I had to survive.
And that meant there was an underlying premise that surviving in my current situation would not be easy. The biggest problem was that, according to the scenario that would unfold from here, the character Maxim Edwell was practically a villain.
I had played through the game as all seven protagonists, but the outcome had always been the same. After receiving notice of his expulsion and being thrown out of the academy, Maxim drifted through the underworld, eventually turned to dark magic, and directed his petty desire for revenge toward the academy.
‘And he dies midway through the scenario. The Imperial Family declares war on dark magic, after all. House Edwell eventually falls as well because one of its sons becomes involved with dark magic....’
Therefore, as long as I stayed away from dark magic, I could extend my lifespan.
If I simply changed what Maxim did after being expelled, I could at least avoid being cut down and killed. The best-case scenario would be preventing the expulsion altogether, but given his past conduct, that would be impossible unless I earned an A+ in every subject on the first midterm examination.
I had never even managed grades like that when I was in college.
Worse still, there was absolutely no hope when it came to interpersonal combat, one of the academy’s mandatory courses. If I had possessed a different character with a trait related to swordsmanship or magic, I might have had some hope, but one glance at Maxim’s status window made it clear that was out of the question.
‘Since coffee is the only thing I know how to do, I have no choice but to find a way to make a living with it.’
I had done it once before. Why could I not do it twice?
Of course, the man glancing back at me from ahead would undoubtedly try his utmost to stop me.
“We have entered the Duchy of Arnia now.”
“So?”
“Ahem! Nothing. It is simply that, contrary to my expectations, you have been following me far too obediently, Young Master. Earlier, you were quite adamant that you would not return to the academy....”
“If that bothers you, should I run away?”
“Of course it does not bother me. If anything, I am relieved. I was worried you might actually do something terrible, such as stealing money, just as you mentioned earlier.”
“I said I was going to earn money, not steal it!”
“Regardless, for your own sake, Young Master, you must not do anything of the sort. If you anger the Count any further, something truly irreversible may happen.”
Did that bastard have some kind of filter over his ears?
A filter that made everything I said sound terrible.
‘He would probably even give up his life to carry out the Count’s orders. Whatever else I might say about him, his loyalty is unquestionably exceptional.’
Isaac had gone so far as to draw his sword on me, his own young master.
There was no point wasting my breath trying to convince a lunatic like that. For now, I could only sit quietly on the horse he was leading and go along with him.
‘It is not as though I am losing anything. I needed to come to the Duchy of Arnia no matter what.’
The Duchy of Arnia was the primary setting of Legend of the Seven Heroes.
More precisely, the main stage was the area at the center of the territory known as the Fence, which surrounded the academy in a circle. It was the ideal place for me to make use of my knowledge of the game and survive.
It was where the main episodes and major events would unfold.
It was also home to the academy where the protagonists, who were guaranteed to survive until the ending, would reside, and as a duchy, it possessed one of the strongest military forces in the realm.
‘As far as I know, the Fence is unquestionably the safest place on the entire continent.’
In that case, the fact that I was currently heading toward the academy was actually ideal. At the very least, there should not be anything capable of threatening me for some time.
“Why are you looking at me like that again?”
“I thought it would be wise to check on you frequently, in case you tried to flee the moment I let my guard down.”
“If you are that worried, why not tie our wrists together with a rope?”
“Then, forgive my impertinence for a moment.”
Wait, he was actually tying us together?
Had he brought rope because he had anticipated something like this?
“Whew. Now I can finally relax.”
Isaac’s expression softened.
I nearly cursed aloud, but managed to swallow it back.
Fine. How much suffering must this man have endured while serving a wastrel of a young master all this time? I should be understanding.
More importantly, because I could not ride a horse, Isaac was walking while personally leading both his own horse and the one carrying me. Compared to the sight of him drenched in sweat, I could endure the sensation of having my wrist effectively handcuffed.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“We have arrived at the Fence, Young Master.”
I had no idea how much time had passed.
An enormous wall built to protect the academy students, who were quite literally the future of the Empire, came into view. From afar, the Fence had appeared circular, but standing this close to it made the wall seem like an endless straight line.
‘So this is the heart of the Duchy of Arnia....’
For a moment, I was overwhelmed by its sheer magnificence.
But the instant we passed through the wall, the cityscape beyond it drew an involuntary exclamation from me.
“Wow. The commercial district here is incredible.”
***
The interior of the Fence was a commercial district comparable to the Imperial capital itself.
