HTACS 53

Chapter 53

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“I’ve brought the items you ordered.”

“Good work.”

The dwarf from Maestro’s voice carried no particular emotion.

In the past, they were quite hostile, but now they just seem blunt. Probably because I order frequently.

“And all the orders you requested have been processed. Here are the results.”

“Mhm. Good work.”

The dwarf bowed his head and withdrew.

The items the dwarf brought were three in total.

Lowest-grade crafting kit. Zipper-type fully sealed bags. And the ores that had been finely ground through Maestro’s commission.

“**【Handy Work】**”

The skill I received with the 8-tier skill selection ticket was, once again, a crafting/production-type skill.

Actually, under normal circumstances, I’d hoped for this one instead of Magical Patissier.

But the karma from making too many snacks accumulated, resulting in Magical Patissier appearing instead.

**【Welcome to the world of crafting!】**

**【Handy Work. Magic Craft. Black Smith. Bomber Meister. Countless crafting skills await you!】**

**【Would you like to select the Lowest-grade Crafting Kit as your crafting tool?】**

**【Would you like to select Handy Work as your crafting skill?】**

**【Selection complete.】**

**【Insert materials and create to your heart’s content!】**

After installing the Lowest-grade Crafting Kit and activating Handy Work, a description appeared in my mind.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen this too.

The crafting kit was shaped like a large square board, and I placed three items on top of it.

The image that came to mind was just three items casually placed on a whiteboard slightly smaller than a person’s upper body.

But this is the crafting method, and the start of the proper process.

**【What would you like to craft?】**

In response to the system’s question, I selected the item I wanted to make in my mind, and soon blue guideline appeared on the whiteboard, wrapping around the items. Those lines wrapped around all the items and came together in the center with a thud.

**【Attempted crafting with Scorching Ore Powder. Sealed Zipper Bag. Sealstone Powder.】**

**【Success!】**

As a result, what emerged in the center with a weak puff of steam was exactly the item I had envisioned.

**【Low-grade Heat Pack (5 hours) has been created.**】

“Finally, we meet.”

I hugged the heat pack dearly and nodded.

In the original, they sold these at the shop from Act 1. Here, I have to learn the skill myself and craft them.

This is driving me crazy. What kind of infrastructure is this?

“…However, the fact that I could meet this is also because I went outside.”

I fell into thought for a moment.

Outside.

At first, I was reluctant, but now I’ve somewhat gotten the hang of it.

“…Well, anyway.”

Even though it’s May, the nights are cold and the dawns are biting.

But now, the long, long cold nights are over.

Now I’ll sleep warmly.

For sure.

—

Eve extracted all the information she wanted from Nephti and politely sent her back.

That she too is worried about Wolfram, that Wolfram is currently trying to accomplish something without any support base, and that she’s also agonizing over it.

Once she formed that common ground of “worrying about Wolfram,” this simple girl Nephti spilled all the information smoothly.

[I see. You explored the Eastern Forest with Wolfram and discovered the will left by the great ancestor?]

[…Yes. If it weren’t for Senior Wolfram’s method, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat that golem.]

[Thank you.]

[Y-yes. So, Eve-sama, um…]

[Hm? Ah, aah. You mean the note left directly by the First Ancestor?]

[Yes!]

[It’s true that the imperial family retrieves all relics left by the great ancestors.]

[…Ah.]

[However, this is also an undiscovered relic, and it’s customary to pay a modest reward fee upon reporting.]

[……Th-then?!]

[However, the great ancestor left many various messages, and even as a first discovery, the reward wouldn’t be that large.]

[…Ah.]

[At least a million lin, I’d say?]

[…I see!!]

Her reactions—cowering at each word and then laughing heartily—had a surprisingly adorable side. Eve recalled Nephti’s reactions and chuckled. After that, Nephti said she had someone she needed to talk to seriously and left.

Anyway.

Now is not the time to be thinking about amusing classmates.

“I told him to be that careful, and he’s walking around like that?”

Unless she seizes all the hegemony of the student council and even exerts influence over the imperial family, does Wolfram even realize his current situation?

What is he really trying to do? Is he insane?

“No, that’s not it. He has a guardian fairy, so considering that…”

That fairy seemed far too powerful for Wolfram to handle. So does that mean he can defend himself to some extent…?

As Eve walked through the garden, lost in thought, a voice reached her ears.

“Grrrr.”

“?”

