Ch.255255. Is This a Pleasure District?

*Screech-!* *Thud-!*

I got off the carriage that had come to a stop and stretched my body.

Before I knew it, the sun was already setting on the horizon.

“Ughyahya!! We arrived earlier than expected?”

While I was admiring the scenery, which was vastly different from Lake Territory, Jawill Wilson spoke as he followed me out of the carriage.

“Is this Estella Territory?”

Estella Territory was filled with professors who had quit their teaching positions and were preparing for reemployment, as well as prospective professors seeking their first jobs.

According to the information from the young lady, this was because the territory connected to the four major academies of the Eastern Continent.

Since it was convenient to travel anywhere from here, most gathered in Estella.

“Yep, that’s right.”

“Should we look for an inn nearby first?”

“Find one with reasonable prices.”

Jawill Wilson tilted his head at my words.

“Not the most expensive inn?”

“Most of the people we’re trying to meet will also be staying at inns. Do you think professors seeking reemployment or prospective professors would stay at expensive inns?”

“Ah! So you’re planning to make contact with professors starting from the inn?”

“That’s right. We don’t want rumors spreading to the academy’s inner circle, as they might try to interfere.”

“I’ll look for one right away.”

“Try to find a place with a crowded restaurant on the first floor.”

“Yes!”

Perhaps because we had traveled through quite a few territories, Jawill Wilson quickly found a suitable inn.

After unpacking our belongings, we went down to the first floor for dinner.

“Young master, shall I order alcohol as well?”

“Sure.”

“Understood.”

While Jawill Wilson was placing the order, I slowly looked around the restaurant.

Unlike other territories, the atmosphere wasn’t bustling.

Should I say it felt somewhat gloomy?

Well, being here meant that one hadn’t yet secured a position as a professor.

“The food prices in this territory are quite reasonable.”

“Indeed, and the portions are generous too.”

As I was casually drinking with Jawill Wilson, a commotion erupted behind us.

I reflexively turned my head to see an old man being beaten by several men.

-Where do you think you’re going without paying for your food?

-This bastard is a repeat offender!

-No wonder your clothes look so shabby. You should know you’re going to die today!

Watching the old man being beaten with wooden swords by the young men, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

I was blessed after all.

The body I had possessed belonged to a nobleman who wasn’t financially lacking.

“Young master, should I help?”

“Yes, but don’t fight.”

“Understood.”

Jawill Wilson stood up and approached the young men.

With a smooth expression, he spoke.

“Excuse me, we’ll pay for the meal this gentleman had.”

One of the young men looked at Jawill Wilson with narrowed eyes.

“Why would you pay for this person’s meal?”

“My young master dislikes disturbances.”

Seeing Jawill Wilson’s knight uniform and hearing the word “young master” from his mouth,

the men, since the issue was originally about the unpaid bill, accepted the money and withdrew.

“Th-thank you. Thank you for saving me.”

As the fallen old man struggled to his feet and offered his thanks, Jawill Wilson pointed at me.

“Don’t thank me, thank the young master.”

The old man, covering his swollen face with one hand, approached me and bowed.

“I’m certain I brought money with me, but I lost it here. To meet a benefactor in such an unexpected place, I’m truly grateful.”

After checking with my “Eye of Insight,” I confirmed the old man wasn’t lying.

What intrigued me even more was:

“Was there a reason to just take the beating?”

“…Pardon?”

“From what I can see, you don’t seem weak enough to be beaten by those men.”

I could sense strength without even using my “Eye of Insight.”

I’ve been able to gauge others’ strength for quite some time now.

Jawill Wilson seemed to have noticed it too, as he took a step back from the old man, showing caution.

The old man was startled at first but soon let out a gentle laugh.

“I had done wrong, so how could I retaliate?”

“That doesn’t justify violence, does it?”

The old man glanced at the men who had beaten him earlier and continued.

“They threatened to kill me, but there was no real killing intent from them.”

“So you endured the beating because of that?”

“Yes. The money I lost was all I had. Since I couldn’t come back to pay, I had no choice but to take the punishment.”

