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Drinking and chatting with the adventurers.

When they ask about my performance, I just brush it off or give vague answers.

After all, I don’t even know my own performance, so how am I supposed to answer? It’s better for my mental health to just smile and deflect.

I doubted there’d be anyone in this small country Adventurer’s Guild who really understood music, and there wasn’t anyone probing into it obsessively, either.

‘But the real issue is… why did I act like that.’

I prioritize survival. I don’t take dangerous actions. So, I should have definitely received a scroll to hide my eye color from Skylar again.

But I rejected it, saying I didn’t want to hide it.

‘Why would I?’

I couldn’t understand it. Receiving an instrument, playing for money—those were within the realm of understanding.

But not receiving Skylar’s scroll and using my “eyes,” and the method behind it—I had no idea.

I knew my body possessed unusual abilities. After all, it was a blessing I cast myself, so it was only natural.

I just didn’t know how to use it, which was the ongoing problem.

Yet, in my memories, I was using my eyes skillfully. Making others move as I wanted, guiding them, using it on the audience, and even on Skylar…

‘What the…’

At least, the fortunate part is that Skylar didn’t catch my eye using the scroll.

The others, even without examining closely, showed clear signs of being captivated.

It didn’t seem like the effects lasted long, so it’s better to refrain from dangerous actions until the time runs out.

Just before, a rough adventurer tried to hit on me, so if I went upstairs early or outside… wouldn’t I get dragged into a deserted place?

‘Ugh.’

How disgusting.

Well, I’ll just have a drink.

I didn’t think I’d even get tipsy in this state, and I didn’t know how long this mental state would hold. One thing was for sure… I got into this state after drinking.

What if staying tipsy was a condition for this?

I’d have to maintain this clear, intelligent high state for as long as possible. I needed to plan well enough to recover from whatever foolishness I might commit.

“Skylar.”

“Yes?”

“How much for the scroll?”

“Huh? What scroll… Oh, that one?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you changed your mind? You were so open about using it just a moment ago.”

I shut my mouth.

Honestly… I felt a bit embarrassed.

Embarrassed people tend to get angry. The reason is simple. They don’t want others finding out they’re embarrassed. Right. I got angry.

“Just hand it over.”

“…You.”

Skylar’s eyes sharpened as if he noticed something.

He checked around and stood up, coming closer to me. Then, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the stairs.

I tried to resist, but unfortunately, I couldn’t overpower his strength, which was about the same as a child’s. I felt a bit gloomy about losing to a kid.

The surrounding adventurers seemed uninterested in me, possibly due to my eyes’ effect wearing off, and they focused on their drinks. I felt a bit hurt.

“….”

“Isn’t that the person you saw before?”

“…Huh?”

I recalled the past momentarily.

When I first met Skylar, when I entered the dark alley.

–

‘You were just trembling and politely asking for help a moment ago, and now your attitude is quite different.’

‘That wasn’t me. Is this how I should respond?’

‘It seems somewhat true.’

–

‘…Oh, do they think I have a split personality?’

Well, it’s entirely possible. The difference between my low and high intelligence states is too big… and on top of that, I’ve said such things…

Should I clear up the misunderstanding? That statement didn’t mean that, and I’m just a lunatic alternating between low and high intelligence states?

‘Even if they believe me… my image…’

It’s probably better to say that I’m a mysterious split personality rather than confessing to being a lunatic.

Even if it gets discovered later, I can just say, “You just misunderstood!”

Alright. I’ll treat them ambiguously, neither confirming nor denying. I’ll watch their reactions later.

“Well.”

“Sounds good. It shouldn’t matter. What I want is all about your scroll… What’s the price?”

“I already asked, didn’t I? How much does it cost?”

Skylar rolled his eyes.

I knew that look very well.

Like when elder people fiddle with calculators and calculate profits and losses.

I couldn’t understand why such a child would make that face, but an ominous feeling began to creep in.

I felt like an answer I didn’t want was about to pop out of Skylar’s mouth.

In a situation like this, it would be great if the status window could present some options, but it was the kind that only vanished at critically important moments, so I didn’t expect much.

At least if a quest showed up, it’d help. Providing no guidance at all and only showing options at useless times… how useless.

Anyway, back to the main topic.

Skylar opened his mouth.

“Do you have any plans?”

“What plans?”

“You don’t really have a home, and if you’re going to live as an adventurer, you probably intend to roam rather than settle down.”

“So what?”

“I’m asking where your next destination is.”

Destination, destination…

If I had to specify, it would be Regan.

The capital of the Empire. The largest city in the world.

At least, that’s what I learned in my previous playthrough.

I had no idea how many settings were discarded in this sequel, but for now, it’s Regan. It should work out somehow—a feeling.

The place where the most items gather. In other words, there might be items that can solve my status and condition.

‘If only there was a status point or experience point system…’

Even saying this, I don’t have many ways to get stronger, so I’ll have to do what I do best. Play when dumb, and think when smart.

And keep moving forward, one step at a time.

“I’m going to Regan.”

“I’ll join you on that journey in exchange for hiding your eyes.”

“…What?”

“My desired compensation is to tag along on your journey. No need to say it three times.”

“Why?”

“I won’t tell you the reason. Does that sound fair?”

A suspicious proposal.

Joining my journey in exchange for hiding my eyes… it was a proposal filled with potential benefits for me.

But I had to approach this kind of offer carefully.

Usually, people who offer something for free tend to be scammers. For now, this boy in front of me is a “Wizard.” He claims he’s a fool or a scroll-user or whatever bizarre excuse, but he’s still a wizard.

Wizards have traditionally been hard to trust. Sociopaths, social misfits, psychopaths, lunatics, and grad students all in one package.

‘…That was a setting present in the previous playthrough.’

Most of the settings from the previous playthrough were altered into unbelievable forms, but the settings about wizards probably didn’t change much.

It’s common sense and cliché in a fantasy world.

So, I must be especially cautious about contracts and deals.

–

You think the situation is going in your favor.

This prediction is accurate.

–

That guidance is simply auxiliary. The choice ultimately rests with me.

Raising my glass to fill my belly with more alcohol, I turned my still functioning head, thinking hard. What does the other party gain from this contract, and what could I lose?

I fiddled with the calculator.

The results were in.

“Good.”

Skylar extended his hand to me.

I took his hand.

“Contract established… I suppose.”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll execute it right away.”

Skylar took out a deception scroll from his pocket and channeled his magic into it, the blue flames engulfing the scroll and leaving no ash behind.

An uncomfortable sensation washed over my eyelids, and I glanced at my reflection in the knife cutting the bread.

I confirmed that the color of my eyes had turned black.

“When we arrive in Regan, we’ll part ways.”

“Sure. That works for me.”

“Great. Let’s share the travel expenses.”

“That’s fine with me.”

“…Okay.”

I waved my hand at Skylar, and he waved back at me.

Upstairs, I headed to my room and lay on the bed.

Right now, I was just tired.

*

Skylar leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

He successfully got me to accept the contract. The next step is… the clue.

Though he appeared to be a split personality, the gap between his personalities didn’t seem that large. The most significant difference was probably intelligence.

Was he keeping quiet because it could be a weakness? Well… I didn’t care much, though.

‘A holder of a divine body is attracted to others. So perhaps…’

Skylar looked at his tiny hand.

His original hand must have been bigger than this.

He sighed.

‘Alright. Let’s take a gamble.’

It was an unconventional decision for a wizard, but he was never a wizard from the start.