The Trash Author Cleans his Novel

[ Unlock the Secrets to Slaying Monsters! Discover Their Weaknesses, Behaviors, and Hidden Habits—Your Ultimate Guide to Victory Awaits! ]

Looking at this title on the Black Market, Aerin Sainte felt a sense of dissonance. Working as her father's strategist at such a young age was a huge responsibility. She gained connections to many things, from hidden meetings to membership in the Black Market.

Now, in her search for information, she stumbled upon so immensely convenient that it felt like a scam.

With a frown, she clicked on the post.

"...Let's test them out first,"

Thinking this, she grabbed a file from her desk and browsed through it. Looking at the file for the monster, [Jarion], she chose a few details.

[ Hi, I was looking for information on Jarions and their behaviours... How much will you be charging? ]

Aerin sent her message and closed her phone card's hologram, fully expecting to wait a few minutes.

However, a reply arrived not a minute later.

[ 250 Credits for an overview. 1500 Credits for an in-depth review. ]

Aerin raised a brow. It was pricey, but not out of bounds. Like an important item being worth its price, this was the same. After all, information on monsters meant having to encounter them. 

To retrieve a monster's behavior meant long-term observation. It was clear that these things would turn pricey given the weight of a human life.

"Hmmm..."

Aerin decided. It was a good test. She had her own files on the Jarion. If she compared her Guild's observations with the one being sold, she could have a grasp on this merchant's ability.

"Luckily, the Black Market seems to endorse this guy." Looking at the glowing golden name, Aerin chuckled.

She wouldn't have tried if the merchant had been any lower than VIP status.

"The Scribe, huh? Interesting..."

[ Give me the in-depth review. ] She typed.

The reply came instantly.

[ Granted. ]

A file soon found its way into her messages, unlockable only after she paid 1500 Credits. After paying the price, she downloaded the file.

"...50 pages?"

Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulders. What the heck?

A mere skim-through, she realized something clearly: her Guild's records were nothing compared to this file. They only had a single page's worth of the Jarion's behavior. The Scribe had sent her something immense.

Similar events were occurring throughout the city of Vircadia.

Those with access to the Black Market were soon acquainted with the name, Scribe. A feat only possible with the speeds of modern technology.

Aerin personally bore witness to the Scribe's name scaling the walls of the Black Market. If each review was a customer who paid 1500 Credits...

The Scribe had earned more than a year's worth of her salary in a few hours.

Seeing this, she bought more monster files as well. Not just their behaviors, but their weaknesses as well. The latter was pricier, at 10,000 Credits for the detailed version. As for their hidden habits...

'I don't need those yet,' She thought.

Especially since each hidden habit was priced at 100,000 Credits.

***

[ Your alias, Scribe, has earned the attention of various figures in the Human Capital, Vircadia! ]

[ IP: 0 -> 150 ]

Arcine had been pouring his memories into text, feeding the hungry buyers, desperate for his information.

Looking at the rise in his Black Market bank account, he realized that... perhaps there was no need to sell a Phoenix Tear. He underestimated the value of information in this new world.

He then set up an automated system. Instead of dealing through messages, he placed his different products on display for people to buy without bothering him.

Now, without having to exchange messages, his earnings skyrocketed again. Six hours had passed when the hype died down. Arcine had released only a small portion of the monsters he had designed for the novel — monsters that he had copied from other famous genres of fiction.

Still, he was now a few million Credits richer. The big Guilds truly treasured him.

Once again, Arcine was hit with a pang of unease.

"That was... too easy, yet again."

However, Arcine shook his head. He would deal with his Black Market repercussions in the far future. For now, he bought an anonymous bank account and transferred his money. Luckily, the Black Market didn't tax its merchants at all.

This would allow Arcine to go on a shopping spree like no other.

However, he still had to make sure he wasn't tracked down. Thinking about the highly suspicious individuals prominent in the Black Market, Arcine smacked his lips.

The first thing he did was transform all those Credits into Mana Stones. The standard procedure of hiding one's traces in this world.

Going to a nearby bank, he received his heavy bag of pulsating stones. Although he earned a few glares due to the sweat on his body, he successfully retrieved his newfound wealth.

After checking to see if there were any marks or tracers on the Magic Pouch, he disappeared.

Although he had already covered his face on his way to the ATM, Arcine was sure that people had been following him when he left.

[ Eight Senses are in effect! ]

Within his perception, he could feel the malicious [Intention] directed towards him. Palpable like the sting of a cold dagger. The [Likelihood] that they were there to retrieve his wealth was high if he revealed himself to be weak.

Two parties.

One was the bank's people, tasked by the Black Market to uncover his identity.

The other were the usual opportunists, perceptive of his wealth with some unique skill.

Arcine went straight into the Wilderness Park, using the terrain, the enhanced gravity, and his familiarity with its structure to lose his pursuers. Together with his versatile [Eight Senses], he could tell when his pursuers were out of range.

Their malicious intent disappeared with the wind.

[ > WIL: D-Rank (18/27) -> (23/27) ]

He inadvertently solidified his Willpower because of this whole fiasco.

***

Appearing on the other side of the Wilderness Park, trying his best to blend in with the crowd, Arcine further vanished from the city's surveillance.

He used the paths exploited by the rats of society and appeared in a silent location of the city.

Night had descended long ago. His Shadow Demon blood allowed him to move with nay a turning head.

Arcine looked for a simple hotel to stay at, paid its fees, showered, and then went to sleep.

[ Days until the start of Shyveon: 1 ]

***

[]=[]=[]=[]=[]

Name: Arcine d'Vyde

Race: Shadow Demon [F-Rank (0/3)]

Age: 15

=======

TRAITS

> Author's Authority: N/A

> Angelic Light (Elemental Affinity): F-Rank (0/3)

> Shadow Demon Body (Physique): E-Rank (6/9) [Hidden: E-Rank (0/9)]

> True Shadow (Racial Trait): F-Rank (0/3)

> Eight Senses (Unique Trait): F-Rank (0/3)

PHYSIQUE

> STR: F-Rank (1/3) [Hidden: F-Rank (1/3)]

> DEX: F-Rank (1/3) [Hidden: F-Rank (1/3)]

> RES: F-Rank (1/3) [Hidden: F-Rank (1/3)]

MAGIC

> INT: F-Rank (0/3)

> FLUX: F-Rank (1/3) [Hidden: F-Rank (1/3)]

> M-RES: F-Rank (0/3)

MISC

> LCK: F-Rank (0/3) [Hidden: F-Rank (2/3)]

> PER: F-Rank (0/3)

> CHA: F-Rank (0/3)

> WIL: D-Rank (23/27) [Hidden: D-Rank (12/27)]

=======

IP: 150

[]=[]=[]=[]=[]