Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Heat Stones and Refrigerators
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- Uu, what a shitty thread
- Who can sleep at this price?
- 100 Isekai Coins for one Heat Stone lololol
- Even Judak Market items aren't that pricey; what do you think you are?
Jusak Magic Tower had raised the Heat Stone price.
In response, the gallery erupted in heated cheers.
100 Isekai Coins sounded simple, but considering it was actually around 100,000 won, it was an absurd price hike.
"Might as well just burn money instead."
10,000 won per bath—at this rate, it was turning into a hobby only for the rich.
That's when the Judak Magic Tower Master hurriedly posted to address the firestorm.
[Title: This is Unfair]
Author: Ground Explosion Mage
(A meme of an empty warehouse)
First off, I did NOT just raise prices while holding back stock.
Heat Stones aren't a manufactured product to begin with.
They're byproducts left over from magic experiments, and even though our field guzzles materials, we're just one magic tower;
With all the major races buying them up, how are we supposed to supply everyone from our single tower?
- Sigh...
- Fair point, but...
- Still, figure it out somehow!
- Gimme Heat Stones, cheap!
ㄴ Ground Explosion Mage: Son of a bitch;
Supply was woefully short compared to demand.
Heat Stones were originally mana stones.
Stones that literally held mana.
After using them in magic experiments, the residual heat didn't fully dissipate, turning them into Heat Stones.
- Ground Explosion Mage, you're a bad person
- No price gouging!
But they couldn't just keep prices low either.
Magic towers were money pits by nature.
Was that entirely bad? Not really.
The more money a magic tower spent, the more it boosted the surrounding economy.
From Kellerton’s perspective, and for Jusak Magic Tower needing immediate revenue with high demand, there was no reason to lower prices.
"Can't rely on other magic towers either."
Not all magic used tons of mana stones.
Jusak Magic Tower was the one that pioneered and developed magitech, so it consumed unusually large amounts.
That's when curiosity struck me.
"Just what are they researching that guzzles so many mana stones?"
What even is magitech, you fanboy.
But who am I? The gallery admin.
No need to agonize—I went straight to Ground Explosion Mage.
Judak*: So what'd you make?
Magic tower research data usually isn't shared lightly.
I figured there might be no reply, but the response came almost immediately.
Ground Explosion Mage: This lol
(A meme of a mana stone-powered cart moving on its own)
(A meme of a rock turning into a golem after infusing a mana stone)
Cute, right? ㅠㅠㅠ Don't recommend against it nooooo
"Musk?"
How'd they make that?
Steampunk naturally came to mind.
A field where science and magic fused without rejecting each other, achieving harmony.
"Cheating?"
This was still the Middle Ages, especially in a magic-prioritizing place—where did science fit in?
Otherwise, they wouldn't spout nonsense like milk on wounds or cleanliness dirtying the soul.
Judak*: Wow, you're a genius? That's awesome
Ground Explosion Mage: Lol no. Compared to Lord Judak's magical enlightenment, I'm just a green kid
"Not for nothing do they burn through mana stones."
But anyway, why do they keep mistaking me for an archmage?
If I left it alone, the misunderstanding would only deepen.
So I set the record straight.
Judak*: No misunderstanding, I can't do magic
Not even the "ma" in magic
Ground Explosion Mage: Aw, so humble lol
Jusak Magic Tower is just an offshoot anyway
"Oh, no way?"
My eyes narrowed as I read Ground Explosion Mage's words.
No way magitech and Jusak Magic Tower were all...
Judak*: You saying offshoot means...
Ground Explosion Mage: It's all clumsily imitating Lord Judak's magic lol
Judak*: Ah
All those modern items I'd tossed into the market out of boredom to liven up the gallery.
Jusak Magic Tower was a group obsessed with those modern items and science, studying them as magic.
The problem? Modern items were pure science, without a trace of magic.
But believing it was magic and researching it...
Judak*: Wait, so magitech is...
Ground Explosion Mage: Exactly. It's what I presume to call Lord Judak Archmage's magic
Jusak Magic Tower was where mages gathered to study and learn science.
Targeting modern civilization they mistook for my magic.
But here's the thing—I'm a civilian to the bone.
"Dizzying."
Suddenly elevated to the essence of the magic tower and its master, I set the gallery aside and closed my eyes.
"So that's why Heat Stone production was high too."
Researching modern science as magic would require double the materials compared to real magic.
Since it wasn't magic to begin with.
But despite Jusak Magic Tower's efforts, the gallery was still struggling with Heat Stones.
Even with overflowing mana stones, usage limits were the issue.
"Then..."
A idea flashed in my mind.
Short on Heat Stones? Just keep consuming mana stones nonstop.
[New item stocked in Judak Market!]
[New item 'Refrigerator' registered.]
Time to release home appliances.
*
People can't live without refrigerators.
More precisely, once someone tastes a refrigerator, they can't go back.
In other words, a surefire mana stone sink existed.
- Man, I want meat
ㄴ Don't say it out loud, idiot!
