A Wild Man Has Entered the Academy

TLed by NolepGuy

Chapter 124

I can calculate the movement of celestial bodies, but I cannot calculate the madness of humans.

These were the words spoken by the genius Isaac Newton just before he lost most of his fortune in stocks.

The fact that someone who laid the foundation of physics said such a thing made me realize how terrifying stocks can be.

Of course, physics and economics are entirely different fields, so some differences are inevitable. But Newton’s words only made the topic more prominent.

Moreover, many people tend to think of stocks as gambling. In fact, this is somewhat true because no one knows how the world will turn out.

A thriving company might suddenly collapse, certain factions and major shareholders might conspire to commit fraud, or a terror attack might occur, and so on.

There are even cases where the economic foundations of countries like South Korea and Japan crumble, leading to extreme fluctuations.

For this reason, it’s essential to diligently analyze the state of affairs. In other words, you must consistently read the newspaper.

And so, during lunch, when we decided to visit the stock exchange together, everyone had gathered on time.

“Come to think of it, you’re from a ducal family, aren’t you? Doesn’t the Duke dabble in stocks?”

Antonio directed the question at Grace. It was a pure question, without any hidden intent.

Grace glanced at Antonio and then replied in a calm voice.

“Stocks are just a part of it. Profits depend on what minerals are found in the territory or what comes out of the land we’ve invested in.”

“So, the most important thing is land.”

Throughout history, real estate has always brought immense power and financial benefits.

The wider the territory and the more resources it holds, the greater the power it provides.

Grace’s family, Duke Berche’s Household, controls a significant granary region within the empire, granting them not only power but also immense wealth.

“By the way, Mr. Sivar.”

“?”

“Are you really planning to spend all that money?”

Grace, having calculated all the cheques, asked me. The reason for her question was the cheque in my hand.

The amount withdrawn from the bank was a staggering 1 million silver coins, equivalent to around 100 million won in Korean currency.

Carrying all of that in cash would have been a burden, so I opted for cheques instead.

The cheques were divided into denominations of 100,000 silver coins, and I planned to use them for diversified investment.

Oh, by the way, when I went to the dormitory to fetch my bankbook, Rize was not there.

“Just leave him be. He’s surprisingly stubborn and rarely changes his mind once it’s made up. He probably doesn’t even have much economic sense.”

In response to Grace’s concern, Kara answered on my behalf, her tone suggesting she had half given up.

When I mentioned withdrawing 1 million silver coins in cheques at the bank, Kara strongly opposed the idea.

She warned that I could lose everything if I wasn’t careful, urging me to think it over not once or twice but ten times.

Despite her objections, I boldly withdrew the cheques. Honestly, this was me being cautious.

‘If I had said I was going to invest everything, they would’ve stopped me.’

Kara refrained from breaking my stubbornness entirely, citing “experience” as her reason.

If I had withdrawn 3 million silver coins, she would have immediately called Rize and Rod.

In that case, I would have lost the opportunity to make money forever. This was my way of scheming in my own way.

“Besides, with his abilities, earning 1 million should be easy enough. He just needs to hunt a few strong monsters in the forest.”

“Well, that’s true.”

As Kara said, hunting in the Forest of Chaos a few times would make earning money relatively easy.

It’s just a hassle. Moreover, with the territory marking, bringing back byproducts becomes tricky.

“By the way, Ms. Luna.”

“Yes?”

“Are you really planning to buy the same thing as Mr. Sivar?”

Grace then turned her question to Luna.

Unlike me, who was counting cheques, Luna was counting each silver coin one by one.

She wasn’t as poor as Jane, but with the recent blockade of the Forest of Chaos, her finances were likely tight.

“Yes. I’ll invest in the same thing as Sivar.”

“Hmm. For what reason?”

“If you’re asking for a reason…”

Luna trailed off and looked at me. I could roughly guess what she was thinking.

But it wasn’t something she could openly say. Shrugging her shoulders, Luna replied nonchalantly.

