Chapter 48 : Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Waker-Bon Family.
A small gang ambushing lone merchants on mountain paths, they grew into a mafia-like force after acquiring businesses in nearby cities.
Luca pictured their members.
Armed men in black suits, carrying tools.
Annoying types who checked shop revenues under the guise of “security.”
When Luca’s profits were high, they demanded security incentives or forced him to sell good items cheap.
“Waker-Bon Family?”
Luca grimaced, head aching.
“Parasites of the Lemaos Night Market.”
“Do they meddle a lot?”
“…They usually leave sellers alone, scared they’ll flee to other regions.”
Sigrin narrowed her eyes.
Luca, a minor and local student, couldn’t leave, so that didn’t apply.
“Have they messed with you?”
“Had some run-ins with their grunts.”
Luca rolled up his sleeve, revealing a knife scar on his forearm.
“But once I made myself clear, they backed off.”
“Hm…”
Sigrin’s gaze lingered on the scar.
‘A puny gang, acting so bold.’
I didn’t like it.
✦ ✦ ✦
The famed Lemaos Night Market finally opened!
Light orbs floated along a street leading to the plaza. Green neon lights softly lit the area.
Sigrin, Apple, Bilharan, and Luca rented a former salon to sell goods and unpacked there.
The salon, likely high-end, had modern decor. Windowless and fully enclosed, it exuded a mystical vibe from outside.
Apparently, it was Kiriki and his inner circle’s meeting room, lent specially.
“Bilha, I’m setting up lights. Should we go mystical or keep it bright and luxurious?”
“…?”
“Thought so. Let’s lean into the building’s secretive vibe. Since we handle special items, mystical it is.”
Sigrin turned off the lights and installed soft lighting. The salon’s many mirrors reflected the lights, doubling their effect.
“Sigrin, here. Got robes from Sereb with a face-blurring effect.”
“Thanks.”
Kids doing business with adults risked being underestimated.
Sigrin and the group donned Luca’s robes.
Their faces, except the lower parts, blurred.
Wearing matching outfits beyond uniforms felt like the dreamed-of academy “friendship activity,” thrilling Sigrin.
“Smile!”
Sigrin raised a film camera and snapped a photo.
Luca gave a thumbs-up, Bilha yawned, and Apple avoided the lens.
‘Like a club activity—so fun.’
Unassigned to any town, Sigrin couldn’t join town-run social clubs, and this eased that resentment.
She’d envied Dandiraon, the commoner social club, bonding and flirting.
Sigrin looked at Luca, Apple, and Bilharan.
Apple kept glancing outside, restless.
Wanting a Temporary Core Generator, she seemed hesitant, mindful of Luca and Sigrin’s gazes.
Pushing a “pathetic” goal makes others’ opinions sting.
Poor thing, so self-conscious.
Sigrin approached Apple, slinging an arm around her shoulder.
“Apple, the street’s quiet now. Wanna check out the night market goods?”
“Huh? But… No… Everyone’s working, I should help…”
Heh, cute.
Chuckling, Sigrin pulled out her wallet and handed Apple some bills.
“Go buy some snacks, I’m hungry.”
“…!!”
Apple’s eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously.
“Leave it to me!!”
Watching Apple bounce out, Bilha grabbed Sigrin’s sleeve, saying wistfully,
“White rice.”
“Wait patiently till Apple brings tasty snacks.”
“Tch.”
Bilha, wanting to skip work and buy snacks, clicked his tongue.
✦ ✦ ✦
Soon after setup, customers entered the salon.
The night market was huge—people from the next city, unseen at the academy, trickled in.
Customers marveled at the moody lighting and the mysterious, face-blurred staff.
“Wow, must be a new shop. This place was always closed.”
“Hello, are you from Haret?”
Merchants from cities sometimes came to the night market to sell regulated items.
“Maybe?”
Saying they lived in Lemaos would reveal they were students, so Sigrin played coy.
“Haha, sticking to the concept, huh?”
Before more questions, Sigrin shifted focus to the customers.
“Are you from Haret’s Magic Tower?”
“Eek, how’d you know?”
“I saw the hunger for top materials in your eyes.”
How’d I know? You’re all scruffy.
Magic Tower workers, like Assistant Angel, were usually disheveled from nonstop research.
“Man, these materials are in great condition! Clean cuts, well-preserved—at least C-grade.”
“Hey, doesn’t this remind you of that popular blond kid merchant?”
“Yeah, was bummed when he vanished.”
Sweeping, Luca flinched. Embarrassed, he pulled his robe lower.
“Oh… But this vibe doesn’t suit him. Remember that mafia security group he fought?”
“Right, blood on the streets, intense. Didn’t even seem to use core powers, but he fought well.”
“Wonder if that kid’s doing okay at the academy.”
Chatting and browsing, the Magic Tower group stopped at one section.
“Huh?”
“What, is that Epurl??”
“Low-grade, but definitely Epurl!!”
The two mages’ eyes widened.
Epurl.
A key component for high-performance magical tools.
Big-city Magic Towers monopolized Epurl extraction tech, not releasing the special equipment needed.
They also restricted Epurl supply, so only Element, the famous mage guild alliance, got it at high prices.
Small-town Magic Tower workers like them rarely saw it.
“Thank you!!!”
“…?”
“Thank you so much!!”
A customer grabbed Bilha’s hand, thanking him profusely.
“I gotta call the Magic Tower master! We’re buying all these materials. Can we reserve them?”
“Jason, come here. There’s Bongan Jade and Golem Stone!!”
“What? What’s the grade?”
“Dunno. Same as Epurl, maybe?”
“Wow… Items priests or shamans at the temple would go nuts for. Too bad we’re mages.”
Low-grade Bongan Jade and Golem Stone were less rare than Epurl but still valuable.
The Magic Tower group, eyes gleaming, scoured all the goods.
“Well-maintained, rare items—perfect. Shame there’s not more.”
A middle-aged woman rushed in—the Haret Magic Tower master, summoned.
“All the Epurl—give it to me!! How much?!!”
“…”
“…”
Is this normal?
They sold well without trying.