Episode 29: The Reason I Went Bankrupt

To work as a pioneer, you need basic equipment.

Even if you’re a Saint Magician, you never know what might happen.

Armor was essential as long as it helped me.

So, I bought better armor than when I was a porter.

I thoroughly protected my elbows, knees, neck, and forehead.

It feels a bit heavy, but compared to my porter days, I’m extremely grateful.

I also bought dried rations.

Since I have Babien, I can start a fire anytime.

I probably don’t need to pack a lot of tinder.

“I need more than I thought.”

Aransol gave a surprised expression next to me.

It was natural since she had never worked as a pioneer before.

“It’s too late if something happens. Other pioneers do this much too.”

Bulldog Ajussi taught me how to prepare directly.

If I didn’t do it right, I’d get cursed out, so I was forced to study.

More than that, I spent quite a bit of money.

I guess I need to earn steadily.

It was when I was checking the money I had saved up.

“Harua, who are those people over there?”

What is she talking about?

When I looked up, there was a merchant with a shaggy beard spreading out a cloth.

There were many people gathered there.

They were very crowded.

“Oh, shit.”

As soon as I saw him, I was surprised and ran quickly.

A special merchant appears in the central shopping district of the capital, Valterion.

Designated Merchant.

Darkhood.

No one knows where he appears or when he appears.

But when he appears, everyone says in unison.

The items he sells are all rare and precious.

However, the Designated Merchant does not sell items to just anyone.

He only sells items to people he designates from among the crowd.

It doesn’t matter whether the person is unknown or famous.

He just looks and decides.

Conversely, he never sells to someone who is not designated.

Those who are not designated cannot insist that he sell to them.

If you did that, you didn’t know what kind of punishment you would receive from the other pioneers next to you.

If he doesn’t come here anymore, you’ll lose the chance to buy those rare items forever.

It’s better to stay quiet until the merchant designates you.

Bulldog Ajussi said that when he appears, you must look at the items he sells, even if you don’t have anything to buy.

If the Designated Merchant designates you, it must be a necessary item.

Or even if you don’t need it, you can sell it for a lot of money, so he emphasized that you should definitely look into it a hundred times.

The Designated Merchant appeared at this timing, is it fate?

The fate of me becoming a Great Saint Magician.

My mouth waters.

Fate leads me here!

I led Aransol and quickly ran to the front of the Designated Merchant.

It didn’t seem easy to break through because there were so many people.

“Excuse me, just a moment. Let us pass.”

“What, I came first. Get the f…”

A rough pioneer who was about to swear at me turned around and paused.

“Excuse me, is it okay if we pass?”

When Aransol asked, the man smiled broadly.

“I was the one who had to get lost. Hmm, hmm.”

Then, at Aransol’s words, he became a gentleman and made way.

“Ahem.”

“Cough.”

After that, people gave way one by one, and a path was naturally created.

People were busy looking at Aransol’s face.

The most caring sweet men in the world were gathered here.

If you can’t beat them, join them.

Long live lookism.

I carried Aransol on my back and passed through the people.

Thanks to that, I was able to arrive in front of the Designated Merchant quickly.

The Designated Merchant had spread out a lot of items, just like Bulldog Ajussi said.

Originally, the items sold by street vendors are mostly miscellaneous goods.

But what he sold was different.

Things that looked precious at a glance were endlessly lined up.

Can I buy any of these?

You cannot buy items unless the Designated Merchant designates you.

This was a rule that should not be broken.

“Merchant-ssi, do you have anything you can recommend to me?”

I swallowed hard and asked the Designated Merchant.

I have the money Raphael gave me.

I didn’t want to miss this opportunity.

Please, please sell me something.

The Designated Merchant, seeing my expectant eyes, raised one eye between his shaggy hair.

Then he nodded.

Silence fell in the area.

Affirmative.

Is this, affirmative?

It’s not some other answer unique to uncivilized otherworlders, is it?

“Oh!”

“Ooh, one has been decided.”

The people behind me cheered.

The moment I heard that sound, my eyes widened and I was about to clench my fists.

The Designated Merchant raised his hand and pointed behind me.

There, Aransol was standing, not knowing what was going on.

“That young lady, buy this.”

The Designated Merchant raised a potion bottle with blue herbs.

People’s attention naturally gathered on Aransol.

Of course, I, who had asked the question a little while ago, was standing blankly like a stray duck.

“Me?”

Aransol doesn’t know much about the Designated Merchant.

Perhaps that’s why she didn’t know what it meant to be chosen now.

“As expected, the Designated Merchant has an eye for things.”

“A girl like that should take it!”

The sweet pioneers who had made way earlier cheered even louder than before.

Then Aransol glanced behind me and said carefully.

“I’m okay, can’t you recommend it to Harua instead?”

“No.”

The Designated Merchant stated firmly.

There is nothing here to sell to me.

At that point, there was nothing I could buy.

My world collapsed today.

Well, that’s how it is.

The goddess of luck would never smile at me.

More than that, Aransol has an opportunity.

The items sold by the Designated Merchant are expensive, but they are definitely worth the price.

Moreover, selling to a designated person means that it is a necessary item for that person.

“How much is it?”

It could be a necessary item for Aransol.

“1,000 gold.”

1,000 gold.

So, if you convert it to Korean currency, it’s about 30,000 won per gold.

It’s about 30 million won.

This crazy old man.

Who the hell charges 30 million won to sell one item?