“It’s just a feeling. Call it instinct?”

“Instinct… Are you trusting Mr. Sivar? It’s his first time too, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

Luna’s answer was as simple as could be. Grace glanced at me in response to her reply.

Even though she had designated me as her bodyguard, she seemed to think this was too much. Honestly, I would feel the same.

Since there was no way to explain it now, I kept my mouth shut. I just hoped no strange misunderstandings would arise.

“Don’t go blaming Sivar later if you lose all your money, okay?”

Kara, slightly mixing in a threat, warned Luna, who was placing sunflower-like trust in me.

It seemed she was worried Luna might try to extort money from me if her investment failed.

Though they were close, Kara was sensitive when it came to money, which explained her warning.

“You don’t have to worry about that. If you really don’t trust me, why don’t you invest in the same thing as Sivar?”

“… …”

However, Luna confidently smiled and responded in a bold voice.

Her rebuttal made Kara flinch. She then looked at me with a complicated expression.

Regardless of her trust in me, this situation was hard to believe. There was nothing solid to rely on.

‘Still, as long as the Tatars profit greatly, it shouldn’t matter.’

Honestly, I’d prefer if Kara picked something different from me. Otherwise, it could lead to political entanglements.

Buying merchant guild stocks just before magic stones are discovered? It could stir up a lot of controversy.

Even if I explained it as a coincidence, the Tatars wouldn’t trust me enough yet. I had confirmed this last time.

“…I’ll handle this myself. I’ll decide after observing today.”

Since this was directly tied to money, Kara exercised caution. At the same time, she started subtly watching me.

There was no reason for her to be so wary, but her attitude suggested she didn’t trust me. Meanwhile, I wasn’t thinking much of it.

“There it is. That’s the Academy Stock Exchange. It’s smaller than I expected, isn’t it?”

“Given its purpose, it makes sense that it’s right next to the bank.”

“So that’s the stock exchange.”

The stock exchange built in the Academy wasn’t very large.

Although it was a place where talents from all over the world gathered, it wasn’t as bustling as metropolitan areas.

Of course, compared to a regular exchange, it was small, but it was equipped with everything necessary.

Rustle– Rustle– Rustle–

And as soon as we entered, I realized my prediction was correct.

Without computerization, the stock exchange relied solely on people for calculations. Even during lunch, a considerable number of people were gathered.

It was bustling to the point of resembling a marketplace. Here and there, I could see students in school uniforms like us.

“From now on, everyone is on their own. I’m heading straight to buy.”

“I sincerely hope you fail.”

“Haha! Not a chance! It’s going up!”

Despite Grace’s “well-wishing,” Antonio remained unfazed, brimming with confidence.

Knowing the future of the stock he was investing in, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. I just hoped he wouldn’t come asking me for money later.

Anyway, I should start checking things too. I turned my head to look at the stock board.

‘So they write everything on a chalkboard.’

Several large chalkboards were used, and stock prices were updated periodically. No wonder the place was crowded.

Clutching the cheques in both hands, I stared intently at the chalkboard, looking for the stock items I wanted.

Normally, domestic and foreign investments would be categorized separately, but this was the United Academy.

Since stocks were divided by country, even finding what you were looking for was a task.

‘The trading volume here is surprisingly high, so it requires a lot of attention.’

During the Academy Collapse, when this stock exchange fell, the global economy took a massive hit.

Even the demons seemed to know this, as they targeted this building first. As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I turned my gaze away from the chalkboard.

To my recollection, a demon’s magic circle should also be installed here. But with the marketplace-like chaos, it was hard to locate.

‘It’s tricky to cause trouble here.’

If I caused any incidents, I might be permanently banned from entering. That concern made me decide to hold back.

Above all, there was still plenty of time. It wasn’t like this was a one-time visit; I’d be coming here often, so I could take my time.

“No way! How could it plummet like that all of a sudden? What in the world happened?”

“I’m sorry. As you may have seen in the news, there’s currently a terror attack in Santia······”

“Give me my money right now! Give me back my money! Aaargh!”

