Chapter 73

The barrier, which had transparently and coolly shown the beautiful scenery of Akerandir,

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat── Crash!

Now shifted completely into combat mode, wildly pouring down attacks as if it wouldn’t allow anyone, member or not, to approach.

It was a barrage so dense and powerful that just looking at it took one’s breath away.

“Have you ever heard of this saying?”

“Pardon?”

“When a problem cannot be solved, think first about whether you simply lack the money to solve it.”

“What does that…”

“It is a saying that came from that guy’s family.”

Yushina was incredibly relaxed, even at the moment when a murderous attack was being directed at a club member.

Roan also had an expression that did not take it particularly seriously.

Although Zion felt that she was the only one out of place.

Screech─ Bang─ Bang─!

Soon, seeing the gold senior charging straight in, not even dodging the holy power barrage but practically deflecting it all, she felt as if she had been bounced right out of reality.

Furthermore, rather than that being his own skill.

‘Are… are those all holy artifacts…?’

She lost her sense of reality even further at the fact that it was the effect of so many holy artifacts, to the point of wondering if his entire body was made of holy artifacts instead of cells.

“Are you thinking that right now is because of the holy artifacts, not his own skill?”

At that moment, Roan casually asked Zion.

Zion was startled, but soon nodded honestly.

Not just Zion, but most people did not highly evaluate combat that relied on such holy artifacts.

However, Roan spoke, locking eyes with the gold senior who was now almost close to the barrier.

“Your words aren’t wrong, but at that level, the holy artifacts are also a part of his skill. Just like what… Senior Yushina said.”

“…….”

Zion couldn’t find any room to refute.

Around that time, the gold senior finally breached the barrier and landed, almost dropping right in front of the three.

Boom─

Normally, dirt and dust would fly, but around him, gold dust fluttered like a storm instead of dust.

“Zorv!”

Yushina greeted the gold senior, Zorv, waving her hand happily.

Seeing him up close, Zorv’s appearance was even more bizarre.

Rings and bracelets layered on all the fingers of both hands, pendants, necklaces, earrings, and even anklets and headbands.

On his chest visible between the cloak, a top-grade holy power source to power those numerous holy artifacts hummed and vibrated, emitting a white light.

Because there were dozens of holy artifacts visible immediately, only enough of his school uniform was exposed to barely recognize that he was a fourth-year like Yushina.

Roan nodded at the sight of Zorv, who was not much different from his illustration.

‘Indeed, a rich man’s attire should be like that.’

Why, wasn’t there at least one character like that even in Earth’s movies?

A character that might make some people frown, but at the same time, makes them think in a corner of their minds, ‘Still, he does look cool’!

In addition, the rather large golden divine beast that flew in behind Zorv glided around the inside of the barrier as if showing off.

“A golden dragon!”

Zion was startled.

Among divine beasts, those in the shape of a dragon went beyond rare, numbering less than twenty in the history of the Empire.

But a golden dragon?

At that level, it would be stranger if Zion hadn’t known about it.

“It’s not a golden dragon, it’s a Yellow Iron-Scale Bird.”

“Yellow… what?”

Land─ Flap, flap─

The divine beast flew around the club room once and landed on the floor.

Only then could Zion accept the name Roan had told her.

Looking closely, it was not a golden dragon, but a goose-like bird covered in scale-like golden feathers.

No wonder Zion didn’t know.

The Yellow Iron-Scale Bird stared at the people inside the club room one by one and let out a casual belch.

Burp─

Surprisingly, its burp contained a significant amount of gold dust.

“Hi, Goldie! Haven’t seen you in a while.”

Purr─ Purr─

After greeting the divine beast, Yushina ran over to Zorv, looked at Roan and Zion, and spoke.

“This is Zorv Richmond! You all know the Richmond family, right?”

“R-Richmond!”

Zion was surprised to hear Zorv’s family name.

Richmond was currently one of the three great families of the Empire, along with Quiliores and Wychronon.

It was also a family famous for its massive wealth, to the point where there were rumors that they held 50% of the Empire’s wealth.

‘I heard that the eldest son of the Richmond family was attending Akerandir… And looking closely, the appearance of the divine beast matches the information.’

Zion nodded slightly.

Certainly, if it was the Richmond family, it made sense to walk around loaded with such expensive holy artifacts.

However, the image of the Richmond family known to the public was not like that.

A multi-millionaire who was more refined, engaged in moderate consumption, and did not neglect social responsibilities.

The pinnacle of the Empire’s financial world.

On the other hand, Zorv’s current appearance was…

‘He just looks like a nouveau riche!’

Honestly speaking, it was.

Of course, Yushina, who had no way of knowing Zion’s impressions, continued the introductions.

“That cute pink-haired girl is Saintess candidate Zion Beatrice. And this gloomy-looking guy is Roan Darc~ Even though he looks dangerous, he’s a good kid!”

Zorv stared at Roan and Zion with sharp eyes, and then,

Click─ Clack─

He first replaced the holy power source on his chest.

“Using one holy power source just to breach the barrier once. I should spend a bit more money.”

Zorv, treating top-grade holy power sources costing over 10 gold each like batteries!

Of course, since it was an act of openly ignoring the freshmen, Zion felt slightly offended.

It was not a matter of pride as a Saintess candidate, but she thought it was just a lack of basic politeness toward people.

Besides, in any case, he must have also agreed to the admission of the new club members.

Was there a culture of hazing remaining because it was an exclusive club?

At that moment, Roan corrected Zion’s misunderstanding.

“Just looking at us once means he gave us attention.”

“…That did?”

Indeed, it did.

