I Level Up With In-app Purchases

I Level Up With In-app Purchases – 64

EP.64 R Has Hatched (4)

“If that’s the case, I should have asked for monster by-products instead of gold.”

It seemed I finally understood that academy students shouldn’t be viewed purely as students.

I also needed to reconsider what it meant for nobles to monopolize all the wealth in the world.

‘These kids really have unimaginable wealth.’

My attempt to adjust the price according to each student’s circumstances turned out to be pointless.

“At this rate, I can take as much as I want.”

I initially thought of students as receiving a modest allowance each month, but it felt more like discovering they owned buildings.

Of course, I didn’t believe they sent me these riches without reason.

‘They must have realized the value of the orbs.’

Although the orbs were currently tailored to specific individuals, they likely thought they could increase their versatility with proper processing.

If it was an item that could enhance one’s abilities, it was only natural for nobles to be eager to get their hands on it.

“Are you satisfied with the price I paid?”

As expected.

A student adorned with particularly shiny jewelry visited the general store.

I had only seen the illustration from the gacha pulls and didn’t know much about the character, but they seemed more annoying than I had imagined.

Kaka (SR), with his hair slicked back with gel, spoke confidently.

“With the amount of gold you gave, how could I not be satisfied?”

“Haha, I thought so. But you wouldn’t be satisfied with just one chest, would you?”

“And if I’m not? Are you planning to give me more?”

“As much as you want.”

Kaka continued to speak with a confident expression.

“Let’s join hands with our family. I’ve heard you’ve been supporting the academy for a long time. I fully understand why you provided the orbs to the students. However, these orbs shouldn’t be limited to just the students.”

It was regrettable that the orbs were only provided to the students.

In other words, he wanted to take the orbs and do business with them.

“As you know, these orbs are very selective about their users.”

“The place that truly needs these orbs is not the academy. It’s the soldiers who are struggling on the front lines right now who need this power more.”

Indeed, not all R and SR ranks were students.

There were characters who appeared later in the main scenario when they went to the battlefield.

However, it was important to note that their numbers were not as significant compared to the student R and SR ranks.

“The soldiers will value the orbs more.”

Kaka was under a misunderstanding.

Once an orb chose its owner, it no longer granted power to anyone else.

Therefore, he thought it was more beneficial to show the orbs to those who would pay more rather than just letting students interact with them.

‘I also think that’s the right business approach. I would have done the same if I were in business.’

But what could be done?

The owners of these orbs were already determined, and no one else would resonate with the orbs even if they touched them.

Thus, I had no choice but to refuse Kaka’s offer to take the orbs and sell them.

“That’s absurd! Why are you rejecting my proposal? The value of these orbs is limitless. Isn’t it a waste to limit their benefits to just a few students?”

“I know exactly what you’ll do with these orbs. You’ll experiment with them to increase their versatility.”

And if their versatility increased, they would obviously be sold for profit.

“Of course, that’s what should be done. These orbs have immense potential to save humanity. It’s only right that everyone benefits from them.”

I would also like to do that if it were possible.

“Exactly. So why should such a valuable item be entrusted to someone who isn’t even close to you?”

“!!”

Selling the orbs after ensuring that everyone could absorb the power within them.

It was a business that reeked of money.

Whichever noble family took it on would likely conduct experiments with their lives on the line.

‘If they succeed, they’ll be rolling in money. When enhanced to 5-star, the stats will increase significantly.’

While elixirs have good effects, their efficacy diminishes with frequent use.

In contrast, the orbs, being a different type, could guarantee growth up to 5-star.

‘This is a surefire business. That kid has already realized it and came to me.’

Nobles live well because they are good at spotting profitable opportunities and have the power to turn them into money.

Even though I had the orbs, I couldn’t think of selling them like that noble because I lacked the foundation.

‘Still, I can decide with whom to share this opportunity.’

Choosing a noble who could turn this into a profitable business was my prerogative.

I was the only one who could provide the orbs.

In that regard, Kaka was not a business partner I wanted to choose.

If I were to choose…

‘I should go with an SSR. They would be more helpful to me.’

What could Kaka do if I refused to do business with someone I wasn’t close to?

In the end, Kaka left, insisting that I reconsider.