Hm. Looks like someone’s stocks just turned into worthless scraps of paper.

The person who was causing a scene demanding their principal back didn’t last long before being dragged away by security.

As if this was a common occurrence, people glanced over but soon went back to their own business.

“Every country has its own color. Ah, look, there’s ours too.”

Kara, who had been surveying the exchange for a while, pointed to a particular spot. Uniquely, it was a sand-colored chalkboard.

For reference, stocks related to the Matra Empire are on a white chalkboard, while those related to the Granada Empire are on a black chalkboard.

This kind of classification makes it easier to distinguish, with each country assigned its own unique color. It’s quite a decent design.

“Does Tatar have related stocks too?”

“Yeah. So these are all stocks, huh? Every single name here looks familiar.”

Kara examined the names listed under Tatar-related stocks, her expression filled with curiosity.

Although Hector had introduced various financial systems, it probably didn’t resonate much with Kara.

Before she could even grasp it, Hector had sent her off to the Academy. She’ll likely start studying it slowly now.

While Kara was looking over the related stocks, I didn’t hesitate to move my feet. Of course, I headed toward the Tatar section.

“Huh? Sivar. Wait a second!”

“?”

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to invest in our country?”

As soon as I started walking, Kara grabbed my wrist to stop me. I tilted my head, signaling if there was a problem.

Kara made a complex, subtle expression before speaking in a tone suggesting I reconsider.

“It’s probably not the best choice. Our Tatar is a newly established nation, and because of its past history, the returns might be high, but the stability is extremely low. Look, there’s hardly anyone buying stocks there right now, isn’t there?”

Kara pointed toward the Tatar section as she spoke. Indeed, while other sections were bustling with people, Tatar’s area was nearly empty.

This was understandable enough. As she mentioned, Tatar is a newly established nation with a very poor track record.

Even though Hector had somehow managed to lay the groundwork for the country, from an outsider’s perspective, it probably looked like it could collapse at any moment.

If Hector were to collapse, it would naturally lead to a civil war. If that happened, all related stocks would turn into worthless scraps of paper.

“I’ll buy.”

But since I know the future, it doesn’t matter to me at all. No matter what happens, Tatar won’t collapse.

Even if my affinity with Kara were to hit rock bottom, the nation would remain intact. Its trade routes rival the Silk Road itself.

“Why? What are you basing this purchase on?”

“Tatar is Kara’s country. Isn’t that right?”

“Huh? Uh, y-yeah, that’s right.”

“That’s why I’ll buy.”

Of course, I can’t say I know the future. How could I tell her that a magic stone mine will soon be discovered in her land?

At my simple answer, Kara’s green eyes wavered greatly. She seemed overwhelmed with mixed emotions.

Eventually, she let out a small laugh and gently cupped my cheeks with her hands.

“Oh, you. You always know how to do the cutest things. Fine. Even if you end up losing money later, this big sister will help you sort it out.”

Kara began kneading my cheeks as if they were dough. Her broad smile radiated unwavering trust.

Just as my face was being squished into a dough-like state, I noticed Grace standing behind Kara.

She was anxiously biting her thumbnail, her expression filled with frustration as an added bonus.

‘Is it because I didn’t invest in the Matra Empire?’

That possibility couldn’t be ruled out. In fact, the Matra Empire is renowned for its exceptional stability.

Capital naturally flows to stable nations. Even Santia, with its advanced science, suffers from significantly reduced stability due to terror attacks and lawlessness.

“Alright. Let’s go buy it then. Like I said, even if you lose money, I’ll cover it for you. Just this once, though.”

“Okay.”

“Sis, for what it’s worth, trusting Sivar isn’t a bad idea.”

“You, I’ll ignore even if you lose money.”

“Huh? Why?”

Let’s just let Luna’s unjustified complaints slide for today. I chuckled inwardly as I headed toward the empty Tatar stock exchange.

