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 .