Chapter 15: Black Market

"Ah, you stupid bastard."

Just like realizing a drunken mistake the next morning, I only realized on Saturday morning what I had done.

I resented myself so much. To have fallen for a honey trap.

What can I do? It’s already over.

If I look on the bright side, I’ve formed a connection with the professor. I just have to do well. It only means I have more studying to do.

"Haah..."

There are no regular classes on weekends. Most students either rest, do extra training, or go out with friends, but I had a lot to do.

The first place to stop by was the black market, and then the orphanage.

Right. Now that I think about it, I also promised to meet Iris on Sunday.

"I really have a lot to do."

It’s complicated. At times like this, I need to organize things.

-------------------

Goals.

Must become stronger. (For my own safety)

Must seduce the heroines. (To avoid dying)

---

In the end, there are two goals. Seducing the heroines is important, but so is my own firepower.

For now, let’s focus on heroine strategy this weekend.

I’ve been training all last week, and there’s still quite some time before any life-threatening events occur.

"I need to earn money too, what should I do."

Should I try selling information? But to whom? There’s a way to sell it to an information guild, but those meticulous guys wouldn’t trust my information since its source isn’t clear.

I could do it recklessly, but I don’t want to gamble.

"I’ll just work hard for a scholarship. First, I need to head out."

Anyway, I have to do my best if I don’t want to be expelled.

After roughly finishing my thoughts, I went into the bathroom to get ready to go out.

___

The commercial district around the academy.

In contrast to the bright side with its enormous infrastructure, the alleys between buildings are dark and gloomy.

"It should be around here..."

I compiled the bits of information shown in the game.

Recalling the locations of large buildings, the positions and angles of shadows described in the game, and even each utility pole that ever appeared, I found a place that looked roughly similar.

Creak—

"Found it."

The alley between Building No. 23 and Building No. 24.

Among the doors that don’t open, this is the only one that does. It’s disguised as a bar that only opens at night, but in reality, it’s where they sell black market entrance passes.

Even though it’s broad daylight, the bar felt like night inside. The dim space was lit by a single soft light.

Squeak squeak

Behind the bar, an elderly man with white hair was wiping a glass.

The old man glanced at me and let out a sigh.

"Huh, these days all sorts of brats come here. Hey, I don’t know where you heard about this place, but go back if you don’t want to see something bad."

Ignoring the old man, I sat at the bar and ordered a cocktail.

"Never mind, just give me any cocktail. Make the alcohol content as high as possible."

I placed the 1.5 million won in cash I’d prepared on the bar.

The old man saw the money, silently gave me a cocktail, took the money, and went into the kitchen.

Under the cocktail glass was a small coin.

"What a pointless method."

I took the coin and went back out to the street.

The atmosphere outside was completely different—bright and lively.

At the center of that lively atmosphere was Samro Department Store. I headed toward its emergency staircase.

On the side door leading underground was a sign that said "No entry except for authorized personnel." I ignored it, opened the door, and went downstairs.

Two bulky men were blocking the entrance to the underground arcade, but when I showed them the coin, they stepped aside.

In the musty underground arcade, shops stood with their doors open, waiting for customers to come in.

’Let’s see, where’s the pharmacy?’

The place I was looking for is "Pharmacy."

Of course, I’m not here to buy cold medicine.

"Found it."

A run-down pharmacy sign that looked ready to fall off at any moment. I recall mumbling that this is the only shop using the name "Pharmacy" in the black market.

Clang. Biri-ring biri-ring—

As I pushed the glass door open and entered, a pharmacist in a white coat greeted me.

"It’s been a while since a customer came. Welcome. What are you looking for?"

"... Uh, I’m here for an aphrodisiac..."

"Ah, you came to the wrong place. We handle sleeping pills and drugs, but we don’t deal in aphrodisiacs. Even if we get by with other stuff, if we’re caught with aphrodisiacs, that’s really the end."

"I know everything. I just came to see what you have in stock today."

"We like making money too. We’d love to sell aphrodisiacs, but they’re really tough to distribute and there’s hardly any margin... We’re a drug specialist shop here."

"I came on Park Hyun-seok’s recommendation. I just want to see what you have in stock today."

"Aish, then you should’ve said so from the start. Damn brat. Ptuh."

"..."

Sss. Sss.

The pharmacist spat on the floor, then pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, stuck it in his mouth, and lit it.

"Sss, hoo."

That’s quite a perplexing reaction. For reference, Park Hyun-seok is an extra who later gets caught using an aphrodisiac.

"My apologies. The association often sends disguised customers, so I was rude. Here, take one of these."

He took out some Cheongsimhwan from the pocket opposite the one holding the cigarettes and handed it to me. Maybe he wants me to take it and relax.

"It’s a trial version. About level 3 out of 10, so give it a try and come back."

I feel like I don’t even need to ask what that level refers to.

"...What’s the price?"

"That one’s 300,000 won per pill. The better ones are more expensive, but once you try it, you won’t think it’s a waste of money."

Since it’s a trial version, I may as well take it. Free stuff is always good.

"We have forms like powder that don’t raise suspicion, and others... but looking at your face, it doesn’t seem like you need non-consensual sex, so I gave you that one. Should I change it?"

"No. I’ll just take this."

"I thought you’d be some rude punk, but you’re surprisingly polite. Now I feel bad about swearing earlier."

"Huh?"

What the hell is he suddenly talking about? Does he have anger management issues?

"Here, take this too."

"Wait, even though it’s a trial version, you’re giving me a whole bottle?"

"That’s actually Cheongsimhwan. It helps you relax and calm your mind."

"..."

"Heh heh heh..."

He seems like a crazy old man.

Well, whether it’s Cheongsimhwan or the trial version, I don’t know when I might need them, but taking them won’t hurt.

"Come again. After they try the trial version once, customers always come back."

Leaving the eerie pharmacist behind, I made my way back up the stairs and out of the black market.

I looked down at the two small containers now resting in my coat pocket...one containing the aphrodisiac trial, and the other containing the Cheongsimhwan.

’...Something feels off.’

I had come here specifically to get an edge for my upcoming date with Iris on Sunday. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared so the aphrodisiac made sense, but the pharmacist practically forcing a bottle of calming herbal medicine into my hands was what genuinely bewildered me.

Did I look that desperate? Or was the crazy old man just playing some bizarre prank on me?

I sighed and shook my head. Whatever. I don’t want to come back here, but you never know. It might be good to stay on good terms with the pharmacist.

Free stuff is free stuff. It might just end up being an unexpected trump card.

I checked my phone. The morning was slipping away.

"Next up is the orphanage."

In the original game, I’m supposed to meet one of the game’s heroines there.

***

Author’s Note: Just a quick heads-up on the currency! Outside the academy, people use Korean Won, while inside Primrose Academy, transactions are done in Credits. They hold the exact same value (1 Credit = 1 Won)—it’s just academy terminology!