NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
The promised day has arrived.
From the previous day, the traders had set up in front of the academy, waiting.
Word has it that 2,000 units sold out in an instant.
Unfortunately, many traders didn’t directly raise their prices but rather sold to acquaintances with an additional charge in the future.
Sadly, it wasn’t specified in the contract, so we decided to let it slide this time.
Honestly, I felt somewhat relieved.
The Southern Region and some of the nobles from the Kingdom were just starting to enjoy it, so this amount was necessary.
But if Tetric spreads across the entire Empire right now… Who knows, I might be forced to flee like Jiren.
“Alright, line up please.”
“We have plenty of stock! If you cut in line, you’ll be at the back!”
Including me, a few priests who were barely hanging onto their sanity started organizing the line and welcoming the traders.
Looking at the traders’ eyes, it was clear business had gone incredibly well; they were shining like gold.
“The Green Consortium payment has been confirmed. Please take the 1,200 Tetric crystal balls ordered for the Master.”
Then Karen and Noirin collected the payment and organized things, while our Master magically transported the crystals onto their wagon.
Such meticulous control! Truly the Master.
Seeing the gold piling up behind Karen made my heart race.
I realized I was a bit materialistic.
But I couldn’t help it.
I had struggled immensely to feed 47 priests without any cheats until now.
Ah… farewell to the memories of my poor past…
“Brother! What are you doing? Move quickly!”
“Huh? Ah! Got it!”
Jiren snapped me back to reality.
Him nagging me like this made me feel like he had grown up a lot.
It felt like just yesterday when I kicked his ass while teaching him magic…
Maybe it’s because I’m turning 20, but I think I’ve been more emotional lately.
And so, the chaotic second operation for Tetric took place, starting early in the morning and only wrapping up in the afternoon.
And then…
Tap tap tap
“The price for the small crystal balls is 100 million gold with a shipping cost of 1.2 million gold… along with the Grey Guild and the debt of 700 million gold…”
Our academy’s gaze turned towards Karen.
She was tapping away at the calculating magical tool, working out the day’s profits, debts, and operational costs of the academy.
I wondered how much net profit we made. If we could just earn a lot this time, we could take care of our priests, fulfill Master’s dreams, and live without worrying about money for the next 2-3 years.
Please…
As I was wishing this, suddenly Karen slammed the table.
Bang!
What the heck!? Could it be… a deficit!?
“Y… Yuren! Master!”
With a look of disbelief, Karen stared at me, her soul nearly leaving her body.
Speak, Karen… If you keep delaying, I’m getting scared.
“Total net profit achieved: 3 billion 200 million gold!”
3… 3 billion!?
Holy crap!
Did we really earn 3 billion!?
“3… 3 billion!!!!”
“Oh my… is this a dream or a birthday surprise…”
“Students…”
Karen’s statement had even Master looking incredulous.
It was natural.
For the past decade, our academy’s average annual income was 300 million gold, and that wasn’t net profit; it was just revenue, and there were often times we ended up in the red after paying the priests.
But to rake in 3 billion overnight… What the heck…
Now wasn’t the time to be shocked.
At times like this…
“Hey everyone, today is a festival!!!”
“Wowwwwwww!!!!!!”
“It’s a festival!!!!!”
“Yay!!!!!!!!”
It was the moment to celebrate like a scene from a pirate cartoon.
A festival like never before for our academy, no less.
*
Boom! Boom! Boom boom!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle
Fireworks magic exploded in the sky while meat and sausages were grilling in the yard.
We pulled out all the pork belly from the storage and rushed to the village to buy all the drinks and food.
After a week of surviving only on jerky, it was time for our priests and Master to feast and have fun.
“Alright! Everyone, eat as much as you want!”
“Yes! Brother!!”
I served the perfectly grilled pork belly, sharing it with the priests in a golden ratio along with kimchi.
And it wasn’t just food on the menu.
『Dottidittiri♪ Dottidittiditti♫ Dottidittididotto♫』
“Finally, I’ll reach level 8!”
“Jiren, you’re still at level 8? I’m already at level 9!”
“What? Noirin, how dare you leave your brother behind!”
“Uh huh, if you feel wronged, then quickly surpass level 8!”
