Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Assassin & Greed (1)
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The next day, at dawn.
I roughly fashioned a shaft and strapped it to Patrasche's body, then prepared the cart and set off.
"...You're really planning to use it as a cart horse?"
"Isn't it a wolf?"
"That's not what I meant."
Patrasche let out a deep sigh and trudged forward.
With both hands free, it was neat and convenient, and I didn't have to pull the cart myself, so it saved on stamina.
How great was this?
We headed to the area in front of the first-year general department and immediately set up the stall.
"...Isn't Hye the imperial descendant? A collateral line?"
"The most legitimate heir."
"Then why open a stall like this? I don't understand."
"Do you need to?"
The wolf snorted at that.
"Alright. Time to start business."
"What do I need to do?"
"Guard me. And... occasionally act cute for the customers."
"Ha. Are you telling me to act cute right now? To this body that's three hundred years old...!"
"Customer incoming."
The wolf shot me a sullen glare, but soon enough, the first customers arrived at the stall.
"Sunbae! It's been a while!"
"We're here. Hello."
"...Ah, hello. Wolfram sunbae."
"Come on in."
The first-year chicks.
"Whoa! A dog! Look, Yogurt! A huge red dog! What's its name?"
"...Huh? A dog? No, this is... a dog?"
"You got a dog? Looks great as a ranch dog. Hehe."
"Who're you calling a dog...!"
"Ooh, it's growling. So cute!"
"Dog...? It is a dog, right...?"
"Sunbae. Why'd you suddenly get a dog?"
"Hey, can't these kids understand me?!"
"Growling again!"
"...A dog?"
"So cuuute. Our dog back home was this big."
Amid the noisy chirping, Patrasche looked up at me.
Oh right. These kids can't understand Patrasche's words right now.
It had something to do with the Imperial Bloodline trait, but explaining it would just waste time.
I shot Patrasche a look that said to give up, and it sighed deeply before sitting down.
"Oh, it sat. Good boy."
"Dog...? No. Hmm?"
"Ah, what does it eat? Sunbae, are you into returning to the countryside too? My hometown's in the east with tons of pastures!"
Vanilla, Yogurt, and Mille-Feuille started chattering noisily around Patrasche, who clicked its tongue in annoyance at the attention but soon let out a pleased "Ahem."
Unlike the dim Vanilla and Mille-Feuille suddenly bringing up farming or hometowns, Yogurt must have instinctively sensed something about Patrasche. Elves, after all.
Well, elves and fairies are a bit different. If elves are sociable demi-humans, fairies are... um, nature's little pranksters?
Something like that.
"Ahem. Well, this popularity."
Patrasche nodded, clearly finding the chicks' chirping endearing deep down.
After three hundred years serving like a dog under a drunken, bullying queen, waiting endlessly for an imperial descendant who never showed—turns out, the attention was welcome.
"Enjoying it?"
"Ahem."
"Good. Lots more kids will come, and they'll all fawn over you. Do your best as the mascot."
"...Got it."
Back in school, the PC bang I went to after classes had a massive husky.
It turned that place into little kids' heaven, and the husky ended up stressed out and going back home, but this one wouldn't have that sad ending.
After all, it was a yokai—no, a fairy—that was at least three hundred years old.
"The usual for me, please!"
"Me too."
"Um, one less for me."
Only Mille-Feuille asked for one less; the other two wanted their usuals, so I whipped them up quick and handed them over, then asked her.
"Why one less?"
"...Well, just not that hungry, I guess. Hehe."
"Appreciate the mysteries of a girl's heart."
"...Yeah. Sunbae's a good guy, but sometimes..."
"......"
No clue. Why am I getting flak?
I shrugged off the chicks' chatter around me.
Soon, a figure appeared in front of the stall and spoke up.
"Sunbae. Here you are."
"Nefti, huh."
"Yeah. Oh, Mille-Feuille junior's here too?"
"...Ah. Nefti sunbae. Hello!"
"Ah, here for sunbae's donuts?"
"Y-Yes!"
"I see. They're delicious. Wolfram sunbae's donuts."
"Hehe. Yeah."
As the pink chick and Nefti chattered, the preparatory bell rang.
"Ah, lunch break's ending!"
"Sunbae, we're off."
"...Um, Wolfram sunbae. Can I visit the convenience store later?"
I nodded and waved them off. The chicks bowed once and dashed back to the grounds with the same energy they'd arrived.
Then I stared at the one customer still lingering.
"Nefti. Why haven't you gone?"
"No work today?"
"No, I meant your classes."
"Ah, we've covered everything up to midterms. Self-study attendance? Oh, sunbae, you got a dog? I love dogs too. Hello?"
