Arpina's Errand (1)
"How did you do it? There's no way you managed it alone..."
The intentions hidden behind those crimson eyes were impossible to read. The very fact that he couldn't read them made it all the more chilling. She was Lia's master, so she was undoubtedly a mage. This was someone who could kill him with a mere flick of her wrist right where he stood.
Leon's mind spun at full speed. When he failed to answer immediately, the atmosphere grew rigid. In that heavy silence, the one who spoke was Lia.
"Master."
Lia stared at the red-eyed woman with a stiff expression. The woman, who had been looking at her, let out a light sigh.
"I see. Since he's a child from the orphanage, he can't be one of those Magic Tower types... You."
Shaking her head, she pointed a finger at Leon.
"What attribute appeared during your test?"
Her tone had shifted to something curt. Leon decided this was far preferable to a voice laced with interest.
"...I don't know. They simply left, as if they had no interest."
A single attribute had manifested, but it had since changed to three. Leon found the question difficult to answer. She glanced at Lia, then nodded.
"With a Heavenly Attribute appearing, that makes sense."
It seemed she would let the matter pass easily, but she returned to her seat, opened a drawer, and pulled out a crystal orb. It looked identical to the one used to check attributes on his first day.
Without a word, she held the orb out to Leon. With no choice, he placed his hand on it. Light flashed briefly, then letters rose to the surface.
Tri-Attribute Constitution (Water, Wind, Earth)
"Three attributes?"
She looked at Leon with genuine surprise. Even Leon knew that possessing three attributes meant he shouldn't be lingering among the entrance residents. It was enough of a quality to warrant taking him in for further mage testing, even if it didn't reach Lia's level.
Would she think he had lied?
Leon faced her with tension for a moment before she let out a small laugh.
"It might have sparked my interest just a short while ago, but after seeing Lia, I feel nothing at all."
She stared at Leon intently, as if debating what to do with him, then glanced at Lia's serious face and looked away. It was unusual to see a master so mindful of her disciple's reactions.
"Be careful."
"Careful...?"
"Your current level is First Class, so I wouldn't have noticed without checking directly. But from Second Class onward, every other mage will know."
She told him to return the next day and sent him out.
Leon stepped outside the room with a dazed expression. Lia, who had followed, spoke in a gloomy voice.
"I'm sorry... it's because of me..."
"No. It was my own carelessness. I'm sorry for not telling you I became a mage."
"Mm... I'm fine."
Lia claimed she was fine, but her face said otherwise. Leon, however, was too lost in his own thoughts to notice her expression.
To get caught this easily. I was truly careless...
He had believed that as long as he didn't openly use magic in front of a mage, he would never be discovered. Even an ordinary person awakening mana on their own would draw strange looks from mages. If it became known that he had changed from a single-attribute body to a tri-attribute one, it wouldn't be strange if he were dragged away for experiments.
Attribute constitutions were absolute, unchanging talents decided at birth. The fact that Lia's master showed no interest was practically a miracle.
Was there no way to conceal his level? His mind grew tangled with worry. Another concern then flashed through his thoughts.
Could the old man at the Old Magic Library know as well?
As far as Leon knew, the old librarian was also a mage capable of using magic. His level didn't appear particularly high, but still.
I need to be even more cautious from now on.
Having awakened mana, Leon had officially set foot on the path of a mage. He didn't fully understand the worldview of the novel he had possessed, but after following this author's works to completion three times, he had grasped the writer's tendencies.
A world where new powerhouses appeared like mad. There were more than enough reasons for Leon to tread carefully.
The next day.
Leon arrived alone at the same location he had visited with Lia. When he knocked, Lia's master opened the door. The moment she saw him, she spoke bluntly.
"Follow me."
He followed her deeper into the city's center. Soon a towering spire came into view. The building, constructed of shining white marble, displayed its majesty even from a distance.
Inside, the atmosphere was clean and hushed. Multiple rooms lined each floor, and every person passing by was a mage.
"Professor Arpina! Hello."
A man holding a thick book greeted her. Arpina returned the greeting with indifference.
"I definitely want to take your Four Element Magic Studies next semester."
"Fine. Take it."
After passing the student and climbing countless spiral staircases, they finally reached Arpina's personal laboratory.
"Your job is to wait out here. When I write down the books I need, bring them exactly as listed."
"Are you researching new magic?"
The corner of Arpina's mouth twitched upward.
"Asking questions like the students under me, are you?"
"This is my first time having a proper conversation with a mage."
Leon knew some mages might find even trivial questions unpleasant. He had simply judged that Arpina wasn't one of them. In their short interaction, he had already determined she possessed an indifferent personality.
