Chapter 47

EP.47 Enlightenment, and Growth (3)

Professor Roselle von Trias of the Mana Trade Studies.

He sits in his office, sipping a cup of coffee and letting out a faint smile. If another professor or student had seen this, they would have been very surprised.

‘Professor Roselle is smiling!’

They would have made a fuss over it. After all, this sight would never match the usual Roselle.

Roselle is always sharp and never shows his emotions. When such a professor smiles, even if it’s just a little, there’s usually only one reason.

‘She’s working hard.’

Roselle’s gaze is directed at his disciple, who is diligently moving her hands at one corner of the office. She has been sitting there for hours, writing something.

‘For this child to be so enthusiastic...’

It was a common sight five years ago. However, it’s the first time he’s seen this from his disciple who returned after five years. Old memories resurfaced, and Roselle sipped his coffee with a smile.

“I miss it.”

Hearing Roselle’s muttered words, Lanie looked up. She tilted her head as she looked at Roselle.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Hmm, nothing. I seem to have disturbed your concentration. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I’m almost done.”

“Can I take a look?”

Lanie asked. Roselle walked over to her desk.

The office for the Mana Trade Studies professor is spacious, but only Lanie and Roselle use this large room. Because of this, the desks are long and connected without partitions.

Roselle picked up a document labeled as a lesson plan from the organized papers on the table.

“Let’s see.”

Leaning against the desk, Roselle reviewed the plan.

‘Indeed, it’s different from the previous one.’

The content is systematic. Unlike the previous plan, which was vague, this one is clearly organized. Most importantly, the annotated comments with asterisks are very pleasing.

* Never write lines like, “Just do it.”

Roselle’s lips curved into a smile.

‘You must have learned a lot from Professor Macht.’

The review of the plan was quickly over.

Putting down the paper, Roselle asked Lanie, who was looking at him expectantly.

“How is it?”

“It’s not bad. If you continue teaching like this, there won’t be much left for me to teach in the future.”

Roselle nodded in satisfaction.

It was worth making several professors take a break for the past ten days.

‘Once she gets the hang of it, she grows rapidly.’

Roselle believes in her monstrous growth rate.

All he needs to do is give her minor advice from the side and help her find her direction.

‘Advice, advice...’

Just as Roselle was about to return to his seat, he paused.

Upon closer inspection, there was one thing that caught his eye in the documents.

“I have one question.”

“Yes?”

“In the document, how do you plan to handle the ‘analysis of the best circuits students can draw’ section? If you’re going to assign it as homework, it should be covered in the next class.”

The level of the students at Aphelia is not low.

Among them, there are those who can draw top-tier spell circuits.

‘But, they can’t do it during class, right?’

As far as Roselle remembers, Lanie’s class lasts about one to one and a half hours. And, to draw a top-tier spell circuit from scratch, it would take at least 40 to 50 minutes.

“Isn’t it a bit tight to assign it during class?”

“Oh, that’s because...”

Lanie took out a stack of papers from beside her. They were prepared according to the number of students.

“I’ve prepared these.”

“...”

Roselle silently inspected the papers.

The material itself is extraordinary.

‘...Did I see it wrong?’

Roselle’s expression stiffened as he examined the papers.

“Wait a moment. Lanie, these are...”

“Yes, they are circuit recording sheets. I’ve cast a Memorize spell on them so the circuits they imagine in their heads can be directly transferred.”

Circuit recording sheets.

Roselle is well aware of them. They are also used as problem sheets to record difficult problems in the Magic Association.

However, what surprised Roselle was not this point.

‘They’re incredibly expensive, right?’

The price of these circuit recording sheets is astronomical. If Roselle’s memory serves, a bundle of circuit recording sheets costs as much as a month’s budget for a decent laboratory.

‘At least 40 to 50 sheets...’

Doubtful, Roselle asked Lanie.

“Lanie.”

“Yes?”

