HTACS 61

Chapter 61

Another big battle was over.

Well, it’s not really a battle per se, but talking about it that way gives a sense of closure and finality.

“…Mhm.”

After midterms end, everyone tends to relax overall—they become lax.

But that can’t be helped. The exams ended yesterday, and finals are still far away.

There are classes in between, but Zefflin operates on a credit system—if you get good grades in required courses and fulfill a few general education requirements, there’s no major issue moving on to the next year.

And as for me—I got good results on the mini-tests for one subject, and since I scored top marks in Social Development and Magic, as long as I don’t completely bomb the finals, first semester will pass peacefully.

“…It’s not like I need to worry about tuition anyway.”

Considering the money I earned from the student competition and the legitimate income I obtained through fair and square—no, through proper transactions with the student council—it’s literally like giving wings to a tiger.

Yes. The current Wolfram could be called a flying tiger.

Anyway, with all that money, what am I doing now? Normalizing the convenience store.

If you ask what was broken enough to need normalization—this convenience store was never normal to begin with.

Wooden shelves. Shabby walls. Floor linoleum. I tore all of them out.

I procured materials with Handy Worker and utilized Patrasche. Since this guy can use 【Telekinesis】, I even redid the wallpaper.

I’ve worked on site and eaten at the company cafeteria before.

With my instructions and Patrasche’s labor combined, there couldn’t have been a more perfect result.

I promised Patrasche three days off, and during that same time I was laid up with muscle soreness. By now, muscle soreness feels like family. If it came late, I’d probably be even more scared.

After recovering and getting back on my feet, I began stocking the convenience store shelves.

In the refrigerator—cream bread and drinks. On the shelves—lowest-grade recovery potions and potions for the Pitcher skill, arranged according to the display I remembered. Plus toys made with Handy Worker, and snacks made with Magical Patissier.

Of course, I didn’t forget drinks made from beans grown with potion cultivation either. With this much, though there may be shortcomings, it was enough to reminisce about modern convenience stores.

“Mhm.”

As a result, my Magical Patissier proficiency rose to Advanced. If I hit Master, I can learn the 8-tier Shining Patissier.

And Handy Worker and Potion Crafting proficiency both rose to Intermediate.

Now all I need is for customers to come.

Still, this convenience store barely gets any visitors aside from a few regulars.

“Would it be more profitable to supply to the shops in District 1, or sell the rights to Ayla?”

No. That’s not it.

I didn’t open this convenience store with such a weak heart. I’m going to become the King of Convenience Stores!

“But the fact that customers don’t come is something to think about.”

Mhm. Sucking on a straw, I took a sip of smoothie and fell back into thought.

As I focused on how to attract customers—

“……!!”

A rumble came from afar.

“Senior! Seniooooor!”

“You again.”

Hey, Nep.

Just shut your mouth and go back to work.

—

Nephti wasn’t wearing her uniform, but work clothes—and very light ones at that—as she caught her breath.

“You came straight from site work again.”

“Yes! This time it was a student council subcontract! The pay’s decent and they’re strict about quitting time on the dot!”

“…Mhm. National contract work is like that. But don’t forget—if you don’t follow safety rules, you’ll be kicked out immediately.”

“…Senior, you sure know a lot?”

“Mhm.”

Well, I’ve experienced it all myself.

“Anyway, this time I was inspecting the cheering stands under student council orders!”

“Mhm. And?”

Nephti lowered her head slightly and whispered to me.

“I think I found something that could make a huge pile of money. A big score.”

“……”

This pattern again.

Her eyes sparkled, her voice was filled with excitement.

“What is it this time? Did you find real treasure instead of the great ancestor’s treasure map?”

“No? What kind of stupid thing is that? If there was something like that, wouldn’t I have looked for it myself?”

“……”

I wanted to hit her, but I held back. If I fight her, I lose.

“Then what? Get to the point.”

“…Hehehe. You really want to know? Fine, I guess I have to tell you. Heheheh.”

“Just go back. I can make enough money without you.”

“Ah, ah, wait, Senior! I’m serious. This is really a big deal!”

“Then stop beating around the bush and say it.”

“Ahem. Yes, understood. Let’s see—Senior, you know the academic calendar, right? Since midterms are over, what’s left before finals is…”

“The sports festival and the field trip.”

“You know it well? Ah, right. You used to be student council president.”

“Used to be,” she says.

“So, just the main point.”

“Do you know about the Zefflin Sports Festival?”

“The Magic Department only sponsors with money, and the Knight Department kids beat each other up and play around—it’s basically a festival, isn’t it?”

