Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 71: We Leave at Once
Kaelos froze the moment Merlin’s words reached his ears. For an instant, he could hardly believe that he had heard correctly. His eyes widened, his handsome elven features contorting into a mask of utter shock as he blurted out, “Ten… ten thousand gold coins, for these cassava fields? Merlin, are you out of your mind?”
It wasn’t only Kaelos who thought Merlin had gone mad. Everyone gathered around him wore the same incredulous expressions. Ten thousand gold coins—such a staggering sum could buy a fine estate and grant its owner the title of a small lord.
Ten thousand gold. To these young elves and students, it was a number so vast that most of them would not even dare dream of it.
Merlin, however, merely gave Kaelos a weary glance, as though the elf’s outburst bored him. “Wasn’t it you who named that price?” he asked coolly. “And now you want to go back on your word?”
Kaelos sneered. He simply could not believe anyone could command such an amount. Even as a member of the royal bloodline of the elves, he himself had never been able to access such wealth. Fixing Merlin with a mocking look, he spat, “Pretending to be something you’re not, trying to bluff your way through? Ten thousand gold coins… do you honestly expect me to believe you have that much?”
Merlin lifted his hand, a faint, derisive smile curling at his lips. Between his fingers gleamed a magical crystal card. “Don’t measure me with your narrow vision,” he replied with a quiet, dangerous confidence. “A mere ten thousand gold coins is nothing.”
“I don’t believe it!” Kaelos shouted, his voice rising shrill with disbelief.
Then—
Ding! —Ten thousand gold coins. Transaction successful.—
The crisp chime echoed in the air.
Kaelos felt his blood run cold. His gaze dropped to the crystal card in his hand, and when he saw the numbers displayed there, his breath caught. The color drained from his face. His lips trembled as he stammered, “N-no… impossible. How—how could you have so much money? This is… this is ten thousand gold coins!”
A gnawing fear clawed at his chest. For the first time, he began to understand the kind of man he had provoked. If Merlin could casually produce such a fortune, how much greater wealth might lie hidden beneath the surface?
That kind of wealth… was more than enough to buy his life a hundred times over.
The card burned in Kaelos’s hand like a hot coal. Cold sweat trickled down his temple, running in uneasy rivulets. He was no more than a neglected scion of the illustrious Isabella royal house. True heirs of power would never be sent to study at the Arcane Academy; they would train under grand sages or priests, destined for greatness. He, however, was cast aside.
And now, before this human who had casually thrown ten thousand gold coins on the table, Kaelos suddenly felt as insignificant as an ant.
The other elves standing nearby were equally shaken. Where once their eyes brimmed with disdain and condescension, now they brimmed with fear and reluctant awe.
After all, they had just witnessed a man who could spend ten thousand gold coins as easily as one might flick away a speck of dust.
Merlin’s voice rang out, calm and implacable, “The ten thousand gold coins have already been paid. From this moment, every acre of these cassava fields belongs to me. That includes the land beneath my feet where I will build a tea factory… and yes, the road that leads to the tea mountain as well.”
At that, Stacie couldn’t contain herself. She stepped forward quickly and said with genuine concern, “Boss Merlin, you’ve spent ten thousand gold coins! That much for these fields… it isn’t right. It’s not worth it.”
“Not worth it?” Merlin’s eyes glinted. He gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. I never make a deal that isn’t profitable.” Then his gaze slid back to Kaelos, sharp as a blade.
“This land is mine now. You will leave immediately. Of course—” he let the pause stretch, his smile twisting—“if you’d like to work for me, I won’t refuse. I’ll even pay you fair wages.”
Kaelos remained silent, still reeling from the crushing weight of that ten thousand gold. His pride screamed at him to lash out, to fight, to insult. Yet, disturbingly, his heart whispered only one thing: Run.
And that terrified him even more.
What’s happening to me? he raged inwardly. Kaelos, you are an elf! A prince of the Isabella line! How can you so easily abandon your pride before this man, this enemy of yours?
