episode_0154

Inside the noisy classroom, I was enjoying my peaceful daily life, as always, sprawled out on my desk.

‘It’s about time to prepare.’

A week had passed since the train attack incident.

At this point, with only two weeks left until final exams, there was one event worth noting.

That was the secret auction hosted by the Melanie Merchant Guild, one of the continent’s seven great merchant guilds.

There were about a dozen types of items up for auction. The quantity wasn’t huge, but each and every one was a treasure rarely seen.

Among them were elixirs of the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng grade, and artifacts superior to the Fortress of Iron Wall.

Of course, each had an astronomical price, making them impossible to even consider buying in the game.

‘But the current me is different.’

For this, while other transmigrators were only raiding major dungeons, I had plundered every single minor location.

This time, I could definitely acquire one of the auctioned items.

I recall Abel helping the Melanie Guild Master’s tomboyish, mischievous daughter in an alleyway sometime today and receiving an invitation.

I could easily participate in the auction by using my noble status, but Abel couldn’t.

It was while I was thinking about the auction to myself.

“Ruan! Let’s go too!”

“Huh?”

Deborah, who had approached right in front of me at some point, was smiling brightly and holding out her hand.

Looking around, all the other students were also heading out of the classroom.

“Deborah? What’s going on?”

“Were you sleeping again? They say the results of the frontline dispatch have been posted on the central bulletin board! Let’s go quickly!”

She forcibly pulled my arm.

At her proactive behavior, I awkwardly stood up, yet still asked with a sour expression.

“Why are you so clingy these days?”

“C-Clingy? When was I clingy?”

“You’re doing it right now. Didn’t you say you hated being mistaken for dating me? Isn’t that why you’ve avoided talking to me in the classroom until now?”

Lately, she’d been pushing me away for no reason, but even before that, when we were close, she didn’t show our friendship in places where other students could see.

She had never acted like this in an open space like a classroom, even if it was empty as it was now.

At my words, Deborah mumbled, rolled her eyes, and then offered an excuse.

“Th-That doesn’t seem to matter much anymore. It all became pointless during the class competition anyway.”

“Really?”

“Of course! We even kissed on the cheek in front of the entire student body, so who would think we’re not together? It’s a good thing my Teacher-nim didn’t come. If she had, Ruan would have been dead!”

“That’s really a relief.”

She cherishes her disciple, but to the point of killing? She’s too extreme.

“Anyway! Let’s head to the central bulletin board first. We’re the only ones left!”

“Alright. Alright.”

Giving in to her urging, I pretended to be helpless and obediently let Deborah pull my hand as we exited the classroom.

While moving, I suddenly thought.

‘Should I borrow some money from Deborah?’

The money I had earned by working my butt off so far was quite a lot, but it was still only enough to buy one auctioned item before running out.

If I could borrow money from Deborah and buy two or three items, it would be a huge gain.

She probably wouldn’t rush me to pay it back quickly either.

‘Am I a genius?’

Praising myself inwardly, I decided this was the moment and immediately opened my mouth.

“Deborah. I have a favor to ask. Is that okay?”

“A favor?”

“Yeah. Can you lend me some money?”

“M-Money?”

Deborah was flustered by the somewhat out-of-the-blue request.

The way she tilted her head was so cute I wanted to squish her cheeks.

“Yeah. There’s something I want to buy, but I don’t have enough money. Can you lend it to me?”

“…How much?”

“Hmm? About… fifty thousand gold?”

“Gasp! F-Fifty thousand gold?”

“Yeah. Is that not possible?”

Deborah looked terrified.

It was understandable, as fifty thousand gold was roughly 50 billion Korean won.

It was impossible for someone of commoner origin like her to have that much money. Deborah immediately shook her head back and forth vigorously.

“N-No! I don’t have that much money!”

“Absolutely impossible?”

“I-I’m telling you I don’t have the money! Even if I wanted to lend it, I couldn’t!”

“Please, I’m begging you. Huh? If you lend me the money, I’ll grant you one wish. How about it?”

Flinch!

At that moment, Deborah’s shoulders flinched.

It was a half-joking offer, but it seemed she had a wish she wanted me to grant, as she carefully met my gaze.

“…Really?”

“Of course. Is one wish a big deal when you’re lending me fifty thousand gold? Tell me anything. I’ll grant it all.”

“But I really don’t have the money…”

It was impossible to create money out of thin air.

Watching Deborah’s troubled face, I subtly whispered.

“By the way, Deborah. When will the magic tool be finished?”

“Huh? Magic tool?”

“Yeah. It’s already been about two weeks. Besides, am I lucky or what? I have a good friend, so I get a magic tool for free. It would probably sell for a huge price, right?”

I put a strong accent on the last part.

As if fifty thousand gold was nothing to Roxana.

In other words, my current words could be interpreted as:

Get money from your Teacher-nim.

As if she understood, Deborah’s face instantly changed from bewildered to furious.

“How can you say that? How could I do that to my Teacher-nim?”

“Hey, please. I’m really desperate. Huh? If you really lend me the money, I’ll do anything.”

“…What are you going to do with it?”

“There’s something I need to buy. I absolutely must have it.”