It was only natural.
The academy responsible for cultivating talented individuals for the Imperial Family was located here, and the Emperor had ordered and supported the creation of a city that lacked for nothing.
I had already known that much.
But the world I had seen through a monitor and the world I was now seeing with my own eyes were entirely different things. Naturally, the buildings and surrounding infrastructure could not compare to those of the modern world, but in terms of commerce alone, the area was densely packed with an astonishing variety of businesses.
‘I thought the entrance to the Fence would have a weaker commercial district since the academy is farther north from here.’
That was how it had appeared on the monitor as well.
Yet contrary to my expectations, even the entrance to the Fence had everything one might need concentrated within it. There were restaurants selling all manner of food, and fittingly, grocery stores stood beside shops specializing in fruits and vegetables.
When I turned my gaze and looked farther along the street, there were clothing stores, unfamiliar shops selling equipment needed by students, and countless other things that caught my attention.
“What are you staring at so intently, Young Master?”
“Do you not find it fascinating? The entire inside of this circular Fence is lined with shops like those.”
“It is hardly your first time seeing this place. If you continue reacting so strangely, I will have no choice but to become suspicious of you again—”
“Enough. Let us get going.”
“G-Go? Where are you suggesting we go? The Count instructed me to take you directly to the academy and have you submit your application for reinstatement as soon as we reached the Fence.”
“That is what I mean. Let us head north, where the academy is.”
“...Pardon?”
Isaac looked genuinely surprised.
He had probably expected the man who had insisted he would not return to the academy to resist going north of his own accord.
‘But that was then.’
Right now, I was far too curious about the area surrounding the academy.
Even the entrance to the Fence differed greatly from what I had seen on the monitor. That made me intensely curious about the commercial district around the academy, said to be the busiest area inside the Fence.
“What are you doing? I said, let us go.”
“Ah, yes!”
Perhaps because our wrists were still connected by the rope, Isaac followed me without protest despite his bewilderment.
There were so many people here that traveling by horse would have been difficult anyway, so from this point onward, I could move around somewhat freely.
Until we reached the Duchy of Arnia, I had gone wherever Isaac led me.
Now, it was more as though I were dragging Isaac along behind me.
“Ha ha. To think you would head toward the academy so willingly, Young Master. Could I perhaps be dreaming right now?”
“Would you like me to slap you across the face?”
“Judging by your personality, this does seem to be reality.”
“Now that you have confirmed that, lend me some paper and a pen.”
“I do have some paper and a fountain pen, but what are you planning to use them for?”
“What else would a student use paper and a pen for? Studying.”
“What in the world has gotten into you? You should at least tell me the reason....”
Analyzing a commercial district counted as studying in its own way.
It was an old habit of mine.
Ever since I had started with a single independent café and gradually expanded one location at a time, whenever I found a promising area, I had made a habit of analyzing the surrounding commercial district and writing down my observations.
‘A laptop or tablet would be much more convenient, but I will have to make do with this for now.’
Once I reached the commercial district near the academy, the first thing I did was begin searching for several shops I already knew.
Prime locations invariably attracted businesses with strong brand recognition. Finding those establishments was the easiest way to identify the heart of a commercial district.
***
Isaac followed behind Maxim like a man bewitched by a ghost.
He could hardly help it.
His young master was acting completely unlike himself, holding paper and a pen while displaying actual enthusiasm.
This was the same young master who had never shown passion for anything except pleasure and entertainment.
‘He used to complain that even walking was tiresome if he could not ride a horse, yet now he has been running around without taking a break?’
This was not the young master Isaac knew.
Maxim had been so unusually obedient throughout their journey to Arnia that Isaac had assumed he must be plotting something. Yet even that concern had disappeared once Isaac tied the two of them together with a rope.
‘Could he truly be trying to study?’
Isaac had heard that economics was part of the academy curriculum.
It sounded utterly absurd, but perhaps this immature young master had finally realized that he possessed no talent for either magic or swordsmanship and had decided, belatedly, to pursue another path....
‘No! Absolutely not! Do not be deceived! This is merely groundwork for one of the Young Master’s more elaborate tricks!’
Isaac slapped his own cheeks several times.
It was definitely reality rather than a dream, and if this was reality, he could not allow Maxim to fool him again.
The Count had trusted Isaac enough to entrust his son’s protection to him. Isaac could not disappoint him.
