“A good thing, indeed.”
Lomio noticed the new crossbow behind Kexia.
A repeating quiver, walnut handguard, and a double-trigger mechanism…
Comparing it to the game settings, it was at least a level three blue quality—clearly, she couldn’t wait to upgrade her gear.
Which also meant… she’d already developed a habit of spending in advance.
As for her two teammates, there was even less need to worry.
As long as there’s no duchy certification and no one footing the bill, all independent alchemists are penniless.
This profession, high potential but low starting point.
“Money flows like water” isn’t just a metaphor—it’s a reality.
“No, I can’t laugh. I’m clearly a philanthropist.”
Lomio could only feel noble about lending money out.
A debt of less than thirty credits, and it let them join the “Talent Development Program” while keeping their student status!
In game terms, it’s the price of a monthly pass!
How could this be considered heartless?
Where’s the malice in that!
“Lord Lomio.”
A call came from behind—Ibuki Rei. Lomio turned to see her handing over a list:
“I’ve gathered all the materials you requested, and stored them in the resource chest under your name.”
As she spoke, she removed her own brooch and tapped it against Lomio’s chest.
[Credits +5]
Change as well?
Lomio noticed the faint blue beneath Ibuki Rei’s eyes—clearly, she hadn’t rested at all after yesterday’s fierce battle, rushing to handle the material procurement as quickly as possible.
Glancing through the list, Lomio spotted the notes attached to the materials.
[Long-term supply contract, 10% discount]
[Substandard goods, recorded and returned.]
…
After every item, there were prices from at least three shops, as well as notes on quality.
The best-value shop had already signed a long-term agreement, offering a further 10% discount on top of the usual rate.
With a few additional negotiating tactics, that’s how the five credits surplus came about.
“You worked hard, and did excellently.”
Lomio knew how crucial material supply was.
The team’s future growth would definitely require higher-grade resources.
And in the game’s setting, the academy’s constant stream of events meant that if the squad went hunting high-level monsters on their own, they’d inevitably miss some plot points.
That would be completely not worth it.
Only by having an immense—almost unimaginable—reserve of credits could one choose the optimal strategy for this path.
“With a pay-to-win route, who bothers fighting over talent or effort?” Lomio agreed wholeheartedly.
Ibuki Rei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “This was a partner’s commission, after all—of course I did my best.”
“Honestly, without your quote sheet, things might not have gone so smoothly.”
What a tough quote sheet it was.
Each item burst the profit bubble, leaving only the standard profit margin.
Thanks to knowing these prices, she could take the initiative in negotiations, and use her words to further expand the collaboration.
It also confirmed Ibuki Rei’s initial suspicion—he was testing her abilities.
“I’m just giving the right task to the right person.”
Lomio looked away and opened his textbook.
Truly worthy of being the players’ never-released “white moonlight” NPC—combat and intelligence both top notch, plus a strong sense of contract.
Now, even more chores could be handed over to her without worry!
“Alright, quiet down!”
Ankat began restoring order in the classroom:
“To help you quickly adapt to academy life, upperclassmen will explain important matters about your coming days.”
“If you’re unsure of anything, feel free to raise your hand and ask.”
“Let’s welcome, Senior Sylvia Valentin!”
Wait—who!?
Lomio looked to the door, and his recently relaxed expression tensed up again.
SSR right to the face!?
“How is this… oh, right, not surprising after all.”
Lomio recalled Sylvia’s original debut—it was because the protagonist’s squad captured the King, so she came to test the class.
One probe after another, until side stories and even bed scenes emerged—even the protagonist’s finger length and strength were all made clear.
Such dedicated “white giving”…
The plot of a matriarchal yuri game really is too wild and unrestrained.
So in other words…
“None of my business!”
Now, Lomio was at ease.
He wasn’t the team leader—let her tangle with that cold-faced Sigma “brother” instead!
Let’s see what you get out of Prince Russell!
At the door, a figure appeared.
