Chapter 49 – Roderick (2)

Appropriate greetings were exchanged between the dean and Henry.

An apology for not recognizing him, and a lie that it was fine.

In any case, they were words full of pretense, like: isn’t a good thing just a good thing?

Around the time the conversation had matured moderately.

[Exam passed! Revealing the reward details!]

Henry started the broadcast in a timely manner.

Since substance was gradually starting to form in the conversation, and it was content that the viewers would definitely find interesting.

Also, there was one fact Henry clearly realized in the subsequent conversation.

‘This academy really belongs to this person.’

It was not clumsy vanity.

Nor was it an illusion.

The founder of the Vallaran Royal Knight Academy was the dean’s great-grandfather, and the founding intention was solely to be of help to the Vallaran Royal Family.

The dean’s great-grandfather invested his entire life savings, a huge fortune, into this academy.

‘He passed it down to his child, and then to that child’s child. Although it changed here and there, in any case, the Royal Family acknowledges that achievement.’

In fact, it was not an exaggeration to say that ninety percent of the kingdom’s knights were all from this academy.

The Royal Knights were also all from the academy’s trainees, except for very special cases.

As such.

The academy’s operating funds were supplied by numerous nobles and the Royal Family.

Borrowing the dean’s expression, it was “recognizing the hard work of raising excellent knights,” but the reality was different.

[So they raise them and sell them haha]

The magicians immediately hit the core of the matter.

In the past, it might have really been a type of sponsorship money as the dean said, but that was not the case in the current era.

Because the price to be paid was divided by grade, and even within the same grade, by level.

‘Now I understand. Why he was constantly harping on money like that.’

Speaking coldly, until not long ago, Henry Camilton did not have a shred of “commodity value.”

So he wouldn’t have wanted to invest even small change.

However, when he rose to Class C, he was provided with a decent dormitory and training environment, and now that he rose to Class A, it meant they would pay something worthy of Henry’s value.

[In fact, he’s a businessman, not an educator haha]

[If he has this kind of personality, doesn’t he invest with certainty?]

[How much do they say it is to sell Class A?]

[It wasn’t mentioned haha. Wouldn’t it be at least a few thousand gold per head?]

Amidst all kinds of speculation running rampant.

Finally, the dean brought up the main topic.

“Trainee Henry Camilton will be given three cards. Please return the dormitory access card that was issued last time.”

“I brought it.”

“Well done.”

The access card for the Class C dormitory.

Returning the card that was said to possess a value of as much as 200 gold, Henry received three cards in return.

However, they were no simple cards.

Checking the writing written on them, Henry’s eyes widened.

“It is just as you see. One is the authority to withdraw and use funds from the Royal Central Bank, and the other is an access pass for the Royal Central Bank’s vault. In the vault, we have prepared various goods that can be used as a knight.”

“Are you giving them to me?”

“It is lending. The period is until you graduate from the academy. And equipment such as weapons and armor can only be rented one item per person.”

“So the funds are also borrowed?”

“That is provided. Class A trainees can withdraw and use 100 gold every month. You must be careful not to lose the card, right?”

“If I lose it…”

“You will have to pay compensation of about 2,000 gold.”

“…….”

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Truly brutal haha]

[If the fine is 2,000 gold, it would be faster to raise a new character haha]

“If you don’t lose it, that won’t happen, right?”

“……Yes.”

“Also, in the case of goods excluding equipment, there is a limited quantity, but verify those later. Do you know what purpose the remaining card is for?”

“I do not know.”

A total of three cards.

The contents of the first two mentioned could be known, but one was an appearance that even Henry was seeing for the first time.

The dean nodded as if he expected it.

“It will be used in various places. Because as of this hour, it is a card that allows Trainee Henry Camilton to enjoy the privileges of a semi-noble, not just as a Class A trainee.”

“……Ah.”

“It will also be used when receiving mission rewards or when entering and exiting the academy, but if you have that card, you can also enter the Royal Palace. Of course, it is a restricted space, but you know what that means, right?”

“Of course.”

It was impossible not to know.

What was in the Royal Family?

The Royal Palace was the very place filled with only what was deemed most precious in the kingdom.

Of course, the places one could enter were highly restricted.

Actually, he didn’t even want to go in.

As soon as he heard this story, what Henry recalled was none other than the Royal Library.

“I will use it usefully.”

“You must. Oh, one more thing. It is a personal question, but have you decided where you will belong after graduating?”

“I have not decided yet.”

“This dean would recommend the Royal Knights. Because it is the best choice to protect Trainee Henry Camilton’s family.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Just out of concern,”

The dean added with a truly worried expression.

“This year, the average buyout fee for Class A trainees was sixteen thousand gold. I’m sure it won’t happen, but if Trainee Henry Camilton decides to act as a knight for the Camilton Viscounty.”

The subsequent words did not follow.

Henry was also at a loss for words, and the chat window was on the verge of exploding.

[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[The merchant mindset is crazy haha]

[The price tag surged haha]

[If this is how it is, it would have been better to just stay in Class C haha, so funny haha]

Henry asked cautiously.

“What do you mean by the average?”

“There were cases where when someone lost something, they paid back that amount instead. A difference in skill would also influence the amount, right?”

“Then for me…”

“In your current state, it would be about 10,000 gold. For your reference, the most outstanding trainee in Class A receives a buyout fee of about 20,000 gold. That is considering only skill.”

[Price tag haha]

[100% price tag indeed haha]

[It’s so funny how bold he is, seriously haha]

“Can I by any chance remain in Class C?”

