(Arin's POV)
The silence in the Headmistress's room was so dense it felt like it could be sliced with a knife.
After I uttered the magic sentence "Where is my compensation?", the reactions I got were very mixed. Rose gaped in disbelief, her eyes sparkling with admiration as if watching someone slap a dragon. Elena covered her mouth with her hand, her expression a mix of shock and amusement. Karim massaged the bridge of his nose as if he had just seen a tax collector's ghost. Meanwhile Alfin, the Elf servant behind Selena, choked on his own saliva with an inelegant guk sound.
Selena Rhyms, the feared archmage, blinked twice. Her mask of authority cracked slightly.
"Compensation?" repeated Selena softly, as if the word were foreign to her ears. "You just survived death, you received political protection from my family which is priceless, and you still ask for... payment?"
"Political protection is a long-term investment, Your Excellency," I answered casually, though my legs were actually trembling holding back the pain from the fight. "You talk about 'justice', 'revenge', and 'politics'. That is all good for campaign speeches, but unfortunately, I cannot eat 'justice'. I need something more... solid, shiny, and exchangeable for cash."
Selena fell silent for a moment, then snorted. The snort turned into a small dry laugh.
"You... truly are an interesting little bastard," muttered Selena while shaking her head. "Very well. A Rhyms never owes a debt. Especially to a snot-nosed brat like you."
She sighed deeply, then opened her desk drawer with a rough movement. The "Tired Grandma" aura radiated stronger from her.
"I will give you compensation. Consider this as... hush money."
Selena looked at the four of us with a deadly sharp gaze.
"Whatever happened outside the safe zone... about the Silver Golem, about the Iron Blood Sect, and about the security system failure... it never happened. You just got lost, fought some wild monsters that happened to pass by, then returned. Understood?"
"I am blind and deaf if the payment is right," I answered quickly without hesitation.
Selena snorted again, then snapped her fingers.
Ting!
A black wooden chest appeared out of nowhere on the table. Alfin opened it, revealing its beautifully glittering contents.
"First," Selena pointed to a pile of neatly folded armor. Its color was bluish silver, emitting a cold light. "Mithril-Weave Armor. It is lighter than your destroyed armor, but its durability is double. This is Dwarven weave, can withstand a Werewolf bite without the slightest dent."
My eyes sparkled. Mithril Armor! Its price was equivalent to a luxury house in the city center! This was a huge upgrade from the rusty iron scrap I usually wore.
"Second," Selena took a long sword from the chest. Its blade did not shine silver, but dark gray absorbing light. There was a strange wave pattern in the metal like flowing water.
"Adamantium Alloy Sword."
Rose gasped in surprise behind me. "Grandmother! That... isn't that Uncle Edwin's collection sword?"
"He hasn't used it since retiring as a Knight," answered Selena indifferently. She handed the sword to me. "This is not pure Adamantium, but an alloy. Your body would not be strong enough to lift the real one because it is too heavy. Even so, this sword is sharper than Mithril, harder than steel, and will not break even if you smash it against Golem skin. You like heavy swords, right?"
I received the sword reverently. The weight was right and the balance perfect. When I channeled a little aura, the metal hummed low, as if thirsty for blood.
"Third," Selena threw three ancient paper scrolls at me. "Fourth Circle Magic Scrolls: Explosion, Great Heal, and Earth Wall. Use them when you really want to die or want to kill a platoon of troops."
"And lastly..." Selena took out a pair of leather boots that looked ordinary, but there were glowing blue rune carvings on the soles. "Water Gliders Artifact. You can walk or run on liquid surfaces, like water, mud, even quicksand as if it were solid ground. Use your mana to activate it."
This... was more than enough. Never imagined getting gifts this luxurious.
I stared at the pile of treasures in front of me. Mithril Armor, Adamantium Sword, Magic Scrolls, and Utility Artifacts. I hugged all those items like a child getting birthday presents.
"Madam Selena, you are the most generous and beautiful woman I have ever—"
"Wait a minute," cut Elena suddenly.
She stepped forward, staring at the pile of items with a critical gaze. Her beautiful face wrinkled in displeasure. Elena took the Adamantium sword from my hand, weighed it, then shook her head dissatisfied.
"Grandmother, are you joking?" protested Elena.
"What now, Elena?" groaned Selena, massaging her temples again.
"That is trash!" cut Elena sadistically.
I choked on my own saliva. "Trash?! Elena, this is Adamantium! I can split rocks with this! It costs thousands of gold!"
"Quiet, Arin. You do not know good stuff," Elena silenced me with a wave of her hand, then returned to scolding her grandmother fiercely.
"Arin risked his life to save Grandmother's granddaughter. He fought a sect alone! And Grandmother only gives him Uncle Arthur's used goods that are already dusty and old running shoes?" Elena put her hands on her hips. "This is an insult to the Rhyms Family! People will think we are stingy! Are we the Rhyms Family or street vendors?!"
My mouth gaped wide. Stingy? These items' prices could buy a small village!
"Elena, this is already..." Selena tried to defend herself.
"Quiet, Arin," Elena silenced me again without looking, her eyes staring at her grandmother demanding. "He needs resources to develop, Grandma. Give him access to knowledge and real capital. Not just scrap items."
Stab. My heart hurt being called scrap, but I kept quiet because it seemed 'Lawyer' Elena was fighting for my welfare. Damn! I could really fall in love with her if this continues.
Selena stared at her granddaughter with a look of disbelief, then shifted her gaze to me as if saying: What did you do to my granddaughter until she became rebellious like this?
