Chapter 53

Chapter 53

What are you doing?

Collecting bread, sir.

Uh, bread?

Yes, theyre used as currency here. Five pieces of bread can get you a quill, and ten can get you a matchboxs worth of sugar cubes.

..

Students of the Blue Dragons were able to live rather comfortably thanks to Yi-han, but the others didnt have the same luxury.

They were doing everything they can to survive, collecting the hard bread that was served during every meal.

After all, they were considered money here, money that could be used to buy all sorts of goods!

Woahcan we take a look?

Please feel free to do so.

Yonaire studied the goods displayed in the black market with great interest, probably with the intention of buying anything that caught her eye.

Yi-han, who was curious, took a gander at the goods as well and was pleasantly surprised.

Some of them seem actually useful.

Initially, he didnt harbor much hope for the Black Tortoise, but against his expectations, they had managed to gather all kinds of things.

Granted, they didnt have much food, and aside from the canned goods that they got from the priests, the rest were analogues.

Cheese analogues, milk analogues, egg analogues, meat analogues, fish analogues, coffee analogues, tea analogues, and so on.

Isnt it harder to make all these than to acquire them? Yi-han wondered.

However, other than the food, there were quite a few items that had practical use.

Backpacks, quills, blankets, lanterns, fishing rods, shovels and pickaxes, makeshift tents and sleeping bags, ropes and chalks, bows and arrows

What took him by surprise was

Why are there so many artifacts lying around?

Ordinary-looking cloaks, leather belts, and accessories made of stones.

Though they appeared to be common junk, Yi-han could sense mana being emitted from them.

He was certain that they were artifacts.

I didnt think itd be this easy to find artifacts, even if were in a magic academy.

Outside, even a single artifact would be considered priceless. Not only were they expensive, but the supply also couldnt meet the demand, which was why countless adventurers and mercenaries could only dream of owning one.

It was to the point where someone with an artifact would be considered a veteran adventurer.

Artifacts with could help them navigate through dark dungeons, allowing them to serve as scouts, and artifacts with healing magic could be used to save lives in times of emergency.

However, the situation was a bit different inside the academy.

It was a place where people that knew how to craft artifacts and people who wished to learn how to craft artifacts gathered.Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

Although the ones made by amateurs lacked in terms of quality, they made up for it through overwhelming quantity.

What was impressive was that a bunch of freshmen had managed to scavenge them.

Yi-han was in awe of the Black Tortoises practical mindset.

I might have been better off being a member of the Black Tortoise.

If he had been placed there, he wouldve gone around the academy with the others and mugged the place clean.

Are you planning on buying something, sir? Ive checked, and none of them seem particularly useful.

Ratford whispered words of advice next to Yi-han.

The Black Tortoise student who had his business interrupted glared at Ratford.

Dont get in the way of my business!

Ratford, however, didnt care in the slightest.

The cloak over there can protect its user from blades, but its been shown to work only half the time.

Blocking one out of two hits doesnt sound bad though?

I seeSir Wardanaz is wise. Instead of saying the cup is half empty, hes the type to say that its half full.

Ratford, saying whatever comes to your mind doesnt constitute a praise.

There was a reason why Ratford didnt think any of the artifacts were worth buying.

It was difficult to determine their effect, and the mana within them was gradually becoming thinner. In other words, the magic that had been cast on them wouldnt last forever.

As unreliable as it was, the protective cloak mentioned just now was on the more practical end of the spectrum.

The problem was

Can I purchase things on credit?

Despite having made it in a rush, the thick tomato vegetable stew looked mouthwatering.

Once he was done, Yi-han handed out a bowl of stew to each student.

Everything around him became silent as the students got to work with their spoons.

Once they were done, they expressed endless gratitude and appreciation.

So this is what a proper meal tastes like!

Ive finally recalled what its like to live!

Now, a round of applause for Sir Wardanaz

Dont. Please.

Yi-han shoved a potato into Ratfords mouth, stopping him from ruining the mood.

***

Although Yi-han tried to turn them down, the Black Tortoise wished to repay him.

As a result, he ended up returning with full pockets and two backpacks on his back. A lantern, a fishing rod, a shovel, and a pickaxe hung on his sides.

Tthats so cool.

For some reason, Yonaire seemed mesmerized by the unique fashion, and Ratford soon followed suit.

Sir looks like a top-tier adventurer.

Ratford aside, he couldnt tell whether Yonaire was teasing him or being serious.

After letting out a deep sigh, Yi-han put down one of the backpacks. In it was a set of chess, a set of cards, and a set of dice, among many others.

He had successfully earned the favor and trust of the Black Tortoise.

Furthermore, he had acquired quite a few useful artifacts other than the protective cloak.

A pair of lower-tier covert boots that mysteriously lowered the sound of his footsteps, a chalk that created a smoke screen when thrown, a detection bracelet that turned red if someone was watching

Hmm, our seniors mustve made these, but for what reason?

Yi-han began to question the intent of the seniors who took the artifact crafting class.

Were these all made to sneak away from the professors?

Rattle, rattle

?

As he was browsing through the artifacts in his backpack, he heard something rattle.

And much to his horror, a skeletal hand came climbing out of the backpack.

..!?

For a split second, he thought someone from the Black Tortoise had repaid kindness with hatred.

But it didnt take long for him to realize that no one could lay such a sophisticated trap using magic yet.

Rattle!

The skeletal hand came flying towards him, and it combined with the mysterious bone that he had received from Professor Mortem which he had kept with him.

Now, the bone had both a hand and a forearm.

The bone proceeded to float in the air, like a puppy waiting to be fed.

Nonono.

Ignoring his protest, the bone approached Yi-han, pricked him in one of his fingers, and took a droplet of blood from him.

Soon after, he felt a connection form between him and the incomplete bone summon.

Sit. Stand. Turn around. Fetch.

.

.

Yonaire and Ratford stared at Yi-han, feeling complex emotions.

Their friend had suddenly summoned a piece of bone and was giving orders, as a black mage would.

What a strange gift. But then again, Id be more worried if a professor gave me something normal.

I think its better if you throw it away

Padadak!

Terrified by Yonaires suggestion, the bone stuck close to Yi-han.

This behavior made them feel sorry for the poor piece of bone.

I-I take back what I said. I take it back, alright?

In the end, Yonaire had to retract her statement.