HTACS 76

Chapter 76

To be honest, just because our eyes met doesn’t mean we could have a conversation.

There’s a floor between us, and I didn’t feel anything beyond “oh, that’s red hair” and “that’s a familiar appearance.”

Strictly speaking, it’s not like I’ve never seen him before. He was flying around like a brat when I sent Zolf to the afterlife.

He lost consciousness, got knocked out… and I heard he lost his top student position after that.

To be honest, I don’t think of that Kelterus as “me” anymore. The thought that he was a character I used to enjoy is slowly fading too.

I have to live as Wolfram now, and Lee Young-jin isn’t remembered by anyone in this world.

I’m not a kid anymore—this is my second life, given to someone who was originally in his late twenties.

At this point, I’m not about to express feelings like “Ah, that was actually my character?” or “The memories from back then live on in me!”—my life has been too eventful for that, and I’m the type who accepts things quickly.

That’s how I’ve lived, and that’s how I’ve endured. Adapting to my given environment is one of my specialties.

So anyway—Kelterus is Kelterus, and I’m me.

Looking at that face that no longer stirs any significant emotion, I turned my gaze away.

But well, thanks to playing as Kelterus, I memorized the characters and milked a lot of benefits.

“…Hmm.”

Thank you, Kelterus.

Live well in the Common Department.

—

After that incident, I shut myself in the convenience store again.

“Hmm. No matter how I think about it, something doesn’t sit right.”

I made a ton of products to sell at the convenience store, and developed items that could turn Zefflin’s weak distribution network upside down—but ultimately, customers just wouldn’t come to my store.

Of course, part of it is because this 8th Magic Department is stuck in such a remote corner. Honestly, if I renamed this place the 9th Knight Department and accepted Knight Department students, I’d be making way more money.

Still, I tried really hard. I developed all sorts of things, secured supply routes… but even so, customers who wouldn’t come still didn’t come.

Especially—

The fact that the Black King, which I’d poured my heart and soul into creating, was completely useless for attracting customers came as a huge shock to me.

Why?

Doesn’t improving transportation bring in more customers?

I’m running a regular carriage service—so why won’t they come?

I looked at the Black King—made with Trista capital, a golem core, and Patrasche’s labor.

“It’s cool, though.”

“…Hmm. I admit it’s impressive. And the position of conductor driving that thing—I found it quite agreeable.”

Patrasche grinned as well. We work together better than I expected.

Look at that imposing figure—over three times the height of a person, a two-car train, covered entirely in black metal, with eight wheels per car—sixteen total. It even glows with magic engineering, and on the driver’s seat sits a wolf in a suit.

Honestly, at this point, wouldn’t anyone want to ride it at least once, just out of romantic curiosity?

“If they don’t come even after this, I’ll have to try various methods.”

“Various methods? Interesting. I’ll look forward to it.”

“Hmm. Do that. Isn’t it about time for the regular service?”

Patrasche grinned, nodded, and used telekinesis to don his conductor’s uniform and hat.

It wasn’t a dog wearing clothes—a wolf in a suit was a whole different level of imposing.

*KABOOOOOOOOOM—*

Sending off the regular service with a thunderous roar, having maximized the efficiency and output of the golem core and magic stones, I shut myself back inside the convenience store.

“I have plenty of cards in hand. Time to see what I can do.”

Looking at my skill list, I thought again.

Giving up—that can wait until after the situation calls for it.

—

Patrasche is an attention-seeker.

No, to be precise, all fairies have a bit of an attention-seeking streak.

Free-spirited and mischievous.

At the root of that mischief is a desire for others to take interest in their very existence.

But Patrasche—this red wolf—had served as the gatekeeper inside Zefflin while also acting as a caretaker for the Fairy Queen. As the saying goes, raising children makes you grow up—and before he knew it, he had become a bit of an adult.

In other words, rather than outright being petted, he had developed a somewhat unpleasant… no, unique taste for enjoying subtle gazes.

And for Patrasche, the Black King was the ideal working environment.

He’d park the Black King at his usual spot and wait about twenty minutes.

If no one boarded during that time, the regular service would return to the convenience store—repeating this several times a day, five days a week. That was Patrasche’s main job.

“…Wow. It’s the Black King.”

“The wolf riding up front—I heard it’s not just a wolf, but a phantom beast, a divine beast.”

“Really? Can the former President Wolfram command divine beasts?”

The admiring exclamations of first-years—children who had experienced sixteen springs by human reckoning—gave him a slight, pleasant chill.

The master wants to attract customers using this magnificent carriage he drives, but what comes back are gazes of awe. Yes—who would dare ride this, who would dare go to the master’s side?

Aside from a select few, there are no such crazy humans.

And today, one of those select few boarded the train.

“……Hmm.”

“Oh my, Patrasche. You work hard.”

“Going to see the master? Hurry and board.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t call it hard work.”

“Looks like no other guests are coming, so I’ll depart now.”

“Have you eaten? Come to think of it, what do fairies eat?”

The conversation doesn’t quite connect, but there’s no helping it.

Ayla Trista.

This human woman, designated as the master’s partner by human laws, cannot understand what he’s saying since she’s not of the master’s kin.

She doesn’t connect, but she talks to him anyway, has strange speech habits, and at the same time—

“Now, let’s go, Patrasche. I want to see Wolfram’s face soon.”

“Don’t pet me. You’ll ruin my fur. Tch. I came all the way here with my telekinesis-perfect styling—hey, I said stop!”

