Connections Are a Merchant's Wealth - 3
"Please wear this visitor's pass."
"Sure."
It was a luxury apartment. The kind where you had to go through several security checks just to get inside—impregnable safety guaranteed. And in one of these units, my 'customer' was waiting for me.
"Pardon the intrusion."
"Come on in. Have some tea first..."
Aromatic tea and what looked like expensive cookies welcomed me. The house was impeccably clean, and inside sat a refined, elegant lady.
"H-Hello..."
There was also a boy who seemed a bit intimidated—probably an Academy cadet.
After lightly enjoying the tea, I got straight to business.
"Shall we start by trying out the item?"
"I-Is that okay? It's a gun, after all—"
"It's basically a toy. No danger at all. It just acts like a gun in special situations."
"R-Right. Sorry. I've never bought an artifact personally before."
"No worries."
I pulled out a Gremlin Pistol and set it on the table.
"Th-This is it? It's a bit—"
Doubt flickered in the lady's eyes as she looked at the pistol.
"Crude, right?"
"Yes..."
Anyone with a normal sense of aesthetics would feel negative about a Gremlin Pistol. It was only natural. This thing really was crude and lacking.
"You'll understand its true value once you try it."
"Here? It's indoors, so things might break—"
"It's fine. I brought a simple target."
I set up the target I'd bought from an online mall yesterday in the living room.
"Wh-What if it misses? My husband would be furious."
"As long as you keep your eyes open, aim at the target, and shoot from this distance, it won't miss."
I handed the loaded gun to the boy with full confidence.
"Want to give it a shot?"
"I-I'm really bad with guns. I've only shot BBs at amusement parks sometimes—"
"It's okay. Trust me."
"Okay..."
He gripped the pistol with trembling eyes.
"Spread your legs, hold with both hands, push forward, shift your weight slightly ahead... Perfect. Just like that—shoot."
I explained the pistol stance I'd roughly seen online. It wasn't anything special, and I didn't even know if it was truly perfect. Didn't matter. It'd hit anyway.
"F-Firing!"
Bang! The bullet hit the target dead center. A perfect 10.
"Perfect. Keep going just like that."
He fired shot after shot without pause. Not a single miss.
'Well, once you take a proper stance and pull the trigger, it's way more polite than a Gremlin—and missing is actually really hard.'
A Gremlin Pistol might not hurt even if it hit, but missing? That was the real challenge. This was a big, nice apartment, but a living room was still a living room. No way it'd miss at this range.
"M-Mom! This is real. It feels like... it always hits. We gotta buy it. No way..."
The boy gaped at the target, then turned to persuade his mother.
"R-Really?"
"Totally! With this, I'll pass the exam. No failing possible! It's guaranteed!"
The lady nodded, looking flustered.
"Um, how much is it?"
"One million won."
"An artifact for a million?"
The expected question.
"This gun is consumable. It could break anytime."
"Y-Yeah, it looks that way."
"We'll check for initial defects right here. But it could break anytime."
"What if it breaks during the exam?"
"Just bring a bunch of them."
Artifacts breaking was a scary risk, but at a million won each, it wasn't weird.
"So, how many should we buy?"
"Depends on personal choice. But Academy exams aren't that easy."
"They're not?"
"You'll need more practice. And practicing with these is most effective, but... practice guns break too."
I gave an awkward, regretful smile.
"Ammo's separate, and these special bullets are pricey. Ten thousand won per shot."
"Hmm... Can we buy more later?"
"As long as stock's left, anytime."
Leave room for future buys, but plant the anxiety: 'Don't buy now, and you might be screwed in a pinch.'
The lady nodded slowly.
"Twenty million won, lump sum. Fifteen guns, five hundred bullets. Card okay?"
"Bank transfer's fine."
"Got it."
In an instant, twenty million hit my account. Roje gets four, the supplier two—but even after, it was solid profit.
"Thank you for your business. Oh, and before the exam, don't forget to enchant the bullets with blessings or attributes."
"Yes. Thank you so much. Such a valuable item at this price..."
"No problem."
She beamed like she'd scored an incredible deal. If she thought that, great for me.
"An Roje, come out!"
At Yuha's loud voice, Roje couldn't help but frown.
