Chapter 49

Meeting Limberton and Aslay wasn’t particularly difficult.

Same building 3, same floor, walking through the dormitory hallway, Limberton’s stomach growled loudly.

“…I’m hungry. Surviving on bread and jerky in the dungeon, I want warm food. When do they serve meals here?”

I gestured for Aslay and Limberton to follow me. It was perfect timing since I had something to show them.

“Follow me.”

We arrived at the dining hall. Seeing the seniors enjoying their greasy food, Limberton and Aslay started to drool.

Of course, a proper meal was out of reach for us.

“Do you have any coins?”

“Where would we get coins…?”

“I figured.”

Even the cheapest meal cost one coin. We had given all our collected coins to Riamon, leaving us penniless. Limberton’s eyes widened in shock at the prices on the menu and then drooped.

“What’s this? Do they really expect us to buy food? Does the academy not provide meals…?”

Aslay seemed to catch on too, reacting similarly.

“Yeah, it’s not free. But don’t worry about it now.”

I had seven coins in my pocket. I had taken them from a member of the Lethe group I had encountered while walking with Riamon towards the escape route.

“Hand over your coins.”

“I-I will.”

Indeed, it’s foolish to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.

I decided to invest the coins I took into these guys.

“Choose something under 2 coins.”

As I held up two fingers, Aslay and Limberton gulped and picked from the menu. They devoured their meals as soon as they were served.

As Limberton swallowed his last bite of meat, I asked him.

“Wouldn’t you like to eat like this three times a day?”

“What a silly question. Of course, everyone would.”

“But in Schlaphe Hall, people are grateful to get even one meal a day. Do you know why?”

Limberton shook his head.

“Because they only get 30 coins a month.”

The guys in Buerger Hall get 150 coins a month, and those in the best dorm, Adelle Hall, receive 300 coins.

“Only 30?”

“That’s right. After deducting dormitory heating costs and other expenses, half of it is gone. The seniors in Schlaphe Hall barely get by with cheap and plentiful dried food from the store.”

Limberton picked up his plate and licked the remaining sauce.

“So, I have a good proposal for you guys.”

To get into Adelle Hall, solving the immediate living expenses was crucial. I had thought of a trick for this. A method that could be used only once, on the first day of admission.

“Now that we’re full, let’s go. I’ll explain on the way.”

It might seem a bit harsh depending on the perspective, but that’s not my concern.

We arrived at a bulletin board plastered with papers. Limberton looked at a request pinned to it with a puzzled face.

“What’s this… a foot massage for 5 coins?”

The request sheets ranged from errands to collecting research materials and organizing documents.

“Wait, this one just has a name on it?”

“The requesters aren’t just professors. Even the arrogant bourgeoisie post here.”

“Wow, this one pays 50 coins for just having dinner together. But it’s for women only.”

“Hmph, looks like we have a senior with similar tastes.”

Limberton stopped salivating and frowned.

“So, your plan is to take on these requests and make money?”

Not at all.

I started tearing off various requests, from foot massages to miscellaneous tasks.

“Are you really going to do this as a noble?”

“Stop talking and start tearing.”

I handed the stack of requests to Limberton. Then I took all the requests with relatively high difficulty and high pay, except one, and gave them to Aslay.

“What are you planning to do with all these?”

“Follow me if you want to earn money.”

I headed to a nearby reception desk with the stack of requests. Dumping them in front of the professor in charge, he widened his eyes and then frowned.

“…If this is a joke, put them back immediately.”

“I’m accepting all these requests.”

“What?”

Seeing my serious expression, the professor looked at me like I was a lunatic. However, there was nothing against the rules, so he stamped each request.

I checked my pocket watch.

Soon.

Until the end of class.

“Return to the bulletin board now.”

People began to swarm the once empty spot. They ran desperately, like hungry beasts seeking prey. Seeing Limberton’s dumbfounded face, I explained what they were witnessing.

“Limberton, take a good look. Those insects are our proud seniors of Schlaphe Hall.”

“…What?”

“Soon, the freshmen will look like that too.”

The people of Schlaphe Hall are all untouchables. Nobles who were born into wealth, massaging stinky feet for a coin, sometimes even playing the clown for lesser noble families’ children. The environment here shapes people that way.

“I don’t get what you’re thinking at all… Wait. You’re not thinking what I think you are, are you?”

Limberton’s eyes twitched, and he broke into a cold sweat. I smirked and replied.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Probably.”

“Ahhh…”

“Get ready.”

The second-year seniors’ faces turned pale when they saw the empty bulletin board. Approaching them with the stack of requests, their eyes lit up.

I let my voice drip with arrogance, fueled by my noble blood.

“1-coin requests go to this small guy. 5-coin ones go to me. 10-coin requests go to the big foreign friend. Line up if you need something.”

As expected, the seniors’ reaction was explosive.

“A new face, are you a freshman?”

“We’ll overlook your impudent tone this once. Hand over those requests…”

“Crazy bastard, seen it all now.”

As they approached with threatening expressions, Limberton whimpered.

“You insane bastard! Why provoke the seniors like this!”

“Limberton, don’t sympathize. If they knew this trick from day one, they’d have done it too.”

“No, that’s not what I mean!”

I glanced at Aslay and pointed to the bulletin board.

“Start, Aslay.”

Aslay’s massive hand effortlessly pulled out the bulletin board and swung it around like a club. The approaching seniors fell on their backsides, eyes wide in fear.

“Gasp!”

“Put that down, junior.”

