Chapter 205: Keep Your Promise
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 205: Keep Your Promise
“How much did you say?”
“A total of 328.42 million G, sir.”
“… …”
I stood there, dazed, after hearing Rebecca’s interim settlement—or rather, the total amount of Akito’s discount.
Since I told her to bill me for the 30% discount I gave Akito… that means they’ve spent about a billion G?
Ever since I told them I’d give them half the profits from the recipes, these guys have been blowing through money like it grows on trees.
As I stared blankly at her, Rebecca flinched and spoke up hurriedly.
“I’m not lying, okay?! Honesty is the motto of Rebecca Hall!”
Who said you were? Why are you getting defensive all on your own?
I’d been hearing from Rebecca how much they were buying, so I knew exactly how destitute Akito’s group used to be. That was part of the reason I’d emotionally offered Shiori half the profits in the first place.
But guys, aren't you spending a bit too much?
The discount you get from Rebecca comes straight out of my wallet.
It’s just like using a money cheat in a game because things are too hard. Once you add a few zeros with a single click, you get all excited and start flexing by buying out everything in the shop.
Usually, the items bought during those sprees end up just taking up inventory space after a few uses, or you end up selling them back later for pennies.
“This is the purchase list. Check it for yourself. I really didn't cheat you.”
“Who said you did? I trust you, so stop acting so nervous.”
“I was just surprised they suddenly bought so much. I wonder where they got such a large sum of money? Or maybe they sold off some legacy left by a legendary mage?”
Rebecca was curious, unable to guess the source of Akito’s funds.
Sigh. Let’s just think of it as money spent to save the world.
Since they have more items now, they’ll get stronger and survive better, and eventually save the world.
Even so, it’s still cheaper than the secret medicine for the Whitening Phenomenon.
Ah… I really need the lab to succeed in mass-producing the materials before I go broke. I’m not asking for much—just two, no, even just one of the materials whose prices have spiked 200-fold. Please succeed.
Even after resolving the issue in the Asen Industrial Zone, the financial pressure is still intense.
No matter how much of a government it is, they aren't going to coolly pay out such a massive sum in a single lump sum. And even if I did receive it, there wouldn't be much left after dividing it among all the places I need to spend it.
I need more money… This makes me want to skim some of the cash coming in from Barbat.
I think I finally understand why billionaires, who earn more money than an average person could ever imagine, still try so desperately to earn even more.
“Yeon-woo, are you… Oh, you have a guest. Sorry. Go ahead and finish your talk.”
While I was lost in thought, Mariene came downstairs into the living room wearing only one of my oversized dress shirts. Seeing Rebecca, she looked surprised and headed back up.
As she hurried up the stairs, the way the shirt fluttered with every movement of her snow-white thighs was incredibly sexy.
Though, she was even sexier last night.
“… …So she’s the one who was rescued from the Mage’s Grave. Ah, I suppose that makes sense. You’re at a vigorous age, after all. Yes, of course.”
Why are you nodding like you understand everything on your own?
Come to think of it, Rebecca has H-scenes too. There was a classic eroge event where if you bought over a certain amount, she’d ‘demonstrate’ some stimulant or whatever and you’d end up sleeping together.
With the amount of money I’ve given Rebecca so far, shouldn't we have done it hundreds of times by now?
Is this another one of those unfair events only given to the protagonist?
“Did you sleep with Akito?”
“Wha—?! What are you talking about?!! Why would I sleep with Mr. Akito?!”
“If you didn't, then never mind.”
Seeing her huffing in anger, it seemed they really hadn't slept together.
What was the problem? Was it because Akito wasn't the one making the purchases directly?
But honestly, that event was way too ‘eroge-like.’ A story where someone says, ‘Hehe, here’s a stimulant, let me demonstrate it, hehe,’ while completely ignoring any sense of plausibility, could never work in reality.
Anyway, how do I solve this…
I opened a map app, scrolled through it, and showed it to Rebecca.
“Do you deal in real estate too?”
“Of course. There’s nothing Rebecca Hall can’t sell.”
“How much would it cost to buy everything from here to here?”
“… …Not just one or two buildings, but from here to there?”
When I told her I wanted to buy everything within a 1km radius of a specific point, Rebecca looked at me like I was a madman.
“You do realize this is City A, right? And it includes West 14th Street, which is the third most expensive area in the city.”
“Yeah, I know. Just give me a rough estimate.”
When I nodded, Rebecca rubbed her forehead as if she had a headache.
“I can give you a simple calculation based on current market prices. However, unless you buy everything simultaneously with zero margin of error, it’s impossible with just money. There are so many different landowners and building owners that it’s impossible to even estimate how many there are.”
“Even if I have an infinite amount of money?”
“The moment you buy just a few, rumors will spread and prices will quadruple. If you keep pushing, they’ll jump dozens of times over. You wanted a simple calculation? Let’s just call it an astronomical sum and leave it at that.”
Yeah, honestly, I wasn't expecting much. I don't have the money anyway.
City A is where all the major facilities, including Yggdrasil, are concentrated, so the land prices are the highest. On top of that, West 14th Street is the third most expensive neighborhood in the city. Prices would fluctuate wildly the moment rumors got out that someone was buying in bulk.
I knew it was impossible, but I was just feeling frustrated.
Soon, a massive explosion will occur at the location I pointed out.
A 1km radius will be turned into a wasteland, and a new concept of power called Tyran Energy will take root there.
By researching and developing this, mages' abilities will improve by leaps and bounds. While it doesn't technically raise their level in the system, the descriptions portray it as something incredible.
Akito needs this to solve the Whitening Phenomenon later, so I can’t just stop it; it has to happen.
But what about the people living there?
