The items he had bought from the auction finally arrived.
They said it would take a week, but it took two weeks for some reason.
Regardless of that, Vanitas quickly opened the box.
———「Crimson Band」———
◆ Enchantment: Lesser Fire Resistance
◆ Effect: Mana Amplification when exposed to volcanic environments.
————————————
Vanitas picked up the ring and turned it over between his fingers.
“This will rise in value soon once ‘that’ happens.”
Its hidden properties would turn it into a highly sought-after relic.
He carefully set it aside and moved to the next item.
A small crystal shard.
———「Ethereal Fragment」———
◆ Description: A crystalline shard believed to be the fractured tip of an ancient dragon’s tooth.
◆ Effects:
◆ Resonant Echo: Enhances mana detection within 500 meters.
◆ Draconic Preservation: Slowly restores mana when held.
“Crazy….”
In the game, it was an item nobody thought much of. Its real value was only revealed when combined with Sovereign–tier relics.
He placed the fragment carefully back into its protective casing.
At the start of the game, Dragons were already extinct.
But their existence was undeniable.
Bones. Fossils. Scales turned to stone.
So on and so forth.
Archaeological finds had cemented their place in the world’s history textbooks.
“And the game’s final boss….”
The Black Dragon.
He had only known about it through the game’s forum community.
However, not once had Chae Eun–woo arrived at the ending where the Black Dragon appeared.
The true ending, where ultimately, the Dragon was slain by the player, ridding the world of Dark magic.
For Chae Eun-woo, his playthroughs always ended in bad endings, where named characters died one by one due to his choices.
Even after countless trials and errors, the result was always the same.
But this time, he was resolved to see it through the end.
In a different perspective, as Vanitas Astrea, and not as a player, hopefully, he would make the correct choices.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Vanitas continued scanning the next set of items.
———「Silverleaf Grimoire」———
◆ Tier: Advanced
◆ Effect: Accelerates mana recovery over extended use.
————————————
Vanitas adjusted the spectacles.
Labeled as low-grade, the grimoire was far more valuable than it appeared.
“Hopefully, this could treat my cancer for now.”
Lastly, his eyes fell on the tarnished coin.
———「Coin of Resonance」———
◆ Description: A key forged by ancient alchemists. Enables the wielder to unlock Essence Vaults, hidden chambers filled with rare spell formulas and mana-infused treasures.
◆ Current Status: Dormant.
————————————
Vanitas ran his thumb over its worn surface.
He wondered if he even had the precision to make use of it. Sure, he had the spectacle which was akin to an encyclopedia.
But that only stemmed to knowledge. Hands–on experience, however, was a different story.
The coin still remained dormant. And he knew it required alchemical engineering to activate its potential.
Vanitas’s gaze lingered on the artifact.
There was only one person who could truly utilize the coin as he needed.
“Roselyn Clandestine.”
She was a ‘named character’ etched deep into his memory, one of the few alchemists who could master the art of working with such relics.
In one of his countless playthroughs, Vanitas had managed to save Roselyn.
In that timeline, she had gone on to become the greatest alchemist of her era.
What made the game so memorable was its dynamic storylines, which was shaped entirely by the player’s choices.
Each decision changed the path ahead, giving the player’s the possibility of altering the allies they could save and the enemies they would face.
It was never the same twice.
“Hah.”
Vanitas leaned back, letting out a faint chuckle.
But now, this wasn’t a game.
This wasn’t a controlled playthrough with a reset button.
And he wasn’t the player anymore. He was Vanitas Astrea.
A Professor. A noble. A mage.
“A named character.”
None of those roles aligned with the decisions he made as a student in his playthroughs.
He pondered how best to navigate the unfolding events.
The choices he made from this point would determine the bosses he would inevitably face.
And, just like in the game, it was up to him to decide who would oppose him.
In any case, there were other items, but Vanitas put them aside for now.
Their purpose was merely to resell once the price inflated.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk as he tapped the coin lightly.
“I’ll deal with it when the right time comes.”
To wait for the right opportunity to dispose of Claude.
If Roselyn was to rise as the greatest alchemist, Claude had to fall.
And if Vanitas Astrea was to survive this unpredictable narrative, he needed to start making his moves now.
“It should be easier, considering my relationship with him.”
But then, a sudden thought arose.
“Karina’s been working late at night.”
Then that meant….
“Hah.”
A smirk tugged at his lips.
***
After a full day of lectures, Vanitas immediately returned home and dived right into training.
“102.”
His body was vertical, supported by a single hand as he performed push-ups. His other arm rested behind his back to maintain balance.
“103.”
Sweat dripped from his forehead.
“127…”
When his arm trembled from the effort, he switched hands and continued.
“155…. 156….”
After completing the set, Vanitas lowered himself to the ground and rolled his shoulders to ease the tension.
Without hesitation, he moved to the next part of his routine.
Calisthenics.
“Huup!”
He gripped a high bar installed in the corner of the room. With a swift motion, he pulled himself up.
One. Two. Three.
His muscles burned with each repetition, but he didn’t stop.
