Lucian sat down, took out his notebook, and began writing a list of materials.
After checking it for mistakes, he tore out the page and handed it to Asuna behind him.
“These are the materials I need.
Go ahead and prepare them.
As for the magic stones, the higher their quality, the stronger the effect.
They’re the core component.”
Asuna glanced over the list and nodded.
“Understood.
I’ll prepare everything.”
She put the slip away, took out her phone, and looked at Lucian.
“Should we add each other as contacts first?”
She still didn’t have his contact information.
This was a good opportunity to add him, which would make getting in touch later much easier.
Lucian naturally had no reason to refuse.
He took out his phone and opened his QR code for her to scan.
Asuna’s friend request arrived a moment later.
When Lucian saw her username, a peculiar look flashed across his face.
Her username was “Asuna,” and her profile picture was a selfie.
Lucian, meanwhile, had left both his username and profile picture blank.
It was a complete ghost account, the kind that looked as though it had been banned.
Asuna was speechless when she saw it.
Did Lucian never use the app?
Was that why he hadn’t bothered setting up his account?
“Done.
Message me when you’re ready.” After accepting her request, Lucian turned back around.
“Oh, right.
Lucian, how much are you planning to charge?” Asuna asked before he could fully turn away.
“I’ll take the lowest market rate.
Just give me ten thousand credits.
You’re my first customer, after all.” Lucian looked back with a faint smile and quoted the price he’d settled on.
“Lucian, are you selling something?”
At the sudden voice, Lucian and Asuna both turned.
Kato and Yukinoshita were standing in the aisle beside their seats.
Lucian frowned as he studied Kato.
“Kato-san, did you Breakthrough?
Your Talent has gotten stronger too!”
Kato was indeed stronger today.
Her Talent had also improved and could now affect other people.
Even Yukinoshita beside her was under its influence, her presence noticeably diminished.
It was almost absurd.
Kato answered with a troubled expression.
“Yes.
I condensed aura last night, and when I came to school this morning, I realized my presence had grown even weaker.
It can affect other people now too.”
It was deeply frustrating.
Any joy she might have felt over her Breakthrough had vanished.
She had met Yukinoshita after arriving at school and only discovered the change while they were walking together.
Normally, Yukinoshita drew attention wherever she went.
But while walking beside Kato, even she was ignored by the people around them.
That was when Kato realized Yukinoshita was being affected by her Talent.
“Well, well.
That’s seriously impressive.
Kato-san can bring other people into stealth now.” Lucian offered a suggestion.
“It’s an excellent Talent, but you should try to control it.”
Kato considered his words.
“Maybe I should.
Not being able to control it is quite distressing.”
It wasn’t as though she had never thought of the problem, but she had no idea where to begin.
She had considered it as soon as her Talent first Awakened.
She’d experimented with it for a long time that night and gotten nowhere, leaving her deeply disappointed.
Now that she was stronger and her Talent could affect other people, could this be a new turning point?
Yukinoshita returned to her earlier question.
“What were you two talking about?
What are you selling?”
Lucian hadn’t answered Kato before, so Yukinoshita was curious too.
Had he and Asuna made some kind of deal?
“Nothing complicated.
I’m going to have Lucian install a Magic Circle in my home, like the one upstairs at school,” Asuna explained.
“If you’re interested, you can hire me too.
You provide the materials, and I’ll set it up.
My price is absolutely fair!” Lucian said with a chuckle.
Yukinoshita was a wealthy young lady too.
Surely she would want one, right?
These were all potential customers!
He’d been so focused on Kato’s change that he’d forgotten to answer the question.
Yukinoshita’s eyes visibly lit up.
She looked at Lucian in surprise.
“You’ve already mastered it?”
That was remarkable.
Formation magic was notoriously difficult to begin learning, no matter how many people wanted to study it.
Yet Lucian had apparently mastered it already.
“It’s nothing special.
Of course I learned it.
It would be strange if I hadn’t!” Lucian met Yukinoshita’s gaze with complete confidence.
Yukinoshita had never envied anyone’s Talent so much.
Now she had to admit that she truly envied Lucian, though she felt no jealousy toward him.
Talent differed from person to person, after all.
Besides, she was quite satisfied with her own.
“Can you explain the details?
I’m interested as well.” Rather than dwell on the subject, Yukinoshita asked him about the formation.
If she could have one installed in her own home, how could she possibly refuse?
It was simply too good an offer.
“You provide the materials, and I’ll install it.
The service fee is ten thousand credits—the friends-and-family rate.
If you want one, I’ll write down what you need.
Once you’ve bought everything, I’ll come set it up.” Lucian looked at her with shining eyes.
Yukinoshita considered it for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s a very reasonable price.
Install one for me too.
Give me the materials list, and I’ll buy everything.”
She agreed without hesitation.
The Magic Circle was genuinely useful.
With one at home, she wouldn’t need to go out on Saturdays and Sundays.
She could Meditate at home instead.
Delighted by another new customer, Lucian immediately pulled out his notebook, wrote another materials list, tore it free, and handed it to Yukinoshita.
“Um, give me a list too.
I want one as well,” Kato said.
Ten thousand credits was easily within her means; her family was fairly well-off.
She would be thrilled to have a Magic Circle installed where she lived.
Kato wanted a list so she could buy the materials with the others and have Lucian set one up for her too.