When the Dragon Heart settled into my body and alleviated the mana imbalance to some extent, I was discharged from the hospital.
The progress was good, and there were no issues even when I moved like before.
Of course, I was warned to be cautious about excessive mana use and told that my senses might not fully recover.
“Haaa… The fresh air outside is refreshing, as expected.”
After spending a week confined to a hospital room, just breathing fresh air lifted my mood.
“It seems like the restoration isn’t complete yet.”
The Arcane unit’s facilities were all state-of-the-art magical engineering marvels.
Although they were easily destroyed by the intruders,
Restoring the Empire’s top-tier facilities wouldn’t be an easy task.
‘Not a single person around.’
I strolled around Arcane for a walk, but since the academy was temporarily closed,
There were hardly any people.
Even the always-crowded dining hall was quiet.
Only those who lived far away or couldn’t use teleportation magic remained for meals.
I decided to join them and have a meal at Arcane for the first time in a while.
‘Normally, I would never eat here, but today is different.’
I heard a lot happened while I was unconscious.
News of Arcane’s attack spread across the entire Empire,
And I was hailed as a hero alongside others.
Thanks to that, proposals for sponsorship and gifts poured in from all kinds of families.
There were even offers to become a vassal after graduation, and numerous marriage proposals from daughters of lower-ranked noble families like barons or viscounts.
‘Well, I don’t look too bad, I guess.’
Objectively speaking, Theonar had a decent face.
Tall and well-shaped without any particular flaws.
Besides, now I was known as a hero and the top theoretical scorer, so…
Many were trying to rope in a capable commoner like me with no backing.
“Wow. No matter how many times I see it, I can’t get used to this place.”
Walking around the dining hall and looking at the menu prices, I found my resolve wavering.
My hands trembled.
‘500 rupees? How many bowls of Leven stew is that?’
Every region, in any world or country, has its own soul food.
Leven stew is like that here—a dish akin to Korea’s gukbap.
Outside Arcane, in the regular zones, 50 rupees would get you a bowl of Leven stew.
Even that is considered pricey because it’s near Arcanee.
But here, the lowest price was ten times that.
‘Crazy. Who pays over 50,000 won for a bowl of gukbap?’
It must be because this academy has so many nobles with extravagant spending habits.
Still, now that I had some money, I couldn’t skip a meal here.
So, I ordered the cheapest steak set and received it.
“…Well, it does look good.”
The 700-rupee steak had a certain sheen to it,
Glistening enticingly. Just looking at it made my mouth water.
“Alright, let’s dig in—”
As I picked up the fork and knife to enjoy my meal,
Thunk.
Someone suddenly sat at my previously empty table.
“Oh, my friend! What brings you to a place like this for a meal?”
That familiar, cheeky tone and face like a foppish gigolo.
It was unmistakably Gray, a carefree character you’d never forget after meeting once.
“Ahem, dear friend… I know you’re angry, but please, don’t stab me with that knife—Ah! Stop! I mean it!”
“Die, you bastard.”
I could understand that his family situation was difficult, but he should’ve at least contacted me once.
The audacity of this guy—he didn’t visit or contact me even once after I regained consciousness.
‘Even if it’s business, we’ve built some ties before.’
I grabbed Gray’s arm and demonstrated an arm lock I learned from Isabel.
By the time my food had gone cold,
“Teo…na…r… I’m dying…”
“You’re not dying, you idiot. Get up.”
Our reunion ended there.
“Phew… But why the black market? That’s not like you.”
“Why do you care?”
“Hey, can’t a close friend ask?”
“Shut up and just follow your employer’s orders. I’ll pay you.”
“Oh? What happened to that stingy miser?”
“Just eat your food.”
There is still no known solution for mana imbalance.
It’s a disease that affects many, especially children in their growth years.
‘Those naturally born with high mana reserves tend to suffer from it.’
The condition occurs when there’s an extreme mismatch between one’s body and mana, causing side effects.
