The Book Eating Magician Chapter 9:
Dealings with a Black Market Trader #1
The next day, Theodore went looking for Professor Vince .
‘The path is set, so the sooner I act, the better . I’m glad that Professor Vince is staying this year . ’
It really was lucky .
Theo was known as the academy’s long-time dunce, so his relationship with the other professors wasn’t very good . Some professors blatantly told him to drop out while others ignored instances of bullying .
A person like Professor Vince, who didn’t care about his statue or origin, was hard to find .
Knock, knock .
When Theo arrived at Professor Vince’s laboratory, he knocked on the door .
–Come in .
His voice was cold as always .
“Excuse me,” Theo greeted as he entered the room .
He closed the door silently and faced Professor Vince, who was looking at him with confused eyes . It was Vince who put down his fountain pen and opened his mouth first, “You are an unexpected guest . I didn’t know you would come to find me… Come over here and sit down . ”
“Yes, I understand . ”
Theo sat down, and Professor Vince asked, “So, what brings you here?”
Theo replied like he had been waiting for the question, “I’m here to apply for a permit to go outside . ”
“Huh? Go outside?” Vince’s eyes widened at the unexpected words .
Theo quickly placed the documents he had prepared last night on the desk . If the conversation got too long, then questions about why he wanted to go out might be asked . The confused Vince stretched out his hand . It was so abrupt that he didn’t understand anything .
‘I expected him to be shocked about receiving the third repeater letter . Yet he says that he will go outside . ’
Usually, Theo was a student who would only be interested in the books at the library . Vince hid his confused expression and signed the papers Theo had brought . However, Vince was a little bit concerned about the validity period . During the vacation, students were more free to leave the school than usual .
“Theodore, even if you don’t apply for a separate permit, you are permitted to go out until 3 o’clock in the afternoon . This should be sufficient for wandering around the city . ”
“That isn’t enough for me,” Theodore replied without hesitation .
The city of Bergen, where the academy was located, was quite spacious . As Professor Vince said, that time limit would be just enough for wandering around the city . However, Theo’s purpose was to obtain some magic items, and it would take time to travel there and return .
Vince cocked his head and asked a few more questions .
“What is your purpose in going outside?”
“It is a simple diversion . ”
“Are you planning to stay out overnight?”
“I don’t think so . ”
“Hrmm . ”
The fountain pen starting moving and didn’t stop until it had filled out all the paperwork .
Professor Vince hesitated before the final stamp, but he finished everything and handed the permit over to Theo . With this, Theodore would be able to leave the academy until the end of dinner time .
Theo then spoke with a brighter expression than before, “Thank you, Professor . ”
“You don’t need to thank me for this minor thing . ”
Vince waved his hands like it was inconsequential and immediately changed the topic . There was also something he wanted to talk to Theo about . He pulled an envelope out of a drawer, put it on his desk, and opened his mouth . Depending on Theo’s answer, Vince would decide whether or not to hand over the envelop .
“Theodore Miller, have you thought about what I told you last year?”
Theo searched through his memories hurriedly .
Last year, Professor Vince…
A few core keywords came up, and Theo could figure out what he was talking about .
“Becoming a magic scholar… that conversation?”
Magic scholars referred to those who studied magic with pen and paper instead of mana and staffs . In order to become a magic scholar, high intelligence was required more than being super sensitive or having powerful magic power .
Theodore was worthy of that standard . Last year, while Theo had been frustrated with his second letter, Professor Vince had invited him to become a magic scholar .
Sure enough, Vince nodded .
“Yes, if you think positively, then it would be a good choice . I can’t stand to see someone with your talent decay simply due to a lack of sensitivity . ”
His sincere voice rang throughout the room .
In fact, Professor Vince had been really disappointed . Theodore could obviously become a distinguished researcher at a magic institute . If Theo wanted it, then Vince would send a recommendation to the capital’s magic laboratory .
What was Theo thinking? Theo’s eyes shook for a moment before he bowed his head .
“Thank you for your concern, Professor . ”
Professor Vince spoke in a slightly louder voice, “Then…”
“I’m really sorry . ” Unlike before, Theodore Miller spoke his dream with a strong and confident voice, “Nevertheless, I would like to become a magician . ”
Vince was silent for a moment before replying, “Hoo…is that so?”
“Yes . ”
“Even though I am your professor, I can’t deny your dream . However, if you change your mind, come find me at any time . ”
Theo rose from his seat and bowed to Professor Vince before turning around . He was the only one who recognized Theo in a place where no one looked at him . Although Theo was really appreciative of the offer, he couldn’t accept it at present .
Bang .
The door closed with a sudden sound .
After the visitor had left, a heavy silence filled the room . Vince put aside the papers he had been looking at, put down the fountain pen, and leaned back on this chair . He picked up the now useless envelope and placed it in the bin . Vince had a premonition that his student would never become a magic scholar .
“Theodore Miller . ”
Until recently, Theo had been a sad student . He was a young man in despair at his lack of talent, desperately seeking knowledge in order to resolve it .
Vince thought that the way out was to become a magic scholar but…
“…Have you found a different answer?”
Hope now filled his student’s eyes . Maybe he had found a way to live as a magician .
Vince’s intuition made him feel optimistic, despite cold reason telling him otherwise . Professor Vince smiled like he had found something interesting after a long time .
* * *
“Third grade, Theodore Miller… confirmed . You must come back here before 7 p . m . ”
“Yes, then work hard . ”
Theo crossed the academy’s gates for the first time in a while .
Last year and the year before that, he had never left the campus . Therefore, it had been almost three years since he’d gone outside . His last memory of going outside was to practice during the 2nd grade .
As he recalled that time, the city of Bergen soon filled his field of view .
“Ah, I guess not much has changed in three years . ”
There were neatly arranged roads with street lights installed at regular distances as well as facilities common in most major cities . Additionally, all the facilities were powered by magic . The presence of the academy, which nurtured magicians, made Bergen richer and more magical than before .
‘So, magic related items and artifacts are more common here than other cities . ’
The average price difference was more than double . Meanwhile, rare items had five times the difference . An item which other cities were selling for five gold could be bought here for one gold . Therefore, the number of people looking for items increased and so did the circulation of goods and money .
The current intersection at which Theo was standing alone had four artifacts stores .
“…It isn’t like this at Miller Barony . ”
There was a bitter taste in his mouth . Anyway, today’s destination wasn’t an artifacts store . Even if the artifacts was cheaper than other cities, the value of the artifacts themselves hadn’t changed . Due to the high volume of supplies, the prices had fallen but they were still out of Theodore’s budget .
“I should speed up . ”
Theo headed to the outskirts of the city, rather than the centre . He wasn’t looking for a proper store . Theo’s wallet was too thin for an equivalent exchange . That meant he needed to take advantage of the power he currently held .
If things went the way Theo planned, he could sweep up artifacts without spending a penny . The memories from his second grade were helpful in guiding him to an odd place .
‘There was a black market trader on the outskirts who handled genuine, defective, and cursed artifacts . ’
They were things which ordinary people couldn’t use . The idiots who wanted to save money would buy the defective goods, while the fools who expected a big hit would buy the genuine items . There were villains who tried to trap people with cursed items .
It was a place without any proper goods .
“But that shouldn’t matter to you, right?” Theo said as he looked down at his left hand .
Cursed items were nothing compared to this guy . The greedy grimoire, Gluttony…
Everything was just prey for it to eat up all the magic .