Chapter 49

<048. Assassin & Greed (1)>

The next morning at dawn.

After tying the makeshift shaft to Petrasu's body and preparing the cart, we set off.

"…Are you really planning to use Petrasu as a cart horse?"

"Wasn't he a wolf?"

"That's not what I meant."

Petrasu sighed deeply and started walking slowly.

With both hands free, it was quite convenient, and I didn't have to pull the cart myself, so it saved a lot of energy.

What a great thing.

We headed for the first-year general department and immediately set up a stall.

"…Isn't Huyi a descendant of the royal family? A distant relative?"

"The most legitimate heir."

"Then why are you opening a stall here? I don't understand."

"Do you need to understand?"

At that, the wolf chuckled.

"Alright, let's start business."

"What should I do?"

"Guard me. And… occasionally show some charm to the customers."

"Ha. You want me to show charm? After three hundred years…!"

"Customers are coming."

The wolf looked at me with a troubled expression, and soon the first customer arrived.

"Senior! It's been a while!"

"We're here. Hello."

"…Ah, hello. Senior Wolfram."

"Come in."

First-year chicks.

"Ooh! A dog! A dog! Look at this huge red dog! What's its name?"

"…Huh? A dog? No, this is… a dog?"

"Are you keeping a dog? It looks like a good guard dog. Hehe."

"Who said it's a dog…!"

"Ooh, it's growling. So cute!"

"Dog…? Is it really a dog, this…?"

"Senior, why are you suddenly keeping a dog?"

"Hey, they can't understand me, can they!"

"Growling again!"

"…A dog…?"

"So cute. The dog we keep at home is this big."

Amid the noisy chirping, Petrasu looked up at me.

Right. They can't understand Petrasu's words.

This is somehow related to the royal bloodline, but explaining it to Petrasu would just waste time.

I gestured for him to give up, and Petrasu sighed deeply and sat down.

"Ooh, you sat down. Good boy."

"Dog…? No. Hmm?"

"Ah, what does he eat? Are you interested in farming, Senior? My hometown in the east has a lot of pastures!"

Vanilla, Yogurt, and Milmea started chattering noisily around Petrasu, and Petrasu, annoyed by the constant attention, clicked his tongue and then chuckled.

Anyway, unlike the stupid Vanilla and Milmea, who suddenly brought up farming and hometown stories, Yogurt seemed to sense something instinctively from Petrasu. After all, she's an elf.

Ah, elves and fairies are a bit different. While elves are social beings, fairies are… well, nature-born… whimsical beings?

Something like that.

"Ahem. Well, this popularity of mine."

Eventually, the chicks' chirping seemed to amuse Petrasu, and he cleared his throat and nodded.

After working like a dog for three hundred years under a fussy queen and waiting for a royal bloodline that never came, he must secretly enjoy the attention.

"Is it good?"

"Ahem."

"Right. A lot of kids will come, and they'll all be interested in you. Act as a mascot properly."

"…I understand."

In school, after class, I used to keep a huge husky at a PC room.

Eventually, the PC room became a paradise for whimsical beings, and the husky, stressed out, eventually went back home, but this one doesn't need to worry about such a sad ending.

After all, this is a fairy, or rather, a three-hundred-year-old monster.

"Then, give me what he usually eats!"

"Ah, me too."

"Me, I'll take one less, please."

Milmea asked for one less, while the other two asked for their usual, so I quickly made and handed them over, then asked Milmea.

"Why one less?"

"…Well, I guess I'm not hungry. Hehe."

"I wish I could understand the complex feelings of a girl."

"…Yeah. Senior is a good person, but sometimes…"

"…."

I don't get it. Why do I have to be criticized?

I shrugged and ignored the chicks' chatter.

Soon, a figure appeared in front of the stall and spoke.

"Senior, you're here."

"Nepthys?"

"Yes. Oh, Milmea is here too?"

"…Ah. Senior Nepthys. Hello!"

