12 – First Steps, from Crawling to Running (3)
Under the pretext that no citizen of the empire should be excluded from education, the Emperor worked to achieve equality in education. Commoners and nobles alike, everyone could attend the academy equally.
However, nobles, even in seemingly trivial matters, did not want to be on the same level as commoners. Therefore, they decided to create another boundary not based on class but on money. Under the pretext of improving the quality of education, they inflated academy fees insanely with dignity maintenance fees, event fees, student council fees, and various other reasons. For poor commoners, it became another threshold, an insurmountable limit.
Thus, due to the misdeeds of nobles filled with jealousy and vanity, another line of class was drawn. Wealthy commoners who could afford the academy fees, and even those who couldn’t, considered as trash. The Emperor’s policy of equality ultimately resulted in creating another class, and the academy became a place inaccessible to commoners without affluence.
But, in reality, well, it’s not like there are many affluent commoners. The standard for being ‘affluent’ far exceeds the average. Including minor items like dormitory fees and meal expenses, the tuition for one semester is at a level that an average commoner can barely afford in half a year. Moreover, if you fail to pay the tuition even once, you are immediately expelled without a grace period, or…
“Ellen.”
“Yes.”
“You’re expelled from Class A.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“…”
“…”
“Huh.”
… like this. Expelled to another class.
Where is the other class? It’s known as the so-called Early Graduation Class.
No, it might be better to call it the Disgraceful Expulsion Class. In a way, it was created openly to maintain statistics of commoner students, discriminating against them with money. Of course, there are no assigned teachers in that class.
So, in a word, I’m done for.
“Is it okay to ask why?”
“Just in case…?”
The professor responded with a peculiar expression to my question. However, even he seemed to feel a bit sorry, as his tone wavered slightly towards the end.
“I regret it. But there’s no way I can help.”
“But I’ve paid all the tuition fees.”
“So, you’re not getting expelled. But, as you know, tuition alone isn’t enough. Is there any way you can pay now?”
“If there were, I wouldn’t be this flustered now.”
I blurted out a word without malice. It might sound somewhat aggressive, but what can I do? The money I have is all that my deceased mother left, and she even forcefully put it into the academy admission fee before she passed away. Even though you, as a parent, wished for your son to live a better life than yourself, reality is not that simple.
But well, the truth is, it was entirely my fault. If I wanted to attend the academy, I should have either studied well to get a scholarship or worked part-time like Gue to earn a substantial amount. Unfortunately, I lacked those elements.
“So, do I just pack up and leave right now?”
Finally accepting reality, I asked calmly. The professor looked at my expression, sighed deeply, and shifted his gaze to the paper on the desk.
“…One week. Can you arrange it within a week?”
“Are you giving me a grace period?”
“I suppose I can give you that much. It will cause a commotion in the administration office, but I’ll handle the paperwork a bit late. You know how much you need to prepare, right?”
I do know. 30 gold. No, I should say 3000 shillings to make it more relatable. Gather this within a week. Daunting, but instead of despairing, I responded with a wry smile.
“Thank you, Professor. I’ll go then.”
“Sure. Do your best, Ellen.”
Leaving those words behind, I exited the office. However, not long after, in the middle of the corridor, I stopped and let out a deep sigh. Soon, like a white cloud floating in the clear blue sky, a single thought began to take shape in my mind.
Should I… give up like this?
It was the most realistic and painfully honest statement. Actually, sticking around in the academy wouldn’t improve anything. I didn’t study from the beginning, so getting expelled quickly might be the most realistic advice. It might be better for my future. Perhaps now is the time to learn a skill, find a way to earn a living.
…
The problem is that I have no idea what that is.
What can I do if I go outside? Since I don’t know anything, I’ll end up doing physical labor. However, it’s not like I’m as strong as Gue, so I’ll probably end up doing the most basic tasks. Going to the front lines to handle the corpses of demons or doing the cleanup of the sewer or incinerator. Or maybe, wandering around in the back alleys selling things here and there.
The last option, in particular, pierced deep into my heart. It felt like the scene was already unfolding before my eyes. The stench of the sewer piercing my nose. The pervasive smoke and thick dust in the air. And the filthy rats crawling on the ground. It was a darkness surrounding me once I stepped just one foot outside the academy, a world that was unimaginable within these walls.
Almost like heaven and hell. I chuckled and leaned my head against the wall. Here, I could make jokes with Gue, tease our cute Yuna, and pass the time. But over there, you have to live facing such scenes. Just thinking about it made me never want to go.
Especially since I already knew the scenery all too well.
“Huuu…”
As my thoughts settled, strangely, my heart became lighter. Should I just drop out willingly like this? Or should I somehow find a way to grasp a fleeting hope? The choice was too easy. No matter how dull the classes were at the academy, sticking around somehow seemed more enjoyable.
Now then.
How do I get that money?
The end of one worry was inevitably another worry. The saying that life is a series of questions was not just an old man’s lament in the back room, and I felt that firsthand at this moment.
But realizing such a truth didn’t mean that the years-long dilemma magically unraveled at the end of enlightenment. Even at the end of understanding, I was still foolish, and my life, stuck in the gutter, hadn’t improved a bit. After contemplating for a while, I, like Umin always did, decided to seek the teachings of a wiser sage and turned my head to the side.
“…What should I do, Yuna?”
“!!!”
When I spoke, Yuna froze in shock, maintaining the posture she had while coming out of the faculty office. Then, she looked at me with slightly trembling eyes.
“Uh… What?”
I mean, the story you eavesdropped behind the desk. Specifically, the story from behind Professor Magic’s desk, where you had to hide even your lunch break just because of you. I’m really sorry, but I saw everything, including your flustered movements.
“You didn’t hear everything inside?”
