Chapter 53

– Ugh, what trash.

– How can you even sleep at this price?

– 100 mana pills for one hot stone, LOL!

– The items in the Head of the Gallery Marketplace aren’t even that good; who do you think you are?

They raised the price of hot stones at the Colorful Magic Tower.

In response, the Gallery erupted with fervent cheers.

It’s easy to say 100 mana pills, but considering it’s actually around 100,000 won, it’s ridiculous how much prices have skyrocketed.

“Honestly, it’d be better to just boil it.”

At this rate, a single bath would cost around 100,000 won, making it a hobby only the rich could enjoy.

Just then, the Head of the Gallery quickly posted a message to put out the fiery discussions.

[Title: Unfairness]

Author: ZL Storm Magician

(An empty warehouse meme)

First off, let me clarify: we didn’t just raise the prices while having stock left over.

Hot stones aren’t even a product to begin with.

They’re byproducts left over from magic experiments, and no matter how much we claim it’s an intricate field with many materials, we’re just one tower here.

How can we possibly meet the demand when all the main races are buying from us?

– Sigh…

– It’s true, but…

– Still, you have to somehow make it happen!

– Give me hot stones, and make it cheap!

ZL Storm Magician: Tsk…

The supply was woefully insufficient compared to the demand.

Hot stones were originally mana stones.

Literally stones that contain mana.

When used in magic experiments, the residual heat trapped inside after usage becomes those hot stones.

– You’re a bad person, ZL.

– No price gouging allowed!

But on the flip side, we can’t just maintain the prices like this.

Magic towers are naturally money pits.

But is that inherently bad? Not really.

The more money spent at the Magic Tower, the more the surrounding businesses thrive.

From Kellierhton’s perspective, there’s a high demand from the Colorful Magic Tower, which needs income right away, so there was no reason to lower prices.

“Not that I can rely on other towers.”

Not all magic consumes a lot of mana stones.

It was only the Colorful Magic Tower that ventured into magic engineering, causing exceptional usage.

At that point, curiosity struck me.

“What exactly are they researching that requires so many mana stones?”

What is this magic engineering anyway, you nerd?

But who am I? The Gallery Administrator.

Without further ado, I asked ZL Storm Magician directly.

Head of the Gallery*: So what do you make?

Normally, research material from magic towers isn’t easily shown.

I thought I might not get a reply, but as soon as I finished thinking, the response came back.

ZL Storm Magician: This! Haha

(A meme of a carriage that moves automatically when infused with a mana stone)

(A meme of a golem that rises when infused with a mana stone)

Isn’t it cute? Ugh, no downvotes please!

“Muscle?

How did you create this?

Steampunk immediately came to mind.

A discipline where science and magic merge harmoniously without excluding each other.

“A genius?”

In the medieval era, especially in places where magic was prioritized, there shouldn’t be room for science.

Unless someone was making absurd claims like pouring milk on wounds not to taint the soul.

Head of the Gallery*: Wow, you’re a genius? This is amazing!

ZL Storm Magician: Haha, not at all. Compared to your magical insights, I’m just a naive little brat.

“Seems like there’s a good reason why mana stones are so precious.”

But then again, why do they keep mistaking me for a great magician?

If I leave it be, the misunderstanding will only deepen.

So, I spoke the truth.

Head of the Gallery*: No misunderstanding, I can’t use magic.

Seriously, I don’t even know the first letter of magic.

ZL Storm Magician: Oh, you’re just being humble again.

After all, the Colorful Magic Tower is a derivative work, right?

“Oh, could it be?”

The moment I heard ZL’s words, my eyes narrowed.

Could it be that all this magic engineering and Colorful Magic Tower stuff is all…

Head of the Gallery*: You mean it’s all derivative works…?

ZL Storm Magician: Everything is just poorly emulating your magic, Head of the Gallery! Haha

Head of the Gallery*: Ah.

I remember, feeling bored, I sprinkled countless modern items across the marketplace to boost the gallery.

The Colorful Magic Tower became a group enchanted by modern goods, mistaking them for magic and conducting research.

The problem is that modern items contain nothing magical whatsoever.

But believing it to be magic and researching it…

Head of the Gallery*: So, you mean magic engineering is, like…

ZL Storm Magician: Exactly. It’s bold of me to refer to your magic as a school of its own.

The Colorful Magic Tower is a place where magicians gather to study and research science.

With the goal of inaccurately believing it to be my magic.

But what can I do? I’m a civil servant at heart?

“This is dizzying.”

In an instant, I was recognized as the essence of the tower and its master, so I closed my eyes for a moment from the gallery.

“So that’s why they produce so many hot stones.”

Researching modern science as magic requires double the materials compared to other magics.

After all, it’s not even magic.

But despite the efforts of the Colorful Magic Tower, the gallery was still struggling with hot stones.

Even if mana stones were overflowing, the usage limits posed a problem.

“Then…”

At that moment, a thought suddenly struck me.

Short on hot stones? Then wouldn’t it be enough to continuously consume monster stones?

[New items have been added to Head of the Gallery Marketplace!]

[New Item ‘Refrigerator’ Registered.]

It was time to unleash the appliances.

*

Humans cannot live without refrigerators.

More accurately, once someone has tasted a refrigerator, they can no longer live without it.

In other words, there is indeed a definitive consumer for mana stones.

– Ah, I want to eat meat.

Don’t shout that too loud, you fool!

– I have to wait until it hits the market.

– They don’t really sell meat at the market.

– What meat? Eat tuna instead.

