#030 Chrom’s Friends (Pay-to-Play)
The first to adapt was Pino, the spirited girl with the vivid green hair.
“Hmm, what’s the catch, Midas?”
“Just call me Chrome; it gets confusing with Fiore around.”
“Alright, then Chrome. So what’s the meaning of this gathering?”
“It’s my little desire to build camaraderie with friends who will be together for the next few years. Since I called you out on a day off, I figured I’d at least cover the costs.”
Just with that, it seemed Pino understood the conversation I wanted to have.
“I have a lot of things I want to buy; it’s okay if I don’t hold back, right?”
I silently handed her a small pouch. When Pino checked the contents, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Wow, this is on a different scale! Rabaul, can you carry some of this? And if you want to buy something, feel free to pick!”
Despite Pino’s enthusiasm, Rabaul, the scholarly young man with gray curls, wore a hesitant expression.
“Hm, as a sage, receiving items without knowing each other well isn’t—”
“Isn’t it problematic to turn down a gift from a new friend? Just imagine how awkward it would be to refuse!”
“Well, that’s true. Ignoring her kindness wouldn’t be a good thing.”
“Then let’s hurry up and go.”
Pino began to drag Rabaul around the stores.
“Well, she sure established the social hierarchy quickly,” someone observed with a grin.
“Then shall we head out too, Akasha?” I asked.
The woman named Akasha shrugged and replied, “I don’t mind, but is this really alright?”
“Of course it is! Besides, since I received help during the exams, it’s just a small token of gratitude. Oh, that looks delicious!”
“Ooh, that’s nice! Well then, I’ll gratefully accept. Thank you, Fiore’s older brother.”
“Just Chrome works for me.”
“Well, in that case, I’ll call you Chrome too.”
With her absurdly large great sword slung over her shoulder, she walked with a very manly demeanor that was unusual for a young woman into the hustle and bustle of the shopping district.
Roto then spoke up. “Um, Chrome? I’m really fine, so I’ll just—”
“Roto.”
I met his gaze seriously, “Between having good gear or none at all, which do you think has a higher survival rate at this academy?”
Roto looked back at me with sincerity and answered, “I’ll accept your kindness, Chrome.”
Finally, Crow Bain let out a grumble. “What’s this? A nouveau riche money flaunting party? Sorry, but I—”
I ignored him and turned my attention to Ligret. “By the way, didn’t you break your weapon during the exam? Let’s get you a new one this time.”
“Isn’t there something like a battle hammer? I feel like something with a solid surface would be more efficient than a blade.”
“Well, I heard they invested quite a bit in the storefronts, similar to the training facilities. They might have specialty weapons with all kinds of unique spells. Oh, and Crow, I heard you’re a swordsman too; do you want to join us?”
Crow Bain snorted in derision. “Ha, you really think I’d fall for that lame sales pitch?”
“Given everything you said, I don’t see why you wouldn’t come along.”
But, of course, he was quite honest about it.
#030 At Blitz Forge
Passing by the shop’s sign, elegantly engraved in bold letters, I stepped inside to find a dazzling array of silver, gleaming weapons, armor, and shields displayed as though waiting to greet customers.
“Hm, a customer, I see.”
A man sitting behind the counter stood up.
With short hair, a muscular build, sunburned skin, and a stern gaze, he was the very picture of a typical blacksmith.
“What can I do for you? If you’re looking for a new weapon for your academy classes, check out this display over here.”
I replied, “Do you have any magic tools?”
His eyebrows quirked. “We do.”
The shopkeeper retrieved a silver sword from the innermost display.
“This sword contains wind magic. You can unleash a blade of gusts twice a day.”
“Wow,” Roto said, his eyes sparkling.
Magic tools vary widely, from those used in daily life to those utilized in maintaining massive facilities, but such martial implements are particularly expensive due to their dual requirement of durability and finesse as both a weapon and a magical item, which makes for a hefty crafting fee.
However, Crow seemed less interested, and I could understand his demeanor.
‘After all, his family background isn’t something to scoff at.’
Crow Bain.
One of the main characters from “Planetarium,” he was the third son of the renowned swordsmanship family, the Bain clan of the Duchy of Nahat.
Although he seemed to fall short during the entrance exam compared to Ligret, he was still among the top contenders in the physical category while casually passing through dozens of peers, making this opportunity to casually associate with Ligret somewhat fortuitous.
