Chapter 72
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Thief! (1)
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After the first day, the academy's cafeteria meals drew explosive support from the students.
The weekly menu was posted in advance on the bulletin board in front of the cafeteria, and some students even jotted it down, eagerly counting the days until their favorite dishes appeared.
The biggest reason the cafeteria won over the students was, of course, the outstanding quality for the price.
"Mmm. The meat could be a bit more generous, but not bad at all."
"Did it suit your taste?"
"Yeah. Pretty good. But no plans to sell alcohol?"
"It's still a place of learning. What would happen if we started serving booze?"
Stonehammer, who had grown curious after hearing about the cafeteria from the apprentice students at the forge, was on his way back after trying it himself today.
He didn't teach the students directly, but out of gratitude for lending the forge to the craft department students, they had granted him an honorary professor position, which allowed him access to the cafeteria.
"A bit of moderate drinking sharpens creativity, you know? Tch! Humans are just too fragile."
"Speaking of which, is this the new design coming out?"
"Yep. What do you think? A true masterpiece, right?"
It was a self-possessed design that fully justified his beaming pride.
"Whew. Something like this belongs in a museum... Sorry, Stonehammer. It's my failing that forces me to sell this beauty. If I had the money, I'd snap up every piece myself!"
"Uahaha! Human, you've got a real eye for quality!"
The dwarf's laughter, delighted by Dominic's flattery, echoed through the kitchen.
"Oh, here—take this with you when you go. Freshly made ham and sausages. Perfect for drinks."
"You made them yourself?"
"Yes. I mixed in some spices from the desert, and the flavor turned out great."
"Excellent! Just excellent! Coming here was the right call! Uahaha!"
The dwarf, already thinking this human had impeccable manners and refinement for offering a gift tailored to his tastes, nodded repeatedly with a grin splitting his face.
"Oh! I heard from Theo earlier—you're planning to build a massive structure?"
"Yes. Thinking of putting up a concert hall."
"Concert hall? You mean like where priests sing hymns?"
"Sort of, but different. It won't center on solemn sacred songs."
"Then?"
"...Pop songs?"
"What's that?"
"Trendy tunes... something like that? It's still just a concept, so I don't know exactly how it'll turn out. But one thing's for sure—if it goes as planned, this concert hall will be a must-visit for every art lover across the continent."
"Hold on, human. What did you just say?"
"Pardon?"
"A building where all the continent's art lovers will gather...?"
Those words hooked the art-obsessed dwarf's ears.
Stonehammer's face lit up like it had when imagining his limited-edition pottery spreading across the continent. His eyes glazed over, his mouth gaped wide, and his nostrils flared. His imagination was running wild.
"No, wait. For this to become reality... show me what you'll do in that concert hall first. Then I'll decide if I take on the construction! Yeah, that's right. I'm a rational dwarf—I won't fall for it that easily!"
Stonehammer put on what he thought was a stern face, but to Dominic, it was like a fat stack of cash dropping from the sky.
'What a windfall? I figured he'd ditched the forge entirely for pottery, so construction never even crossed my mind.'
With a dwarf rolling in, he had to nail him down before he could bolt.
"Perfect. I'd love your artistic eye to judge it. But it still needs more practice, so may I invite you once it's ready? I want to present it perfectly to the greatest artist."
"Mm, yes! A top artist like me isn't that easy! Uahaha!"
Dominic figured he'd need to work Rabia a bit harder.
The next day, Dominic summoned Rabia to the academy boardroom.
The room, built but rarely used, had been left idle, yet the caretakers' efforts kept it spotless—not a single cobweb in the corners.
"So, you're saying I'm not dwarf standards?"
"Don't laugh like that. You're scaring me for real."
Rabia narrowed her eyes, her robe shed.
But her face was so stunningly beautiful that Dominic had to clutch his fluttering heart.
"Just kidding."
She smiled radiantly, clearly not offended.
"Sorry. But you know how gorgeous buildings dwarves pour their souls into can be. You gonna pass up a stage like that? For real?"
"...Even so, performing for judgment doesn't sit right."
"It's not judgment—it's about moving them. Just like always."
Rabia had said she wanted to be a bard.
Nothing beat singing on stage, she'd claimed.
[I want to be a bard who earns real cheers from people, not just sells smiles. Help me.]
Dominic had hesitated, worried it might anger Sahar.
'No? She said they're already watching. So they know she's singing in disguise here...'
If they knew and let it slide, there was no rule saying he couldn't help.
Besides, he already knew full well.
Her voice wasn't a rough gem—it was a brilliantly cut diamond.
And he wasn't even a music expert, yet he thought so; others would be blown away.
Creeeak—
"...Looks like we have a guest."
Ian, passing by and hearing voices, opened the door and entered the boardroom.
