Healing at the Academy convenience store

Prior to entering the world of D/Z SAGA, I took pride in the fact that I’d sampled every energy drink in existence.

Hot Seven, Blue Bull, Creature… I wasn’t picky, having tried them all. Consequently, the flavor I now tasted was not entirely alien to me.

It was a well-crafted energy drink.

‘Just a tad more potent than Hot Seven, yet slightly softer than Creature…’

Such a drink was a necessity for the contemporary individuals who lived in the present, disregarding their future well-being.

‘I never anticipated experiencing this taste here.’

It was unhealthy, to be sure.

Nevertheless, it was precisely the drink needed at this moment.

Pouring two glasses into a cup, I took it over to the counter. Aila, who had extracted her magic book and laid it out, had completed preparing for her studies and was awaiting my return.

“Is this the beverage for today?”

“Yes. It’s still in the testing phase, so there’s no charge.”

“Really? That’s fine?”

Aila sipped it and responded with wide-eyed acknowledgement.

“Mmm. It’s got a pleasant blend of sweet and tart.”

“That so? Just be cautious not to overindulge.”

“Why?”

“It has stimulating properties. Consuming too much may result in a backlash.”

“You’re able to concoct magic potions as well? Do you have an aptitude for PHARMACY?”

Aila’s eyes grew even larger.

Pharmacy.

In the auxiliary class, alchemists commonly select this profession, synonymous with a pharmacist or potion creator. It’s a lucrative career path with promising prospects.

Pretending to be a part of this profession can be exhausting. The student council strictly enforces regulations against unauthorized pharmacies.

“No, I don’t possess such a talent.”

“···Oh, I see. Alright then.”

I was relieved that she accepted my explanation.

“For now, we must keep this under wraps. For the inevitable day to come.”

Aila nodded, seemingly comprehending the situation.

Did she truly grasp it?

Did she?

***

The magic department at Jephryn, where only an elite few are selected from among hundreds of thousands.

Even among this group, achieving the second rank among the third-year students isn’t a feat accomplished without immense dedication, regardless of one’s prodigious talent.

As expected, the study session progressed with intense fervor, with Aila intermittently monitoring my studies while engrossed in her own.

Upon completion of my basic knowledge test, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Wolfram. Is this another one of your abilities?”

“… What ability are you referring to?”

“How have you managed to remain in the magic department with this level of knowledge? Is this also part of your strategy?”

I appreciated her brutally honest assessment.

“Uh-uh. That won’t do. First, we’ll need to revisit Wolfram’s foundational knowledge.”

“…Isn’t there a time issue?”

“Even if you fail the preliminary test, you can make up for it in the midterms. It’s wise to have a long-term study plan. Wolfram, start with this book.”

“Basic Magic Theory, huh.”

“Yes. On the basis of that, I’ll construct some problems for you to solve.”

With that, Aila began devising the most fundamental problem sets.

Observing her study habits, I found myself in awe.

She multitasked with ease, studying with one hand while employing a black gem to conjure test questions on a blank piece of paper.

Simultaneously studying, using magic, and generating test questions.

Was this level of proficiency even humanly possible? Was this what it meant to possess an innate magical capacity of 19?

Respecting Aila’s consideration, I picked up the book and commenced reading at a leisurely pace.

The basic elemental magic book discussed topics such as red symbolizing fire magic originating from magical roots, blue representing water magic. It further stated that one’s own magic color is pre-determined at birth and unchangeable.

In a brief span, Aila had finalized the test problems she had crafted. Once I had addressed all of them, she gave a nod of approval.

“You scored around 70 points. Your memory retention seems decent. Given your low mana, it’s unavoidable in practice, but you can compensate with theoretical knowledge.”

Her commendation felt somewhat hollow, considering her own extraordinary capabilities.

Aila graced me with a smile, and akin to a tutor imparting miscellaneous knowledge to a student post-examination, she posed an offbeat query about magic.

“By the way, Wolfram. It’s said that the color of mana denotes the attribute of magic, isn’t it? Brown corresponds to earth magic. Red signifies fire magic. But you’re aware that not all match up, right?”

What? That?

“Of course, I’m aware of that.”

“Oh, really? Could you provide me an example?”

“Your black gem magic would be one.”

“······.”

At my instantaneous retort, Aila gaped at me in surprise.

Evidently, she hadn’t anticipated my awareness.

Good. At this point, I need to divulge all the game-related information I possess, to prevent Aila from belittling my knowledge.

“House of Obsidian. The color of Tristar is so intensely dark that it invokes images of black magic, yet its essence is mineral magic, unrelated to black magic.”

“You do have a fair amount of knowledge, don’t you?”

“Obsidian magic holds an alluring charm. Upon closer inspection, it leans towards a glossy, deep purple. Anyone with functional vision can discern that.”

“Ah, is that so? Intriguing, isn’t it?”

Given that Aila seemed quite disconcerted, I nodded, reminiscing about the game’s graphics.

In Act 3, when I battled against her, I had assumed the dark energy to be black magic, so I entered the fight armored in black magic resistant gear. However, doing so only resulted in being pierced by the spear and meeting my demise.

It’s significantly more effective to equip Earth Resistance and Physical Resistance. That’s the key to overcoming Aila.

“Obsidian magic operates on an entirely different plane than the murky black magic.”

“Eh, um… Wolfram?”

As I laid out my knowledge akin to a game guide, Aila appeared considerably flustered.

