37 - A Dark Alley in the Black Market of Growth City
A dark alley in the black market of Growth City. A man cloaked in a robe slices through the narrow path with swift steps. The old town, born from haphazard urban planning, is a labyrinth so convoluted that newcomers easily lose their way. But this red-haired youth navigates it as if viewing from above, heading straight to his destination without hesitation.
And the place he sought was a black market run by a cat beastkin.
“Welcome, king…”
“Business.”
The man gave a curt reply to the languid beastkin’s greeting. His hood shrouded his face, revealing only glimpses of red hair and a sharp jawline. No need for introductions—the refined features hinted at from his lower face alone suggested a strikingly handsome youth.
“Siren’s Scream. All of it.”
“Hmm… we’re out…”
“I’ll double the price.”
“Really, we don’t have anyyy…”
“Triple. String me along one more time, and you’ll never do business in this circle again.”
“Sold out! Someone bought it allll…”
At those words, the man threw off his robe, revealing his face. A chilling blue rune tattoo etched beneath his eyes. Red hair dark as if it had swallowed the sun. It was Kaeran His, vice-top of Clarice Academy.
“No lies, right?”
“Yeah, that’s the truth…”
He seized the beastkin’s wrist roughly.
“Last time, you nearly got caught palming cards.”
“For real, for real!!”
Unexpected.
The beastkin’s reaction seemed genuine—no deception. Kaeran’s plan had hit a snag. He needed the Siren’s Scream for the upcoming mana sensitivity test involving underwater breathing.
Who the hell bought it out? Someone else got wind of the test in advance, besides me.
* * *
On the way to the Dungeon Investigation Practice classroom, I ran into Melissa, her pink hair neatly tied back.
“Le… Lev Denek!”
“?”
“You, really…”
Melissa, locking eyes with me for a moment, faltered as if forgetting her words and averted her gaze.
“Something to say?”
When I asked first, she whispered in a subdued tone.
“Wh-where did you take Aria the other day? Tell me straight.”
“We went out. Why?”
“Wh-what did you two do?”
“Just ate.”
“Wh-why would you eat with Aria…! Last time, she said she’d move dorms to follow you, and I was so shocked…”
Melissa began lamenting as if on the verge of tears. Word was, after tea, she’d booked fine dining for dinner. Of course, it was an appointment Aria didn’t know about.
Me, oh my.
Melissa’s interest in Aria only went that far anyway. After falling for Kaeran in mana sensitivity class and at Demon Lake, Aria had been left in the dust…
Still, a duke’s daughter is a duke’s daughter. Raised on a pedestal, her tantrums were top-tier.
“A-anyway, don’t even think about luring innocent Aria anymore…! Consider this a warning, I warned you…”
I took one step closer, and she flinched harder than before.
“S-rank sir, class is starting. You should head back.”
“…I’m not ‘sir,’ okay?”
“Yes, yes. Your Grace.”
“Ugh, with that pretty-boy gigolo face of yours…”
In looks-obsessed Korea, that’d be a compliment. But no way these world folks would get it.
“Y-you, I-I’ll be watching you. So prepare yourself for this test.”
Melissa issued her warning like a glitching robot, then stiffly brushed past me.
What’s with her today…?
Anyway, post-duel, opinions on me split two ways.
—Dude’s crossbow shots were crazy fast.
—Yeah, heard he aimed to be a mage.
—Power wasn’t that strong, though. Gailon just got careless.
—Wasn’t it kinda like Wind Archery?
—Colors were totally different.
—More than that, losing 1000 gems on the bet hurts the most…
—Ha! Gailon, that punk. I was gonna crush him first, but you beat me to it!
That was the typical reaction. Sure, against magic beasts, critical multipliers cheated, but humans were another story—no real edge there.
Fortunately, no one went, “A human using the elves’ sacred Wind Archery?”
Probably because it wasn’t a signature technique, lacked punch, and unlike standard light-green Wind Archery, mine was blue. Even scouring my game memories, I didn’t recall any blue Wind Archery.
At least no one’ll pick fights now.
The wary stares from before had softened. Conversely, Gailon’s rep tanked. Losing to a scrub like me caused waves, and with his sleazy womanizing and ugly past exposed, the duel birthed a wave of schadenfreude.
—Thanks. Senior Gailon kept hitting on me too.
