1-31 Fraud is a Crime

Ever since my raise kicked in, I'd upgraded our lodgings to a quiet private room with a springy bed. It made for a damn fine wake-up.

Sasha, as usual, was up before me. "Good morning," she greeted as she tidied the room. I figured it was staff ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠work, but maybe she hated being idle. Or perhaps she just had a thing for cleaning.

"Once the construction wraps up this phase, I'm thinking we head west soon."

"Indeed. We've been here quite a while before we knew it."

"Yeah."

Counting from when we'd first passed through the east gate, it had to be nearly a month. Felt itchy, like I'd settled into a steady job and a normal life.

The old guys at the site had foul mouths but were good-hearted, and they never pried into our business—which I appreciated. Otherwise, I'd have bailed ages ago.

Part of it was me geeking out over earth magic practice. It let me tune out the noise and treat work like training. Checking my status, Mage had leveled up again. Interferer had too, for that matter.

Current status looked something like this.

Mage was coming along nicely. It had finally caught up to Magic Gunner, which had been my highest for ages at level 9.

No arguments there—I'd been obsessed with magic practice for a good stretch since picking it up.

While I was at it, I checked my available jobs for the first time in a while... and whoa.

Whoaaa.

Soooo many! Okay, truth be told, Assassin had shown up before. I figured it was from offing Joysman and the thieves, or maybe preemptive strikes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on monsters before they spotted me.

It's a shady job, sure, but in games, it's like a rogue class, right? Kinda makes sense.

But Fraudster? That's bad news if a normal guy's got it. Straight-up crime. No excuses.

My dumb theory: all the little lies I'd sprinkled around, or the behaviors that fueled misunderstandings...

Lately at the site, they figured I was some rich merchant's or minor noble's son.

I'd played the part—acted haughty, dropped vague "rich kid" lines now and then.

Hey, it's convenient. Beats admitting I'm an isekai'd guy with a sketchy god-kid's weapon, building a slave harem!! Way more believable!!

It's a necessary lie! Inevitable, even. Destiny. Not fraud...

Whatever. Humans gotta know when to quit. Fraudster skills... let's see.

Hoh. Handy. People spot something fishy, and a poker face just makes it more suspicious. But if it keeps 'em from suspecting you in the first place? Gold.

Not from fraud experience, mind. Just a trick from a brutal game where villagers would lynch you if they got wise.

If I think it's useful... am I doomed? Is Fraudster my true calling? Nah, no fraud plans here, Mom. Promise...

One more revelation: like Assassin and Fraudster, this world's job system doesn't sweat good vs. evil. I'd read the mainstream view was "benevolent gods gave it to fight monsters," but this contradicts that, maybe.

Could argue it's "pure and impure powers combined to beat monsters," but...

Doesn't matter to me. What counts: enemies might have crime jobs too.

That "masterpiece" (my opinion) Job System Overview skipped crime jobs entirely.

Normally, priests change 'em out, so crime jobs are dead ends? Or rare? Or just taboo?

"No info's the scary part. Best to avoid trouble... but Joysman-style disasters drop from the sky uninvited."

I sighed long and deep.

Hope no isekai'd hustler's climbed high on shady back-jobs. White-Haired Kid wouldn't stop 'em.

...If a transferree's in power, they'd hunt others for sure. Interferer's a killer utility pawn if used right.

No brooding forever. Time for breakfast.

"S-Sar-chan, last day already?"

"Oi oi, our healing waifu..."

"Damn, leave Sasha and run, rich boy!"

The old guys' warm send-offs as I told the foreman our plans.

"Not today, but construction's wrapping this phase soon. We'll head out then."

"Too bad—you were handy, kid. Finish strong to the end."

"You bet."

Dirt work—er, wall-building—was kinda fun.

Hate heavy labor, but mindless tasks suit me? Doesn't mean I'll do 'em. For Interferer cheats, slave harem—I'm hunting monsters.

Basic process: pile dirt, harden and coat it, shape. Starter stuff.

Then fences, stone walls, extra coatings...

This crew's gig was east wall foundations—harden-coat only. Others haul stones next.

They'd move to another site for more basics.

We'd hit quota per contract section. Coulda quit midway, but after a month, wanted a clean break.

"Great earth magic practice, thanks. Probably snagged Earth Mage job."

"Idiot, jobs ain't that easy. Some geezers never get branches."

He scolded, but I got it. Happy accident—didn't expect Earth Mage first among magic branches.

Seemed weakest, least practiced too.

Nearly a month grinding earth magic did it. Focused training for jobs? Note to self.

"Sasha-saaan..."

"Shit, whorehouse blowout tonight!"

"Got into that pale pretty boy type lately. Rare at brothels."

The old timers voiced regrets. Lines don't match descriptions? ...Haha.

One last stop before leaving town: Tele's Blade Shop workshop.

Magic sword was repaired, but I'd left it for a new tweak.

"Yoyo, here for the magic sword."

"Ah, Yoyo-san. Fetching the boss."

Apron-san hustled upstairs. Customers with requests could enter the back workshop unguided, per O-nee.

She's "boss" to Apron-san, "proxy" to the forge master. Manager-type?

Basically boss, but drama—didn't pry. Not that into her backstory. Just high-up.

"Oh my, Yoyo-chan's here~"

"Yeah, heading out soon. Here for the magic sword."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Really? Thought you'd settle. Many do."

"Nah, no plans to stay. Job was fun till phase end."

"That wall-building? You like weird stuff."

"Eh. World's full of weirdos."

"True~"

You top the list. Swallowed it, waited briefly.

Forge master descended, sword in arms.

"Phew, made it. Tweaks were a pain."

"It's good, right?"

"No issues. Test it out. Usage feedback nice."

"Leaving town. Next visit, sure."

"Good. Where to?"

"Dunno. Monster hunting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠soon."

"Teba holy land? Whatever. Sell good mats here."

"No promises."

Request: magic sword mods—magitech add-ons.

Theft-proof first: 10 silver. Shrill alarm if moved unauthorized in alert mode. Anti-sleeping thief.

Extra: locks in sheath if stolen. Forge master's hobby. Guinea pig, basically.

Back-mount rig too—old setup didn't fit. Now: dramatic back-draw. Satisfying.

Main: boosted magic circuits for more MP throughput, output. Burnout risk from low capacity.

Spot on—my multi-job MP overload. Made for low-MP sword jobs.

Minor self-repair too. Total: 20+ silver, piecemeal.

Bargain for upgrades. Improvised on-site, low markup. Skipped O-nee haggling.

"Great work. Thanks."

"Damn right. Half hobby, but retail? Gold coins."

"Maybe."

Quality base. Where'd Joysman get it?

"A sec? Sword payment's investment. Rare magic stones? Sell here, above market."

"Yeah, owed ya. Will consider. But another like that? Doubt."

"Who knows. 10% chance is profit. So many magitech ideas, high-quality stones scarce..."

"...Collecting for dev?"

"Yup~. Business too, but mainly magitech."

"Owner hoards gems too."

Forge master quipped.

"Owner's taste did the flashy exterior?"

"...Yes."

"Magitech too?"

"Correct."

"Magic stone hog?"

"Shop's a magitech setup for efficiency. Still, scrap stones never enough."

"Huh..."

"Gave artisans dev tips. Not wasted."

"On purpose?"

"No, owner's whim."

S-so...

Unmet owner out-weirds O-nee. Good luck.

Bade Apron-san farewell, left the shiny shop.

Felt I'd return for tweaks.

Days later, post-construction bender, we left via west gate next morning. Long-short month. Off to Teba region, monster holy land, royal domain.