She was a peculiar human who patted his head as she pleased, feeling absolutely no fear toward him.

—

After long deliberation, I finally realized what W.R. was lacking.

It was promotion.

Our convenience store severely lacked advertising about what we sell and what items customers can buy at a profit!

Patrasche said that even kids who believed in fairy tales wouldn’t ride the Black King—but I see it differently.

The reason no one rides such a magnificent Black King is that they don’t know exactly where it’s going or what kind of place sells what.

“…That’s why we need to promote. It’s inevitable.”

“Is that so? So what are you making now?”

Ayla, taking a sip of her smoothie, tilted her head with curious, round eyes.

“Flyers to promote the convenience store, free gifts for distribution, and lastly—membership cards.”

“Uh, hmm? Wolfram’s words are sometimes hard to understand. Can you explain?”

I nodded.

By cross-referencing with Ayla’s common sense, I could tell what was within bounds and what wasn’t.

“In short, the flyers…”

I began explaining.

Flyers describe what the convenience store is and what it sells, the gifts are distributed to people who receive the flyers, and the membership card is a kind of membership certificate distributed mainly to regulars.

Ayla’s expression grew cautious after hearing even the explanation that points could only be accumulated with a card I personally made.

“Wolfram. I’m the building owner of this store, the eldest daughter of Trista who has a supply contract with you, and lastly—as your partner—I have a request.”

“Go ahead.”

“Please give me… membership card number one!”

Hmm.

Well, since she’s the building owner, that’s not too hard.

When I nodded, Ayla was visibly delighted.

“So what kind of card is it?”

“Hmm. Take a look.”

To be honest, the card isn’t anything special.

There’s no card reader—it’s just something like a certificate proving that “I am a member of this convenience store.”

I shaped a thinly processed metal plate with 【Handy Work】 and engraved letters on it with 【Accessory Crafting】.

Accessory Crafting—this is the first time I’ve used it since sending Zolf to the afterlife. I wonder how that guy’s graduation project is going.

**【Accessory Crafting activated.】**

**【Creating a store membership card!】**

**【Crafting successful! Card number 000001 has been issued!】**

**【When this item is—】**

“Wolfram!”

As I was reminiscing about the past while reading the system message, Ayla’s voice rang in my ear before I could finish.

“Wolfram, is that mine? It’s mine, right?!”

“Hmm. Yes. Take it.”

Anyway, the card that consumed a fair amount of Agility and Mana was soon placed in her palm, and on it, membership number ‘000001’—Ayla Trista’s card—was generated.

“Hehe. I really am number one! Then is number zero Wolfram?”

“No, that’s the very first card.”

When I shrugged, Ayla took the card and spun around happily.

Is she really that happy about it?

“With this, I’m also a member of Wolfram’s store!”

“I… see.”

I couldn’t finish my sentence in one go.

Because an unexpected system message had appeared in my mind.

**【Ayla Trista has accepted becoming a member of your party.】**

**【The first party has been formed!】**

**【Party capacity: 2/2】**

**【Would you like to view your party information?】**

**【Create your party and enjoy your Zefflin life!】**

**【First party bonus has been awarded!】**

“……Huh?”

“What’s wrong, Wolfram?”

“No, nothing.”

I hurriedly scanned the system message I hadn’t finished reading.

**【When the recipient of this item declares they will become a party member, they will be recruited into the party.**】

**【However, if trust level is ‘Dislike,’ ‘Hatred,’ ‘Hostility,’ or ‘Homicidal Intent,’ they cannot be added to the party even if they accept.**】

There’s no mistake.

This is the system window that appeared when Kelterus recruited party members in the first playthrough.

In the game, you’d just bring up the list and invite them to the party. But for Wolfram, it’s changed to handing out membership cards?

“Wolfram, what’s wrong?”

“No, it’s nothing. I just have something to think about. Can you give me a moment?”

“…Yes, that’s fine. You’re thinking about who to make a member, right? …But the first one is Ayla Trista, who’s on your side!”

“Hmm.”

“Finding a fellow rebel isn’t easy, after all!”

Well, that’s true, but it feels like she’s misunderstanding something in a strange way?

And yet it’s also true, which is annoyingly frustrating.

But I had to honestly admit it.

My current party capacity is two, and my first party member is Ayla.

And—*hoo*—I looked at the party window.

It clearly said 【Party capacity: 2/2】.

In other words, unless Ayla breaks or rejects the membership card, the party won’t disband.

But I can’t clearly determine what benefit partying with Ayla right now would bring.

For now, the answer is to disband the party once. I also need to set up party options, and anyway…

“Ayla, about that membership card.”

“Yes. Hehe. I’ll treasure it. I’ll make a protective barrier with black crystal and carry it in my chest pocket.”

“…Why? Why would you do that?”

“Because Wolfram recognized me as the first comrade in rebellion. I’ll keep it closest to my heart.”

No. Please don’t.

First, let’s disband the party…

“I’m really, truly happy!”

“……”

“What I said to you at the Trista mansion—when I think about it carefully, it could have hurt you, right? …Saying ‘wait for me’ is an anxious thing to say.”

“Uh, hmm.”

“But Wolfram gave me this card.”

“Th-that’s… well…”

“You’re telling me that no matter what, I’m the first member of your rebellion, aren’t you?”

“……………..”

No, well, you see…

“I’ll treasure it. Thank you, Wolfram.”

“…Hmm. Well, do as you like.”

“Yesss!”

Hoo…

Well, if you’re happy, I guess that’s what matters…