A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 123

The contract, which was closer to a slave contract, was something Kara decided to revise later.

Fortunately, the fact that I had invested in Jane was not discovered, though from her perspective, it seemed like a prank.

Well, if it were me, I wouldn’t have believed someone willingly signed a slave contract either. I wonder what Jane would think if she knew.

“Did the investment go well?”

“Yeah. Here’s the contract.”

“…Did you buy a slave or something?”

Even Rize mistook the contract for a slave contract after seeing it.

Moreover, she went a step further, assuming I’d been scammed, and started giving me all sorts of advice.

Slavery has long been abolished in this world, making it strictly illegal. This means the contract holds no legal validity.

From Rize’s perspective, she probably thought I was not only scammed but also pushed to the brink of expulsion by a con artist. I only countered a little here.

“They’re giving me a mechanical arm. I just have to wait.”

“Brother Sivar, people who’ve been scammed often think like that. You should give up on the mechanical arm.”

“It’s real, though.”

“It’s okay. These things happen. It’s all part of learning about the world.”

Rize patted my shoulder with a sympathetic look. She really seemed to believe I’d been scammed.

Introducing Jane to Rize sometime soon might not be a bad idea. Eccentrics might find some common ground with each other.

Anyway, after desperate persuasion, I managed to take charge of managing the bankbook. In return, she asked me to inform her in advance about where I’d spend the money.

I agreed since that much was fine. I’d already decided where to invest the money next, anyway.

‘How can I naturally get involved in stocks?’

Stocks, a means of investment that, with luck, can bring tremendous wealth, whether on Earth or in this world.

On Earth, the stock market structure was too complex, but in this world, given the era, it’s relatively simple.

However, the inherent complexity remains. Even the famous Isaac Newton suffered heavy losses and lost his entire fortune.

‘Stocks appeared fairly early in this world.’

This is a world where not only maritime trade but even land trade can’t be considered safe.

Monsters, demons, thieves, and so on—just managing the risks of trade alone is overwhelming.

Not to mention the existence of rare minerals like magic stones and the need for coal due to steam locomotives.

Above all, ores like silver, gold, and diamonds—discovering valuable minerals can yield massive profits.

‘There’s no rush for now.’

For now, I’m not short on money to invest in Jane. If things get tight, I can always hunt in the Forest of Chaos.

Besides, if I mention investing in stocks, Kara and others will likely try to stop me.

I just hope someone keeps urging me. I can always pretend to be swayed and buy them.

“Hey, friend. I heard you made a lot of money from the Usk Auction?”

“?”

“Have you thought about growing that money even more?”

After the weekend, on a weekday morning.

When I arrived at the lecture room, I was puzzled by a suggestion from a student sitting in the back row.

The student who made the suggestion was none other than Antonio. Perhaps because of his impression, he looked like he was scheming something.

“What’s your deal? Are you trying to scam Sivar or something?”

Predictably, Kara, who was sitting next to me, showed her wariness.

She still had no idea I’d invested in Jane, thinking the contract was just a joke.

“Ms. Kara is right. Surely you’re not planning to use Mr. Sivar for your own gain, are you?”

Following Kara, Grace attacked with a slightly sharp tone.

But Antonio, unfazed by their suspicion, shrugged his shoulders with a relaxed demeanor.

“Hey, I might be a bit sneaky, but I don’t scam people. Besides, why would I scam Sivar, who’s about to become a citizen of the Granada Empire?”

“Ha. How shameless. When did Mr. Sivar say he was going to the Granada Empire? Obviously, he’s headed for the Matra Empire…”

“Enough, let’s just hear him out. If he says anything weird, he’s dead.”

Before the conversation could veer off course, Kara intervened. Her voice carried a hint of discomfort, though it might’ve been my imagination.

Antonio shrugged again and finally uttered the word I’d been waiting for in my mind.

“Do you know about stocks?”

“Stocks? Isn’t that the same as investing?”

When Antonio mentioned stocks, Kara looked puzzled.

Even on Earth, many people get confused about this, so it’s no surprise in this world.

