65 - Item Farming (2)
Academy ranking week temporary office. War heroes Scarlett and Dustin's workload showed no signs of letting up.
"Umberto…"
"Calm down, Scarlett."
It was an utterly embarrassing situation. These two, who'd spent half their lives battling monsters, were stationed at the academy—and yet a demon had slipped through to Selafi Black Dorm. And not just any demon, but one disguised as Umberto, who had lured out a second-year cadet. As war heroes, their reputations were in tatters.
The real problem was that their packed schedules had kept them from even visiting the patients.
Scarlett pressed a hand to her forehead, hidden behind her thick bangs. Her head throbbed.
"Having to owe another damn brat…"
Thankfully, Lev Denek was also a Black Dorm cadet, so he'd spotted it first and teamed up with another cadet named Edwin Gwynz to stop it.
"War hero my ass… I wanna quit. I'm not cut out for this."
"You're just overworked lately."
"You think I slack off normally, huh?"
"Haha…"
By the time Clarice's guardians arrived on scene, only traces of mana remained. A demon had definitely infiltrated, and a cadet named Yeriel had definitely fallen under a sensory curse. But the culprit had vanished cleanly without a trace, leaving everything frustratingly ambiguous.
How were they supposed to report this to the higher-ups? The two racked their brains.
Clack.
"So this is where you were."
"…?"
That's when Rezillus approached—the former imperial knight commander, now Crow Pay guild master.
"Congratulations."
"?"
Scarlett scowled at the out-of-nowhere praise. What's this old geezer on about now…
"I heard you've defeated the object of your long-cherished revenge… the Black Armor."
"…"
The Black Armor's subjugation was supposed to be a secret among Lev, Scarlett, and Dustin.
Scarlett shot Dustin a glare right away. I knew it was you…
"Ahem… ahem."
She'd thought it was a trustworthy trio, but clearly someone had leaked it.
This old fart did some digging…
Lev didn't seem the type to blab, so it had to be Rezillus pulling strings. Scarlett's instincts screamed it.
Whatever. The ever-gullible Dustin just chuckled awkwardly and kept the conversation going.
"As expected of Commander Rezillus. Your network is impressive."
"Haha, you're too kind."
"Uh… not to cut the congrats short, but do you have actual business? As you can see, we're swamped."
"Ah… right to the point, then."
Eying the cluttered desk, Rezillus cut to the chase.
"What are your plans for the Black Armor's core? The trophy from the Shell Dragon, I mean."
Tremble…
Scarlett's grip tightened on her feathered quill. Of course.
This greedy merchant wouldn't pass up spoils like that. Dragons were rare; you couldn't just hunt them whenever. Each one's unique core fetched a fortune. Put it up at auction, and bidders would line up around the block.
Scarlett shut it down flatly, feigning regret.
"Sorry, but there's already a prior claim."
"Oh ho?"
…
Exiting the temporary office, Rezillus stroked his chin out of habit.
Prior claim, huh.
As far as he knew, Scarlett and Dustin weren't money-grubbers. No guild meant no need for big cash infusions. So the core wouldn't hit the auction house.
"Hmm…"
Still, how had they pinpointed the Black Armor's location after years off the radar? Truth be told, Rezillus had tried subjugating that Shell Dragon more than once himself. Back when Diana the divine archer was a war hero instead of Elf archer Adrin, he'd been the one to tip them off about its whereabouts.
Through his inherited ability Seer's insight, he'd seen the Black Armor wielded a terrifying technique: a black magic curse, Black Dragon's Trajectory, that always claimed at least one sacrifice.
That's why Rezillus had never taken it on personally—too risky.
"How did they break it…"
Unless it was a demon, no one could dodge that curse… And why keep the subjugation secret? Suspicious.
But no matter. The capital's second-quarter auction was coming up. Whoever sold the Black Armor's essence would show their face there.
"And hopefully… some other fine auction items too."
Rezillus licked his lips.
Hah.
Haa.
Haa. Haaa…
The red-haired man's ragged breaths filled the training hall.
Splash!
Suddenly, he hurled the water bucket.
Clang…
No good. It wouldn't come together.
"Fuck! Why is this happening? Why the hell…!"
Gaining something out of nowhere was one thing, but losing what you had? The gap was massive.
Kaeran His had been a sword prodigy since childhood. Grab a blade, and trajectories bloomed in his mind—he just made them real.
Simple as that.
But now, his body wouldn't follow.
If it stalled like this, he'd end up like the mediocre swordsmen he'd always scorned—dull and rusty.
Sure enough, during morning sparring with Abelin:
Kaeran… are you unwell…?
What?
Abelin, who always praised his flawless swordplay, had said that.