The fairy Wolfram had made his familiar—the guide wolf—was there.

“Why are you here?”

“Grrrr.”

“Stop grrr-ing and speak. I can understand you too.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“Yes. I’m also of imperial blood.”

“Sorry. Lately, there haven’t been many who understand me, so I was thinking of just grrr-ing entirely.”

“…I see.”

Eve shrugged. If you’re trapped in fairy territory for 300 years, I guess you’d want to play around like that too.

“So, what’s your business? Shouldn’t you be by Wolfram’s side?”

“Mhm. I came out for a short break. The master said I could wander around.”

“Then who’s at the convenience store right now?”

“He’s alone.”

“Crazy.”

Eve moved quickly.

If Wolfram ended up dead, she’d probably lose sleep over it.

And when she arrived in front of the convenience store. Eve’s magic detection activated, and she instantly identified who was inside.

“…Two people? Who exactly is there?”

Eve quickly entered the convenience store, and inside sat Wolfram staring blankly, while a girl was passionately speaking in front of him.

“So, Senior. A million lin! Now let’s decide how to split it!”

“…Do you know what time it is?”

“Money is more important than time!”

“…I won’t deny that, but couldn’t you come tomorrow?”

“Because money is more important! How shall we split the million lin!”

Nephti, noisily discussing the split, and Wolfram, looking at her as if fed up.

Eve let out a sigh of relief, and Wolfram stared at her and gestured.

“Eve.”

“…What?”

“Take her away.”

“…Hoo. Fine. Nephti, follow me.”

“Ah, but if we don’t settle the money talk right here and now, who knows when they’ll try to cheat me out of it! We need to be certain!”

“…That’s true, but isn’t Rudika Hassan Shadow, who went with you, also not here?”

“Ah.”

What “ah.” Seriously.

Anyway, Eve didn’t want to follow Wolfram’s instruction to take Nephti and disappear, but for now, Wolfram’s words were right.

“Wolfram.”

“What.”

“Make some time tomorrow afternoon. I have something to say.”

“…Fine. I will.”

Waving off Eve and the uninvited guest with a dismissive hand, Wolfram turned back to sleep, and though Eve found the sight annoyingly infuriating, she silently withdrew.

Still, she’s relieved nothing serious happened. And since Nephti only prioritized something she had to do, there’s room for leniency.

“Miss Nephti, you violated dormitory curfew, so that’s a demerit.”

“Ah.”

Of course, there were only women present, and she never said she’d let her off.

—

The next day.

Eve came to the convenience store.

Lately, I feel like I’m seeing her an awful lot. Isn’t she busy?

“To be honest, Wolfram, you annoy me.”

“Oh. Same here. I think so too.”

We smiled and raised our middle fingers.

But at the same time, upon carefully examining Eve’s surroundings, I didn’t see any pink aura.

It’s not an accurate indicator since it’s a bugged system anyway, but it still put my mind at ease somewhat.

“So. What is it.”

“Honestly. It’s extremely annoying, but I’ll admit what I need to admit.”

“…Hm? What are you talking about.”

“I owe you… quite a… ugh, ugh!!”

“If you’re going to speak, speak. If not, don’t. Pick one.”

“Qu-quite… a… debt… I… have… is… the… fact!”

“Mhm. I see. You do owe me an enormous debt.”

“………EEEEK!!”

Well, what can I do if it’s true?

“I solved the dormitory commotion when you were careless and passed out.”

“Ugh.”

“This time in the fairy territory, you couldn’t do anything either, and in the end, I resolved Zefflin’s pollen problem too, but I handed all the credit over to you.”

“Guh.”

“Yes. Go ahead. Thank you, big brother. Thanks to you, my reign has made the academy a peaceful place. Say it with a deep bow.”

“EEEEEEK!! If you kill me here, everything will disappear!!”

With that, Eve pulled out a holy light spear from behind her back. If she actually fires that, I’ll die.

“I’m joking. I was just teasing.”

“……Eek…”

Ah, joke joke. Why take it so seriously. Laugh. Haha. Don’t look so stern. Hahaha.

“So, what did you really come here for?”

“…Hoo. Fine. 【Area of Silence】”

“An area sound-blocking skill?”

“Yes. Because from now on, I’m going to talk about something quite serious.”

That skill is seriously dangerous. If used wrong, a complete closed-room murder could happen here.

