Academy’s New Guard is Unusual - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 49
“First, thank you for investing in our Mage Tower.”
“Th-thank you.”
The twin witches bowed in unison.
The twin witches were professors who had held executive positions even in the game.
Lila was exceptional in Magic as well, but when it came to pure magical talent, Bella had the edge.
In fact, Bella would become an Archmage, while Lila would fall short of that rank.
However, Lila possessed business acumen. The credit for growing the Twin Mage Tower from a fledgling establishment into a mid-tier Mage Tower belonged largely to her.
‘Magical genius Bella, business genius Lila.’
Their combination was remarkably effective. It was the reason the Twin Mage Tower, once a struggling venture, had grown to its current standing.
To be honest, my selection of these two came down entirely to the Mage Tower itself. In this world, backing a fledgling Mage Tower was akin to gambling. A jackpot meant a complete reversal of fortune, but failure meant recovering nothing.
That was why I could rake in overwhelming profits.
In the game, Mage Towers were less temples of knowledge and more ruthless corporations devoid of blood or tears.
It was because Magic required such enormous sums of money.
There was even a saying: a Mage’s true enemy was not the Knight, but the Gold Coin.
That was why the twin witches had immediately bowed before me.
I was the largest shareholder of the Twin Mage Tower.
“I asked you to report on the reasons for these poor results.”
My cold voice made them both flinch. Their posture sank even lower—nearly genuflecting.
“The Belozyum Mage Tower intercepted the Mana Stones flowing into our Mage Tower mid-route. That’s why our Magical Artifact production plummeted.”
“What about the Mage Tower Association?”
“We reported it to the Mage Tower Association immediately, but they ruled it groundless.”
It seemed the Mage Tower Association had pulled strings to check the rapidly growing Twin Mage Tower. A classic case of Pulling the Ladder Out.
For me, it was actually convenient.
I had grounds now.
“I hear you’ve climbed to mid-tier Mage Tower status, yet one act of sabotage makes your Magical Artifact production falter? Pathetic.”
“That is… the Belozyum Mage Tower operates at a corporate scale—”
“Isn’t the Twin Mage Tower’s goal also to reach corporate scale? Have you quietly lowered your ambitions without my knowledge?”
“No, sir. We are deeply sorry. Even with ten mouths, we would have no excuse.”
“W-we apologize.”
At Lila’s warning glance, Bella hastily bowed her head. They were now nearly on their knees.
“It’s unavoidable. Rapid growth breeds growing pains. Actually, it’s fortunate—you learned this before climbing higher.”
“Exactly. We view it the same way. Had we been sabotaged when the large orders arrived, the damage would have been far worse.”
“So, what’s the solution?”
“We’re currently procuring Mana Stones from other Mage Towers.”
“Raw material costs are rising, then. Net profit will shrink further.”
“…Yes, that’s true. However, we should still be able to maintain revenues.”
“If the Belozyum Mage Tower interferes again?”
“As long as the Mage Tower Association exists, they won’t overstep. They’ll simply extract a reasonable sum—”
“An optimistic assessment, relying on the opponent’s mercy.”
“Yes, but this is the best we can manage.”
Lila’s voice carried absolute conviction.
I’ll say it again: Lila was gifted at business. From her perspective—ignorant of the future—that judgment truly was the best available.
But I was not.
“In the end, it’s only a stopgap. We need to build a real foundation.”
“A foundation, you mean—”
“Let’s acquire a Mana Stone Mine.”
Both Bella’s and Lila’s faces crumpled simultaneously—mirror images of horror.
“Do you think a Mana Stone Mine is some backyard smithy?”
“Bella.”
At Lila’s stern glance, Bella flinched back slightly. Yet Lila’s expression was no different from hers.
“Purchasing a Mana Stone Mine is an extraordinarily inefficient approach.”
Lila was not wrong.
In this game, a Mana Stone Mine was a goose that laid golden eggs. To buy one, you had to pay more than the actual Mana Stones within it were worth. The buyer inevitably took a loss.
Yet people still bought Mana Stone Mines.
Because of Huelen’s legend.
Originally the owner of a modest trading company, Huelen purchased a Mana Stone Mine whose deposits were nearly exhausted—and discovered an additional Mana Stone Vein beneath it. That vein was dozens of times larger than the original mine.
With that discovery, Huelen became the wealthiest person on the Continent overnight.
Because of that tale, people consistently bought Mana Stone Mines hoping for similar fortune.
But Huelen’s case was the only instance where a new vein was ever discovered.
The owners of Mana Stone Mines were not fools. Of course they checked for any additional veins before selling.
Buying a Mana Stone Mine now was like spending billions on a 0.1% chance.
“Purchase the Mana Stone Mine owned by Count Herail.”
“What madness are you spouting!”
Bella, unable to restrain herself, cried out sharply. Lila caught her arm moments too late.
“Bella.”
“No, you’re talking pure insanity—”
“Bella.”
Bella made a strangled sound, then clamped her mouth shut and knelt again.
Though she had been stopped, Lila’s expression was hardly better.
“A Mana Stone Mine typically has a lifespan of thirty years. Count Herail’s mine has been in operation for twenty-five years. Its deposits are nearly depleted. Moreover, the House of Herail supplies Mana Stones to the Belozyum Mage Tower, which has obstructed our supply. Should we attempt purchase, they will certainly overcharge us well above market rate. I cannot recommend it.”