And conveniently, in this other world, issues of food preservation and expiration dates were incredibly important.

Food scarcity was the biggest problem in an apocalypse.

There’s a reason they hunt monsters for food.

Thus, the Galluns relied on the marketplace.

– Ah, shit, another tuna can sold out;

– I was definitely on the waiting list, this is really dizzying;

– Tips for getting tuna cans:

1. Go into the back alley.

2. Tuna can! ← Shouting this will summon a black market dealer who sells for 50 mana pills each.

– Is this for real?

– At the very least, it’s ridiculously overpriced, LOL!

Especially, the demand for tuna cans was so high that black market traders emerged because of it.

So there they were again today, the Galluns nervously waiting at the marketplace as usual.

[Refrigerator arrived!]

[2-Door Refrigerator] – 500 mana pills

An unfamiliar item had appeared in this other world.

A refrigerator, commonly divided into refrigeration and freezing compartments.

However, the Galluns, who were somewhat obsessed with food preservation, had a surprisingly muted reaction.

– What is this?

– 500 mana pills? Hey, are you kidding me, Head?

– This is ridiculously expensive.

– Refrigerator ← What the heck is this?

– Is this, uh, a friend of yours?

– 500 mana pills isn’t my friend at least, LOL!

Up until now, the marketplace had been filled with items that weren’t too pricey.

But suddenly introducing one that costs 500 mana pills felt awkward rather than welcomed.

Of course, I had never dealt with expensive appliances like this and didn’t even plan to try.

“Where am I supposed to pull electricity from?”

I wouldn’t just pray to the sky for lightning on a rainy day; it’s just a pretty can.

But it wasn’t over yet.

[Notice: It’s me]

Author: Head of the Gallery*

(A formidable refrigerator meme)

(Oh wow, I need to buy this! Beastkin con)

To everyone struggling with food preservation,

Why aren’t you buying the refrigerator?

This is an absolute necessity!

It will wipe away everyone’s worries!

[Recommended 9999+] [Not Recommended 132]

– Is this some kind of announcement? LOL!

– I thought it was another troll post since it sounded too bizarre, but it was Head of the Gallery, LOL!

– Fact) I’m used to it now.

– Fact) That’s a fact.

– To be honest, I think the refrigerator price is way too high…

– Gallun Gallun, what are you talking about?

– As expected, gallun insights.

Despite posting a heartfelt announcement, the number of purchases didn’t easily increase.

That said, there was no need to worry or care about sales.

“After all, it will sell.”

I even had a sort of confidence in that.

There was no reason why this refrigerator wouldn’t sell.

Moreover, for every high price and limited quantity, there are bound to be buyers willing to take the plunge.

For instance…

[Administrator Chat Room]

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: Head

Head of the Gallery*: ㅇㅇ

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: (A refrigerator stuck in the corner of a grand residence’s office meme)

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: How do you use this?

One of the suspiciously wealthy deputy gallery members was among them.

*

A total of 100 refrigerators were registered in the marketplace.

Only 10 of them had barely sold.

Erzebet was also one of those ten.

“It looks strange.”

Thud.

The first impression of the refrigerator was odd.

It just looked like a giant drawer, yet the exterior was unnecessarily beautiful like a piece of art.

Even Erzebet, who had seen far too much art, couldn’t help but admire its elegant curves.

It also weighed surprisingly light, making it easy for someone to lift if they so wished.

What was its purpose, really?

“Seriously weird.”

While standing in front of the refrigerator and engaging in a staring contest, the awaited reply from Head of the Gallery came back.

Head of the Gallery*: Try putting mana stones inside the freezer compartment.

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: Like this?

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: (meme of putting mana stones on top)

Erzebet followed Head’s advice without hesitation.

Just as she was about to send the captured meme to Head, a rumbling sound echoed.

“…!”

A beautiful rectangular shape began glowing with light.

And even an unknowable refreshing sound emerged.

[Hello. Starting operation.]

“?!”

A graceful and calm female voice flowed out from the artwork.

Is there someone inside?

Erzebet looked around, but no matter how hard she scanned, there was no gap for a person to fit through.

Her eyes widened in astonishment.

“This is the great magic of Head!”

Some might call it magic engineering, while others might refer to it as the great magic.

Erzebet couldn’t help but nod in newfound respect for his magical abilities.

It was even just the beginning, no less.

– Ding, ding, ding.

[Please close the door for freezing.]

“…Excuse me?”

Erzebet, following Head’s instructions, promptly put cola and tomato juice inside.

Then she squatted down in front of the refrigerator.

Head said to wait at least an hour to see the effect, after all.

Waiting—that was something she could manage.

Erzebet tilted her head as she gazed at the magic-like mechanism in front of her.

“You really are bold, huh?”

No creature dared to demand anything in front of the mistress of the abandoned castle, Mariaaka.

‘Could it be that it’s not going to give me any trouble?’

Just as she plunged into profound contemplation, a new alert appeared.

Head of the Gallery*: It should be ready now; take it out and drink it.

I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire: Okay.

“Excuse me.”

Ding.

The moment she opened the door and reached in,

“Cold, cold!”

Her mouth dropped open in disbelief.

I wasn’t aware it was using magic, but how?!

However, what shocked her more was how refreshingly perfect the cola and tomato juice had transformed!

“Delicious!”

The carbonation in the cola was just spot-on, and the previously bland tomato juice regained its perfection.

When she stepped into the gallery to check the reactions, the gallery was having a similar reaction to hers.