The girl’s hair was iris blue, falling to her waist. She wore the upperclassmen’s uniform, golden thread on her skirt hem marking the Valentin family crest.
“Greetings, freshmen.”
Her voice carried across the classroom with a strange resonance, as if even the motes of dust in the air froze in place.
Everyone’s eyes were drawn to her.
Lomio looked too.
Here she was.
The highly popular SSR in the game—Sylvia Valentin.
Her pupils weren’t round.
They were two vertical, thin slits.
According to rumor, the Valentin family inherited dragonborn blood, and these slit pupils were the most direct proof.
“My name is Sylvia Valentin, third-year student.”
She entered the classroom, footsteps making no sound on the floor.
“It is an honor to serve as your guide, freshmen.”
Sylvia’s gaze swept the classroom, lingering half a second on Kexia’s squad, then flitting past the solitary Ibuki Rei.
At last, her gaze settled on the other side of the classroom.
Meeting her eyes, Lomio calmly looked back. “Morning, senior.”
Right now, he was just here to watch the show—no matter how big the fire, it wouldn’t touch him.
“Greetings.”
Sylvia nodded in reply, then her gaze fell upon “Kafnir.”
“I take it this is Kafnir?”
Sylvia walked to the desk and gave a slight bow.
“First place in the entrance assessment—congratulations.”
Kalenina lifted her head, her expression unchanged.
“No need for courtesy, Senior Valentin.”
Seeing his brother’s stiff, unfriendly tone, Lomio almost laughed out loud.
“Yes, exactly, start fighting!”
In the game, while the Valentin family and the Russell royal court hadn’t openly clashed, as one of the duchy’s largest commercial families, the Valentins were always trying to infiltrate the North’s mining business.
The Kingdom of Russell’s greatest strength was its mineral wealth and natural resources—making it the world’s largest mining nation.
So, they guarded it jealously.
This was it, rivals meeting, sparks flying!
“A pity I didn’t bring sunflower seeds and popcorn in my system warehouse for this…”
“Kafnir, you seem rather wary of me?”
Sylvia wore a smile, but her slit pupils betrayed not a hint of warmth.
“The Valentin name is well known.”
Kalenina’s response was as terse as ever.
Subtext: “I know all about your family’s tricks.”
Nice!
Lomio silently gave his bro a thumbs-up.
As expected of a Sigma man—SSR’s sugar-coated bullets have no effect at all.
That’s a real man!
“Oh my, it seems there’s a bit of misunderstanding.”
Sylvia didn’t look angry in the slightest.
She reached out, tapping a fingertip on the table.
“I’m simply curious about the new squad who brought down the ‘King’.”
Her finger slid across the desk, stopping in front of Lomio.
“Especially since your team includes an alchemist claiming to be heir to the ‘Sage of Lumen’.”
??
“Hey, why are you targeting me now? Do I look that easy to bully?”
“No third-year could know what happened inside the Alchemy Workshop. Those present at the time and in a position to contact someone from the Valentin family… probably only Beatrice…”
It really was her?!
Lomio hadn’t been sure—the source of that pheromone bottle was hard to pin down.
After all, the Cromwell and Valentin families had always been rivals—one possessing top-notch waterway shipping in the duchy,
The other, thanks to an ancestral dragonblood pact, had access to rare resources other families could hardly imagine.
Both were powerhouses in their fields, yet could never agree to cooperate.
Would Beatrice really go to the Valentins for such contraband?
Now, the answer was clear.
She really dared!
The logical chain was solid—this very senior in front of him was the source of the pheromone that caused the beast tide!
This woman had been tricky, but now, that bottle—solid evidence—was sitting in Lomio’s system warehouse!
All he had to do was check the stock and usage to prove the secret dealings between the two—easy as pie!
No matter how clever, sometimes a spur-of-the-moment idea wins the day!
Now, Sylvia herself had delivered the knife!
What luck!?
“I need to think of a way to squeeze some credits out of her…”