Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Yusuf's Golden Seal
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As soon as Philip touched the box, a dignified voice echoed in his mind.
―…You who have reached this place. I shall test your qualities.
Having known it would be like this, Philip nodded.
"Ah, sure."
―Do you know what lies within this box?
"I do. It's Yusuf's Golden Seal."
―And what do you intend to achieve with it?
Philip answered shamelessly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I'll use it for my own selfish gain. To make money."
A brief silence followed.
―You pass. You possess the qualifications to become my successor. Had you spouted any of that noble nonsense, I would've incinerated your skull on the spot… Tch.
The voice's majesty vanished in an instant, replaced by the frivolous tone of an old man.
Philip chuckled and said,
"I'll make good use of it."
―Hah, whatever. Eat well.
As the voice faded, the box clicked open. Philip reached in and pulled out the golden brooch inside, holding it in his hand.
"Phew…."
That voice had belonged to the legendary tycoon and merchant magnate, Corin Yusuf himself.
Philip didn't know much about the man either—just that he was the sole mortal to have bested a dragon in a wager.
But he knew exactly how to use this brooch.
He'd invested at least a hundred hours figuring it out, after all.
Normally, touching the box brought up random choices. Picking altruistic ones like "to help someone" or "for world peace" led to instant death or dozens of curses so debilitating you'd wish you were dead.
'…I learned that the hard way, with my own body.'
Philip summoned Sword Aura and dug out the glowing stones embedded in the ceiling, stashing them in a separate pouch.
That part was easy, but the next step was the problem.
He had to deal with merchants who'd spent their lives swindling others.
'Yusuf's Golden Seal' was merely the means to an end. Philip's goal was to take it to the Yusuf Merchant Guild, meet the current head of the Yusuf family, and gain recognition as a special member.
Stepping outside, Philip gripped the brooch from the box.
The surface, engraved with a fire-breathing dragon, bore visible solder marks.
"Gotta pry this open."
Philip drew Neria and summoned Sword Aura once more.
―……I don't think that'll work. Mess it up, and you'll shred the whole brooch?
Neria was right. Bringing the flickering Sword Aura near the brooch, it seemed he'd need sheer luck to cut only the soldered part without ruining the unstable shape.
"Can't you stabilize Sword Aura or something?"
―That would make it Sword Beam! How are you even using Sword Aura in the first place? From what I've seen, you're great at brawls and mind games, but your swordsmanship is about on par with my sixth master?
"And what level is that?"
―…Talented but unlucky mercenary who never learned properly. You'd lose to anyone trained in high-level swordsmanship from childhood?
"So, you need advanced swordsmanship to use Sword Aura? I see it differently."
―What do you think, then?
"…Swordsmanship and magic power are separate. I can say that with confidence, Neria. The human body is made of matter, and magic power is non-material energy manipulated by will. Being good at swordsmanship doesn't mean you're good at handling magic power."
―I have no idea what you're talking about….
"Simply put, skill as a swordsman and the ability to wield magic power might complement each other, but they're not the same thing. I've felt it researching Moonlight Sword—get creative with your approach, and stuff like this becomes possible."
―What are you even saying?
Philip focused his mind and regulated his breathing, sensing the paths of magic power flowing through his body.
'…I can feel the magic power gathered in my dantian.'
Martial artists created a virtual space in their dantian to store magic power. The original Philip had done the same before the possession.
But now, it felt off to him.
Magic power was energy with inherent cohesion.
Without that, no amount of research or progress would allow accumulating it in the body.
Philip raised his right index finger. Magic power flowed along it, compressing into a form around the fingertip.
―…Wha… How did you do that?
Neria's shocked voice rang out.
"How? I just formed an aura on my finger."
―It works like that? And your finger! Is it okay?
Philip used the aura-clad finger to gnaw away at the brooch's solder marks as he replied.
"Of course it's fine."
―No way! Directly drawing aura from your body would burst your skin… Huh, it's really fine?
"I'm not drawing it directly—I'm just forming it around my finger."
―How the heck…?
"Ever heard of centrifugal and centripetal force?"
―No clue.
"I'll explain later. Alright, it's open."
Prying open the brooch revealed sand filling it. Pouring it out uncovered a ring inset with a navy gem.
Philip slipped the ring onto his left pinky and headed back to the shopping district.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The academy's shopping district wasn't great for profits.
Foot traffic was low, and it turned into a dead zone during breaks.
Still, the chance to rub shoulders with young nobles or renowned professors drew major guilds operating across the continent to set up branches there.
The Yusuf Merchant Guild was no exception.
They wielded influence even in inter-nation trade and were famous for doing only what turned a profit.
They didn't deal with regular customers at all, trading exclusively with storied families, magic towers, or groups like the Sword God Temple—a pan-national martial force.
'But with this ring, things change.'
Philip toyed with the 'Yusuf's Golden Seal' on his finger as he stood before the guild's building.