"What brings you here? I already apologized for that."
"Not that! Why are you lying to everyone? Tell me!"
"Not sure what lie you're talking about."
"Playing innocent? The toy pistol from my oppa... You're selling it, right? Deny it!"
Roje sighed deeply.
"That's not a lie. Sorry for using your name... but it was business. Can't be helped, right?"
"What're you saying?"
"I just make the connection. The one actually selling? Your 'oppa'—Isu."
"Wh-What...?"
Yuha collapsed, looking lost.
"The pistol for me... just for me... it wasn't?"
"Guess not."
"L-Liar..."
"Maybe grow up a bit? Should Isu waste that precious item on you?"
"No, but—not that—"
"Then don't block your 'oppa's' path. Just stay out of it."
"N-No way, oppa wouldn't... sob..."
Yuha burst into tears.
"Too bad. Can't be helped. Accept it. At least you didn't get expelled."
"...I'll ask oppa. If it's a lie. If you really—"
"Go ahead, ask."
Roje smirked victoriously and shooed Yuha away.
But once Yuha left, Roje's face turned serious.
'Info leaked. Oh well.'
She'd asked buyers to keep it secret. But with so many, eternal secrecy was impossible. Even friendless Yuha hearing? Not surprising.
'Why's it selling so well, anyway...'
Yuha's expulsion exam was recent. Next one's in a month. Typically 1-3 expulsions per exam. Figuring 10 at risk, she thought 10 sales, then wait.
'But...'
Buyers kept growing. People approaching her first. Over ten sold, twenty reservations left.
'Why do they want it so bad?'
Roje didn't know, but reasons abounded.
Expulsions used absolute evaluation. But anxiety didn't fade easily.
If a 'likely expel' kid dodged via 'special method' rumors, those one or two ranks safer got scared: 'If he survives, I'm next.'
Terror spread, boosting demand.
Plus, opportunists: Diligent kids hating expulsion risk, lacking confidence, booking anyway: 'This guarantees safety.'
Even unrelated students eyed it: 'Artifact for a million? Why not?'
Academy kids were rich. Millions on toys? Not excessive.
Complex motives drove attempts to buy Isu's Gremlin Pistols.
Parent communities buzzed with rumors; savvy ones booked: 'Everyone's buying.'
'Why...'
"I'm dying..."
Stock shortage.
That day after talking to Roje, I'd asked Lisa for 'good-condition Gremlin Pistols and ammo.'
But shockingly, supply lagged. Sales were that hot.
'Hire help?'
Me hustling personally meant no days off, overwork. Double sales days, sweaty deals with picky parents.
"Well, big money... worth it?"
Skipped gathering. Even high earnings there paled vs. my sales.
More imports boosted 'trade performance.' Now trades every 5 days, not 7.
"Today's... last one. Finish quick, rest."
Most visits: apartments, mansions. This? Ordinary. Lived-in house, sketchy neighborhood.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Rang the bell. Girl's voice from intercom: savory tone.
"Yes? Didn't order food."
"Not that. Here to sell. Is your mom home?"
"Mom's not here."
"Then call her—salesman here?"
"Won't buy weird stuff."
"Already contacted."
"Mom passed away. Go."
Short talk dripped tragedy.
'Wrong house?'
Address matched text. About to call customer—door flew open.
"Aigoo... Sorry, sir. Come in."
"...Okay."
Not mom—grandma. I entered cautiously.
"Grandma, what? Don't let strangers in. No weird buys! Mister, leave."
"Not weird. Siwoo's mom said—he sells precious exam-passing stuff."
"Siwoo's mom? Why?"
"That... for magic students, perfect exam item."
"Even if true, we can't afford—"
I tilted my head.
'Academy student? This house? Why...'
"Sorry, mister. Leave. Don't know what grandma said—we can't buy."
The long-haired girl looked defeated, ushering me out.
"No, no. Grandma saved money. Here, this drawer—"
Grandma fetched a chest from under the bed.
"Ten million won. Really, scraped every penny—"
The old woman's weary eyes met mine.
"Th-That toy gun. Can my baby buy too?"
I bit my lip, glancing between the money and her face.
'This'll be tough...'
Wasn't going to be easy.