Chapter 74

Zorv’s heartbeat had already stopped.

Roan, quite flustered himself, lowered his stance next to Zorv.

‘Did Zorv have a chronic disease? There was no such setting…’

If his heart was going to stop, he should have at least told him his value before stopping!

Zion screamed in panic.

Roan and Yushina examined Zorv’s condition with serious faces.

No, actually, Roan and Yushina only pretended to examine him.

‘It’s fortunate that it was Zorv; if it had been anyone else…’

In fact, the two of them knew that if it was Zorv, his heart stopping once was not an irreversible matter.

Yushina was of course serious, but to some extent, she found Zion’s reaction amusing and was intentionally acting surprised.

Shooooo──

Soon, the protective gear guarding Zorv’s chest deployed in all directions.

“W-What!”

Zion tumbled backward in surprise, and Yushina watched the scene with intrigued eyes.

Thump─ Thump─ Whoosh──!

The power of the life-sustaining holy artifact to protect the eldest son of the Richmond family by any means necessary!

Several robotic arms compressed around Zorv’s heart, and a massive amount of holy power poured out.

Yushina had heard a story about that holy artifact when she was a freshman.

‘They said his heart stopped in the past after he tried to use his authority on the principal…’

Even then, Zorv had revived with the help of that single-use first-aid holy artifact.

Then was Roan as much as Harden…?

Looking back at Roan with wide, shocked eyes, Yushina was stunned.

“Cough, gasp──!”

Not long after, Zorv spat out a violent cough and raised his upper body.

Only then did Zion glare at Roan and ask.

“What on earth did you do, Darc?!”

How could someone kill a person with just a glance!

She knew he was a dangerous person, but she had never dreamed he would be such a practical hazard.

“I didn’t do anything.”

Naturally, Roan replied with a cold expression.

This time, he was truly victimized.

The guy collapsed from a heart attack while using his own authority on his own.

If he had actually done something, he wouldn’t even feel this wronged!

At that moment, False Divinity vibrated very faintly.

Hum…!

Indeed, the master must really be aggrieved this time!

Thump─

That is truly so, brother!

And then, even the Administrator of the Forbidden Library.

‘…What did you guys do?’

An inexplicable sense of unease crept over Roan.

If nothing had happened, the authorities wouldn’t have stepped forward like this.

“You really didn’t do anything?”

Meanwhile, Zion glared at Roan and asked again.

Roan softened his attitude slightly.

“…I believe I didn’t do anything.”

Although he felt wronged, he felt like he might be less wronged somehow.

“Hmm…”

Zion assumed an expression that she would let it go for now, since Zorv had revived and there was no evidence.

Meanwhile, Zorv, who returned just before showing his face in front of Hiloa,

Rummaging─

“What are you doing as soon as you wake up, Zorv…?”

Suddenly rummaging through his clothes, he pulled out a luxurious sheet of paper and several high-denomination Talent bills from his wallet and handed them to Roan with both hands.

It was a 100-gold Richmond family check, which had a credibility almost equivalent to Imperial currency.

“This is all I have on me right now, so please let it slide with this, Darc.”

“““???”””

At the unpredictable development, the three stared blankly at Zorv.

To anyone, shouldn’t Zorv be the one receiving money?

Even Roan was thinking so.

However, Zorv had a firm look in his eyes, as if he didn’t think so at all.

‘First, I shouldn’t refuse money that is given.’

Roan quickly accepted the check and said just to keep up appearances.

“All of this?”

Because if he took the check without a word, he might look like a thug to Zion and Yushina.

…Roan was completely unaware of the fact that he already looked that way.

Meanwhile, feeling guilty at Roan’s words, Zorv’s face turned slightly pale.

Dusting─

He then fluttered his cloak, shaking off even all the gold dust and giving it to Roan.

“My apologies. I will give you this as well. This is truly everything.”

“Ah… Thank you. You didn’t have to go this far.”

Although the amount of gold dust was quite substantial, the lucky pouch devoured it all in the blink of an eye.

Once Roan appeared satisfied, only then could Zorv sigh in relief.

‘I really almost died.’

Who could have imagined that a mere freshman would possess as many as two authorities inside their body?

Moreover, both held a status that was difficult to even peer at with his Eye of Value.

The moment Zorv’s Eye of Value attempted to inspect Roan, the two authorities pounced like wild beasts, causing his heart to stop.

He had never dreamed that even if there was a difference in the rank of authorities, he would be suppressed so instantly.

Even the value of Roan that he glimpsed for a split second as he collapsed…

‘If I can resolve this discourtesy with a mere 100 gold and some gold, it is a stroke of luck.’

Zorv thought so, trembling very slightly.

He had heard many warnings and unbelievable stories about the Darc family from his own family, but to think it was to this extent!

Yet he was also the eldest son of the Richmond family, the wealthiest in the Empire.

He had the guts and ambition to turn even this crisis into an opportunity.

“Darc, I will leave Dragon Street to you. You have more than enough… no, overflowing qualification.”