Lila spoke rapidly without pause, her voice unyielding.
“So you’re saying it’s impossible to buy?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it cannot be done.”
It was the answer I’d anticipated.
“What’s my current stake?”
“Forty-two percent.”
“Converted to Gold Coins?”
“Approximately thirty thousand.”
One Gold Coin was worth roughly ten million in modern currency—
‘Three billion, then.’
Of course, it’s not precisely three billion in value. This is a crude world where martial might takes priority over wealth. Money is worth less than in the modern era.
But still, it was unmistakably an astronomical sum.
The fact that Bella and Lila remained on their knees was proof enough.
Yet it was insufficient to stop a Foreign Deity.
No, actually, Gold Coins cannot stop a Foreign Deity at all.
The moment a Foreign Deity descends, Gold Coins become nothing more than glittering stones.
Still—
It was enough to purchase a twenty-five-year-old Mana Stone Mine.
“Then I’ll buy it with my own stake.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“I’m purchasing the Mana Stone Mine with my stake.”
At this unprecedented declaration, Lila’s eyes widened.
I was certain Lila would nod in agreement.
It was no loss to her—my money would be spent, not hers—and she’d still secure a definite supply of Mana Stones, even if depleted.
Besides, there was no legitimate reason to refuse.
It was entirely my stake.
Any other person would have accepted immediately. But Lila hesitated.
“…Do you perhaps possess some information?”
Information? Yes, I do.
Very certain information.
‘Deep within Count Herail’s Mana Stone Mine lies the largest Mana Stone Vein on the Continent.’
This came from the game. However, the vein in Count Herail’s mine was only discovered in the late game.
When the Foreign Deity’s servants unleashed bombardment, Count Herail’s mine was overturned, and the vein buried deep underground was exposed.
Since the Foreign Deity’s servants had already descended by then, the vein was of little use. So if I utilized it, Count Herail would have no cause for grievance.
If I prevented the apocalypse, he would survive—his life saved in exchange.
‘Ah, I suppose I can’t acquire his territory, though.’
Well, either way, it’s being put to good use. Count Herail should be pleased.
“If you possess such information, our Mage Tower will consider investing positively.”
“Lila!”
Bella protested, but Lila stared at me without blinking an eye.
Her dull gray eyes gleamed. She had caught the scent of opportunity. Her acumen was indeed sharp.
I could have deflected vaguely and it would have sufficed. But I had no such intention.
“No, I don’t have any.”
At my blunt answer, Lila’s eyes wavered.
“Then why—”
Why? I paused briefly before answering.
“It feels right.”
“…You’ll buy a Mana Stone Mine on a hunch alone?”
Bella cried out in that sharp voice of hers.
It wasn’t an incomprehensible reaction. If someone announced they’d invest three billion on a whim, anyone would react that way.
Just then, Lila asked in a low voice:
“Was it also on a hunch that you chose our Mage Tower?”
“Exactly.”
“…I understand. I’ll prepare the Mage Tower Association contract immediately.”
Lila snapped her fingers. Her satchel, slung across her back, burst open—paper and pen tumbling out and moving as if alive.
Shortly, a neat contract appeared before me.
It detailed the purchase of the Mana Stone Mine with my stake. In exchange, the profits would be mine as well.
But there was one unexpected detail.
“…You’re also investing?”
“Yes, thirty percent.”
“Lila?!”
Lila ignored Bella and kept her eyes fixed on me.
She was certainly perceptive. That was precisely why she’d grown a fledgling Mage Tower to corporate scale.
‘Well, I need to build up the Twin Mage Tower too, anyway.’
I smiled softly and signed.
“Then I’ll begin the acquisition immediately. Count Herail has been seeking a buyer for his mine for some time, so it shouldn’t take long.”
“Acquire it as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, understood.”
Lila bowed respectfully.
‘Seventy percent stake in Count Herail’s Mana Stone Mine, then.’
In the game, the Mana Stone Vein discovered in Count Herail’s mine was twice the size of Huelen’s vein—the largest on the Continent.
Having purchased seventy percent of such a vein, I could now be considered the wealthiest person on the Continent.
‘No need to worry about my retirement.’
I smiled and collected the contract.
But the Mana Stone Mine was merely incidental.
I had sought out the twin witches for a different reason.
“Do you have a Magic Stat assessment orb?”
“Yes, here it is.”
Lila cautiously produced a smooth glass sphere and offered it to me.
It was an orb that emitted smoke proportional to one’s Magic Stat when touched.
The magical equivalent of the Decent Sword used in basic Swordsmanship instruction to measure Aura Stat.
‘There should be a Fragment of Foreign Deity in here too.’
It’s likely magical in nature. It’s best to collect Fragments of Foreign Deity as soon as they appear.
My current Magic Stat is S. With a Fragment of Foreign Deity added, the reaction should be quite violent—like with the Decent Sword.
Before touching the orb, I glanced toward Lila and Bella. Turning my head, I met Bella’s defiant gaze immediately.
Lila had prostrated herself the moment she confirmed I was the major shareholder, but Bella had not.
It was because their natures were opposite.
To suppress Bella, I would need not shares, but strength.
‘Strength, then.’
I raised my hand lightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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