Healing at the Academy convenience store

It is the law of the land. If you become a character in a game, there’s one thing you must do.

Taking a few deep breaths, I spoke the words.

“Status window.”

【Wolfram von Lohengram】

【?T】

【Status:

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 6

Endurance: 2

Magic: 3

Will: 4】

【Owned skills: Royal Bloodline.】

If you’re a character in a game, the status window is a standard feature.

I slowly looked over my status. Considering the average person’s stats are 5, Wolfram has truly… truly a pitiful stats. How did he manage to get into Jephryn?

No matter how much of a prince he is, the faculty of Jephryn must be blind. What was the royal family thinking, making him student council president?

When I lowered my eyes to my skill, it was even more infuriating. It’s not a bad skill. But with this alone, it’s a useless skill.

【Royal Bloodline (1T): The owner of this skill can’t speak in a way that lowers their dignity in conversation with others. At the same time, it calculates the ‘bloodline dignity’ of the owner and the opponent and triggers the status effect ‘Intimidation’ with a high probability if the opponent’s dignity is lower.】

Most of Jephryn’s rank distribution is divided into tiers.

Tier 9 is trash and Tier 1 is god.

This skill is a Tier 1 skill, but there’s no place to use it.

So, I am going to try my last resort.

There must be a reason I’m in this game.

And usually, in times like this, there is my real stats, or maybe an editor. If not, there’s a cheat tool.

Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense, right?

To throw me into this game with such a pitiful status, how can anyone do that?

‘If there’s a god, they would have given me a super useful tip.’

So.

There must be. A tip for me. My very own super useful cheat.

I clenched my fist and spoke the magic words.

“…Open source code.”

And.

Nothing happened, to my surprise.

“Open hidden stats. Activate editor tool. Open create mode.”

Nothing, happened, at, all.

God is dead.

***

Even though I’m a veteran of this game, I’m not crazy enough to fight monsters bare-handed.

Yeah. Monsters. Surprisingly, there are monsters in Jephryn. Quite a lot, actually.

As I mentioned before, outside of the ‘academy district’ where the students learn, it’s all wilderness. There are volcanoes, deserts, oceans, and jungles.

Why are there monsters on the artificial island that the founding emperor created as a school? Because they were brought to form an ecosystem. There is a story that the first minister stuck a meteorite on the emperor.

However, the emperor believed that the children learning at Jephryn would immediately be put into practical work and, upon returning to their hometown, they wouldn’t know whether it would be a valley, a forest, or a volcanic area. So, he wanted to provide an environment as similar as possible for practical learning.

To some extent, there’s a Blue Dragon in that desert area. It’s true.

Anyway, the academy district is protected by a defensive barrier created by the first minister, a great mage, and the emperor, who was known as the God of Magic.

So unless you take the Against Monster curriculum, you won’t encounter a monster while attending this academy. But there are always oddballs everywhere.

To encounter monsters or gain combat experience, students step outside the academy district, and as a result, a few students ‘unfortunately go missing’ each year.

And now, it’s time for me, Wolfram von Roengreen, to face the great outdoors of Jephryn.

But with such pitiful stats, if I venture out unarmed, by this time tomorrow, the goblins would be making a bag out of my skin, and probably using my skull as a makeshift helmet.

So, I need to hire a mercenary for protection.

With that in mind, I sought out the Knight Squad and called for the staff on duty.

“…Wolfram von Roengreen, I see. What is your request?”

“I came as the owner of the 8th Magic District grocery store. I am looking for a Knight Squad student to escort me through the initial part of the Eastern Forest.”

“I see…”

The staff gave me a look of utter distaste. They were probably thinking of declining since I was using Wolfram’s name, huh? Tsk tsk. If you have a problem with that, take it up with the school rules.

“Do you understand the cost?”

“I will cover meals, and the rate is 8,720 Rin per hour. Is that correct?”

“…Yes, it is. Are you aware of the hazard pay?”

“I’ll provide low-grade healing potions in lieu of that.”

“Well, okay. Understood.”

Look at this guy, grinding his teeth like that. Keep it up and you’ll need dental implants. I grinned and extended my hand, a sign for him to hurry up with the paperwork. He dropped a stack of documents in front of me.

“…Well, here are the available Knight Squad students.”

“Good. I’ll review and make my choice. Send them to work.”

I elegantly went through the list. I didn’t forget to give the staff a look that said, ‘If you have a problem, take it up with your superiors.’

Alright. Who will be my bodyguard?

Even though the ‘Knight Squad’ isn’t as expensive as the Magic Department, it’s still quite costly. The free equipment? The repair costs? The wooden swords damaged during training? The torn uniforms? Everything costs money.

Of course, those backed by a guild or nobility might feel less burdened, but there are many commoners who, after running around in the mountains and fields since childhood, awaken their martial talent and somehow make their way to Jephryn. They are more numerous than those in the Magic Department.