The ‘individualism’ of Sanctuary members far exceeded the boundaries of common sense.

In the first place, if he really had no interest, he wouldn’t have even visited the club room.

Capturing his gaze at the first meeting was a sufficiently positive signal.

“Zorv, Zorv. Since the freshmen are here, let’s do that, that!”

Meanwhile, Yushina was following Zorv, who was clearly annoyed, urging him for something.

Zion tilted her head.

“What is that?”

Naturally, it was a question the new members couldn’t answer.

However, Zion naturally expected an answer, and Roan indeed replied.

“Do you know about the authority of the Richmond family?”

“Ah, roughly. It is a bound authority, right?”

Roan nodded.

Although the Empire’s four great families each possessed a characteristic strength and boasted powerful strength since before the founding of the nation.

Richmond, who practically provided all the necessary funds during the founding, received a special authority from Hiloa.

This was what was called a ‘bound authority,’ inherited through the eldest son of the family for generations, though its rank was lower compared to other authorities.

‘Eye of Value.’

It was an ability that, when activated, evaluated the target’s value in Imperial currency.

With that, the Richmond family had held a tight grip on the Empire’s financial world even now, five thousand years after the founding.

“In Sanctuary, there is a custom of evaluating the freshmen’s value with that authority.”

“Yes? But…”

Zion had an expression that was not very pleased.

It felt uncomfortable to measure a person’s value in a sum of money.

Furthermore, toward Yushina’s request, with an expression full of annoyance,

“Is it fine?”

She also hadn’t liked Zorv, who asked for permission bluntly, for a while now.

However, there was no way she could disobey the words of senior fourth-years, and since Roan also shrugged without declining, Zion nodded reluctantly.

Since Roan also shrugged without declining, Zion nodded reluctantly.

“It’s fine.”

Then Zorv strode over to Zion first.

“…Ugh.”

Seeing him up close, Zorv was taller than expected.

Zion kept her head pulled back as much as possible, looking down.

Soon, Zorv’s eyes glowed golden.

It was the effect of the Eye of Value activating.

“Hmm… Three million gold.”

“Three… Three million?”

At the amount that was far greater than expected, Zion opened her downcast eyes wide and looked up at Zorv.

“It’s been a while since a freshman was worth over two million.”

As Zorv acknowledged, three million gold was indeed an astronomical sum.

With that much, one could buy three castles built in prime locations.

“Oh! Isn’t she similar to me? As expected of a Saintess candidate!”

Yushina’s recognition, as she gave her a thumbs-up, also made Zion feel proud for no reason.

‘Well… although I don’t like evaluating people in money, since it is an authority given directly by Hiloa, I must accept it.’

Zion slightly revised her assessment of Zorv and his authority.

However, Zorv frowned slightly and corrected Yushina’s words.

“No. Yushina, you were five million gold.”

“Ah, was I? Hehe, I forgot. Since three years have passed.”

At that, Zion glared at Zorv again with sharp eyes.

‘To judge people by money, what a materialistic human! Why on earth did Lord Hiloa create such an authority?’

If by some chance she became the Pope, she would make sure to keep the Richmond family in check.

Roan, who was quietly watching this scene from the side, thought.

‘It seems things have changed a bit.’

As with Demona and Hector, the existence of Roan seemed to be changing the surrounding characters differently from the original.

He had received Zorv’s evaluation many times during his Zion playthrough.

Although she had been a bit displeased when told she fell short of Yushina, her mood swings hadn’t been this severe.

‘And this time is the highest amount.’

The average value of Zion was around 2.5 to 2.7 million gold.

Like a proper authority, Zorv’s Eye of Value judged a character’s current ability and potential very objectively.

This meant that regardless of appearances, Zion was currently growing extremely well.

‘Well, since I am drawing all the aggro.’

It was the effect of being able to focus entirely on growth instead of receiving all kinds of checkmating and jealousy.

Thanks to that, her original personality was probably shining through better.

In any case, Zion, feeling slightly annoyed, looked at Roan and spoke.

“Then what about Darc? Will you look at Darc too?”

“I was intending to do so anyway.”

This time, it was Roan’s turn.

Roan met his gaze head-on without avoiding it.

“Hmm, Darc…”

Zorv pondered something for a moment before activating the authority.

Now, Roan didn’t pay much attention to the reactions regarding his family, so he had no particular thoughts.

“Do you have any intention of managing Dragon Street after I graduate?”

He was frankly surprised to hear this.

“You mean Dragon Street?”

It was Zorv who had transformed Dragon Street, which was originally closer to an isolated area, into a student black market.

The Talent profits generated there were massive, so if one could occupy it, they wouldn’t have to worry about life at Akerandir.

‘But after Zorv’s graduation, one would have to survive an intense faction war, and even if you occupy it, your reputation would hit rock bottom, making it like a chicken breast.’

For various reasons, it was not Roan’s concern right now.

But what if he could inherit it directly from the master of Dragon Street?

“…How about you evaluate my value first before speaking.”

Roan, after a moment’s contemplation, trailed off like this.

At that, Zorv nodded.

“Right. My mistake.”

Zorv’s eyes glowed golden once again.

‘How much will it be?’

Honestly, Roan also wanted to receive Zorv’s objective evaluation.

Unlike in God & Devil where he could view the status window at any time, now that it had become reality, he couldn’t find indicators anywhere.

However.

Collapse─

“Huh? Huh? Zorv?”

Zorv, who was shining his golden eyes, suddenly collapsed helplessly.

Yushina shook and patted Zorv here and there in a panic, but,

“H-His heart has stopped…!”

Soon, she murmured with a shocked expression.

“Kyaaaa!”

Zion shrieked.