Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Ssum-Ssum Street Vendor (3)
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Convenience Store No. 2.
Suppose WR Branch No. 2 opens.
"No."
"Why not?! Weren't my sparkling eyes just now supposed to make you say yes?!"
Why, you ask?
Because I don't want to.
"Listen up, Nefti."
"Yes! I'm all ears, senpai!"
"First off, do you have the capital? Including key money, building rent, and modeling costs."
"...Uh."
"......"
"I'll earn it! Super hard!"
"Good. That's the right attitude."
I'm not so heartless as to crush a young person's dream of starting a business by earning money.
And the second issue.
"Alright, Nefti. Let's say you run a convenience store. Where would you get the building?"
"Obviously not here—the center of the First Knight Academy, right?"
Of course.
You're so wise.
Full marks in wisdom.
"Yeah, that makes sense. You're truly wise. Which is exactly why it won't work."
"...H-Huh? Why not?"
"Exactly."
"Wh-Why?"
I fell into thought.
Nefti takes all my management style and items.
And opens a convenience store in the First Knight Academy.
Of course, it'd sell like hotcakes. Monthly sales could hit eight figures, no sweat.
Then before long, Nefti comes to me in the Eighth Magic Academy, flipping me the bird.
'Your store's toast. This turf belongs to the Nefti clan now.'
"You icon of betrayal, beast of ruin..."
"Y-Yes?!"
"No, nothing. Anyway, I've never even considered opening a branch."
"I-Is that so."
Nefti visibly deflated.
"Why do you want to run a convenience store anyway?"
"...Well, truth be told. Um. You won't scold me for being disloyal, right?"
"Go ahead."
"Actually, in Jefrin... no, in the Loengrin Empire, the best way to climb up is graduating top of this academy."
I nodded, urging Nefti to continue.
"I might—assuming I keep these grades—start as a low-rank knight in the empire. Probably."
"Pay not enough?"
"N-No, it's not that. It's just... things are a bit tough lately. Lots of jealousy from all sides."
"Hm."
"Especially like that Garbage Trash girl you saw hating on me. ...Ahaha. It's not easy."
Garbage Trash?
I saw her? Some weirdo like that?
...Ah. The one who hated Nefti.
How's a person's name Garbage Trash?
"So?"
"Even though I'm working so hard, getting hated on... it's frustrating."
"Thinking you have to keep walking this path forever? That it?"
"Yes! Exactly! Isn't there some other thrill in life? Knighthood's cool and all, but... um..."
Somehow, I ended up doing high school career counseling.
"So why a convenience store?"
"...It sparkles so much!"
"Sparkles?"
"Yes! The snacks and treats you make, senpai! Drinks with all sorts of effects! Fun, exciting stuff no one's ever seen! Doesn't it make your heart race?!"
"Yeah, sure. Then let me ask you this: Is your conviction in the convenience store?"
"......"
Nefti froze.
"What is your conviction?"
"To protect my mom and family, my village, and ultimately, the smiling faces around me."
No hesitation as she spoke.
Chest puffed out, like it was the most natural thing.
Right.
That's how Nefti was in the main story too.
The most sincere about 'protection' in any party.
Once affinity rose, she could protect allies even in 'impossible' moments.
The greatest tank I trusted most.
Defense stats better than some tier-1 tanks in ways.
A girl who never lost her smile amid poverty, made protecting family and siblings her mission, and became our sturdy shield through Act 12.
But not now.
No monsters outside academy grounds, no battles.
Times have changed.
True, fewer places for her conviction to shine.
So I'll remind her.
"What is your conviction?"
"Being a shield for precious people."
"Why that dream?"
"...My father died protecting the village from a monster raid."
"So?"
"I came here to be a shield protecting someone too."
"......"
"My dream: the Shield of Conviction guarding from the lowest rung."
"Right. Remember your conviction again. You're not a knight of desire."
"Yes. Ehe. Right. ...Yeah, I forgot."
But she's struggling with money too.
Hm.
Nothing for it.
"If you're short on cash, tell me. As you see, I'm making decent money now."
"......Pardon?"
"Jobs aplenty. Good hourly pay. So... don't forget what you must do. Nefthelian."
"Yes. Thank you for hearing my whining, Wolfram von Loengrin senpai."
What.
"Listening to a junior's complaints is a senior's duty."
"...Ehe."
Student Council Room.
Eve von Loengrin took the documents from the Knight Academy rep and nodded.
"Sports day report."
"Yes. Good work. Any peculiarities?"
"...Well. Mana sickness incidents dropped compared to previous years, but there's an odd trend."
"Odd trend?"
"Mana sickness decreased around certain academy parents in specific areas, but no mana-sealing lamps there. Too coincidental for chance, but not major enough to worry."
"...Intriguing. Um... could you check where those folks shopped and their sales?"
