/
Jenny sighed, her expression tinged with resignation.
“I suppose if this matter is resolved favorably, maintaining a connection with the agents won’t be too difficult. That woman seems to have a positive view of you already.”
“Really?”
“Can’t you see how she’s been reaching out to you more frequently lately? Despite her busy schedule, she always makes time for in-person meetings. It’s obvious she wants to leave a good impression.”
“……”
“You don’t want to become an agent, do you?”
“Absolutely not.”
Lennok had no desire to become an agent, even though they were dedicated to the city’s peace. He might be interested in the rewards they could offer, though.
“The city government officers have access to valuable information about precious items that I can’t easily find. Like…”
“Elixirs?”
“…Exactly.”
Jenny had been closely monitoring the incoming requests while working with the agents.
The issue was that the requests involving elixirs or unique magical systems, the things Lennok desired, or those offering such items as rewards, were not very visible.
Despite his growing reputation and higher prices, obtaining these specific items still seemed like a distant goal.
“Hmm… It would be easier if you had a patron, but I know you don’t want that.”
“I’d rather not be dependent on someone else or an organization. That’s why I deliberately haven’t contacted Dyke even after our previous work.”
Jenny chuckled at Lennok’s grumpy response and shared a surprising piece of information.
“Do you know that the Panua woman still sends me her regards from time to time? Even though she’s incredibly busy expanding her arms trading business.”
Lennok had thought that she had been avoiding direct contact, but it seemed she was strategically approaching his surroundings without causing any disturbances.
Working with Dyke Corporation might present an opportunity in the future, but for now, Lennok had no intention of doing so.
Perhaps because Lennok had hinted strongly about wanting an elixir, Jenny decided to share some information she knew.
“The easiest way, in my opinion, is to get a ticket to the underground auction.”
“The underground auction…”
Lennok recalled that even Dyke Corporation had obtained an artifact called the Five Fingers of Enakphil through a VIP auction organized by the city council.
Finding precious items required not only money but also the right connections.
“Just gaining access to the auction isn’t enough. To bid on the items you want, you need a high-level ticket.”
“So, there’s a qualification for participation.”
“Yes, allowing valuable customers to participate in the auction increases the quality of items for sale. It’s a unique aspect of auctions where customers become sellers.”
This led to all sorts of treasures from the city ending up in the underground market, Jenny explained further.
“I tried to get tickets for the underground auctions here, instead of the surface ones, but it’s not easy. They are quite exclusive.”
“Have you already made an attempt?”
“I do what I can.”
Jenny was the type to find a solution herself before seeking help from others, a characteristic that amused Lennok.
“After this operation succeeds, I’ll drop a hint to Evelyn as well. Compared to Dyke Corporation, she’s more compassionate and might be able to reward you appropriately.”
“Alright.”
Lennok thought as he held the doorknob of the office.
“But first, we need to deliver a result that she’ll absolutely love.”
***
At Rabatenon University, the early morning was surprisingly warm due to a gentle breeze that flowed through the vast campus, creating a barrier against the cold air outside.
Lennok couldn’t fathom the cost of this process, but it was evident that the university had no issues covering it.
Rabatenon stood as a prestigious magic university, ranking high among the educational institutions directly managed by the city government.
The university had earned its esteemed reputation by generously investing in facilities to accommodate wizards who preferred not to be confined within the walls of a Tower. This contrasted starkly with the cold and gloomy landscapes Lennok had encountered in Vulcan before.
The air surrounding those fortunate enough to be blessed with talent and a conducive environment felt warm and comfortable.
Lost in thought, Lennok savored the gentle breeze caressing his skin.
“Haah, haah!”
“One, two! One, two!”
Despite the early hour, the university campus was abuzz with people dedicated to their exercise routines.
The elegance of the buildings, reminiscent of a palace’s beauty and antiquity, blended seamlessly with the lush greenery of the plants, even in winter. The streets were immaculately kept and orderly.
Lennok observed the students going about their day, immersed in their own magical worlds.
Learning magic didn’t imply neglecting physical training. In fact, it offered numerous advantages.
Due to the cursed penalty, Lennok had been compensating with other abilities and equipment. However, he reminded himself that even Eden, the leader of the gangsters, had been a skilled wizard with a robust physique.
Being prepared for close combat in emergencies was a wise choice for any wizard.
With that thought in mind, Lennok headed towards Aris’s lab, but suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
The steps sounded unusually light, indicating a jogger.
He caught a refreshing scent in the air as the person passed by him effortlessly.
It was a woman with deep indigo hair, who paid no mind to Lennok, continuing her run.
Her stable posture was striking even in her training attire, but she didn’t concern Lennok.
He casually let her pass, thinking he might take a smoke break.
Unexpectedly, the towel around her waist came undone and flew towards Lennok.
“…?”
Flutter!
He attempted to summon his mana to catch the towel, but hesitated when he felt the woman’s gaze upon him as he turned around.