Using 『Wood Manipulation Magic』, I built five Tetric gaming devices in the yard for our priests who had been too busy to enjoy the game.
With delicious food, fireworks bursting in the sky, addictive game BGM, and the sound of blocks disappearing in rhythm, cheerful laughter filled the air.
All of it brought back memories from my past life.
The 90s, when my history with gaming began.
As I delightedly watched the celebration, Julia approached me.
“Hahaha! What are you doing here instead of enjoying the festival, Yuren!”
Julia was holding two mugs of beer, handing one to me as she spoke.
I grasped the mug.
It felt deliciously cold on my fingertips, likely thanks to the ice magic perfectly applied.
“I’m enjoying enough just watching; my stomach’s full already.”
“Is that so? Hahaha!”
Just a day ago, Julia and the Juel School were exhausted from work, but they had just awakened.
I gave additional bonuses to the Juel School folks and told them to join the festival.
“Gulp… Gulp… Ahh, exquisite.”
A cold beer after a successful project.
Heaven truly has no bounds.
“My friend Yuren, I’ve tried this ‘Tetric’ thing. You’ve created something interesting!”
“If you liked it, take one for yourself; I’ll give it to you for free.”
“Well then, I won’t hold back!”
“On one condition: the next project, I’d like your help.”
“Pfft!!! What!? No way! Not happening!!”
She was dead serious.
She seemed genuinely afraid of making money after this incident.
Another mission cleared.
“Just kidding, I also don’t want to do this again; the kids are too exhausted.”
“So, what then?”
“We need to collaborate with a big consortium that can produce the crystal balls.”
This time it was urgent, so we mobilized our academy and priests, but our academy isn’t a merchant organization; we’re a guild focused on researching and developing magic.
It’s proper to leave the business to the merchants.
It’s easier for us that way.
“Hmph… I smell money. Yuren! I want in!”
“How do you want in?”
“Teach me how to make that game magic!”
Julia seemed to sense the potential of the game, her eyes shining.
She really has an amazing nose for money.
“Hmmm, for free?”
“If you teach me, I’ll marry you!”
“Absolutely not!! That’s a losing condition for me!”
“Is that so? Hahaha!”
Where’s she trying to lead me to my doom?
I firmly rejected Julia’s 54th marriage proposal.
“I’ll give you the basic know-how tomorrow, so write it down.”
“Thanks a lot, Yuren! You’re such a good friend! Hahaha!”
The magic used in Tetric was high-level, but it wasn’t impossible to learn.
I expected that many wizards and schools would quickly dive into the gaming scene.
After all, whether in my past or current life, whatever makes money always attracts people.
So I hoped that my friends would create games.
Especially Julia, with her free spirit and artistic sense.
She’s a friend with real talent.
If Julia begins making game magic, I feel like she could create something incredibly fun that I hadn’t even thought of.
I was looking forward to it.
Meanwhile, the Master and Karen approached.
“Disciple! I can’t clear level 10!”
“Yuren, I also find level 10 really difficult.”
Somehow, the two had made it to level 9 and reached 10.
To clear level 10 this quickly, user content consumption speed really is insane.
“Level 10 is tough for me too…”
I don’t have much confidence, considering I cleared it in my past life.
But…
“Wait, Yuren, did you really create something that you can’t clear yourself?”
Oh no! Did Noirin just defeat me here!?
There’s an old saying: you can put up with any insult but can’t stand being told you can’t play a game.
It seems I still had some lingering pride from my past life.
“I said it’s hard, not that I can’t do it!”
Let me show you the skills of a developer with 30 years of gaming experience!
I rolled my wrists and approached the Tetric crystal ball.
The enjoyable festival night deepened.
Things are likely to get busier from here on.
What I created wasn’t just one game.
I introduced the concept of video games to this world.
People would want many games, and they would make them.
Even if I don’t create them.
“Still, I should be able to rest for at least a week.”
I downed a cool beer and began playing Tetric in front of everyone.
The joyous festival night continued on.
………………
…………
…..
-2 Days Later-
“Hello. I am Sylvia from the Edward Consortium. Is this the Irene School that created Tetric?”
Ah… I just want to rest.