Seems like she acknowledged my wisdom.

See, haha, I’m not a simpleton.

I just have a knack for unconventional knowledge. Here’s Wolfram, the lore enthusiast!

“Look, just because of one color, the Tristar family has been scorned, right? You can’t understand the essence through prejudice.”

“Eh, uh… Stop. Stop. Just stop, Wolfram.”

I shrugged my shoulders. The agony I felt seeing the Obsidian Spear embedded in my abdomen during the Aila suppression battle was unparalleled. That damage was utterly unfair.

“Obsidian is more profound, lucid, and devastating.”

“Thank… No, focus on your studies!”

“Hmm?”

“Yes, absolutely. Let’s focus on studying! This isn’t the time for idle chatter!”

“But aren’t we already studying?”

“No idle chatter! Let’s study. Right, let’s concentrate on our studies! Quickly!”

“…..”

Why is she reacting like this?

***

The study session persisted till late into the night.

We subsisted on donuts and beverages for sustenance, and once Aila, who seemed a bit peculiar, focused on studying, she immersed herself in the magic book calmly.

She reminded me of the aloof and cerebral rebel lady who shattered everything in Act 3.

‘Is this what being top of the class entails?’

There was a trace of admiration in my thoughts.

Somewhere around ten past ten, we tidied up our study materials, marking the end of our session.

“I’ll be off for today. Make sure to solve and review the homework I assigned.”

“It’s late. Be careful on your way back. And… Thank you.”

“Oh my, Wolfram thanking me. Hehe. Yes. You don’t need to worry.”

“Go home quickly, isn’t it mandatory to sleep after ten?”

“That’s true. But it seems like the drink worked wonders. Hehe. It’s Wolfram after all.”

With that, Aila departed, bidding me goodbye.

Our study sessions persisted for several subsequent days.

Our diet, of course, consisted of donuts and Wolfram’s special energy drink.

“Regarding this drink, do you plan to commercialize it, perhaps at the convenience store?”

“I’m contemplating it. Why do you ask?”

“Every time I see products from your grocery store, Wolfram, I can’t help but feel in awe. You know this, right?”

“I suppose so. Though you never got around to trying the pasta made with red syrup.”

“That’s because it’s not intended for human consumption. Only someone devoid of taste buds would willingly eat that.”

Why are you being so harsh on Rudica? 

Although your words hold some truth. Nevertheless, she consumes it whenever she drops by, spending 20,000 rin a plate.

“But this drink. It’s truly a game changer.”

“A game changer, you say?”

“If graduate students get their hands on this, there will be an all-out war over it. If the situation escalates, we could even see looting.”

“…Really, is it that serious?”

“They’re struggling to complete their theses and earn their degrees. They’re ready to gamble everything. Can you imagine what would happen if word of this drink spread?”

“Do graduate students actually die from overworking?”

“That’s not the point.”

Oh?

Is that so?

Then what is the point?

“If it’s distributed fairly, professors who exploit their graduate students will be enraged. Unfair distribution? One lab will surge ahead and dominate the competition.”

“……”

“This is a beverage that could cause an upheaval in the world of graduate studies. It’s revolutionary.”

Such a potent drink, seriously?

This one right here?

“Now you’ve got everything you need. Let’s soar. You’ve got graduate students at your mercy, and the sky’s the limit.”

Isn’t that a bit devious?

“I don’t think so. It’s a non-starter.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“There’s a cap on the ingredients, we can only make five cups a day.”

“Ah, the constraints of small-scale production…!”

“You understand.”

“What if I can arrange a supply line?”

No

Don’t do that. If you do that, Eve’s spear will tear my stomach to pieces. I’ll incur karma and Rudika will come after me.

So in this situation, to convince her…

“Revolutions should be subtle. The most spectacular part is the wings that unfurl at the very end.”

Will this work?

“···Ah, ah, I see. I understand completely! As I thought, Wolfram···!”

Aila responded with certainty, as though she grasped my intentions, and laughed softly.

“Small-scale production capped at five cups a day. A subtle approach. So… only the five people selected by Wolfram can enjoy it, right?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Hehe, you are indeed the villain I’ve come to admire.”

Fine, let’s go with that.

“Okay. Then, the first of Wolfram’s five daily cups should go to Aila TriStar. I’ll reserve one cup each day!”

What’s with these five cups?

As I tried to prevent Aila’s tirade,

My hand froze at Aila’s next statement.

“Of course, I won’t expect it for free. I’ll pay the price.”

“Alright. What are you proposing as payment?”

“Hmm. Um. So.”

Aila tapped her index finger on the table in contemplation before continuing.

“If we handle this with money, we’d have to keep records, provide evidence, and deal with taxes. The drink could potentially get exposed. So, it’s better to trade for an item… Do you have something in mind?”

An item?

There is an item I’m in need of.

“I could use a Maso freezer. Do you happen to have a spare?”

“A freezer… That would indeed be handy in a grocery store.”

“They’re asking for 20 million at the lowest on the Maestro side. It’s an absurd price.”

“It’s not an item that’s easy to manufacture. The price isn’t all that inflated.”

I’m aware. TriStar is a merchant family, so Aila’s price estimation is surely accurate.

“Is it feasible?”

“Oh, you’re asking if it’s feasible? Right now?”

Aila gave a bright laugh.

“What do you take me for?”

Indeed.

Who else could she be?