“Yes. The Magic Department substitutes with the Great Magic Festival in the second semester, so it’s practically a festival where only freshmen and the Knight Department run wild.”

“Magic Department kids have money and hate moving.”

“Yes. And the biggest difference between the sports festival and other events is—”

“For a limited time, outsiders are allowed in.”

“That’s exactly it!”

This is—for Nephti—surprisingly well thought out.

“So you’re saying we should cash in during that time. When outside visitors increase.”

“That’s right! Especially since you have experience running stalls, Senior! Let’s make a killing! We’re going to get rich!”

“…Mhm.”

Not a bad idea.

Let’s do some serious business during the sports festival, targeting outside tourists.

The sports festival held after Zefflin’s midterms.

This event is, in a sense, a symbol of blessing.

The hurdles of entrance ceremony, skill verification, mini-tests, and midterms.

Once you clear those, from finals onward, very few students are expelled from Zefflin.

It’s a kind of screening process.

As long as Eve doesn’t go crazy and press the “expel everyone” button, no one gets kicked out.

And Eve—though a bit on the edge—is doing better than expected.

So Zefflin’s sports festival is a celebration welcoming the kids who have now properly become members of the academy, and also a stage where parents can come in and see their children’s first growth.

Literally.

“…Cotton candy at an amusement park costs 7,000 won each. Add two bear ears and it’s 10,000.”

“What’s that?”

“It exists. Such a thing. So, you’re saying we make money off that? By setting up stalls or something?”

“Yes.”

“What do you want? It’s not just for information fees, is it? If you want to go into business together… you probably don’t have capital.”

“Heheh.”

She laughed like that and smiled brightly.

“No need to say it—I understand. Supply of goods, stall rental, splitting sales profits, and you want hourly wages too?”

“…Isn’t mind-reading supposed to be a legendary skill, Senior? When did you get such a skill…”

I wish I didn’t know either, but your face drenched in desire told me everything.

However, this information is more helpful than I expected, and compared to the dud treasure map from last time, realizing profit is truly simple.

“Fine. I’ll give you everything you want. Hourly wage of 20,000 lin. I’ll prepare the goods, and you just sell to the customers swarming in like crazy. Any complaints?”

Nephti knelt on one knee and extended her right hand toward me.

“Loyalty. Faith. Devotion. By this faith, I swear eternal allegiance to my liege as one loyal retainer.”

“Good. My knight. Nephti, the Knight of Faith. Then from now on, there’s something you must do. If you refuse, there’s no contract.”

“Give me your command, my liege.”

“First, swear on your life to keep the secret.”

“My sword and heart are yours.”

“Good. Then we need to visit the Black Market for a bit. I’ll prepare black robes—put them on, wear masks, and completely conceal your face.”

“…I must have misheard?”

Misheard, my ass.

Follow me, kid.

—

Behind the back gate of Knight Department District 4 lies the Black Market.

Every Knight Department student knows this, but that doesn’t mean everyone comes here.

Rather, they’re thoroughly taught not to come—that the Black Market exists here—to the freshmen who’ve chosen their department as second-years.

“…Is it really okay? It’ll be fine, right?”

“It’s fine. It’s just an underground market.”

“U-ugh… What if I get expelled for this…”

Nephti was seriously scared, more than I expected.

“Hmph. Let me tell you—you’re unlikely to get expelled.”

“…P-pardon?”

“Do you know why this Black Market was born and how it operates?”

“N-no, not really.”

“Let me explain.”

All goods in Zefflin can only be sold or consigned at ‘approved stores.’ But doing so means getting heavily skimmed for taxes and consignment fees—so to save even a single coin, the Black Market was created.

“The first Black Market recorded in Zefflin’s history was a concept similar to a bazaar. At the time, even the student council judged it unavoidable.”

“…So it’s just for tax evasion?”

“At first, yes. The problem is the Black Flag.”

“…Delinquents who were expelled but never left Zefflin. The ones lurking in the shadows.”

“Yes. And that history spans well over a hundred years.”

Among those who received expulsion notices, those who couldn’t face going back home—who decided they’d rather die here—hid in Zefflin’s darkness.

“But why is there no risk of getting caught? If we were caught coming here, wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“No. That’s not the case. This Black Market is surprisingly crude and yet cunning.”

“…Huh?”

“Well. Follow me.”

I went to a stall in District 4. A fruit stand, run by a student.

“Looking for something?”

Here, that item comes into play.

The things I picked up during the expedition with Eve.

‘Black Market Access Badge’

‘Cipher Scroll’

No need to speak aloud here. I wrote the cipher on paper and briefly showed the Black Market Access Badge.

“…Come in. Know how it works?”

I nodded and entered the alley behind the stall, where two guards stood.

