I stopped walking at the sound coming from behind the staircase.
So the rumors had spread already.
It was only natural. It wasn't every day someone spent that much money in a single sweep.
"Did you hear? Leo and his attendant. They're both mages, so I guess that's why they bought so much."
"Leo?! Why did he go there all of a sudden?"
"Leo said his attendant wanted to visit. Apparently, he's a traveler from the Papal States."
"Really? Didn't catch a name? If he's a mage, he must be a noble too."
"Don't know. It was a foreign surname, so I don't remember. But the manager there said it didn't sound like a noble surname."
"A mage traveling with Leo who isn't a noble? Must be an alias."
"Probably. They say he wore a mask too."
"Huh?"
I stroked my chin.
If I used a noble surname, the trail would be easy to follow, so I'd written my original surname.
News would spread to the Papal States in an instant, so there was no need to use a real noble surname and risk causing trouble between families.
'Though, a foreign mage entering the capital and engaging in various activities is something that should technically be verified at least once.'
That system wasn't in place yet, and in the novel, it wasn't until around the middle, after the protagonist dropped a bombshell incident on the imperial family, that laws were hastily revised.
Until then, they just took it easy, thinking, 'If a family of that stature gave permission, their identity must be solid.'
'Of course, it must be unprecedented for Leo's family…'
Since they never gave permission…
But Leo would have handled that, so I didn't need to worry.
For now, it was within the expected range. That was enough.
I left the spot, leaving the continuing chatter of the students behind.
Even by noon, the situation was the same.
The news had quickly spread throughout the capital, starting with the school.
"Did you hear?! That blue-eyed hunter is coming out there again tomorrow?!"
"Cough…"
I choked on my own breath at the shout that came from somewhere as I was moving to find my classroom.
'…That title just now…'
Were they talking about me? More importantly, who said I was going tomorrow?
Once I started paying attention, I could hear similar murmurs from several places around me.
'…Status window.'
Lucas Rene Ascanien
Title: ???'s Hunter
Stamina: -3.5 (+0.3)
Mental Power: -8.2 (+0.5)
Magic Power: ?
Skill: +1.015 (+0.5)
Impression: -10
Luck: -6.985 (+0.5)
Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power
I opened it just in case, and the title had really changed. Does it change based on how I'm referred to here…?
'Looking at that title, it seems this will continue for a while.'
And the chimera kill hadn't even been reported yet. If the higher-ups decided to report that incident, the current fervor would last even longer.
I glanced at students carrying newspapers and thought.
* * *
As it turned out, that title wasn't something the students made up themselves; it was the title used in the newspaper that first reported it. Seeing other papers use the same name, it seemed to have solidified completely.
Actually, considering the situation, Leo's was more severe than mine.
I just had to put up with an incomprehensible name for a bit, but Leo had to bear the brunt of countless students' questions and attention.
Sure enough, every time I ran into him on the street, his complexion grew darker. If the guy who's always smiling looks menacing, that says it all.
The next evening, Leo plopped down on the training ground floor and sat there silently for a long time.
I looked down at him and tossed out a word.
"You okay?"
"No."
Leo answered with a face that looked like he'd aged ten years.
We'd gathered at the training ground, but seeing him like that, it didn't seem like he was in any condition to train today.
'He must have been bombarded with questions all day. Can't be helped.'
In that sense, hiding my identity was quite beneficial. I interpreted it positively and plopped down in the spot next to him.
Leo spoke weakly.
"You know we were in five different dailies today? Why are they all like this… Yesterday, I got three interview requests alone."
"You've had a rough time."
I expected it to die down somewhat, but people's interest only grew.
'Must be because of the mystique.'
If it were just Leo and his unmasked servant hunting magical beasts together, it would have ended as a nice story about Leo. But because it involved a person shrouded in various suspicious points, people were fanatically spreading the story.
And the investigation results stated that the beast was not a species seen in the Empire, and the Imperial Family announced that the perpetrator was likely affiliated with Pleroma.
A crime involving a cult, and two mages conveniently appearing to stop the incident—it couldn't not be a topic.
'Good thing I wasn't found out.'
Why did they have to bring up Pleroma?
Even though I'm not part of Pleroma, I'm already being painted with that image. If I were found out here, it would truly be the end.
Thinking of that worst-case scenario, the current situation was quite good.
"Ah."
Leo noticed a package beside him and handed it to me.
"Almost forgot to give you this. It arrived today."
"That's earlier than I thought."
"I asked them to make it as fast as possible. And it doesn't take long to make originally."
Even so, for it to fly here in a day…
I took the box Leo handed over.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. You need to stay alive and use magic diligently."
"What…"
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Not 'get well soon' but 'use magic diligently'? What kind of talk is that?
As I always feel, he's truly a magic-obsessed freak.
I ignored Leo's words and unwrapped the package.
"Wow…"
Leo started exclaiming as soon as he saw the inner packaging, but after seeing the items, he began exclaiming with a slightly different meaning.
"Whoa, they're really plain."
Inside were a wristwatch and a silver necklace chain, both so plain they wouldn't leave a lasting impression.
