Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Black Market
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Another big fight had come to an end.
Well, calling it a fight might be a stretch, but that's how stories wrap up neatly, right?
"..."
Once midterms were over, everyone just loosened up. The whole academy got a bit slack.
And it was inevitable. Exams had ended yesterday, and finals were still ages away.
There were classes in between, but Jefrin ran on a credit system. As long as you nailed the required courses and knocked out a few electives, advancing to the next year was no sweat.
As for me, I'd scored big on a mini-test in one class and aced Social Development and Magic last time. Unless I bombed finals completely, this semester would sail by smoothly.
"...No need to sweat tuition either."
With the cash I'd raked in from the student tournament and the... legitimate dealings with the student council—totally above board and righteous— I was flying high, like a tiger with wings.
Yeah. Right now, Wolfram was a full-on flying tiger.
Anyway, with all that money, what was I doing? Normalizing the convenience store.
If you're wondering what got smashed to need "normalizing," this place wasn't normal to begin with.
Wooden shelves. Dingy walls. Linoleum floors. I ripped it all out and started over.
I sourced materials with Handy Worker and roped in Partlashu. The little guy could use telekinesis, so we even redid the wallpaper from scratch.
Me, who'd worked sites and scarfed down burgers to stay fueled.
My directions plus Partlashu's labor? Perfect results.
I promised him three days off, and while he chilled, I crashed from muscle pain.
Muscle soreness felt like family now. If it showed up late, I'd worry more.
Once I shook it off and got up, I started stocking the shelves.
Fridge got cream buns and drinks. Shelves: low-grade potions and pitcher potions, arranged like I remembered. Plus toys from Handy Worker and pastries from Magical Patissier.
Of course, drinks from beans I'd grown in the potion garden too. It wasn't perfect, but damn close to a modern convenience store vibe.
"Hm."
Magical Patissier's skill level hit advanced. Max it out, and I'd unlock 8th-tier Shining Patissier.
Handy Worker and Potion Mastery both rose to intermediate too.
Now just need customers rolling in.
But regulars aside, this store still saw zero foot traffic.
"Maybe supply the zone 1 shops or sell distribution rights to Aila for profit."
No. Hell no.
I didn't open this place with weak resolve. I'm gonna be the king of convenience stores!
"Still, no customers is a problem worth pondering."
Hm. I stuck a straw in my mouth, sipped some smoothie, and sank back into thought.
How to draw in crowds? Focusing on that...
"...!!"
A roar echoed from afar.
"Sunbae! Sunbaeeee!"
"You again."
Damn it, you.
Just shut up and go work already.
Nefti wasn't in uniform but work clothes—super casual ones—and panting hard.
"Another job site?"
"Yeah! Student council outsourcing this time! Good daily pay, and they stick to quitting time sharp!"
"...Hm. Government contracts are like that. But they boot you if you slack on safety. Don't forget."
"...You know your stuff, sunbae."
"Hm."
Experience speaks, y'know.
"Anyway, they had me inspecting the cheering stands on student council orders!"
"Hm. And?"
Nefti leaned in, whispering.
"I think I found a massive payday. Like, one big score."
"..."
This pattern again.
Her eyes sparkled, voice thick with excitement.
"What, not some ancestor's treasure map this time? Actual treasure?"
"No way! Why say something dumb? If it was real, I'd have kept it to myself!"
"..."
Wanted to smack her, but held back. Fighting her means I lose.
"Fine. Spill it already."
"...Ehehe. That eager? Can't help it then. Ehehit."
"Go home. I make plenty without you."
"W-wait! Sunbae! For real. Huge score!"
"Then quit stalling and talk."
"Ahem. Yes, sir. You know the academy schedule, right? Post-mids, pre-finals, what's left is..."
"Sports festival and field trip."
"Spot on! Right, ex-student council president."
Ex? Whatever.
"Get to the point."
"Know about Jefrin's sports festival?"
"Magic division just funds it, knights duke it out in a festival brawl."
"Yup. Magic does the Grand Magic Festival next semester instead. Basically newbies and knights partying."
"Mages got cash and hate moving."
"Exactly. And what sets the sports fest apart is..."
"Outsiders allowed in for the duration."
"Bingo!"
Not bad thinking for Nefti.
"So, cash in then. When visitors spike."
"Yes! You've got stall experience, sunbae! Big haul! We're getting rich!"
"...Hm."
Not a bad idea.
Go big on outsiders at the sports fest.
Jefrin's sports festival post-mids.
In a way, it's a blessing rite.
Entrance-aptitude test-mini-test-mids hurdles.
Clear 'em, and few flunk out before finals.
Like selection weeding.
Unless Eve goes nuts and expels everyone—which she's handling better than expected—no mass dropouts.
So the festival celebrates new full academy members and lets parents see their kids' growth.
Truly.
"...Amusement park cotton candy's 7,000 rin. Add bear ears? 10,000."
"What's that?"
"Exists. So, stalls for profit?"
"Yes."
"What do you want? Info fee? Partnership? ...Nah, no capital."
"Ehen."
