WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 211: 211

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I quietly watched Repo. She was studying the catalog, deep in thought.

Soon, I saw her fiddling with the ring on her finger.

A small screen appeared before her. She seemed to be checking how many points she had.

After looking at it, she shut her eyes tightly and let out a hesitant sigh.

“Fifty points is a little too much...”

Repo murmured quietly and shook her head.

Fifty points for twelve hours. Was even that burdensome for her?

She put the catalog down on the table as if gauging my reaction.

Fifty points was a fairly comfortable amount for me. Professor’s meals alone usually cost at least a hundred points.

Still, that did not mean fifty points was a small amount.

For some people, it was a seriously burdensome price.

Like Repo, standing before me.

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her.

Honestly, I had expected Repo to find that many points burdensome. I had investigated her beforehand.

Well, I had not done it myself. I had merely bought information from the Abyss Secret Association.

Still, their information was extremely satisfying.

What kind of magic she used, the characteristics of her body, and so on. The report contained practically everything about her.

And it did not only cover her life at the university.

It contained detailed records of her activities outside the university, her birthplace, and even her relationships.

Their thorough investigation system was astonishing.

There was a common saying among university students. If you wanted to know what someone planned to eat for dinner, visit the Abyss Secret Association. They would tell you more accurately than the person themselves.

That was how little they did not know.

I had paid the enormous sum of two thousand points for information about Repo, but it did not feel wasteful at all.

That information had also included her monthly income.

I looked at Repo again.

She was fiddling with the catalog, smacking her lips.

Fifty points made up roughly a quarter of her income.

Her monthly earnings hovered between one hundred and fifty and two hundred points.

That could also be considered the average income of many mages wandering the lower floors.

Mages unaffiliated with organizations generally lived similar lives.

They earned points by taking city assignments, hunting magical beasts, doing odd jobs at other people’s shops, or selling magic.

After struggling for several years to gather points, they would enroll in a lecture.

They would train there for five years, then return outside to earn points again.

Repo was one of those wandering mages from the lower floors.

I stroked my chin as I recalled her information.

There was one particularly striking detail.

Her year of admission.

She had entered the university eleven years ago.

That was also the year I had enrolled.

We had entered in the same year.

Yet while she was still wandering around, I had gained a shop like this.

What had caused such a huge gap between us?

I lightly shook my head.

There was no need to think about it for long.

The answer was Professor Irian.

My heart filled with respect for Professor once more.

If Professor had not existed, I would surely have looked much like Repo.

According to the information, Repo had ranked around five thousandth on the entrance examination.

Even someone like her was scraping along the bottom. How could I have been any different?

I was who I was now because I had Professor as my foundation.

I needed to remember that kindness more deeply.

Someday, I would be able to repay that debt.

Thinking that, I slowly approached Repo.

“It seems the price is somewhat burdensome for you.”

I lightly snapped my fingers and formed a spell.

Perfect Tea.

A teacup appeared before her.

I had given her enough time. Now it was time to talk.

Repo took a sip of tea while watching me cautiously.

Soon, she looked down at the catalog again, sighed, and nodded.

“Yes. I don’t have enough points right now. ...Ah, could I rent more puppets?”

Repo rolled her eyes with a slightly embarrassed expression.

Renting more puppets.

I immediately understood what she was thinking.

Since one puppet cost one point, she was wondering if it would be better to rent several instead of extending the operating time.

I did not mind her using several puppets, as long as she had enough points.

I smiled slightly and pointed at the catalog.

“The cost to add another puppet is thirty points.”

Did she think I was insane enough to keep handing out puppets for one point?

That was bait meant to lower the burden.

Once the fish was already hooked, there was no need to be overly generous.

Repo seemed to understand that well and quietly sighed.

A puppet could only operate for three hours. So rather than adding another puppet, paying fifty points to extend the time was more efficient.

Still, thirty points and fifty points were both burdensome for Repo.

It was too much to pay for comfort.

She touched the puppet case with regret in her eyes.

I narrowed my eyes.

At this rate, she would give up and leave.

I needed to reduce her burden.

I bowed my head slightly and smiled at her.

“If the price is truly burdensome, I have a good method for you. I can offer you an opportunity to purchase it more cheaply. Would you like to hear it?”

“What is it?”

The moment she heard the words more cheaply, Repo’s eyes shone brightly.

Naturally. Wandering mages were sensitive to discounts.

I briefly studied Repo.

The desire on her impatient face was clear.

I nodded.

Seeing that expression, she would surely not reject whatever offer I made easily.

I took out a sheet of paper and handed it to her.