So, from within these, I plan to find a particularly reliable and hardworking servant… err, a member of the Knight Squad.

The list only includes basic details like their name, grade, skills, and weapon of choice. But as a veteran of this game, I found the name I was looking for.

“She’s here?”

If I hire an unreliable student as an escort, I’d likely get stabbed and end up missing in the forest. But this name… I could trust this one.

“Nephti.”

In the original story, she is one of the top defenders, and at the same time, the undisputed queen of the poor in all of Jephryn. Her name caught my eye.

***

Nephterian, or as most people call her, Nephti.

Her defining traits? Being dirt poor. Average. Her swordsmanship is passable, shield technique average, and again, very poor.

As I named her my escort, the staff’s expression changed, almost like a mocking smile. As if to say, ‘Are you seriously picking her? You know nothing.’ It’s quite amusing.

Anyway, they’re the clueless ones. At my call, the interview room door opened, and a young girl equipped with a sword and light armor looked towards me.

“Hello. I am Nephterian. You can call me Nephti.”

“Good. Have a seat.”

“No, I’ll stand. You are my potential employer, it’s more comfortable for me to take instructions standing.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her dedicated gaze.

Her backstory suggests her family is heavily in debt. Her single mother raises two siblings.

The reason she came to Jephryn inevitably incurred debt. Rumor has it her mother, seeing her potential, went all in saying, ‘Our daughter is our golden ticket!’

However, life in Jephryn is expensive, even sleeping and waking up costs money.

But with her steadfast personality and refusal to get her hands dirty, Nephti is trying to pay off her debt and manage her life at Jephryn solely through mercenary work. She’s barely managing to pay off the interest.

Anyway, this paragon of knights urged me for orders, and I nodded in agreement.

“I am planning to explore the early part of the Eastern Forest. The hourly rate is 8,720 Rin.”

“That’s the minimum wage.”

“Do you have an issue with that?”

“No.”

“I’ll cover up to two low-grade healing potions in case you get injured.”

“Understood.”

…She doesn’t seem thrilled.

“I’ll cover meals. They won’t be too shabby.”

“That’s great. I swear on the Knight’s Code, I’ll fulfill this escort mission to the best of my ability.”

“…”

Now that I think about it, there’s a rumor that she eats grass mixed with dew when she’s out of food.

Nah, that can’t be true.

“How do you want to handle ‘Count and Run’?”

As I was lost in thought, Nephti recited an important setting like she was cutting it off.

[Count and run.]

It was a quite important setting in the game.

You specify the number of times you hire mercenaries, and if they encounter monsters that number of times, the mercenaries would say, “I’ll step out here,” and go home.

I didn’t realize this setting existed in reality too. It seemed so realistic yet so game-like.

“Five times. After encountering monsters five times, you can retreat. In return, you’ll get a fee of 5,000 Rin for each additional count.”

“Okay. I understand. However, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“If the exploration goes against the Knight’s Code, I won’t hesitate to turn back and return.”

She seemed determined. She looked at me, and I nodded.

As I was Wolfram, a third-rate villain, I wondered if she thought I was up to no good.

“Humph. If you have time for nonsense, let’s get going. We’re wasting time.”

“Yes.”

***

We leisurely headed toward the eastern forest, and Nephti’s footsteps were light.

The eastern forest was a tutorial area or a beginner’s hunting ground, where you could wander from level 1.

Mainly squirrels and rabbits wander, with slimes and, at worst, mini goblins.

There is a boss monster, but there’s no need to encounter it, so skip it.

Indeed, it’s a very safe place.

But don’t forget that Wolfram could die from a squirrel attack initiated by Jephryn.

So, the first thing we encountered was a slime. Wolfram, with a health of 2, was weak enough to be killed by a dagger.

The transparent slime in front of us was trembling. There was a core in the center, and it would die if you poked it with a twig.

“… Does it count if I kill that?”

“Yes, by the rules.”

Hmm. Then there’s no choice.

“But I get the corpse. Is that okay?”

“…Yes? Yeah, that’s fine. That’s the rule.”

With that said, Nephti stabbed the slime with her dagger, and the jelly-like slime melted away. I collected it in a bag I brought.

Afterward, we leisurely walked into the forest of Jephryn. Since Wolfram had low health, and Nephti had no money, it was beneficial for both of us to take our time.

Of course, my money would decrease, but I could make it back by selling candy to Eve. Eve would laugh heartily, which was really annoying and not what I wanted, but I could bear my inherent loathing for my younger sister and sell them anyway.

With our leisurely pace, more like a walk than a rehabilitation training, we finally reached our destination.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s Bean’s Garden. Didn’t you know?”

“…Ah, no, I knew. But why are we here?”

“You’ll see. I came to harvest beans.”

“You? A royal doing it personally?”

Bean’s Garden.

As the name suggests, it’s a garden where all sorts of beans grow. But these beans are different from the peas, broad beans, or soybeans we know.