"Ah, are you here to buy donuts, Senior?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Is that so? Wolfram Senior's donuts are delicious."

"Hehe. Yes."

While the pink chick and Nepthys were chatting, the bell rang.

"Ah, lunch break is over!"

"Senior, we'll go now."

"…Wolfram Senior, is it okay if I visit the convenience store later?"

I nodded and waved, and the chicks bowed and ran back to the campus.

Then, I looked at the remaining customer.

"Nepthys. Why aren't you going?"

"No classes today?"

"No, I meant, how are your classes going?"

"Ah, I've finished all the syllabus up to the midterm. It's self-attendance? Oh, Senior, you keep a dog? I love dogs. Hello?"

"…."

The problem with the Knight Department is this. While the Magic Department focuses on theoretical verification and magic practice, the Knight Department is mostly about how many tier skills you can use or how many wooden boards you can cut with a sword.

In other words, capable Knight Department students can progress quickly and focus on other things.

However, the Knight Department isn't always great.

The Magic Department is expensive, so many students are nobles or have full support from nobles. This means Magic Department students don't have to worry about tuition.

However, Knight Department students who can't afford tuition have to pay it themselves.

To get a Jefrin diploma. To become a guardian knight for a noble family after graduation. They treat survival until graduation as a task. Nepthys is a prime example.

I waved her away as if pushing her away from Petrasu.

"Got it. Finish your drink and go back."

"Ah, actually, I have another reason for coming."

"Another reason?"

Nepthys lowered her voice and hinted at me.

"Can you make a lot of money with this? Do you want to join?"

"An opportunity to make a lot of money?"

"Well, I got a treasure map."

"Go away."

"No, really. Listen to the end. It's a real treasure map! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Never come back."

"Senior!"

***

After that.

Due to Nepthys' persistent request, I had to listen to the story about the treasure map.

"Treasure maps don't exist. Why would anyone mark treasure on a map? No one has left Jefrin in three hundred years. Do you really think there's treasure hidden outside?"

"…I know, but please look at the real thing."

With that, Nepthys handed me an old scroll.

A map showing the eastern residential area and the eastern forest.

At first glance, it looks like a plausible map.

"What do you think?"

"What do you mean?"

"The map. Isn't there a clear mark in the corner? According to my research in the library…"

"The ancient Jefrin emblem. Three hundred years ago. The great ancestor designated it as the official emblem of the first Jefrin, the crossed staff and sword."

"…Then."

Nepthys said nothing and swallowed hard.

From here on, it could involve the royal family.

And a commoner daring to mention the first emperor? Immediate execution for blasphemy.

However, Wolfram von Loen格林 is of royal blood.

So, Nepthys is asking me if the map is real because she can't say it herself.

What's the point of asking?

"Right. This is a real map. At least, the emblem isn't fake."

"…As expected. I see."

Unlike the excited Nepthys, my face was cold.

Why?

Based on my long gaming experience, Jefrin's treasure maps are never real.

The rewards aren't always bad.

Later, you can get a tier 3 item from a treasure map.

However, D/Z SAGA is a game that strictly rewards effort.

So, a map marking the location of treasure?

Since it provides location information without effort, it's natural that obtaining the treasure requires even more effort than usual farming.

And I've seen this treasure map many times.

"So, you're going to look for it? Isn't it beyond your attack power?"

"That's true! But I have someone to ask for help."

"Who?"

"Teacher! Please come in!"

"Ooh! Wolfram! It's been a while!"

Brown skin, grayish-white hair, blue eyes. Two extremely practical daggers at his waist.

A real monster with 22 Dexterity and 20 Will. The highest authority in assassination.

"Rudica Hotson Shadow."

"Right! Nepthys said there's an interesting story, so I came!"

"…."

This damn event, the moment it became painfully realistic.

***

Rudica, who suddenly appeared, smiled and made a V with his left hand.

"So, you're going to look for the treasure marked on this treasure map?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Rudica's heart races at the thought of treasure!"

"Do I