Episode 770
Episode 770
'I'll think about it again later.'
After tightly wrapping the Black Book and sealing it at the bottom of his bag (though it vibrated defiantly, as if to say this was pointless), Lee Han headed toward Black Rock Hall.
Ogoldos, whom he hadn't seen in a while, waved at him cheerfully upon spotting him.
"Wardanaz. Good to see you."
"It's been a while, Senior. You look tired—did something happen?"
"Nothing major. Just been thinking about marketable Black Magic items."
"!"
Ogoldos had dark circles under his eyes, likely from staying up all night pondering.
After hesitating over whether or not to say it, he finally spoke.
"Wardanaz. I respect your intentions, but..."
"?"
"Black Magic just doesn't make money. Don't push yourself needlessly."
"......"
Lee Han was baffled by his senior's 'encouragement' right from the start.
"Shouldn't we at least try before giving up?"
"Sometimes, you don't need to try to know. Like which direction the sun rises, or how wicked the Headmaster is... Black Magic seems like it'll stay the same."
With that, Ogoldos entered Black Rock Hall. His slumped shoulders looked unusually narrow and frail from behind.
Cough. "Young Wardanaz."
This time, it was Professor Mortum who approached. Lee Han bowed politely.
"Good day, Professor. Thank you for granting my request."
"Request, you say..."
Professor Mortum fell into thought.
The student before him had petitioned to gather not just the seniors of the Black Magic school but even the professors to discuss magic.
Though the professor had intended to refuse out of exhaustion and annoyance, the student had persisted in his persuasion.
—If you keep refusing, Professor, I'll send a complaint to the Headmaster!
Cough. "Can you really call that a request?"
"Huh?"
"Never mind. It's nothing."
Diret had only started threatening Professor Mortum around his fourth year, yet this Wardanaz boy was already learning to intimidate professors in his second year.
A sudden chill ran down Professor Mortum's spine.
Could it be... that he was raising a dragon's spawn?
"Ahem. Young Wardanaz."
"Yes, Professor."
"I respect your intentions, but Black Magic just doesn't make money. Don't push yourself needlessly."
"......"
As Professor Mortum turned and walked back into Black Rock Hall, Lee Han was left speechless.
What kind of encouragement was this from the very start...?!
In truth, the Einrogard Black Magic School hadn't been entirely idle in their attempts to secure financial stability.
Flesh Golem
- Attempted to sell at 30% cheaper than Einrogard's existing golems.
- Initially sold five units, but complaints arose due to foul odor and grotesque appearance.
- Eventually discontinued due to insufficient sales.
Skeleton Legion
- Made contracts with undead and ordered them to assist buyers.
- Unlike Black Mages, ordinary mages found the undead repulsive, leading to rebellion.
- Compensated buyers and discontinued.
Ahrack's Deadly Poison Series
- Produced and attempted to sell Ahrack's potent poisons with diverse effects.
- Most successful attempt, but buyers complained about exorbitant prices.
- Eventually discontinued due to low sales...
Most attempts from the Black Magic department either failed because the products were grotesque and foul-smelling or because they were too expensive.
Agdung eagerly presented his prepared proposal.
"In my opinion, stronger, high-level Black Magic could be the key to sales. Unlike outsiders, Einrogard students can implement most things themselves. We need to sell something more powerful and rare."
"Oh..."
"What I've researched is <Ahrack's Ultramarine Poison>. This poison is bound to be popular among mages. Just think of its potency!"
The students' expressions perked up at the words of the senior from Kallarogard.
Indeed, befitting the reputation of Ahrag—a black mage from the Empire's past who was renowned for his poisons—the Ahrack's Deadly Poison Series had maintained decent popularity even among Einrogard students.
And if they were to produce and sell <Ahrack's Ultramarine Poison>, which was always mentioned among the most potent in the series...
"Honestly, we couldn't make the ultramarine poison last time due to material shortages, so if we manage to produce it now, the results might be different."
"This one might actually sell well..."
Cough. "Wrong."
Professor Mortum cut in.
At his words, Agdung flinched slightly and asked again, bewildered.
"Wrong, sir?"
"It just wasn't recorded, but we did try making and selling the ultramarine poison back then. Cough. The materials were so costly that we tried securing buyers first."
"Really? How many came forward?"
"Zero."
"...How many, sir?"
Cough. "Zero. You lot are deluding yourselves. You fools! No matter how impressive a poison's performance is, only black mages will appreciate it... Other students won't buy it simply because it's too expensive."
The Black Magic students had assumed that if they made a better poison, others would recognize its value. But in reality, most ordinary students couldn't fully grasp the difference between one poison and another, or how remarkable they truly were.
They might buy it once out of curiosity, but even that interest would vanish if the price went up.
"Why wasn't it recorded?!"
Cough. "Too embarrassing, so they left it out."
"B-but... maybe things are a little different now..."
Even as he said this, Agdung's voice trembled slightly, as if he wasn't entirely confident.
"It's fine, Senior. The problem lies with those who don't recognize a good poison!"
"Exactly! Selling ultramarine poison at this price, and these brats don't even know how to be grateful!"
The Black Magic students grumbled in frustration while cheering Agdung on.
Touched by the encouragement from his juniors in the magic academy, Agdung choked up.
"Th-thank you, everyone. Honestly, I... I thought that since even <Contaminated Being Cloaks> sold well, the students at Einrogard must all understand the greatness of Black Magic, even if they aren't from our department."