‘He’s indicated that he doesn’t have much personal money due to the strict family morals—perfect for my plans.’
I said to the shopkeeper, “Is there anything else? Perhaps something from the sword or hammer category? Show me your best.”
The stubborn blacksmith frowned and replied, “Young student, wanting the best weapon right away isn’t wise. I recommend gradually transitioning according to your skills.”
Without a word, I pulled out my pouch and placed it on the table.
Upon seeing the glimmering gold inside, he hesitated for a moment but quickly broke into a smile.
“Seems like you’ve already got a bad habit. With all the noble kids gathered at the academy, I never expected you to show up with this kind of money—”
Tap. Tap.
Without saying another word, I placed two more identical pouches on the table.
The shopkeeper then remarked, “Acquiring a weapon to forge a lifelong bond early is quite a wise choice. You mentioned swords or hammers, but do you have any interest in shields?”
<><><>
“Come again next time! I’ll prepare new stock for you until then!”
In the end, the shopkeeper sold us three different types of magic tools along with various other equipment while lamenting his own lack of preparedness for not securing better magic tools and asking us to visit again.
“…Hey, are we really allowed to take this?”
Crow, now holding a blade infused with a blazing spell, asked with a somewhat uneasy expression.
“Well, since Ligret is using something different, and the price isn’t too burdensome, it’s fine.”
Of course, that was a blatant lie. No matter how hard I saved, magic tools were notoriously expensive, and the one I handed to Crow was certainly not the best, but it ranked among the top tier of mid-level items.
Still, the reason for my bravado was simply that it would be better to let him accept it without hesitation, smoothing the way for our future interactions. It’s preferable to avoid emphasizing how expensive a gift is right off the bat and instead allow him to use it comfortably before he realizes its true value later on.
Ligret ended up with a battle hammer imbued with a shock amplification effect and a shield that could revert to its original size at any time due to a resizing spell. Roto declined the magic tools outright, but he was able to acquire various high-quality pieces of equipment.
“Hm, but still, just accepting it feels a bit off.”
“Then pay me back later or something. Even if it’s half, it doesn’t seem like you’re the type to stay quietly in class at this academy, so helping out in times of danger should be enough, right?”
“Haha! If it’s that, then there’s no problem. You said your name was Chrome? Just leave it to me in case something happens!”
Crow burst into hearty laughter, patting me on the shoulder—truly a simple and good friend.
Pino had purchased all sorts of daily necessities, consumables, and clothing, while Rabaul, who was piling up the heavy loads, approached me, having grabbed a couple of new books.
“Here’s your change.”
“Hm, thanks, the one with the golden hand. Someday, I’ll repay you.”
“What are you talking about? This is no big deal.”
Pino whispered, “There’s a student named Nicolaus who’s been spreading bad rumors about Midas here and there. Let’s at least make sure our friends don’t fall for it. Anything beyond that will be tough.”
“Don’t overdo it.”
He knew his strengths and was quick on the uptake, making him an excellent business partner.
Fiore bought a piece of jewelry and a potion for fatigue recovery, while Akasha seemed to have obtained a new pair of boots.
They also had some kind of spray with them, and when I asked about it, Fiore smiled brightly and said, “It’s a perfume made through alchemy. The scent is really nice, but it causes sneezing for the elderly, so I bought it at a cheap price.”
“We don’t have any elderly folks in our class, so it’ll be fine, right?”
“…Uh, yeah.”
Seeing the mischievous smiles on both of their faces, I briefly contemplated a moment of silence for the tribulations that our teacher would face, but then I realized it’d be self-inflicted torture, so I dropped it.
Afterward, I went around various shops in the district, playing my part as the financier. My wallet became lighter, but laughter began to echo among the group who had initially felt awkward around one another.
At dinner time, I raised my glass filled with a beverage. In a place where the concept of being underage was fuzzy, and there were naturally no age restrictions on alcohol, there was no issue about age. However, I decided against entering the first official day of classes tipsy—especially with Professor Istel around—so I opted for a soft drink instead.
“To our future academy life!”
“”””To our future!””””
Watching the group I had previously barely interacted with enjoying a lively feast together, I smiled. Even if someone were to criticize me for throwing money around, the results were undeniably the best.
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