“You cannot. Because one of our academy’s regulations is that we must provide an environment worthy of a capable trainee.”

He must have said that school regulations could be added and deleted at the dean’s whim, though.

Henry did not bother to speak further.

In any case, this academy was the dean’s property, and from the moment he passed the exam, Henry Camilton became a 10,000-gold product.

Needless to speak of the Royal Family, it was an amount not that burdensome to high nobles.

However, to the Camilton Viscounty, it was a product of a value that could not be prepared even if they sold everything they owned.

“Do you have anything else you want to ask?”

“No.”

“I like how straightforward you are. As I said earlier, make sure to take the guide from outside. All information that a Class A trainee must know is written there.”

“……Thank you.”

With a sigh containing complex meanings, Henry rose from his seat.

And as soon as he stepped out of the dean’s office, he said.

“I should prepare some money before graduating. There is a way. Although it’s not a method I really feel like doing.”

***

Another piece of information Henry realized in the conversation with the dean was the fact that Austin had indeed accurately penetrated this situation.

‘He said it was an extension of the exam.’

Of course, the meaning was slightly different.

Since Austin brought it up to say that he should not get used to such “conveniences.”

‘Surely, losing items will happen frequently. I cannot be certain, but in terms of feeling, it seems they might have set things up so they would get lost.’

Covering several thousand gold in the status of a trainee was an impossible task unless one was a high noble.

But the dean spoke as if losing those valuable armaments was indeed quite frequent.

‘There might be cases where they disappear due to sloppy management, but if it were a guy with a proper mind, there is no way. They would know the fact that it is an item they cannot handle on their own.’

The dean was crazy about money beyond imagination, and such a hypothesis was not entirely absurd either.

However.

“I plan to rent the most expensive item from there. If my guess is correct, someone will definitely approach.”

[What are you going to do after that??]

“I will catch them. Catch them and dig out their base. Because a thief targeting an item worth thousands of gold would not act as an individual.”

Catching the thief and beating the answers out of them was Henry’s plan.

What if it had nothing to do with the academy?

That was good in its own right. Because if he raided their base, he could reap a significant harvest.

But what if it was related?

“Then a very interesting event will unfold. I promise you.”

He had no intention of letting it go easily at all.

“For now, I will look at the guide the dean gave. I plan to postpone introducing the dormitory a bit. Because as soon as I return, Austin will cling to me annoyingly.”

The guide that he was told to make sure to take.

In that place, several pieces of information that must be essentially known were written.

“The main ‘classes’ are filled only with practical things. The geography of the Vallaran Kingdom where information is added monthly, realistically treated international politics, food that can be secured in extreme situations… There is not a single class to be left out. I must take all of these.”

These classes were indeed times when he could obtain knowledge that would become blood and flesh.

Because they were information that could be utilized even in the process of performing missions right away, without going far.

If known, a moment where it would definitely be of great help was bound to come.

“The rest is all autonomous. The class schedule can also be organized quite flexibly. It is structurally tailored thoroughly to the convenience of the trainees.”

Henry moved on to the next content of the guide.

“Now, this part. I will move on to the mission item, which is practically the most important for Class A trainees.”

The missions were divided into a total of four stages.

The easiest mission was Grade 3.

The next was Grade 2.

Missions requiring substantial skill were classified as Grade 1, and very rarely, in the case of extremely tricky missions, they were classified as Special Grade.

“Success rewards are diverse. There are times when received in items, and times when given in money. However, the gap is distinct depending on the mission difficulty.”

All trainees had to perform at least one mission a month.

Most could be selected autonomously, but if performances below a certain level continued, the qualification for belonging to Class A was stripped.

“Also, it says that a few missions given very occasionally must be performed by force. The type and difficulty have not been set. I guess they might be requested by the Royal Family.”

[Haha, now things are getting serious]

[When will you do the first mission?? Have you set the level?]

[Must be a Special Grade mission haha]

“I have no intention of receiving a Special Grade mission from the beginning. Raising my skill first is the priority for now. I plan to also catch the thief…”

[But?? What if WoopWoop-jwa appears??]

[WoopWoop! WoopWoop! WoopWoop! WoopWoop! WoopWoop!]

[Is WoopWoop-jwa watching right now?]

“Of course, it is just that my thoughts are so, and I haven’t made a final decision. It could change at any time. However, unfortunately, there are no Special Grade missions that can be performed right now.”

Henry spoke while holding up the request form provided along with the guide.

While letting out a sigh of relief as if it was a great relief.

[Are you really disappointed? haha]

[Your face doesn’t look disappointed at all haha]

[Then compromise on Grade 1 let’s go]

[Anyway, when will you start?]

This flow was not good.

Since Henry had no intention of performing a mission right away.

‘At times like this, stay calm.’

If he revealed a flustered look by any chance, the existence called viewers would only find it more amusing.

Unless Henry had intended to do it in the first place, it was best in this situation to casually shift to a topic the viewers would be interested in.

“First, I think it is the proper sequence to show you all the given environments. Even just picking out the ones already revealed is not a few. Dormitory for Class A, Royal Central Bank, Library…”

[To be honest, not that curious???]

[Dormitory aside, couldn’t we check out the rest after running just one mission??]

The resistance was stronger than expected.

However, Henry had also prepared a card to counter that for a long time.

“Also, there will be the black market. I told you, right? That I might need to prepare some money.”

[That would be interesting?]

It worked this time.

The black market.

Indeed, there was nothing that stimulated curiosity as much as a secretly hidden place.

BJ Swordmaster