She beamed.
"Knew it. Supplies and stall rental from me. Split sales, plus hourly."
"...Mind reading a legend skill? When'd you get it, sunbae...?"
Tell me about it. Her greedy face screamed it.
But this intel was gold—way better than that dud map. Easy to cash in.
"Deal. Your terms. 20,000 rin hourly. I handle goods, you hawk to crowds. Complaints?"
Nefti dropped to one knee, offering her right hand.
"Loyalty. Devotion. Fidelity. On my conviction, I pledge eternal service as your vassal."
"Good. My knight. Knight of Conviction Nefti. Now, your first task. Refuse, deal's off."
"Command me, liege."
"Swear secrecy on your life first."
"My sword and heart are yours."
"Perfect. Hit the black market. Black robe incoming—wear it, mask up, hide fully."
"...Pardon?"
You heard me.
Follow along, kid.
Behind the 4th Knight Division dorms lurked the black market.
Every knight student knew, but not everyone visited.
Sophomores drilled it into freshmen: stay out, black market territory.
"...Th-this okay? It will be, right?"
"Fine. Just an underground bazaar."
"U-ugh... What if we get expelled?"
Nefti was spooked more than expected.
"Hm. Hard to get expelled."
"...Huh?"
"Know why it exists? How it runs?"
"N-not really."
"Listen up."
Jefrin goods only from 'approved shops' or consignments. But taxes and fees eat profits, so black market saves cash.
"First one in history was bazaar-like. Student council let it slide."
"...Just tax dodging?"
"At first. Issue's the black flag."
"...Expelled but stuck around. Shadows."
"Yup. Over a century old."
Expellees too ashamed for home chose death here over leaving, hiding in Jefrin's dark.
"Why no bust risk? If caught here...?"
"Nah. This market's sloppy yet sly."
"...Eh?"
"Follow."
To a zone 4 fruit stall run by a student.
"Whatcha buying?"
Enter the items.
From the Eve expedition: 'Black Market Pass', 'Secret Code Scroll'.
No need to speak. Wrote code on paper, flashed pass.
"...Enter. Know the rules?"
Nodded, slipped behind into alley. Two guards: warrior and mage.
Tough, venomous looks. Skilled vibe.
"Just browsing? 10,000 rin."
"..."
Another hut find shines: 'Black Flag Cadre Badge'.
They paled, bowed deep.
"Honored one graces us."
"What service for the cause?"
Pointed at our masks. Mage lady nodded.
"Who shall you be?"
Wrote 'Iron Wall' on paper. No words.
'Archrival' for the other side, handed over. She smiled, chanted.
"Duration two hours. Avoid vigorous motion."
"...Got it."
"...All for the cause."
"Black flag to the skies."
"Loyalty."
We nodded, left waiting room, entered black market.
Empty alleys led on.
Peeked in hand mirror: face fully Iron Wall Leon Vice.
Glanced back: healthier Eve stood there.
"Wha, huh? My voice... no. Eve-ssi voice?"
"Correct."
"I-Iron Wall sunbae? Huh?"
"Black market perk for black flag cadres."
"...Sunbae cadre?"
Nefti eyed me wary. I shook head.
"Picked up badge recently. Eve expedition."
"...Huh? Stole someone's? If caught..."
"No risk. I look the part."
"...???"
Nefti tilted head nonstop.
"Black flag doesn't log cadres. Barely horizontal ties. Cadres don't know each other."
"...For real?"
"80 years back, student council purge. One cadre spilled all. System flipped after."
"...How?"
"Don't cross flags."
"Huh?"
"Trust no one. Limited badges to strong ones. Badge proves cadre. Lose it? You're the idiot."
"...Duplicate and everyone's cadre?"
"Not that easy. Top cadre made exactly 20 with 4th-tier magic relics."
"Th-then..."
"Questions later. Here."
"Ah, alley end... Huh?"
Alley opened to explosive light.
Knight 4th zone end. Darkest underground. Black market.
"Cheap! Poison fruits 100 rin!"
"Hey customer! How far you scouting? I'll beat it!"
Game-like, but real deal: total flea market.
But Nefti's shock went deeper.
"This the black market. First time?"
"...Heh."
Fun part: faces peeking from black robes.
"Th-that's Aila sunbae? ...And huh, Eve-ssi? Wait, I'm Eve? Regina sunbae too?!"
"Told you. Unrecognizable."
8th-tier Fake Face/Voice on 'famous legit figures'.
Dozens of duplicates inside.
"Everyone masks as title holders. Might spot Knight of Conviction too."
"...R-right. Conviction face... Ehehe."
Goods. People. Identities. All fake. Maybe real.
Nefti stared, muttering.
"Iron Wall. Strong Sword. Black Crystal. Magic Merchant. Student Council President... Oh, real one. Knight of Conviction. Ehehehe."
"Fun, huh? Like a masquerade."
"But weird."
"...What?"
"Searched everywhere, no ex-student president face."
"..."
"...Pretty famous, no?"
"..."
Well.
Could be.
Gotta rub it in?