For the best effect, they needed to penetrate the skin, so methods like implanting a small chip-like thing under the skin or using earrings were employed.
I didn't try the former due to strong psychological aversion, and the latter was the better option… but a mage with pierced ears would be a dead giveaway that they were using an artifact. It could have been dangerous when I met my brother.
Still, a wristwatch and necklace, being items in close contact with the body, wouldn't have a bad effect. To enhance the effect, I even consecrated the artifacts with blood and magic power.
The watch was to conceal the magic power circulating in my body, and the necklace chain was a tool to stabilize the core. The necklace I currently used only had a pendant as the artifact, so changing the chain wasn't a problem.
I spent a fortune to thoroughly block magic leakage and make them look like ordinary accessories, yet I still had about 10 million won left.
'I'm never going out again.'
For a mage, a thousand is money that disappears quickly, but… I guess I'll be going out to hunt magical beasts again. I smiled contentedly.
"Try it on quickly. I'm curious."
"Alright."
At Leo's urging, I roughly wrapped the watch around my wrist.
"…!"
Perhaps because it contained my blood and magic power, even though it wasn't a skin-penetrating item, an indescribable sensation coiled around my wrist.
"…It feels like something is pulling, but I don't feel anything else?"
"No, try using some magic."
Leo pointed excitedly toward the far end of the training ground, waving his arm. I drew my wand and shot a spell where he pointed.
*Boom!*
"Oh."
It felt different from usual, like a path had been created. If I had been running on an unpaved road before, now it felt like running on a paved road, albeit a poorly paved one.
"You felt it too, right? And the magic power swirling around you before and after using the spell has diminished a lot. It's much cleaner."
"Really? The output amount was the same as usual."
"It would be. This only suppresses the magic power that scatters after output."
"Nice."
I called up the status window again.
Lucas Rene Ascanien
Title: ???'s Hunter
Stamina: -3.5
Mental Power: -8.2
Magic Power: ?
Skill: +1.015 [+4.015]
Impression: -10
Luck: -6.985
Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power
'Huh?'
My Skill went up by 3 points?
Leo's words about it feeling cleaner somewhere had to be true. Seeing the number jump up cleanly after inching up in decimal points was surprising.
I shoved the wand back into my waistband and touched the necklace chain.
This also didn't feel particularly effective yet… but it might feel different when actually used.
I changed the necklace chain and tucked the pendant inside my shirt to tidy up.
Leo lightly waved his wand to sense the surrounding magic power, then tilted his head.
"Maybe because of the watch's effect, I can't feel this one immediately."
"…Is that so?"
But I could.
I couldn't close my mouth as I pressed firmly near my heart.
Unlike before, the core had become so light I could barely perceive its existence.
Lucas Rene Ascanien
Title: ???'s Hunter
Stamina: -3.5 [-0.5]
Mental Power: -8.2
Magic Power: ?
Skill: +1.015 [+4.015]
Impression: -10
Luck: -6.985
Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power
'My Stamina went up 3 points too.'
I conjured a flame in my hand.
The subtle cracks and shocks I felt every time I used magic were now gone. No, I hadn't even known that state involved cracks and shocks being applied.
But…
'So this is how it's supposed to be.'
This must be how a normal core operates.
To be precise, this is the sensation of a -0.5 core.
I was a 21st-century human without a core, and Lucas, having had a damaged core for so long, couldn't know what a healthy state felt like.
But now I knew for sure.
Unlike before, my breathing and magic manipulation felt much freer.
I pulled the pendant out from under my shirt, away from my skin.
As the artifact moved away from my core, my chest felt heavy and blocked again.
I hadn't known before using it, but now that I knew what a healthy core felt like, I absolutely couldn't leave it like this.
"If the core is completely healed, it'll get even better than this."
"Seems like something's different? Good thing we chose well."
If I make an enhancer, I'll be able to feel this sensation without an artifact.
If I make a cure, even after the enhancer's effects wear off—that is, permanently—I'll be able to live with a healthy core.
It was reckless to just wait for the medicine to be made.
Leaving a normal core alone, I almost ended up learning magic with a severely damaged core.
I sent Leo, whose condition had worsened, back to the dorm and practiced magic alone.
As I started to get slightly out of breath, I checked the watch. It was only midnight when I entered the training ground, but it was already close to 3 AM.
Even though magic uses a lot of stamina, three hours was a bit disappointing. It seemed this was the limit even with -0.5 Stamina.
'Still, I should rest for tomorrow.'
I moved to the dorm, threw my bag on the desk, and plopped into the chair.
"Huh?"
My gaze fell on something foreign stuck there.
*Tap—*
When I opened the door, a note fell to the floor.
Unfolding the roughly folded yellow paper, equally sloppily scribbled handwriting appeared.
[I know everything.]
The back of my neck turned cold.
I looked at the note with icy eyes.
[Come outside the dorm right now.]
I glared at the note, then relaxed and burst out laughing.
I don't know what they claim to know…
But if they think they have a hold on my weakness, it's a welcome development that they want to meet me face-to-face instead of going to some media outlet and exposing my identity without me knowing.