"......"
The knight division had its issues. The magic division verified theory and practiced spells, but knights mostly did tiered skill drills or how many wooden boards you could chop—practical stuff.
So talented knight students progressed fast and focused on other things.
But it wasn't all good.
Magic division cost money, so mostly nobles or their backed students—no tuition worries.
But knight students from poor backgrounds had paying Jefrin tuition as a task too.
To get that Jefrin diploma. To land a guardian knight spot with some noble house post-graduation. Survival till then was their mission. Nefti was the prime example.
I shooed away Nefti, who was playing with Patrasche.
"Got it. Finish your drink and head back."
"Ah. Actually, I came for another reason too."
"Another purpose?"
Nefti lowered her voice and broached the topic.
"This could make a big haul. Wanna join?"
"A chance for big money?"
"Well, I got my hands on a treasure map."
"Go home."
"No, really! Hear me out. It's a real treasure map! Once-in-a-lifetime shot!"
"Don't come back."
"Suuunbae!"
After that.
At Nefti's persistent begging, I had to hear out the treasure map story.
"Treasure maps don't exist. Why mark treasure on a map anyway? Jefrin hasn't faced outward in three hundred years—think there's really something hidden out there?"
"...I thought so too. But check the real thing first."
With that, Nefti handed me a worn scroll.
It marked east of the residential area, deeper into the Eastern Forest.
Seemed legit at first glance.
"What do you think?"
"Of what?"
"The map. See it in the corner? I checked the library..."
"Ancient Jefrin crest. Three hundred years ago. The great progenitor designated it as the first official symbol: crossed staff and sword."
"......Then."
Nefti gulped without a word.
This could involve the imperial family now.
A mere commoner mentioning the founding emperor? Instant execution for lese-majeste.
And while pitiful, Wolfram von Loengrin had Imperial Bloodline.
So Nefti couldn't speak it herself—asking me if it was real.
What good would answering do?
"It's real. At least, not a fake inscription."
"...As expected."
Unlike the excited Nefti, my face hardened coldly.
Why?
From my long playtime, Jefrin treasure maps were all trash. No real prizes.
Rewards weren't always junk.
Later ones gave tier-3 items.
But D/Z SAGA rewarded effort strictly.
A map handing out location info for free? Obviously demands more effort than usual farming.
And this map? I'd seen it a ton.
"So you're hunting this? With your attack power?"
"Yeah! But I have someone to ask."
"Who?"
"Teacher! Come in!"
"Oh! Wolfram! Long time no see!"
Bronze skin, grayish hair. Blue eyes. Two very practical daggers at the waist.
Dexterity 22. Will 20. A real monster. The assassination world's top authority.
"Rudika Hassan Shadow."
"Yeah! Nefti said it was fun, so I came!"
"......"
This damned event just gained brutal realism.
The sudden arrival of Rudika grinned and flashed a V-sign with her left hand.
"So you're off to find the treasure on this map?"
"Yes."
"Rudika's heart races for treasure too!"
"Do I have to join?"
"Yes! With your magic buffs, sunbae, it'll be safer!"
"Rudika too!"
"......"
Why treat people like tools? Top tank and assassin mid...
"Does Wolfram know this map?"
I pondered Rudika's question without answering.
Know it?
Like hell I did.
This was Act 1's finale.
Key item for 1-4.
No idea how Nefti got it, but skipping backstory: yes, map to the founding emperor's treasure.
Still unforgettable, really.
1-4 episode: roll till you drop to reach the emperor's treasure.
Everyone opens the chest excitedly. Out pops a scrap of paper.
In fancy imperial script: 【The friendship that brought you this far is the true treasure.】
......
It's real.
That was the ending.
Think about it—finale of Act 1 with the emperor's treasure? No way.
This shitty game.
"Sunbae?"
"Wolfram?"
But beyond that, clearing 1-4 gave tons of rewards.
Fake chest or not, reasons to join abounded.
Items en route were juicy, treasures too.
"I'll be straight. I vaguely know what that map leads to."
"Really...? How?!"
"Wh-What's the treasure? No, don't tell me. But just enough to keep my excitement without spoiling, amp up the anticipation a bit—thanks!"
"Read it in ancient docs. Not certain. We'll see when we go."
"So you'll come?"
Act 1 finale.
Without a vet like me, they'd wipe at the boss.
Sigh. No choice.
"Like the docs said, follow my orders. Lots to prep before departure: skills, gear, consumables. Max out what you can. Write this down."
"O-Oh? Got it."
"Y-Yes!"
The flustered noobs.
Time to bus 'em once as a vet.