I'm intrigued. The world seems to have some loopholes within its logic, but overall, it's cohesive in its shortcomings when it comes to the restrictions on magic use. But you'd think they would have develop better ways to cope with that eventuality. having some of the subjects deemed as taboo does help restrict the exercise of thought. The fact that some of the side characters are unable to see past their own prejudices, but at the same time identify both the usefulness and the danger that creative thinking the MC brings to the story makes it interesting. The MC can indeed be Clever in order to get himself out of trouble, and yet, he can't be TOO clever, or else it will bring him another new set of troubles from those he relies on as allies. I'm eager to see where the story leads.