At the top, it read: Referral Form.

“Do I fill this out?”

Repo pulled out a pen and poured magical power into it.

She looked ready to inscribe her signature immediately.

I lightly shook my head.

This was not for her to use.

“This is a certificate listing Repo as a referrer. You don’t need to fill it out.”

Repo looked somewhat puzzled.

She seemed to be wondering how this would give her a discount.

I needed to explain in greater detail.

“When another person comes to buy a puppet and writes Repo’s name on this form, Repo will receive a discount. Each referral will reduce Repo’s price by twenty percent, not just for one function, but for the rest of her life.”

Her expression showed some surprise.

Ah, there was something else I needed to add.

I continued slowly.

“Of course, it is limited to two people. That means the maximum discount will be forty percent. Bringing in more people will not provide an additional discount.”

“Forty percent? Then if I bring in just two people, I can buy it for thirty points?”

I nodded.

Repo smiled brightly.

Fifty points was burdensome, but thirty points seemed reasonable enough to pay for comfort.

Then perhaps I should give her a little more encouragement to act actively.

I leaned toward her and whispered.

“The benefits will not end there. If someone you bring in purchases a function, I will give you part of those points as reward points.”

“Reward points?”

Repo tilted her head.

She seemed curious about what reward points were.

I explained with a gentle smile.

“Yes. For example, if someone spends fifty points to extend a puppet’s operating time, ten percent of that, five points, will be converted into reward points and given to you. And reward points can be used just like points to purchase functions.”

It was a sort of cashback.

I was offering benefits out of respect for those who brought in customers.

I watched Repo.

Her eyes were shining clearly.

Anyone could tell that countless calculations were spinning through her mind.

I leisurely sipped my tea as I watched her.

The forty percent discount I offered was not the end.

If she brought in two people and those people bought the same functions, adding the reward points would let her save a total of sixty percent.

But I did not need to explain that much.

Repo had made it to the university, after all.

Her awareness and ability would not simply vanish.

As she was showing now, mages were extremely thorough when calculating their gains and losses.

Repo seemed to finish her calculations and showed a trace of excitement.

She drained her tea in one gulp and sprang to her feet.

Then she looked at me with a slightly urgent expression.

“Would it be all right if I bring them here right now?”

“Of course. I would only be grateful if you bring customers.”

I nodded.

Repo bowed her head slightly to me, then hurried out of the shop.

[It really turned out just as Master said. I understand why you said there was no need to advertise.]

Isabella, who had been quietly watching us, rested her hand on her chin as she watched Repo leave.

I smiled slightly and savored the aroma of my tea.

I simply trusted mages.

More precisely, I trusted their desires.

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Repo’s retreating back.

She soon blended into the crowd and disappeared somewhere.

She would bring two people.

And those two would eventually bring people as well.

Then those people would bring others.

Just like Repo, they would want to add puppet functions more cheaply.

Through this process, customers would steadily increase, and points and information would accumulate.

The thought of such a hopeful future brought a smile to my face.

Of course, this was not some revolutionary method.

I had merely adapted the best business model I had seen so far to suit myself.

I watched the flow of people.

They had all come to the city to make a profit.

That was why they would surely leave the city with plenty of points and benefits.

And the city would gain even more from them.

The city’s structure was the model for my business.

Outside the window, I could see the pillar towering in the center of the city.

It was where the Arcana General Trading Company was located.

I clicked my tongue softly as I looked at it.

Stalactite City was in the trading company’s grasp.

And they operated the city extremely efficiently.

Without handling anything themselves, they opened everything to others.

The trading company merely collected fees from other organizations.

And the more people those organizations brought into the city, the more their fees were reduced.

It was similar to the structure I had created.

The many organizations beneath the trading company formed subordinate organizations to take control of the city.

Those organizations stretched further downward, exploiting those below them.

This entire city rested beneath such a massive point system.

Naturally, the trading company stood at the top of that triangular structure.

All it had to do was sit still and collect points throughout the process.

Then where did that burden go?

Naturally, it was pushed downward.

The flow of people outside had to bear it all.

There was a reason lower-floor mages had such difficulty saving points.

And I was being skimmed too.

Every shop established in the city had to give half its income to the trading company.

I smacked my lips.

No wonder Koite grumbled every time we met about how vicious the trading company bastards were.

Now that I was running a business, I clearly understood why he said that.

Still, fortunately, I possessed the trading company’s token.

Because of it, the points I had to pay were reduced somewhat.

Hwaryeong had said that for the next ten years, I only needed to give them thirty percent of my profits.

