Healing at the Academy convenience store

The game D/Z SAGA, in retrospect, had a lot of peculiar aspects.

It was by no means a masterpiece. But, of course, it wasn’t a flop either.

Just an average game? It certainly had a lot of things to do. In particular, it was quite enjoyable to recruit comrades, complete quests, and see the ending.

But in addition to that, there were quite a few sub-quests and mini-games.

One of the things I sarcastically referred to as ‘idiotic’ was the title ‘Bean Collector.’

It was indeed ridiculous. The game had beans that, when mixed, produced a result that filled up a collector’s book one by one, and if you filled it all, you were granted a title.

The total number of combinations required was probably around fifteen hundred? However, the title’s performance was quite good. It enhanced the effect of using beans and also boosted stats.

Anyway, during the game, it was possible to buy a lot of beans, but upon inquiry with Yggdrasil, there were surprisingly few beans due to their lack of popularity.

So, I had to search for the Bean Garden myself and the moment I created the health recovery formula ‘Whipped Beans,’ a system window appeared before my eyes.

【Big success in combining!】

【Whipped Beans】

【Acquired title: ‘ First ever to step onto the Path of Bean Collector.’】

【Effect: You have learned the formula of bean combination. A Bean Collector’s book is created. You can now taste the beans more sensitively.】

No additional stats and no skill are given. The reality is that all initial titles are like this. As I mentioned before, the game Jephryn  gives ‘reward for effort.’

The hidden piece I was aiming for was this, indeed. And if you collect all fifteen hundred kinds, the title effect is actually good. Not quite to the level of the ending, but pretty close to a sub-finale.

Anyway, what lies ahead of me is a seemingly infinite grind of fifteen hundred items. And the fruit that will come at the end.

‘Actually, that’s what I liked. The fun of working hard and the fun of being rewarded for that hard work.’

I shrugged my shoulders. It’s better than having nothing, so let’s switch to the new title. I was thinking this and manipulating the panel when another window popped up.

【The first Mixed Beans Combination.】

【You receive 1 dexterity stats.】

And then

【You have a big success on the first Bean Combination.】

【You receive one of the 7-tier beans randomly.】

【You receive Energy Beans.】

“Huh?”

***

Anyway, it was the Eastern Forest, and there was no reason for anything big to happen.

I hadn’t even filled out the count and ended the trip by hunting a single goblin on the way back.

I naturally took the corpse.

At the front of the mercenary office, Nephti and I settled our accounts. It had been five minutes since our departure, but I paid for a full hour of work, which noticeably brightened Nephti’s expression.

“Thank you.”

“You worked hard.”

“Yes, yes! And thank you for the meal. It was as fulfilling as you said.”

“Is that so?”

“But it’s fascinating. Aren’t beans a dangerous crop that can explode or cause poisoning if handled improperly?”

“Indeed.”

“I didn’t know you could combine beans. It was the first time I had seen such a technique.”

“Hold on. What did you say?”

“Huh? Oh, I said thank you for the meal.”

“No, not that. You said it was a technique you had never seen before?”

“Yes. It was a truly peculiar technique.”

“Let me ask you something. Are the beans not accurately classified?”

“Who would classify them? They’re beans that grow anywhere, look similar, and there are hundreds of kinds.”

“…”

The dissonance between the game and reality adjusts once again.

Beans are literally beans that grow anywhere, but there are easily hundreds of varieties.

The difference between reality, where it’s unimaginable to use them as food due to the lack of a clear classification system, and the game where a name and description are attached as soon as they are obtained is this wide.

I pondered why I was the first to receive the title of Bean Collector, and this must have been the reason.

“Then why did you eat what I gave you without hesitation?”

“…”

“Were you that hungry?”

“…”

Nephti did not answer in the end.

She just bowed her head and went on her way.

***

I opened the status window after returning from the convenience store.

【Wolfram von Roengreen】

【?T】

【Status:

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 6 + (1)

Health: 2

Magic: 3

Will: 4】

【Skills held: Royal Bloodline.】

“…So stats has indeed been added.”

A stats that can be attached to Dexterity.

What’s even better is that this stats upgrade isn’t something that happens immediately, but rather, I can implement it when I need it.

It’s easier to raise your stats from 6 to 7 than you’d think. Conversely, moving from 60 to 61 is an entirely different level.

We’ll capture this later.

“Since I won’t see any immediate benefit from the stats upgrade by investing now, I’ll hold off for now.”

Next is the Energy Beans, a Tier 7 reward.

They have quite a powerful effect, but if I want to create mixed beans from these, I’ll need considerable skill and knowledge. If not, instead of success, I could end up with a catastrophic failure that might even explode.

I can’t use either of them right away.

But they were good rewards that allow me to dream of the future.

But what was even more important than those two rewards was the fact that I was the first one to receive them.

“…This is strange. It’s strange no matter how I think about it.”

No one had thought about combining beans, and this weighed heavily on my mind.

***

A few days later.

Aila came to visit the grocery store.

“Is your candy business going well?”

“It’s not bad.”

“I see. But you still have no customers. Why did you open a convenience store here?”

“…Isn’t this your building?”

“Uh…”

You’re complaining that business isn’t going well after you bought the place? That’s your fault, not mine. As I implied this, Aila began to tremble. For someone with such ambitions, she’s surprisingly naive in strange places.

“I heard a rumor. You went out with a famous commoner from the Knight Academy?”

“I did.”

“Nephtarian. I heard she’s a Knight Academy student from the West, trusted among commoners.”

“Is that so?”

“And she said something. Wolfram is quite a decent person. We might be misunderstanding him.”

