The Zeus Mercenary Guild was a group of mercenaries I got to know while working together on the food supply for the border unit.
They would do just about anything for money, and the guild master, ‘Apollo’, even offered me a scouting opportunity since he seemed to take a liking to me.
After the tournament, while wandering around Zephia, I noticed that the people from Edward were struggling because the game had sold way more than expected.
If this continued and game sales started to dip, my profits would also be affected.
Unable to watch this unfold, I contacted Apollo and led the idle mercenaries along with our master and disciples to the Edward Consortium.
Julia grumbled a bit, but hey, nothing’s free in this world.
When I told her to pay her dues for all the free meals, she eventually came along.
We split into two groups: one to help the shop selling the game crystal balls, and the other to assist in making them.
The people working at the shop were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.
It was time to use some magic.
“Jiren! Infuse some strength into the people!”
“Yes! Brother!! Busker (Berserker Magic)!! Kaya (Healing Magic)!!!”
Using Busker (Berserker Magic) and Kaya (Healing Magic) simultaneously gave an endless supply of stamina and focus like a berserker—a combination magic from the Irene School called ‘Bongbong Drink’.
Jiren and I cast this buff magic on the tired workers, reviving their spirits.
“Oooh!! What is this power!?”
“I feel like I can work until tomorrow!!”
The exhausted employees of the Edward Consortium started to regain their energy thanks to the Irene School’s buff magic.
Then…
“Is this where I should place these 300 crystal ball boxes?”
“That’s right, but… doesn’t carrying all this alone feel heavy?”
“Heavy? Have you ever carried a mess kit in a war zone?”
As the people from the Zeus Mercenary Guild also pitched in, the situation at the shop began to improve.
If only the stock of crystal balls would arrive, we should be in the clear.
*
Meanwhile, in the basement of the Edward Consortium headquarters, where crystal balls were manufactured, it required massive facilities spread across the empire for game crystal ball production, and this was one of them.
The scheduled production for the day had already finished, but people were buying so much that they rushed to begin additional production.
As always, this extra work was wearing everyone out.
So, they needed that magic too.
“Let’s go, Edward people!! Busker (Berserker Magic_Elf Sage version) / Kaya (Healing Magic_Elf Sage version)!”
Seeing the situation, Irene unleashed the Bongbong Drink magic in a wide area.
The people, worn out from producing crystal balls, felt a spark in their brains after receiving the Elf Sage version of Bongbong Drink.
“Uoooooo!!!!!”
“My hands! They won’t stop!!!!”
But perhaps they got a bit too excited?
There was a casualty.
“Ah! Irene! I’m still okay!! Ughahgahgah!”
With the buff from Bongbong Drink, Julia, in top condition, started producing 500 crystal balls by herself, absolutely earning her keep.
And among those assigned to the crystal ball production facility, there was one person who truly made a big difference.
“Thomas, it seems like there’s a shortage at 3rd Street, 12th Street, and 87th Street. Also, at this rate, it might be good to send supplies to 114th Street as well.”
It was Karen, who was assisting Thomas with administrative tasks.
Karen helped Thomas by placing supplies and labor precisely where needed, and from Thomas’s perspective, she was even more helpful than dozens of workers.
“Thanks to you, Karen, I can breathe. I’d almost want to recommend you for a promotion if you weren’t already from the partner school.”
“Not at all. It’s all possible because the Edward Consortium was well-prepared.”
Humility on top of that, Karen resembled a newbie with fresh talent enticing an old-timer, and Thomas stroked his moustache, thinking that if he genuinely taught Karen, she would become an incredible talent.
*
The last day of the hectic founding day festival had passed.
In the end, our school, the Zeus Guild, and the people from Edward all worked hard until the very end, and they had great results to show for it.
“Everyone! Our Edward Consortium achieved the highest sales among the shops in Zephia!!!”
In the banquet hall of the Edward Consortium, not only the staff from Edward were present, but also our Irene School and the Zeus Mercenary Guild had gathered.
Sylvia proudly announced the achievements we’d accomplished together to all the hard-working people.
“Thanks to everyone’s hard work, tonight’s celebration is on us at the Edward Consortium! Enjoy to your heart’s content!”