Especially since the Tatars have introduced banking and finance but are still inexperienced. It’s natural to be confused.

“They’re similar but different. Investment involves paying money for a specific goal, while stocks are about buying shares. To put it simply…”

Antonio began explaining stocks in detail.

While I already knew the concept, Kara and Grace didn’t. Both of them wore expressions that said, “Let’s just listen for now.”

By the time Antonio finished his explanation, Kara spoke with a curious expression.

“I thought investing and stocks were the same, but they’re not. So, what are you recommending to Sivar?”

“This is the most important part. First, we need to check if Sivar can even buy stocks.”

“Huh?”

After explaining so well up to this point, what was that supposed to mean? It didn’t make much sense.

In the Soul World, specifically for the protagonist, stocks are possible. Growing wealth through stocks is one of the basics.

Additionally, as one’s reputation increases, the shares they can purchase also increase. It’s a system fitting for the era.

“What do you mean by that? Is it because Sivar’s social status is unclear?”

“Exactly.”

On Earth, anyone could buy stocks, but in the distant past, only wealthy merchants could.

Some of these merchants were so powerful they could even shake nations.

It’s the same in this world. While the types have diversified, it’s still very difficult for commoners to engage in stocks.

“At least Academy students have a clear social status, so it’s fine, but with Sivar, we can’t be sure.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. If it comes to it, I can bring the Saint or the Headmaster. They helped increase the limit before, didn’t they?”

“Oh… Then that should be fine. We just need to confirm it at the Stock Exchange.”

Wait a minute. You might wonder what a Stock Exchange is, given the era.

Even on Earth, Stock Exchanges have existed for a long time. It’s just that commoners didn’t have the money back then.

However, in this world, commoners can earn a lot of money. In a world where strength equals power and wealth, you just need to grow stronger.

Moreover, thanks to Santia, the world is gradually moving toward industrialization. With steam locomotives circulating globally, that says it all.

‘Well, most people are probably still farming, though.’

Explaining in detail would be complicated, so let’s move on. Trying to apply too much realism to a fantasy world is just a headache.

Anyway, Stock Exchanges are likely established in most major cities, including the Academy.

“Anyway, what I’m recommending is a stock that’s guaranteed to rise. If you buy it, you’ll definitely make several times the profit.”

“What’s your basis for that? And before that, isn’t it illegal?”

Grace asked with a voice full of suspicion, seemingly worried about potential legal issues.

But Antonio shrugged and answered confidently.

“Don’t worry. I’m only making a suggestion; the choice is Sivar’s. If I were going to scam someone, I’d do it directly, not like this.”

“Most con artists say things like that. Anyway, what are you recommending?”

“This is something I heard from my brother…”

Antonio’s brother was none other than Chronos, one of Granada’s generals. A man who rose to immense power despite being born a commoner.

If someone like that said something, it was hard not to be intrigued. Whether you liked it or not, he was likely connected to the higher-ups, directly or indirectly.

“Recently, the Granada Empire has been making moves to expand its territory. Oh, and just to clarify, it’s not through war but to seek resources. It’s a bit bitter to say, but our empire is somewhat lacking in natural resources.”

“I’ve heard the surrounding environment is quite harsh as well.”

The Granada Empire, unlike the Matra Empire, is relatively poor in resources. Moreover, its surrounding environment isn’t very favorable.

While it’s livable, the problem is that the monsters are too strong. As a result, the people tend to be more combative by nature.

The ideology of worshiping strength also stems from the fact that survival is difficult without it.

“But according to my brother, there’s a chance a mithril mine might be discovered. It hasn’t been investigated yet, but since my brother said it, the possibility isn’t zero.”

“Mithril? Is that really true?”

“Now that’s intriguing.”

Mithril, along with magic stones, is famous as a rare mineral. The difference is that mithril is considered an alloy, while magic stones are more about magic fusion.

Using mithril doesn’t necessarily improve performance. It simply reduces weight while maintaining the same performance, enhancing efficiency.

Still, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s an excellent mineral. Just finding a mine or the possibility of one would cause stock prices to skyrocket.

