The Sphida Company And The Hero (2)

“Sorry, little kittens. Was our appointment today?”

While brushing aside the documents on the desk with his hands and dropping them noisily onto the floor, the gentle-looking young man smiled lazily. Even though his long bangs almost hid his eyes, his sharp outline and straight nose alone made it clear he was an androgynous beauty.

(Come to think of it, I almost forgot in the confusion, but this person was a hero too… There really are a lot of heroes. Is this some kind of bargain sale for handsome men?)

Maintaining a blank expression, Cordelia gave a wry smile.

She liked handsome men, but having this many made her feel oddly overwhelmed. Worse, almost all of them possessed some kind of special ability or setting. If an “event” happened somewhere she didn’t know about, it would be unbearable.

The young man cleared a space on the desk somehow suitable for discussion and seated the two of them.

Lily cleared her throat.

“The appointment is today. We also sent a letter beforehand.”

“I’m really sorry. I’ve been busy lately and thought I’d just take a short nap… but I guess I overslept.”

With a wink, he pressed his palms together in apology. From his tone, he really had simply been sleeping.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Sphida. Nice to meet you. …So, what do the little kittens who came all this way want?”

Spreading out paper and readying a quill, Sphida spoke gently. Lily immediately began giving the explanation she had already repeated many times.

“Hm, I see… I roughly understand. But that’s not all, is it?”

“That is the full outline.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

Sphida tapped the desk with his finger.

“The Sphida Company—well, it’s just me for now—has been growing quickly for a reason. I don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll say it plainly: I can see things.”

Saying that, Sphida brushed up the bangs covering his eyes. Drawn in, Cordelia and Lily stared at his gaze.

Beautiful green eyes with a cat-like upward slant. At first glance that was all, but as they kept looking, light shimmered inside like a hologram. The mysterious flicker was like a sphene gemstone set directly into his eyes.

“I have no magic power at all, but instead I’ve got what you’d call magic eyes? I can see the magic power in the air. You’re a wind mage, right, little kitten? Leaf green like young buds sprouting in spring… such a fresh color I could almost eat it.”

Smiled at by Sphida, Lily blushed.

(…Right, that was his character setting!?)

Shivering at the ticklish lines, Cordelia recalled it.

“The young newspaper reporter who uses romance for business.” It was a tagline that made her want to demand if they couldn’t have done better, but that was Sphida.

“And the problem is the other little kitten…”

“Cody.”

When she answered calmly, Sphida smiled troubledly.

“You look exactly like a maid, but you definitely aren’t, right? Because that color…”

Normally a person’s magic couldn’t be visualized unless in training, yet this young man apparently saw it with his magic eyes.

(Then I must be black or white… or perhaps two types? Well, no wonder he’s surprised.)

Just as she thought that, Sphida hesitantly said, “Hmm.”

“That mix of all sorts of colors… what is that holy-mess murky color?”

“—What!?”

“My lady, your words. And your face.”

“Ah.”

Cordelia had shouted at the unexpected wording and hurriedly composed herself. Then Sphida pressed on.

“No, not just murky… I can see a dirty rag color covered in ash, or an eccentric sewer-rat color running through the drains…”

“Um, perhaps it’s my imagination, but all your comparisons sound vaguely filthy?”

In stark contrast to how he praised Lily earlier, he was being quite harsh now. Cordelia asked while trying not to break her smile—though a vein might have twitched at her temple.

“Filthy or murky… your color is so eccentric it gives me chills. I’ve never seen anything like it. And there’s an absurd amount, so the pressure is intense. Like sitting next to a huge muscular man big both vertically and horizontally.”

“So translated plainly, you’re saying I’m like a bulky bodybuilder?”

Pfft! Lily burst out laughing. When Cordelia glared, she hurriedly covered her mouth, though her shoulders still trembled.

“Well anyway, someone with this much magic can’t just be a maid. Who exactly are you, my la-dy?”

Lily cried out, “Ah!” Apparently he had clearly heard her slip of address. Cordelia steadied her breathing and spoke calmly.

“…If you are angry that we concealed our identities, I apologize. We have circumstances and cannot reveal everything immediately.”

“No, I’m not angry about that. The color comment was purely my impression.”

“Oh… I see.”

(So the bodybuilder part was sincere?)

She sagged as he said it cheerfully. Beside her, Lily laughed breathlessly while apologizing,

“I-I’m sorry, my lady…! I…!”

She seemed at least a little apologetic.

Ignoring the two of them, Sphida spoke leisurely.

“Rather than that, I’m more intrigued. Why would someone with such frightening magic disguise herself and come all the way to me?”

“…Then can you tell my attribute?”

Cordelia answered a question with a question. Sphida didn’t seem offended and thought.

“Dark magic. But that alone wouldn’t make such a color… huh? I’m surprised. Could Holy Magic be mixed in too?”

“Correct.”

At once Sphida’s eyes gleamed and he leaned forward. Then he licked his lips and began speaking rapidly in excitement.

“Heeey? Heh, heh! I get the picture now. The only dark mage in this country—and with Holy Magic too—little kitten, you’re involved in that recent royal palace incident, aren’t you? I saw all sorts of magic flash around that area for a moment.”

Knowing about the incident and connecting it so quickly suggested Sphida was quite sharp.

Cordelia faced the young man again to properly converse with him. His green eyes shimmered as they fixed directly on her.