Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Can't Think About Profit and Loss - 1
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"So? What do we need?"
There are generally two ways to lift a dragon's curse.
The first is to fight and defeat the dragon that cast it.
The second is to destroy the curse's medium.
Most players went with the first method.
It made for a more engaging story, packed in tons of battles, and the rewards were overwhelmingly better.
Naturally, I did the same.
But right now, I had zero interest in any of that, so I was just picking the easiest, fastest route.
"Uh... and then."
I racked my brain, recalling the clear conditions for that event. After securing a skilled priest, we had to gather materials from the Alchemist Guild, then head to the Mage Guild.
"Okay, fine, the Alchemist Guild makes sense, but why the Mage Guild? Do we need a mage?"
"The spell I need, I can cast myself. I just need some materials they sell exclusively there."
Veronica tilted her head but followed along without protest. After hitting up the Alchemist Guild and Mage Guild to stock up on the necessary materials, I headed straight for the duchy's palace.
"This really is a magic-focused city—magical goods everywhere."
Veronica, lugging a large bag beside me, glanced around as she walked.
The duchy was a hub for advanced magic. They sold all sorts of artifacts, including quite a few that might catch the eye of a church archbishop like Veronica.
"Whoa, check this out. A magic mace."
"Hmm... good eye. This mace here..."
"It's enchanted with lightweight magic and magic missile. But the enchanting was forced, so the durability's shot. Looks like an apprentice alchemist did it... It seems fine on the surface, but it'll need repairs after a few uses. This is the kind of weapon they use for fakes."
It looked decent at a glance, but it was all show. After appraising it with my skill and explaining, the shopkeeper broke into a cold sweat.
"Uh... fellow in the trade?"
"Something like that. Show me the real stuff instead of junk like this."
The owner chuckled and ducked inside. Once he was gone, Veronica let out a relieved breath and patted her chest.
"Whew, I'd have bought it without you. Seriously, scamming people right in the shop?"
"Haha. Hardly a scam. Fakes like that get used plenty."
"Ugh. Still."
"When buying weapons in the duchy, bring someone who knows magic, enchanting, and smithing."
Veronica, pouting, poked my side. Even as an experienced archbishop, she must've hated being treated like a newbie.
"But I had your back, didn't I? Most stuff here's magical gear, so it's tricky. I know how long you've used maces—you're no slouch at judging them."
I grinned at her, and she puffed her cheeks while poking my side.
"Hmph. Fine. Then pick me a good mace."
"As you command."
A moment later, the shopkeeper returned with a box of maces.
Silver gleamed along the surfaces, and the gems on the handles were pristine—definitely top-tier.
I shook my head as I examined the magic mace crafted by a skilled alchemist with quality materials and a solid base.
Nothing here suited Veronica.
"What? These are our best!"
"But they don't fit a priest. These seem made for combat."
"Urgh... How about this one? Any class can use it, but..."
"The lightweight enchantment's weak. And..."
I rattled off what I knew about maces, drawing a crowd bit by bit.
Nothing beats watching someone get roasted.
As the owner's face turned tomato-red, I stopped.
"Well, it has its flaws, but it's a good mace."
"What?! You just trashed it!"
"Want the upsides?"
I hefted the mace lightly.
"It's a dwarven mace. Made by Marax, head of Dwarven City. See these marks here and here? Proof. It's from before he became a master smith, but still beats most non-dwarf work. The downside's the enchanting—strip it and re-enchant, and it'd be solid."
No one in the weapon trade didn't know Marax. The finest smith in Dwarven City, leader of the dwarf smiths.
Eyes lit up at the mention of his early work.
"H-How much?!"
"Sell it to me!"
As people swarmed, the owner glanced my way. I smiled leisurely.
"If you're re-enchanting, go to a pro. Properly done, this could've fetched double."
"Urgh... You're too much. Hey, fellow trader—let's exchange names. What's yours?"
I shrugged.
"The Sage."
The owner's eyes went wide. Quite the sight.
We slipped out of the crowded shop, and Veronica nudged my shoulder. She was beaming.
"That was cool back there."
"What was?"
"Nah, seriously. Overwhelming the owner in one go and grabbing everyone's attention? Impressive. You could preach as a priest."
"You want me on the priest path? Pass."
"Hehe~ Anyway, I wanted a new mace."
"Once this is done, I'll make you one."
"Really? Hehehe. Can't wait. Oh, we're he—"
She froze at the castle gates. Blinked big eyes, rubbed them.
"Uh. Um. There."
"What, the armor?"
"Uh... From what I knew, the Duchy Knight Order's armor wasn't like that."