"Fine! Fine!" Selena raised her hands in surrender. "You rebellious grandchild. You are exactly like your mother."
She took a heavy velvet bag from a hidden drawer, then threw the bag at me. It made a very melodious heavy clinking sound. Followed by a platinum card.
"Two thousand gold coins," hissed Selena with a face slightly unwilling. "And Level 3 Library Access Card. Usually only for senior Class A and Class S. Satisfied?!"
Two... thousand... gold.
My eyes turned into currency symbols. With this money, I could retire early and live peacefully in the village!
"Very satisfied! Long live the Rhyms Family! Long live Miss Elena!" I exclaimed happily.
Rose whistled long. "Level 3? That is a special area for instructors and elite students. Many forbidden books there."
"Take this and leave before I change my mind and burn everything," grumbled Selena.
I immediately snatched everything with lightning speed before she realized what she did.
However, amidst that euphoria, my eyes caught Erika's figure. She was still dazed, her eyes blinking slowly like a broken doll. Her brain was still loading, staring at my pile of treasure with empty eyes devoid of expression.
She was also a victim.
She also fought desperately.
I sighed deeply. My greedy nature rebelled wanting to keep everything, but my conscience shouted louder.
"Wait a moment," I said, stopping my steps. "One more thing."
Selena massaged her forehead which was probably throbbing fast. "By God, what else, Kid? You want to ask for my palace too?"
"This is for me. What about Erika?" I pointed to the girl beside me. "She is also a victim. She fought against the Silver Golem with me until she fainted. So she should also get a share of compensation."
Selena looked at Erika who had just woken from her daydream. "Oh? That slow girl? Then, just split your prize in two. The gold is plenty. Those magic scrolls are also suitable for her."
"Alright," I said resignedly. "Erika, later we will spl—"
"NO!"
Again Elena shouted. This time she looked heavily offended, her face beet red.
"No way!" interrupted Elena, fiercer than before. "Grandmother wants people to say the Rhyms Family is stingy? That we told our saviors to share compensation from one bag because we cannot afford to pay?! Where should I put my face?!"
"Elena... our treasure warehouse is not a bottomless well..." moaned Selena weakly.
"Grandmother wants to sacrifice Rhyms' 'Reputation' for a few gold coins?!" emphasized Elena on every word.
Selena looked like she wanted to blow up this room with a fireball. She looked at Elena, then looked at me, then looked at Erika who blinked in confusion.
"You three... are truly a source of headaches for me," hissed Selena.
She waved her hand at Alfin wearily. "Alfin, bring stock from Warehouse B. Give what is appropriate so my granddaughter shuts up."
Five minutes later, Erika stood hugging a new magic staff made of pure white Elder Wood, wearing a Maple spider silk robe that shone reddish (fire and physical resistant), and a bag containing two thousand gold coins of her own.
"T-This... for me?" asked Erika slowly, her eyes glassy. Her delay vanished instantly seeing the glitter of gold.
"Yes, yes. Now get out. I need to sleep or drink wine, or both," shooed Selena.
Erika and I looked at each other, then smiled widely while hugging our respective treasures. This was the most successful robbery in the history of my life.
We walked out of the room with full hands. Erika hugged her new staff as if it were a baby, smiling widely like a crazy person. I patted the bag full of gold. We became rich overnight.
However, right before we separated in the hallway, Elena held my shoulder with a strong grip.
Suddenly, Elena's sweet smile turned into a cold smirk that made my goosebumps rise. No more "spoiled grandchild" mode she used earlier to extort her grandmother. That was merely acting.
"Arin," she called softly but deadly.
"Y-Yes, Miss Boss?"
"Arin," she said softly but sharply, her eyes staring straight into mine. "I have defended your rights. I have made you rich overnight and given you the best weapons. Now... Where is my Antibiotic factory?"
The atmosphere in the hallway changed again. Rose stopped laughing and leaned against the wall, observing with interest. Erika stopped walking, staring in confusion.
They all knew the potential of the medicine business I offered the Rhyms Family. But making it on a mass scale was another matter.
"I know," I answered, swallowing hard.
"Good. Because Grandmother gave you all this with one expectation: That Antibiotic Project," Elena stared at me straight. "You promised three months for mass production. Now you have capital, you have library access, and you have protection. No more excuses."
She brought her face closer slightly, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Your time is ticking, Partner. Do not let the Rhyms Family investment lose. You know what happens to assets that cause losses, right?"
I swallowed hard. The subtle threat behind her words made my hair stand on end. She was right. This gold and weapons were a binding rope.
This Sugar Mommy turned out to be a cruel loan shark. After saving her life, Elena acted gentle and cared for me. That made me forget Elena's identity as an ambitious accomplished noble who always sought profit. I had to be careful of her from now on.
I patted my coat pocket where my research notebook was kept safe.
"Do not worry, Miss Rhyms," I answered trying to be confident. "About that mass factory... I already have a crazy idea."
"What idea?" asked Rose curiously, stepping closer.
"We will not build a conventional factory," I said while staring at the moon outside the corridor window shining brightly. "We will... farm."
"Farm?" Erika echoed confusedly, her head tilted. "Cows?"
"Not cows. Mushrooms," I answered. "And I know the right place to start. A damp, dark place full of nutrients."
Their eyes stared at me in confusion, but I only smiled mysteriously. The plan in my head was far more dangerous and disgusting than merely concocting medicine in a clean laboratory.
This would change everything. And maybe... would get me kicked out of the dorm.