Book Eater

Chapter 12 - Dealings with a Black Market Trader (4)

The city of Bergen was famous for its beauty. As the sun set over the Nadun Mountain Ranges that rose into the western sky, the day started to wind to a close. The guards at the academy's main gate were also ready to end the day. Jason, who was waiting for the shift change with his colleagues, watched the glow of the sunset as always.

I don't like winter vacation... It's comfortable because there is no work, but it's boring without people around.

Only a few students stayed in the dormitory during summer vacation, and even they had gone home during winter vacation. If he included the professors who remained in their offices, there were only around ten people who came and went in one day. It might be bad if someone heard him say it out loud, but Jason's boredom was severe.

Thankfully, someone was approaching in the distance.

"Pant, pant. Not -pant- not late?!"

The panting and sweat on Jason's visitor's forehead showed that he had been running continuously. Jason nodded, and Theo sagged with a sigh of relief. The business with the black market trader had taken longer than he'd thought it would, so he'd almost broken curfew. If he hadn't sprinted back, he would've been late.

In the end, it was a good trip.

He had signed a contract with the black market trader and completed his first batch of appraisals. As a result, he now had a backpack overflowing with items. He was sweating heavily, but he was rather happy with his haul. After all, all that weight would soon transform into his magic power.

Jason checked Theo's permit and gave it back.

"Third grade, Theodore Miller... Yes, confirmed. You can go inside now."

"Pant. Yes, thank you."

Theo was still breathing hard as he crossed the threshold. He had a stitch in his side, but he somehow made his way across the grounds without falling over.

Jason watched him from the entrance and muttered to himself, "What the hell did he do?"

He couldn't even see Theo's hair from behind, since the backpack was so tall. Jason wondered idly, but soon forgot all about it when his shift replacement arrived.

Well, who cares?

In the end, it had nothing to do with him.

***

Theo skipped dinner and headed straight to his dorm. Normally, he would've gone to the library, but he had something more important today. It was finally time to increase his magic power! He had never been able to buy magic reagents, so he was looking forward to this chance.

When he was safely ensconced in his dorm room, Theo opened his bulging backpack.

Chwarararak!

The objects in the backpack tumbled across the floor. Gloves, a necklace, a broken cooker, a worn out staff... the floor was now covered with objects of various weights and lengths. Although some looked downright decrepit, they were all artifacts that contained magic power. If he found the right item, then it could be worth a few gold. Unfortunately, Theo only found one valuable item.

Still, five winners out of twenty is pretty good. Not every day will be like today.

Theo had appraised a total of twenty items for the black market trader. His speed was on par with an average appraiser. It would be dangerous to show the black market trader that he had the ability to appraise over twenty items. Although he did appraise curse items, Canis hadn't been suspicious. As a result, Theo had earned fifteen defective artifacts and one common artifact.