“…Suddenly?”

“Zorv, did you injure your head instead of your heart?”

Yushina asked suspiciously.

No one knew Zorv’s assets precisely, but he never spent money carelessly.

Even though he walked around scattering gold dust, it was only because he could receive an infinite supply from the Yellow Iron-Scale Bird.

Zorv was a person who approached everything strictly from the concept of investment and transaction.

Yet he suddenly gave check and gold dust, and now was even handing over Dragon Street?

Since Yushina was the one who had known Zorv for a long time, it was an even more unimaginable matter.

“I will not take charge of Dragon Street.”

However, Roan rejected the offer not long after receiving it.

“Why?!”

Zorv jumped in surprise.

Declining the operating rights of Dragon Street, which others were dying to obtain?

‘Did he notice my intention? If so… it means even his insight is no longer at the level of a freshman.’

For Zorv, Roan became even more covetable.

Of course, Roan’s thoughts were completely different from Zorv’s expectations.

‘Why would I advertise that I am a black mage?’

Dragon Street was, after all, Akerandir’s slum.

If someone like Zorv was the master, it looked like something done to make money.

But what if Roan, who was already gloomy, dangerous, and possessed the dark attribute, was the master?

Even in jest, words like ‘What that guy is doing looks quite like a black mage’ would inevitably come out.

As words could become seeds, he flatly refused such a thing.

…No, in this case, it was closer to preventing the words from coming out when the seed had already been sown.

Since Roan’s goal was strictly to graduate from Akerandir safely and without standing out.

Though he wondered if such a thing was even possible now.

Yet, once rejected, Zorv clung to Roan even more feverishly.

“Think about it again. Do you know how many Talents the monthly income from Dragon Street is? Even after I graduate, just 30% of it, no, 15%…”

“It’s not that, I am simply not interested.”

Roan slunk away in annoyance, and Zorv followed him around like a shadow—a scene of reversed senior-junior roles!

Watching that scene intently, Zion spoke to Yushina in an absurd voice.

“I didn’t know Senior Richmond was that kind of person.”

Yushina also nodded readily.

“…I didn’t know he was that kind of kid either.”

***

Zorv persistently made the offer to take charge of Dragon Street.

“Fine, then I will yield down to 1% of the total revenue. Instead, how about working in the Richmond family after graduation?”

Before they knew it, the revenue distribution had dropped to a negligible level.

‘Why is he sticking to me this much?’

By this point, Roan was also a bit dumbfounded.

No, even if his value was unmeasurable, was there any reason to go this far?

Harden was also unmeasurable right now.

And…

‘It does seem like something to go this far for.’

Thinking about it calmly, it made some sense, but it was just as annoying nonetheless.

The offer of working in the Richmond family would be a grand proposal for other characters, but not for Roan, who had to escape the Empire as quickly as possible.

There was absolutely no need to bind himself to the Empire for nothing.

Ultimately, Roan decided to use the method that would work best in this situation.

Stop─

Roan faced Zorv, completely hardening his expression.

“Z-Zorv! You’re in big trouble now!”

“What if you stop his heart again?”

Even Yushina and Zion, who were watching, felt an unusual vibe.

Because looking at Roan’s expression, it wouldn’t be strange if he actually killed him.

Roan’s appearance looked as though a blood-stained awl could easily slide out from his shirt!

‘What does he take me for…!’

Naturally, Roan had no intention of launching offensive holy magic at Zorv.

“Senior. Though I am lacking, I intend to reconstruct the Darc family.”

“Reconstruction?”

“Yes. Although we are ruined now, Darc and Richmond were equal. You, intelligent Senior, will know very well what I am trying to say.”

“Hmm…”

As Roan spoke, bringing up his family, Zorv could not say anything more and fell into contemplation.

Indeed, the Darc family was one of the Empire’s four great families, just like Richmond.

If family reconstruction was truly the goal, telling Roan to enter under Richmond was an act of ignoring not only his personal pride but also the honor of Darc.

Furthermore, Yushina and Zion, who heard Roan’s story, were even more heated.

“Hey, Zorv! How can you speak so harshly! Telling Roan to become a subordinate of Richmond!”

“T-That’s right!”

“No. I didn’t say it to that extent.”

“Then what did you mean!”

“…….”

Of course, from Zorv’s perspective, it was a much more moderate and well-treated offer, but he had no particular way to refute Yushina’s words.

“To reconstruct… the Darc family… to go that far…”

Meanwhile, Zion, with tears welling in her eyes, was trying hard not to look at Roan.

‘What did I do to go that far?’

From Roan’s perspective, she seemed to be thinking of something uncomfortable.

Although he didn’t know why Zion was like that, to Roan, family reconstruction was merely a convenient excuse to make.

He hadn’t done a single thing sincerely for that purpose.

In any case, although they were a classmate and a junior, the two were a Saintess and a Saintess candidate.

Considering their positions, it was difficult for Zorv to push any further.