For example, Pop Beans. These beans create a popping sensation when you put them in your mouth. If you coat these beans in edible slime mixed with sugar, it becomes a snack called Jelly Pop Beans.

Various other beans with all sorts of effects grow here, and it is also a good early game farming spot.

As I was harvesting beans, Nephti watched me with a shocked expression.

I bet it’s more surprising than seeing a whale fly in the sky.

“Stop staring and focus on escorting.”

“Yes? Yes!”

Even though I said that, monsters don’t appear in Bean’s Garden. Even a newbie in Jephryn knows this.

“If you’ve got nothing to do, help me harvest beans.”

“That’s not my job.”

“I’ll pay you 10,000 Rin per hour.”

“Then I have one more job. I appreciate it.”

Wow… The speed at which she changed her attitude.

Anyway, we started harvesting beans for a while.

“Hey.”

“Yes, yes?”

“When you harvest Aqua Beans, if you damage them, their quality significantly decreases. Be more careful when you harvest.”

“Yes, yes…”

Nephti looked puzzled at my comment but began to harvest more carefully.

When we filled two baskets, I took a deep breath.

It’s not like we’re lifting heavy things or doing anything but harvesting beans from nature, but I’m tired. I’m really worried about the future.

But, we achieved our goal.

“It’s lunchtime.”

“Yes? Yes!”

We moved to a corner of the garden, and started the lunch I had prepared.

“Black bread…?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“……No.”

…I was glad to have because it wasn’t a bad meal, but she looked disappointed when I gave her black bread.

“Alright then, let me show you something special. You should be grateful.”

“······?”

I said that, briefly rinsing off the beans I just harvested and tossing three of them into the flask I brought. As I crushed them, they mixed together inside, turning into a thick, creamy substance.

“Do you know what happens when you crush a precise mix of Vanilla Beans, Milk Beans, and Bubble Beans?”

“Huh? What?”

What emerged from the mixture of the three beans in the flask was a splendid whipped cream, recognizable to anyone.

I scooped a generous spoonful and dolloped it onto Nephti’s slice of black bread.

“Give it a try.”

“…Okay.”

At my command, Nephti pushed the bread into her mouth and soon wore an expression I hadn’t seen before.

Even Helen Keller, upon first comprehending the word ‘water,’ probably didn’t display such astonishment.

Her wide-open eyes and face suggested her entire worldview had shifted. Tears began to stream down from her eyes.

Was it really that delicious? I spread some cream onto my own slice of bread and took a bite, nodding in agreement.

Ah.

This was it.

It tasted a bit different than the bread I knew, but it reminded me of the private, crescent moon-shaped cream bread from the convenience store. The one with the bunny drawn on it.

Although the bread often ended up discarded due to its short shelf life, I didn’t often partake of it.

Just an ordinary taste.

But in this world, it seemed to be an unimaginable luxury. Or perhaps, she was just unique.

“See, even black bread can be quite enjoyable like this.”

“…Sob. Sniff.”

Nephti, on the verge of tears, reluctantly bit into her bread again. I handed her the flask filled with cream and a spoon, and she clutched it as if it were precious.

Once we finished our meal, Nephti looked at me hesitantly before finally asking her question.

“H-how did you know this combination would work?”

“It’s wisdom born of experience. Even a tasteless bread can be transformed into a delightful meal when combined with the grace and wisdom of nature.”

“…Ah, sob. Sniff. I see. Such wisdom. Such happiness was right before my eyes. And I… I…!”

Nephti seemed so frustrated. She clenched her fist and pounded the ground, sobbing.

“Sob… I could’ve been eating this instead of grass and dirt, and I…!”

“…”

Could the rumor actually be true?

Trivia:

Helen Keller had a significant relationship with water throughout her life. Helen Keller was a renowned American author, political activist, and lecturer who became deaf and blind as a result of a childhood illness. Water played a crucial role in one of the most transformative moments of Helen Keller’s life.

Anne Sullivan, a young teacher, was brought into Helen Keller’s life when Helen was just seven years old. Anne Sullivan taught Helen various concepts and language through touch and association. One of the breakthrough moments came when Anne Sullivan spelled the word “water” into Helen’s hand while pumping water over her other hand from a well. This experience allowed Helen Keller to make the connection between the tactile sign language and the concept of water.

Helen Keller later described this moment as her awakening, where she gained an understanding that everything had a name and that language could help her communicate and understand the world around her. The word “water” became a symbol of this breakthrough and marked the beginning of Helen Keller’s journey to overcome her disabilities and achieve remarkable accomplishments.

Water remained a significant theme in Helen Keller’s life. She often used water-related metaphors in her writings and speeches to convey profound ideas and emotions. For example, she referred to the power and potential of education as a “free-flowing river” and emphasized the importance of perseverance and adaptability by comparing them to the strength and fluidity of water.