Pull-ups transitioned into dips, dips into muscle-ups.
Each exercise flowed seamlessly into the next.
By the time he completed the calisthenics, he felt his shirt cling to his skin due to the accumulated sweat.
“Haaa…. H-haaa….”
Vanitas grabbed a towel, wiping his face as he caught his breath.
But he wasn’t done.
He turned his attention to the weights neatly arranged on a rack.
Bench press first.
With a steady breath, he pushed the barbell off the rack.
The weight bore down immediately, but Vanitas held firm.
“1.”
The bar descended, and his elbows bent at a perfect angle before he pushed it back up.
“10…. 11….”
Each repetition burned as his chest and arms strained.
By the thirtieth rep, his muscles trembled, but he gritted his teeth and pushed through.
“34…. 35….”
Next were bicep curls.
He grabbed a set of dumbbells and adjusted his stance before curling them upward, one arm at a time.
“7… 8… 9…”
The repetition count echoed in his mind as he focused on his form.
Once the set was done, he set the dumbbells down carefully.
By the time he completed all of his workout routine, his legs felt like lead, and his body screamed for rest.
He leaned against the wall and grabbed a water bottle, taking a long sip.
A towel leaned on his top–less figure as he glanced at the time.
[10:30 P.M.]
“I’m hungry,” he muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. His stomach growled in agreement.
It had been four days since his last craving for a meal from his homeland.
“Tteokbokki sounds good,” he said to himself. “Or maybe some samgyeopsal again?”
But first, he needed a shower.
The lingering sweat from his workout clung to his skin, and the idea of stepping out in his current state was unthinkable.
Vanitas grabbed a towel and headed toward the bathroom.
As the cold water flowed down his body, his mind wandered to the humble Korean Restaurant he had stumbled upon a week ago.
After rinsing off, he dried himself with the towel.
Then, he changed into a simple black hoodie and matching pants.
Pulling the hood up, he glanced at himself in the mirror.
“Good enough.”
Now, the real challenge wasn’t picking an outfit.
It was leaving the estate without alerting anyone.
The maids, the servants, and especially his driver, Evan, were always on high alert.
They were like dogs ready to serve their master.
Even if he were to tell Evan to stay behind, as if it were instinctual, Evan would most probably follow him.
“I think so.”
Truth be told, Vanitas had a soft spot for humble meals.
They felt more comforting than the refined dishes prepared at the estate.
However, as the feared and stern Astrea Head, it would undermine the image he was slowly trying to cultivate.
Normally, Vanitas appreciated their dedication, but tonight was different.
He had perfected the art of sneaking out over the past few months during his ventures for Korean references in the world.
His position as a noble made his life overly scrutinized, and the last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself in the city streets.
Vanitas waited by his window as he peered out to confirm the coast was clear.
“Hoo…. Almost.”
He waited for a few minutes longer until the movement outside quieted.
When the moment felt right, he was on the move.
Freedom.
Vanitas stepped into the cool night air and pulled his hood tighter over his face.
“….Which way was it again?”
***
Despite receiving a cheque from the Professor a week ago, Karina still worked tirelessly.
The Professor had told her there was no deadline.
But Karina couldn’t stomach the idea of taking her time. She wanted to repay him as soon as possible.
The evening rush at the samgyeopsal restaurant was in full swing.
It was currently 11:10 P.M.
Around this time, workers from the nearby neighborhood would start flocking to the restaurant.
Karina moved from table to table, balancing trays of sizzling meat, bowls of rice, and side dishes.
“Karina!” one of the kitchen staff called out.
She turned as she wiped her hands on her apron.
“Table seven needs japchae, jajangmyeon, bibimbap, and tteokbokki,” they said, handing her a tray laden with the dishes.
Karina raised an eyebrow.
“All of this? For one table?”
The staff shrugged. “Yes. Must be starving.”
She let out a small huff, lifting the tray carefully.
“What a slob,” she muttered under her breath as she approached the table in the far corner.
The hooded figure sitting there was hunched over, fiddling with his chopsticks.
Karina set the tray down.
“Here’s your order—”
“Thank y—”
The hooded figure froze mid-sentence.
Recognition flashed across his face.
His head turned slightly, but he avoided her gaze.
Karina blinked, tilting her head.
“Wait…. hold on. You look familiar.”
“Cough!”
The man coughed awkwardly, shifting in his seat.
“What? What are you talking about?” he said, his voice dropping into a poorly disguised tone that immediately raised Karina’s suspicions.
Karina narrowed her eyes, leaning closer.
“No, seriously…. I know you from somewhere.”
The hooded man cleared his throat again and waved dismissively.
“You must be mistaken. I’m just…. nobody. Eat your food.”
“I work here, Mister.”
Karina squinted, then her eyes widened slightly.
“Wait a second….”
She leaned in further, ignoring the man’s visible discomfort.
“That voice. That tone. You’re—”
“Stop,” he hissed, raising a hand. “You’re imagining things.”
Karina frowned, then snapped her fingers.
“P–Professor Vanitas!?”