Chapter 1

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I remember leaving a comment on a completed novel saying it was so good and that I wished I could live in a world like that.

I even recall the author's reply, sweetly saying they hoped my wish would come true.

And just like that, without writing a 5,700-character rage comment, I got isekai'd into a romance fantasy novel.

Academy Love, So Wonderful!

The name of the rofan novel I was reincarnated into.

It's a hit where the heroine has fluffy sweet moments at the academy.

It ran for over 2,500 chapters, and the popularity was so huge that there was even a national petition for side stories.

And I possessed the secret shop owner in that rofan novel.

Complete with a status window, as a bonus.

Jackpot. See, speaking nicely really pays off.

In the original story, it was a deus ex machina secret shop only the protagonist could use.

But now I'm the owner of a shop stuffed with 21st-century goods—everything you could want and more!

I'll hook up the heroine with what she needs, sell the rest, and live luxuriously until I kick the bucket!

With that, I bolted to my shop near the Academy, just like it was described in the novel.

Academy Shopping District. In the back corner, a shop without a sign but stocked with everything imaginable.

Or at least, that's what it was supposed to be.

Where my shop should have been, there was just an empty lot—no building in sight.

"My... shop... is gone...?"

Why? The protagonist finds the secret shop early on, right?

During a walk on the first day at the Academy, they stumble upon it by chance... no way.

"Am I in the pre-story timeline?"

If it's before the main events, no shop makes sense.

So my priorities now: gather info and figure out my abilities.

Conveniently, while scouting the shopping district for a tavern, I spotted an inn.

I checked my pouch at my waist: a few golds and a few dozen silvers. More than enough for room and board.

Good thing I started with solid cash.

"Guess I'll book a room first..."

Shaking off regrets about my (nonexistent) shop, I headed to the inn with the sign reading Owl's Nest Inn.

-ding-a-ling~

The place was less "inn" and more luxury hotel—spacious and opulent.

Makes sense; it's for Academy noble students and their visitors.

Noble kids who lock eyes and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠can't shack up in the dorms swing by here.

With that clientele, anything subpar would flop hard.

"Checking in, sir?"

A middle-aged man in butler attire greeted me at the entrance.

"Yeah. Not sure how long, but what's the daily rate?"

"Our Owl's Nest Inn is 5 silvers per night. For long stays, 7+ days drops it to 4 silvers."

Pricey, as expected. A common laborer's daily wage is about 80 coppers.

"5 silvers, huh..."

"It's off-season before term starts, so it's cheap. Once classes begin, even 10 silvers wouldn't guarantee a room."

"Meals included?"

"Of course. Available 24/7. We can even room-service it."

Services justify the cost, I see.

"One week upfront, then. I'll let you know if I extend."

"Thank you, sir. Room 4 on the second floor."

"Oh, and room service dinner in an hour?"

"Right away. It's dinnertime, so we'll prepare the evening menu."

"Thanks."

Paid up and headed to my room.

"Bigger than my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠old bachelor pad..."

King-size bed, tub big enough for four. Worth every coin.

Flopped on the bed and fiddled with my status window.

Item variety expands with skill level, huh? Let's see what I can buy.

-Think of an item to check price and required level.

Seems most basics work.

I killed time imagining various things.

"Reasonable, but with caveats."

After testing limits, I figured out the purchase rules:

1. Level 1: Items costing under 50,000 won in reality.

2. Daily quantity limits per item. No bulk buys.

3. No raw materials except food ingredients.

4. Notifications for newly unlocked items.

5. Can't buy what I don't know about.

6. Prices scale to real-world equivalents.

500ml bottled water: 2 coppers. Shampoo: over 3 silvers.

No quantity limits, and I'd be printing money as a one-stop shop.

Now I get why only the protagonist could use the shop in the original. Flooding the market would've broken the story.

-knock knock

Room service, right on time.

"Evening meal room service as requested. Shall I set up?"

A woman in maid attire stood at the door with a cart.

The aroma was promising—worth the price.

"Come on in."

"Thank you."

She started plating: salad, soup, stir-fried mushrooms, steak.

Wedding feast level, not buffet.

"Pull the cord by the bed when done; we'll clear it."

"Hold on."

I stopped her as she turned to leave.

"Any way to get info on the Academy?"

"The Academy?"

"Yeah. My little sister's enrolling this year. As her big bro, I wanna pass on some tips."

Of course, no sister. Don't even know the family setup.

The if-side story where the protagonist dates Grid was postponed while the author rested.

"We have an Academy student working part-time here on break. Want me to ask her?"

Academy's on vacation. I'm a month or two early.

"Please. Tell her I'll pay for her time."

"Got it. Enjoy your meal."

Ate up after she left. Craving kimchi hit hard.

"If I want kimchi, just buy some, right?"

Bought a plate instantly: 20 coppers.

A rift tore in the air, and kimchi plate materialized on the table.

"Chinese-made, huh."

Would've scarfed Korean kimchi too. Whatever.

Munched happily with the familiar taste.

-knock knock knock

Finished eating, relaxing—another knock.

Opened to the staffer and a young woman. The Academy student, probably.

"Clearing dishes and brought the student as requested."

Money talks fast. Part-time during break screams commoner sweet gig.

"Thanks."

"Don't ask for personal info or anything inappropriate."

"Of course. Like I said, it's for my sister that age. No worries."

Guess some guests hit on staff. People gonna people.

"Hi! I'm Sylvia, second-year at the Academy."

"Nice to meet you, Sylvia. Name's Grid."

"Heard you need Academy info. Where to start?"

"First off, your daily rate?"

"Huh? Uh... 1 silver here."

"Call it overtime bonus: 2 silvers."

"Whoa! That much?! Thank you! I'll answer everything!"

Pay generously for max effort. Stingy bosses get lazy workers.

"My little sister's enrolling this year. Commoner, so she's worried about screwing up around nobles."

Don't care about classes. Need moneybags nobles craving expensive stuff.

"Ah~. Academy says no class discrimination, but kids are kids. I was super careful last year."

Sylvia nodded sympathetically and continued.

"Most are fine, but watch out for third-year swordsmanship major Leperi de Arno."

"Guy?"

"No, lady. You'll spot her from afar once enrolled—just remember the name."

"Mind sharing why?"

Not that I need to; the name rang a bell.

Leperi de Arno: third-year swordsmanship, early-story extra villain bullying the protagonist. Count's daughter, I think.

Reason probably...

"Don't tell anyone I said this?"

Nodded reassuringly, slid 1 silver across the table.

"Haha, thanks! Last year, Leperi-senpai's... size ballooned. Keeps people away."

Bingo. She even had a famous line.

'Even if I try, if the fat won't budge, it's the world's fault—not mine!'

Comments exploded with empathy across ages.

Not from slacking—free time all went to training.

But out-eating workouts? No wonder.

She held unbeatable records at the shopping district food fighter contest.

Perfect. You're my first customer.

Chatted another hour, sent Sylvia off.

Nothing else jackpot-worthy.

Could've cut it short, but didn't want suspicion for targeting Leperi info.

"Now, how to play this."

Got a prime customer who'll bite, and I know what she wants.

Merchant's dream setup.

Issue: approach and product.

No family name in status means Grid's a commoner.

Can't just barge into the mansion yelling, 'I'll slim your daughter down—buy my stuff!' Neck intact would be lucky.

Make them come to me. And one more thing.

Well... now what?