The branch, which had converted an entire prime plot in the district, was already open despite the early hour, with a guard at the entrance.
"Halt. Who are you?"
The guard carried a sword, not a spear or halberd. Philip sensed an unusual presence from him.
"Good morning."
"Yes, good morning. May I ask your business…?"
The guard returned the greeting awkwardly, noting Philip's noble appearance.
"Is the branch manager in?"
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No prior arrangement, but she'll probably cancel whatever she's doing to meet me. Tell her Philip Oswald has brought the Golden Seal."
"…Understood. Please wait a moment."
"Sure."
The guard hesitated briefly before opening the gate and relaying the message inside.
The Oswald Count family was a prestigious house with ties even to the royals.
'In the game, I'd have to wait forever. Nobility really does have its perks.'
The commoner protagonist struggled just to poke around the guild.
Even with the Golden Seal, the branch manager often refused meetings without high fame stats, making appointments impossible—and you couldn't even mention the seal.
"My apologies. I'll escort you myself."
Philip followed the guard into the building. Guild merchants they passed bowed politely.
"Please wait in the reception room. The branch manager will be with you shortly."
The guard showed Philip to the reception room, then stood rigidly by the open door.
Philip glanced around the opulently decorated room before sinking into a luxury leather sofa.
'…What is this.'
It was so comfortable he wondered what was stuffed inside—almost lulling him to sleep instantly.
He crossed his legs and waited. Minutes passed, but no branch manager appeared.
"How long do I have to wait?"
"Th-the branch manager is handling important business…."
The guard trailed off in panic. Philip smirked.
'Even after mentioning the Golden Seal, this is how they play it.'
Philip, well aware of the seal's significance to the guild, could read the branch manager's intentions clearly.
"Go tell her this: I'll wait three minutes from now. If she doesn't show, I'll take my business to another branch. She'll know what that means."
"B-but…."
A bead of cold sweat trickled down the stalwart guard's face. He knew how foul-tempered the branch manager was and dreaded the fallout.
"Two minutes fifty seconds left. Time's ticking."
"Y-yes, sir!"
The guard bolted. Exactly thirty seconds later, frantic footsteps pounded up the stairs, and a young beauty in a silk dress burst into the room.
Philip raised his hand casually, still seated with legs crossed.
"You're here?"
Lizriel Yusuf, branch manager of the Yusuf Merchant Guild in Previa, panted as she stared at Philip. Her sudden rush left sweat trickling over her exposed shoulders.
The ring with its navy gem gleamed on his raised hand.
Philip clicked his tongue sympathetically.
"Why bother sizing me up?"
Lizriel bit her lip. She was angry, humiliated—but something mattered more.
'…Damn delinquent.'
Lizriel sized up the handsome man before her.
Philip Oswald, infamous wastrel known even among nobles.
She'd heard the rumors: causing chaos at parties, assaulting his sister's maid, beating down heirs from other families.
'A no-future playboy shows up with the Golden Seal? Ridiculous.'
As the daughter of the guild's owner, Osley Yusuf, she knew of the 'Golden Seal'—a secret known only to direct bloodline.
The symbol of 'special membership,' unseen since the death of third-generation head Corin Yusuf.
'…No way that's real. How could this wastrel get it?'
Her mind raced.
Philip smirked inwardly as he watched her.
'That girl's brain's frozen solid.'
Of course, he knew who she was.
Lizriel Yusuf was the youngest direct descendant with succession rights, brimming with ambition and talent but lacking power and influence.
Pushing hard benefited him here—he held all the cards.
"Doesn't my request sound reasonable, Miss Yusuf? Am I asking too much? I just want the treatment I deserve."
"…Young master. Before I offer proper hospitality, may I examine the Golden Seal?"
The branch manager asked cautiously.
"Be my guest."
Philip infused magic power into the ring. The navy gem flared like a flashlight, projecting a blue dragon emblem on the wall.
The symbol of the guild's founder, Elion Yusuf—known only to direct descendants, impossible to fake.
A high-pitched hiccup followed.
"…Hic!"
"Satisfied now?"
Philip asked, and Lizriel nodded, face flushed with embarrassment.
"Y-yes… Hic! My apologies, hic, so much. Hic! Please forgive… Hic…."
She bowed deeply, shoulders jerking with hiccups. Philip nearly burst out laughing.
'She's cute.'
Lizriel was quite popular in the community. Other 'Yusufs' lacked humanity, remaining strictly business till the endgame.
But Lizriel warmed up with affinity: jokes, intimate skinship if she was the heroine, even frequent letters due to her tsundere streak.
Taking the Golden Seal elsewhere meant defeat in succession wars—exile to the great desert or northern front, or worse, death.
That's why, after mastering the route, Philip always brought it to her.
"…Go grab some water. We'll talk after."
"Y-yes… Hic!"
At Philip's suggestion, Lizriel hurried out.
From now on, she was fated to become Philip's benefactor.