"Hmm. Well, fine. You'll roughly understand once you see the books I write anyway."
She sat at her desk immediately, scribbled something on a sheet of paper, and handed it to him.
"It is magic research. Inspiration struck after seeing Lia."
The paper was densely packed with titles of magic books. She then handed over her personal token as well.
"These can be obtained at the Central Magic Library. A few are probably in the Old Magic Library. Once you bring them, don't enter—just leave them in front of the door. I'll retrieve them myself."
Leon nodded and turned on his heel at once.
He left the Magic Tower and headed straight for the Central Magic Library. After showing the token and gaining entry, he diligently located every book listed on the paper. Though this was the Central Library he had longed to visit, he did nothing unnecessary like browsing for books he personally wanted. That would have been more than enough to grate on Arpina's nerves.
He carried all the books with visible effort, without using even basic strength-enhancing magic. Being deep within the central area made using magic too conspicuous.
Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to this.
The thought flickered through his mind, but in the end, it wasn't a bad outcome. He had learned that his level could easily be detected by other mages, which meant he could also accumulate the contribution points required for a personal room. There was no real loss.
After stacking the books neatly in front of Arpina's laboratory door, Leon sat nearby and skimmed through them one by one. He intended to look at them only until she came out to collect them.
Illumina Codex: Advanced Light Magic Techniques.
He passed over books that clearly looked too advanced for his current level.
Scholarship of Radiance: Light Attribute Magic Theory and Practice.
"Is this worth reading?"
After skimming a few pages, Leon quickly set the book down again.
It doesn't resonate at all.
No matter how prestigious the Central Magic Library's collection was, reading magic books completely unrelated to his own attributes made the knowledge refuse to stick.
In the end, Leon began reading the lower-grade magic books he already possessed. Lately he had been absorbed in the unique spells found in the Old Magic Library. While his actual training focused on magic matching his attributes, ever since progressing quests in reality had become difficult, he read all kinds of magic books.
Lower-Grade Swift Magic.
Since Arpina already knew he was a mage, there was no longer any need to hide it.
At some point the door opened and Arpina emerged. She glanced at the book Leon was reading and gave a small laugh.
"Why are you reading such trash magic books?"
"I thought they might prove useful somehow."
"It seems you don't even know basic common magic."
She sighed, shook her head, took only the books, and disappeared back inside.
Then teach me, at least.
Leon glared at the closed door with dissatisfaction before looking away.
When work ended was entirely up to Arpina's mood. Once she said it was enough for today and told him to leave, he could depart. His hours were shorter than when he worked at the Old Magic Library.
It had ended shortly after lunchtime.
As he left the Magic Tower, Lia was lingering right outside. The moment she spotted him, she hurried over.
"Are you finished? Master didn't give you a hard time, did she?"
"No, I just did the work and came out."
Leon, who had planned to return to the dormitory and devote himself to training, answered casually and turned his steps toward the dorms. He had assumed their meeting was coincidental, but Lia continued following him.
"Um... I'm heading back to the dormitory."
"Yeah, I know. Before that, I wanted to give you this."
Only then did Leon notice she was holding something. It was a small pouch that fit in one hand. She handed it to him directly.
"It's a spatial pouch. I actually wanted to give you magic robes or a staff, but it seemed like you still didn't want to reveal yourself."
Leon accepted the pouch with an apologetic look. To be honest, he felt burdened. Just hearing the word "spatial" made it sound expensive.
"Thank you, but... is it really okay to give something like this to me?"
"All mages carry them! It's not that expensive. The truly expensive ones are bound to unique mana so only the registered user can open them. This isn't that kind, so you don't have to make that face."
Even so, it couldn't be a common item that everyone simply carried around. Someone who had recognized Lia's talent must have gifted it to her.
"Don't you need to use it yourself?"
"I can just ask Master for another one."
"...."
Arpina's first impression had been sharp enough to feel eerie, yet it seemed she was actually a master who always yielded to her disciple.
"Thank you. I... even hid the fact that I became a mage."
"Then don't hide it anymore. Understood?"
There was clear sincerity in the way Lia stared at him as she spoke. Just then, someone approached Lia's side.
"What? Is he your boyfriend?"
When Leon turned his head, he saw a girl with long, flowing red hair. She appeared to be around the same age as Lia and had a cute face.
"Ha, you have time to fool around with a boy?"
Her manner of speaking was the complete opposite of her cute appearance. Her green eyes turned toward Leon. The moment she saw him, she frowned.
"An entrance resident?"