"They changed it recently."
"Oh... Urgh... Yeah."
"What's with the stare?"
"Huh? What? I'm not staring!"
Fidgeting, Veronica tugged my robe hem. Then she started chattering to distract me.
"Lately at the church..."
"You know about Pelloyan wine...?"
"The basics of holy spells..."
I smiled at her rambling. I got why.
"You think bikini armor shakes me?"
"Eek. Temptation hits hard and obvious."
"Haha. Worry not, friend."
I'd seen too much to waver at that.
Sure, as a guy, my eyes wandered a bit.
But my discipline ran deeper.
"Sigh..."
"We're here."
We entered the palace waiting room. Same as in the game and main story—ornate parlor with antique sofas and fancy tables.
After requesting an audience, a familiar knight entered.
"Sage. And..."
"The church's archbishop, Veronica."
"Understood. Her Highness grants audience."
Time to go.
Following the knight to the audience chamber, a slender beauty in a pricey blue dress entered.
Cecile Claudia. Looked bleary-eyed from work.
"O~ friend~ Here to keep your promise?"
Cecile looked up, smiling.
"...Friend?"
Veronica's voice dropped.
Not important now.
"Lifting the dragon curse takes time. Can you take a few days off?"
"Of course... Wait, it's my family's curse—do I have to be there?"
"You're the family head."
The higher you climb, the heavier the responsibilities. A family curse hits the head hardest.
Cecile thought, then sighed softly.
"Sorry, need a bit more time. Got a headache of an issue."
"What?"
"The disappearances, plus the cult..."
"That? You should've brought Veronica anyway. Oh, you two know each other—why no hello?"
"Um."
"Uh."
They looked awkward, exchanging sheepish glances before awkwardly shaking hands.
"Ahem. W-We have met... sort of. Anyway, Veronica—Sage's number one! Close! Friend!"
"Uh, yeah... I'm kinda the Sage's friend too... Oh, we met once before. During the Black Rebels thing, the church praised you, right?"
"Urgh... Something like that."
What? These cute nerds?
They knew each other but weren't close—super distant.
Awkward like friends-of-friends.
Even I felt secondhand cringe.
Public meetings might've been better—no awkwardness then.
"Ahem. Anyway. Veronica wants to solve that too. And I'll help."
"Oh? Just support? Send knights?"
"That'd help. And aid with control. Oh, Veronica—church?"
"Priests and holy knights will support."
Joint duchy-church op? Perfect. I recalled their forces and base from the game.
"Since it's up—let's do it today. Then grab that vacation quick."
"Got something urgent?"
Urgent? Obviously.
Summer festival for achievements.
Miss it, wait a year—no time to dawdle.
"Stuff."
No need to spell it out. Cecile nodded casually, not prying.
"No time to waste—let's move."
Bold. Nice.
"R-Run!!"
"It's the church witch!!"
"Who's the witch!!"
-Boom!!
Knew the base, escape routes.
Even the ritual time.
With full backup, crushing a cult pack? Easy.
Veronica led the charge; I supported from behind, shaking my head.
Solemn, stern face, silver hair whipping as she smashed cultists—like a holy warrior from scripture. Strong, beautiful.
"Hmm. Pretty chummy with Archbishop Veronica."
"We go way back."
"Yeah? But that mace of hers."
"Hm."
"Looks worn. We're prepping magic maces at our research institute. Armor set included."
Magic knights typically used magic swords.
Advanced research allowed other gear—like late-game magic maces.
"Mace-wielding smash mage-priest?"
"...Magic and priest combo?"
Not some harem pure-love schtick.
More like... she's serious about the bikini armor.
"But would Veronica use it?"
"Come on~ Leventia did."
"She's special."
I never knew exactly why Leventia wore bikini armor.
Atonement to me? Or pure efficiency?
She knew one outfit wouldn't fix us...
"Ah, all done."
Cleanup finished. Limbs shattered, screams echoing as they dragged away the bound cultists.
Veronica, who led the takedown, walked over, blood dripping from her mace.
"...Thanks. Your intel got us the base fast. Saved innocents."
Near-miss sacrifices emerged under holy and magic knights' protection. She gazed bitterly, faint smile; I shrugged.
"This much? For us?"
"Hm..."
"What?"
Because of the mace promise?
Cecile eyed the giddy Veronica, tilting her head at my question.
"Nah. Just... more mountains to climb than expected. Teasing one kid—worth the cost-benefit?"
Author's Note
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Hello, it's Malmulmalmul ㅎ
Happy Friday!
The cover dropped today!
Have a great Friday evening, everyone!
See you tomorrow! Bye~