Isaac

held the best grades in the school.
Although his birth as a commoner was a small flaw, everything else was perfect for him to be the candidate.
She had been making moves on him since the start of the year but there were many competitions.
The greatest rival was Elizah.
Even today, Elizah somehow found out Selina’s plan of seducing Philip in a private study group and took him away when Selina dropped her guard for a moment.

“Could there be some other way?”

Elizah’s beauty was lacking compared to Selina’s, or at least that was what Selina believed.
But since the situation has reached this point, she had to find some way to capture Philip’s heart.
This was easier said than done when everything is given equally to all in the Campus, limiting her options.

“Ahem, excuse me.”
“Huh?”

Selina made a guarded look when Isaac suddenly appeared and blocked her way.
Although Campus was inhabited by only students, it didn’t mean it was completely safe.
As they are currently exploding with hormones through puberty, many violent events, accidents from failed magical experiments and even crimes of vengeance occurred within the Campus, to a point where the Campus created the Student Disciplinary Council to watch over them.

Isaac was especially famous within the Campus.
There had been rumours that he may end up performing a crime out of desperation among the female students.

Selina remembered the rumour and quietly began casting fireball in secret just in case Isaac tried to do anything to her.

Noticing Selina’s guard, Isaac spoke as he stepped backwards.

“You don’t have to be so guarded.
The reason why I have stopped you is because I have something that can help you, my lady.”

Selina kept her stance but her eyes opened wide when she saw the bottle Isaac pulled from his pocket.
The purple liquid within a small, clear but well decorated bottle was something Selina knew well.
It was her favourite after all.

“That’s the Spring’s Whisper!”

Greed beset Selina’s eyes.
She was confident she could grasp Philip’s heart with that in possession.
While the Campus commissioned everything, they did not control the bag which students bring when they come to Campus.
But when they can only leave the island once a year, it was difficult to last more than 2 months with supplies from a single bag.

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This was worsened for the female students, as the Campus never commissioned makeups, perfumes and accessories, so they were always in high demand within the Campus.

“Sell it to me immediately!”

Selina cried out.
Her eyes still fixated on the Spring’s whisper.

“That would be 50 Giga.”
“What! Preposterous! Who do you take for a fool? Did you think I wouldn’t know the Spring’s Whisper never goes above 10 Giga in price?”

Selina argued against Isaac’s exorbitant offer, but Isaac talked back with the attitude ‘if you ain’t buying, you ain’t a customer.’

“I’m sure an educated lady such as yourself would know that rare items are sold at a premium.
It’s basic business.
Plus this is the newest version of the Spring’s Whisper, which came out just a month ago.
That would mean that this is the only bottle in existence within the Campus.
You should know the true value of this bottle, right?”

Selina was conflicted.
It was true that if she got that Spring’s Whisper, she would not only be able to seduce Philip, but she will also be at the centre of attention amongst her friends.

After some thought, Selina made the decision and threw the ruby brooch she wore on her shoulder to Isaac.

“You should at least be able to get 100 Giga with that.”
“I’m sorry but I’m not in a position to give you your change…”
“There is one condition.
If you accept, you can keep the change.”
“Hm?”
“You are banned from selling this Spring’s Whsiper to Elizah.
That is my condition.”

“That’s a condition I can bear.”
“So is that a deal?”

“Ha.
Thank you for your patronage.”

Isaac placed the Spring’s whisper on the floor and slowly stepped backwards.
There was no need to act friendly so soon.
Taking a polite and reserved stance was more than enough.

Plus there were so many more things he could sell.
If her condition banned Isaac from selling perfumes as a whole or demand he only sell to her, Isaac would have denied her request without hesitation and looked for another customer.
But when it was banned to sell to a specific person, it was not a problem.

“And it’s not like Spring’s Whisper is the only perfume out there.”

As expected of a student from the Campus, she was resourceful enough to come up with such an idea in such a short time, but the students in Campus were still lacking in experience.

“Man oh man, this is a good start.”
Isaac began to play with the brooch, throwing and catching it.
This was a business model based on profiteering through monopoly.
The starting funds will always come back in factors as revenue so the more funds he have, the larger his revenue will be.