Considering it’s a medicine, it’s a consumable.

It was clear that it was an item with an expiration date.

“1, 1,000 gold?”

Aransol also looked embarrassed.

No matter how much it is Aransol, there was no way she would have 1,000 gold on hand.

But I have it.

I had 1,000 gold, which was Raphael’s personal expense.

“What are the effects?”

“Blooming of untapped talent, I don’t even know which direction it will bloom.”

Aransol’s shoulders twitched.

Aransol has always struggled with talent.

For her, the blooming of talent was a precious opportunity that she could never miss.

“I will buy it.”

So I said without hesitation.

You can earn money anytime.

But the Designated Merchant’s opportunity doesn’t come every time.

“Harua?!”

“Wow, you’re a big spender, bro!”

“That’s right. You have to do that much to date such a pretty girlfriend!”

“You should pay more taxes!”

The outfield is noisy.

“Wait a minute, Harua, that’s the living expenses you need to have for the time being.”

Aransol quickly stuck to me and tried to stop me.

More than that, Aransol seems to be mistaken about one thing.

“What are you talking about? Aransol, I’m not buying it for you for free. You have to pay it all back.”

Aransol has a lifetime contract with me from now on.

It’s not easy to find an examiner like Aransol anywhere else.

There was nothing wrong with writing a contract for Aransol.

Above all, Sowoon’s value behind Aransol is endless.

Sowoon also rushes over as soon as the Cosmic incident happens, so she cherishes her disciples.

Investing in Aransol meant looking good to Sowoon as well.

“…Even so, Harua is the one spending the money now.”

She’s fighting with heavy facts.

Fight fairly with fabrication.

“I’ll pay you back.”

Aransol took a deep breath.

“I’ll definitely pay you back. What are you going to do about living expenses for the time being?”

If I use this, I won’t have any current living expenses either.

“I have to earn it.”

So I have no choice but to do a job that I can earn in the shortest amount of time.

World 2.

It was a dangerous world from the beginning, but I have the stability of resurrection magic.

If I’m with you, the danger of World 2 drops sharply.

The best situation is not to use resurrection magic, but I have no choice but to use it if it’s dangerous.

“Here, this is the amount to be paid.”

When I handed over the bag of money, the Designated Merchant reached out and received the bag.

“You have to let go of your hand to take it.”

“That’s right.”

I had no choice but to let go of the money bag.

It was the last chance to hear the 1,000 gold rattling.

The Designated Merchant roughly calculated the money and gave me the potion bottle.

I immediately handed the received potion bottle to Aransol.

Aransol held it tightly so that no one could steal it.

It’s going to break at this rate.

“One month later.”

At that time, the Designated Merchant opened his mouth again.

“You, come here again.”

The next person he designated was me.

One month later.

That meant that there was something worth selling to me in a month.

The goddess of luck was still smiling!

But apart from that, my face froze.

That meant that I had to collect another huge sum equivalent to 1,000 gold in a month.

Is this guy trying to fleece people?

But the pioneers around me were giving me envious glances.

They were people who had money but couldn’t buy the Designated Merchant’s items.

Yeah, it’s better than not even having a chance like them.

“…I understand.”

Whether I like it or not, I have to go to World 2 to raise money.

That was the only opportunity for me to become a Great Saint Magician.

* * *

Aransol headed to the inn, holding the medicine she had purchased at a high price.

Fortunately, I had paid for a week’s worth of inn fees in advance.

I don’t have any money on hand, but there’s nothing wrong with my immediate life.

“Let’s reduce it to one inn room.”

As I was about to enter the room, Aransol suddenly said something out of the blue.

“Reduce the room?”

“If Harua and I combine our rooms, we can stay for two more weeks. Since it’s an inn for pioneers, we won’t lose any days while working in World 2, so we can use it for longer.”

That’s definitely a good idea.

But the inn room is not that big.

Moreover, there is only one bed.

I think it would be uncomfortable for the two of us to stay together.

“We’re short on money right now. I have to save money to pay Harua back too.”

“That’s true.”

Aransol’s opinion was reasonable.

It seems right to combine them.

As I was thinking rationally, another thought came to mind.

“Wait, Aransol, isn’t it difficult for men and women to use the same room?”

“Can Harua see otherworlders as the opposite sex?”

“What kind of disgusting sound is that?”

My face was sincerely distorted.

How can a person see an animal as the opposite sex?

I’m not a furry.

Aransol smiled when she heard my answer.

“Me too.”

Aha.

Our interests were very well aligned.

That’s why I like Aransol.

“More than that, hurry up and eat that.”

We can move the room, and we should try what we bought.

Aransol took out the bottle she was holding.

“…I’ll drink it.”

Aransol declared with a nervous face.

Soon, she poured out all the contents of the bottle.

Aransol’s face was contorted as if she had something terrible in her mouth.

Why is it that even when a pretty girl is contorted, she’s just cute?

It’s a little annoying.

Aransol frowned a lot and then let out a breath.

When I looked at her with expectant eyes, Aransol licked her lips.

“How is it, what has changed?”

“Um, uh-huh.”

Aransol tilted her head from side to side.

Then she fumbled and drew her sword and swung it once.

Silence fell between Aransol and me.

Then, Aransol asked carefully.

“…Did something change about me?”

I don’t know.

I’m afraid because I don’t know.

I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at the thought that my 1,000 gold might have been scammed.