“Are all of these circuit recording sheets?”

“No, I only got ten for now.”

...For now?

“‘For now’...?”

“Lord Black Tower said he would engrave them himself. I’m planning to go and get them later.”

“Do you intend to distribute them to all the students?”

“Yes? Of course. It would be discriminatory to give some and not others. It has to be fair.”

Roselle slapped his forehead.

“Where did you get the money for this...?”

“I checked my card, and there’s a lot saved up.”

“What?”

Lanie tilted her head and pulled out a small card from her robe. It’s a gold coin storage card issued by the state.

‘I remember, didn’t they say they put the knights’ monthly salaries on this card? And the money can be withdrawn without any special procedures.’

While Roselle was thinking this, Lanie infused mana into the card. Soon, numbers appeared on the card.

“There’s this much saved up.”

Roselle narrowed his eyes and calculated the amount.

Ten thousand, one hundred thousand, one million... The endless digits made Roselle blink.

“...What is all this?”

“Bounty money, special training rewards, and some rescue operation rewards... I’ve received a lot, but I just opened it now.”

“...What about travel funds?”

“Hmm? The knight support funds are enough. Kyle and the others... well, they seem to have spent it on clothes and outings, but I need to use it too.”

Saying this, Lanie smiled sweetly.

“Did you save a lot?”

Roselle couldn’t smile.

‘...A little?’

Is that what it is?

For a moment, the disciple in front of him looked different to Roselle. Even he, a senior of the Ashen Tower, doesn’t lag behind in wealth, but...

‘This is on a different level, isn’t it?’

The amount recorded on the card was not something to be taken lightly. It was enough to build an entire tower.

2.

“Hey, Kyle.”

“What is it, Sara?”

“I’m trying to get all the equipment this time. Is it okay?”

Kyle glanced at the catalog Sara brought.

Clothes made by the Black Tower.

Spell-stocked clothing.

Below it, a small note stated that only custom orders were accepted.

“I think it looks good too.”

This time, Remia handed him the catalog.

It introduced defensive gear, a collaboration between elves and the Black Tower. The advertisement boldly claimed that spells were engraved on the elves’ clothing.

“...”

Kyle silently looked at Remia and Sara.

The outfits they were currently wearing were also custom-made defensive gear and priest robes from the Black Tower.

He recalled when they bought them.

There was no need to dig through old memories. He remembers it was probably less than a month ago.

‘Didn’t they buy them recently?’

Kyle was about to ask but paused, observing Sara and Remia’s expressions.

“Huh? Kyle? Is it not okay?”

“Tonight, I’ll give you something special that Kyle likes...”

Her eyes were sparkling.

She naturally leaned in, trying to charm him.

“...”

Kyle, facing their burdensome gazes, recalled the rewards they had received this month.

‘...What’s the VIP customer discount percentage again?’

Weighing the money he had and the discount percentage, the answer was clear.

‘It’s really a close call.’

If he reported that their equipment was damaged, they might receive some compensation from the kingdom.

“...Alright, let’s go shopping tomorrow.”

“Yay!”

“Thank you, Kyle!”

As Sara and Remia cheered, Kyle rubbed his temples.

‘Travel essentials... will probably have to be in the form of a loan again.’

After all, they would lend money to a hero.

However, the looks they get these days are not the same as before. Kyle has a hunch why.

-...Is the Ashen Mage not here?

-Now that you mention it, he retired, didn’t he?

-Is the Ashen Mage...?

Merchants keep mentioning that kid’s name. Then, they frown upon confirming that Lanie is not around. One day, they even said this.

-Kyle-sama, I’m a bit embarrassed to say this, but... we’ve been lending things to you for free because the Ashen Mage often visited our village and handled minor monster hunts.

-The Ashen Mage personally engraved protective circuits...

-Lanie-sama has been contributing some money...

While saying this, the merchants subtly hint.