Unlike most commoners, Philip was walking a steady path to success.
His talent in magic was confirmed by the private school he attended and led to his enrolment in the Campus.

When Philip first arrived at the Campus, he believed it wouldn’t take long before he would stand amongst all the other students and may even attend the College.
It wasn’t long before Philip realised just how large the world was.

He may have been well renowned as a genius in his hometown, but in the Campus his level of talent was a common sight.
Philip’s family sacrificed everything for his chance in the Campus, and he could never disappoint them by coming back empty handed.
He spent all his time and energy on the study of magic.

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Magic was a costly subject.
There is bound to be a difference between someone whose infinite budget can support any experiment to someone who is not.
Thankfully, the Campus’ policy of commissioning had given an equal starting point for Philip.
And he utilised that fact to his fullest.
Even when he managed to become the top of his school he did not show arrogance or lower his guard.

But when did it all start? Many of the daughters from noble families, ladies Philip couldn’t even dream of making an eye contact, started to approach him with trivial excuses.
Philip may be lacking in experience with those of the opposite sex due to his studies, but he was well aware that his status as the top student was what was bringing these girls to him.

But romance was not his priority.
He could always have it once he graduated.
What was more important was his status as the top student.
He steeled his resolve and like a stone statue, stayed firm on his studies.

“Geez! You’ve studied enough.
Let’s take a break.
I’ve brought my favourite tea leaves this time.
A tea break between study sessions can help you focus later on.”

Elizah had been on Philip’s side, pestering him to come outside for a break.
Philip turned to see her and with a complicated, yet firm voice rejected her.

“I’m sorry, Lady Elizah.
I still have much to prepare for the next class.”
“Che! You always say the same thing.”

Philip’s mind was in a conflict as he watched Elizah turn away from him with a pout.
He never hated having girls next to him.
He was a man after all.
But none of it mattered to him when his family had put everything on the line for him.
Plus the lack of makeups in the Campus’ list of rations helped significantly in making Philip keep his resolve.

Other than personal hygiene items, the Campus did not commission makeups and students had to bring them themselves.
Makeups were consumables, and a quickly exhausted one at that.
So even a beautiful girls such as Elizah couldn’t hide her dry hair and uneven skin tone when they spent their time in the Campus.

“Oh! You were here.”
“Ah! Greetings, Lady Selina.”

As Selinah approached Philip in the library, Philip greeted her with a bow.
At the same time the corner of Elizah’s eyes sharpened.

After a brief staring contest between Elizah and Selina, Selina scoffed to her heart’s content and sat opposite to Elizah.
There was no need to brag.
All she needed to do was sit close, and let the fragrance do the work.

“Hm?”

A sweet yet enticing fragrance tickled Philip’s nose, shattering his focus.
He instinctively continued to sniff for the origin of the smell, which led his eyes on to Selina.
When their eyes met, Selina feigned innocence and just smiled.

“What? Is there something on my face?”

Philip’s face turned red as he wildly flailed his arms.
She was just one of the distractions before, but that smile from Selina rattled his heart into chaos.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”
“Hm.
How boring.
Ah! I have some questions about the Copying Magic Theory.
Can you teach me?”

“Huh? Yes, of course.”

As Selina leaned closer to Philip with that excuse, more of the fragrance ensnared Philip.
At this point his focus was at the will of Selina.  Elizah could do little but bite her lips in rage while Selina sent the victor’s stare at the enraged girl, laughing in her heart.

“… Those girls are vicious.”

Isaac had been watching from the windows in secret.
Witnessing Selina’s change in personality compared to when she met him, Isaac firmly believed his business was a success.

“Beauty products always have the best margin.”

The competition between women for beauty is beyond imagination.
For now Selina had taken the lead with that perfume, but other girls will search far and wide to find out where she got it from.
Selina will have no choice but to reveal Isaac to at least her friends from the constant questioning, and at that point Isaac’s business will turn into a Goose that lays golden eggs.

“Monopoly has always been the best kind of business.”