Chapter 3

002. The Last Flame of Wolfram's Life (2)

Jefrin, the Academy City.

The stage of the main story of the D/Z SAGA.

According to the setting, this artificial island was created by the first emperor and the royal grand mages of the Loengrin Empire, transforming what was originally the sea.

However, it boasts natural scenery that is hard to believe is artificial, with mountains, canyons, rivers, deserts, volcanic zones, glaciers, and even forests within the island.

And when asked by the prime minister of the time what it would be used for after its completion, the first emperor is said to have simply replied, “An academy.”

The purpose of the first emperor in mobilizing all his resources to create Jefrin was to build a massive academic city.

Academy City, Academy Island, and Academy Fortress Jefrin.

The anecdote of the prime minister grabbing the emperor by the collar and calling him a lunatic is well-known, but Jefrin later became the greatest achievement of the first emperor.

Over three hundred years, the empire flourished with Jefrin at its center.

So why did this natural museum-like Jefrin become a symbol of the royal honor?

Because the Academy Island Jefrin is the gathering place of the essence of education not only of the empire but of the entire continent.

If one has the ability, they can receive education regardless of their commoner status, making it a place where all the education of the continent is concentrated.

First, it is vast. Jefrin offers a wide range of learning, from traditional culture lectures of a small country with a thousand citizens to the infinite possibilities of what students can choose to learn, with professors helping them.

Second, it is prestigious. This academy, which gathers the royal, noble, and talented commoners of the entire continent and teaches them for seven years, is honored worldwide just by graduating.

Third, it is deep. All curricula in Jefrin aim to advance the entire continent and, more importantly, to secure the future core figures of each country from a young age. Jefrin is an island, and escape is impossible. To make their children elite, they must send them to Jefrin, which is equivalent to having their children held hostage by the royal family. This arrangement, which combines cultivation and political effectiveness, made the countries of the continent loyal to the Loengrin Empire.

Students strive day and night to excel in the fields they choose, not only in swordsmanship and magic but also in etiquette, culture, commerce, administration, and even self-sufficiency, hunting, or farming.

This is Jefrin.

If one wishes, they can become a wealthy merchant during their studies and even engage in life-or-death battles with monsters on this artificial island.

The greatest symbol of humanity surpassing nature. A paradise of learning for all students.

"Here is the account information for Mr. Wolfram."

"......"

"There's not a single coin. You're a zero-liner."

It was a land of hell for me alone.

***

Jefrin Central Bank.

The currency of the world is, of course, not unified, and each country has its own monetary system, such as Doge, Ripple, EOS, Maro, Stellar, and Ignis.

This place, which exchanges these currencies into Rins, the currency used in Jefrin, also functions as an exchange office for the entire world.

And the balance of my account, the former student council president and the emperor's child, Wolfram, is.

"Nothing at all?"

"Yes."

It was empty.

Not a single coin.

Isn't this ridiculous?

No matter what, as a royal and a prince, and even the student council president, how could there be no savings?

"Can you print out the account transaction history?"

"Yes."

The employee smiled and printed out the transaction history of my account, and I opened my eyes wide as I read it.

[Depositor: Royal Family

Deposit Amount: 30,000,000R

Withdrawal Location: Eastern Magic Input/Output Device

Withdrawal Amount: 30,000,000R

Withdrawer: Wolfram von Loengrin

Cash Service Amount: 200,000,000R

Withdrawer: Wolfram von Loengrin.]

As I left the bank, I quietly examined the transaction history of Wolfram.

Every month, 80 million Rins are deposited for the sake of dignity. In the official setting, Rins are similar in value to yen. So, a student spends 80 million yen a month.

He spent it on clothes, suspicious magical tools, gambling, and giving it to flatterers.

It wasn't that there was no money; this guy spent it all, and now he is me.

I left the bank.

"Dormitory. Maybe there's something in the dormitory."

Jefrin Dormitory 1, Glastheim, is a 58-story building with 7 underground floors.

Since I used the top-tier special room in this great dormitory, there might be a few expensive items inside. If I could sell them, I could start with some capital.

I remembered the map and opened the dormitory's main door.

"Mr. Wolfram von Loengrin. All your check-out procedures are complete."

"......What?"

"Here are your belongings. Thank you for using our dormitory."

Two suitcases were thrown in front of me. The receptionist smiled kindly and bowed.

"Then, I hope you have a good academic life."

And I was kicked out.

"......"

The world had abandoned me.

***

"Still, it's not bad. In fact, it's good."

If I can activate my happiness circuit, I can find a way somehow.

First, there were some items in the suitcase that looked somewhat expensive.

A necklace and ring with gems, a ceremonial sword, a magic wand, and an old magical book.

"Let's give it a try."

As a member of the royal family, the items I carry are usually expensive.

Even without a job, if I can sell my high-end possessions, I can start with some capital.

Fortunately, I know the locations of good antique shops and pawnshops from the original story.

"Hmm. Are you here to sell something?"

"......Yes."

The dwarf students who run the pawnshop have a keen eye.

They find their own path and grow in the academy by learning how to appraise, buy, and sell items.

Especially the dwarf guild 'Maestro' is known for its strict discipline. As befitting the 'Gold Goblins,' they may haggle but they don't cheat. I have confidence that I can negotiate the best price here.

Dwarves are usually obsessed with money, but they can be quite fun and honest friends.

The way to gain their favor is through weapons, especially swords. Since they are crazy about swords, I can start by selling the ceremonial sword.

Just as I was about to unlock the suitcase, a cold voice came from across the table.

"Ah, no need to open it."

"......What do you mean?"

"Don't you know? It's a polite way of saying 'get lost.' Even if the item inside is the Wind God Sword Rapidregina, we have no intention of buying it."

"Why? Do gold goblins pick and choose their items?"