“Huh? Ah… No? I didn’t hear anything at all? W… What are you talking about?”
But Yuna remained silent until the end. It even seemed like our eyes briefly met from inside. I was about to point that out when I shrugged my shoulders and said.
“Oh, really? I just happened to come out, and I thought I heard everything.”
“Do I look like someone who eavesdrops on others’ conversations? It’s a bit uncomfortable. A… And I’m talking about something important, so I didn’t have the luxury to pay attention elsewhere.”
“Oh, really? What’s the story?”
“T… That’s… Is there a reason you should know that? I’d prefer if you didn’t pry into it.”
“Got it, got it. Sorry.”
“Of course, you should be sorry.”
Yuna interrupted the conversation firmly with her clenched fist, and I chuckled while nodding my head. She stared at me for a while, then cautiously released her fist and asked.
“So? What happened? I didn’t overhear, but… it seems like it’s something serious.”
“You roughly heard about it?”
“No! It’s not that, it’s just… Anyway, what’s the story? What is it that you want to ask me?”
“That thing.”
At that point, I kept my mouth shut. I already knew everything, but I couldn’t easily bring myself to speak without understanding the intent behind the question.
However, there wasn’t a clear answer, and it wasn’t as if a definite response was coming. Not wanting to postpone a predetermined answer, I slowly opened my mouth.
“I actually need some money.”
“Money?”
“Yeah. I’m a bit short on tuition. If I can’t get it within a week, they say I have to move to Class B.”
“Oh… I see… that’s how it is…”
Yuna awkwardly nodded while pretending and then leaned against the wall, silently looking at me as if waiting for my next words.
“So?”
“Huh?”
“So, do you have a place to get money?”
The last words flowed out in a very subdued voice. It was more of a tone waiting for a predetermined answer than a genuine curiosity. I closed my mouth and whispered the predetermined answer in my mind.
Yes.
…
It’s right in front of me.
But no matter how you look at it, openly saying such things stung my conscience a bit. Ultimately, if I were to put it bluntly, it’s not about using your body because I need money. Of course, receiving money is on my end, and providing the service is also on my part. How should I express it in words… it’s like selling your body for money, so to speak…
…Certainly, it does feel a bit like that.
But regardless of appearances, the truth was that this was the only means for me to earn money immediately.
“Sigh…”
I sighed deeply at the harsh reality. Mother probably wanted me to have a ‘knight’ or a wizard profession. Unfortunately, I ended up doing something that ends with ‘man’ or ‘woman.’
…
But to survive, I needed to become a bit shameless.
“Yuna.”
“Huh?”
When I suddenly called her name, Yuna raised her head in surprise more than necessary. I took a step closer to her.
“Do you remember what I said earlier?”
“W-what did you say?”
“I promised to pick you periodically. Remember?”
I deliberately emphasized the word ‘promise’ and took one step closer. With a thud sound, and the shadow looming over my head, Yuna turned her gaze away and urgently spoke.
“But it’s not that kind of meaning…!”
“I know. It’s about money. Anyway, we promised like that, right? Isn’t that so?”
“We promised.”
“Is that so?”
Before we knew it, our distance had shortened, and with just one more step, our bodies would touch. Yuna’s forehead, shaken by my exhale, revealed a bit as I spoke.
“That… that’s right. Yes.”
“Do you keep your promises?”
“Um…”
Emphasizing the word ‘promise’ again, Yuna hesitated greatly and lowered her gaze. If it were the former villain Yuna, she would have scoffed at the idea of caring about promises, but fortunately, she now resembled a model student who couldn’t even lie. After contemplating for a while under my shadow, Yuna timidly threw out a few words.
“But… even though I tried various things earlier, no sponsorships came in. Even if I keep my promise, it’s useless if no money comes in, right?”
It was a valid question. Hugging, floating, spending a considerable amount of time, but still, no sponsorships came in. However, I now know the solution.
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
No, to be precise, a solution has emerged.
I slowly closed my eyes and recalled the message from the woman I saw at the library earlier. It said, ‘[Yuna has posted a mission].’ At first, I was confused about what that word ‘mission’ meant, but looking at the subsequent message, the identity of that word became clear.
Once again, as darkness pushed in and the word ‘mission’ came to mind, white letters began to appear in the pitch-black field of view. And not long after, a list extended, displaying in front of me.
[Mission List]
1. Just holding hands. (More than 5 seconds) – 5 shillings
2. Putting fingers together. (More than 5 seconds) – 10 shillings
3. Patting the head. (More than 30 seconds) – 30 shillings
4. Embrace. (More than 10 seconds) – 50 Shillings
5. ???
6. ???
“…hahahaha.”
Even upon a second look, nothing but laughter comes out. Whether it’s a coincidence that these lists come to mind at this particular moment, I wonder. Even though I don’t know who the person sending this sponsorship is, they seem like someone with very clear intentions.
It’s the current reality that I have no choice but to go along with those intentions.
“Why are you laughing?”
As I chuckled softly, Yuna addressed me in a slightly puzzled tone. Slowly opening my eyes, I faced Yuna’s face, fully illuminated in the brightening view.
“It’s nothing. Anyway, will you help?”
“Ugh…”
Yuna, seemingly contemplating for a moment, pressed her lips together. However, I could intuitively sense that she wouldn’t outright refuse. Yuna hesitated, twisted her lips, and then finally spoke.
“…So, exactly how much do you need?”
Hmm…
I momentarily closed my lips at those words. Come to think of it, Yuna doesn’t know exactly how much I need. Well, it’s understandable. A noble lady wouldn’t bother with such details.
I don’t know how much is needed…
…
This might be a bit amusing.
Suddenly, I felt a mischievous mood spreading throughout my body. Trying to suppress the laughter about to burst, I deliberately answered slowly.
“Well, it’s…”