Stocks (1)
The contract that was practically a slave agreement would be revised later by Kara. Fortunately, no one found out about my investment in Jane—she seemed to think it was just a prank. Well, I wouldn't have believed it either if someone told me they'd voluntarily signed a slave contract. I wondered what Jane would think if she knew.
"How'd the investment go?"
"Yeah. Here's the contract."
"......Did you buy a slave or something?"
Even Lize mistook the contract for a slave agreement when she saw it. And she went even further, assuming I'd been scammed and offering all sorts of advice. Slavery had long been abolished in this world, making such contracts outright illegal and utterly void.
From Lize's perspective, this wasn't just a scam—it was the act of a fraudster who could get me expelled. I offered a slight rebuttal.
"Gonna give me a mechanical arm. Just wait."
"Brother Sivar, that's the kind of mindset scam victims have. You should give up on the mechanical arm."
"It's real."
"It's okay. These things happen. It's all part of learning about the world."
Lize patted my shoulder with pitying eyes. She really thought I'd been duped. Introducing her to Jane sometime soon didn't sound like a bad idea. Eccentrics might click with each other.
In any case, after some desperate persuasion, I took charge of managing the bank account. In return, they wanted me to tell them in advance where I'd spend the money. That seemed reasonable enough, so I agreed. I'd already decided where to invest next anyway.
How can I naturally get into stocks?
Whether on Earth or here, stocks were the investment vehicle that could multiply your money overnight if luck was on your side. Earth's stock market was overly complex, but this world's was simpler, befitting the era. Still, its inherent intricacies remained. Even the famous Isaac Newton got wrecked and lost his fortune.
This world got stocks pretty early.
With trade relying on unpredictable seas and even land routes far from safe—monsters, demons, bandits, you name it—solo merchants could barely handle the risks. And that was without rare minerals like magic stones or the coal needed for steam locomotives. Not to mention silver, gold, diamonds, and other precious ores that could yield massive profits when discovered.
No rush for now.
I had plenty for another investment in Jane. If not, I could always hunt in the Chaos Forest. Besides, telling Kara and the others I'd dive into stocks would likely get me talked out of it. I hoped someone would keep tempting me. I could play the gullible fool and buy in.
"Hey, friend. Heard you made a killing at the Usk auction?"
"?"
"Ever thought about growing that money even more?"
Monday morning after the weekend. As I arrived in the lecture hall and sat in the back, a student next to me pitched something with a puzzled look from me. The one tempting me was none other than Antonio. His rat-like face made him look scheming as ever.
"What're you up to now? Trying to scam Sivar?"
Naturally, Kara—who'd sat beside me—showed her wariness. She still had no idea about my investment in Jane and thought the contract was a joke.
"Kara's right. You're not planning to use Sivar for your own gain, are you?"
Grace followed up with a sharp tone. But Antonio just shrugged off the suspicion, looking utterly relaxed.
"Come on. I'm a bit cowardly, sure, but I don't scam people. Besides, Sivar's basically gonna be a Granada Empire citizen soon—why would I scam him?"
"Hah. Shameless. When did Sivar ever say he's going to the Granada Empire? Obviously, it's the Matra Empire..."
"Enough. Let's hear him out. Kill him if it's weird."
Before the talk could derail, Kara cut in. Her voice carried a hint of discomfort, or maybe it was just my imagination. Antonio shrugged again and uttered the exact word I'd been hoping for.
"Ever heard of stocks?"
"Stocks? Isn't that the same as investing?"
Kara voiced her confusion at the mention. Even on Earth, plenty got them mixed up—imagine here. Tatar had introduced banking and finance, but it was still immature. No wonder she was confused.
"Similar, but not quite. Investing is paying into a specific venture; stocks are buying shares in a company. Basically..."
Antonio launched into a fluid explanation of stocks. I already knew the concept, but Kara and Grace didn't. They listened with intrigued expressions.
Once he finished, Kara spoke up, looking fascinated.
"I thought stocks and investments were the same, but they're not. So, what're you recommending to Sivar?"
"That's the key part. First, we gotta check if Sivar can even buy stocks."
"Huh?"
After explaining so well, what was this? It didn't make sense. In Soul World, the protagonist—or rather, me—could absolutely trade stocks. It was basic for growing wealth. Plus, higher fame meant bigger share limits. Fitting for the era.
"What're you talking about? Because Sivar's status isn't clear?"
"Exactly."
On Earth, anyone could trade stocks now, but long ago, only rich merchants could—and they wielded enough power to sway nations. Same here. Just more varieties now, but commoners touching stocks was rare and difficult.
"Academy students have verified status, so they're fine. But Sivar? Who knows."
