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Chapter 16: Bousse the Fatty

Considering his current rate of growth, Sein’s constitution would likely exceed 12 points by the time he reached the age of twenty-five and entered his physical prime.

While that numerical value for constitution was nothing compared to the minotaurs or other powerful underground demihumans, it was definitely adequate for a black mage.

After all, not all black mages put efforts into increasing their physical strength and constitution like Jack did. Even a senior initiate like Leena could not withstand Sein’s physical strength, let alone other initiates.

***

As the annual assessment day approached, the usually quiet Black Magic Academy slowly came alive with activity.

Initiates who had ventured out on various quests started returning to the academy, one by another. Those who had been holed up in their dormitory rooms or the library began to emerge as well.

Apart from his live-in girlfriend, Leena, Sein had also made a few friends over the years in the academy.

In the Black Magic Academy where strength reigned supreme, surviving alone without friends or allies was a huge challenge. Even the fresh initiates, who had just joined the academy, quickly learned the importance of forming bonds and finding support.

While Sein had many acquaintances, he had only two friends who truly understood him and shared a close bond with him.

After walking past a few buildings on the academy grounds, Sein saw an initiate with a pot belly coming toward him.

“Hey, Fatty, it’s been a while,” he greeted.

Bousse the Fatty was part of the group of youths who had joined the Black Magic Academy alongside Sein a decade ago.

Their friendship had blossomed through shared trials. They fought together, protected one another, and hunted for food as a team.

Many initiates from their batch had perished for various reasons, making Bousse and Sein the pair of friends who had known each other the longest.

The deceased junior initiate, EIrik, held a grudge against Bousse too, as Bousse was one of those who had stolen food from his younger brother.

Sein’s greetings left Bousse momentarily stunned, but his chubby cheeks soon quivered with delight as he broke into a warm smile and approached Sein with open arms.

He was unable to recognize Sein right away because Sein was wearing a white mask.

“Haha, Sein! I’ve heard about the remarkable feats you’ve accomplished over the past two months! Word has it that you’re an apprentice of a full-fledged black mage now?”

“Don’t tell me that’s the Pale Mask you got from Elrik! Isn’t that a basic magic item? Quick, let me have a look!”

Bousse was also a junior initiate. Unlike Sein, Bousse had little interest in meditation or magic research. Instead, he had a penchant for business and a fascination with autrum.

Black Street, nestled within the Black Magic Academy, served as a center of commerce. However, Mystralora City also had several commercial districts of its own, dealing in goods procured from the wilder reaches of the Underworld. These districts were frequented by both underground demihumans and other dark creatures.

Currently, Bousse was working in one of those districts. Although he had not been formally apprenticed to a black mage, rumors suggested that the shop he managed was backed up by a black mage.

Sein was also one of Bousse’s patrons. Before embarking on his expedition to the territory of the Giant Saltwater Crocodile, he had acquired iron phosphate powder and other spellcasting ingredients he needed at a discounted rate from Bousse as a gesture of goodwill.

Bousse extended his greasy hand, but instead of reaching for Sein’s mask, it landed on Sein’s shoulder. Sein could not help but roll his eyes as he took in the sight of Bousse’s round pot belly.

Bousse was only a year older than Sein. Sein could not fathom how Bousse had managed to gain so much weight in the perilous environment of Gloomhaven.

He recalled that Bousse used to be leaner when they first arrived in the Underworld.

Bousse’s return to the Black Magic Academy was not driven by the desire to compete for the academy awards because his strength ranked below that of most junior initiates. It was the smell of business opportunities that brought him back at this time.

Starting three years ago, Bousse had been peddling his goods to junior initiates during the annual assessments. From spellcasting ingredients to incomplete spell models, Bousse offered an array of items for sale.

Of course, most of his merchandise consisted of basic trinkets, typically priced at just a few pieces of autrum. They were affordable for junior initiates who were known to be poor, but regarded as shoddy wares among intermediate and senior initiates.

Occasionally, Bousse did have superior goods in his possession. Yet, he refrained from openly selling them out of fear that he might be mugged by intermediate or senior initiates.

Before Bousse could ask, Sein removed his mask and passed it to Bousse.

“Here, take a good look at it. How much do you think this mask is worth?”

Bousse’s pudgy fingers expertly handled the Pale Mask. He had a knack for appraising valuable items, honed through his dealings in basic and intermediate magic items at his shop in Mystralora City.

Upon hearing Sein’s question, Bousse carefully examined the mask for a moment before replying, “Normally, it could fetch around 120 autrum. However, if you’re willing to part with it, my friend, I’d be happy to offer you 150 autrum to make it mine.”

Bousse’s appraisal served as a stark reminder to Sein of the exorbitant prices of magic items and the lucrative nature of the alchemist profession.

Yet, Sein did not entirely trust Bousse’s appraisal. Given Bousse’s shrewd nature and his reluctance to let an opportunity for profit slip through his fingers, the offer of 150 autrum for the mask revealed his confidence in reselling it at a much higher price.

In Mystralora City, where magic items were exceedingly rare, there was no such thing as fixed market price. Ultimately, the resale price would depend on the buyer’s financial means and Bousse’s persuasive skills.

Bousse was still examining the Pale Mask. Seeing that Bousse showed no intention of returning it, Sein casually remarked, “I did acquire this mask from Elrik, but it appears to be a treasure bestowed upon him by a full-fledged black mage.”

Sein’s revelation visibly shocked Bousse, causing him to promptly toss the Pale Mask back to Sein.

Bousse’s timid reaction caused Sein to chuckle. Had this been more than two months ago, Sein might have reacted similarly to Bousse. He would have feared incurring the wrath of a full-fledged black mage.

As the months passed without any word from Master Katherson, the black mage who oversaw the plantation, Sein’s initial fear began to wane.

Furthermore, Sein had developed a bond with Master Morsidor and Faye over time. He knew that if any trouble were to befall him, his mentor would not stand idly by.

If a full-fledged black mage were to target Sein, that would also mean going against Master Morsidor.

While Sein remained uncertain about the extent of Master Morsidor’s power, the reactions of Master Dedaelon and Master Fareena during the time in the dungeon suggested that Master Morsidor likely held a prominent position among their ranks.