“…Unnecessary compliments.”

“And another thing. Wolfram uses some strange techniques, and his escort service is worth it. Especially the meals he provides, they have something special.”

“…”

Was it worth spreading rumors about?

“So, can you serve me that special meal too?”

“That won’t be difficult.”

“I’m looking forward to it, Chef.”

Looking at Aila, with her long black hair and obsidian-like eyes asking, I brought out the whipped beans I made yesterday.

“…What is this?”

“Try it. All you have to spread it on Black bread though.”

“…Ha. Black bread, you must not know who you’re dealing with.”

“Anyway, try it. It should be quite edible.”

Saying so, Aila spread a generous amount of cream on the Black bread I prepared, hesitated for a moment, and then took a big bite.

“Uh, what?!!!?”

Watching Aila, who started to flutter around with wide eyes, I nodded.

“That’s the next product I’m selling. The bread itself is just plain Black bread, but the cream is my homemade recipe.”

Regardless of what I said, Aila finished off the bread. She gobbled it up with dignity and surprising speed. After finishing off the bread, Aila…

“It’s not bad. Quite good for a Black bread.”

…then calmly wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.

“So, where did you get this cream? It’s quite surprising.”

“That’s a secret.”

“…If you could provide it unlimited, the TriStar Trade Association might buy it? It’s not bad, so I think it will sell pretty well. I’ll cover the cost.”

“I can’t provide that much.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t.”

“But why?”

Isn’t it obvious? I would get exhausted making it.

“Anyway, it has marketability. I guess I can start selling it to grad students from tomorrow.”

“What a waste! Rather, sell it all to me.”

“…Wasn’t it just a fairly edible cream?”

“Hm, well. Its unique flavor left quite an impression. So, I’ll buy it all.”

“No.”

“Why not!”

So, I tried to convince Aila, who was trying to haggle for the Whipped Beans with a ‘It’s not that special, but I will buy it for you.’ attitude. In the end, Aila was the first one to tire out and give up.

“Alright. I’ll back off today. But, I swear, I’ll definitely get it. I…I don’t give up.”

Sounds like something a third-rate villain would say.

“Well then, give it your best shot.”

“Urgh!”

Seemingly frustrated, Aila clenched her fists and glared at me.

What’s she going to do by glaring?

“Anyway, that cream is pretty expensive.”

“Okay, how much do I need to pay? One hundred thousand Rin?”

No, that’s way too much.

Truthfully, money isn’t that important. If it comes down to it, I can just force Eve to buy some candy.

“I have a few questions. About the current state of the market. It’s for cross-checking information.”

“Okay. I’ll answer everything within my knowledge.”

“Are the students of Jephryn adventuring? Across the Academy District, throughout the entire artificial island of Jephryn, towards the marshlands, deserts, grasslands, valleys?”

“To some extent, yes. They’re doing it to complete the curriculum. Jephryn is practice-focused.”

I see.

“Then let’s change the question. How many students are adventuring because they want to?”

At my question, Aila opened her eyes wide, then answered with a bright smile.

“That’s a strange question. Do you want to hear an obvious answer?”

“Even if it’s obvious, it’s fine.”

“None. They don’t voluntarily go outside.”

“……”

“Wolfram, how many students would risk their lives on their own accord? They can secure a position once they return home just by attending classes and getting a diploma in the Academy District.”

***

After Aila left, I took out a notebook and started jotting down what I’ve seen and felt since I came to Jephryn, and came up with a reasonable hypothesis.

“The price of the potion is one hundred times what I knew. The value of good equipment is ten times. I’ve got the title of the first Bean Collector, which hasn’t even been studied.”

Why is it so irregular? I proposed several hypotheses, but Aila’s words made one of the hypotheses true.

“It has become a world extremely fearful of adventures… No, it can’t afford to adventure. That’s most likely because life is precious.”

Jephryn is an honest world.

A world where rewards come exactly as much as the effort put in.

“A rightful reward for rightful effort… In other words, if you don’t take risks, you can’t get a reward. But this is not a game, it’s reality.”

For instance, imagine there’s a party of warriors, and they bring back something that contributes to the prosperity of mankind after adventuring in dangerous lands.

If it’s a game, it can be summarized in one sentence. ‘The warrior faced a crisis but managed to cleverly overcome it and, healed by the cleric’s healing magic, returned to the battlefield.’ What a beautiful game description.

But reality isn’t like that. If an arm is cut off, there’s the immediate panic that hits you. It’s not just a matter of reattaching it. You can feel phantom pain even if your arm is intact, and you might go crazy or get into shock.

Life is one and it’s terrible to be in pain. Adventures are scary.

As soon as it established a minimum infrastructure, this world opted for maintenance and stability rather than monster hunting or adventuring.

Moreover, Jephryn is a place for students.

That’s why the potions are a hundred times more expensive. Good equipment is ten times more expensive. There’s no shortage of common items.

Of course, it’s also a ‘world where research has not progressed much.’

“That gives me a rough idea of the policy going forward.”

I began to jot down my future plans.

Earn a living by running a convenience store.

Learn at least one skill before graduation if possible.

Live my life without getting involved with the main story as much as possible.

“The third one is the most important.”

The fact that it hasn’t been researched means that it’s not defended.

But how many times do Kelters and his merry friends risk their lives in the main story?

Starting from Act 1, if you die once, it’s a surefire bad ending.

So, in other words,

I should just lay low, graduate quietly!

“Even if they have good stats and high tiers, they would die in one shot.”

Kelters, you live your own way. I’ll live my way.

I swore under the night sky that I would try not to get involved in the story as much as possible.