One was a typical warrior, the other a mage.

They looked skilled—fierce expressions.

“Just for browsing, 10,000 lin.”

“……”

Here, another item I picked up at the lodge comes into play.

The ‘Black Flag Executive Badge.’

The moment I showed it, the two guards’ expressions hardened pale and they bowed their heads deeply.

“We greet a high-ranking figure.”

“What can we do for the great cause?”

I pointed to my mask and Nephti’s, and the woman who appeared to be a mage nodded.

“How shall we register you?”

Without speaking, I wrote ‘Iron Wall’ on paper.

Then I wrote ‘Sworn Enemy’ on another and handed it over—the woman smiled and chanted an incantation.

**【8-tier Magic: Fake Face activated.**】

**【8-tier Magic: Fake Voice activated.**】

**【Wolfram von Lohengrin’s face becomes Iron Wall Leon Weiss.**】

**【Wolfram von Lohengrin’s voice becomes Iron Wall Leon Weiss.**】

**【Duration: two hours.**】

**【Caution: The spell’s rank is low—there is a risk of it being dispelled by strong impact!】**

“Duration is two hours. Also, please avoid vigorous movement.”

“…I know.”

“…All for the great cause.”

“The Black Flag rises toward the sky.”

“Loyalty.”

Nodding, Nephti and I exited the waiting room and entered the Black Market.

Walking through the continuing empty alleyways,

I casually pulled out a hand mirror to check—and sure enough, my face had become Iron Wall Leon Weiss.

And glancing behind me, a healthier-looking Eve was standing there.

“Wh-what? This voice is… wait. That’s not right. Isn’t this Eve-sama’s voice?”

“Correct.”

“Se-Senior Iron Wall? Huh?”

“This is one of the privileges Black Flag executives can obtain in the Black Market.”

“…Senior, were you a Black Flag executive?”

Nephti looked at me warily, and I shook my head.

“I picked up an executive badge recently. During the expedition with Eve.”

“…Pardon? So you’re using someone else’s for verification? If you get caught…”

“There’s no risk of being caught. I’m a Black Flag executive by all appearances right now.”

“………??”

Nephti kept tilting her head.

“The Black Flag doesn’t keep records of its executives. In fact, there’s almost no horizontal connection. Even executives don’t know each other.”

“…Really? Is that true?”

“About eighty years ago, there was a major student council crackdown on the Black Flag. That was because one captured executive spilled all the information on other executives. After that, the Black Flag’s system completely changed.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Don’t cross the flags.”

“Huh?”

“In other words, it became a doctrine of not trusting each other. Badges were produced in limited numbers, distributed to strong individuals, and that was it. Being a Black Flag executive is ultimately proven only by this badge. If it gets taken, the loser’s an idiot.”

“…Then if you replicate it, wouldn’t everyone be a Black Flag executive?”

“It’s not that easy to replicate. The then-top executive created only 20 of these using 4-tier magic—they’re rare items.”

“Th-then…”

“Questions later. We’ve arrived.”

“Ah, the end of the alley… Ah?”

As soon as the alley ended, light burst forth.

The end of Knight Department District 4. The darkest underground market. The Black Market.

“Cheap! It’s cheap! Poisonous fruits for only 100 lin!”

“Hey, customer! How much did you check before coming? I’ll give you a discount!”

It was the same in the game, but seeing it in person—it really was a chaotic market.

But what surprised Nephti wasn’t just that.

“This is the Black Market. First time here?”

“…Heh.”

And what was even more interesting were the faces visible among those cloaked in black robes.

“Th-that’s Senior Ayla? …And Eve-sama? Wait, aren’t I Eve-sama? Huh? Senior Regina is here too?!”

“I told you. No one can recognize anyone.”

Using the 8-tier skills Fake Face and Fake Voice, people deliberately imitate ‘famous figures from the surface’ and apply it to themselves.

As a result, there are dozens of identical people inside.

“Wearing the faces of title-holders is common around here. Look around and you might even find the face of the Knight of Faith.”

“…I-I see. The Knight of Faith’s face too… ehe.”

The goods. The people. The identities. Everything is fake. But it’s a street where they might just be real.

Nephti stared at the people around and muttered quietly.

“Iron Wall. Strong Sword. Black Crystal. Magic Merchant. Student Council President. …Ah, there really is one. The Knight of Faith. Ehehe.”

“Fun, isn’t it? Like a masquerade ball.”

“But it’s strange.”

“…What is?”

“No matter how much I look, I don’t see the face of the former student council president.”

“……”

“He was quite famous, wasn’t he…?”

“……”

Well.

That could happen.

Did you really have to say it like that?