The Diamond Extra

I needed to make money. Not out of greed, but necessity. I nearly fainted when I saw the bill delivered to my room: I was 300 million shards in debt. I'd maxed out every loan a Diamond cadet could apply for.

The interest was low—just 0.5% annually—but since I wasn't earning anything, it didn't matter. Debt was still debt. My bank account held just 3 million shards, barely enough to survive in a world where power and money ruled everything.

Thankfully, I knew how to make money.

First: based on my research and help from the system, the stock market. Towers and dungeons constantly appeared in this world, and guilds that discovered or conquered them exploded in value. Since guilds functioned like companies, I could invest in their stock.

Today was March 1, 2025. My system book should be packed with profitable leads. I opened my laptop.

---

> ▷ Settings List

[A newly formed guild, Burdenwrights Guide, goes public.]

[They conquer the sealed dungeon, Royal Specter's Area.]

> Future Quest Update – "March of the Burdenwrights"

⚠ A rogue organization known as the Burdenwrights Guide has emerged.

Classified: World-Scale Threat.

Intervention is highly recommended.

Reward: ???

Failure: ???

---

So... the Phantoms had finally made their move.

I recognized the name Burdenwrights Guide right away. They weren't just another underground group—they were the spark that would ignite a catastrophic arc according to the system. One involving mass stigma corruption, sealed relics awakening, and the deaths of several top-ranked heroes.

They'd conquer the Royal Specter's Area—a dungeon even major guilds avoided. That victory would skyrocket their reputation and destabilize the already fragile balance of power.

And like the system records stated, they'd rise in secret, inflate their value… then vanish. Delisted from every registry.

But before that?

They'd leave a body count high enough to stain history.

This wasn't just flavor text. The system had tagged it as a Main Quest trigger.

---

"Tch… So it begins."

---

My fingers hovered over the screen. My starting funds were laughable, and my stats were still average. I couldn't stop them—not yet. But I could profit off the timeline.

If I played my cards right… if I nudged the flow just enough…

I could gain the capital and credibility to interfere when it counted.

But I'd need allies. Influence. A foothold. And eventually—access to the Royal Specter's sealed dungeon.

For now, I bookmarked the entry.

> [Grace Guild announces its plan to conquer the Tower of Transcendence.]

"Well then. Not my business, right? I'm just here to make a little sweet money."

Paul leaned back, half-lidding his eyes at the glowing interface.

"Let the world burn or transcend or whatever—it's not my job to save it."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"But if someone's about to make noise... might as well ride the wave and cash out first."

I had two chances to make money off this info.

One before the announcement—another before the plan got set into motion.

Just those two moments could set me up for life.

---

"The problem is…"

I had no capital.

"Do I need to visit the field?"

Fields were monster-infested zones. Not as structured as dungeons, and not as deadly if properly graded. Some didn't even require permits.

I thought of Gangmodo Field.

"Wait."

Something clicked in my mind. I remembered a training session… and searched for a specific phrase.

> [Discover the formless weapon Nexus from Gangmodo's Mari Mountain Dungeon.]

There it was—Nexus. A mystic-grade formless weapon sealed beneath the Gari Ruins. Originally meant to be someone else's turning point… but I could rewrite that.

If I took Nexus now, Nyra would be left empty-handed.

And an unarmed Nyra meant one less knife pointed at my back.

Still, removing a key weapon from the board so early could cause chaos in the timeline. I didn't like messy changes.

But I hated missed opportunities even more.

---

> Ding!

Warning: Interfering with Phantoms may expose your presence.

Current Risk Level: Moderate.

---

I stared at the message, unbothered.

"It's not like they know where I am."

I leaned back again, smirking.

"Well, whatever."

---

> Side Quest

Find the lost weapon on Mari Mountain!

Reward: Nexus

Penalty: Might get yourself killed

---

Nyra would still rise in power, even without Nexus. I'd retrieve it once my stats were high enough.

---

> Wiing—

My smartwatch vibrated.

> [Traveling Diamond Announcement] — Freshman orientation trip this Saturday.

"Oh right."

Another vibration.

> [Academic Diamond Announcement] — Freshman orientation on Friday.

> Quest Update: Defeat the Phantom Drake Bowman and save the kidnapped cadets.

