Trade and Compensation

"Seems difficult to just pick something."

Jester spoke first.

He created a sticky black liquid in the air like a canvas and started writing on it.

"I'll give you three things from here. How about that?"

Hmm, only three?

As I looked at the list of about 30 items he wrote, I saw the ones I expected and some unexpected ones as well.

"He's hidden a few."

Some items that I considered valuable didn't appear on the list, as if intentionally hidden.

But it didn't matter.

What I was aiming for was already within this.

"What do you think of this? I don't remember what I had."

"Then get out."

Salem mocked Jester when he saw the helpless expression on his face.

However, Jester didn't respond and silently summoned a "Wicked Snake" that clung to his back.

"There's nothing else I can give you right now. I'll settle for this."

Huh?

Is he serious?

It seemed like I wasn't the only one surprised. Jester, or rather, everyone present seemed bewildered.

"Salem Yedidia, are you serious?"

"Well, don't look so surprised. I'm just trying to change my toy now that I'm tired of this one."

The "Wicked Snake" that could be considered Salem's trademark was the equipment he used until his death.

And he's just casually giving it away?

"Salem Yedidia, are you going to interfere with us to that extent?"

"What are you talking about? I'm not interfering."

"Do I look like a fool to you? Do you think I don't know that you're raising the bet with a worthless bluff?"

"Hey, Jester. Raising the bet? Even if I give you everything listed there, it won't be a match for the 'Wicked Snake.' But what's the big deal about raising the bet? I just used the best move I could. Just like anyone here."

Salem smiled and looked at me.

Someone who used the best move... is he referring to me?

Jester stood in silence, glaring at me.

"Let's increase it to five. And I'll add another corpse."

"A corpse?"

"If you're a necromancer, you should know. To necromancers, the corpses of powerful beings in their prime are more valuable than any other treasure."

He let out a sigh and continued.

"I'll give you the corpse of King Howang Timur and the corpse of the previous Fairy Queen Mirinae."

"Uh..."

I was also surprised, but Karone's gasp behind me was even more amusing.

Of course, the contents were surprising.

Jester had prepared the highest-level items, probably because Salem's damage had been stronger than expected.

I thought the chicken game was over, but it seems we're still in progress!

"So says Rago, Jester."

For the first time, Rago spoke.

"So says Rago. Those are corpses of deals that have already ended. Morun will be angry."

So those were the corpses meant for Morun.

Morun, the master of Karone and the patriarch of all living necromancers, was an unsettling figure in many ways.

I felt that eating those would probably give me indigestion.

But Jester, seemingly oblivious to my thoughts, retorted to Rago.

"Rago. Then why don't you contribute a bit to this deal? Huh? Even though we're black mages who value personal gain, would you say something like that when faced with Codex?"

"So says Rago. Rago has eaten everything and has nothing left."

"Then stay quiet."

"...."

Regardless of their conversation, I had decided to politely decline.

It was a burden for me to casually eat Morun's belongings.

"It's concerning to intercept Morun's belongings."

When I said that, Jester turned to the table and spoke to the air.

"Morun. Can't you make an exception this time?"

"It doesn't matter. Give it to him."

The response came from an unexpected place.

As I looked for the owner of the response, I saw a small fly sitting on the table.

"Master!"

Karone shouted when he saw the fly.

Was that Morun? When did it appear?

Had it been watching all this time?

"I don't mind. Take it if you want."

It seemed to be a zombie fly manipulated by Morun. It seemed distant when I could ever reach such a skill.

Anyway, since it seemed like Morun spoke to me, I asked again.

"Are you really okay with this?"

"I've already said it twice. Don't make me say it again. Child."

I didn't understand why Morun was giving up.

The corpse of the previous Fairy Queen I can understand, but King Howang Timur was the Overlord Master of the Hojuks, not an ordinary Overlord Master.

He was a formidable figure who dominated an era, far surpassing the average Overlord Master.

"Come to think of it, did Morun deal with Timur's undead?"

In the game, Morun, who appeared as one of the mid-bosses, was a prominentfigure who hindered players trying to stop the summoning ritual of Codex Apocalypse.

He summoned only undead creatures present in the ethereal realm from places where there were no corpses.

That alone brought despair to players, but if he had fought in a battlefield filled with corpses, I wondered if he could have won.

Nevertheless, Jester's expression didn't seem pleased, even though he had won against Salem.

Meanwhile, Salem continued to watch the situation with a smile on his face.

Has the winner become the loser and the loser become the winner?

"Well, too bad! It was a chance to play with the pages of Codex. Hey, Jester. Can't I at least touch them once?"

"Salem Yedidia, I no longer wish to speak with you."

Jester coldly dismissed Salem and handed me the list of items.

"Five items. Choose."

I carefully examined the items listed on the sheet.

Of course, I had already decided what I wanted to take, but I had to pretend to make a choice.

After about five minutes of consideration, I slowly opened my mouth.

"I'll take the Blessing of the Moon, Tears of the Fairy, Blue Cananjulla Flower, Yobin Roots, and Cadunon's Jewel."