Resignedly, he tried to catch the fluttering towel with his bare hand, but his attempt proved futile.
It was an odd sensation, as if his body moved on its own, even though he clearly saw the towel and reached out.
Amused at his own lackluster motor skills, Lennok chuckled.
Though he could react to attacks at superhuman speed using mana, without magical assistance, he couldn’t even catch a towel fluttering in front of him.
It dawned on him that, in any situation involving physical movement, he should consider all potential aids, including magic.
‘I guess this applies to things like motorcycles as well. Until I can develop some magic to assist with riding, I shouldn’t be too ambitious.’
Riding a motorcycle required more preparation than driving a car, which had certain safety measures in place.
Sebastian had offered to provide him with a motorcycle, but Lennok realized he needed to equip himself with the necessary skills before taking up the offer.
‘If I can dissect and improve the principles of aim-assisting magic, it might not be impossible… but I won’t know for sure until I try it myself.’
Lost in thought while holding the towel, Lennok noticed a woman dressed in training clothes approaching him, her gaze fixed on him.
Her expression was icy, and she had vibrant navy blue hair tied in a ponytail.
If Aris exuded a hint of coolness amidst her sophistication, the woman standing before Lennok seemed to possess an aura as icy as being wrapped in frost.
Only when he saw her face did he recall who she was.
Priscilla Leonicus.
She was a student attending Aris Richellen’s Elemental Studies class and a member of the Leonicus family, a lineage renowned for its skilled wizards.
Priscilla was one of the talented and young wizards who had defied the conventions of various magic towers to enroll in Rabatenon University.
As is often the case, people were overly interested in each other’s stories and enjoyed gossiping.
While assisting Aris with class preparations, Lennok had already learned about Priscilla’s background and the kind of magic she excelled in. He also knew that despite being in her second year, she was already receiving attention from various research labs.
As Priscilla recognized him, she seemed to scrunch her face slightly.
When Lennok wordlessly offered her the towel, she reached out quickly, but he playfully pulled his hand back and stepped away.
Naturally, Priscilla’s expression turned sour.
“What are you doing?”
Instead of replying, Lennok quietly pointed behind her.
Various items had fallen out of her pocket when the towel dropped, and they were now lined up on the floor.
Priscilla calmly turned around and swiftly picked up her belongings, but Lennok couldn’t help but notice her ears turning red.
Among the items she collected were a smartphone with a broken screen, a lip gloss without a cap, and earphones with only one side remaining.
Judging from the scattered items, it seemed that her character was somewhat disorganized, which contrasted with her outward appearance.
After she had picked up everything, Priscilla turned around again, and spoke first.
“I overheard your conversation with the professor.”
“Yes?”
“You mentioned that you can’t use mana at all.”
Lennok turned his head without saying a word, meeting Priscilla’s gaze, which seemed slightly awkward.
‘Oh, the conversation about mana with Aris… It happened not too long ago.’
As he tried to recall the conversation while assisting Aris with her lectures, Priscilla continued speaking.
“You need to be careful.”
“……”
“If people find out that you’re not a wizard, they’ll undoubtedly start questioning you.”
To Lennok’s surprise, this unexpected remark made him chuckle softly.
It was the last response he had anticipated from her cold demeanor.
“Are you concerned about me now?”
“I may not be very interested in Professor Rechellen’s lab, but others might be.”
“I see.” Lennok replied with a smile, “However, I believe those who need to know probably already do. Especially those who aren’t thrilled about my presence here.”
“…What?”
It was hard to ignore the fact that Lennok didn’t use mana while interacting with students at the university. Furthermore, since Aris had registered him as a non-magical assistant, rumors likely already circulated among the faculty.
If others started investigating Lennok’s background, it wouldn’t take long to discover his pretense as a non-magical commoner.
A fragile disguise that could unravel at any moment.
That was the true nature of his third identity, Evan Vylun.
Priscilla glanced at Lennok with a somewhat displeased expression, then turned her head and spoke.
“My sister left this lifestyle behind because she lacked magical talent.”
“……”
“Of course, it’s none of my business… but I wouldn’t want to see another person like that.”
“You don’t need to worry too much.”
Lennok responded while maintaining his faint smile.
“Even if I can’t handle mana, there are still many things I can do.”
“……”
“Besides, while interacting with the students here, who knows when I might awaken my magical abilities?”
Every time he encountered such unintended kindness, Lennok was reminded of how crucial his meeting with Aris had been.
Pure goodwill, free from ulterior motives or complications, was something Lennok found difficult to comprehend yet equally challenging to ignore.
Hence, to preserve his current lifestyle under these favorable circumstances, he needed to be self-reliant.
Navigating through treacherous emotions and schemes was something Lennok was all too familiar with.
Priscilla looked at Lennok as if trying to grasp his perspective, then turned away.
Silently, Lennok shook the forgotten towel at her.
“Priscilla, you left your towel behind.”
It appeared that she was not only disorganized but also forgetful.