Chapter 55 : A silver-haired local from another world

“Totally empty.”

My balance. After the black market, my wallet had thinned drastically, now approaching zero like a mathematical limit.

In truth, I don’t spend much on living expenses. The dorm fees were fully paid when I enrolled, and meals are all provided by the academy.

Maybe because the food quality is average, nobles don’t often appear in the cafeteria, but I eat every meal without complaint.

Thinking back to when I got scolded for eating nothing but sandwiches three times a day in the basement due to lack of time, this is nothing.

Of course, just because food, clothing, and shelter are covered doesn’t mean there are no expenses.

It’s not some grand expense like maintaining dignity—it’s just that magic inherently costs a lot of money. Especially if, like me, you’re only

trained in a limited field.

Having lived for ten years without worrying about money, my financial sense is pretty dull. That’s probably why I called out such a high price

at the black market.

“I need to survive four more months until break…”

I can’t reveal how I spent the money to my family. They’d send more if I asked, sure, but then I’d have to explain how I used it.

“I spent all 30 billion buying a pretty female s*ave at the black market!”

Just thinking about it gives me a headache. If I’d only spent a few billion, I could maybe come up with an excuse, but I brought 30 billion

intending it to last two years.

Anyway, I need a way to get money.

Honestly, I wouldn’t be refused if I asked someone to lend me some. It’s not like the daughter of a duke is going to run off with someone’s

money.

But that would be an absolute last resort. I’m not a beggar, and my pride as Trea wouldn’t allow it.

“Should I hunt goblins and sell their teeth or something?”

I once heard goblin teeth are used in alchemy. Was it 3,000 Rene per fang? Barely enough to buy a nose wipe for a child…

“Alchemy?”

How could I forget? I opened my subspace for the first time in a while and checked inside.

The space, about the size of a large wardrobe, was mostly filled with the tailbone of a dragon lord, cut from a lair. To be honest, I had

completely forgotten about it.

“How lucky.”

Anyway, I got lucky. Now I don’t have to worry about money.

The tailbone of a dragon lord? Even if I sold just a quarter of what I had, a normal person could live off it for life.

Resolved, I turned to leave—and just a few steps later, I saw Amiter following me. What a strange coincidence.

“Where are you going?”

“Oh, skipping class.”

Academy classes aren’t particularly important to me. As long as I’m not expelled, I’m not afraid of getting penalized. It’s not like I’m skipping

just because today’s class is an elective.

I’ve endured it several times, but I just can’t sit through it with a clear mind. Honestly, it’s a mystery how Teferi listens so diligently.

“I’ve got something to do. I’m heading to the adventurer district.”

Since that’s where all sorts of people and goods gather, the Gray Magic Tower, which deals mostly in alchemy, is located there too.

When Amiter seemed like she wanted to follow, I stopped her and pushed her back the other way.

“Whoa, whoa. You’ve got class, remember?”

“…I usually just sleep through it anyway.”

What a brag. I hadn’t realized, but she attends the same elective class as me—she’s just always asleep.

“Today’s etiquette class, right? Go and learn something.”

Why’s she trying to follow me around like a puppy following its owner? Sometimes, I want some happy time alone.

…In the most wholesome sense.

With the ball less than a week away, the etiquette lessons during electives were in full swing for commoners.

You learn how to hold a fork and how to greet people—do I, with my experience, really need this? Probably not. But this black-haired beast

here definitely does. Otherwise, who’s going to marry her?

“Are you telling me to learn how to dance?”

She showed a mildly annoyed grin. Well, yeah, dancing was part of the etiquette curriculum too. In fantasy, dance is considered part of

proper manners.

“That’s up to you. Though honestly, I’d love to see it.”

On the day of the ball, Amiter will be wearing a dress, right? I swear, that might be the hardest I’ll ever laugh in my life.

She sighed and mumbled something like “can’t be helped.” I think it was to herself, but I heard it anyway.

She fished around her chest, pulled something out, and tossed it to me.