"It's come to that. Please leave quickly. We are also in a difficult situation."

"......"

The dwarf student scratched his beard, clicked his tongue, and sighed.

And I was kicked out.

"......"

Why?

Is there a Wolfram chapter in the original story?

"No. Calm down. Calm down, Wolfram. Let's count the primes. Numbers that can only be divided by 1 and themselves give me courage......"

I kept muttering to myself.

Yes, Wolfram might have caused trouble at the pawnshop.

He might have haggled with the dwarves because he had no money, and if he bullied Maestro, it's no wonder he's on the blacklist.

"If not Maestro, then Yggdrasil."

The alliance of elves. They are cold, but they don't refuse.

I have a magic robe to sell. It's clearly a top-tier item.

I noticed that it is made of El Condor silk, which elves love.

If I sell it to the elf guild Yggdrasil, I can make a good amount of money.

"Maybe three million?"

In the original story, El Condor silk is worth that much. Symbolic silk would be around five million.

Elves dislike unfair deals, so I wouldn't have bullied them, and they probably wouldn't have a grudge against me.

When I arrived at the Yggdrasil branch in the center of Jefrin and requested a meeting with an elf......

"I will refuse."

"......Do you know what this item is?"

"A top-tier robe made of El Condor silk. It's a top-tier item."

"You know it's a top-tier item and still won't buy it?"

"Yes."

"......It's an incredible masterpiece, you know?"

"Of course. The price is 30 million Rins. Would you like me to put a price tag on it?"

"Thirty million?"

"Yes. It's worth that much."

I smiled inwardly. They don't know the price, so they're easy to take advantage of.

"Then I'll sell it for ten million."

"I won't buy it."

"......Ten million."

"I won't."

I received a rejection even colder than from the dwarves.

A 30 million Rin robe that won't sell.

"Can you tell me why?"

"I'm sorry, but it's difficult to explain. Yggdrasil's stance will not change."

Why are they so cold, really?

***

"......"

After that, I tried to sell the magical book at the golden tower, but it was also rejected, even more coldly.

Dwarves, elves, and humans all refused to accept me.

This is strange.

It's very different from the strategies I knew.

This is not a route made by a simple trial and error.

When I start Jefrin, I always do faction favorability first.

If I do this, they will start selling rare items from Act 4.

I can buy them and upgrade my Blacksmithing skill to make equipment, or make a profit from the price difference.

It's a necessary play for the Golden Hand ending. But if they won't buy from me and won't communicate, what am I supposed to do?

"......Should I try selling it again?"

I walked down the street, which was starting to get dark, with the ceremonial sword in hand.

When I went to the Maestro guild, the dwarf who looked at the sword sighed.

"It's a masterpiece."

"Isn't it?"

It's a masterpiece even to me. It's a ceremonial sword, but it's worth at least five million.

"We've already said it, but Maestro cannot purchase this item."

"I don't understand. Don't you know this is a one-of-a-kind item?"

"......I know."

"Then isn't it a shame for the name of the gold goblins? You buy good items at a fair price. Isn't it the virtue of the gold goblins to rescue good items that have fallen into the wrong hands?"

"......"

My words made the dwarf's eyes waver.

This is the official setting. Dwarves' eyes waver endlessly when they see good metal products.

Not buying it would go against their beliefs, wouldn't it?

"Reason... reason......"

The dwarf stroked his beard, took a deep breath, and looked at me.

"It's because the seller is you, Wolfram von Loengrin. Even bad things have limits."

"......?"

"The rumor has already spread this morning. Wolfram von Loengrin is no longer the student council president. Therefore, Maestro, Yggdrasil, Diablos, and the Five-Color Tower are not to treat him as the student council president."

Of course, I knew I would receive envy and resentment.

First, I would sell the sword, then the robe, then the magical book, and enter the lowest dormitory. Then, I would seize an opportunity to rise to the top of the game.

So I put on a thick skin.

"What does that mean? I'm just a regular student now. Even if I don't ask for equal treatment, you can't refuse the transaction itself. That goes against the principles of Maestro that I know."

"......It doesn't necessarily contradict it."

"What?"

"Maestro always prioritizes the guild's interests."

"Is trading with me a loss?"

"As you know, in Jefrin, only the student council president can stand above us. The only upper class, and the next student council president, is hostile towards you."

"......"

That's when it hit me.

Because the next student council president, Eve, is hostile towards me, the entire Jefrin is on guard against me, or pretending not to notice.

They don't want to be on the bad side of the Loengrin royal family.

They don't want to be on the bad side of the next regime.

"......I see. I understand. Thank you for the explanation."

"I didn't expect to hear a thank you from you. Hmm. Are you the notorious student council president?"

"I've had some realizations. I plan to live quietly from now on."

"......Show me the sword."

"Do you want to buy it?"

"No. I'll just put a price tag on it. It's worth about 50 million Rins."

"Fifty million?"

"Yes. Even with the strictest appraisal by Maestro, it would easily be worth 50 million."

"......Hmm. Is that so?"

Why are they doing this? Are they playing with me?

"Anyway, I'm sorry. But I'm sincere. If you attend classes diligently and find a job to work hard, the next student council president's anger might subside, don't you think?"

Eve's anger subside? Ha, that's impossible. She's the kind of person who would cut off my zombie head for her ex-boyfriend.

"If you're talking about a job, will you hire me?"

"Get out."

People, really.

They don't have to be that cold.

"Still...... why did it jump tenfold?"

Are they trying to discourage me, or is there some reason?

Anyway.

I smiled at the items in my bag worth 80 million.

I'm full even without eating.

"With this, let's start a new life."

Strangely, it's about the same amount of money I had before entering this world.

Yes, once again.

In this hellish world.

Let's try to start over.