Bargain of the Golden Ginseng

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Freshman: Johan 14

If I just said I'd harvested golden ginseng out of nowhere with no trace, she'd suspect something. Golden ginseng was a spiritual herb that Bernehardt Line, the booze-loving instructor, hunted for with fire in her eyes.

On her days off, she'd probably scour the sanctuary anyway looking for it. No doubt she'd grill me on where I found it.

I dug up the ground nearby just enough to make it look plausible. It was close to the walking path, but as they say, it's darkest under the lamp.

Of course, I had no intention of telling Bernehardt about the sanctuary. Our trust wasn't built enough to hand over intel like that.

Besides, giving it away would mean losing one of my edges. I wouldn't relinquish control until I had her firmly under my thumb.

She arrived in under five minutes. Her eyes locked on the golden ginseng in my hand before even glancing at me. She looked like a middle-aged guy scouting aphrodisiacs.

"Mind if I take a look at that flower?"

"No problem at all. Here."

I handed her one of the roots I'd dug up. Bernehardt examined it with gleaming eyes. She had the eye to appraise its value, no question.

Golden ginseng's quality was determined by the flower's shape and the root's size. Anything from the sanctuary was top-tier without debate.

The flower's hue was a vivid molten gold, just like its name, and the root was so massive it wouldn't fit in two hands. Its shape even resembled a fetus. I could sell it on the spot for tens of millions of kant easy.

Of course, I wasn't hurting for cash, so no plans to sell. Rare stuff like this doesn't move fast anyway. Bernehardt, the lush, wouldn't sell it either.

Bernehardt's hand trembled as she gripped the golden ginseng. A rare fog of greed clouded her eyes, which usually held a consistent air of asceticism. Her bronze-glowing body was reacting to the golden elixir.

"Wh-where did you find this?"

"Right here. Stumbled on it while hunting blood hornets."

I pointed to the spot I'd dug up. It wasn't far from the path at all—just hidden by ankle-high weeds unless you looked closely. Naturally, there'd been no golden ginseng here originally.

"My god! So close to the path and I never knew. Talk about a blind spot for buried treasure."

"Is it that valuable?"

"Of course it is... er, no. Ahem! Just a pretty flower, that's all."

Bernehardt cleared her throat awkwardly. She was terrible at lying. True to her appearance, she was the incarnation of honesty.

In every way, she suited the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠teaching profession perfectly. That beauty, that ass too. Wonder if she's weak in the anal department, like a proper teacher?

No mention of that in the original story. Gotta check for myself.

I wanted to confirm it ASAP.

"It's a type of elixir, but it has almost no effect on humans."

She wasn't lying. But for special races like plant folk, it was potent. Plus the rumor it boosted virility made it priceless among heart demons—name your price.

"Oho. Still, an elixir's gotta be worth some coin."

I poked at her deliberately, curious how she'd react.

"Ahem! You thinking of selling it to me? Say, 100,000 kant."

Offering 100,000 kant for golden ginseng that could fetch tens of millions per root? What a thief.

Bernehardt averted her eyes, clearly pricked by her conscience. She even tried whistling poorly—like someone sweating bullets over getting caught in a lie.

Better play along here.

Plant a debt in her heart. I had no real use for it anyway. Sure, it'd fetch cash, but her favor mattered more right now. If I could buy her affection with money, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

"For real? Whoa! Score! Thanks a ton."

"Thank me... no. Ahem! I'll pay cash when we get back."

She carefully placed the golden ginseng in a glass vial. The guilt of scamming me melted away like cotton candy in water once she had it in hand. Fine by me—this was the foundation of our relationship.

We left the forest right away. Volunteering today shaved 5 demerit points. But etching that debt into Bernehardt's mind was the real win.

A month had passed since enrolling at the academy. The chaos from orientation was gone. Order was fully established even among the freshmen.

The lines between nobles, commoners, and slaves had hardened. Even in class, students naturally formed cliques. Slaves scrambling to climb ranks aside, mobility between classes was nonexistent.

I'd naturally become the academy's loner. Even in my dorm, only my roommate spoke to me. Oracle Dorm had that lone-wolf vibe anyway.

A fair number of girls showed interest in me. But none approached recklessly—thanks to my image.

Early semester, I'd beaten down countless challengers, racking up nearly 50 demerit points. I was the class's top delinquent.

My slave status was another barrier. Associating with one meant dropping your own rank.

So I existed in a delicate isolation—no interference from others, no mingling either.

At least my shining looks softened it. Without this face, I'd face brutal bullying out of sight.

Some slaves already did. Stolen dorm items, post-class lynchings by nobles or commoners.

This class disparity was the academy's chronic illness. It had existed forever, and no one stepped up to fix it.

I had no urge to roll up my sleeves for justice. My own nose was too stuffy.

I'd mastered Mana Sword, a new branch skill from Sword Mastery. Fruits of swordsmanship class.

Mana Sword literally coated the blade in mana. Efficiency wasn't great. Honestly, just use a lightsaber.

But this world's Johan couldn't cast spells at all—he was a pure swordsman. Flaunting a lightsaber would draw suspicion. So I diligently practiced Mana Sword.

After selling the golden ginseng to Bernehardt, her attitude toward me flipped. No surprise—she'd ripped me off on a tens-of-millions-kant elixir. From her own student, no less.

"Ahem. Any questions? Ask freely if you're stuck."

"Your form's off. I'll check it personally if you have time."

I got private tutoring-level care. Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just class time—her guidance anytime.

She seemed to be paying off the golden ginseng debt through lessons. I'd prefer payment in that alluring body.

Anyway, her tutoring shot my skills skyward. But more importantly, our intimacy soared. Weekends, I'd drop by her place without hesitation.

Bernehardt was single. Never dated. In her youth, swordsmanship trumped all. Now, scarred body had her half-resigned to spinsterhood.

Today, I visited her place again. Nearly every day for the past two weeks. Started as excuses about tricky parts, but now? No need.

Staff housing dotted the academy. Hers was near the undergrad campus—a red-roofed house in a quiet row.

"Come on in."

She brewed coffee as always. Even home, sports bra and leggings. Her closet was basically that.

No fashion sense, indifferent to clothes/food/shelter. Fridge empty save booze. I'd snuck a few bras and leggings—she never noticed. Probably not till she ran out.

Sipping coffee, I eyed the glass case of liquors. Booze was one of her rare hobbies, alongside swordplay.

Her prized shelf held recent additions: aged noble phoenix brew, fruit and herb wines galore. Golden ginseng liquor too. She'd age that one long.

"What's the best one?"

She chuckled at my question about the case.

"Each has its flavor—hard to pick a favorite."

"Any rec for me?"

"No booze for students."

No drinking rule in the code. Pure moral stance. But my gaze stuck to the case.

"Too bad. Kinda wanna try ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠some."

"Plenty after graduation."

"For real?"

"Yeah. I'm not stingy with pupils."

Says the one who scammed me on golden ginseng. Though I knew and took the L.

I finished my coffee and stood. The bitterness lingered—wanted to rinse it. Her saliva seemed perfect... but pushing now would backfire.

"You promised."

"Naturally. I'm no teacher to break promises with students."

Her cheeks flushed faintly as she spoke.

Heh! She's already conscious of me. Faster than expected.

Conquest of Bernehardt was smooth sailing. Maybe claim her virginity in a month. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Can't wait.

Scarlett-senpai's lagging. Wanna lock in a date, but...

Secretary duties kept her swamped. She was the student council's sole competent exec—endless workload.

About time for that incident? Axelro, you're finally done for.

I thought of the academy's first scandal. The one where my roommate Axelro dies.