“It’s just a possibility, but since my brother said it, it’s pretty credible. What do you think? Interested now?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

I will not invest in that. As Antonio said, if it’s announced, the stock might rise temporarily.

But within a few days, it will crash severely. When they try to dig the mine, a powerful Earth Dragon will emerge and bury everything.

The entire merchant guild will be completely destroyed, and the stock will plummet straight to the Earth’s core. I can’t risk my money on that.

‘It’s better not to listen to Antonio’s words.’

Even in the Soul World, Antonio is somewhat… pitiful. Especially when it comes to stocks.

He tries to make rational investments based on his analysis of the state of affairs, but they always fail miserably.

There’s even a so-called “cosmic misfortune” at play, and I’ve heard Chronos personally scolds him for it.

“Something else.”

“Something else? I don’t know anything else, though.”

“Sivar can handle it directly. Just tell me how to do it. It wouldn’t hurt to have this kind of experience.”

Kara, seemingly intrigued, asked Antonio to teach her.

She must have decided that it’s better to invest directly herself than to fall victim to fraud.

“Do you even know how difficult stocks are? You need to understand the state of affairs and the vision of the merchant guild or trading company. If you invest recklessly, you could end up in ruin and bankruptcy.”

“That’s for us to judge. Who knows? The stock Sivar buys might skyrocket.”

My chest tightened for no reason. For the record, the stock I plan to buy is related to Kara—or more precisely, the Tatars.

While crossing the Tatar Desert, the merchant guild accidentally discovers a magic stone mine. And it’s a massive underground mine.

This is where Hector’s business acumen will shine. He has an uncanny ability to sniff out money and takes immediate action.

‘I just need to invest in the merchant guild crossing the Tatars.’

As a bonus, I might even gain Kara’s affinity. If the guild’s scale grows, trade will naturally increase.

All I have to do is sit back and rake in the money. Then, I can invest that money in Jane.

“Let’s go after lunch. The stock exchange is right next to the bank, isn’t it?”

“I should visit too. I’m not interested in stocks, but I’m curious to see what’s there.”

“Alright. Come by after lunch. I’ll kindly explain everything to you.”

Antonio, looking triumphant as if he had gathered a group of retail investors, seemed unaware of the impending crash. I offer my condolences for the downward spiral ahead.

While we were chatting about stocks for quite some time, a familiar face appeared in the lecture room.

“Ugh…”

It was Luna, staggering in after enduring Rize’s grueling training. She walked like a turtle, her limbs aching.

By now, it was such a regular occurrence that no one was particularly worried. They just assumed something had happened.

“You’ve turned into an Undead again today. What happened yesterday?”

“Exercise…”

She kept her training with Rize a secret, so she could only vaguely refer to it as exercise.

Even so, that alone should be enough to convince them. Though I was slightly worried that the mouth of disaster might spill out something unexpected.

“Hey, Luna. Do you want to try stocks too?”

“Huh? What?”

“Stocks. We decided to give it a try during lunch. If you’re bored, you can join us.”

“…What are stocks?”

Luna asked with a puzzled expression. Coming from the countryside, she likely didn’t know much about stocks or investments.

Kara kindly explained it to her. The more Kara explained, the more curiosity lit up on Luna’s face.

“So… it’s about buying shares in a merchant guild or trading company based on their future potential, right?”

“Exactly. It also helps with understanding the state of affairs.”

“I’m not really interested…”

Luna was about to say she wasn’t interested but stopped when her eyes met mine. Her expression subtly shifted in an intriguing way.

Then, she turned back to Kara and cautiously asked,

“…Is Sivar going too?”

“Yes. Sivar should experience this kind of thing too.”

“Then I’ll go as well.”

Luna, Luna… Did you decide so quickly because you think I know the future?

It’s infuriating, but there’s nothing I can say. Besides, I can’t exactly reveal that a crash is coming.

“Luna, you’re not planning to just pick the same stocks as Sivar, are you?”

“I am, though.”

“… …”

When will that big mouth of hers ever be fixed?