Chapter 36
Chapter 36
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Precarious Companions (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Are you thinking of selling that information…?”
Bowman looked at Regen with worried eyes.
“Even rumors spreading within the Association make me cautious, so I actually held things back a bit myself.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. It might help you in some ways… but it’s the kind of story that could easily make people suspicious of you.”
“That could happen.”
“Is it really okay to spread stories like that?”
Bowman’s concern was easy enough to guess.
Those at the center of rumors gain influence in equal measure, but they also have to pay the price of fame.
“Since you’ve joined our school, I can’t just treat you like any outsider.”
“Is it because my rumors could harm the Nemede School?”
“Ahem. That’s part of it, but not all.”
Bowman chuckled, noting how sharp he was about irrelevant things, then continued softly.
“As a member of the Association, I’m worried about you too. It’s not every day we get a junior like you, after all.”
His hearty demeanor and lines made it clear, but he was indeed a character with some heart.
It was also a typical charm of spellcrafters. They had surprisingly strong camaraderie.
Scroll crafting wasn’t just a headache—it was a migraine.
‘…Otherwise, people might look for other jobs.’
That made them a group with strong internal bonds. Bowman was one of the more affectionate ones.
“Thank you for your concern. But as long as it doesn’t harm the Nemede School, I’m fine selling this information.”
“Really?”
There were two main reasons.
‘The fact that someone with this information has definitely come out of the Tower is confirmed.’
Stories not from the Association had spread from that drinking session to here.
It meant others besides Regen who knew this info had come out of the Tower.
It could be kingdom forces sent by Chimihi.
Or someone hiding in the 5th-floor campsite, eavesdropping on the info.
“If it’s going to get out anyway, it’s most valuable when only I know it, right?”
And the second reason was… lycanthrope-related stories were currently the hottest topic.
He’d experienced it countless times in Korea. Even in DAT, he’d felt the same.
Trends shifted faster than expected.
‘Lycanthrope stories have value now, but once the kingdom investigation team is dispatched… and various truths come out, interest will fade.’
Or some other incident would erupt.
Either way, this was the moment of peak value for the info.
* * *
“Cough!! Grabbing my collar out of nowhere—what the hell?! Ugh… You’ve got brute strength for a damn spellcrafter…”
After hearing Regen’s explanation, Bowman released Jack’s collar.
Jack coughed and glared at Regen.
“Tch… So this guy’s the one with the lycanthrope info?”
“Yes. There’s no better source on lycanthropes than me.”
“Puhaha! Got some guts. Is Bowman here another Association member of yours?”
“Yeah. And… a member of our school too.”
“…From Nemede?”
Jack looked at Regen again, a bit surprised.
“Looks normal enough… Guess he’s got weirdness on your level inside.”
“Puhaha. Just look at him stepping up to sell info to an info broker like you.”
“We’ll see once I hear it. Whether he’s the type to inflate nothing, or… someone who knows how to deal proper intel.”
Jack straightened his clothes and posture for a moment.
Unlike other merchants who didn’t care about their appearance.
If not for the sleazy sales pitch earlier, one might think Jack was a gentleman.
‘That’s how crazy the visuals and attitudes are around here.’
No falling for showy displays.
Just as Jack had said about Regen, Regen had no intention of judging him by looks either.
‘I need to check how solid his info dealings are.’
Regen continued, looking at Jack.
“First, something you should know. There aren’t one, but two lycanthrope survivors.”
“…What?”
Jack looked shocked, perhaps expecting a price but getting the info straight.
“And one of them is a total newbie who just entered the Tower.”
“Suspicious. How can you say that so confidently? Got proof?”
“Yes.”
“…Can you share it?”
Regen replied with an unwavering expression.
“I don’t think so.”
“What?”
“From here on, you pay up.”
His gaze went to the small pouch where Jack had stashed the gold coin.
Jack let out a hollow laugh.
“Damn. This kid’s learning fast—head barely dry and already matching my tricks. Just return Bowman’s gold?”
Ting—!
Jack flicked the gold coin back to Bowman.
He glanced at Regen as if to say “this enough?”, but Regen continued with the same expression.
“I’d like the gold returned, plus one more promise.”
“…What? Look, I get one gold—it was my exact play, so no complaints. But demanding extra? Doesn’t balance.”
“I’m not asking for money like someone.”
He wasn’t after gold.
How much cash would Jack bring from the black market anyway? Probably not much.
‘So, not cash… I need something else valuable he has.’
Regen spoke without hesitation.
“Promise to sell me info on a person.”
“A person? Specific individual intel? That’s tricky. You know it’s the most regulated field?”
“You’re saying no?”
“…Didn’t say no. It’s my specialty, after all.”
Jack grinned confidently. With his signature raspy voice, he asked.
“So, whose info?”
“Ferma Vinicis.”
“That old geezer in the square?”
“You know he’s not just any old geezer, right?”
