[Balance: 232,103...]
“Oh...”
The next day.
I stared at my shrunken bank balance. The zeros at the end hadn’t disappeared, but the leading digit had dropped slightly.
It was the result of bulk purchasing supplies while making the rounds of the shops in the commercial district yesterday. I visited about eight places in total. Practically all the sub-materials displayed for sale were swept up.
The spectacle of my mass buying spree didn’t go unnoticed; rumors began circulating on the community boards about some student throwing money around in the commercial district.
“Hmmm...”
I wiggled my fingers, contemplating my bank balance.
The majority of the funds in my account were rewards I had received from the Association.
One was for resolving the rampant Siifnaha outbreak, and the other for subjugating the undead Two-Headed Venom Dragon.
Both incidents were massive enough to shake the world. If initial measures hadn’t been taken swiftly, they would have escalated into catastrophic disasters instead of mere commotions.
And I was the one who initiated the early response in both cases.
In Siifnaha, I prevented the rampage by killing the alpha entity, Aerus, which served as the core of the rampant dungeon.
In China, I prevented the rampage by slaying the undead Two-Headed Venom Dragon, which had the potential to trigger a chain reaction of dungeon outbreaks.
Thanks to these feats, I was handsomely rewarded. I still vividly remember the shock when I first saw the balance in my account.
Even though the cost of living in this world differs vastly from my previous one, I never imagined handling such an enormous sum.
Still, the public seemed to regard the Two-Headed Venom Dragon incident as the more catastrophic disaster, so the reward for that was significantly higher.
Well, it makes sense. On one hand, there was a monster barely at the fifth rank, and on the other, a once-third-ranked alpha spewing poison and disease, even if it was weakened after becoming undead.
The difference in rank was vast.
But from my perspective—having witnessed Aerus potentially evolving into a third-ranked alpha in the future—it felt like splitting hairs.
“Aerus... Maybe it’s fortunate we met when we did...”
As for my other income sources, they were modest sums earned by selling scraps from monsters I killed while roaming around.
Even now, my subspace inventory is filled with unsold monster materials. Initially, I planned to sell everything, but after acquiring necromancy, I repurposed them for study. I even reclaimed materials I had previously handed over to the Association.
“Still, even with all those discounts, my balance shrank this much...”
With the 30% discount granted to Siyoram students and an additional 65% discount for special admissions, I was purchasing items at 95% off. Yet, even with such massive discounts, the cost was significant.
I wondered if I’d ever adapt to the cost of living in this world.
Granted, the items I bought were necessary now and would be used continuously in the future, but the thought of paying full price for them later made me cringe.
—Money troubles? Why are you even worried about that?
As I mulled over my dwindling balance, I suddenly recalled the card Hong Yeonhwa had given me.
The day after the banquet at the Guhwa household.
In the midst of our conversation, she handed me a sparkling, violet-black card with an utterly baffled look in her eyes, asking why I was even concerned about money.
“......”
After hearing about its usage and benefits, I had nervously stored it in my subspace inventory, where it remained untouched ever since.
I couldn’t bring myself to use it—it felt too shameless.
What had I done to deserve draining it like a parasite? Though Hong Yeonhwa assured me I could spend freely, I couldn’t bring myself to splurge.
“Except for Siyoram discounts.”
But Siyoram’s discount benefits were an exception. The discounted amount wasn’t covered by the shops but by Siyoram itself.
In the past, I was hesitant to take full advantage of it, but that hesitation was thoroughly beaten out of me by my second iteration.
“Damn it, releasing something like that in the Tower...”
They even left the pain sensitivity on while tossing me in there.
The memory made me grit my teeth. I had already submitted a request for a meeting to both lodge a protest and ask questions about the Tower of Growth.
The Tower’s master—or maybe it was the deputy headmaster—was undoubtedly insane.
Sure, I could have given up and escaped midway or used the emergency exit, but crazy is crazy.
With a frown, I got up.
...
...
...
