Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Ways to Make Money (4)
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Just tapping a long-stemmed pipe once on an empty ammo crate, and real bullets came pouring out.
Like it was some magic money tree or something.
"...Is this a skill?"
Asking a superhuman about their talents or skills was about as rude as it got—practically taboo.
Of course, it wasn't against the law or anything, but in the superhuman world, it was an unwritten rule not to pry.
But I was too curious to hold back, especially after seeing her produce this many live rounds from an empty box.
How could anyone not ask?
Still, I'd been rude, so I glanced at her face to gauge her reaction.
"A skill? Oh, this?"
...Phew, she didn't seem too offended.
In fact, matching her laid-back vibe, she didn't seem to care at all.
"Yeah, it is. A skill."
The crafting instructor held out her palm.
A live round identical to the ones in the ammo crate appeared above it.
The way space warped slightly when it materialized suggested it was a subspace skill.
But... from what I knew, subspace skills—unlike magic—required using your hands to store or retrieve items.
You couldn't pull them out of a closed box like she'd done with the crate.
So... there was only one explanation.
The pipe she was holding wasn't ordinary—it was an item.
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, the instructor shook the pipe and confirmed it.
"And this? It's an item that assists my subspace skill."
Spot on.
"...? Wait, you look like you already knew."
"Ah, yeah. I figured it out when I saw you using the subspace skill..."
"...They called you top of the class for a reason. Got some real insight into crafting, huh?"
Her gaze shifted as she looked at me.
It was that greedy, sticky look—like a grad student recruiter spotting promising talent.
Too bad knowledge aside, I had zero crafting talent, so grad school wasn't in the cards.
Sure, you could grind out talent through sheer effort even without natural aptitude... but for me? Way too inefficient.
Anyway, once she realized I knew the pipe was an item, she slung an arm around my shoulder and pulled me close.
"So, do you know what magic's engraved on this pipe?"
"...Since you have a subspace skill, probably the 'Storage and Retrieval' enchantment."
"Ha! Smart cookie!"
She pinched my cheek like a proud teacher and shook me around.
But... could she maybe let go?
'This is getting awkward.'
From the moment she'd hooked her arm around mine, I'd felt the overwhelming mass pressing against me.
And now, with every shake, her massive crafting pouch was bouncing up and down, drawing my eyes there against my will.
Time dragged on in that short-yet-endless agony.
Finally, she smacked her lips regretfully and released me.
"Tch. Thought I'd found a sharp crafting club recruit for once, but no talent? Figures."
...Yeah, there was a reason for the shoulder hug.
Just like that Fallen worshipper who'd checked for alchemy talent.
The instructor had done the same to test me for crafting aptitude.
No regrets, though.
I'd felt the ocean of her generosity, and dodged the grad student path in crafting.
"Still, I like you."
She grinned, sticking the pipe in her mouth.
My heart skipped a beat at the sight.
"Can't join the crafting club, but you're welcome anytime if you're into guns and making stuff."
Thankfully, not an official invite.
I let out a silent sigh of relief and nodded.
"Sounds good to me."
And I meant it.
Normally, requesting items from the crafting club didn't mean instant service—like GOAT Baek Young-woo had said.
But her saying "anytime" meant she'd prioritize me, skipping the queue.
"Anyway, how many live rounds do you need?"
"How many you got?"
"...How many I got?"
My counter-question caught her off guard for a second.
But she quickly remembered I probably had subspace storage too and gave me the count.
"...Roughly this many. Think your subspace can hold 'em all?"
"Yeah, plenty of room."
More than plenty.
It'd barely make a dent.
My inventory was an abyss.
Unaware, she whistled in admiration.
"Higher grade than my subspace skill, huh?"
"Probably."
"Then this won't cut it. Want more?"
"Nah. This amount should last a while. I'll swing by next time for the rest."
"Cool. I'll prep 'em ahead. Grab 'em when you're here."
"Thanks. Seriously."
I bowed my head in gratitude.
"Don't thank me yet. This ain't free."
Oh. Right.
I came to buy them...
"What, thought it was a gift?"
"No, it's just... the vibe made it feel that way..."
I chuckled awkwardly, averting my eyes.
She laughed, clearly amused, and started lining up ammo crates on the floor.
Moments later.
Pistol rounds, rifle rounds, shotgun shells—crates of every type towered before me like a fortress.
The vast workshop suddenly felt cramped with the sheer volume. My lips twitched into a grin.
If she weren't here, I'd be laughing outright.
My heart was overflowing—borderline bliss overdose.
But that bliss was short-lived.
"Here. Take this."
"...This is."
She handed me a sheet of paper.
The bill.
"Deducted a few crates' worth."
"Oh, thanks."
"And hefty discount too."
I checked the invoice.
Student discount, top-rank discount, "I like you" discount? And more.
Lots of reductions applied.
Excited, I eyed the final total.
"...?"
Uh... is this right?
"Instructor, you sure about this price?"
"Huh? Why? Math wrong?"
She leaned in to check the paper in my hand.
"...? Looks fine to me."
No issues, apparently.
'No, really?'
This was the actual price?
"Ah."
That day.
I gained abundance.
And lost it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 80% of the cash I'd squeezed from the Fallen worshipper vanished.
But silver lining: the remaining 20% was enough to register copyrights at the alchemy workshop.
No choice—I had to.
Weapons ate cash like crazy. Time to register every potion recipe I knew and rake it in.
Sure, infinite items would end this grind... but until I hit the minimum for selective draws, I had to save my random tickets.
That's why I'd used the 'A-Grade Talent Selection' before heading to the workshop.
As the Fallen worshipper said, registering copyrights required alchemy talent.
⚔ TALENT ACQUIRED ⚔ 「Advanced Alchemist's Alchemy (A)」
An alchemy left behind by a renowned alchemist before their passing. • A-grade alchemy item crafting: Great success correction +10%.
• B-grade alchemy item crafting: Great success correction +30%. • C-grade or lower alchemy item crafting: Great success correction +50%. • Magic Power +5, Mental Strength +5 Like the 'Hero's Skill Management (B)' I'd gotten before, no derivative skills.
But that 'great success correction' in 'Advanced Alchemist's Alchemy (A)' was a godsend for any alchemist.
If they knew I had this, alchemists would try kidnapping me as an apprentice—or master.
Or lock me in a factory as a potion machine.
Luckily, ways to check others' talents in this world were rare.
And even if spotted, exact effects stayed hidden, so low risk.
Still... alchemists were mostly weirdos, so better safe.
Anyway, now I stood at the academy gate, waiting for a call.
From Kang Cheol-su.
Why? To leave campus.
Academy or not, this place was basically boot camp.
Weekdays—minus weekends—meant needing your instructor's pass for outings.
Kang Cheol-su was swamped with the Fallen worshipper mess, so no face-to-face.
Instead, the academy's science-magic smart watch handled remote approval.
Waiting at the main gate... why's the call taking forever?
The thought had barely finished when my smart watch rang. Kang Cheol-su.
...Speak of the devil.
Won't think out loud next time.
- Top student, pass approved. You're good to go.
"Thanks."
- See you tomorrow.
Call ended.
A message pinged on the watch: my pass.
"Got the pass."
Off to the alchemy workshop.
I bolted—er, hailed a passing taxi nearby.
Too far to run on my stamina.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Weeeeng!
Weeeeng!
🚨 DISASTER ALERT! 🚨 DISASTER OCCURRING! DISASTER OCCURRING!
"Kyaaah!"
"Rift! Run!"
"Help! Plea—!"
Ah.
This is bad.