‘Do you have anything to give us?’

It’s as if they’re asking that.

“...”

Kyle frowned.

He slightly lifted his head and glanced at the cheering Sara and Remia. They were admiring the Black Tower’s designs in the catalog.

Seeing them like this...

-You damn brats, are you crazy?

A familiar voice echoed in his ears.

-Why are you buying this again? Do you think money grows out of the ground? What the hell? Do you need this? The only spell circuit on it is for cleanliness?

-Cancel the spells now. Before I tear the clothes you’re wearing.

Words that existed in a corner of Kyle’s heart.

The image of the ash-haired mage bluntly shooting them out flashed before his eyes.

“...”

Kyle leaned his head back.

Today, he felt particularly nostalgic for that kid.

3.

The top floor of the Black Tower.

The personal research lab and office of the Tower Lord, Yutoal.

There was a guest there.

Not just any visitor, but a guest who was invited. The fact that Yutoal, who rarely receives guests, invited this one shows how special the guest is.

“...”

Yutoal silently glanced at the guest sitting opposite him. She is currently a figure of interest in the capital.

Lanie von Trias.

She blinked her eyes and looked around the office, seemingly intrigued.

‘...It’s a good thing if she’s interested.’

Yutoal nodded, pleased with this fact.

“Do you have any questions?”

The girl nodded slightly and pointed to the magazine.

‘That’s...’

It was the catalog showcasing the high-end clothing with engraved circuits, a pride of the Black Tower.

“About this catalog?”

“Hmm, the Black Tower’s business. Are you interested?”

Yutoal said this while glancing at the girl’s attire. Even at first glance, it was not ordinary.

‘...Even the royal emblem is printed on it.’

It means it was a gift from the royal family.

Although the Black Tower’s circuit engraving technology is superior, the royal family’s technique of infusing mana into the fabric is top-notch.

‘...Is she interested in clothes?’

If so, he could gift her one, even if it’s a bit expensive. It would be a small price to win the favor of such a powerful mage.

‘Let’s see, do we have any fabric left...’

Just as Yutoal was thinking this, the girl shook her head.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then?”

“Next to the VIP customers in the catalog, there’s a K, right?”

She pointed to the VIP section of the catalog. More specifically, the initial K at the top of the list.

“Oh, a VIP customer of our Black Tower.”

Yutoal shrugged.

Although it’s listed by initials, Yutoal knows the identity.

Customer K, who has never missed a new product since the early days of the clothing business.

‘The hero, Kyle.’

It was none other than the hero Kyle.

‘The amount he has spent is enough to build an entire tower and still have money left over.’

Thanks to him, the Black Tower’s clothing business has successfully expanded.

“A very grateful customer. Hmm, it’s difficult to reveal the identity of this customer. We must protect the guest’s identity.”

“No, I’m not really curious about the identity.”

The girl asked.

“Does this customer K still buy a lot?”

“Hmm? He renewed his VIP status in the last catalog. He’s a steady buyer.”

At this answer, the girl’s expression became very subtle. It was a strange mix of disbelief and satisfaction.

Then, as if reaching a conclusion, she nodded slightly and spoke.

“Tower Lord.”

“Yes?”

“When releasing new products, it’s fine if the quality of the engraved circuits is not a concern, as long as the design is beautiful.”

“...What do you mean by that?”

Yutoal tilted his head.

“Just try it once.”

Lanie said with a faint smile.

“It will sell well.”

Author’s Note

One side grows, but...

The other side neither realizes nor grows.

I often see comments asking about the hero party, so I tried to write it with a bit of a comedic feel. Of course, I expect you were hoping for a more serious tone...

I’m saving that material for later!

*This week’s updates were a bit sparse, right? The lecture scenes required a lot of thought, so it took a bit longer. There was also a crazy final assignment from the professor...

But I’ll definitely keep to the five updates a week!

I’ll try to update all four days—Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday—if possible!