the stairs, feeling her gaze following me without pause. But that was normal; she just needed a little time, and work would not give her much time to think about it — well, I hoped so.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
I knocked before entering. I saw Miach, sitting in his place and reading something. But immediately after my appearance, he put the book aside and turned to face me.
— Oh, hi, Kop…ii?
— Hello, Miach. – Not at all surprised by his reaction, I said calmly.
His gaze studied my face, but there was the same light smile on it as always. But even so, I felt his gaze analyzing me. However weak he looked, he still remained a god.
— As I see, you noticed… Well, how to say, I myself don't know how it happened.
Scratching the back of my head, I closed the distance between us, looming over him, and continued:
— But I have an assumption.
— An assumption?
He said with interest, looking into my eyes from below.
— Yes, an assumption. My eyes changed because of my skill.
— ... – Miach's eyes narrowed at my words; in his eyes, there was something I could not read. – I think that's possible.
— And I think so too, Lord Miach. – I said, pulling up a chair and sitting down opposite him.
— I'm curious how it happened.
— Ah? Of course!
I told him my made-up story, the same as to Naaza, but in more detail. His face twisted in thoughtfulness.
Scratching my chin, I pretended that I was also very deep in thought about this question.
But as time passed, and Miach remained silent, my disappointment in him grew and grew like yeast.
«Maybe I overestimated the abilities of the gods?» – I thought in irritation, not knowing for the umpteenth time making a paper airplane.
I simply could not believe it. After my story, he should have immediately guessed what had happened to me, but he kept dragging it out, and my mask began to crack a little, and irritation began to show on my face, and I could not suppress this feeling.
— Yes, Kopii, you're right. Your skill has become something that changed you.
— ...
«Finally!» — I thought, regaining control over my face, returning to my serious expression.
— Are you sure?
He nodded.
— Well, actually, it's logical. It's even very logical... – Before he could rejoice that everything went fine, he suddenly continued – Well, you'd better not rejoice at this, Kopii.
— …What? Why?
— If your skill copied physical properties, so to speak. And, according to your words, it happened at an unexpected moment.
But, seeing how Kopii's face filled with more and more confusion, he could only sigh and rub the bridge of his nose. He continued:
— You see, Kopii, if you wake up and realize that your hair color has changed, or, on the contrary, you might go bald. Or worse…
— Worse…?
I had never thought of the skill in this way. And what if it was true? What if the skill develops over time? And when it is able to copy the appearance of another being? Imagining myself bald, toothless, short and ugly, shivers ran through my skin from the horror and vileness of what he could turn into in the future.
— Yes, Kopii, worse. Well, for example, if the skill changes your gender.
— Gender? Become a woman?
The realization of this evoked nothing. I did not care who I would be — a man or a woman, the main thing was that I would be beautiful. That was all. Even if I became a woman, it would not cancel my fun.
— Yes. If you think logically, it's possible. But that's just an assumption.
They both fell silent, each thinking about his own. Kane thought about what would happen if he became a woman, what he would do then. If he could change his gender, then could he change his species? For example, become an elf, or, on the contrary, copy a dog and become one.
Kane definitely did not want to become a stinking mutt. Casting a glance at Miach, he understood from his face that Miach was also deep in thought. And then he asked the question that interested him not for the sake of the game, but simply to ask, to rely on the god's many years of experience.
— And will I be able to control it, what do you think?
He asked the question that had tormented him from the very beginning, since they had started this conversation. This question was the main goal of his visit, well, of course, after instilling the idea that he was the same friendly and stupid Kopii.
Kane froze, waiting for Miach's answer. His eyes filled with expectation and impatience, and he unconsciously began cracking his fingers.
Crack.
— I don't know.
But all his expectations of Miach were quickly shattered by the god's simple answer, who looked at him with a rather dumb face.
«Maybe I overestimated him?» — Kane thought, becoming more and more disappointed in Miach. – «Maybe he is not even a single case; maybe all gods are like this? They are mired in their fun and pleasures, so they have become stupid from it, or they were this stupid from the very beginning? But, of course, it may be that Miach is an isolated case, that he is this stupid, and other gods may be smarter?»