HTACS 48

Chapter 48

The next morning, at dawn.

I strapped a roughly made shaft to Patrasche’s body, prepared the cart, and set out.

“…You’re really going to use me as a cart horse.”

“Aren’t you a wolf?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

Patrasche let out a deep sigh and began trudging along.

With both hands free, it was clean and convenient—and since I didn’t have to pull the cart myself, I used less stamina.

What a wonderful arrangement.

And so, we headed toward the front of the first-year common department building and set up the stall immediately.

“…You’re a descendant of the Imperial family, aren’t you? Were you a branch line?”

“The most legitimate descendant.”

“Then why are you running a stall like this here? I don’t understand.”

“Do you need to understand?”

At those words, the wolf smirked.

“Alright. Business begins.”

“What should I do?”

“Protect me. And… occasionally show some affection to the customers.”

“Ha. You’re telling me—a being over three hundred years old—to show affection?!”

“A customer is coming.”

The wolf looked at me with a displeased expression—and soon, the first customer arrived.

“Senior! Long time no see!”

“We’re here. Hello.”

“…Ah, hello. Wolfram Senior.”

“Come in.”

The first-year chirpies.

“Oh! A dog! A dog! Yogurt, look! A huge red dog! What’s its name?”

“…Huh? A dog? No, this is… Is it a dog?”

“You got a dog? It looks like a good shepherd dog. Hehe.”

“Who’s a dog…!”

“Oh, it’s growling. So cute!”

“A dog…? Is it really a dog…?”

“Senior, why did you suddenly get this dog?”

“Hey, these brats can’t understand me, can they!”

“It’s growling again!”

“…A dog?”

“So cute. The dog we had at home was about this big.”

At the noisy chirping, Patrasche looked up at me.

Ah, right. They can’t understand Patrasche’s words right now.

This has something to do with the Imperial Bloodline trait, but explaining it to Patrasche would just waste time.

Anyway—I gestured for him to give up, and Patrasche let out a deep sigh and sat down.

“Oh, it sat down. Good boy.”

“A dog…? No. Hmm?”

“Ah, what does he eat? Senior, are you interested in farming? My hometown is in the east—there’s plenty of pastureland!”

Vanilla, Yogurt, and Mille-feuille began chattering noisily around Patrasche. Patrasche clicked his tongue at the continued attention, then—*ahem*—smiled.

That aside—unlike the airheaded Vanilla and Mille-feuille, who suddenly brought up farming or hometown stories, Yogurt seemed to sense something instinctual about Patrasche. Probably because she’s an elf.

Ah—elves and fairies are different. If elves are sociable demi-humans, fairies are… well, children of nature—brats?

Something like that.

“Ahem. W-well, with this popularity and all.”

Eventually, whether the chirpies’ chattering was secretly endearing to him, Patrasche cleared his throat and nodded.

After three hundred years of working like a dog under a drunkard queen who just drank and threw tantrums, waiting for Imperial blood that never came as a gatekeeper—he was probably pleased by the attention.

“Enjoying yourself?”

“Ahem.”

“Good. Many more kids will come from now on—they’ll all take an interest in you. Do your job as a mascot well.”

“…Understood.”

Back in my school days, the PC bang I went to after class had a giant husky.

That PC bang ended up becoming a brat’s paradise, and the husky got so stressed it eventually went back home—but he won’t have to worry about such a sad ending.

After all—he’s a three-hundred-year-old monster. No—a fairy.

“Then give us the usual!”

“Ah, me too.”

“I-I’ll take one less.”

Only Mille-feuille asked for one less—the other two asked for their usual, so I quickly made them and handed them over. Looking at Mille-feuille, I asked:

“Why one less?”

“…W-well, I don’t know. I guess I don’t have much of an appetite. Hehe.”

“You should try to understand a girl’s complex feelings.”

“…Right. Senior is a good person, but sometimes he’s a bit dense.”

“……”

I don’t get it. Why am I being criticized?

Ignoring the chattering fledglings, I shrugged.

Soon, a figure appeared before the stall and spoke.

“Senior. Here you are.”

“Nephti.”

“Yes. Oh, Junior Mille-feuille is here too?”

“…Ah. Senior Nephti. Hello!”

“Ah, Senior, did you come to buy doughnuts?”

“Y-yes!”

“I see. They’re delicious, aren’t they? Senior Wolfram’s doughnuts.”

“Hehe. Yesss.”

As the pink fledgling and Nephti chattered for a moment—the warning bell rang.

“Ah, lunch break is over!”

“Senior, we’ll be going.”

“…W-Wolfram Senior. Is it okay to visit the convenience store later?”

I nodded and waved them off—the fledglings bowed once and ran back to the school grounds with the same energy they’d come with.

And I stared at the one customer who hadn’t left.

“Nephti. Why haven’t you left?”

“I don’t have work today?”

“No—I meant, what about your classes?”

“Ah, I’ve already covered all the material up to midterms. It’s optional attendance? Ah, Senior, you got a dog? I like dogs too. Hello?”

“……”

This is the problem with the Knight Department. The Magic Department has theory verification and magic practice—but the Knight Department mostly consists of practicals like how many Tier skills you can use, or how many wooden boards you can cut with a sword.

In other words—capable Knight Department students often finish their coursework faster and focus on other things accordingly.

But that doesn’t mean the Knight Department is all good.

