It was a dream.

“Your progress is still slow. And yet you ask to be taught new Magic. Do you know how long it takes to become a proper Mage?”

“I do not.”

“Twenty years. It takes a full twenty years of training to become a High-ranking Mage. Only then can you receive proper respect.”

“I heard High-ranking Mages are few in number.”

“You are receiving my teachings. Though I have taught only a few disciples, every one of them has become a High-ranking Mage. You must at least reach that level.”

His master said this, not so much with conviction, but with a tone that implied it was an absolute necessity.

“How do I become a High-ranking Mage?”

“You must move beyond controlling water and truly delve into ice. Only when that is mastered will you finally be recognized as a Mage.”

“Ice…”

His Dream Self muttered. Rael repeated it. It was still a long way off.

His master said Water Magic was merely a foundation. He felt lost wondering how long it would take to master it and begin Ice Magic.

Just mastering Water Ball alone was said to take half a year to a year.

It meant he would have to waste at least a year, perhaps even longer, to learn the next Magic. It might take decades to learn proper Magic through his master’s instruction. It felt too distant.

For now, he decided to attend the Magic lectures. There wasn’t much else to do. Mostly, it involved teaching Magic theory. If he practiced Magic, his master would point out his mistakes.

His dream self was also making Water Droplets.

When he shot it out, it became a Water Ball. Simply shooting out Water Droplets, like a Beggar, involved several steps. First, creating the Water Droplet.

Then, maintaining its form.

And finally, launching it forward.

It was magic that required him to focus on several steps while launching the Water Droplet as fast as an arrow. He couldn’t believe this was considered a basic level.

The Old Man added that those without talent would only learn two or three simple spells and then be kicked out or end up doing odd jobs. It made sense.

Making and maintaining the water was manageable. But launching it was a different matter. With just a slight lapse in concentration, the Water Droplet would lose its shape and spill onto the floor.

Instead of waiting for the next magic, he needed to make proper progress first before complaining. He wanted to at least improve his abilities to a level where he could use them in combat.

That was the end of the dream. He opened his eyes. Sunlight was streaming through the window. It was a peaceful morning.

“It was an inn room, wasn’t it?”

He scratched his head. He packed the luggage he had placed beside the bed. Carrying only the essentials, he left the room and went down the stairs.

The inn was quiet. He seemed to have woken up a bit early. The Innkeeper was already out. A fragrant smell wafted from the kitchen.

“You’re up early. Are you having breakfast?”

“Yes. How much is it?”

“Just 3 Copper Coins.”

Rael nodded. It matched the price Dorian had mentioned. If it had been more expensive, he would have refused.

Even 3 Copper Coins was a burdensome price. To fill his stomach, Black Bread was enough. Incidentally, a piece of Black Bread larger than his head was 1 Copper Coin.

He took three coins from his pocket.

If he was going to eat, he wanted a delicious meal. Since he had earned his own money, he felt bolder. His mouth watered, wondering what kind of food would come out.

A moment later, the Innkeeper brought a plate.

The food was simple.

A crispy grilled Herring and a glass of milk.

Rael devoured the food. It was his first time having fish. It was grilled crispy on the outside, so the texture was good. It smelled as if it had been brushed with butter or something similar.

As he was finishing his meal, Dorian appeared. He skillfully placed an order and then drank some water first. Only then did Rael notice that water was free.

“Are you leaving right away?”

“Why?”

“I have somewhere to stop by for a moment.”

“Where are you going?”

“To buy clothes.”

“With the money I gave you yesterday? I think it might not be enough.”

“Not enough?”

“It depends on how well you shop.”

“What does that mean?”

There was no answer. He waited in silence. Dorian finished the food on the table. There was no need for cleanup. They both left the inn and headed to the clothing store. It was a short walk.

In front of the store, Dorian suggested they go in separately. He didn’t say why when asked. For now, he went into the store alone as Dorian said. It was a quiet store. The Clothes Shop Owner frowned.

“What do you want?”

“I came to buy clothes.”

“Do you have money?”

“Yes.”

“How much do you have?”

He didn’t want to answer. The more he spoke, the more unpleasant he felt. The tone was suspicious. Naturally, his words weren’t polite.

“Just show me some clothes first.”

“Alright.”

The Shop Owner led him to one side. Small clothes were piled up around. He pointed to one of them. It was a fluffy fur coat.

“How much is this?”

“One Silver Coin.”

“That’s expensive.”

“Clothes are expensive.”

“Don’t you have anything a little cheaper?”

“How cheap?”

“Ten Copper Coins.”

The Shop Owner walked briskly to the opposite side. It was where less appealing clothes were displayed compared to before. The Shop Owner picked one up.

“How about this one?”

“How much is it?”

“Fifty Copper Coins.”

“Is that the cheapest one?”

“There is a 30 Copper Coin one, but…”

His face darkened. His entire fortune at the moment was 27 Copper Coins. It was an amount he could only afford if he hadn’t eaten breakfast.