"No worries there. Worst case, bring the Saintess or the President. Worked for raising my limit before."
"Uh......Yeah, that should do it. Just verify at the stock exchange."
Hold up—stock exchange? Sounds anachronistic, right? Earth had them ages ago; commoners just lacked the cash. Here, even commoners could amass wealth since strength equaled power and money. And thanks to Santia, industrialization was chugging along with global steam locomotives sealing the deal.
Most folks are still farming, though.
Too detailed? Skip it. Nitpicking realism in a fantasy world hurts the head. Anyway, stock exchanges dotted major cities, including near the academy.
"Anyway, I'm recommending one that's only going up. Buy this, and you'll at least double or triple your money."
"What's your basis? And isn't that illegal?"
Grace asked suspiciously, worried about breaking laws. Antonio shrugged casually.
"Relax. I'm just suggesting; Sivar chooses. Scammers don't do it this way—they pull the con themselves."
"That's what most scammers say. Anyway, what're you recommending?"
"Heard this from my brother......"
Antonio's brother was Chronos, a Granada general who'd risen from commoner to powerhouse. Coming from him? Tempting. He had ties to the top, directly or not.
"Granada Empire's been expanding territory lately. Oh, not war—just scouting resources. Bitter to say, but we're short on natural ones."
"I know your surroundings are pretty harsh too."
Unlike resource-rich Matra, Granada lacked them, and its environs were brutal. Livable, but monster-infested. Hence the aggressive culture and strength worship—weakness meant death.
"But my brother says there might be a mithril mine. Not surveyed yet, but if he says it, there's gotta be something."
"Mithril? Is that for real?"
"Got your interest, huh."
Mithril was rare like magic stones, but for alloys rather than magic fusion. It didn't boost performance outright—just lightened weight for better efficiency. Still top-tier ore. Even the possibility of a mine would rocket the stock.
"Just a possibility, but from my brother? High credibility. So, tempted now?"
"Nah."
"Huh?"
I wasn't touching that. Sure, it'd spike on announcement, but crash hard soon after. A earth dragon would wreck the mine operation, burying the whole caravan. Stock would crater to bedrock—and beyond. Couldn't risk my cash.
Better ignore Antonio's tip.
In Soul World, he was kinda pitiful, especially with stocks. Decent analysis, but everything tanked. Even had that "cursed" vibe—Chronos chewed him out over it.
"Something else."
"Else? This is all I got."
"Sivar can scout himself then. Just teach how it works. Good experience."
Kara, now hooked, asked Antonio to teach her too. Better she invest herself than get scammed, she figured.
"Hey, do you know how hard stocks are? Gotta read the geopolitics, company secrets. Blind investing can bankrupt you."
"That's our call. Who knows? Sivar's pick might moon."
My heart skipped a beat. For reference, my target tied to Kara—or rather, Tatar. A caravan crossing the desert stumbles on a massive underground magic stone mine. Hector's instincts kick in—he's a money-sniffing genius—and acts fast.
Just invest in desert-crossing caravans.
Bonus: Boost Kara's affection. Bigger caravans mean more trade. I'd sit back and rake it in, then fund Jane.
"Lunch ends, let's go. Stock exchange is next to the bank, right?"
"I should check it out too. No interest in stocks, but curious what's there."
"Got it. Meet after lunch. I'll explain nicely."
Antonio looked smug, like he'd hooked some ants(?). My condolences to their impending crash in this bear market.
As we chatted stocks for a while, a familiar face shuffled into the lecture hall.
"Ugh......"
Luna, limping from Lize's brutal training, turtle-slow from sore limbs. Routine now—no one worried. Just figured something happened.
"Undead again today. What happened yesterday?"
"Worked...... out."
Training with Lize was secret, so "workout" it was. They'd buy it. Though her disaster mouth worried me.
"Hey, Luna. Wanna try stocks?"
"Pardon? What?"
"Stocks. We're doing it after lunch. Join if bored."
"......What's a stock?"
Luna looked baffled. Rural girl—probably clueless on investing, let alone stocks.
Kara explained kindly. As she did, curiosity lit Luna's face.
"So...... buying shares in a company based on future potential. Right?"
"Yep. Helps with geopolitics too."
"I'm not really interested......"
Luna started to decline but locked eyes with me. Her expression shifted subtly. She glanced at Kara, then asked carefully.
"......Is Sivar going too?"
"Yeah. He needs the experience."
"Then I'll go."
Luna, oh Luna. Did she greenlight it 'cause she knows I know the future? Infuriating, but I couldn't call her out. Nor tip off the doomed stock.
"Luna. You picking whatever Sivar picks, right?"
"Yeah?"
"......"
When would that mouth of hers get fixed?