But when he looked again at the crystal card in his hand, when he saw the golden number that glittered there, all his defiance wilted. Ten thousand gold coins… with that, he could purchase all the art, the wands, the alchemy tools, the jewels, the clothing he had ever desired. It was wealth beyond his imagination.
He couldn’t afford for Merlin to change his mind. He had to leave before this miracle was snatched away.
“We’re leaving. Now.” His voice was hoarse, strangled by fear and desire.
The elves hastened to obey, following their shaken prince away. Stacie stared in astonishment. She had never seen Kaelos so compliant, so… meek. Could this be the sheer power of gold at work?
Merlin watched their retreating figures, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. What a bunch of shallow fools. Arrogant elves are the easiest to manipulate. Do they really think my ten thousand gold is theirs to keep? The day will come when they’ll have to pay me back—double.
He turned to Stacie. “Start constructing the tea factory at once. As for the cassava fields, hire some students to tend them carefully. Every stalk here is precious.”
Already his mind was whirring with schemes. He had his red tea and milk projects underway. With cassava to feed livestock and magical beasts, he could create a brand-new product line—something irresistible that would drain the students’ purses dry.
That evening, Scarlett staggered into the villa. Exhaustion clung to her like a shroud. Her limbs were so heavy she could hardly lift them; she collapsed onto the carpet face-first, unmoving, like a dead dog left out in the rain.
Seeing her in such a state, Merlin’s heart gave a pang—but his mouth, as usual, chose sharper words. He hurried over and pushed her aside. “You idiot! You’re filthy—covered in mud and sweat. You’ll ruin my carpet. Do you have any idea this carpet cost two hundred gold coins?”
Scarlett, too tired to argue, slumped on the floor and tugged a small bag from her belt. She dropped it onto the table with a dull thud. “Merlin… this is today’s earnings. It’s all yours.”
Merlin frowned, reluctant even to touch the dirty bag. Still, curiosity won out. He weighed it, untied the cord, and peeked inside. What he saw made his eyes nearly pop out of his head.
What the hell? Inside lay seventeen gleaming gold coins, six silvers, and seven bronzes. He counted again, stunned.
This girl had made that much in a single day—working odd jobs on his turf?
Her earning speed was terrifying.
“Scarlett,” Merlin said slowly, almost reverently, “this isn’t nearly enough to cover your debt. But…” His expression softened, though his eyes glittered with sly calculation. “I am merciful by nature. You may owe me the rest. I’ll hold on to these coins for now, and tomorrow you’ll bring me whatever else you make.”
Scarlett’s expression froze. Her small face twisted in anguish. She glanced longingly at the food laid out on the dining table, then suddenly snatched up a handful, stuffed it into her arms, and bolted for the door.
“I’m not sleeping here anymore!” she cried, her voice trembling with anger and shame. “It doesn’t matter if I stay in your villa or outside—it’s just an extra bed to me! I’ll repay what I owe tomorrow, and when I do, don’t you dare think you can keep me here working for you!”
Bang!
The door slammed shut with a force that rattled the villa.
Merlin stood frozen, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he watched her storm away. What’s gotten into her? She’s sharper when she’s not exhausted, harder to fool. This won’t do. I can’t let her slip away. Scarlett is the key to my little masquerade with the demigod’s tiger skin. She must stay.
Slowly, an ominous grin spread across his face, eyes gleaming with mischief. So, little girl, you think there’s no difference between sleeping here and outside? Very well. I’ll make sure you feel the difference so deeply you’ll never want to leave my villa again. Kekekekekeke…
Just then, his sinister laughter was cut short.
Thump!
A clumsy owl careened through the night sky, crashed into the villa’s glass window, and tumbled down in a dazed heap.
Merlin rushed over, startled. To his relief, it wasn’t some drunk food delivery owl but the official messenger bird of the Academy.
“An academy notice?” he muttered, carefully removing the letter tied to its leg. He tore open the envelope. Inside was an announcement: information about the Arcane Academy’s year-end examinations for first-year students.