Chapter 163


    Chapter 163


    Students from the White Tiger and the ck Tortoise shared onemonality: despite their feelings towards Yi-Han, whether dislike or wariness, they all acknowledged his exceptional magic abilities.


    Jijel pondered to herself, "If Wardanaz speaks so highly of him, he must truly be a remarkable mage."


    Its an honor to meet you, the students from the White Tiger greeted, disying knightly courtesy. However, Baldoorn, feeling ufortable as if sitting on pins and needles, was not uplifted by such greetings; it only made him feel more suffocated.


    They are knights, aren''t they? he thought, feeling even more burdened by the polite greetings of the freshmen who seemed to hail from knightly families. He wondered if they might turn on him with their swords upon learning the truth.


    Shall we go together? proposed Yi-Han. The other tower students hesitated. The ck Tortoise students eventually nodded, but the White Tiger students couldnt, for they had no money.


    Ah, no money, Yi-Han noted, understandingly. As the White Tiger students bristled, he added, Ill lend you some.


    What?


    Ill lend it to you. Of course, with a small interest


    Wardanaz


    Ango looked at Yi-Han with disbelief. Considering Bandurs earlier boastful disy with a few silver coins, this was a surprisingly generous offer.


    Why, though?


    Yi-Han felt immensely ufortable under Angos shining gaze.


    Did I say Id give it for free? Im lending it with interest, right?


    I heard you, Wardanaz. Thank you.


    Is this guy crazy? Yi-Han thought, puzzled by Angos reaction, as he couldnt know what had transpired between the White Tiger and ck Tortoise students before their arrival.


    Why be moved by a loan with interest?


    Thats good, Im d, Yi-Han awkwardly responded as Ango extended a hand for a handshake. Yi-Han stepped back, creating distance, and Ango lowered his hand, looking embarrassed.


    Wardanaz seeing you makes me feel ashamed of my earlier boast with a few silver coins.


    Whats with this guy now? thought Yi-Han, baffled by the ck Tortoise student who approached him with a self-assured expression.


    What had happened before his arrival?


    I never understood what the great noble families meant by honor, but now I see it firsthand.


    What conversation did you have beforeing?


    I didnt believe in such things until I saw them with my own eyes.


    Beforeing, what conversation did you have...


    Theres no denying it


    Will you tell me straight, or should I guess?


    Why, why are you doing this, Wardanaz?


    Later, Yi-Han regretted not charging more interest after understanding the full situation.


    With such circumstances, the White Tiger students would have epted even a higher interest rate.


    Here we are.


    The shop with the sign looked quite suspicious and dim, the kind of ce students wouldnt normally enter without good reason.


    But the gathered students didnt hesitate.


    Baldoorn must have chosen it for a reason.


    If Wardanaz, who is said to be a great mage, introduced it, it must be trustworthy.


    Of course, its reliable.


    Lets go in!


    I juste here because its cheap


    The owner of had never seen so many freshmen from the magic academy venture out all at once.


    Initially, it was unthinkable for students of the magic academy to visit . "Why here?" was the question on everyone''s mind. In the Empire, items and artifacts imbued with semi-permanent magic were exceedingly expensive. Consequently, people didn''t just buy artifacts from any ce; they sought them from the workshops of renowned mages for verification.


    However, not everyone sought only safe and certified artifacts. Damaged or partially broken artifacts, those taken out during experiments or research, or those that failed to achieve their intended purpose were also in demand. The reason was simple: they were cheap!


    There were many who needed artifacts butcked funds. They were the usual clientele of , a shop specializing in buying and selling used, damaged, and iplete artifacts.


    Why would students from a magic academy visit here? wondered the shop owner. The arrival of adventurers was usual, but not students.


    Wow, what variety!


    What kind of cloak is this? Seems enchanted.


    It''s no ordinary ce if Baldoorn frequents it.


    Baldoorns face flushed red with embarrassment.


    Everyone, please... lower your voices


    While the students chatted, Yi-Han strode through the shop and approached the counter. The shopkeeper tensed upon seeing a boy, obviously from a noble family, approaching.


    Hes not going to cause trouble, is he?


    Adventurers knew what kind of shop this was and usually didnt cause issues. But the students from the magic academy were different. Coming from prominent families, they might be naive about the ways of the world, and being students from Einroguard, they could turn the ce upside down if they wished. The shopkeeper was extremely nervous.


    Please dont cause trouble


    Hello.


    Hel... lo.


    Yi-Han bowed and spoke softly, which eased the shopkeepers stance.


    By chance...


    ?


    I see you buy iplete artifacts. How much would you offer for this?


    The shopkeeper, caught off-guard, looked up at Yi-Hans face, wondering, Is he really from a noble family?


    Yi-Han sold items like a cloak of protection (which he chose to forgo since it only worked half the time, preferring to use magic) and lower-grade boots of stealth, converting them into cash. He couldn''t help but admire Baldoorn for knowing such a ce that valued items fairly.


    Truly an exceptional mage.


