The World Looks Different

I froze for a moment at the sudden message, but thinking about the situation made me chuckle.

The whole thing was just ridiculous.

'Was the food usually that bad?'

Feed her something good, and bam—a message like this pops up. Looked like I'd need to pay more attention to Lena's meals from now on.

Of course, the food wasn't the only reason her loyalty shot up, but it was clearly a key factor.

'A new job, huh... What's that about?'

This was something even I hadn't known back in my hunter days with minions.

It was a new entry that appeared after I woke up in this world.

Naturally, it piqued my curiosity even more.

I quickly opened the additional details in the message to check the contents.

I scrolled through the floating message, frowning slightly.

'Why the hell is Sex Slave even an option?'

The system shoving this in was bad enough, but the real issue was that the effects didn't look half bad.

'Unrestricted boosts to her own abilities? That's huge, isn't it?'

Thinking back to my hunter days, this was straight-up broken.

Boosting raw stats without any item dependency? That alone was a massive advantage.

And unrestricted meant endless potential.

Beyond that, there were plenty of other useful jobs.

Especially Healer or Chef—those would let Lena stand on her own safely.

So, I couldn't decide easily.

This felt like something where her own will mattered most.

"Lena, I've got something to ask you."

"Yes?"

"I'm about to assign you a job..."

I explained the system window's contents and shared the message with her.

Since she was my minion, and thanks to the Soul Resonance Necklace's effect, sharing was possible.

"You've got time, so think it over carefully before deciding..."

"Make me your assistant, please! I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠want to be Theo-nim's crafting assistant!"

"Huh? No, you should pick more carefully. There are plenty of other jobs."

"If I'm not good enough..."

"No, that's not what I mean... Ah, some of the names are a bit iffy, yeah?"

I explained the functional traits of Sex Slave.

And the future potential, too.

That it could turn her into a new powerhouse if handled right.

Lena's face flushed red at my words.

"Th-Theo-nim, do you want me to become a sex slave? If that's what you wish, then I'll be your sex..."

"No! That's not it—I'm just saying know what you're choosing. This isn't a casual pick."

"Then, crafting assistant it is! I really want to do it!"

Lena's unwavering answer caught me off guard instead.

I hadn't expected her to be this decisive.

"I want to help Theo-nim even a little when you're working. Please."

It was Lena's decision.

An assistant would be great for me, but I wasn't sure about her.

Still, I respected it.

'Lena as crafting assistant.'

The moment I thought that, a flash of light flickered over Lena's body before fading.

No stir in the restaurant, so it must've only been visible to me.

Seemed similar to a mana reaction.

A new message popped up the instant the job was set.

More abilities than expected.

Especially material quality appraisal and magic circuit analysis—unexpected bonuses.

Lena seemed to sense the changes directly or indirectly.

Magic circuit analysis was a particularly unique trait.

"This is... amazing. The world looks so different now!"

"Huh?"

"I can see magic circuits. Anything with magical effects—I can see the circuits!"

Lena spoke in an excited voice.

Her vision must now reveal magical structures.

A ability I didn't have, so it intrigued me.

"Even the streetlamps have magic circuits, and the shop signs..."

"What about the magic lamp on this table?"

"That too! The magistone in this magic lamp is low quality. Using something this cheap in a high-end restaurant..."

Lena's new ability manifested immediately.

This was beyond expectations—a real windfall.

I could rely on her for sourcing materials from now on.

Not just quality appraisal, but full magical structure breakdown.

But minion ability sharing wasn't limited to that.

The moment Lena adapted to her new power, the message updated.

An unexpected message.

At the same time, I understood why Lena was making such a fuss.

The world really did look different now.

Magic circuits and quality grades were overlaid on objects I focused on.

"Whoa, for real. I can actually see the magic circuits."

"Theo-nim, you can see them too?"

"Yeah, thanks to you, it seems I can."

I explained the situation, and a smile bloomed on Lena's lips.

A fresh, vibrant smile I'd never seen, no matter the circumstance.

"Finally, I'm useful to you, Theo-nim. I'm so relieved."

"No, you've always been helpful."

"No, I wasn't much help with your real work. Now I really can be—I'm so happy!"

Lena looked genuinely thrilled.

It felt a bit heavy, but her sincerity just made me grateful.

Still, my hunter instincts kept me from fully basking in the emotion.