'For now, the magical beast hunt is the most likely.'
Let's consider the scenario where they called me out knowing about that incident.
They likely have strong suspicions but no concrete evidence.
In that case, I'd question what weakness they think they have, arguing that showing up to such a warning itself is proof of being the hunter.
If they go that route… I can just play dumb.
Others might not, but Lucas could.
He's the type who, not knowing what's going on but told to come out because something scary might happen, would follow first and ask questions later.
'Of course, that's the story of the past year…'
They probably have no evidence anyway. If I just mumble that I came out because I was told to, not knowing why, given that personality, the other party would find it hard to be certain.
'The problems that arise from going out are solvable.'
Then of course I should go. This isn't a problem that can be solved by telling a teacher.
I didn't expect something like this to happen so soon, but if someone who finds something suspicious comes to me of their own accord, I welcome it.
Without hesitation, I slipped the note back into the door crack and headed for the stairs.
Upon opening the dorm's main door, a student approached hesitantly.
"Um… by any chance…"
Judging by the way he spoke, he probably wasn't the one who sent the note.
When I silently stared at him, the student looked at me with eyes full of fear, gauging my reaction.
"What is it?"
"Uh, you saw the note, right? The seniors from the Magic Department told me to bring you."
"Who exactly?"
"I don't really know…"
Seems they just grabbed someone off the street.
Normally, you'd refuse if a stranger asked you to bring someone, but seeing him here… they must have threatened him or something.
I silently waved my hand forward, and the student quickly moved his feet.
Even after a long while, there was no sign of arriving. I tossed a remark at the student's back.
"We're going pretty far, huh?"
"Huh?! Ah, yes… I didn't really know either, but yeah. Still, we should arrive soon."
The school's main buildings were already small in the distance.
Unused buildings and the school's outskirts began to appear around us.
"Did those seniors say anything specific about me?"
"N-no. They just said the senior would come out soon, so I should bring you."
"I see."
Then, I saw four or five people moving in the distance.
Perhaps because it was a derelict building and they couldn't go inside, they were waiting in the open space in the middle of the building.
Upon spotting them, the student hastily turned around and left even before reaching where the people were standing.
I approached them closely.
"What the… he really came."
"Hey, give me fifty thousand pell."
"Isn't this guy crazy? Anyway, we wrote the note like you said."
The students giggled among themselves.
When I just silently looked at them, one student stepped forward.
"Hey."
The student, who had been staring holes into my eyes for a while, jutted his chin out.
"Why'd you come here? Got something to feel guilty about?"
"You told me to come out."
At my indifferent answer, a few people standing behind burst out laughing.
"What's this bastard saying…"
"See, I told you. Even if we just told him to come out without writing anything, he'd come? Nothing's changed."
"True."
"So give me the fifty thousand."
"XX, I'm not giving it. Shut up for a bit. You're ruining the mood because of you."
They snickered at each other, then suddenly fell silent and looked at me.
'They were classmates, right?'
Faces I often passed by.
They were far from top students like Leo.
They knew how to use magic, hence they were here, but they weren't exceptional in grades or character, and they viewed all relationships through a hierarchy.
To students like Leo, who came from good families and had good grades, they'd do anything to look good, but for an outcast like Lucas, whom everyone avoided, they tried their best to keep under their heel.
'As for Pleroma…'
They don't seem particularly afraid.
While outsiders who had no interaction with me might not know, there were a few within the school who knew my tendencies and looked down on me.
'Still, I thought their numbers were small, but unluckily, I'm in the same class as these bastards.'
Sure enough, even in Lucas's fragmented memories, they remained as terrifying images.
In first year, Lucas was plagued by a rumor that he ate a rat alive; the ones who started that rumor were these students.
Right before they started looking down on Lucas in earnest, it was probably an attempt to see how much teasing Lucas would quietly endure.
Then the guy at the front lowered his voice and stepped closer.
"It's nothing much. You just seem a bit different lately."
"...."
"Lately, you've been… did something happen?"
A student sitting in the back, snickering, stood up, put his arm on my shoulder, and asked.
"What happened that made you open your eyes and look straight ahead? You didn't used to do that."
"Hahahaha! His eyes are lively. XX, I'm too scared to look."
At that, I let out a short laugh.
Right, it would be strange if they weren't here. I knew I'd run into guys like this eventually.
The reason I'd been keeping my shoulders tense vanished in an instant. These guys knew absolutely nothing about the part I was worried about.
They just called me out to torment me.
The words 'I know everything' were truly just to scare me into coming out.
'If they used words like 'I'll kill you if you don't come out,' any escape route for them if problems arose would disappear.'
Just enough to plausibly claim they had no intention to threaten if they brazenly insisted.
They used exactly that amount of words and sentences.
I didn't know I had to participate in kids' hierarchy games too…
'Still, it's good.'
It's not a headache-inducing matter.
I looked at the students' increasingly hostile faces and let out a sigh.
"Just tell me why you called me."
"This bastard is sighing now, hey."
"Hey, enough. We should talk, yeah.
—-----------
T/N:
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