It was something to be grateful for.

I shook my head with a hollow laugh.

Just sitting there and taking points from everyone. I could not be more envious.

But thinking about it another way, their method was extremely successful.

Their method of stimulating the desires of those below them to gain more profit was worth learning from.

There was no reason not to use something so good.

Why should I be the only one getting taken advantage of?

I needed to fit into the city’s methods as well.

That was why I modified and used the trading company’s system.

In that sense, reward points were also a way to reduce the points the trading company took from me.

They were a separate concept from ordinary points, so I did not need to include them in my profits.

[You’re learning so much. This is really interesting.]

“If it is you, Isabella, I think you will learn about business quickly as well.”

Isabella had only failed to keep up with my method because she knew nothing about business.

She clearly looked like the child of a good family. There would have been no reason for her to use such messy methods.

How had Isabella ended up being harmed by Ugo?

I buried that curiosity once more and slowly spoke with her.

It did not take long for Repo to return.

The door opened with the sound of a bell, and I glanced over.

Beyond the open door, I saw Repo panting softly.

Two people stood beside her, apparently the people she had brought.

One of them was a fairly pleasant-looking man. He scratched his head with a slightly irritated expression.

“What on earth is going on? Why did you drag us here?”

“Be quiet, Gadi. You’ve stumbled onto an opportunity!”

Repo’s eyes flashed.

There was a strange gleam in them.

Perhaps startled by her forcefulness, Gadi hesitated for a moment.

The woman standing beside him smiled slightly and leaned against his shoulder.

Then she gently comforted him.

“Gadon, let’s wait a moment. Repo must have a reason if she’s insisting this much.”

“Even if Haryu says so, what could there possibly be to see in a tiny shop like this...”

Gadon grumbled quietly as he looked around.

Repo smacked him on the head and then watched my reaction.

She seemed cautious, perhaps worried that his words had offended me.

I lightly shrugged.

It was true, so why would I be offended?

I walked toward them and bowed my head slightly.

“Welcome. My name is Evron. Thank you very much for visiting my puppet workshop.”

Gadon tilted his head.

Then he began poking at the puppet in front of him.

He looked a little interested.

“A puppet workshop?”

“Yes. Puppets are the products I deal in. Would you please come inside first? We can talk there.”

“Fine. Let’s go already.”

Repo grabbed Gadon’s arm and hurried into the shop.

They entered the reception room, settled onto the wide sofa, and looked around.

I should ease the atmosphere before we talked.

I gave Isabella a small signal.

She smiled gently and began to form a spell.

Perfect Tea.

[This tea was prepared for all of you. It is good for the body, so please try some.]

Isabella placed teacups before them and lightly bowed her head.

Gadon stared at her with a somewhat dazed expression.

At that moment, Repo stomped hard on his foot.

Haryu, the woman beside him, lightly pinched his arm as well.

Gadon groaned in pain.

I smiled slightly as I watched them.

They seemed very close.

It appeared everything the information had told me was true.

In truth, I had expected Repo to bring them here.

They had apparently been together since the entrance ceremony.

According to the information, the three of them had traveled together for more than ten years.

It was unavoidable for wandering mages to form groups like that.

Whether hunting magical beasts or completing requests, gathering people and acting together was safer and more reliable.

Of course, it was not easy for a group to remain united for as long as they had.

Mages were always greedy, and groups often fell apart because of conflict.

In that sense, the fact that they had stayed together for ten years meant they trusted one another that much.

I gestured toward the puppet.

It walked to Gadon and formed a spell.

It was a simple spell that healed injuries.

Gadon, who had been clutching his foot and groaning, wiped away cold sweat as if he could finally breathe again.

He looked up at the puppet and blinked.

“I imagine you are wondering what sort of shop this is. Our workshop sells the attendant puppet you see before you. It is our only product.”

Gadon reached toward the puppet.

Then he quickly circulated magical power through it.

He seemed to be examining the puppet.

I could clearly feel powerful magical power flowing from him.

He was stronger than me.

I lightly smacked my lips as I sensed it.

We had entered the university in the same year.

In that sense, Gadon’s talent was truly remarkable.

He had surely reached the third floor, just like me.

That was astonishing.

I had Professor, so I could grow stronger quickly.

But Gadon was merely a wandering mage.

Yet he had grown as quickly as me, or perhaps even faster.

According to the information, quite a few people were after Gadon because of that.

Still, he had remained here for the sake of his two companions.

I could not let the chance to draw someone like that in as a customer pass by.

“You can take a puppet home for just one point. Just like Repo did.”

I winked at Repo.

