Episode 949

The two returned to the warehouse.

Fortunately, it seemed Wardanaz and Meikin had found a good buyer.

“Who’d have thought the Meikin family’s atelier would buy at such a high price. Surprising.”

“I was a bit surprised too. How about the other places?”

“Everywhere we went today, the alchemists seemed drunk.”

“…?”

Lee Han and Yoner tilted their heads.

Alchemists drunk in the middle of the day, all over the city?

“What nonsense is that?”

“Are you two sure you weren’t the ones drinking?”

Asan’s suspicion made the two angry.

“What are you talking about! Do I look like Alpha?”

“Do I seem like Tutanta to you?!”

‘I shouldn’t let those two be together anymore.’

Lee Han appeased them, saying he understood.

Anyway, since they’d made a good contract, all that was left was to work hard and deliver.

He was still a bit curious why Ms. Yoanen had been at someone else’s atelier so nonchalantly…

“Right. I should ask the teacher if there are any other reagents that can be restored.”

“Wardanaz, you really are diligent.”

The friends laughed merrily.

Looking forward to the gold coins they were about to receive, the students didn’t mind the extra work at all.

And compared to trying to keep up with lectures at Einrogard, this was nothing…

“Teacher? Teacher? That’s strange. Why isn’t he answering?”

“……”

• * *

After the arduous work and delivery were finished (the Mad Clone ended up giving up and answering Lee Han’s questions), the students felt a true sense of liberation.

“Here. This is your share.”

“With this much, I don’t think I ever need to go back to Einrogard!”

“…You’re not really planning to run away, are you?”

“J-just kidding.”

‘His eyes looked serious though.’

With their hefty pouches of gold coins, the students began planning what to buy.

Normally, their lack of funds meant strong restrictions, but at this level, they felt they could buy what they wanted.

“A new polo mallet is too big and flashy, right?”

“Is there no way to hide it?”

“They only do simple inspections, but if you get greedy… Wait, they’re not going to do it like at the beginning of the year, are they?”

“…No way. The Death Knights are all busy anyway.”

The students weighed everything from prices to how well things could be hidden.

At first, these were kids who had wandered, unsure what to do outside a magic school, but with gold coins in hand and more choices, they became totally absorbed.

Seeing this, Lee Han thought he should start buying things himself.

He had more time left than his friends, but it was always better to prepare in advance.

Just as the herb work was finishing, Lee Han recalled a request he’d gotten from a senior.

‘Two bundles of Purple Circle Wood, fairy mead stored in a sealed crystal, and three bottles of fairy honey wine.’

Inside Einrogard, they’d either have to buy from the black market or make it themselves, but in Granden City, all you had to do was scout the city.

And if he bought it for them, he’d get five times the value in pay. There could be no easier commission.

When he checked the trading company, they had Purple Circle Wood and fairy honey wine in stock, so those were easy to buy.

As for fairy mead stored in a sealed crystal…

“It’s supposed to be at the -Greenbell’s Artifact House-?”

“Yes. I heard they bought a few over there.”

“Great! Let’s go together!”

With heavier gold pouches, his friends gathered, excited at the chance to visit Granden City’s high-end artifact shop.

Even Adenart sheepishly gave Lee Han a look that clearly said “I’d like to come too.”

But Lee Han was cool-headed.

“Guys. Those places just stick on unnecessary designs and decorations and charge several times more. Instead of buying things there, you’re better off getting the materials and making it yourself…”

“What should I buy there? Yoner, didn’t you say you were interested in -Alchemist’s Glasses-? The ones made with cat’s eye stone from the Icancel Mines.”

“But those are so expensive. A hundred imperial gold coins?”

“I’ll lend you some. If it’s not enough, let’s just ask the others to lend some too.”

“……”

Despite his warnings, when his friends made it clear they were going regardless, Lee Han shook his head.

‘Should’ve staggered out the gold coins instead of giving them their share right away.’

“Fine. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Hey, Wardanaz. Since we’re grateful for all you’ve done, we wanted to pool our gold and buy you something as thanks.”

Angrago spoke sincerely.

It might seem shallow to thank a high noble friend with money, but if the gift was heartfelt, it was different.

And since the shop they were heading to was a high-end artifact store, it was a great chance to show their gratitude…

Whack!

“Ah!”

“Did you not hear what I said about that place selling overpriced stuff? Are you doing this on purpose?”

“N-no. All high-end stores are like that, and everyone agreed…”

Angrago looked at the others as if betrayed.

But the friends all avoided his gaze. Angrago shivered at their sneakiness.

‘They agreed with me just a moment ago!’

No wonder Moradi warned to never trust guys from other towers besides the White Tiger Tower. They really were rotten.

“If you say something stupid like that again, I’ll take your gold pouch and leave it with Moradi. Got it?”

“O-okay…”

Angrago had no idea why he’d been scolded.

Nor why he was the only one being scolded!

• * *

“…Wait. Something’s not right.”

“What is it?”

