Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Who Am I? "Third-Rate Convenience Store Owner" (2)
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Phil had agreed to hand over everything in the grocery store, deposit included, and in exchange, we'd swap the sword and the clothes.
It was a bigger loss for me, if anything.
Both the sword and the outfit had been appraised at Maestro and Yggdrasil, after all.
I wouldn't have bought it from 'Wolfram,' but if Phil wanted to sell, I'd take it off his hands.
Even at that price, buying the store would leave me with at least twenty million rin in change.
Phil was the one who looked stunned.
"Hmm. Feels like I'm getting way too good a deal."
"Then leave some stuff behind."
I followed my now-former boss's lead and took a look around the store's interior.
It was spotless, shelves neatly arranged.
You could tell he'd put real effort into running the place.
But the lack of inventory was a glaring flaw.
If even the black bread was going stale, that said it all.
"There's a bit of a problem here."
"Hmm..."
Phil nodded. The stock was just too sparse to begin with.
All he had were about a hundred low-grade healing potions and... some basic sundries. Pens, paper, black bread, water? That was it?
As I stared at the meager stock, Phil chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.
"The quality and quantity aren't bad, but... it's all kinda old."
"...?"
What the hell was this guy saying?
Was he just trying to claw back some cash by opening his mouth?
This wasn't bad?
"...Fine. Here's the deal. You need cash for your next stock order, right? I've got five million rin on me right now. I'll throw that in too."
"...Hmm."
That made the actual takeover cost around seven and a half million rin.
Factoring in the store's deposit and prepaid rent, it was a fair price.
Plus, I'd gotten a tenfold-inflated certificate for items I couldn't cash in anyway.
"Sounds good. Let's do it."
I nodded. This could work.
Now, Wolfram's glorious comeback could begin.
"Oh, right. The landlord said they want to be present for the contract."
"?"
Come on.
Let me get started already.
Landlord?
It was rare for the owner to show up in person for a lease on a small shop like this.
Was Phil some big shot?
No, he wasn't in my memories.
So why show up for a podunk store contract...?
"When I mentioned your name, they said they'd come right over. Seems like a nice person."
...I see.
Someone interested enough in Wolfram von Loengrin's fresh start to be nice about it.
A face flashed in my mind, gleaming wickedly, but I shook my head.
She was the type money flowed to on its own, and her power meant she never lacked for it.
"Who is it?"
"You'll see when they get here. Anyway, I'm off to cash in. Good luck."
Hey, tell me, you bastard.
I glared, but Phil left to convert his goods to cash.
And he never came back.
...
......
"No way."
What if it was someone like Eve, obsessed with justice...? They'd kick me out on the spot.
Was I really done for?
My all-in life was on the verge of a game-over, and now this?
Then, the moment the building's owner—the judge of this deal—stepped into the grocery store, my eyes went wide.
"Sorry I'm a little late."
"Uh..."
I scrutinized her face carefully.
No doubt about it.
"......"
A voice dry yet beautifully low, impossible to hide.
Long black hair cascading to her waist, swaying gently. Eyes like dark amethysts, cool and still.
A face that seemed utterly devoid of motivation. Or expressionless. Perfect poker face.
And those unreadable eyes.
Aila Trista.
Second daughter of the Trista countess family. Third-year in the Magic Division, vice-top student.
A named character I knew well.
Her full specs, status, skills scrolled through my mind, even bits from the setting docs.
A monster with innate magic power of 19.
The second daughter dominating twenty percent of the Loengrin Empire's commerce.
A brilliant mind.
Power to wield third-tier spells already.
Scrolling down my mental memory, in the dimmest corner, one faint line glowed.
"You've really hit rock bottom, huh, Wolfram."
The mid-boss of Act 3's merchant route.
"Got anything left to use me for?"
"Aila."
And Wolfram's fiancée.
When people encounter the unimaginable, their thoughts freeze and words fail them.
Two days into becoming Wolfram von Loengrin, and I'd already faced madness.
From academy refugee to unemployed bum.
But without a doubt, this was the biggest shock yet.
