"Th-this might be a bit inappropriate, sir..."
Kanzaki looked at the newcomer and couldn't help but show a troubled expression.
The golden-haired young man, who had his eyes on the girl first, was clearly displeased by the interruption. He glanced over at the new arrival.
Among the refugees, the high school girl who had been trying to blend into the background realized she had become the center of attention. Her face visibly darkened.
At the entrance to the hall, a slender figure stepped inside.
He was a young man who appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old.
He wore a striped baseball cap, and beneath the brim, a few strands of wavy, snow-white hair peeked out. His hair color was a pure white, as flawless as freshly fallen snow.
His facial features were delicate, almost ethereal—he wasn't exactly handsome, but more elegant, like a work of art that had been meticulously crafted. A faint, gentle smile tugged at the corners of his lips, giving off a sense of approachability that made people instinctively feel at ease.
Unfortunately, a pair of black-framed glasses obscured his eyes, making it difficult to read his true thoughts.
For a fleeting moment, anyone staring into his eyes might catch a glimpse of a faint crimson glow.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that his irises, hidden beneath the glasses, were a striking blood-red, carrying an eerie yet captivating beauty. One couldn't help but be drawn to them.
Pinned to the front of his plain black trench coat was a nametag that bore the word "Matsu."
"Sir, these two refugees have already been chosen by this esteemed mage. Perhaps you might consider selecting someone else?" Kanzaki, now visibly anxious, suggested.
In Fuyuki City, anyone wearing this kind of badge was no ordinary person. They were "mages"—individuals who held the city's lifeblood in their hands. Their numbers were few, and they stood far above the common populace. Someone like Kanzaki, who merely managed a refugee shelter, wasn't even qualified to appear on their radar.
"Mage?"
A startled exclamation came from one of the refugees.
"Could it be the legendary supernatural powers? The kind we always read about in fantasy novels— who wield magical powers? Does this world really have magic?"
The voice belonged to a bespectacled, black-haired boy who was now gazing in awe at the two mages. His eyes sparkled as though a dream had come to life before him.
Coincidentally, the girl with the black hair and headband was seated right next to him.
Annoyed by his outburst, the girl shot him a fierce glare.
The situation was already complicated enough, and drawing attention like this could only make things worse. How could he be so clueless?
The refugees around them had mixed reactions. Some remained silent, some whispered to each other, while others cast schadenfreude-filled glances at the pair.
The black-haired girl instinctively crossed her long, shapely legs, the black stockings covering them trembling slightly.
However, the reactions of the refugees had no effect on the two mages.
"To be honest, I'm quite fond of that girl too. Atram, would you mind letting her go to me?" The white-haired boy, smiling warmly, turned his gaze towards the golden-haired young man.
Kanzaki's heart skipped a beat.
If these two mages ended up in a disagreement, would they end up fighting here?
He grew increasingly anxious. He had heard that "Matsu" was the lowest rank among mages, while "Kai" ranked third. How could he dare ask for such a favor? Wouldn't it be better to back down gracefully?
"...Oh, I was wondering who it was. Isn't this Mr. Roy?"
The golden-haired man, Atram, first appeared expressionless, but then a bright smile quickly spread across his face.
"Of course, no problem. After all, it's just a refugee. If it makes Mr. Roy happy, please feel free to take her."
Kanzaki blinked in surprise but sighed in relief.
Judging by their amicable demeanor, it seemed the two knew each other well, which helped ease his nerves.
"Then I'll go handle the paperwork! Oh, by the way, sir, as a 'Kai,' you're allowed two servants per month. You've only chosen one. Would you like to pick the second one now?"
"I'll choose now. I don't have the time to come back later. I'll take that noisy boy over there."
"Understood!"
Kanzaki swiftly agreed and hurried over to the counter to process the paperwork.
In just a short while, the paperwork for all three servants was complete. The burly man and the bespectacled boy were assigned to the golden-haired Atram.
The girl with the black hair and headband was assigned to the white-haired, red-eyed Roy.
"Mr. Roy, if you have time, you're welcome to come by my place to discuss magic. And if your family is free, all the better."
"Thanks for the invitation, but no one's home. Farewell."
Roy smiled flawlessly at Atram, then left the refugee shelter with the black-haired girl.
Once they were out of sight, the smile on Atram's face finally disappeared.
"Ugh, what a pain."
Atram's face contorted into a sneer as he spat in the direction Roy had gone, his eyes brimming with disdain and mockery.
Kanzaki kept his head down, his scalp tingling with unease, pretending not to see anything.
________
Fuyuki City, nestled along the edge of the sea and surrounded by mountains, should have been a city of breathtaking beauty.
But as they walked out of the shelter, what greeted their eyes was not the serene landscape of green hills and blue waters, but a world of pitch-black scorched earth and a polluted, murky sea.
Even the air was tinged with an acrid, burnt scent that gnawed at the nerves.
"What's your name?"
As they walked along the road, Roy kept his eyes straight ahead.
Passersby, upon noticing the badge pinned to Roy's chest, shot him respectful glances and immediately made way for him. It was as if an invisible force parted the crowd, allowing the two to walk undisturbed.
"...Kasumigaoka Utaha."
After a moment of silence, the black-haired girl quietly answered.
As expected.
Roy nodded to himself.
When he first saw her in the refugee shelter, he had already suspected her identity.
"My name is Roy."
"Yes, Lord Roy."
Kasumigaoka Utaha obediently nodded.
Roy made no comment on how she addressed him, his expression unchanged, leaving her unsure whether he was pleased or displeased.
This uncertainty made Kasumigaoka Utaha, who had been watching him closely, feel a bit disheartened.
Then, she noticed something else.
It seemed they weren't walking further into the city but heading towards its outskirts. The enormous city walls, towering over ten meters high and encircling Fuyuki, were growing closer and closer.
She wasn't sure what he was planning, so she kept her questions to herself for now.
"You'll be working for me from now on, so it's best you familiarize yourself with some essential knowledge about this world."
But as though sensing her thoughts, Roy suddenly turned to her with a gentle smile.
It was a smile that came from the heart, warm and infectious, and it gradually eased the anxiety building up within her.
"Take a look. This is just the tip of the iceberg of this world."
The two of them climbed atop the city walls.
And there, a glimpse of the vast, hidden world was revealed before her eyes.
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