Siyoram’s facilities were arranged with a certain logic.
At the center, where the Tower of Growth stood, were Siyoram’s central administration and other management facilities, along with the commercial district.
From the central plaza, four main streets extended outward in the cardinal directions, dividing the dormitory zones for each academic year.
Training and specialized facilities were also concentrated in specific areas rather than scattered randomly.
As a result, observing Siyoram’s layout revealed distinct characteristics for each zone.
“Hm...”
The crafting specialization zone, which I visited this time, immediately brought the word "industrial complex" to mind.
Buildings were low-rise, windowless, or covered with curtains.
Doors were large and clunky iron ones, and the walls were incredibly thick.
White smoke rose steadily from tall chimneys towering above the rooftops.
“It really does look like an industrial complex—low buildings, no windows, thick iron doors, and chimneys to top it off...”
A voice echoed my thoughts.
It was Baek Arin, dressed almost identically to how she was the day before.
She had joined me to help with today’s tasks, walking with her hands clasped behind her back as she glanced around, sharing her impressions.
The only difference from yesterday was the absence of a perception-distorting magic tool.
As a result, her beauty was on full display, drawing attention from passersby.
“They’re not looking at me—they’re looking at you, Hayul.”
...She might be right.
Honestly, if we’re talking about eye-catching appearances, I probably stand out more than she does.
A quick scan of the area revealed many people glancing my way, even stopping to stare blankly.
“Why are so many just standing there gawking...”
Most of them appeared to be students specializing in crafting. I hadn’t interacted much with this group before.
After all, my focus was primarily on combat, and lately, I’d been attending a lot of magic lectures.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
They wore similar work aprons fitted with tools, their faces covered in grime and sweat.
Classic artisans, right out of a mental image.
“What’s the plan, Master Blacksmith?”
As we continued walking, Baek Arin teased me with a playful tone.
Even though people were staring at her as well, she seemed completely unfazed.
[First, let’s gather the materials and rent a workshop.]
The process of securing the main materials and renting a workshop went smoothly.
After all, this was the crafting zone. Shops and storage facilities were plentiful.
Among them, I visited a storage managed directly by Siyoram instead of an external vendor.
Siyoram offered numerous benefits to its students.
For crafting specialists, that included access to materials and tools.
I stocked up on black iron and other materials as needed.
Afterward, I selected one of the many vacant workshops nearby and rented it in real time.
“They sure roll out the red carpet for special admissions students—premium materials on demand...”
Baek Arin chuckled softly, likely referring to how I had grabbed an ample supply of materials earlier.
[Yeah.]
[I only found out about this recently.]
Normally, students had to fill out a request form when seeking materials or tools from Siyoram.
The form detailed what they intended to craft, why they needed specific materials, how they planned to use them, and how much they required—a sort of proposal.
This was to ensure resources were allocated wisely and not squandered recklessly.
I, however, bypassed that process entirely.
By simply verifying my special admission status, I was granted unrestricted access to the storage, picking out materials and tools to my heart’s content.
...The image of a nearby student came to mind—the one staring blankly at me earlier.
While they sat filling out forms meticulously, I had walked in with a single verification and left with an abundance of supplies.
In short, being a special admission student was incredible.
The support was phenomenal.
Soon, the funds spent yesterday would be replenished by the next grant.
I smiled brightly.
But I could never forgive what happened in my second iteration.
Sure, considering my growth, I was a little grateful...but still—damn that headmaster.
/
/
/
The underground workshop was filled with hot, humid air.
A large furnace along one wall stood ready, preheated and glowing faintly orange. Its warm light illuminated the dim interior, giving the space a rustic, almost magical atmosphere.
Nearby, essential tools, including a sturdy anvil, were neatly arranged. The workshop seemed to have all the basic necessities in place.
[Are you feeling too hot?]
Even though the furnace was only in its preheated state, I wondered if the heat might be uncomfortable. While setting up the tools I’d brought along, I glanced at Baek Arin, who had accompanied me into the workshop.