What should I write for my dying message? If I write something too obvious, Eve would erase it before leaving, so if I reverse Eve’s spelling and write V… would that make a V? Ah, Eve! Maybe Ayla would figure it out?

“…What useless thoughts are you having? Listen carefully, because this is serious.”

“Speak. I’m listening.”

“To be honest, you’re in an extremely dangerous position right now. Do you know that?”

“Explain properly.”

“Fine. First, I failed to fully take control of the student council, so I can’t completely suppress all sighting information about you.”

“…”

Eve continued.

In short, the fact that “Wolfram von Lohengrin is doing suspicious things” is being loudly reported to Eve from all sides.

Of course, no one had come all the way to the convenience store, but that could be attributed to the convenience store’s geographical characteristics—a natural fortress that ordinary students couldn’t possibly find.

Seriously? Location selection is a nightmare?

No, that’s not it.

“So?”

“If I truly had full control, I could ignore even such reports. But since I don’t, people are trying to show their loyalty to me—and if that misguided loyalty goes wrong, there will be lunatics saying, ‘I’ve brought you the head of Wolfram, who’s been doing suspicious things!'”

“Oh.”

That’s reasonable.

I nodded at Eve’s reasoning. Misguided loyalty always walks hand in hand with madness.

“Honestly, I’d prefer you just returned to the imperial family, but you’re staying because you have something you want to do here. And… I res… res…”

You really hate it?

No. That can’t be.

“Speak properly. Why are you acting like a broken Maestro machine…”

“I respect you, alright!”

“Good. You said it well. So?”

“…Hoo. Anyway. So even if I can’t help you with what you’re trying to do, at least you shouldn’t have to worry about getting hit by an arrow while walking down the street, right? Having a red line drawn through the entry above yours on the family registry doesn’t seem like a pleasant experience.”

“I see.”

“So, do you plan to be careful from now on?”

“No.”

As Eve said, there are ways to live quietly, but that’s not the way of life I want.

I’ve thought about it quite deeply too.

My ultimate goal is to make the convenience store a success, to make Zefflin’s students unable to live without the convenience store.

To create a convenience store where even a 0.5% VIP reward point offer would trigger a thousand rounds of grateful item purchases.

To do that, I have to go outside.

Ironically, to succeed with the convenience store inside Zefflin, I must inevitably head beyond Zefflin.

Material procurement. Skill acquisition. Item crafting.

I looked at the low-grade heat pack that had been heating my back until yesterday.

Even this simple heat pack—in the original, it was sold at the shop, but in this reality, it doesn’t exist.

“I knew you’d live like that. Seriously.”

“Mhm, I won’t change my way of life.”

“Don’t pose. You’re a weakling with 2 stamina.”

“Says the guy with 22 mana who got hit once by a grad student and went flying.”

We smiled and raised our middle fingers at each other.

“Anyway, since I owe you all sorts of things, let’s try to neutralize public opinion a bit.”

“Public opinion?”

“Yes. We’ll distribute your convenience store goods through our student council. Those buff snacks seem quite useful.”

“Why would that be necessary?”

“……That’s…”

Glancing.

Eve looked at me, checking my reaction for a moment. More precisely, she seemed to be gauging whether it was okay to say this. Then, as if her thoughts were organized, she continued.

“We’re going on an expedition soon. I heard there’s a ‘Black Flag’ in the Sleeping Mountain Range area.”

“…Black Flag. Ah, I see. I see.”

Black Flag.

Those who were expelled but lurked in the shadows.

Behind Knight Department District 4. The true masters of the Black Market.

A black spot corroding the entire academy. The embodiment of problem children.

In Act 2, Eve’s common route did have that expedition.

By promoting my goods there, I can change the perception of me and avoid dying.

That’s a clever idea and wise thinking.

Hm.

But it’s a bit disappointing.

“So you’re going on a subjugation expedition?”

“…That’s right. If there’s anything needed for that expedition…”

“No. I’ll go myself.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m saying, can I participate directly in that expedition?”

“……Hm, hmm? Huh?”

“If you’re going to divert public opinion anyway, wouldn’t it be better if the person himself appears?”

“…H-huh?”

“I’m saying this: I’ll join the expedition, and while I’m there, you can package me as a good person. That’s all.”

At those words, Eve briefly bristled and puffed out her cheeks.

“Me? Why?”

“Because you said you’d handle the diversion yourself?”

“……Eh? That’s right? Huh? Huh?”

Apparently.

My family register mate is smart, but seems a bit stupid.