A fiancée I'd never even heard of showing up out of nowhere? Who wouldn't be stunned?
"Say something, Wolfram."
"......"
I just stared at her blankly.
So, the landlord of this rundown building I'd just moved into was my fiancée and a story mid-boss?
Damn, this was insane. What kind of difficulty curve was this? Easier to punch the final boss.
"...I heard the story."
"What story?"
"You got fired, right? Student Council President."
"Yeah. That happened."
A fastball to the chest would've hurt less.
"When I first heard the new tenant's name was you, I was pretty shocked."
"......"
"You're still hanging around the academy, huh. The Wolfram I knew would've stormed out after that humiliation."
"......"
"Or are you scared to leave because the cards you discarded might come back for revenge?"
Wow, she really was his fiancée.
She knew Wolfram inside out.
"Answer me, Wolfram. Why are you still here? And why come to me?"
"...Come to you?"
"Hmph. Buying this grocery store—isn't that a signal to me? Begging for salvation? Or ordering it?"
"......"
"A man who only had ambition going for him gets his spot stolen by his little sister, and in the end, clings to his fiancée? How far do you plan to fall, Wolfram von Loengrin?"
Hold up. Stop. Wait. Hang on a sec. Let me think.
I don't know what grudges against Wolfram were churning inside her, but take it up with the real him.
"Anyway, this deal's off. Disappear before you make it uglier."
"......"
That wouldn't work.
I couldn't let this go.
Getting kicked out meant the blade ending.
Zombie revival.
Death by scheming little sister.
"Aila Trista."
"What?"
Aila was Act 3's mid-boss.
Specialties: black magic and crystal magic.
Tough fight by Act 3 standards.
Her combat power wouldn't differ much now or then, so if she got serious, I'd die right here.
But I had my wits as a weapon.
With no stamina, no mana, and death lurking everywhere, Wolfram survived by thinking smart and making the right calls.
Don't stop thinking.
Jefrin's characters brimmed with life, and luckily, I knew most of their personalities.
Dialogue scripts with characters flowed through my mind.
[Act 3, Chapter 2. The Witch of Rebellion. Lady of Ambition.]
What was Aila's character like?
Ambition. And a massive chuunibyou streak.
Conclusion reached.
I leaned back in the chair casually, interlaced my fingers, flashed a relaxed smile, and spoke.
"Ridiculous."
"...What did you say?"
"Was this building yours? Investing in dumps like this isn't wise."
"Ha! What nonsense!"
That's right. Lines like that were pure Aila.
Aila was ambition incarnate—the chuunibyou villainess.
She spouted grandiose lines that sounded cool and clever, but up close, her seriousness screamed middle-school syndrome. And she was all ambition.
Play along, act like a big shot, and conversation would flow.
"What's so nonsensical?"
"Shallow lies. As if you didn't know it was mine—that's why you targeted it, right?"
"Does Wolfram von Loengrin need to remember every insignificant hovel?"
"......"
"Listen well, Aila. I had no idea who owned this place until just now. If that sounds like a lie, then your precious eyes are blind, and your ears are deaf. I am Wolfram, prince of this nation."
"Fine. I'll buy that it's true. Then why take over this grocery store?"
This was key.
Take a breath. Flick the fingers. Smirk. Cocky attitude, full throttle.
"For my ambition."
"Ambition...?"
Starting with words that'd make Aila melt.
Why else name the chapter "Witch of Rebellion. Lady of Ambition"?
As a boss, she commanded countless subordinates—all top talent, not one dead weight.
"I haven't lost anything."
"Not a single... thing...?"
"Exactly. My ambition starts now. That's why I'm taking this store."
"...What could this grocery store possibly offer?"
"Shadows must lurk in the deepest secrets."
"Ha! Plans or not, it's drivel...!"
Then why were her eyes sparkling, hands trembling? Admit it—you're hooked. The vibe's perfect.
Pinpoint strike here.
"I have plans."
Now, spin some plausible scheme.
Aila would eat it up.
"...A-Alright. Tell me. Hurry up. Let's hear this method."