    With his purse now heavier, Yi-Hans spirits lifted. Like the other students already browsing, he too began searching for useful artifacts.


    You seem to know a lot, may I ask you a few questions?


    ...Yes, you may.


    Baldoorn was inwardly shocked. The owner of was known for being gruff and irritable. When Baldoorn asked questions, the shopkeeper would often retort, ''If you''re going to keep asking, go somewhere else.'' However, he answered all of Yi-Hans questions diligently.


    Is he ying favorites?


    Of course, Baldoorn couldnt entirely me him. He would have responded to Yi-Han''s inquiries too. Yi-Han exuded a different aura from the other students and had brought in quite valuable artifacts.


    "Is there no way to avoid or foresee the movements of the skull princ... no, the Great Mage''s eyes?"


    "There can''t possibly be such an artifact here."


    "Well then, what about an artifact to detect intruders in advance? Or one to subdue them..."


    The shopkeeper began to wonder if Yi-Han was a student from a noble family or a streetwise gangster from the lower echelons of the city.


    Was he nning to rob a mansion?


    "What magic is enchanted on this pocket watch?" Yi-Han asked, intrigued by a silver pocket watch with a slight crack in the ss.


    He felt no magic emanating from it.


    Could it be a spell beyond his detection?


    "There''s no magic on it. It''s just a pocket watch."


    "Ahh."


    Yi-Han felt a bit embarrassed.


    Even a mere pocket watch was a valuable item, as telling urate time was akin to an artifact itself.


    Baldoorn cautiously suggested, "It seems you''ve acquired some silver coins from selling artifacts earlier... Why not buy it? Such well-conditioned pocket watches are hard to find once missed."


    "Indeed. If Mr. Baldoorn says so..."


    "No, no, I didn''t mean it that deeply!"


    Baldoorn hastily corrected himself, but Yi-Han had already interpreted it in his favor.


    ''Certainly... I will have many asions to measure time urately.''


    As his alchemy and magic skills advanced, so would the difficulty of learning.


    Since the magic academy wouldn''t provide a pocket watch, it seemed prudent to prepare one in advance.


    "Thank you. Your advice, Mr. Baldoorn, has been helpful."


    "Now that I think about it, it might not be that necessary..."


    Despite Baldoorn''s regretful tone, Yi-Han bought the pocket watch.


    The shopkeeper was puzzled by his reaction.


    ''Why is he taking Baldoorn''s words so seriously?''


    The students of the magic academy were supposed to be more skilled than Baldoorn, right?


    Yi-Han, pocketing the watch, continued browsing. His attention was drawn to a blunt dagger hanging on the wall, emitting a strange aura.


    "Don''t go near that!"


    "Why is that?"


    "It''s a cursed item that absorbs mana. Touching it could drain your magic, leaving you copsed or crippled..."


    "Aha."


    Ignoring the warning, Yi-Han reached for the dagger, causing the shopkeeper to gasp in horror.


    Such reckless behavior was too much, even for a student of the magic academy.


    ''What in the world?!''


    But what happened next was even more astonishing.


    Despite being a dagger that had knocked out several adventurers and caused them to bleed, the student of the magic academy remained unscathed.


    "It''s alright. You don''t need to worry."


    ''Incredible!''


    The shopkeeper was shocked again.


    He had heard that Einroguard was the best magic academy in the empire, but seeing this was truly startling.


    Even for a freshman, this was extraordinary.


    "Really, such an academy must be filled with monsters."


    "How much for this?"


    "Cursed items, always one silver coin. Otherwise, no one would buy them."


    "No. Are there more cursed items?"


    Baldoorn, observing, suddenly sensed something odd.


    ''Shouldn''t he first ask about the effects? Isn''t he just buying because it''s cheap?''


    "I''ve received a lot of help."


    "It''s all thanks to you, Mr. Baldoorn."


    All the freshmen from the Four Towers gathered around Baldoorn, expressing their gratitude.


    Baldoorn, trying to hide his weariness, nodded rapidly.


    "It''s nothing, everyone. I really enjoyed meeting you all. Just don''t go around saying you learned anything from me..."


    "Yes."


    "Of course!"


    "We''ll definitely visit you on our next outing..."


    Without looking back, Baldoorn hurriedly fled.


    The students admired the cool departure of the unattached wizard.


    That''s what a real wizard looks like!


    "Yi-Han. What did you buy?"


    "A watch and a dagger. The other cursed items had ratherckluster curses."


    "...Aren''t curses supposed to beckluster??"


    While Gainando was confused, Yi-Han prepared to head to the Amur stables.


    Yonaire, worriedly, asked.


    "Is it really okay to tell the truth?"


    "It''s fine. He''s a reasonable person."


    "Really?"


    Yonaire followed, still puzzled.


    Even if he was reasonable, wouldn''t he be surprised to hear about the griffin


    "Wee! Did you find a mount?"


    "Yes!"


    "Well done! What kind did you get?"


    "A griffin."


    "..."


    Thud!


    Amur literally fell backward. Yi-Han, startled, eximed.


    "Are you alright?!"


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