“…If you lose it, I’ll fold you in half.”

With that threat, she walked into the building.

What she gave me was a gold adventurer badge with my name and rank engraved on it.

These aren’t usually handed out lightly.

She must have prepared it when she heard I was heading to the adventurer district.

This is why people say it’s important to have good friends, right?

Smiling, I stuffed it into my pocket with care.

It’s the perfect weather for skipping class.

Typical of academy stories—by the middle part, they’re no longer even in the academy.

I didn’t expect it to happen this soon though.

Even with classes still going on, I felt light on my feet as I walked out.

The adventurer district was on the outskirts of Wund, outside the academy.

But “outskirts” is a misleading term—it had such a large floating population, it was basically a city of its own.

“Adventurers, huh…”

Why give such a romantic name to people who are basically outlaws?

To me, they’re no different from mercenaries doing odd jobs.

When they’re not working, they chase after booze and women.

Seriously, they’re all useless—

Okay, I’ll stop. If I keep talking like this, someone’s going to drag me to their territory and make me into soap.

Anyway, the city of delinquents lived up to its reputation: noisy and chaotic.

Honestly, it’d be weird not to develop a prejudice here.

Men in armor proudly walking around with weapons, random shouting from who-knows-where…

With pickpockets and vagrants here and there, to be honest, it was a disgusting area.

Of course, those among them with real skill live in nice houses with good treatment.

Just flashing the gold badge Amiter gave me got me through the checkpoint without a word.

This place, too, is a society where rank equals power.

The people here also seemed to dislike the noble aura I gave off.

Every time I passed by, they moved aside, and one guy even spat on the ground like I was bad luck.

Normally, I would’ve picked a fight for that, but since I was alone, I let it go. It smelled bad too.

“If I hadn’t possessed Trea and just came to this world as-is… would I be doing odd jobs in a place like this?”

For someone with no bloodline or connections, being an adventurer really is the perfect job.

Unfortunately, I’m not some otherworlder with black hair—I’m a native with silver hair who uses magic.

After living ten years as a noble, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable around these lower-class people.

Still, the fishy-smelling, musty streets were more visually interesting than I expected.

Maybe because this city specializes in low-tier monsters, it felt different from normal marketplaces.

Most people walking around wore at least leather armor, and there were a good number of dwarves and beastkin.

Though, most of the beastkin really were just furries.

The things being sold were also bizarre.

I can understand troll tendons, but why sell a gnoll’s genitals?

I wanted to browse a bit more, but with no cash on hand, I headed toward the Gray Magic Tower.

Maybe because alchemy is still a half-formed, vague field of study, the tower was smaller and shabbier than expected, matching its name with

a dull gray color.

It was like the place had been designed specifically to make you not want to go inside.

“Hello?”

There was no guard at the tower’s dark entrance.

With no answer, I hesitantly stepped inside—and suddenly heard a loud scream.

“Help me, help me!”

“Quiet, you!”

Startled, I rushed in and saw an old parrot trapped in a cage, screaming its lungs out.

“Help me! I’ve been turned into a parrot by magic! Help!”

“What the…?”

Soon, an old man wearing glasses burst out from between stacks of books.

This place really was packed full of books.

“Oh dear, welcome! Don’t mind that thing. I taught it that phrase as a joke, and it still remembers it.”

“Uh, well…”

“Here to buy or sell? Either way, come on in.”

The old man grabbed my sleeve and pulled me inside.

I shook him off and approached the parrot.

It was still squawking in a hoarse voice.

“This… is a real parrot, right?”

“Help me! Help me!”

“Haha, of course it is. Do you think I really turned some rude, loudmouth guy into a parrot for causing a scene?”

Wizards often enjoy cruel jokes.

It was a joke… right?

The parrot kept crying for help at the top of its lungs.

“That’s a pretty funny prank.”

“Isn’t it?”

Teaching a parrot to say that? The more I thought about it, the funnier it seemed.

Maybe I should try it too?