"I can't tell you."
"What? It is nonsense..."
"Because you're not on my side."
"......Urk!"
She clenched her fists tight. She loved this stuff.
"No reason to leak info to an outsider. Go home."
"...D-Do you not know I'm the landlord? I can evict you anytime."
"Third-rate threat."
"Urgh! F-Fine. If I join your side, will you tell me?"
Oh?
Not bad at all.
If Aila backed me, I'd go from shady tenant to one on good terms with the owner.
I didn't need to actually do anything grand. What she wanted was 'Wolfram who hadn't lost his ambition.'
Wolfram's ambition? Restoration, obviously. Not the lottery—reclaiming Student Council President.
Let's see.
"I'll gather talent."
"...Talent flocking to you? Do you even know who they are?"
"I do. Starting with that druid girl you treasure so much, there's a Magic Division freshman specialized in fire magic. Knight Division's got a kid with future sword saint potential too."
"...How do you...?"
"Aila. Aila Trista. Who am I?"
"Wolfram... Wolfram von Loengrin. The ousted Student Council President."
"Right. I was Student Council President. Former. But you think I just got chased out?"
"...What are you saying?"
"My eyes are everywhere in this academy. Eve stole my throne, so now I get to rule from the shadows."
"......You think you can pull that off? Eve von Loengrin has legitimacy. The frame of 'justice's Student Council President'—you think rebellion succeeds against that?"
"Rebellion happens in the deepest secrets, most quietly, most grandly."
".........!!! "
That was my conclusion from nonstop thinking.
"Rebellion."
"Yes."
The word that'd hook her hardest.
'Rebellion' was her boss identity.
[Oh my, rebellion is carried out in the deepest secrets, most quietly, and brings the greatest results.]
Her signature line from Act 3. Sorry, I borrowed it. Gotta survive.
"You... You still..."
Aila bit her finger hard, glaring at me indignantly.
Her face was flushed—must've been that frustrated.
Alright.
From what I could tell, Aila hated Wolfram but knew him perfectly.
To her, he was an obnoxious, arrogant guy who never backed down.
Right now, she thought he'd lost to his sister and come begging her for a bailout. Hence the contempt.
But her words held another hint.
'His ambition was at least worth something.'
So, to survive, I had to show her: the stubborn Wolfram ain't dead yet. Ma!
"...I can't believe it."
"I never asked you to."
"What?"
"Faith is a hollow word. It follows results—the pettiest one."
"......"
"I won't ask for your help. Just don't interfere. If you do, I'll crush you too."
"......"
Aila stared into my eyes, then stood abruptly. She shot me one last contemptuous look.
"That arrogance sticks even in the gutter. I'll watch you crumble, Wolfram."
I waved her off haughtily to the end.
Gritting her teeth at that, she stormed toward the door. I stopped her as she tried to leave.
"Before you go, what about this store?"
"......Pay fair value, and nothing's unsellable. That's the Trista way."
"I see. Fair enough. Take it."
After Aila left, I stared at the spot she'd occupied for a long while, then sighed and slumped back.
"Whew, thought I was screwed."
I covered my face with both hands and let out a deep breath.
"Managed to pry words out and package it convincingly, somehow."
Me, apostle of rebellion? Crazy.
Sorry, Aila, but I love safe, peaceful, boring tranquility.
Save up at the store, grab my diploma, learn a trade, live out in the countryside—that's me.
"...Man, I'm beat."
I was on bad terms with the next Student Council regime.
The demihumans were all avoiding me.
Had to figure out how to revive this rundown grocery store.
Acted like a grand rebel in front of the mid-boss fiancée, and I'd have to keep up the concept around her.
Even so.
I was alive.
It was condemned, but there was food to eat right now. Cramped, but I could sleep in the break room.
The clock showed past midnight.
The tomorrow I thought wouldn't come calling had already become today.
So.
"Tomorrow, I'll survive tomorrow too."
Survive here in this convenience store.
Keep surviving, keep living.
With that thought, I shut down my exhausted mind and fell asleep.