---

"And there was this too. So annoying."

I thought weekends were for resting. Instead, I had back-to-back club obligations. And the academic club was tomorrow.

---

Diamond's combat training happened Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

So on this precious Friday, I headed to the Veritas clubroom.

Mira Roodes walked a bit ahead of me.

Room 303. The academic club.

About thirty first-years were gathered, and twenty-three of them were girls—most already bewitched.

I sat behind Mira. Her hair carried a faint, flowery scent. I tried to ignore it, but it lingered in my senses.

After a few minutes, the club president walked in.

---

"Nice to meet you. I'm Drake Bowman. Welcome to Veritas."

He was a third-year cadet. And a Phantom.

Of course, I didn't join this club just for fun. Drake Bowman was at the center of several upcoming incidents, including a monster break.

But shouting "That guy's a Phantom!" wasn't an option. Not unless I wanted to be treated like a lunatic.

Drake had signed with Nyxir, an ancient demoness of resonance magic.

Her gift, Velvet Pulse, let him amplify emotions through voice and sound.

It wasn't full mind control—but it was close.

---

"We'll keep it simple today since it's just orientation."

Female cadets stared with sparkling eyes.

"In Veritas, we study monster classifications, behaviors, weaknesses, and how to counter them efficiently."

It was a key academic field, competitive even outside combatant paths.

Monster analysts were highly valued. Their knowledge often made the difference in life-or-death missions.

---

"Let's take an example. I'm sure you've all heard of the Twin-Headed Tyrant."

A hologram appeared. A scallop-like monster with two heads and a totem. Grade B, highly intelligent.

Normally docile, but incredibly expensive on the black market.

"They're hard to kill, but analysis shows they're no different from one-headed tyrants—just more mysterious. Their vital point is nearly impossible to locate."

As Drake continued his lecture, I couldn't help but yawn.

"Yaaawn…"

He frowned. So did every other girl.

Even Mira kept her eyes forward.

"Cough."

Drake cleared his throat and resumed.

I sighed inwardly.

Was I really going to get attacked for yawning?

---

> You gain 30 SP

---

The session wrapped up after 40 minutes.

Some cadets still glared at me. I stood quickly to avoid confrontation.

Just as I was about to leave, I saw Drake approach Mira.

"Cadet Mira."

"Yes?"

"You forgot this."

He handed her a copy of papers. I knew that trick.

He probably used magic to lift it from her desk. Classic manipulation.

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

She smiled politely and walked off.

---

I stopped by a vending machine on the first floor and bought two drinks: an orange soda and a can of Carbon Spark, Diamond's top-tier soda.

As I stepped outside, Mira was just leaving the building.

"Yo."

She paused, eyeing me with suspicion.

I held up the Carbon Spark. "Drink?"

"…?"

Her face screamed: Are you serious right now?

"We're on the same team. Same club too. I thought you might like soda after that dry lecture."

She raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like someone who accepts drinks from strangers?"

"It's sealed. Cold too." I offered it again. "And I'm not a stranger. I'm Paul, remember?"

She didn't take it.

Instead, she crossed her arms. "This is your second warning."

"Second? When was the first?"

"You yawned. During the club president's speech."

"…Seriously?"

She gave me a final glare and walked off.

I cracked open the orange soda.

"Tastes like regret," I muttered.

Then, I looked down at the unopened Carbon Spark.

"…She's just shy."

With a grin, I jogged a few steps, then lightly underhanded the can into the side pouch of her high-end bag with perfect aim.

"Team synergy boost—complete."

Mira didn't turn around, but I saw her shoulders stiffen.

---

Later that day…

Inside the dorms, Mira finally opened her bag.

"Ugh."

The Carbon Spark sat in the side pouch, somehow wedged between her notebook and charm pouch.

It hadn't leaked, thankfully—but a note was taped to the lid.

> "Carbon for the cold-hearted leader. Enjoy."

Her brow twitched. "This little…"

She picked it up carefully and turned it in her hand.

Despite herself, she cracked a small smile.

"…He has good aim. I'll give him that."

She slid the can into her mini-fridge, sealed the pouch again, and whispered:

"Well, the drink's not guilty."