Chapter 10
She is polite and fresh, always confident and bold.
She effortlessly catches onto subtle matters and can quickly switch to a warm smile when necessary, displaying a cool-headedness.
Moreover, she finishes with a refreshing smile, delivering flawless remarks.
“I am pleased that we seem to have reached a mutually satisfying agreement. I will do my best as a member of Sophus to contribute to Sophus’s prosperity in the future.”
Elise sighed, looking up at the ceiling.
“She’s quite something… quite something indeed….”
Furthermore, Minervina offered Elise the maximum salary within her discretion.
It was an amount so precise that it seemed as if someone had told her.
“It’s good to have talented individuals join us, but somehow, it feels bitter… no, I shouldn’t think like this.”
Elise raised her head and looked at the emblem of Sophus hanging on the wall.
“…The sage of Le Tor. Maybe it’s true.”
The emblem depicted the symbol of Sophus’s appraisal office and the symbol of the sage Sophus Le Tor embroidered on it.
The closed eyelids.
The starlight above them.
“It’s said that even if you don’t see it, there’s truth in the eyes….”
Today, Minervina’s displayed ability was truly fitting of an imagined sage.
To employ someone who would be revered like a king wherever they went in a place like this, there’s no alternative.
Elise sighed. And then she approached her desk again.
“I should try to hide it somehow, even if it’s with a facade….”
And she had to investigate.
What had happened to the Marquis of Le Tor after the family’s downfall that Minervina, a noble heiress, had decided to become an appraiser?
Elise hastily scribbled a command on paper, then unfolded a report related to the “Scepter of Tigris Colossus.”
“…Hehe. Hehehe.”
A grin quickly spread across her face.
“If I use the Wind Catcher well, I could easily get at least 1.8 million gold.”
If that happened, it would be the highest-value deal she had proactively led.
A smile of victory crossed her lips.
“The Guildmaster would have to acknowledge this level. And I might even be able to push Yulric’s nose a bit!”
Even though it was a guild where she wouldn’t leave if she wasn’t confident, thanks to the frequent absence of the Guildmaster.
Thinking that far, Elise suddenly remembered the absent Guildmaster.
“Should I inform someone that the Bearer of the Overflow knows? She really seems like a true sage….”
Elise raised her fountain pen again.
“I should get in touch after a long time.”
—
“Sigh. This is how life is.”
Recently, Baeksan felt very alive.
He successfully signed his first employment contract here, and there were dormitories at Sophus as well. Specifically, Baeksan was assigned a single room.
“Moreover, working hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.! Including lunchtime!”
At first, he thought it would be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but it wasn’t. The welfare of the 21st-century Earth was unmatched even in this world.
“I was surprised, but it’s better to keep quiet.”
Thus, Baeksan agreed to a contract with an annual salary of 30,000 gold.
“If I appraise special items like the Cursed Scepter, I’ll receive a separate bonus as well.”
“30 million gold! 30 million gold!”
He was so happy that once he received his accommodation, he hugged the pillow and rolled on the bed.
Appraisal work wasn’t too difficult either.
Sophus’s work was generally divided into floors.
On the first floor, office clerks greeted customers. They confirmed the classification, filled out simple documents, and sent them to the appropriate floor.
Naturally, they were the busiest at Sophus.
On the second floor, appraisers in various fields welcomed guests. They appraised items that didn’t require magic. It was mainly the realm of artisans.
The third floor.
This was the essence of Sophus. It had the largest number of wizards in Orquenina, where wizards were rare. They all appraised only items imbued with magic and sorcery.
Sometimes, they were requested to cooperate and go down to the second floor or go on business trips outside…. or so it was said.
Bacsan thought he would go to the third floor, but his official place was arranged on the fourth floor.
It was the floor where the Guildmaster’s room and Elise’s room were located.
“They’re giving me special treatment.”
Of course, Elise wasn’t a pushover either.