- Gotta wait for it to hit the market
- Meat barely shows up on the market
- What meat? Just eat tuna
And right on cue, food preservation and shelf life were huge issues in this isekai.
Food was the biggest apocalypse problem.
No wonder they hunted magic beasts to eat.
So gallery users relied on the market.
- Fuck, tuna cans sold out again;
- I was in queue, this is ridiculous;
- Tip for getting tuna cans
ㄴ 1. Go into a back alley
ㄴ 2. Scream "Tuna can!" ← black market dealer appears, sells for 50 Isekai Coins each
ㄴ Son of a bitch, for real?
ㄴ Forget sketchy, it's insanely expensive lol
Tuna cans had massive demand, even spawning black market dealers.
Just like any other day, users anxiously awaited the market when...
[Refrigerators in stock!]
[2-Door Refrigerator] - 500 Mana Isekai Coins
An unfamiliar item appeared in the isekai.
The most common type, divided into fridge and freezer compartments.
But the food-preservation-obsessed gallery barely reacted.
- What's this?
- 500 Isekai Coins? Dude, you joking?
- For real, insanely pricey
- Refrigerator ← who's this guy?
ㄴ Is Refrigerator your friend?
ㄴ 500 Isekai Coins ain't my friend lol
The market had only stocked affordable items until now.
So a sudden 500 Isekai Coins felt awkward over exciting.
Of course, I'd never stocked pricey appliances before and had no plans to.
"Where do you even get electricity?"
Not like praying for lightning on rainy days— it'd just be a pretty tin can.
But not anymore.
[Notice: It's Me]
Author: Judak*
(A massive refrigerator meme)
(A "OMG gotta buy this!" meme with cat ears)
Everyone struggling with food preservation
Why aren't you buying refrigerators?
This is an absolute essential
It'll wipe away all your worries www
[Recommendations 9999+] [Against 132]
- Son of a bitch, a notice like this? lolol
- Thought it was bait cuz it looked unhinged, but author is Judak lololol
- Fact) We're used to it now
ㄴ Fact) True fact
- H-Honestly, the fridge price feels too high...
ㄴ Gallery bro, what are you saying?
ㄴ Only the gallery emperor speaks his mind
Despite my heartfelt notice, purchases didn't budge.
No need to worry or check sales though.
"They'll sell anyway."
I was dead certain.
No reason this fridge wouldn't sell.
And sure enough, with high prices and low stock, impulse buyers appeared.
Like...
[Admin Chatroom]
VampireEvenIfIDie: Judak
Judak*: Yeah
VampireEvenIfIDie: (A grand fridge in the corner of a lavish manor office meme)
VampireEvenIfIDie: How do you use this?
One of them was a suspicious rich flatfoot with deep pockets.
*
Total refrigerators listed in the market: 100 units.
Only 10 had sold so far.
Erzsebet was one of those ten.
"It looks weird."
Thud.
The fridge's first impression was odd.
Like a giant drawer, yet its exterior was needlessly artistic and beautiful.
Lines so stunning even Erzsebet, jaded by art, gasped in admiration.
And contrary to expectations of heaviness, light enough for one person to carry if determined.
What on earth was it for?
"Really weird."
She was staring it down when a reply came from Judak, whom she'd been waiting for.
Judak*: Try putting a mana stone inside the freezer compartment
VampireEvenIfIDie: Like this?
VampireEvenIfIDie: (Meme with mana stone placed)
Erzsebet followed Judak's instructions.
She was about to snap a meme and send it when...
Whirr. Vrrr.
"...!"
Light began leaking from the beautiful rectangle.
Followed by an inexplicable refreshing hum.
[Hello. Initiating operation.]
"?!?"
A calm, beautiful woman's voice emanated from the artwork.
Was someone inside?
Erzsebet looked everywhere, but there was no space for a person.
Her eyes widened hugely.
"This is Judak's archmagic...!"
Some called it magitech, others archmagic.
Erzsebet could only nod, feeling his magical prowess anew.
And this was just the beginning.
- Ding, ding ding.
[Please close the door for freezing.]
"...Sorry?"
Erzsebet added cola and tomato juice as Judak instructed.
Then she squatted in front of the fridge.
Judak said to wait at least an hour for effects.
Waiting? She was confident in that.
Tilting her head, she gazed at it—no, at her, the vessel of that archmagic.
"You're awfully bold."
No creature dared demand so brazenly before Erzsebet, lady of the ruined star Mariaqua.
"Not for nothing is it Judak's creation?"
Lost in deep thought alone, a new notification appeared.
Judak*: Should be good now, take it out and try
VampireEvenIfIDie: Okay
"Excuse me."
Ding.
The moment she opened the door and reached in.
"C-Cold!"
Erzsebet's mouth fell open.
Without knowing it used magic—how?!
But more shocking were the chilled cola and tomato juice!
"Delicious!"
The cola's carbonation was perfect, and the formerly bland tomato juice was perfection regained.
When she checked the gallery reaction in astonishment.
The gallery was reacting just like her.