Actually, I would buy the top priority auctioned item myself, and the money Deborah lent me would be for something else, but that wasn’t important.

What was important was showing my determination!

“An item?”

“Yeah. With this, I can save countless lives in the future. The future of this world rests in your hands.”

“Don’t lie! That’s too grand! You should exaggerate in moderation!”

“It’s not an exaggeration. I’m serious.”

There was no lie in these words.

If I couldn’t acquire the auctioned item and all sorts of misfortunes struck, leading to the worst possible outcome, this world really could be destroyed.

Of course, this was a hypothetical scenario on par with worrying about being struck by lightning while walking down the street.

Facing my serious expression, Deborah’s face also hardened slightly.

“Really? Do you really need it?”

“Yeah. I only have you. You are my hope.”

“Ugh… don’t say things like that!”

Her face flushed red as she hit my chest.

From her cute tantrum, I could confirm she was halfway willing to accept my request.

Soon, Deborah calmed down.

“I’ll lend it to you. But there’s one condition…”

“Thank you! I love you, Deborah!”

“Kyaaah!”

Having gained an unexpected boon, I confessed with 100% sincerity and lifted her into my arms.

As I lifted her soft body with all my might and spun her around, Deborah screamed.

“Let go, let go! Let go of me!”

“Absolutely not! You’re the best, as expected!”

“Listen to me!”

As I acted like this in the hallway where everyone could see, she became embarrassed, her cheeks, neck, and even her ears turning bright red.

She covered her face with both hands, expressing her embarrassment.

A moment later, after I had fully enjoyed my joy and put her down, Deborah punched me in the solar plexus with all her might!

“Are you crazy? What are you doing with people watching!”

“What’s the big deal? They’ll just think we’re a sweet couple.”

“That’s precisely the problem! *Hmph*…”

Deborah seemed quite sensitive about it. Could she have someone else she liked?

As I awkwardly froze, feeling my mood drop instantly, Deborah continued what she had been saying earlier.

“More about the condition…”

“…Yeah.”

“Instead of lending the money, I’ll accompany you to the auction house.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I’m serious. Otherwise, it’s a no-go.”

Could I be mistaken?

If she truly liked another man, she wouldn’t even consider accompanying me to the auction.

It was a secret auction, so everyone would be wearing masks to cover their faces, but if she happened to encounter someone there, wouldn’t it be a huge embarrassment?

Of course, I would obviously disguise myself before entering the auction house.

‘No choice, then?’

I had intended to avoid getting involved as much as possible, not knowing what might happen at this auction, but there was no choice.

Since it’s come to this, let’s go all the way.

“Deborah. If you’re going to accompany me to the auction house, there’s something I absolutely must tell you first.”

“Something you absolutely must tell me?”

“Yeah.”

I looked around, confirmed the hallway was now empty, and sent a telepathic message.

-It’s about the transmigrators.

Deborah’s eyes widened.

-Transmigrators?

-Yeah. They’ll probably participate in large numbers this time. So it might be dangerous. Is that still okay?

I didn’t ask her to even help with the fight against the transmigrators. If I wished for that, I’d truly be a conscienceless scumbag.

But as if to mock my thoughts, this extremely kind girl made a bold choice.

-Then I’ll help catch them too!

-…Catch them?

-Yes! Let’s uncover their identities together!

She clenched her fists tightly.

Her appearance was truly cute and dependable, which made me chuckle.

I obediently nodded.

-Alright. Then help me.

-Leave it to me!

Afterwards, we discussed the auction.

We talked about its structure, what items would be available, roughly how much they would cost, what to be wary of, and so on.

Meanwhile, we arrived at the central bulletin board.

“Wow! Ruan! Look over there!”

“Where… Oh. There it is.”

As I scanned the bulletin board with Deborah, I found our names among the top ranks.

Both Deborah and I had gone through several incidents this time, and those experiences were reflected in our scores, earning us considerable evaluations.

Normally, high scores were a dangerous factor that could arouse suspicion from the transmigrators, but this was a group evaluation, so it was fine.

Unless they were idiots like Kenneth, they wouldn’t be certain based solely on this.

We chatted about this dispatch for a while after that, then returned to the classroom.

*

“Ruan!”

A woman with black hair, deep emerald eyes, sharp cat-like features, and a mole near her eye approached with a bright smile.

It was Deborah, disguised.

Dressed in a splendid gown that matched the dress code, she exuded noble charm.

Deborah, standing in front of me, stared up blankly.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“It really is Ruan! You’ve changed so much I didn’t recognize you.”

“Really? I can’t recognize you at all either. You look incredibly fierce?”

“Really? Ruan, you look incredibly well-behaved.”

“What does that mean?”

“Who knows?”

She was so comfortable now, after having avoided me for so long.

At this rate, there might come a day when I’d be pushed around by Deborah. I should probably find an opportunity to assert my authority.

‘Not today, though.’

Deciding to show mercy, I smirked and extended one arm to her.

“Shall we go then?”

“Hehe! Yes.”

Deborah quickly clung to my arm.

And so, we amicably boarded the carriage and headed towards the auction house.

‘I hope things go well.’

I hope I can safely purchase two auctioned items without any issues. And if there are more transmigrators, I’d like to uncover their identities.