She nodded as if agreeing with me.

The other two relaxed a little, as though their suspicions had eased.

I took out the instruction manual containing the puppet’s precautions.

Then I repeated what I had told Repo before.

The puppet could only be used for three hours, and they would need to compensate us if it was damaged.

But for some reason, they did not seem focused on my explanation.

Seeing that, I snapped my fingers.

It would be better for them to experience it directly than hear about it.

“Then shall we have a trial session? The puppet will massage your bodies for a moment, so please do not be alarmed.”

At my signal, the puppet approached them.

It slowly massaged their bodies.

After loosening them up for a while, it stepped back.

Gadon stretched with a refreshed expression.

It seemed he liked the massage quite a lot.

Haryu beside him was smiling slightly as well.

“How is it? I told you it was great.”

Repo smiled confidently as she looked at them.

With her arms crossed, she met their eyes.

Gadon cleared his throat and nodded.

“You were right. It is hard to believe it only costs one point.”

“Thank you. Shall I assume you will be purchasing one, then?”

Gadon frowned slightly at my question.

He looked somewhat uncomfortable.

But he could not withstand the pressure of the two people staring at him from either side, and soon nodded.

“It is a little strange, but I suppose I’ll buy one.”

At his words, Isabella gracefully approached and spread several sheets of paper before them.

There was a survey, along with a form for writing down their referrer.

“Do not worry. I will not reveal what you write to anyone outside. Please write down whatever comes to mind. The more details you give us, the better we can choose a puppet that suits you.”

Under Repo’s urging, they filled them out without suspicion.

Including the referral form.

After collecting the papers, I stood and headed to the storage room.

Then I tried to resonate with the puppets inside.

Which puppets suited these surveys best?

As I looked over the papers, several puppets stepped forward from among the others.

I needed to choose the most suitable ones.

After carefully selecting the puppets, I returned outside.

I placed each puppet inside a small palm-sized case and handed them over.

“Please use them carefully. The puppets’ power weakens if you leave the city, so please keep that in mind.”

After my final reminder, they left the shop.

Repo went with them.

Of course, she returned to the shop not long afterward.

“Show me that again.”

Repo’s eyes sparkled.

I showed her the catalog full of puppet functions.

Unlike before, she seemed quite relaxed.

“Hmm, I’ll add twelve hours of operating time, and this humanoid outfit, the butler uniform. Its current form is too crude.”

I looked down at the catalog.

A humanoid outfit. It was an extremely simple function.

It was not very expensive either.

I quietly nodded.

“The total is sixty points. Since you brought in two people, the forty percent discount reduces it to thirty-six points.”

Repo fiddled with her ring.

She seemed to be preparing to pay the points.

It did not seem overly burdensome to her.

I took out a mirror bug and touched it to her ring.

Her points transferred to me.

Thirty-six points. I had received them clearly.

Now I needed to add the functions.

“Please wait a moment. I will make a few adjustments to the puppet inside.”

I stood with the puppet in hand.

Then I suddenly felt Repo lightly grab my sleeve.

Wondering what was wrong, I looked at her.

She was lost in thought.

Soon, she tapped her lips lightly and carefully spoke.

“Is there no limit on receiving referrals themselves?”

I tilted my head slightly.

She had already filled her quota of two people.

Why was she asking something like that?

I met Repo’s eyes.

Then I noticed the desire flickering strongly in them.

I could naturally understand her thoughts as well.

She was clearly aiming for reward points.

I smiled lightly and nodded.

“Yes. You may do as you wish.”

Repo’s eyes shone at my answer.

I could not help but feel a little impressed as I looked at her eyes, thick with desire.

She was already thinking of bringing in more people to earn reward points.

There was no reason for me to refuse.

Her desire would become a stepping stone for me.

I bowed my head slightly to her and headed toward the workbench deeper in the workshop.

I had received points, so I needed to unlock more of the puppet’s performance.

Repo received the newly modified puppet and left the shop with a satisfied smile.

I nodded as I watched her leave.

She would bring more people in the future.

“Then I will head to the tower now.”

I glanced at Isabella.

It was time for her to take charge of the shop.

The cycle built on desire had begun, and she alone was enough to maintain it.

Isabella bowed her head to me.

[Just trust me. I will make this shop the only place in the city.]

I nodded and stood up.

The matters in the city were mostly settled now.

It was time to prepare for matters at the tower.

There was not much time left before the lecture.

From now on, I needed to discuss things with the treasures and reorganize the lecture order and rules.

New treasures were steadily joining our treasure network as well.

Two years passed like that.

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