TRPM 414

chapter 414

It was revealed that the person throwing a tantrum in the Legiones Guild for being the only one unable to ride on Paphnir’s back was the next guild master of a small guild subcontracted by the Legiones Guild.

The reason he was the next guild master was simple: he was the son of the guild master and also an Awakened. Because of this background, the guild members were always careful not to upset him.

However, having grown up in such an environment seemed to have shaped his personality—if things didn’t go his way, he would get angry immediately.

“Geonwoo, what do you think will happen to him?”

Elena asked from behind while Paphnir flew through the sky as we headed home.

“Well, I’d say his chance at becoming the next guild master is probably gone.”

Even though he was the son of the current guild master, this was still a guild subcontracted by Legiones. Since the guild had been working diligently under subcontract for a long time, Legiones wouldn’t outright kick them out. Still, if someone marked by Legiones became the guild master, that would change everything.

The current guild master would be aware of this, so they would likely replace the next guild master with someone who had worked with them for a long time.

“He really had no sense of awareness, huh?”
“Surprisingly, there are many like that. Especially in regions where the influence of the Association is weak, some people act as if they’re kings.”
“You used the word ‘king’ in a negative sense. Do you hold any ill feelings toward royalty like us?”
“That’s not what I meant.”

I shook my head lightly at Elena’s question while adjusting Paphnir’s direction.

“Anyway, aside from being kicked out of the next guild master position, I don’t think there’ll be any other punishment. He didn’t break any laws.”
“True, he was a nuisance, but it was nothing more than that.”

Although the nuisance he caused was technically enough for Legiones to declare him guilty if they wanted, I doubted they would go that far.

“By the way, even the subcontracted guild was invited to that opening ceremony?”
“Yeah. I knew they invited people connected to Legiones in some way, but I didn’t expect them to invite the subcontracted guild too.”

If I had known, maybe we could have brought the students from our class who couldn’t come this time. Since even the subcontracted guild was invited, there wouldn’t have been any problem.

The next day.

When I went to school, I had to listen to the resentment of Kim Eun-yeon, Ryu Ah-min, Ryu Ah-young, and Lee Do-min, who couldn’t go to the resort.

“I… could… have eaten seafood… too…”
“I saw the photos of you at the beach and the seafood buffet.”
“Why don’t you tell us how it felt going there?”
“I was jealous of riding Paphnir in the sky.”

…Lee Do-min wasn’t jealous of going to the resort, just riding Paphnir, but the other three envied the fun we had at the resort.

“When you graduate from school and the academy and earn lots of money, you can visit the resort as you like.”

As I listened to their complaints, Teacher Son Ji-hye entered the classroom, and the children returned to their seats. She then said:

“Everyone, was your way to school uncomfortable today?”
“Huh?”
“?”
“?”

Uncomfortable on the way to school? It didn’t feel that way to me. I wondered if I was the only one thinking that, and I saw that Lee Ha-eun, Elena, and Elliot also looked at the teacher as if something was off. But…

“It was uncomfortable.”
“The snow was knee-high. Near the school it was fine, but…”
“The car couldn’t move, so we just walked.”

The other students said the way to school was uncomfortable. What was going on?

“The reason there’s no snow near the school is because the teachers using magic melted it all. And judging by the reactions of these four, the reason it’s not snowing now is probably because of Geonwoo.”

At Teacher Son Ji-hye’s words, the children naturally looked at me, Ha-eun, Elena, and Elliot.

“…Ah.”

And I realized why only we hadn’t noticed snow on the way to school. It was simple.

The artifact I had that blocked rain.

It must have also blocked snow from falling around me.

“Naturally, Ha-eun, who lives in the same apartment as me, Elena in the adjacent apartment, and Elliot also fell within the artifact’s influence.”

However, if that was all, there should have been patches of snow along the way. The reason we hadn’t noticed it must be…

‘Could this artifact… erase already accumulated snow as well?’

If it were an ordinary rain-blocking artifact, I wouldn’t have thought that. But this artifact had used eight reinforcement stones. It wouldn’t be surprising if it erased snow entirely in its range.

“And since the teacher had seen me get the artifact and its effects during the festival tour, she probably didn’t have difficulty deducing it.”

Thinking that, I asked the teacher:

“Should I make it snow?”

If I turned off the artifact’s function, it would snow.