“Haha! Bowman brought a real oddball. Testing me knowing that far? Fine. Info on that black mage geezer?”
Ferma Vinicis was the wanderer’s name from the square.
Nuada was watching, so direct approach was impossible. Getting info later wasn’t bad.
It’d test Jack’s capabilities too.
“Make it two?”
“Hmm. Praising me and getting cocky. That one’s already a big favor.”
“For this one, I’ll bring fair trade gold next time.”
“…Ahem. Fine, name first.”
One face flashed in Regen’s mind.
“Igna Olebian.”
“…Igna?”
“Just knowing where she is now is enough.”
Jack’s eyes went wide. Bowman’s too.
“You… right in the head?”
It was the moment Jack’s composed bargaining face crumbled.
One side of the scale had an absurd weight.
“How the hell am I supposed to find the worst witch who fled the kingdom eight years ago?”
* * *
‘Guess not.’
Regen nodded at Jack’s reaction.
Some deals happen through haggling, some don’t.
Jack and Bowman’s faces confirmed this was a no-go.
“Then I’ll drop Olebian.”
“…Jeez. Told you it’s impossible from the start. Olebian? Knowing that witch’s info would already have shackles on my ankles.”
Disappointing, but he’d give it up cleanly.
Through repeated DAT playthroughs, Regen memorized key NPCs, and Olebian was a big one.
Problem was, no path to her right now.
Worth a shot, but as expected, finding current Olebian wasn’t easy.
“Then I’ll settle for Vinicis info and tell you.”
“…”
“What I know about the lycanthrope… is because I was there.”
“…!!”
“If you don’t believe me, wait for the kingdom investigation team’s announcement. They’ll enter at the next portal opening, investigate, and release it.”
“What announcement?”
“There were 15 casualties when the lycanthrope appeared, including an archer killed right before escaping at the portal.”
The scene was still vivid in his mind.
Even the archer grabbed and killed by the lycanthrope at the end.
With the investigation team’s magic and search skills, they’d announce at least that much.
“Gonna take forever to verify authenticity.”
“Real deals always reveal their value over time.”
Jack stared at Regen for a long while, then smirked.
“Fine. We meet here again after the team announces. If you’re telling the truth…”
“…”
“I’ll hand over the Vinicis info I’ve prepared.”
“Deal.”
And so the deal with Jack ended.
“Then I’ll head out first. Got lots to offload.”
Regen spoke separately to Bowman and headed to the oddity merchants.
Bowman watched his back, then asked Jack.
“End up losing in the end, didn’t you? Gotta wait to confirm if Regen’s right…”
“By then, that info’s worthless. Heh. What point is lycanthrope talk after the kingdom announces?”
“You knew and closed the deal anyway? You, of all people—the money ghost?”
Bowman eyed Jack in surprise.
“If all true, doesn’t that make him a spellcrafter who survived a lycanthrope? And a newbie, per you?”
“…Even his first delve.”
“Yeah! If that insane story’s real…”
Jack burst into his raspy laugh.
“He becomes a customer who might bring unpredictable info. Could even be a spellcrafter topping you someday.”
Half-doubting still. Easier to call it bluff.
But what he wanted as payment was info, of all things.
And… curiosity about a witch vanished eight years ago.
That hooked Jack.
“Definitely not ordinary. Could be a con… or maybe a rare real deal.”
* * *
“Deal go well?”
“Yeah. Sold everything to sell, bought everything needed.”
Offloading Tower items went quick.
Regen haggled lightly with merchants, got fair prices, grabbed necessities, and joined nearby Boland.
Bowman had stepped away for something, so he planned to hang with Boland, who’d been milling alone.
“Sir Boland, get everything you needed? You were looking for something earlier.”
“Yeah. Found new materials for strength enhancement scrolls… spent all my gold though.”
“Haha. Same here.”
Mana stones and mandragora leaves from the Tower. Even black goblin arms.
Mostly rare 1st-floor red portal stuff, so prices were good.
Regen’s keyboard-battle-honed tongue helped too.
‘Netted nearly 50 gold.’
But gone now. Regen eyed his bag.
‘Gargoyle bloodline, ogre hide, etc… Already pricey, bought all available—49 gold flown.’
All but 1 gold living expense spent.
“So, that’s what you were debating?”
“…”
Boland seemed in the same boat.
He eyed the shop ahead with a troubled look.
Not exactly a shop—a gambling den where you bet on games to win items.
‘Prizes are tempting, sure.’
Dart game. Land three darts in the center bullseye.
50 silver per round seemed doable.
“…Wasn’t debating. Already tried and failed.”
“Huh? How much spent?”
“5 gold.”
“…50 silver a pop… 10 times?”
“…Yeah.”
Boland failed 10 times and was still pondering another go.
…What the hell is this sucker?
‘No way Boland’s reflexes miss 10 times.’
Gaze to the game boss, smirking.
Regen figured one of two.
Thrilled at a mark.
‘Or he rigged it?’
Worried inside about getting caught.