Even now, ways to exploit the ability kept popping into my head.

'Is sharing limited to Lena? Or if I get more minions and set their jobs, can I share those abilities too?'

All sorts of possibilities arose.

This was a world where slaves were bought and sold.

Maybe expanding my minions could make me even stronger.

'Loyalty, though...'

Recalling the condition for job assignment, it was tricky—I couldn't be sure.

But I'd figure it out eventually, no need to rush.

For now, share the joy with Lena.

But Lena couldn't hold onto that feeling long.

The man I'd thought was just waiting outside entered the restaurant.

"Theo-nim, that's the guy from earlier."

He'd looked ordinary at first.

But with the new shared ability, he looked anything but.

"Th-Theo-nim, that man's magic circuits..."

"Yeah, I see them too."

His body was webbed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with spiderweb-like magic circuits.

Just looking made my eyes spin—his entire form was plastered with them.

'What the hell is this guy?'

My wariness spiked to the max when the man approached.

But his words eased it instantly.

"You're the mage Theo? I'm Arthur Bonfello, chief mage to Count Arno."

The lord of Asterium.

Count Arno Grandmason.

Arthur Bonfello, chief mage to Count Arno.

That was the suspicious man's identity.

'Chief mage... So that's why his body's woven with magic circuits?'

While I was engrossed observing the circuits, Arthur kept talking.

I listened with one ear while gauging his level.

Revealing his family name meant noble or quasi-noble.

'Looking at the circuit complexity...'

This wasn't your average setup.

Only one conclusion.

'At least 4th-class, quasi-noble status. Chief mage, indeed...'

Judgment on the guy complete in seconds.

Of course, I could be wrong.

But better to overestimate and prepare than underestimate and slack.

As I thought that, a line I couldn't ignore slipped out.

"The count requests a quiet audience."

"Pardon? Me?"

"Yes. Consider it an honor."

Totally unexpected.

Why the count?

But refusing was awkward.

No—refusing Asterium's lord, Count Arno, wasn't an option to begin with.

"For me to dare meet the count..."

"Baron Sellevan put in a word. A small request for consideration if issues arise. To send me for a mere low-tier mage... Tsk."

Baron Sellevan, ever the thoughtful one.

He'd arranged this behind the scenes without telling me.

A heads-up to avoid trouble before it stuck.

But Arthur's attitude rubbed me wrong.

Seemed jealous of a 2nd-class mage drawing noble attention.

'Did he not trust me that much? Well... I did say I was a mercenary.'

From Baron Sellevan's view, it made sense.

Introduced as a mercenary, then fought in the mines.

After that, skipped research to hang with mercenaries, hawked rings for profit.

Merchants griping hard in the meantime.

I could guess what Baron Sellevan thought of me now. Sigh-worthy.

'He probably didn't say anything bad, though.'

I pushed thoughts of Baron Sellevan aside.

Couldn't dawdle arrogantly when Count Arno was waiting.

Just needed time to prepare mentally.

"Could you... give me a moment?"

"Time? Does the count look idle?"

"No, it's just—I haven't settled on lodging yet."

Buying time with the lodging excuse.

Time to dig into Count Arno's personality, interests, etc.

But it fell flat.

"We can arrange lodging. Tell us what you need, and we'll get it. Just follow."

This level of preparedness bordered on excessive.

But no refusing.

No way out when he put it like that.

"Then... I'll meet the count."

I followed Arthur to the count's castle.

Lena trailed silently.

Knights who'd been watching us unnoticed joined, forming a procession.

This wasn't an invitation—it felt like escorting a criminal.

'This hospitality... is way over the top.'

Left a bitter taste.

Just sending a servant would've sufficed.

Instead, chief mage and knights.

This excessive attention had a reason.

And it came from Arthur's mouth.

"He's interested in your potion enchantment technique. Best sort your thoughts beforehand."

Arthur tossed it out bluntly.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Suddenly, it all clicked.

The experiments with Stain.

Rumors had already reached here.

This wasn't good.

'How'd they even know about that?'

For a second, I wondered if Baron Sellevan leaked it—but no.

Territorial secrets like that? He wouldn't blab to the count casually, cousin or not.

Only one conclusion.

'Must have spies planted around Baron Sellevan.'

A headache-inducing type.

Baron Sellevan was loyal to Count Arno.

Yet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠managed so tightly regardless.

Not someone to take lightly.