With a curious expression, I pulled out the chair next to me.

“Sit down.”

“…Pardon?”

“Nothing in this world is free, right? I’d like to hear your story over a drink.”

The old man hesitated but then sighed briefly and sat down.

“It seems my actions have piqued your curiosity, young master.”

“I’m just bored, so don’t feel pressured.”

“…Then what would you like to know about me?”

I poured a drink into the empty glass in front of the old man and spoke.

“Let’s say you lost your money, but why is your appearance so shabby? I wouldn’t think life would be lacking if you worked as a knight for another family.”

“Who would hire an old man like me?”

“Would you do it if I hired you?”

As I asked with a twitch of my eyebrow, the old man bowed respectfully while seated.

“I appreciate your high regard, young master, but I’m already too old to start working again.”

“That’s for me to judge.”

“…Is that so?”

“It seems you’re just waiting for an unsightly death.”

“Life has a beginning, and so it has an end. How can you call a natural course ‘unsightly,’ young master?”

I downed my drink in response to the old man’s words.

“Not everyone waits for death like you. Most people fight desperately to live as long as they have breath.”

“Living in this world, one encounters people different from oneself. Are you one of those desperate to live, young master?”

Yes.

I am more desperate about life than anyone.

That’s why I felt slightly angry.

Though he had lived longer than me, his sense of resignation was displeasing.

Especially since it seemed the old man had the ability to do anything.

*Thud-*

Just as I was about to say something more to the old man, two elegantly dressed women approached our table.

One of them had already seated herself next to Jawill Wilson.

“My, I haven’t seen you before. Where are you from?”

It was a question from the beautiful woman in a white blouse and navy skirt who had sat down next to me.

Gripping my glass tightly, I tilted my head.

“Is this a pleasure district?”

The woman’s face flushed slightly as she gently placed her hand on my shoulder.

“Oh, you know very well! Which family’s son are you, young master?”

The woman naturally took a glass in her hand, as smooth as a snake slithering over a wall.

Jawill Wilson was already half-entranced by the woman’s touch.

I cleared my throat and took the glass from the woman’s hand.

“I’m in the middle of an important conversation, so I’d appreciate it if you’d step aside.”

“My, how assertive! Then we’ll just quietly pour drinks until you’re done talking.”

Hah…

Why is there so much filth in a world that should be lived innocently?

Hiding my sneer as best I could, I waved my hand in the air.

“I’ll call you back when our conversation is over.”

“Do you promise?”

“I said I would, didn’t I?”

The two women looked at each other, then stood up and left.

Jawill Wilson wore a somewhat disappointed expression.

“Young master, why did you do that? They all seemed quite beautiful.”

“That’s why Clara broke up with you.”

“…Pardon?”

“You lose your mind whenever you see a woman, grinning like an idiot.”

“Wh-when did I ever grin like an idiot?”

“Well, you’ll find out soon enough.”

After making that cryptic remark, I turned my attention back to the old man.

“This place doesn’t look like a pleasure district, so what’s with those women?”

The old man downed his drink and shook his head.

“I don’t know. They came to my seat earlier, and I sent them away.”

“Ah… so that’s what happened.”

“Pardon?”

Just then, the men who had beaten the old man surrounded our table.

Among them, a beautiful woman in a black dress smiled at me.

“Sir.”

“What is it?”

“I’m sorry, but the alcohol you’ve ordered is quite expensive. I’d appreciate it if you could pay in advance.”

“Are you the owner here?”

“Yes, I am.”

At that moment, Jawill Wilson rummaged through his pockets, then stood up abruptly, looking at me in panic.

“Young master.”

“Your money’s gone?”

“H-how did you know?”

*Screech-*

I slowly stood up and looked around, spotting the women who had been at our table earlier.

I strode over to them with determined steps.

“Hand it over.”

“What?!”

The two women covered their mouths in surprise at my words.

I picked at my ear with an annoyed expression.

“Give back the money you stole. Unless you want to be searched.”