Two days ago better than the day before, yesterday better than the day prior. His "genius" was crumbling fast.
Thud!
Gasp…!
For the first time, despair hit him—followed by thick dread.
Heh, n-no…?
But he talked himself down quick. He could just steal others' abilities and grow stronger anyway.
I'm not getting weaker.
Just dulled from playing around with third-raters like Lev Denek, he told himself.
Ding-dong!
Then, the magic light in his private practice room flickered on—someone urgent outside.
"What…?"
Click.
The door opened to reveal: "Annyeong~."
A sky-blue-haired senior girl. Elodie Ratashia.
She'd advised him when he first formed the Royal Class circle.
He wasn't in the mood, but given who she was, he pulled himself together.
"…You need something from me?"
"Yeah… You don't look so hot lately~."
"Hah, even you? Just off my focus. Probably back to normal by tomorrow. Tonight even…"
"Nah? Feels external to me~."
"…?"
He hated her drawling, probing tone.
But her tips were gold. He'd scored big on dark funds in the student council, used it to pry exam info from Lilith, aced the written entrance exam.
Sure, he missed out on the mermaid's scream claim and the alchemy club's black market ties—but still.
"Spit it out."
"Hmm~…"
Elodie eyed him up and down, then declared:
"A curse~."
"What?"
"An impossible-to-detect curse… First time I've seen one~."
Curses were black magic territory. Demon tech. Humans using it meant black mana backlash.
"No such thing. Haven't even seen a demon holed up in the academy."
"There are ways…"
"I need to train. Go."
Kaeran slammed the door, regretting the wasted time.
…
Thus dismissed at the door, Elodie muttered:
"There are ways, though~…"
Her inherited ability Mind Reading had spotted a workaround—but time was short.
She counted on her fingers.
"One, two… four! I've helped four times, right~?"
Kaeran… done!
With that, she vanished in her mysteriously quick patter.
Ranking week flew by.
I'd only joined one match, but no need for rounds two or three.
No big points from the Kaeran duel, but no deductions either.
Plus, that head-smack clip must've spread— no one challenged me.
"Written exams are the real pain."
Right after ranking week: end-of-semester written tests.
No clue why the fanfic author slotted them post-practical, but it's barely mentioned, which sucks more.
Edwin placed mid-pack. S-rankers like Melissa, Kaeran, Selena aced it. Skimmed over.
But in my reality? No skips.
With ~30 penalty points left, I had to study.
Reality's reality here too.
Author's lazy strokes? All fleshed out in this world.
Fanfic alone can't cover everything.
Non-participants had mandatory lectures too.
Today, sleep-deprived, I sat through must-takes for mana users: Internal Mana Operation and Mana Circuit Theory. Optical Magic Engineering and Basic Mana Formulas.
"Science track… ugh."
Basically engineering classes—my brain felt pickled like a grad student's.
But I had a cheat…
"Lilith."
Fanfic-mentioned: she topped written sections even as a first-year.
Her cash cow? Past exam answers.
Sells black market gear too— this is tame.
Kaeran milked it; she'd obey me eagerly. Not just give—offer it up.
"Not top spot, but clears most penalties."
Penalties hit hard: lockers, cafeteria hours, dorms, shuttle seats, class priority, gym time, outings.
Meritocracy, though—good grades fix it all.
Until chapter 3's big event, monster invasion during break: Beast Descent - Gate of the Underworld. Smooth growth till then.
"Not bad…"
Grinning at my blueprint, I headed to the academy cafeteria for a sugar hit.
Ding.
"Wh-what can I get you?"
The clerk gawked, then shyly smiled.
I froze more. Villain aura gone; outsiders wouldn't scowl.
"Coffee. Maple syrup."
"Y-yes… for here or to go?"
To-go risks Yeriel spotting: Lev! Too much coffee's bad… I'll make tea or juice—just ask, okay?
Cute nagging's fine, but she needs study time too. Can't burden her.
She's key for late-game carry—growth can't lag.
I ordered for here, plopped on the sofa by the glass wall.
More to ponder.
Big money needs Edwin's rapid growth first.
Track Memorize: Ring of Imprint auction timing.
And the Black Armor core from last subjugation—sell? With low betting funds, or absorb into Edwin?
Knock knock.
Someone tapped the glass beside me.
"?"
A black bob-cut woman outside puffed a slim cigar, staring in at me.
What's her deal.
Thud.
She slapped her business card on the glass with a deadpan glare.
Like she meant for me to see.
Crow Pay… Se…ra.
A guild I'd smash someday: Crow Pay.
Its viper manager, handling new recruits: Sera Cervantes' card.