Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Household Register Mate
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"Your ordered items have arrived."
"Good work."
The dwarf from Maestro spoke in a voice devoid of any real emotion.
He used to be pretty hostile back in the day, but now he was just bluntly straightforward. Probably because I ordered from them so often.
"And we've processed all your custom orders. Here's the finished product."
"Mm. Good work."
The dwarf gave a slight nod and withdrew.
The items the dwarf brought totaled three: a low-grade manufacturing kit, zipper-sealed pouches, and ores that Maestro had finely ground on commission.
【Handy Work】
(Tier 8 Skill Selection Reward)
The skill I'd picked from the Tier 8 skill selection was still in the crafting and production category.
Truth be told, this was what I'd hoped for instead of Magical Patissier.
But the karma from making way too many snacks had piled up, so out popped Magical Patissier.
Installing the low-grade manufacturing kit and activating Handy Work brought up the explanations in my mind.
It's been a while since I last saw these.
The manufacturing kit was a wide, square panel, and I placed the three items on top.
It looked just like plopping three items on a whiteboard a bit smaller than my torso.
But this was the proper crafting method—the start of the correct process.
In response to the system's question, I selected the item I wanted to make in my head. Soon, blue lines appeared on the whiteboard, wrapping around the items. The lines enveloped everything and clumped together in the center with a thud.
The result was exactly the item I'd envisioned, emerging in the center with a puff of faint steam.
"Finally... we meet."
I hugged the hot pack close and nodded solemnly.
In the original story, they'd sold these in the campus shop from Act 1. But here, I had to learn a skill and craft them myself.
This infrastructure is insane. What the hell?
"...But I guess I only got my hands on this because I went outside."
I paused, lost in thought for a moment.
Outside.
I'd been reluctant at first, but now things were falling into place.
"...Anyway."
May nights were still chilly, and the early mornings bit deep.
But the long, cold nights were finally over.
Now I'd sleep warm and cozy.
No matter what it took.
Eve had extracted all the information she wanted from Nefti and politely sent her on her way.
She'd shared that she was worried about Wolfram too, that he was trying to do something without any support base, and that she was troubled by it herself.
Once that common ground of "worry for Wolfram" was established, the girl named Nefti softened right up and spilled everything.
[I see. So you explored the Eastern Forest with Wolfram and found a legacy left by the Great Ancestor?]
[...Yes. If it hadn't been for Senior Wolfram's method, we never could've beaten that golem.]
[Thank you.]
[Y-yes! So, Eve... um...]
[Oh? Ah, right. The memo left directly by the Founding Ancestor?]
[Yes!]
[The imperial family does collect all legacies left by the Great Ancestor.]
[...Ah.]
[But this is an undiscovered legacy, and it's customary to pay a modest reward based on reports like this.]
[...Th-then?!]
[That said, the Great Ancestor left behind all sorts of messages, so even as a first discovery, it won't be a huge payout.]
[...Ah.]
["At least a million rin, though?"]
[...Really?!]
She'd cringe and burst into loud laughter with every word—cuter than expected. Eve recalled Nefti's reactions and chuckled softly. After that, Nefti had said she needed to speak with someone important and left first.
Anyway.
Now wasn't the time to dwell on an amusing classmate.
"I told you to be so careful, and you're still wandering around like this?"
Unless she seized total control of the student council—and extended her influence to the imperial family—did Wolfram even grasp his current precarious position?
What was he thinking? Was he insane?
"No. With that guardian fairy around, maybe he's got some protection..."
That fairy seemed far too powerful for Wolfram to handle. So perhaps he could defend himself to some extent...?
As Eve pondered and paced the garden, a voice growled in her ear.
"Grrr."
"?"
The fairy Wolfram had taken as a familiar—the guide wolf—was there.
"What are you doing here?"
"Grrr."
"Don't just growl—use words. I can understand you."
"Oh, right."
"Yes. I have the Imperial Bloodline too."
"Sorry. Lately, no one's been able to understand me, so I figured I'd just stick to growling."
"...I see."
Eve shrugged. Being trapped in fairy territory for three hundred years must make one want to goof around like that.
"So, what's up? Shouldn't you be with Wolfram?"
"Mm. Stepped out for a break. The master's okay with me wandering."
"Then who's at the convenience store right now?"
"He's alone."
"Damn it."
Eve moved quickly.
If Wolfram ended up dead, she'd never sleep again.
By the time she reached the convenience store, her mana field activated, instantly scanning who was inside.
"...Two people? Who the hell is in there?"
Eve rushed inside. There sat Wolfram, dazed, with a girl passionately ranting in front of him.
"Come on, Senior! A million rin! Let's decide how to split it!"
"...Do you even know what time it is?"
"Money matters more than time!"
"...Can't argue with that, but couldn't you come back tomorrow?"
"Because money matters more! How should we split the million rin?!"
Nefti chattered noisily about the split, while Wolfram stared at her in exasperation.
Eve let out a sigh of relief. Wolfram spotted her, stared blankly, and beckoned.
"Eve."
"...What?"
"Take her away."
"...Sigh. Fine. Nefti, come with me."
"Ah. But we have to settle the money talk now, or who knows when it'll get swiped! We need to lock it in!"
"...Fair point, but isn't Rudika Hassan Shadow—who left with you—missing too?"
"Ah."
What do you mean "ah"? Seriously.
She didn't want to follow Wolfram's order to drag Nefti away, but he was right this time.
"Wolfram."
"What."
"Make some time tomorrow afternoon. I have something to discuss."
"...Sure."