It’s an area overflowing with people, filled with apartments, officetels, and large buildings. They’ll all die in an instant.
I won’t grieve for people I don't know, but it feels incredibly icky to just stand by knowing a massacre is coming.
I never expected to solve it with money or other conventional methods.
I even considered playing the Dark Knight hero and staging a terrorist attack to block access right when the Tyran Energy explodes… but why should I?
My goal is to live a good life while watching Akito save the world from the sidelines, not to become a hero myself.
I’ll save people if I can, but I don't want to do it if it means risking execution for terrorism.
Should I just tell influential people like Erin or Frey outright?
I can’t use my supernatural ability to lie about it because every time an ability is activated, its unique energy signature is measured, so I can’t make up an excuse.
Should I just be shameless and call it a new type of ability that can’t be measured? Like the physiognomy I told Masayoshi about? A new type of energy is about to appear anyway, so it’s not like I can’t pull it off.
If I can’t solve it with money and I can’t control the area with my own power, then I’ll just have to be shameless.
Though, I might have to tell Frey as much as I told Yukina.
I handed Rebecca the list of items I wanted to order and sent her off after finishing the consultation.
And I decided to scrap the 30% discount I was giving Akito.
They have plenty of money now. I’m already helping them earn it; I can’t keep doing this too.
I’m starting to feel the heat myself.
I was planning on having another round with Mariene, but unfortunately, she left with Rebecca, saying her family had contacted her.
For the record, her father was the official who saluted me when I entered the Mage’s Grave.
That’s why he treated me with such extreme respect.
Perhaps because I reunited him with his daughter whom he thought was dead, he’s been so loyal to me despite being a government employee that it’s actually a bit burdensome.
Anyway, with Mariene gone so suddenly, I have some free time.
For the first time in a while, I lay on the sofa alone to enjoy some leisure.
Because those mastermind bastards trashed the place, I had the house completely rebuilt.
With four basement levels and three floors above ground, our house sticks out like a sore thumb in a neighborhood full of two-story homes, making it easy to find.
While I was at it, I installed all sorts of state-of-the-art equipment and defense systems on par with a fallout shelter. If those mastermind bastards show up again, they’re dead.
I was killing time eating potato chips when the doorbell rang.
Is it Yukina? No, she said she was going to train.
I thought I’d get some rest, but now that I’m involved with so many people and entangled in so many affairs, I guess I’m quite busy too.
“Akane?”
“Liar.”
When I opened the front door, little Akane was looking up at me with a scowl.
Why is she suddenly angry?
As I stared at her in confusion, Akane pulled out her smartphone and began typing something.
“Bad memory. Doesn't keep promises. Eats while dropping crumbs. Dirty. Bad person.”
“Hey, could you stop insulting me while pretending to take notes?”
Akane, who had been venting her frustrations while pretending to record information about me as usual, glared at me.
“Why didn't you keep your promise?”
“What… Oh.”
Come to think of it, I did make a promise before going to Barbat.
In exchange for sending Akane to a suitable school trip destination, I promised to grant her one wish.
But I can’t keep it if she doesn't tell me what it is.
“I said I’d grant you one wish, didn't I?”
“Yes. Liar.”
“I was waiting for you to speak up first. Come in.”
A pouting Akane walked in with a dissatisfied look on her face.
She was trying to look angry, but with her shimmering white hair and tiny frame, she looked cute rather than intimidating.
“I’ll give you snacks and a drink, so stop chewing that gum.”
Akane, who was about to pull out some bubble gum the moment she sat on the sofa, looked at me for a moment before quietly sliding it back into her pocket.
She secretly loves sweets and is crazy about desserts.
Since I have frequent late-night visitors, the house is stocked with snacks they like.
I handed her a slice of strawberry shortcake. She held the whole plate and ate happily, but the moment she noticed my gaze, her expression hardened and she turned her head away.
You want to keep pretending to be mad, but the cake is delicious, isn't it?
That one’s popular. Eat as much as you want.
Akane’s expression softened with every bite of cake, only to harden again whenever she caught me looking.
“So, what do you want? Like I said, nothing related to the Source.”
The reason she keeps hanging around me is that I am the Guardian of the Source.
Her clan, the Organization, wants the Source so badly they’re gutsy enough to eventually have a direct confrontation with Yggdrasil.
Part of it is that they’re targeting it out of necessity to save the Organization, but what’s even more tragic is that if you follow Akane’s character story, it’s something that ultimately cannot be solved by the Source.
Whether you pursue her route or not, the Organization attacks Yggdrasil and is wiped out. In the story that follows, Akane falls into despair upon realizing that the Source couldn't solve their problem.
Even if you do complete her route, Akane loses everything and ends up depending on Akito.
Every character has their own story, but few have an ending as bleak as Akane’s.
Seeing Akane sobbing after realizing the deaths of her Organization members were utterly meaningless was definitely heartbreaking.
“… …”
Akane stared at me as if contemplating.
All the while, her hands and mouth never stopped working on the cake.
“Meet one person.”
“… …”
Akane doesn't have much social experience.
She was raised in the Organization, and her only experience in the outside world is the year she spent getting her Black License.
Because of that, she doesn't really have any connections, so the person she wants me to meet is likely someone from the Organization.
Can I really meet them and convince them that the Source isn't the answer?
Even Akito failed at that.
“You want me to meet Fable, don't you?”
“… …!”
Akane was so startled she dropped her fork.
I guess I’m right.
The boss of the Organization and the leader of the clan.
And a stubborn troll of an old man who wouldn't listen to even the ultimate persuader, Akito.
Can I really convince that old man?
Well… fine, I’ll give it a shot for now.
But keep in mind, unlike Akito, I won’t be kind or nice.