“Me? Too hot?”
Resting her chin in her hand, Baek Arin tilted her head as though she’d heard something strange.
Blinking a few times, she suddenly reached out and cupped my cheek with her hand.
[What are—?]
[Cool~]
Her soft hand pressed firmly against my cheek, sending a cool sensation spreading across my skin.
I shivered involuntarily at the sudden chill. Normally, her icy touch would feel unpleasant, but here, in the furnace’s sweltering heat, it was oddly soothing. My body relaxed almost instinctively.
“Thanks to Changae, I’m perfectly fine. Isn’t that why you asked me to come along in the first place?”
[Ah, right... I kind of forgot.]
Baek Arin’s body, imbued with the power of Changae, was naturally suited to cold and water energy.
Now that I thought about it, this level of heat wouldn’t bother her at all—she could easily dispel it with Changae. That was precisely why I’d asked for her help in the first place.
Feeling a bit sheepish, I gently pulled my cheek away from her grasp.
“So, you’re making equipment today?”
[Yep.]
Baek Arin playfully poked my cheek a couple of times as if teasing me for forgetting. I nodded, enduring her antics.
The goal for today was straightforward: crafting equipment.
Black Iron Armaments.
I planned to use black iron, a material known for its excellent cost-to-quality ratio, to create a variety of gear.
In the original timeline, black iron was often used as a reliable go-to material when nothing better was available.
Even before this, I’d considered making or acquiring black iron equipment, but my encounter with my second iteration in the Tower had cemented that decision.
The black iron equipment crafted by my second iteration was of artisan-level quality, something they had forged themselves.
Having observed and analyzed those items, I was confident I could produce even better-quality equipment.
‘I should also try making some magic tools.’
My mana manipulation and magical skills had improved significantly since the start of the semester.
This time, I intended to craft accessories and inscribe magical formulas onto them.
Of course, the magic tools would be more of an experiment, so I wasn’t expecting much.
Still, if the results turned out well, I could give them away as gifts instead of using them myself.
‘Hmm.’
With those thoughts in mind, I began to release a bit of mana.
All the tasks ahead would involve working with metal.
For the record, I had learned metalworking techniques from the Guhwa family—specifically, methods involving Guhwa Flames.
“So, my role is to adjust your Guhwa Flames using Changae, right?”
[Yes.]
This was the reason I had asked Baek Arin for help.
While I had practiced extensively with Guhwa Flames at the Guhwa family estate, there was always the risk of losing control.
If things got out of hand, I could rely on her Changae for assistance.
Though I could manifest Changae myself, I wanted to experience Baek Arin’s control over it firsthand.
[You didn’t have to come so early...]
“Oh, it’s fine. I didn’t have anything else to do, and I’m curious to see how you work anyway.”
I hadn’t expected her to accompany me from the very beginning. Worried that I might be wasting her time, I hesitated, but Baek Arin simply perched on a chair in the corner and flashed a bright smile.
[...Thank you for your help.]
I bowed my head slightly.
“Don’t worry. If anything dangerous happens, I’ll protect you,” she said with a reassuring clap of her hands and a kind smile.
Feeling reassured, I sat down on the workbench.
Sweat began to bead on my skin. I rolled up the sleeve and armband on my right arm. Beads of sweat gathered on my pale, unfamiliar skin.
After wiggling my fingers with a strange expression, I activated Guhwa Flames for the first time in a while.
-Whoosh!
‘Huh?’
The flames flared up, swelling dramatically before shrinking back down.
I waved my right arm, which was engulfed in Guhwa Flames, tilting my head in confusion.
‘...The output seems higher than before...?’
The flames rippled and surged with greater intensity than I remembered.
[Unique Ability: “Mana Affinity” activated.]
[Expansion Ability: “Homogenization: Guhwa Flames” activated.]
...
[Player Adjustment System: Measurement Mode]
▶Mental State
“Trial of Guhwa (?)”