Kays Translations

Just another Isekai Lover~

Chapter 68: Merlin Never Loses

Merlin chuckled, his tone carrying a sly amusement. “You think the gold you’ve given me is enough? Hardly. I’ll allow you to stay in my villa, yes—but you’ll have to pay for both lodging and meals!”

Scarlett blinked at him, momentarily stunned, before snapping back, “Lodging? At ten gold coins per night? Do you think this place is the Imperial Palace?”

Merlin leaned back lazily, an arrogant smirk tugging at his lips. “This is my house. My roof, my rules. As for meals—let’s call it ten gold coins per serving. Add in a few miscellaneous expenses, and that makes it a flat fifty gold coins a day.” He ticked off the sums on his fingers with deliberate slowness, then gave a decisive nod as if pronouncing a sacred decree.

“Fifty… fifty gold coins?!” Scarlett felt her drowsiness vanish in an instant, her eyes wide in disbelief. She stared at Merlin as if he were some audacious highway robber. What kind of place demanded fifty gold coins a day just to stay alive?

“Even feeding a pig wouldn’t cost ten gold coins per meal!” she snapped.

Merlin only gave a dismissive snort. “Consider it cheap. A bargain, really.”

With a wave of his hand, he ordered, “Stacie, bring us some Spicy Lemon-Passionfruit Chicken Feet and a Beggar’s Chicken.”

The obedient Stacie bustled off, and Merlin, with deliberate leisure, picked up a pair of chopsticks he had crafted himself. He seized one gleaming, jewel-like piece of chicken foot, glistening with sauce, and unceremoniously shoved it into Scarlett’s mouth.

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“Mmmpf—!”

Scarlett’s eyes flashed with outrage. What on earth is this man feeding me? But after two reluctant chews, her anger faltered. The fiery tang of chili, the citrusy brightness of lemon, and the fragrant sweetness of passionfruit bloomed on her tongue all at once. Her lips parted against her will, and the stubborn scowl melted into an expression of bliss. The doll-like apple of her face softened with pleasure.

Merlin’s eyes narrowed with satisfaction. “Delicious?”

“Shoo gooood!” Scarlett mumbled around her mouthful, unable to pronounce properly.

“That single piece you just ate is worth one gold coin,” Merlin continued smoothly, “and dishes like this will be freely available during the three meals I provide. Do you still think ten gold coins a meal is too steep?”

Scarlett, her cheeks still flushed with flavor, instinctively reached for another piece. But Merlin was quicker—he whisked the plate out of her reach with practiced speed.

“Excellent. That’s another gold coin you owe me.”

Scarlett nearly cried. “This doesn’t count! You shoved it in my mouth! I didn’t agree!”

Merlin gave a low chuckle, unbothered by her protests. “Nothing in this world comes without a price. If you want to stay under my roof, if you want to taste such heavenly meals at my table, then you must pay the proper cost.”

Her gaze fell back to the tantalizing plate of chicken feet still in his hand. The glossy sauce glimmered in the lamplight, and she swallowed involuntarily. Her voice trembled as she asked, “Then… what’s the price?”

“Everything you’ve got.” Merlin’s grin was wicked. “If you want to eat, if you want to live here—you’ll have to work. Earn your keep. Repay your debt.” He pointed casually toward the distant outline of the factory.

Scarlett’s expression twisted. Her whole body screamed for sleep, yet the lingering taste of passionfruit and spice on her tongue made her crave more. Damn it… I’ve never cared so much about food before. Why now?

She clenched her tiny fists, resolve flashing in her eyes. “Fine! I’ll work! I’ll pay back the debt!”

Merlin’s grin widened, predatory and smug. He slid the plate of chicken feet back across the table toward her. “Good. This is yours, then. Stacie will arrange your job later.”

Scarlett wasted no words—she immediately dug in, devouring with the enthusiasm of someone who had just discovered the meaning of life.

Stacie, standing at the side, cast Merlin a worried glance. “Boss… are you sure about this? Scarlett is the Dean’s granddaughter…”

Merlin wiped his hands with the towel she handed him and replied with absolute confidence. “This is for her own good. A girl her age shouldn’t waste her life sleeping all day. She should shine, contribute to society. Consider this training. The Dean should be thanking me.” Then, as if remembering something trivial, he added, “Oh, and by the way—that plate of chicken feet was served outside of mealtime. Twenty pieces in total. Put her down for another twenty gold coins.”

Stacie’s lips twitched. She looked at Scarlett, who was blissfully gorging herself without a care, and her heart ached with sympathy.

“What kind of work should we arrange for her?” she asked softly.

“The heavier, the better. Wherever manpower is short, send her there. And since she’s the Dean’s granddaughter, her magic should be excellent. If all else fails, hand her over to Gallant—let her build bridges and pave roads.”

Merlin had no intention of letting a freeloader live in his villa. Scarlett would always be in debt to him, and that meant she would always be tied to him. After all, she was a demigod’s granddaughter—such a valuable connection would be foolish not to exploit.

Besides, judging from the vacant look in her eyes, she wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. Probably from oversleeping all her life. All the easier to manipulate.

At that moment, Jean came running up, panting heavily. “Boss Merlin! The red tea you wanted—it’s all been harvested!”

“Oh? Let me see.”

“Right here.”

Jean produced several space rings, channeled mana into them, and in an instant, baskets of freshly picked tea leaves materialized before Merlin.

Merlin picked up a sprig—one bud, two leaves, then one bud, three leaves. He pinched them delicately between thumb and forefinger, brought them to his nose, and inhaled deeply. A faint, verdant fragrance spread across his senses. He nodded in approval. “Not the very finest quality, but still upper-grade. I’m satisfied. If everything matches this standard, I’ll buy the whole lot.”

At these words, Jean’s eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Boss, what about the purchase price?”

In the market, fresh upper-grade tea fetched about eight silver coins per pound. But Merlin needed them roasted into dry tea, and it usually took five pounds of fresh leaves to produce one pound of dried. There was no way he’d pay the market rate. He thought for a moment before asking, “What’s the going price at the Arcane Capital’s tea mountains?”

“Five silver coins per pound,” Jean answered instantly. “And I’ve heard they plan to cut it further to four and a half this year.”

Merlin almost swore aloud. Cutting it that low? That’s robbery. At that price, you can only buy the lowest of the low.

He spoke calmly, though. “Very well. I’ll pay one gold coin per pound.”

Jean froze as if struck by lightning. That was a price reserved for the most exquisite tea, leagues above their quality. His mouth worked soundlessly before he stammered, “Boss… are you serious? That’s far too high! No, no, we can’t accept—”

“Quiet. I haven’t finished,” Merlin interrupted. “I’ll pay that price, but on one condition: you must deliver all the tea directly to the tea factory I’ll soon establish. You’ll also be responsible for roasting it into dry tea. Consider the extra silver the wages for roasting. Tea-making isn’t difficult—I’m sure plenty of students at the Beast Taming Academy know the craft.”

Jean’s face crumpled, overwhelmed with emotion. His eyes watered. “Heavens… Boss Merlin, you’re too generous. You not only pay a high price for our tea, you’re also giving us work! I… I don’t even know what to say.”

He broke down right there, tears spilling freely. For so long, he had wanted to help his struggling juniors, the students too poor to afford basic comforts. But he never had the means. Now, ever since Merlin’s arrival at the Academy, life had improved for everyone. Gold flowed into their pockets. Opportunity blossomed.