“No, why is a barbarian…?”

I narrowed my eyes. Extras without playable characters, still stuck at the bottom of Schlaphe Hall, dared to challenge me?

“This is your only warning. Defy us again, and we’ll double the fee.”

The threat worked; they changed tactics. Like true scum, they ditched their pride and appealed to emotions.

“But taking such fees… I’ll starve for three days if I don’t work today.”

“Right, I’ll be in real trouble if I don’t get a request. I have debts to pay today.”

“Still, we’re seniors. Can’t you cooperate a bit?”

Their pitiful pleas annoyed me.

“Shut up, you worms!”

I couldn’t hold back my contempt.

“You’re losers. After a year here, you’re still trash. Now you sell your pride to me, a freshman?”

Their mentality was already slave-like.

“Do you call yourselves nobles? The Empire’s future looks bleak if people like you are its future. You come here to serve, and that’s the future?”

And they failed to escape being slaves despite having the means.

“I can’t understand you. Why didn’t you save your money? If you had saved and invested in your future, you wouldn’t be in this mess.”

Frostheart is a free market. Students are allowed to make and sell their own goods. These are often led by clubs, essentially running as businesses.

“Making money through requests is outdated. First-years should stop this nonsense; there are many stable ways to earn money.”

With money and proper use, even without high academic scores, they could buy their way into Buerger Hall. But they didn’t do this simple thing. They deceived themselves, claiming it was impossible, making excuses, and avoiding reality.

If they endured a bit more hardship, their future would have been easier.

“How long will you crawl out when you run out of money? Repeating this life?”

“Do you think we live like this by choice?”

“Why? Am I wrong? Look at you. Even today, you were stripped of requests by a freshman. You’re exploited every day, and it won’t change. You’ll soon forget because you’ll be exploited tomorrow and the day after.”

The guy stood speechless, his expression vacant. Around him, the others whispered angrily but quietly, venting their frustration.

Bored with the argument, I lit a flame on my finger and brought it close to the requests.

“Hersel, are you a mage?”

“Surprised you didn’t know.”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t shown them magic before.

“Don’t freeze out here. If you don’t want the requests, get lost. I’ll use them as kindling.”

Bringing the flame closer, some murmured nervously.

Eventually, a few started to line up, and soon, all the requests were sold out.

“Easy to handle.”

I took the coins from the pouch and distributed them to the two.

“I got 120. You each get 90. Good job, Limberton, Aslay. You can keep the remaining two coins.”

Aslay silently accepted the pouch. Limberton, however, hesitated, feeling a twinge of conscience.

“…This doesn’t feel right.”

“Limberton, with that mindset, you’ll remain a slave forever.”

“No, but shouldn’t seniors give advice to juniors? We live in the same dormitory; we should get along.”

I felt the need to crush his naïve mindset and impart a life lesson.

“Don’t mingle with them. Unless you’re a tough guy, you’ll end up like them.”

They are a swamp, pulling each other down. Whenever someone tries to do something worthwhile, they say, “That can wait!” and waste time, dragging others down and finding solace in not being alone.

Eventually, they forget that they shouldn’t live like this. They think life is like this because everyone around them lives the same way.

“They’re only there to be used. Draw a line, or you’ll be used too.”

Seeing his still hesitant face, I decided to hammer the point home with a sweet lie.

“By the way, did you know women prefer moderately bad guys with money?”

“R-really…?”

“Of course. Even in Buerger Hall, Schlaphe women would want to have tea with you.”

In reality, they’d just exploit him.

“Now imagine if you get into Adelle Hall. Buerger Hall women would be the same.”

Limberton’s grin stretched to his ears.

“Heh heh.”

Simple-minded.

With living expenses covered, we had spare coins left. Now, we just needed to grow this.

Before that, I pulled out a request for 100 coins I had set aside.

[Required item: Merilly Root.]

[Reward: 100 coins]

[Requester: Rockefeller Den Harman.]

Tomorrow’s first class was herbology. With that subject, I should be able to gather the herbs listed here.

***

Rockefeller enjoyed a steaming cup of tea, watching the morning through the window.

Though he got scolded by the headmaster yesterday, he talked his way out.

“…He won’t adapt to life in Schlaphe Hall. Hungry beasts are easy to tame. I’ll offer irresistible terms then.”

The more luxurious the past, the harder it is to live a bottom-tier life. The thirty coins given today would likely be spent in a day. No, he might even end up in debt.

If I lure him into joining the knight department then…

“Adelle Hall. I don’t want to offer such conditions to that detestable guy, but I have no choice.”

Rockefeller stretched.

In about three days, he’ll be begging for mercy like the Schlaphe slaves. When that day comes, I’ll make him lick my shoes with a smile.

***

The first class was herbology. The location was an outdoor area covered in white snow. The female professor showed us an herb.

“Familiarize yourselves with this. It’s a task to collect one root. Don’t worry. I’ve chosen an easy-to-find Merilly root for you beginners.”

…That swindler.

Merilly root is an expensive herb. It’s hard to find.

“But don’t let your guard down. Monsters appear near the snowy areas, so be cautious.”

I knew where it was located. I planned to give the thinnest roots to the new students trying to cheat, and sell the rest myself.

“Now, let’s go find the herbs with your assigned partners.”

A girl approached me with a tearful face. She wasn’t being sacrificed, so why was she so scared?

I forced a smile and greeted her.

“I’m Hersel Ben Tenest. Nice to meet you.”

“Gasp…”

I forgot, my smiling face looks more terrifying.