As they arrived at the store, Lee Han halted, making his friends look at him curiously.

Nillia looked at him a little skeptically.

‘Is he trying to stop us from going in?’

This Wardanaz friend hated waste for himself, but hated it even more for his friends.

If he really set his mind to it, he’d even block the door to keep them from going in.

“But the door’s open and there’s no clerk.”

“Maybe they went out?”

“No. That’s not possible.”

Located in the central district of the city, this artifact shop served nobles and well-to-do clients, so its rules were strict.

Even last time, they’d been greeted by a perfectly dressed clerk in a shop brimming with pure mana.

Could a clerk at that sort of store just leave whenever they pleased?

“Can’t we just go in and check?”

“Salko. If it’s a trap, it could be dangerous.”

“……”

Salko exchanged looks with Angrago.

The meaning in their gazes was simple.

-Isn’t Wardanaz a bit more paranoid lately after all the trouble he’s been through?

-You’re right. His temper’s gotten a bit worse, too.

Angrago nodded, recalling his recent scolding.

“W-Wardanaz, I don’t think anyone would set a trap in a place like this…”

Adenart, apparently thinking the same thing as the others, cautiously spoke up. The other students nodded too.

But Lee Han was insistent.

If you let your guard down, you ended up running into someone like Yoanen.

‘Just because you’re outside the school doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Even outside, think of it as Einrogard.’

Lee Han took out a crystal spinning top for divination. -Baegrek’s Momentary Foresight- had too short a prediction window to be useful for these checks.

As the crystal spun atop his hand, mana was consumed. When Lee Han moved to go in, the top abruptly stopped spinning.

“It stopped spinning. That means there’s danger.”

“Or it could just be that you moved your hand while it was on top… Wardanaz, we’re starting to look suspicious.”

Angrago pleaded.

Even if they were disguised, nearly ten students crowding outside a shop drew attention.

“Quiet.”

“Ugh…”

“In accordance with the master’s order—freeze!”

A frost elemental clone flung open the door and ran in.

The friends watched anxiously. At this point, they were almost hoping there’d be some kind of trouble.

If there wasn’t, lobbing an elemental clone into a shop would be painfully rude and weird for a wizard!

‘What if we get banned from entering…?’

-Intruder. Seize them!

A rough, hostile voice boomed from inside, and a mercenary rushed out from the back of the shop.

The students watching through the window were startled.

What!?

But no matter how surprised they were, the mercenary was even more shocked.

When the mercenary realized he was up against a crude ice clone, he shouted in horror.

“It’s a trap! A tracker!”

-Escape!

As frantic movements sounded from the back, the mercenary hastily pulled a pouch of powder from his pocket.

It was an item for creating a smoke screen to block everyone’s vision.

But Lee Han was one step ahead. Ever since he’d sent in the clone, he’d been standing by the open door, magic at the ready.

Bang!

A quietly maneuvering Water Orb Projectile exploded, and the mercenary crumpled, feeling a shock like his spine was breaking.

Even through pretty thick armor, the hit was so solid that he couldn’t even breathe.

‘This… This guy’s no ordinary mage. Is he a battle mage from a knight order? How far has pursuit come…?’

“Wardanaz, the others are running. Should we go after them?”

“No. Don’t act recklessly when we don’t even know their strength.”

Lee Han stopped his friends from chasing.

Frankly, he was a bit worried that things would escalate without proper preparation, but the other side seemed scared and withdrew first.

And he needed to check on the safety of everyone inside.

Sure enough, inside, both clerks and unlucky customers were all tightly bound and groaning.

“Are you alright?”

“Th-thank you! Those brutes, those madmen! Doing this in the middle of Granden City? I’ll never forgive them!”

The students checked around and handed out calming potions to coughing customers.

Once he’d recovered, the clerk recounted what had happened, his voice full of anger.

“They suddenly burst in and demanded the fairy mead. When I said we didn’t have it, that it hadn’t arrived yet, they tied us all up and searched everywhere.”

“The mead isn’t here?”

“Yes? Yes. We were supposed to get it, but the shipment sank.”

‘Who are these guys?’

Lee Han sensed that this was no ordinary incident.

Since the shop dealt in expensive goods, they had powerful backers behind them.

To raid a place like this—this wasn’t something city thugs or punks would do.

And the way they didn’t touch the artifacts showed their experience; they’d clearly avoided triggering unfamiliar defensive or alarm spells.

“!”

While pondering, Lee Han sensed someone calling him via the -Whispers of Einrogard- artifact.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox of the Watchman Club was sending him a private message.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Gonadaltes. Situation’s changed. The commission’s canceled. Don’t approach the mead.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Some dangerous people are involved. There’s at least Villein from Garam and Three-Fingers Akdin among the named mercs.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Gonadaltes. Are you listening?

Gonadaltes: By any chance, does this Akdin mercenary have three fingers?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Is this really the time to joke? Of course—why else would he have that nickname?

Gonadaltes: I think I just caught him…

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: …Don’t be ridiculous.