While most cases are easily resolved to some extent,
There are exceptions—like mine.
Sometimes, effort, talent, or growth alone can’t overcome it.
For example, when external factors like elixirs drastically increase mana,
Or when another illness weakens the body.
These cases are particularly troublesome.
Without proper treatment, one could slowly waste away or become comatose due to mana imbalance.
‘I was almost the latter.’
Using a Fragment of Chaos without any precautions led me there.
If it hadn’t been for Rozennia, I can’t even imagine how much longer I’d have been stuck in the hospital room.
“But do we really have to go together?”
“Sending you to such a dangerous place alone? Our friendship ends here.”
“…Well, it’s not like I said I wouldn’t go.”
When Gray suggested he’d just provide the information and sit out,
I shook the leather pouch full of gold coins a little, letting the jingling sound carry.
His gaze changed immediately.
“Alright! Let’s go! I’ll lead the way, so follow me closely.”
With eyes sparkling, Gray grabbed my arm and pulled me along.
“So predictable.”
For a moment, I wondered if this guy really belonged to an information group when his intentions were so obvious.
* * *
On the way to our destination, he expressed his gratitude to me.
Hearing him thank me in such a serious tone was awkward as hell.
“It’s unbearably cheesy.”
I didn’t help him out of goodwill.
It was simply because I thought he’d be useful later, so I invested early.
That’s all.
I had made up my mind that way and even told him directly.
But he shook his head as if it didn’t matter.
“It doesn’t matter. The fact remains that you saved me and my sister.”
“…Ahem…”
“Besides, it’s not even exclusive, and you’re paying well for the priority. Who’d refuse such a deal?”
Well, even though he’s a key figure in the Black Crows, he doesn’t control the entire organization.
Demanding too much from him could weaken his standing, so I settled on a reasonable compromise.
Lately, everything had been going against my plans, giving me constant headaches.
He was the only one who moved according to my plans.
“Something’s different already.”
“You mean the marketplace?”
On the way out of Arcane toward our destination, we were walking as it wasn’t too far, making it a sort of casual stroll.
“This used to be Madame Bichen’s general store, you know.”
“Madame Bichen…? That sounds familiar.”
The name “Bichen” coming from Gray’s mouth rang oddly familiar in my ears, as if I’d heard it a few times before.
“Oh, you know her. The talented widow.”
“…You crazy bastard.”
“What? What happened to her?”
“Didn’t she just close down because business wasn’t good?”
“No way. Madame Bichen had both the skills and the looks, so her male customers never stopped coming.”
Hmm, then it wouldn’t make sense for her to fail.
“Well, it is a place resembling the medieval era.”
Though magic and other supernatural abilities abound, the level of development is still akin to medieval times.
As a result, people usually live in one place for a long time.
It’s rare for a popular shop to suddenly close down and disappear, even changing its signboard.
“At most, she’s probably taking a break or switching to another business.”
From what Gray said, she must have had plenty of regulars.
“Let’s go. We don’t have time.”
“Huh? Why don’t we have time?”
“Don’t glare at me like that. Think about it. It’s the black market. Do you think they’d set up shop in broad daylight like this?”
…True enough.
“Then what are we supposed to—”
“9 p.m. at the Olari Inn on 11th Street! I’ll just go check on Madame Bichen’s whereabouts!”
Without waiting for my response, Gray declared the time and place, then darted off.
Before I could answer, he climbed a wall, disappeared onto a rooftop, and was soon out of sight.
“…Well, he is quick on his feet.”
* * *
As night fell, I arrived at the meeting spot, glancing around and leaning casually against a wall to wait for Gray.
“He must have a reason for acting like that…”
Though he might seem like a reckless guy obsessed with widows,
His behavior likely stemmed from his information-gathering efforts.
“That’s how it was in the original story, too.”
So I trusted him and waited.
One hour…
Two hours…
But even as time passed, Gray didn’t show up at the meeting spot.
“…Where the hell is this guy?”
My patience finally ran out.