“You mentioned that since you don’t use magic, you can appraise items quickly, accurately, and in large quantities, right? In fact, we’re the busiest on the first floor. If there’s nothing specific to appraise, it would be great if you could help us on the first floor….”
With that explanation, Elise smiled as if she were prepared.
“But don’t underestimate a human who died of overwork.”
That day, Baeksan learned a bit of caution from Elise as he appraised 102 items.
“…If you don’t want to be recognized as a sage, maybe take it a bit slower. You can’t be so fast when appraising without using magic.”
“Oh, really?”
Anyway, as a result, Baeksan became the friendliest with the office clerks on the first floor. It wasn’t easy to come by luxury goods that could go to the fourth floor.
Thus, the closest people he became acquainted with at his new workplace were Lira and Agnes.
“Minne! Are you on the first floor again today?”
“Yeah. Lira.”
Lira is a young clerk with fluffy blue hair, reminiscent of cotton candy.
Following her, Agnes approached.
“Minne. Shall we grab some tea?”
“Thank you, but I’m fine, Agnes.”
Agnes was a quiet and calm clerk with flowing brown hair, and she was the mentor of the newcomer, Baeksan.
Both of them were also kind to Baeksan, an enigmatic parachuter with an office on the fourth floor.
Thanks to them, Baeksan was adapting to Sophus and the game world without much difficulty.
It was the seventh day.
Baeksan sat at his usual spot, expecting it to be another typical day.
The morning hours were rather quiet.
“Today, I don’t have many customers coming my way.”
As Baeksan stifled a yawn, someone entered the appraisal office holding something precious in their arms.
It was a middle-aged man with thinning hair and a gaunt appearance. His eyes were sunken, but they sparkled strangely, more with madness than hostility.
Baeksan discreetly glanced at the system window.
[Auto]
A peddler who recently became involved in illegal gambling. He has accrued a large debt without his wife’s knowledge.
Naturally, his brows furrowed.
“How much gambling did he do….”
But if it was just illegal gambling, there was no need to be overly cautious.
Auto took a number and sat at Agnes’s counter. With trembling hands, he discreetly offered something.
“This… It’s a family heirloom, and I thought of getting it appraised….”
What Auto presented was a small ring box wrapped in wine-colored velvet.
“Yes. Let me inspect the item.”
When Agnes opened the box, an emerald-colored gemstone ring was revealed.
Agnes immediately picked up a magnifying glass imbued with magic.
“Oh my.”
After a moment, she exclaimed in surprise.
“This is a very fine Demantoid, isn’t it?”
Auto’s tired face suddenly brightened.
“Is it? It’s a family heirloom, after all!”
“Yes. We’ll need to calculate the gold weight, but… the quality of the stone is excellent. The inclusions shaped like horse tails are very clear.”
“Does that mean it’s expensive?”
“It’s difficult to say without a detailed appraisal at the gem appraisal office on the second floor.”
For a moment, dismay washed over Auto’s face.
“Do I have to go through all that trouble?”
“It’s a necessary procedure, so please understand.”
Agnes replied kindly and calmly.
‘The prices mentioned downstairs and upstairs shouldn’t differ.’
She was indeed a mentor with much to learn from.
The man hesitated as he gazed at the stairs. His expression still showed some hesitation.
Seizing the opportunity, Baeksan quietly approached Agnes from behind.
‘What does she mean by inclusions shaped like horse tails?’
With various items coming into the appraisal office, there were many unheard-of things.
Most were worthless, but occasionally, such items became quite intriguing.
As Baeksan’s eyes fell on the emerald ring Agnes held, he couldn’t help but notice its vivid green color.
‘Wow. It’s huge.’
Estimating, it must be at least 5 carats.
The gemstone itself was very large, and small diamonds were even embedded around it.
‘I wonder how much this would go for?’
As Baeksan absentmindedly opened the system window.
[Demantoid Ring]
A ring set with a very fine Demantoid.
Reported stolen from Finea Surpass.
Thank you for translating this story!