"There's no going back. Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"...I can't tell if you're clever or foolish."

Jester muttered, and the others reacted with surprise to the items I had chosen.

"Why did you choose items that you don't even know what to use for? Hehehe."

"Adrias, you idiot."

"A single suit of armor made from the scales of the Dragon Grakanus would be more valuable than all of those combined!"

It was Luna, Karone, and Dragan.

The list included various equipment and artifacts, in addition to the random items I had chosen. I purposely selected the random items.

Although they were considered random items, their value was astronomical.

Of course, if we considered only their monetary value, the equipment and artifacts would be more expensive.

However, those kinds of equipment and artifacts might temporarily enhance my abilities, but they wouldn't help with my growth.

Moreover, I already had the locations of most named items engraved in my mind.

Once I finished growing, I could obtain better items than the ones listed here at any time.

"I don't understand this deal either."

Even Salem looked at me with a puzzled expression.

He found me strange, like a lunatic.

"Why did you choose items without knowing their purpose?"

"I apologize."

I expressed that I couldn't explain the reason.

If I were to say that I would use them to create potions, it would likely cause an uproar.

Moreover, the materials I had chosen were not just for a single potion.

They were materials to create four different types of potions, and it would probably overwhelm them.

Of course, the materials I just chose were the essential ingredients. It was impossible to create the potions with just those.

However, the additional materials needed for the potions could easily be obtained in the market, so I wasn't worried.

"I also chose the materials for Lucia's healing potion."

Since I had obtained them, I might as well research Lucia's potion as well.

If I were to prevent the world's destruction under the assumption that I would be unharmed, Lucia's power would be quite helpful.

Of course, whether it was a potion or a healing potion, I didn't think I could create them right away.

But I believed that continued study and research would eventually resolve the impossibilities.

"Turning the impossible into possible... Now that I think about it, it suits me perfectly."

While I was conversing with Salem, Jester appeared with a bag in hand.

"Here it is. Blessing of the Moon, Tears of the Fairy, Blue Cananjulla Flower, Yobin Roots, Cadunon's Jewel, and the corpses of King Howang Timur and the previous Fairy Queen Mirinae."

It seemed to be a bag with an expanded space.

They're even giving me a bag? Well, thank you very much.

"Now, hand over 'Laziness.'"

Although his face was covered, I could sense his burning gaze.

I immediately summoned Nickel.

Clank.

Nickel stood still, obediently.

Its appearance was that of an ordinary skeleton, without any remarkable features.

Jester created a sticky liquid in the air and enveloped Laziness's page, which was held by Nickel's hand, and took it away.

Jester, who had brought it right in front of him, carefully examined the cube.

"'Laziness,' right?"

Moruche approached quietly and asked.

Jester turned his head to look at Moruche and nodded.

"'Diligent Laziness' is correct."

His words resonated like a declaration, and the spectators who had been watching from the sidelines began to gather.

They squeezed closer to get a better look, but Salem approached me and tapped my shoulder.

I turned to him, wondering what was going on.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Kidnapping? Puhahaha!"

He smacked me on the head.

Ouch, that hurts!

"You fool. Once Laziness is in their hands, they have nothing to fear anymore. Of course, if it were just me, I could easily cut through one or two of them, but I can't risk my life. But you? You will definitely die."

"I understand."

I almost forgot that my opponent was a Black Mage.

A promise? If they were the kind of people who kept their promises, they wouldn't have learned unethical magic like Black Magic.

"They might continue to target you. But for now, they won't pay attention to you as they'll be busy playing with their new toy, Laziness."

Salem said that and ran off like the wind.

He quickly disappeared into the forest, leaving behind the sound of the rustling leaves.

"Let's head back to the academy."

"Should I go to Lord Cromwell?"

"Just go as far as the station. I'm going to Rodren Academy."

"You were a student there? Well, it would be safer there. Bahaht is there too."

After saying that, Salem suddenly looked at me, making eye contact.

His expression showed surprise, but I couldn't understand what he meant.

"You? Now that I think about it, you were a Black Mage?"

"Yes? Why bring that up now?"

"Are you aware of it in the academy? What about Bahaht?"

"If they knew, would I still be alive?"

"You don't know? Well, forget it."

Due to the sound of the howling wind, his words were not clear, but we could still communicate.

And then, he abruptly stopped and turned to me.

"From here on, go alone."

"Yes. Thank you, Salem."

"Yeah. Oh, right. Fate is quite mysterious."

"Yes?"

"No, it's just my soliloquy. Be careful going in, and try not to leave the academy."

Salem finished speaking and ran off again.

I don't really understand what's going on.

The tone of his words just now seemed as if Bahaht would be fine knowing who I was, but was it just my imagination?

Ah, I don't know.

For now, it's a priority to return quickly.

"But before that..."

I opened the bag given to me by Jester.

I was worried that it might be a scam, but I felt a surge of joy as I confirmed the contents.

"King Howang Timur! And the corpse of the Fairy Queen Mirinae."

Thank you! The page of Laziness!

Now, all that's left is to create an invincible undead army.