"That sold?!"
Professor Mortum, who had been coughing, suddenly exclaimed in shock. Selling <Contaminated Being Cloaks>?
That was even more surprising than finding a Black Magic item that could sell well.
Cough. "How in the world?!"
"Lee Han sold them, Professor."
"Gainando too. Cough. You can't just say you sold them if you threatened people..."
"......"
Lee Han gave Professor Mortum a disbelieving look before speaking.
"It wasn't coercion. They were sold properly."
"Really? How?"
"There was a Contaminated Being outbreak on the 7th floor..."
Lee Han briefly explained the situation.
Of course, he omitted the part about the swarm of Contaminated Beings coincidentally appearing.
After hearing the explanation, Professor Mortum was impressed.
Cough. "Remarkable! You took advantage of the situation. But it's a bit odd. They could've used magic themselves, so why... were there so many Contaminated Beings?"
"...Good question. It's strange, isn't it?"
"Regardless, well done, Wardanaz."
Professor Mortum's praise was genuine. He had suspected they'd forced sales through intimidation, but this level of cleverness deserved recognition.
Perhaps this young genius might actually come up with something ingenious.
Cough. "So... what have you prepared?"
"Hmm. What I've thought of is a defensive item."
Lee Han pulled out a newly learned spell from the Black Book. A 3rd Circle Magic, <Gonadaltes's Black Magic Cloak>.
Though a Black Magic spell, it carried strong elements of Enchantment Magic—a spell meant for crafting artifacts.
Its completed effect was to defend and protect against undead, poison, curses, and other Black Magic elements.
'This is truly a stable and useful artifact.'
Though Lee Han had suspected the Black Book of plotting assassination, even he had to acknowledge the practicality of this spell.
As Lee Han wandered around Einrogard, he realized there were surprisingly many occasions to encounter undead, curses, or poison.
A cloak that could provide stable defense against such elements...
Even students who had little interest in Black Magic might find it appealing.
"Cough. Is that all?"
"Wardanaz. This seems... a bit too plain."
Not only Professor Mortum but even Agdung and Ogoldos looked slightly bewildered as they stared at Lee Han.
This was far too plain!
"Huh? That's all there is."
"Isn't it too boring? Do you really think students will buy this?"
"An artifact doesn't necessarily have to be entertaining, does it? I believe a safe and stable artifact like this will sell well..."
As an avid reader of the economy section in the Imperial Newspaper, Lee Han was somewhat confident, but the lukewarm reactions from the Black Magic seniors made him waver slightly.
Had he missed something?
"I get it now!"
Ogoldos exclaimed as if he had figured it out.
"Wardanaz plans to spread poison all over the school before selling these cloaks! There's no other explanation!"
"Indeed. Cough. Along with curses and undead?"
Professor Mortum finally looked somewhat convinced. Lee Han responded firmly.
"I never considered that."
"Cough. You didn't??"
"Wardanaz. Then this seems a bit risky..."
'Is it really that dangerous??'
While Lee Han pondered, Agdung stepped in to support him.
"Wait, Professor. Trial and error is a mage's right. You shouldn't discourage him before he even tries."
"Cough. That's true. Since it's Wardanaz's reagent, there's no harm in letting him try as he wishes."
Professor Mortum somewhat agreed with Agdung's words.
There was no reason to stop someone from experimenting with their own materials. Mages were meant to learn through mistakes.
"Cough. Then, shall we move to the workshop and watch Wardanaz work?"
Ogoldos whispered discreetly to Lee Han.
"Wardanaz. Don't be too disappointed if it doesn't sell. Even my <Bone Infused with Al-Azif's Curse> didn't sell at all."
'That one was obviously unsellable from the start.'
"......"
"......"
Having started selling the first batch at the 7th-floor market, Lee Han made a resolution.
Never again would he take economic advice from Black Magic school mages!
"H-how did this sell out?!"
"Why would something this plain sell?!"
'How pathetic of me to waver.'
Lee Han glared at the shocked seniors with disdain.
Just because they found it plain by their standards, they assumed it wouldn't sell.
Surprisingly, the <Gonadaltes's Black Magic Cloak> (sold under the name <Black Magic School's Defense Cloak>) sold out instantly in the 7th-floor market.
"The defensive magic isn't that strong, is it? It wouldn't hold up against a high-tier undead."
"Same with poison. This thing has its limits in blocking—"
"Seniors."
Lee Han spoke up seriously, seizing the chance to refute their earlier criticisms.
"I may be inferior to you in magical skill, but..."
"?"
Agdung looked puzzled but waited without interrupting.
"I know a bit more about what sells and what doesn't. It's not just about Black Magic that only you experts appreciate—moderate, convenient items sell better."
"Th-that..."
"Such a plain item..."
Agdung and Ogoldos wore expressions of shock at Lee Han's words.
A plain item like this sold better than stronger golems, stronger curses, or stronger poison?
It was hard to believe, but the reality before their eyes suggested it might be true...
Just then, students from the lower floors rushed up, urgently spreading news.
—A toxic swamp has erupted on the 6th floor!!
—Toxic swamp on the 6th! Toxic swamp on the 6th! Don't go in recklessly!
"Ah."
"As expected..."
"...What do you mean 'Ah' and 'As expected'?"
Lee Han glared at his seniors.