—Calling during free periods, laying down the law… Guy had a rep behind his back.
—A freshman taking him down… bold.
—Didn’t notice at first, but you’re kinda hot…
Some even sidled up, praising me. Temp C-class kids had seen Lev Denek’s third-rate antics live, but others only knew rumors. Beating a senior bully who harassed underclassmen earned some goodwill.
And the duel rewards were solid: 3000 gems victory bonus, plus one binding pact on the loser.
—No approaching Selena within 2 meters until academy graduation.
The guy kept barging in on her training. Annoying. Selena’s a root character the author ditched, so I’d push her forward myself.
Wonder why she hasn’t shown…?
Dungeon Investigation Practice was combined, but no sign of her. I’d planned to buy her a meal as thanks for training help. She’d refuse private meetups flat-out, though.
Maybe she watched the duel…?
Anyway, things were settling.
“Everyone, focus.”
Sub-instructor Bella, my duel witness, arrived for the required Dungeon Investigation Practice.
“Announcing next week’s schedule.”
“Friday. To test your real combat sense, we’ll do an actual holy site purification mission.”
Actual.
Cadets buzzed at the word. Training had safety nets; this meant facing malice-driven magic beasts for real.
They’d steeled themselves since enrollment, but freshmen couldn’t help mixing excitement with dread.
“Your second-year seniors will lead as elders. They’ll pick one each from S, A, B, C ranks to form parties.”
Just like the novel. Good.
“Dungeons vary by party, so you’ll be notified later. First, earn your elders’ favor.”
In short, suck up to seniors.
“Elders wear blue ribbons on their left chest. Rumor has it they hang at the training hall.”
Gasps at “training hall.”
—More training? Again?
“Your choice. Note: those not picked get 10 demerit points and random assignment.”
—That’s too harsh!
Nothing simpler than demerits for handling kids this age.
“One more thing… Lev Denek, you here?”
“Yes.”
Bella eyed me as I replied shortly.
“Professor Diena’s summons. Head to her office.”
Wait, Diena? Diena Ashkar. Clarice professor, war hero. Bows her specialty. Teaches A-rank and above, upperclassmen only. Calling me?
Something smelled sweet…
* * *
Clarice Academy’s infamous for ruthless meritocracy, but rule-following top students enjoy perks fit for paradise.
Selena, never demerited, used the weekend excuse to submit her absence excuse early.
Her destination: Flotia Forest.
Lush woods, streams, endless waterfalls. Once the largest elven home, harmonious with nature. Now, tragically, overrun by magic beasts.
Forest-dwelling elves, aloof to humans, joined the war when demons defiled this vast nest.
Verdant woods turned blood-red, streams dried, waterfalls weakened.
Imperial protectorate now, class-3 beast habitat—civilians barred. But half-elf Selena visited when nostalgia struck. Elves outlive humans; memories lingered.
Why? Wind spirits fled, yet amid crimson decay, a patch of green grass remained.
Her birth parents’ grave.
Selena always left reassured.
—Rustle.
A wolf emerged from bushes. Tamed by elves, lingering here.
—Whine…
Obvious poor shape. Stunted past adulthood, warped by demonic mana since cubhood.
—Stroke.
—Whine…
“…”
Selena silently petted it. It wormed into her arms, breathing steadying.
—Sighhh…
Humans ruthlessly distinguish threats. She couldn’t take this wolf. Rules barred removing beasts from habitats. Intellectually, she got it—their demonic torment was ancient.
Eyes closed, wind whispers thickened.
—…Lev Denek.
Absurdly, half-elf Selena learned Wind Archery from a human. No clue why, truly inexplicable.
Wind Archery was innate.
More shocking: he used it too. Blue Wind Archery.
Beautiful, if anything…
A strong gust blew again. Memories of her mother surfaced, as if carried to her.
—Long ago, there was a half-elf like you.
—He desperately wanted Wind Archery.
—One day, he could use it.
—At first, a stunning blue.
—Everyone envied its beauty and power.
—But it turned red in the end.
—By then, he was a dark elf…
—Selena, my precious daughter. Never judge rashly.
A legend: the dark elf who struck legendary hero Crune Darunhill’s final blow. His betrayal lost Flotia Forest—all but this spot—to demons.
Blue Wind Archery…
And…
Lev Denek…
The faint tremor in the wolf cradled in Selena’s arms faded away.