It seemed he wouldn’t give up easily and would keep visiting the general store.

To make him give up quietly, I needed to deal with a household that would leave him speechless.

“In terms of family, no one can match Ariane.”

Therefore, I had to choose the Ariane household, no matter what anyone said.

The Ariane ducal family was known for its power, capable of even bringing down a flying dragon.

The problem was that I didn’t have a close relationship with Ariane yet…

‘If I don’t have a connection, I’ll just have to build one.’

When will she decide to run away from home?

It seemed there was nothing to do but wait for Ariane’s scenario to progress.

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***

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“Ahem! Excuse me.”

“?”

A few days after the incident with Kaka (SR), when the academy was in an uproar over the orbs, the headmaster, not the expected student, visited my general store.

“Headmaster?”

“Good day.”

In truth, I had anticipated that a teacher would visit my store eventually.

Given the chaos the orbs caused at the academy, it was unlikely the teachers would remain idle.

“I didn’t expect you to come, Headmaster.”

“Haha, I thought it would be better for me to come rather than sending a teacher.”

“Please, come up to the second floor. It’s more suitable for a conversation than here.”

Even though he was the headmaster, it didn’t feel right to have a conversation on the first floor like with the students.

I led him to the second floor and seated him at the table.

“Coffee? Tea?”

“Green tea will suffice.”

Initially, I only stocked juice due to the frequent visits from the kids, but after Rebecca and Sasha started coming around, I began stocking tea and coffee as well.

I wasn’t sure how my house ended up feeling like a hideout, but it was true that there wasn’t really anywhere else to go.

Slurp~

The headmaster’s smile softened as he sipped the green tea.

“It’s quite good.”

“Yes, I have some picky guests occasionally.”

“The first floor as a general store, the second floor as a living space. You’ve arranged it well.”

“I’ve arranged it modestly, just enough to sleep comfortably.”

After some small talk, the headmaster got to the point.

“I heard about the orbs from the student council members. Are you aware that the academy is in an uproar over the orbs lately?”

“I did hear about it. However, I didn’t expect so many students to show such interest.”

“Given the current situation on the front lines and the students’ inherent interest in growth, the orbs, which provide power without risk, were bound to be attractive.”

The headmaster’s sharp gaze, different from when I visited the academy as a benefactor, was now directed at me.

“From that perspective, I had to verify. Whether these orbs truly only provide power to the students without any side effects.”

“I understand completely. It must have seemed quite suspicious.”

“If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me where you obtained these orbs?”

Given the immense potential of the orbs, asking about their origin could be considered highly intrusive.

I had often pondered what to say if a teacher or the headmaster asked about it.

If I were to honestly say that I obtained them through my abilities, I would have to confess to the headmaster that I had awakened.

Currently, the only person who knew about my awakening was Sasha.

I planned to tell Rebecca at the very least, but I wasn’t comfortable with the headmaster knowing before I had the chance to tell her.

“I cannot disclose the source of the orbs. However, I can assure you that these orbs will not have any negative effects on the students.”

“Hmm… I see. I also confirmed that the orbs have safety mechanisms in place.”

There were safety mechanisms?

“Then doesn’t that prove there are no issues?”

I spoke calmly, though I was surprised. If there were safety mechanisms, there should be no problem, and there would be no need for the headmaster to question me like this.

“The problem is that the students who were not chosen might not accept the orb’s selection.”

“The unchosen students are the problem?”

“Those students might try to steal the orbs and dismantle the safety mechanisms.”

“Is that even possible?”

“It would be a foolish act. Mishandling the energy within the orbs could cause an explosion, and you, as the benefactor who provided the orbs with good intentions, might have to bear the responsibility.”

I had absolute faith in the stability of the orbs created by my abilities.

But what if these orbs fell into the hands of someone indiscriminate and they damaged the orbs in some bizarre way?

“…..”

Even though I hadn’t instructed any student to damage the orbs, the fact that an explosion occurred would likely put me in a very precarious position.

“Surely they wouldn’t…”

Seeing the headmaster’s resolute expression, I couldn’t bring myself to say that I trusted the students.

“They would.”

“Yes, they would.”

“…..”

What a reckless act this was.

A chilling shiver ran from the back of my neck down to my arms.