"Pardon? Uh... let me see... mostly the stalls, wait... ah. No way."
"As expected. They bought potions from that guy's stall."
"Indeed. ...No lies in the report."
Eve glanced at the top-grade mana potion beside her and sighed softly.
Following that man's instructions to Siphia, drinking the top-grade mana potion had greatly eased her condition.
And not just that—the potions sold at the festival stall lived up to their claims.
"With this... rumors will spread in noble society, even a little, and they'll circle back..."
"Yes. Reach the academy students."
"......"
Right.
Parents exchange gifts, effects proven, rumors loop until Jefrin students hear, then approach Wolfram on parental orders.
"...A guardian wolf by his side is good, but if all the golden hands get involved, it'll be a hassle. What to do."
"But his fiancée's from Trista house, so maybe okay?"
"That's the problem. If Wolfram were alone, it'd end in a scramble for his mystery magic tools, salivating or whatever. But tied to Trista, one of the empire's top merchant houses... Siela won't sit idle?"
"......"
"You're dismissed. ...Sigh. Need to think alone."
"E-Excuse me."
Alone, Eve clutched her throbbing head.
"This'll be more exhausting than thought... especially if Siela doesn't stay quiet."
Siela. Trista.
The empire's two great merchant houses differ in focus.
Siela centers on distribution, luxury goods—'' trade.
Trista uses magic might for monster-infested mines, ore extraction, construction—'mining and building'.
Pure wealth and merchant ties favor Siela.
Yet Wolfram von Loengrin's items tempt Siela more. Clear territory invasion.
"And Wolfram von Loengrin is Aila Trista's fiancé. ...Trista could see inquiries as a declaration of war, Siela won't back down... especially that dangerous Regina Siela... argh, really! I said one year, he'd shut them all up, but that bloodline daddy's boy!!"
Eve slammed mana outward with a bang! Her anger shook the room, then faded.
"...Hoo. No choice. Best pretend no Trista ties for now. Like... make it seem Wolfram started a third force alone, muddy the waters..."
Eve's worries deepened.
And so the sports festival ended.
Made bank. Banked again.
But... strictly, nothing left.
After black market material costs, expedition with Eve, festival set sales, minus taxes—decent profit. But all dumped into next item's materials.
Can't I just hold wealth, live peacefully?
Foolish thought to discard.
Online or offline games. Same.
In games, money's like that.
Save 10 gold early, buy pricey mid-gear at mid-levels? Endgame weapons hit 10k, 100k gold.
Invest early in growth instead—hit end specs, run carries or craft, rake in cash.
So these light tens of millions of rin? Straight to materials. Textbook play!
"Hold for future bliss, hold and hold, all-in bets... that's life. My way."
Plus, path ahead clear.
"Handy Worker. Mix Beans. Potion crafting skill 3-combo success. Time for bigger... hm. What. Money's really in black smithing..."
"...Fram. Wolfram."
"......?"
Muttering away, a leisurely voice called from beside me.
Aila, casually sipping the energy potion I made. Long black hair, amethyst eyes...
"Oh right, Wolfram. Heard you cashed in big at the festival. Pretty good haul?"
"Hm. Decent."
"I see. As expected... hehe."
"But income's not the point."
"Huh?"
"Hitting my planned checkpoints matters more. ...Hm. Opened another advance route."
"......What'd you sell?"
"Fusion of basic potions anyone, any status, can drink anywhere."
"...You made that? Planning an army later?"
Dunno. Not into military.
"Wolfram exceeds my imagination, as always. Hm..."
"Speaking of, what was Magic Academy doing at the festival?"
"We paid, watched... just chilled. Most aren't into sports."
"...I see."
I stared at Aila.
Aila Trista in my memory—not a comrade, so no status visible.
Post-isekai, checked her stats: surprisingly fun results.
Stamina 15. 16 maybe?
Lower magic than Eve, but higher stamina. Solid strength too.
High stamina, strength, dexterity for a mage—fits battle mage, melee caster.
That's Aila Trista.
"Aila, must've been bored."
"Oh, you knew? Super bored."
"Figured."
"But won't be soon."
"Something fun brewing?"
"Oh, didn't know? The field trip."
"...Ah. Off-campus schedule."
"Yes. You and I are in the same group? Same destination."
"Really? ...Where to?"
"Where else? Trista house's Eden Territory, obviously!"
"..............What?"
Aila stretched, beaming.
"Get to see parents after ages. Hehe. Greet them, first outing in forever!"
"......What?"
"What's wrong, Wolfram?"
"...To your territory. With me?"
"Hehe. Yup!"
Aila grinned goofily my way.
"Home after so long! With Wolfram, hehe. Long time for you too, right?"
"......"
One hundred percent.
She has no idea what she's saying.