“Wowwwww!”
“Thank you, miss!!!”
The banquet hall was filled with an abundance of food, drinks, and even strawberry ice cream, which the master loved.
Our Irene School members gathered to make a toast.
Cheers!
“Great job, Master, and everyone, including Julia!”
Most of the disciples, except for the young ones, had worked hard since the following day.
But everyone looked happy and smiled brightly, and the master spoke up.
“It’s alright, my disciple. I had fun!”
The master seemed genuinely joyful for the hard work and wore a beaming smile.
And then Noirin, seemingly excited, said, “Right, Yuren! It was touching to see people play the game I created!”
Noirin had created 70% of the Super Thomas stage.
She had a deep attachment to it, and the success of the game made her immensely happy, as if it were her own achievement.
“Hahaha! It’s a shame I didn’t get the prize, but it was a fun journey!”
Julia seemed to have ended on a satisfied note as she happily drank her wine.
Was that wine the famous western wine known to be the most expensive in the empire!?
Julia enjoyed herself until the very last drop.
However…
“Where did Jiren go?”
As I scanned the surroundings, I noticed Jiren was absent.
Where could that brat be?
Just as I was wondering this, I heard Jiren’s voice coming from the mercenary guild side.
“Can I really go and have fun? Big Brother!?”
“Of course! I told you to come! I’ll take you to an amazing place~!”
It seemed Jiren had gotten quite friendly with the people from the Zeus Mercenary Guild while working together at the shop.
The muscular mercenaries looked like they really liked Jiren as they laughed heartily, sharing tales of “men,” and Karen’s expression started to harden as she watched.
“…Yuren.”
“Karen… just go easy on him.”
“Yes, I understand.”
With an ice-cold expression, Karen slowly approached Jiren.
Jiren, you’re bringing calamity upon yourself.
Better handle it well…
The festival continued even after that.
As Jiren got scolded, the people from the consortium, our disciples, and the mercenary guild all ate, drank, played games, and enjoyed the last celebration of the festival together.
Then, a familiar presence was felt.
“Were you here, Yuren?”
By now, I was consciously trying not to be surprised, so I sensed Sylvia approaching.
She spoke comfortably.
“Can I speak casually now?”
“Isn’t that alright? We’re ‘friends,’ after all. Right?”
It was unexpected for the word ‘friends’ to come from Sylvia’s lips.
I had thought she was thoroughly a consortium person, but I didn’t dislike the word brimming with dreams and hopes.
“Indeed, we are friends, Sylvia.”
I clinked glasses with Sylvia, who had a noticeably brighter expression than before the festival, and enjoyed the wine.
As I savored the fragrant taste of the wine, Sylvia grinned like a little devil.
“So, how do you feel? What’s it like to be the wealthiest in the Southern School of magic?”
While the exact calculations hadn’t come out yet, it was said that Super Thomas had sold immensely throughout the empire.
Moreover, once the additional 10% profit, which we had not received, came in, it seemed likely that our school would undoubtedly be the richest among Southern magic schools.
However…
“I still can’t really comprehend it.”
To me, who had been wishing to run the school stably for a year, such a tremendous amount of money still didn’t feel real.
Noticing my expression, Sylvia smiled knowingly.
“It’d be wise to think quickly. Money always brings with it obligations. Whether to spend it, invest it, or pay taxes to the state.”
“Yeah, I really should think about that soon.”
The mention of taxes made the reality hit me hard.
I’d discuss it with everyone as soon as I got home and make a decision.
Sylvia looked at me with her bright eyes and asked, “Can I ask you something, Yuren?”
“What do you want to know?”
She seemed lost in thought, as if reminiscing about someone.
Then she opened her mouth.
“My grandfather once told me that what a person truly wants to do when they have money is their real dream.”
I remembered hearing something similar in my previous life.
Is life the same no matter where you are?
While I pondered this, Sylvia asked, “What do you want to do, Yuren?”
Her eyes seemed genuinely curious.
I thought deeply about it.
But no matter how much I thought, the same answer kept coming to mind.
“Well, is there anything special?”
Looking at her, I responded with my dream.
“I want to create the next game.”
I would create the next game with everyone.
There were still many games I wanted to show to the people of this other world.
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