"You knock at home or the kitchen, but not here? Sigh, what was I expecting. Eaten yet?"
"Not yet."
"Let's eat together later. How about a bowl of jjamppong at Kallon's?"
"Sounds good."
"Wait a sec, then. Need to finish talking with Lady Rabia."
Ian nodded, took a seat, and slipped into meditation.
Rabia wore an odd expression listening to their exchange.
"By the way, Lady Rabia. Do you always wear that robe?"
"...Oh! The robe? Yeah, pretty much."
"That explains it. No rumors floating around."
"Rumors about what?"
"That there's a peerless beauty at the academy."
"Hahaha! You saying that to cheer me up?"
"No, genuine curiosity."
He'd wondered for a while.
She looked like she could devour any idol or actress from his past life, yet no buzz?
'Discrimination against desert folk?'
He'd thought that at first, but scrapped it after seeing women squeal and blush over Karim.
"Ah."
Rabia smiled faintly and showed the ring on her finger.
"This is why."
"The ring?"
"Yes. Don't let appearances fool you—it's quite valuable."
Dominic barely swallowed, It looks pricey enough already.
"No way—that's a magic artifact?"
"Bingo."
"I've got one too. Built-in fire magic."
Dominic showed his slim silver ring with a tiny blue gem. Rabia stifled a laugh.
"Sorry, not mocking you. How much?"
"Bragging about money now?"
She held up fingers instead.
"...Don't tell me three zeros after that?"
"Try more. My dad's one of the top tycoons in the desert."
"...Four?"
Dominic was speechless from shock.
But Rabia snorted.
"Pfft. Come on... not five...?"
"It's pricey, huh?"
His jaw stayed dropped.
"Wearing something that expensive on your finger...?"
"Focus on the function, not the price."
"At that price, you'd focus on the price."
"Pffft. A future magnate with such a small mindset."
Watching her laugh merrily, Dominic seriously regretted.
"Should've accepted Sahar's proposal back then."
When marrying off his daughter, Sahar had offered a pond-sized dowry filled with gold coins—not hyperbole, perhaps literally. He realized now.
After downing cold coffee in one gulp to recover, Rabia continued.
"It's a disguise artifact that alters appearances."
"Alters appearances? So this face now..."
"This is my real face! I change it to look plain when going out. Avoids the hassle. As you see, peerless beauty."
Dominic finally got it amid her playful banter.
"Amazing. True, better artifacts cost more. Can you change to anything you want?"
"Only the preset form. Can't swap faces daily."
"Still has limits, huh."
"But depending on the initial setup, the uses are endless. A peerless beauty like me turns into a plain girl, fat folks slim down, youths disguise as old men. And,"
She paused for breath and grinned.
"...women can become men."
Dominic missed it, but Ian's eyelashes, seemingly in meditation, twitched.
"Anyway, got it. Need to wow the dwarf, right? I'll think on it. But first, new song... Tch. No progress. Inspiration's dried up."
"Inspiration, huh. Alright, I'll see what I can do."
At Dominic's words, Rabia nodded, donned her robe, and tapped her ring.
She turned, revealing her face.
"Huh?"
"Pretty effective, right?"
A completely different person stood there.
Magic, for real.
"Don't trust your eyes too much. You might miss something important. Bye~!"
She vanished with cryptic words.
"What was that? Knight, let's go eat."
"...Suddenly remembered something urgent. I'll head out first."
"Pardon?"
Ian bolted in a fluster.
"...What? Am I being iced out now?"
Dominic stared blankly at the door.
"Pretty, aren't they?"
At that moment, in the imperial consort's palace.
Five sets of Evergreen-marked porcelain crowded the table. The consort slowly admired them, satisfied one moment, irritated the next.
The maids kept heads bowed, breaths held.
Bad days with a displeased consort meant broken bones for anyone who slipped up.
"Gift two of these to His Majesty, use the rest for tea time."
"As you command."
Expecting a tantrum with shattered porcelain, she merely clicked her tongue once and moved on.
"Irritating, but I can't deny beauty. They release limited editions every time?"
"Yes. The dwarf's idea."
"Really? If I'd known Stonehammer had this talent, I'd have kept him in the capital somehow. Why'd he move to that backwater for scraps?"
"He always had ties with old Count Sinclair."
"Tch-tch. Spoken to our dwarf contacts?"
"We've pricked their pride as craftsmen. Good news soon."
"Don't disappoint me, Viscount... Hm? No."
The consort continued with an innocent smile.
"Why bother developing from scratch with all that money and time?"
"Indeed not."
"Right. These beauties don't belong with country bumpkins. Goods need proper owners to keep their class. Agreed?"
"Sage words. Porcelain for southern hicks? Pearls before swine. Pearls have their true owners."
The young noble cautiously kissed her hand and smirked.
Thieves were eyeing the south.