Chapter 119: What A Mage Leaves Behind When They Die (4)

My luck is bad.

Ellie used to tell me that and worry.

But was it really just bad luck? Were the series of recent events I’ve experienced simply unfortunate accidents?

“That’s not it.”

It’s a matter of perspective and background knowledge.

I know. I know what Morgana becomes in the future.

The motive is a mad immortal. You know, the type that’s common enough. Appearing noble but turning out to be a vile beast once you peel back a layer. It was just like that.

At first, she was a powerful and beautiful mage. But she wasn’t someone you couldn’t possibly defeat.

But even if you tear, burn, break, and melt her, she eventually returns to her original form.

Morgana gradually loses her sanity each time, and eventually, she forgets her own form, with eyes, nose, and mouth in strange places or a different number of limbs.

In the end, she becomes a monster driven by madness, only preying on the living around her instinctively.

That is the true form of Morgana that I created.

How about it? Doesn’t it resemble Shadow exactly? Rejuvenating into a younger form would be like a trace of Benny.

Yes. What I feared back then was Benny’s death.

To be more precise, I was afraid that Benny might die because of the seeds of crisis I had sowed.

Perhaps even Lydia, who went to save Benny, might be in danger, and the thought of an awakened Morgana committing slaughter in Pangrave was enough to make me shudder.

Of course, I didn’t think that way from the beginning.

At the moment when I was escaping the Labyrinth, just as Benny had said, something happened to me. I don’t remember clearly, but something certainly occurred.

I have no precise memory, but the dreadful emotion remains. And also the hope that it’s not too late.

Perhaps the Goddess of Love sent some kind of message….

In any case, after that, I began to imagine the worst-case scenarios, and although it was a bit dangerous, I’m satisfied that it could be prevented.

For me, this incident was not only about Benny almost dying but also about the entire Pangrave, including Lydia, who came to rescue her, being in danger.

“But Ellie is different.”

For Ellie, this incident would be simply about getting caught up with a crazy woman targeting Benny, almost leading to both our deaths.

So, from Ellie’s perspective, saying that I’m unlucky isn’t incorrect.

To me, the mere fact that I can prevent such a significant issue in advance feels like a stroke of luck.

For a moment, my head became cluttered. Luck and misfortune. Somewhere in between. If I endure, I gain something greater, but if I fail, we perish together.

Isn’t this a setup I’ve heard somewhere before?

“Lucky Strike.”

I fiddled with the necklace around my neck and recited the name.

A former elf queen, a living masterpiece of history who has lived for a thousand years.

An artifact that grants bad luck to its wearer but promises greater rewards if one can overcome it.

It might not make much sense when you hear it at first, but you need to understand that it’s a nonsensical magical tool from the point where it can slightly intervene in fate.

Though she herself deemed it unnecessary as she stepped down from her position as queen….

It’s certain that Eve being treated as a dark figure and simultaneously receiving fear and reverence was partly due to Lucky Strike.

The fact that she survived for a long time while wearing it means she managed to navigate through a tumultuous life.

To others, she must have seemed like a suspicious elf with squinted eyes who made the impossible possible.

Perhaps I’m not much different from Eve back then. No, maybe I’m even worse.

Unlike Eve, whose goal was the preservation of the elf race, my goal is to eradicate the threats I’ve cast into the world.

Greater purposes come with greater trials.

However, I don’t think I’ll collapse halfway.

It’s not just because I recently defeated the formidable Morgana and got a bit cocky…but rather because of the support I felt behind me.

The Goddess of Love is supporting me, so I can’t fail, right???

But no matter how much of a Goddess she is, the power she can exert while confined in the Labyrinth is limited.

So, I have to roll the gacha. Only the gacha is the direct backup from the Goddess of Love, and it will help me grow to meet my goals.

To roll the gacha, I need money, and my pockets are empty right now, but…

“If I start earning from now, that’ll be enough.”

I’ll sell the still hefty loot even after sharing with Benny…!

Don’t worry too much, Morgana! You’ll become my gacha and live with me forever!

This is the completion of a world where no one gets hurt!