The Shop Owner changed his words after observing his reaction.

“If you buy it now, I’ll give it to you for 20 Copper Coins.”

“Really?”

“Alright.”

“I’ll take that one.”

He changed into the clothes the Shop Owner handed him. The owner made a big fuss, saying they were made of wool. They were certainly warm. More than that, he felt good about buying them cheaply.

He left the shop. Dorian was waiting outside. He told him how much he paid for it.

“You got ripped off.”

“No way. He said it was originally 30 Copper Coins.”

“That’s a lie.”

“A lie?”

“He saw you as an easy mark and scammed you, beggar. Didn’t he persistently ask how much money you had?”

“He did keep asking.”

“He saw how much money you had and then hiked up the price. What you’re wearing is worth at most 10 Copper Coins.”

His hands and feet trembled. The amount he poured into buying the Wool Clothes was 20 Copper Coins. It meant he was ripped off by at least double.

“Where are you going?”

“To confront him.”

“Don’t go. He’ll just call the Guard Soldiers and kick you out.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Consider it a cheap lesson. You can earn 10 Copper Coins anytime.”

His body just trembled. It wasn’t just simple money. These were Coins that held meaning, the first he had ever earned. Perhaps because of that, he was incredibly angry.

He slowly calmed his breathing. In the first place, it was his fault for being tricked. If Dorian hadn’t told him, he wouldn’t even have known he was scammed.

“Did I seem naive?”

“You’re young, and your shabby appearance probably played a big part.”

“I’m a little better now, right?”

He spread his arms and showed off the clothes. Dorian crossed his arms, an alluring smile playing on his lips.

“It’s presentable now. But from now on, when you make a deal, always haggle hard.”

“How much?”

“First, cut the price ridiculously. Find fault with everything. Then, at least, you won’t get ripped off.”

I nodded. Dorian’s advice felt heavy. It felt even more so because I had just been scammed.

“The best thing would be to know the market price. If you know the exact value, that’s all you need.”

“That’s true.”

As we talked, my anger gradually subsided. As my head cleared, I realized it was a gain. It wasn’t entirely a loss since I learned a lesson with the first money I earned.

The two moved on. Their destination was the alchemist’s house. It was time to receive payment for their efforts in roaming the forest.

“Welcome. What brings you here?”

“I’ve come to sell some herbs.”

A neatly dressed man at the counter stood up to greet him. A strong scent of mixed herbs emanated from him.

“May I examine them first?”

The man examined the sack. He seemed a little annoyed.

“That’s a lot. I think we’ll have to pour it out on the floor.”

Dorian agreed. The man wrapped a cloth hanging on the wall around his mouth. Only after putting on gloves did he pour out the contents of the sack. He handled the herbs just like Dorian did, probably because he worked with them.

“Oh, there are many useful herbs. I need this too. These are exactly what we’ve been looking for.”

“How much can you offer?”

“I’ll give you 30 silver coins.”

“……!!”

Dorian quickly accepted. His words about always haggling hard seemed meaningless.

Rael was no different. He was disoriented. It felt like someone had hit him over the head. 30 silver coins had that kind of impact.

“Do you have a lot of work?”

“My master has been researching something lately, so we’re buying a lot. He grumbles that there aren’t any proper herbalists around here.”

“I see.”

The man seemed to be the alchemist’s apprentice. He looked young.

The two left the alchemist’s house.

Normally, I would have checked the quantity of herbs and calculated the price, but I didn’t even think about it. It was because I had bought even unnecessary herbs. Rather, it was a profit.

Dorian asked. His chest was slightly puffed out, perhaps because the heavy pouch was gone.

“What are you going to do now?”

“What about you, Dorian?”

“I have nothing to do.”

Dorian seemed to be planning to go back. It wasn’t unreasonable since he had a lot of money in hand. He looked as if he had drunk heavily, even though no alcohol had entered his stomach.

“I’m going to collect herbs.”

“Like when you came to this place?”

After a little thought, I added a remark.

“I’ll also work as a mercenary.”

“You’re going to hunt monsters?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t do that. It’s too early for a kid like you.”

“But I caught a Gnoll.”

“Mercenaries’ faces are their weapons. No one will hire a scrawny kid like you. Maybe in a few years, but not now.”

“Just you wait.”

Dorian packed his things. They were supplies needed for camping.

“What about the crossbow?”

“You can have that.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I think you need it more than I do.”

I watched Dorian’s expression.

“What about the payment?”

“Payment?”

Dorian pretended not to hear. I was slightly disappointed.

I had expected to receive a little money, having gotten more than I anticipated. But Dorian was a miser.

In the first place, I wasn’t going to get anything.

Instead of me collecting herbs for him, he shared his knowledge. That was the deal.

Dorian turned his back. He was leaving.

I expressed my gratitude.

“Thank you for everything during this time.”

No answer came.

Just as I was feeling disappointed, something flew towards me.

It was a coin.

The farewell gift he gave was a silver coin.