“No, could you keep it as it is? If snow accumulates, the teachers would have to clean it all.”

Seeing the teacher panic, some of the children playfully commented:

“Come on. We need the snow to build snowmen and have snowball fights at lunch.”
“Hey, Geonwoo, just let it snow.”
“Have you thought about the people who have to clean it up?”

When the teacher groaned, the children stopped joking and asked:

“Why did you ask if the way to school was uncomfortable today?”
“Oh, that? The Education Office sent an official letter. They want a report on how many students have difficulty coming to school due to snow. If it’s too many, maybe they’ll call a snow day.”

At that…

“Geonwoo, let it snow. If everyone struggles, it’s a free snow day.”
“…Hey.”

So that’s why they wanted it to snow. Naturally, I didn’t agree.

Seeing the children disappointed, Teacher Son said:

“Specialized high schools for Awakened students don’t close unless there’s a threat of terrorism. Even heavy snow can’t stop an Awakened from coming to school.”

Hmm… That’s true. Before my return, school often closed because of terrorism.

“Anyway, that’s enough about snow… Now, does anyone here take medicine that improves concentration?”
“?”

What is this about?

“Recently, there have been peddlers selling medicine that improves concentration in our neighborhood.”

Curious, I listened as Lee Do-min explained:

“Yeah, there are people who buy it. Those who care about their grades buy it a lot. And Eun-yeon managed to get one, verified it really improves concentration, and then sold it safely.”

I looked at Kim Eun-yeon.

“Eun-yeon, is that really true?”

Not only me, but Teacher Son Ji-hye also seemed unaware of this and asked Eun-yeon.

“Yes… We tested it in a lab… conducted clinical trials… There were side effects… but it did improve concentration….”
“What side effects?”
“While it works… you can’t sleep… But that’s expected… from how the medicine works.”
“So it causes insomnia?”
“No… not that extreme…”

Hmm… From what I hear, it seems perfect for students. You can stay awake and focus on studying.

“…Got it.”

Relieved that it wasn’t harmful to the students’ health, the teacher hurriedly finished the assembly. I assume she planned to relay the details to other teachers.

“…Hey, Do-min.”

After the teacher left, Ryu Ah-min subtly approached Lee Do-min. Not just her—Ryu Ah-young and Jin Chun-ha, who weren’t good at grades, also approached him. They were clearly interested in the concentration medicine.

“Where did you buy it?”
“I don’t know. I just heard someone bought it.”
“Then who bought it?”

Do-min told them the names of other students who bought it. Immediately, the four got up and left the classroom, probably to find where to buy it. I sighed.

‘At least it has minimal side effects, but it’s likely illegal.’

There’s a chance someone stole pharmaceutical research from a company to sell secretly. Or an unlicensed alchemist might be selling what they made.

‘If Eun-yeon hadn’t been certified, I’d suspect her too.’

Eun-yeon had a history of selling potions she made before certification.

‘But she’s not an alchemist.’

Eun-yeon is the only person in Korea who awakened alchemy. Before my return, no other alchemist appeared in Korea. While there might be a hidden alchemist, the probability is essentially zero.

‘…What?’

My instincts contradicted my thoughts. Could there really be someone who awakened alchemy and is hiding it?

“…Eun-yeon.”
“Yes…?”
“When analyzing that concentration medicine, didn’t you feel something off?”
“Off? What do you mean…?”

I explained the feeling if the medicine were made by an alchemist:

“It feels different from corporate-made potions… like it has a human touch.”

Corporate potions are usually made in factories. Machines handle most processes, with only some human intervention.

“Ah… I see… Preparing ingredients… it felt like a person, not a machine, did it.”

Alchemists usually handle everything themselves. Even if a machine is used, someone hiding their identity wouldn’t have access to such machinery.

“…Geonwoo.”
“Speak.”
“…Could it be… there’s another alchemist besides me…?”
“Probably.”

Eun-yeon also concluded the medicine was made by an alchemist.

“Hehe…”
“? Why are you laughing?”

Suddenly, Eun-yeon laughed.

“I… have an alchemy junior…”
“…No guarantee this alchemist is younger than you.”
“No… definitely younger than me.”

Her certainty caught my attention.

“Why do you think that?”
“Um…”

Now that I think about it…

“The concentration medicine… tasted like strawberry…”
“…That’s it?”
“Yes.”

Hmm… right.