‘Stay alert, Isaac! Use mana if you have to, but keep your mind perfectly clear!’
Isaac practically hypnotized himself.
No matter what happened, he would not be deceived by that wastrel again. The man was like a cunning fox, liable to change his attitude in an instant the moment Isaac lowered his guard.
“Hmm. Something feels strange.”
That was when Maxim, who had been busily writing something on the paper, tilted his head.
“Isaac, what do you think? Does that not seem strange to you?”
“I am not entirely sure what you mean.”
“Look carefully over there. I mean the building between the fountains to the right of the academy’s south gate. There is exactly one vacant unit on the ground floor. I asked some of the nearby shopkeepers earlier, and apparently it has been empty for quite a long time.”
“What is so strange about an empty storefront?”
“How frustrating. Look at the businesses occupying that building. Do you still not understand?”
Isaac scratched his head without realizing it.
Until now, whenever his young master had asked him a question, Isaac had always been able to answer.
For the first time, however, he found himself completely at a loss.
He genuinely had no idea what was supposed to be strange.
“Listen. The stores in that building, the ones across from it, and practically every business in the neighboring buildings are among the most famous shops inside the Fence. On top of that, the main road beside them connects directly to the academy’s south gate, so it gets some of the heaviest foot traffic....”
There was Arwin’s Spoon, one of the most famous restaurants inside the Fence.
Shawl’s Clothing Store, which was constantly frequented by nobles.
Luna’s Fruit Shop, a favorite among the academy’s nutritionists.
There was even a major hospital, as well as Jacob’s Smithy, where merchants and students alike went whenever they needed equipment repaired.
Isaac could see that numerous famous businesses were concentrated in the area.
But what exactly did his young master find so strange about that?
“...And the academy only has two entrances, the north gate and the south gate. Not only are all these famous stores concentrated near the south gate, but there is even an empty plot of land close to the main road connected to it! Do you understand what that means? If we could use that land, we could park a whole line of carriages there. Is that not incredible?”
“I-I see.”
“And you see the fountain in front of the south gate? Look at both sides of it. The left side has developed into a residential district, while the right side is commercial. That means a business here could attract customers from both the residential and business districts.”
“Business district?”
“And that is not all. There are only three passages into the Fence on the north side, but there are five on the south side. Five! And all five of them are close to the academy. This is an absurdly good transit location.”
“Transit location?”
“Since this is where the largest number of young students sensitive to trends come and go, it should even be possible to reduce advertising costs. To put it simply, this location is excellent! It is a little unfortunate, though. If I had internet access, analyzing the sales and profits of this commercial district would not be difficult at all. I could do it far more accurately.”
“Is ‘internet’ some kind of economic term?”
“There are websites that can show you things like the average operating period of nearby businesses and stores, local market prices, and how active the area is, all at once. You would not know about it. Just trust me, such things exist.”
“Website. That is another term I have never heard before....”
Even at a glance, it was an exceptionally good commercial location.
Faced with the sort of spot that was difficult to find even in the modern world, Maxim had become so excited that he did not even realize how halfheartedly he was answering Isaac’s questions.
“A café would fit perfectly right there.”
Then why had such a prime storefront remained vacant for so long?
As Maxim focused entirely on that question....
‘This is the first time I have ever felt this way. This unpleasant, unsettling sensation that I am somehow being taught something by the Young Master is truly....’
Isaac found himself shrinking back without realizing it.
For the first time in his life, he was no longer the one answering Maxim’s questions with things he already knew.
Instead, he was the one asking questions because he genuinely did not understand.
“Now that you have heard me explain it, what do you think? It does seem strange, does it not? The location itself is so good that it seems difficult for any halfway competent business to fail there.”
“I-It does seem that way.”
“Could the lease terms be unfavorable? Judging by the other businesses, that does not seem to be the case either. If it is not that, then is there some special reason?”
“Hmm. Shall I find the building manager and ask?”
“That is unusually cooperative of you. You are being strangely obedient.”
“O-Of course not. I am merely curious myself.”
“Really? Well, if you are willing to do that, I certainly appreciate it.”
Isaac had no idea when his young master had learned so much economic terminology.
Still, compared to answering the strangely difficult questions Maxim kept asking, Isaac decided that finding the building manager and asking directly would be far easier.
Could I really have been bewitched by a ghost today?
As Isaac trudged away in search of the building manager, a sudden thought occurred to him.
‘Why does the Young Master suddenly seem... intelligent?’