He dismissively waved Eve and the intruder away, then went back to sleep. Eve found it irritating but withdrew quietly.
At least it wasn't serious. Nefti had just prioritized something urgent, so there was room for leniency.
"Ms. Nefti, you've violated dorm curfew, so that's a penalty point."
"Ah."
Of course, leniency didn't mean she'd let it slide.
The next day.
Eve visited the convenience store.
Lately, I was seeing her face a lot. Wasn't she busy?
"To be honest, you really piss me off, Wolfram."
"Oh? Same here. I think so too."
We laughed and flipped each other the bird.
But after closely scanning Eve, no pink aura lingered around her.
The buggy system wasn't perfectly reliable, but it still put my mind at ease.
"So, what is it?"
"Honestly. It pisses me off to no end, but I'll acknowledge what I have to."
"...Hm? Acknowledge what?"
"That I... ugh... urgh!!"
"Spit it out or don't. Pick one."
"That I've... racked up... quite... the... debt... to... you!"
"Mm. Yeah. You do owe me a ton."
"...You little...!!"
What? It was true.
"I cleaned up the dorm chaos after you passed out from letting your guard down."
"Ugh."
"You did nothing in the fairy territory incident, but I handled Jefrin's pollen too—and gave you all the credit."
"Urk."
"Go on. 'Thank you, big brother. Thanks to you, my reign will bring peace to the academy.' Bow deeply and say it."
"You...!! Killing you here will make it all go away!!"
With that, Eve drew a holy light spear from behind her back. That thing could actually kill me.
"Kidding. Just a joke."
"...Grr..."
Joke, joke. Why take it so seriously? Laugh it off. Haha. Don't glare. Hahaha.
"So, what did you really come for?"
"...Sigh. Fine. 【Area of Silence】"
"Wide-area sound barrier skill?"
"Yes. We're about to have a serious talk."
That skill was seriously dangerous. Mess up, and this could turn into a locked-room murder.
What to write as a dying message? Something guessable—reverse Eve's name to V? Aila might figure "V-Eve!"?
"...What twisted crap are you thinking? Listen up, it's serious."
"I'm listening. Go ahead."
"Frankly, you're in a really dangerous spot right now. You know that?"
"Let's hear the details."
"Alright. First off, I failed to seize full control of the student council, so I couldn't completely bury the sightings of you."
"..."
Eve continued.
Basically, rumors were spreading around that Wolfram von Loengrin was up to something shady.
No one had shown up at the store yet, but that was thanks to its geographically impregnable fortress location—untouchable by regular students.
This spot selection is dogshit. For real?
No, focus.
"So?"
"If I'd taken full control, I could've ignored those reports. But since I didn't, people are trying to prove their loyalty to me—and if that backfires, some psycho might go, 'I caught shady Wolfram red-handed!'"
"Oh."
Sound reasoning.
I nodded at Eve's deduction. Half-baked loyalty always pairs with madness.
"Honestly, I'd prefer you just return to the imperial family like this, but you wanna stay here for your own reasons... And... I res... res... "
Respect it? Hell no.
No, probably not.
"Finish your sentence. Why sound like a broken Maestro machine...?"
"I respect it!"
"Good girl. So?"
"...Sigh. Anyway. Even if I can't help with your plans, you shouldn't get skewered on some random spear, right? Not fun having a red line slashed over your name in the family registry."
"True enough."
"So, planning to be more careful from now on?"
"Nope."
Hiding and scraping by was an option, per Eve, but not my style.
I'd thought it through deeply.
My ultimate goal: make the convenience store thrive so Jefrin students couldn't live without it.
A store where flashing 0.5% VIP points triggers ten thousand impulse buys.
To do that, I had to go outside.
Ironically, succeeding inside Jefrin meant heading outside without fail.
Sourcing materials. Acquiring skills. Crafting goods.
I gazed at the low-grade hot pack that had warmed my back until yesterday.
Even this simple thing sold at the tuck shop in the original—but not in this reality.
"Knew you'd say that. Figures."
"Mm. I won't change how I live."
"Don't pose. Mr. Stamina 2 Nerd."
"Says the Magic Power 22 guy who flew after one hit from a grad student."
We laughed and flipped each other off again.
"Anyway, since you owe me, let's neutralize public opinion a bit."
"Public opinion?"
"Yes. We'll distribute your convenience store goods through the student council. Those buff snacks seem pretty useful."
"Why bother?"
"...Well."
She glanced at me, gauging if she should say it. Seemed like she was phrasing it carefully. Once sorted, she continued.
"We're heading out on an expedition soon. Heard there's a 'Black Flag' in the Sleeping Mountains."
"...Black Flag. Ah, yeah. I see."
Black Flag.
Expelled but hiding in the shadows.
Behind Knight Division Sector 4. True rulers of the black market.
The academy's festering black spot. Embodiment of delinquents.
Act 2 had Eve's common route expedition there.
Promote my goods, reshape their view of me, avoid death.
Smart, wise thinking.
Hm.
But a bit disappointing.
"So, off to subjugate them?"
"...Have to. If there's something needed for the expedition..."
"No, I'll go myself."
"Huh?"
"Meaning, can I join the expedition personally?"
"...Uh, um? What?"
"For opinion laundering, isn't it better if I show up myself?"
"...Eh, ehh?"
"You join the expedition with me, paint me as a good guy. That's the idea."
Eve bristled, puffing her cheeks.
"Me? Why?"
"You said you'd handle the laundering yourself?"
"...Huh? Oh, yeah? Wait, what?"
Somehow.
My household register mate was smart but a bit dumb.