“Oh my? Jonah’s goods are excellent, but unfortunately, it’s impossible for me to handle them. But, well, it’s not like there isn’t a way.”

From now on, I’m going to rip you off and bleed you dry (X)

I slipped in a dirty joke, but he didn’t catch it, right?! (O)

“Eh.”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

It wasn’t because of the usual messed-up Eve language translator, but because I couldn’t earn money for the gacha.

That’s right. What’s there to hide?

My gacha addiction level has now reached quite a precarious point.

I haven’t properly pulled the gacha for a while, and recently, there was that big battle where my life was in danger.

It’s not because I’m a gambling addict! My body! My soul! They crave adrenaline and dopamine…!

“No, there’s a precious item here! It’s worth whatever price you call! Why won’t you buy it?!”

“Well, that’s because you’re still a minor…ahem. It’s because our shop is short on cash.”

Eve hurriedly changed the subject. Her squinted eyes curved warmly, almost like a scam artist sizing up their prey.

“Sir Jonah might overestimate me since you know of my past, but in reality, I’m not that wealthy.”

I have enough power that money doesn’t matter (X)

I really don’t have any. Save me (O)n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Oh, I know that well. Every time I visit, I’ve never seen any other customers, and there’s that flashy Cradle Trading Company building next door. The items they sell are subtle… Honestly, aren’t you barely making rent?”

“…That hurts. But you’re right. In my eyes, they are certainly useful kids, but not to other adventurers. Ah, but I don’t pay rent. This place is in my name.”

“What?”

In her name? How could that be?

Of course, I’m not trying to say that it’s impossible for every citizen to own a house just because Pangrave is a red-flavored 1 society.

Isn’t Fairy and Silver Coin also Ellie’s property in the first place?

However, there are a few important areas that are exceptions.

For instance, the place where Eve’s shop is located. Surprisingly, this place belongs to the prime commercial district.

It’s close to the Guild, connected to the Temple by a main road, and the entrance to the Labyrinth is within sight.

In other words, the foot traffic here is insane.

…Suddenly, Eve seems amazing for running a failing business in such a place.

Anyway, although this is a prime spot for business, it can also be seen as a strategic point.

Even if you bring in dangerous weapons claiming they’re for dungeon adventurers, no one would suspect anything.

Since the goods are expensive, even if you fortify the shop like a fortress for security reasons, no one would complain.

How important a region it is, being connected to core facilities.

Of course, it’s not just suspicion that made trade impossible. It was banned because there was a madman who actually executed this crazy idea.

The First Apostate, Baneus.

The leader of One Who Devours the Twilight, who has somehow kept himself alive for hundreds of years, first revealed himself to the world using this very method.

That’s why the law was changed to make ownership impossible.

Of course, it’s merely a formality to allow search and seizure at any time, but the rent itself is cheap compared to the floating population.

Buildings erected on the land can be bought and sold by others.

“How is that possible…?”

At my question, Eve scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.

“Actually, it’s land I bought a long time ago for retirement…”

“Ah.”

“When there was no law, transactions were possible, and no one could forcibly take away the ownership of the land from me, so I still hold it.”

“……”

Unbelievable. I hadn’t even considered this.

Even if they are elves, they die after living for about 300 years. The land that follows cannot be inherited and will be reclaimed by the Temple.

But what if it’s a crazy, ancient monster…no, a high elf who has lived for over a thousand years? And what if they are a suspicious dark powerhouse known to everyone (or not)?

Now I understand why Eve has been stubbornly holding on in such an unprofitable place.

“You’re a landlord then.”

“Hehe. Actually, I just lack cash, but I do have quite a few magical tools and real estate. …It’s enough to support a man.”

Enough to kidnap and imprison you in the basement (X)

How many children should we have? (O)

I nodded, trying hard to ignore the incomprehensible translation.

Then introduce me to someone else who has lots of cash. I’ll give you a generous commission.

“I have no business with someone like Miss Eve who has no money.”

Oops! My inner thoughts and dialogue got swapped…!

This is all because of the anxiety that I might not be able to roll a gacha today.

This is how dangerous gacha can be.

ED: Metaphor for ‘extreme’, or in this context, an extremist society ️