The Magic Department costs money, so it has many nobles or students with full noble support. This means Magic Department students at least don’t worry about tuition.

But Knight Department students who can’t afford tuition have ‘paying tuition to Zephrin’ itself as a challenge.

To get a Zephrin diploma. To rise to a guardian knight position in some noble house after graduation. They even treat survival until graduation as a task. Nephti is a prime example of that.

I waved my hand as if shooing Nephti, who was playing with Patrasche.

“I see. Then finish your drink and go back.”

“Ah—actually, I came for one more reason.”

“Reason?”

Nephti lowered her voice and subtly broached the subject.

“This could be a big opportunity—would you care to join?”

“A chance to earn a lot?”

“Well, you see—I’ve obtained a treasure map.”

“Go back.”

“No, really. Hear me out. It’s a real treasure map! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

“Never come back.”

“Senior!”

—

After that—

Due to Nephti’s persistent requests, I had to listen to the story about the treasure map.

“Treasure maps don’t exist in reality. Why would anyone mark a treasure on a map in the first place? Zephrin has had no one looking outward for three hundred years—do you think it makes sense that something is hidden outside?”

“…I thought the same, but please take a look at the actual item.”

Saying that, Nephti handed me an old scroll.

Marking a location east of the residential zone—further into the Eastern Forest.

So far, it’s a plausible map.

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“This map. Isn’t there a clear mark in the lower right corner? After researching at the library…”

“An ancient Zephrin emblem. From three hundred years ago—the crossed staff and sword that our great ancestor designated as Zephrin’s official emblem.”

“…Then.”

Nephti swallowed silently, saying nothing.

From here on, this could become a matter involving the Imperial family. And for a mere commoner to dare mention the First Emperor? That’s immediate execution for blasphemy.

And although his treatment is pitiful—Wolfram von Lohengrin is of Imperial blood.

In other words—Nephti, who couldn’t dare speak of it herself, was asking me whether this map was real.

But asking—what’s the point?

“It’s real. At least the emblem isn’t fake.”

“…As I thought. I see.”

Unlike the excited Nephti, my face remained cold.

Why?

Based on my long play experience—there isn’t a single proper treasure map in Zephrin.

The rewards aren’t always bad.

Later on, treasure maps can even yield Tier 3 items.

But—as I’ve repeatedly said—D/Z SAGA is a game that strictly rewards effort.

And yet—a ‘map marking a treasure’s location’?

If the location info is provided without effort, then it’s only natural that obtaining the treasure requires greater effort than regular farming.

And this treasure map—I had seen it countless times. Many times.

“So you’re going to go find it? With your offensive power, it’s impossible, isn’t it?”

“That’s true! But I have someone to ask for help.”

“Who?”

“Teacher! Please come in!”

“Oh! Wolfram! Long time no see!”

Brown skin, grayish-white hair. Blue eyes. Two extremely combat-oriented daggers at her waist.

Dexterity 22. Will 20. A true monster. The highest authority in the assassination world.

“Rudika Hassan Shadow.”

“Yes! Nephti said there was an interesting story, so I came!”

“……”

This was the moment this cursed event took on a terrible reality.

—

Rudika—who had appeared suddenly—grinned and drew a V-sign with her left hand.

“So—you’re going to find the treasure marked on this map?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Rudika’s heart races at treasure too!”

“Do I have to be included?”

“Yes! With Senior’s magical buffs, we want to go more safely!”

“Rudika feels the same!”

“……”

Treating people like tools, are you—a top tank and an assassin mid-laner…

“Wolfram, do you know this map?”

At Rudika’s question, I didn’t answer and sank into thought.

Do I know it?

Of course I do.

This map is the key item for the final chapter of Act 1—1-4.

I don’t know how it ended up in Nephti’s hands, but cutting to the chase—it’s a map marking a treasure left by the First Emperor.

I still haven’t forgotten it, really.

The 1-4 episode—after struggling to the death, they reach the First Emperor’s treasure.

And everyone, hearts pounding, opens the treasure chest. What comes out is a single piece of paper.

In the Emperor’s magnificent handwriting, it said:

【The friendship that brought you this far is the true treasure.**

……

It’s real.

No—that really is the ending.

Think about it—from the very last chapter of Act 1, would a First Emperor’s treasure appear? Right?

This damned game.

“Senior?”

“Wolfram?”

But aside from that—clearing 1-4 brings in many rewards.

Even if the chest is fake, there’s more than enough reason to participate.

The items obtained along the way are decent, and there are treasures too.

“To be honest—I roughly know what that map is.”

“Really…? How do you know?!”

“Um, what kind of treasure is it? No—I don’t want to hear it. But if you could tell me just enough to keep me excited without ruining the fun—just enough to amplify my anticipation—I’d appreciate it!”

“I read about it in the archives. I’m not sure. We’ll know when we go.”

“So—does that mean you’ll come with us?”

This is the final chapter of Act 1.

If I—a veteran—don’t go with them, these guys will obviously get wiped out in the boss fight.

Sigh. I suppose it can’t be helped.

“I’ll give instructions based on what I read in the archives. There’s a lot to prepare before we leave—skills, equipment, consumables. Prepare as much as possible. Hurry and take notes.”

“O-oh? Got it.”

“A-ah, understood!”

The flustered newbies.

I suppose I’ll give them a veteran bus ride.