Published at 3rd of April 2026 8:11 am

Chapter 949

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

The two returned to the warehouse for now.

Fortunately, it seemed Wardanaz and Meikin had found good buyers.

To think the Meikin Familys workshop would purchase at such a high price. Surprising.

I was a bit surprised too. How were the other places?

I dont know what day it was today, but everywhere we went, the alchemists were drunk.

?

Lee Han and Yoner tilted their heads in confusion.

The citys alchemists being drunk in broad daylight.

What kind of nonsense is that?

Did you two come back after drinking?

The two were outraged by Asans suspicion.

What kind of nonsense! Do I look like Alpha?

Do I look like a guy like Tutanta!

I should never put those two together again.

Lee Han said he understood and calmed the two down.

Anyway, they had made good contracts, so all that remained was to work hard and deliver the products.

Though he was still a bit puzzled about why Yoanen had naturally come out of someone elses workshop

Oh right. I should ask Master if there are any other reagents that can be reproduced.

That Wardanaz guy really is diligent.

His friends laughed cheerfully.

Thanks to their anticipation of the gold coins they would earn, the students didnt mind the additional work at all.

And compared to having to keep up with lecture progress inside Einroguard, this wasnt particularly difficult work

Master? Master? Thats strange. Why isnt he answering?

***

When the exhausting work and transportation were finished (the Insane Doppelganger eventually gave up and answered Lee Hans questions), the students felt true liberation.

Here. Your share.

With this much, I think I dont need to go back to Einroguard!

Youre not really planning to desert, are you?

I, I was just joking.

But his eyes looked serious.

The students who received their heavy pouches of gold coins began planning what they wanted to buy.

Normally they would have been limited by insufficient funds, but with this much, it seemed they could buy what they wanted.

A new polo mallet would be too big and conspicuous, right?

Couldnt we hide it somehow?

Even though they say the inspection is simple, if we get too greedy Wait. They wouldnt do it like at the beginning of this year, would they?

Surely they wouldnt do that again. The Death Knights must each be busy too.

The students seriously pondered, considering everything from prices to concealment possibilities.

Initially, they had wandered about not knowing what to do after leaving the magic school, but once they had gold coins and their purchasing options broadened, they became very absorbed.

Seeing this, Lee Han also thought he should start buying things.

Though he had much more time than his other friends, it was better to prepare these things in advance.

Just as the herb work must be finished, Lee Han recalled the request he had received from his senior.

Two bundles of purple round wood, swansong preserved in sealed crystals, and three bottles of fairy honey wine.

Inside Einroguard, he would have had to buy from the black market or make them himself, but in Granden City, he just had to walk around the city and find them.

Just buying and bringing them back would pay five times the price. There couldnt be an easier commission than this.

When he asked the trading company, they had purple round wood and fairy honey wine in stock, so he could easily purchase them.

And the swansong preserved in sealed crystals

Its at Greenbels Artifact Store?

Yes. I heard they purchased several from there.

Perfect! Lets go together!

His friends, whose coin pouches had grown heavy, flocked over when they heard about visiting Granden Citys high-end artifact store.

Even Adenart hesitantly sent him a look that said I want to go together.

However, Lee Han was cold.

Guys. That place sells things at several times the price by adding useless designs and decorations. Instead of buying from such a place, buy materials and make them directly

What are you going to buy there? Yoner. Didnt you say you were interested in the Alchemists Glasses? Those glasses made from Ikansel Mines guardian stones.

Those are too expensive. A hundred Empire gold coins.

I can lend you money. If not, lets ask the other guys to lend you some too.

When his friends ignored his words and burned with determination to follow unconditionally, Lee Han shook his head.

I shouldnt have given them the gold coins right away. I should have given them out in installments.

Fine. Just dont regret it later.

Oh right. Wardanaz. As a token of gratitude for this job, we want to pool our gold coins and buy you something.

Angrago spoke seriously.

Expressing gratitude with gold coins to a friend from a great noble family would be vulgar, but a heartfelt gift was a different story.

Since the store they were going to was a high-end artifact store, it was even better for expressing gratitude

Smack!

Ow!

Didnt you hear me say they sell things expensively there? Are you doing this on purpose?

No, no. All high-end places are like that And the other guys all agreed together

Angrago looked at his friends as if he was dying of injustice.

However, his friends had already averted their gazes. Angrago trembled at their cowardice.

We discussed it together!

Moradi hadnt told him not to trust guys from towers other than White Tiger Tower for nothing. They were completely rotten.

If you spout such nonsense one more time, Ill take away your coin pouch and leave it with Moradi. Got it?

I, I got it

Angrago couldnt understand at all why he had been scolded.

And why only he had been scolded!

***

Wait. Somethings strange.

What is?

When Lee Han hesitated after arriving in front of the store, his friends tilted their heads.

Nilia cast a slightly suspicious look.

Is he doing this to prevent us from going in?

This friend from the Wardanaz Family hated wasting money himself, but hated it even more when his friends wasted money.