“Ahem. Fine. Let’s act as if the Dragon Street story never happened. Instead.”

A solemn determination gathered in Zorv’s eyes.

Roan calmly awaited his words.

“From now on, I will invest in the reconstruction of our old ally Darc, and in the outstanding talent that is Roan. I say this not as individual Zorv, but as the heir of the Richmond family.”

“…To that extent?”

Roan asked, slightly taken aback.

Honestly, no matter how thick-skinned Roan was, this was a problem that made his conscience sting quite a bit.

Because it was on a completely different dimension compared to pilfering a few materials from the club room.

‘If I take all the investment and flee outside the Empire, isn’t that a total dine-and-dash?’

But since he couldn’t say such things frankly, Zorv’s mind would not change either.

“Yes. You wouldn’t refuse something like this. As a token of our promise, if there is anything you want right now, I will obtain it for you. Within the reach of my power.”

A place within Zorv’s reach practically meant the entirety of Akerandir.

Roan fell into contemplation for a moment.

‘What should I do? Even for me, if he goes this far and I run away later, that is a complete black ma… Oh?’

Then he found a completely unexpected answer.

‘I am a black mage, aren’t I?’

Had he made a mistake because he was living among priests?

Whatever support he received from priests, it was none of a black mage’s concern.

If he were a fellow priest, he would receive condemnation from all the citizens of the Empire as ‘that ungrateful, shameless bastard!’, but,

For a black mage, it would be, ‘As expected of a black mage, Richmond did a stupid thing!’

It meant it was a profitable business with absolutely no loss for Roan.

Once his thoughts reached that point, Roan smiled as benevolently as possible.

At that, Zorv flinched and stepped back, saying.

“…As I already said, it is within the reach of my power.”

“…I haven’t said anything yet, though.”

Zorv was emphasizing the condition beforehand out of concern, while Roan felt slightly disappointed.

But since Roan was the receiving party, he had to endure it for now.

“Would the ‘holy-magic centrifuge’ and the ‘frame of recollection’ in Professor Woolly’s warehouse also be possible?”

“Hmm. That much is certainly possible right away.”

“S-Such things are possible right away?”

When Zorv nodded nonchalantly, it was Yushina who was surprised instead.

“Putting aside the centrifuge, the frame of recollection is a holy artifact Professor Woolly created himself! Do you know how much that costs?”

Zion naturally nodded at Yushina’s words, then suddenly had a question.

‘Isn’t the price not the issue?’

In the first place, she thought whether it could even be acquired was the problem.

However, Zorv hardened his expression, feeling slightly offended, and asked back.

“It is something that can be bought with money anyway.”

The Richmonds were of a character that could tolerate being ignored themselves, but could not tolerate their wealth being ignored.

“W-Well, that is true.”

If the heir of the Richmond family spoke like that, there was no helping it.

Yushina also reluctantly nodded and accepted.

Meanwhile, Zion approached Roan and asked quietly.

“By the way, why did you request Professor Woolly’s things?”

“Because he is a professor who sells anything as long as he gets paid.”

“…….”

Zion was left speechless.

Although she didn’t know well as a freshman, it was normally standard that self-made holy artifacts or top-tier laboratory tools like a holy-magic centrifuge wouldn’t be sold even if offered a high price.

Roan added a word.

“And Senior Zorv is Professor Woolly’s top disciple.”

“Ah… No wonder.”

Only then did Zion nod as if she completely understood.

She didn’t know if Zorv was good at making holy artifacts, but she thought he matched Woolly very well.

In the first place, it made sense if those countless holy artifacts he wore on his body were also bought from Woolly.

Since Woolly would sell if he got paid, and Zorv had plenty of money.

“In case you are curious, the position of top disciple was for 100 gold…”

“I am not curious about that far!”

Zion hastily covered Roan’s mouth.

She felt that if she listened further, her illusions about Akerandir would crumble to pieces.

…Whether there was anything left to crumble was another matter.

In any case, having finished his business, Zorv spread his golden wings and spoke.

“I will obtain them within today and deliver them to your dormitory room.”

“Hey, leave through the door─!”

Flap──

Before Yushina could even grab him, Zorv and his divine beast, the Yellow Iron-Scale Bird, passed straight through the barrier again and flew into the sky.

No more gold dust fell, but Roan still looked up at the flashy figure nonetheless.

‘With this, the preparations for the Grey Shackle of Life are roughly complete.’

Thinking that his task had become easier thanks to some pushover priest senior.

Meanwhile, Zorv, flying rapidly through the sky, suddenly felt a doubt.

“But how did a freshman know that those items were with Professor Woolly?”

Coo──?

The Yellow Iron-Scale Bird also tilted its head.

An ordinary person would have felt fear or awe toward Roan, but,

The heir of the Richmond family was a bit different.

“…I should increase the investment. I need to pack a few more things.”

Screch─!

The Yellow Iron-Scale Bird cried out toward Zorv a few times.

Stop giving things away! His face looks nasty too!

Of course, Zorv never understood those words.