“Which stock item should I buy······”

“All of it.”

“Pardon?”

“Buy it all.”

I roughly distributed 100 million won across various investments. All of it in Tatar-related stocks.

The employee seemed stunned by my bold purchase, wearing a bewildered expression. They repeatedly asked if I was serious.

Each time, I nodded firmly to confirm. Eventually, the employee, still skeptical, issued the securities.

“Sivar, I just need to trust this, right?”

It seemed Luna had also received her securities. She showed me the paper securities, asking for reassurance.

Although she trusted me, she still looked uneasy.

“Yeah. Trust me.”

“Hehehe.”

Already excited at the thought of making a fortune, Luna beamed brightly.

She’ll have plenty of hardships ahead, but for now, she should enjoy this happiness. I silently consoled her as I examined the securities.

“You really bought it. Don’t come crying to me if you lose all your money.”

Kara spoke in a concerned tone, seemingly not expecting me to actually go through with the purchase.

Then, as if something had crossed her mind, she quietly murmured.

“Actually, crying wouldn’t be so bad······ I could comfort you while hugging you······”

“I won’t cry.”

There’s no reason to cry, so who would cry?

Kara looked flustered, as if she hadn’t expected me to hear her. Her embarrassed face seemed rather cute.

Meanwhile, I glanced over at the Granada Empire’s section. Antonio, who had been eyeing stocks I’d marked in advance, came into view.

“Him.”

“Huh? Who? Antonio?”

“Yeah. Comfort him.”

I suggested she comfort Antonio instead. Kara looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Regardless, Antonio was already grinning from ear to ear, likely imagining the profits he’d make.

Soon enough, that smile will be replaced with despair. Every stock he touches is bound to fail.

“Hey. Did you seriously buy Tatar stocks? What were you thinking?”

Shortly after, Antonio, still smiling, returned and learned about the situation.

His reaction was perfectly normal. Tatar is a newly established nation fraught with risks. Even if the returns are high, the stability is severely lacking.

“They said the returns are high. Kara told me.”

“······Listen, friend. Stocks aren’t gambling. You’re supposed to prioritize stability when investing.”

“I’m going to make a lot of money.”

“Ugh······ Fine. Do whatever you want. I’m done.”

Antonio, seemingly giving up on persuading me, shook his head in exasperation.

Most people reacted negatively, but Luna alone held unwavering trust.

“Hehe. Now all that’s left is to make money.”

“How much did you invest?”

“My entire month’s allowance.”

That month’s allowance.

[Breaking News: The Mithril Mine discovered by the Granada Empire has completely collapsed······]

It all turned into worthless scraps of paper.

[A massive underground mine discovered in the Tatar Desert! Reports indicate it contains large quantities of magic stones and rare minerals······]

And the price of my paper securities soared sky-high.

“Hey······ friend?”

“?”

“Could you lend me some money? You’ve made a lot, haven’t you?”

“No.”

Trying to freeload, huh? Despite Antonio’s pleas, I firmly rejected him every time.

I had anticipated this scenario, so I wasn’t particularly moved. Right now, all I care about is making money.

“Look at this, Unni. When you trust only in Sivar, even nonexistent rice cakes seem to appear out of nowhere, don’t they?”

“Exactly. Is that what they call the true Instinct of the Wilderness?”

“Or maybe it’s the Heart of the Wilderness. You bought it immediately just because you heard the returns would be high, didn’t you?”

Luna was the same. Thanks to me, she made enough profit to live comfortably for several months without any trouble.

Kara, on the other hand, was in a situation where a large mine was discovered in her country, significantly increasing her investment funds. It was a win-win for everyone.

“Did you hear? That guy made a fortune through investments!”

“Why on earth did he invest in the Tatars? He seems close to the Princess of Tatar, but could it be······”

“That’s not it. I heard it was discovered suddenly. He probably invested just because they’re close.”

“How close do you have to be to invest that much money? There’s definitely something going on.”

I decided to ignore the whispers reaching my ears.