To achieve his will, he could easily block the door and prevent them from entering.

The door is open but theres no clerk.

Maybe they went somewhere?

No. That cant be.

This Artifact Store located in the citys central district served city nobles and wealthy merchants, so its rules were quite strict.

Just last time when they came, hadnt a clerk in spotless clothes greeted them inside the store filled with high-purity mana stones?

But for such a clerk to leave their post arbitrarily.

Cant we go in and check?

Salko. If its a trap, it could be dangerous.

Salko exchanged glances with Angrago.

The meaning of that glance was simple.

-Dont you thnk Wardanaz has become a bit more suspicious lately because hes been through so many difficult things recently?

-Youre right. His temper has gotten a little worse too.

Angrago nodded, thinking about getting hit earlier.

W-Wardanaz. I dont think anyone would set traps in a place like this

Adenart also seemed to share the same thoughts as her friends as she carefully spoke up. The other students nodded as well.

However, Lee Han was adamant.

Hadnt he encountered Yoanen because he let his guard down?

I shouldnt feel safe just because were outside school. I need to think of outside school as Einroguard too.

Lee Han took out a crystal top for divination. Bagrecks Momentary Foresight had too short a predictable future range to be suitable for this kind of confirmation.

As mana was consumed, the top began spinning on the back of his hand. When Lee Han tried to go inside, the top stopped spinning.

It stopped spinning. That means theres danger.

It might be because you moved while spinning it on the back of your hand Wardanaz. We look suspicious.

Angrago spoke pleadingly.

No matter how well they were disguised, nearly ten students chattering in front of a shop could draw unwanted attention.

Be quiet.

Ugh

In accordance with the masters command, freeze!

An elemental projection made of cold air opened the door and rushed inside.

His friends watched the scene with anxious hearts. At this point, they had to pray there was some problem inside.

Creating an elemental projection and throwing it into a shop with no problems would be rather rude and strange behavior for a mage!

Were not going to be banned from entering, are we?

-Its an intruder. Catch it!

A thick, rough voice full of hostility came from inside, then some mercenary came rushing out from the back of the shop.

The students watching the scene through the window were startled.

What!?

However, no matter how surprised the students were, they werent as surprised as the mercenary.

The mercenary who attempted to subdue the intruder realized what was in front of him was a crude projection made of cold air and shouted in horror.

Its a trap! Its a tracker!

-Get out!

As sounds of busy movement came from the back of the shop, the mercenary also hastily pulled out a pouch containing powder from his chest.

It was an item that blocked the surrounding vision with dark smoke.

However, Lee Hans reaction was one step ahead. From the moment he sent in the projection, Lee Han had been aiming his magic through the open door.

Bang!

As the quietly flanking water orb exploded, the mercenary felt an impact that seemed like it would break his spine and collapsed.

Despite wearing quite thick armor, when hit properly, it was hard to even breathe.

Hes not an ordinary mage. Is he a combat mage affiliated with the knight order? How far has the tracking reached

Wardanaz. The other guys are running away. Lets chase them!

Forget it. Dont act recklessly when we dont know the enemys strength.

Lee Han stopped his friends who wanted to pursue.

Honestly, he was a bit worried about the fight escalating in an unprepared situation, but the opponents seemed to have gotten scared and retreated first.

And he needed to check on other peoples safety too.

When he checked inside, sure enough, everyone from the clerks to the unfortunate customers were tied up tightly and groaning.

Are you alright?

Th thank you! Those lawless, those crazy bastards! To do such things in the heart of Granden City! I absolutely cannot forgive them!

The students checked the surroundings and handed calming potions to the coughing customers.

Once he regained his composure a bit, the clerk angrily recounted what had happened.

Those guys suddenly barged in and demanded we hand over the Swan Song. When I said we didnt have it, that it hadnt arrived yet, they tied me and the customers here up and thoroughly searched inside.

The Swan Song isnt here?

Huh? Yes. We were originally supposed to purchase it, but it fell through when the transport ship sank.

What are these guys up to?

Lee Han instinctively knew this wasnt an ordinary matter.

Given the price range of items this Rare Goods shop dealt with, the forces backing it were no joke either.

To attack such a place. This wasnt something city ruffians or thugs would do.

Moreover, the fact that they didnt touch a single artifact showed their experience. They had clearly avoided triggering defensive or warning magic they werent familiar with.

!

While pondering, Lee Han felt someone calling him through the Whispers of Einroguard artifact.

The Beaver-Penguin-Fox from the Watchman Club was sending a separate message.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Gonadaltes. The situation has changed. The request is cancelled. Dont approach the Swan Song.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Dangerous guys are involved. Just among the confirmed mercenaries, theres Villain from Garam and even Three-Finger Akdin.

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Gonadaltes. Are you listening?

Gonadaltes: By any chance, does the mercenary Akdin have 3 fingers?

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Being curious is good, but is now the time to ask that? Yes. Thats probably why he got that nickname.

Gonadaltes: I think I just caught him

Beaver-Penguin-Fox: Dont say ridiculous things.

Share