Chapter 5

Surviving in the Murim as a Mage - Chapter 5

His current fortune was enough to last a few months at most. If he was extremely frugal, he might be able to live comfortably for about a year. However, a mage was a being that consumed an infinite amount of money. With this amount, he was still far from satisfied.

"I need to acquire knowledge of this world."

To be more precise, he wanted to understand the magical system of this world. Judging by the runic language used to create the inventory and the work method involved, it was clear that it followed a different path from the lower dimension.

In some aspects, the inventory seemed to have depth, while in others, it appeared to be made quite haphazardly. Even such observations were educational, making his time very productive. Therefore, Tvalier now needed resources as much as he needed to study the magical system. As mentioned before, a mage was essentially a resource-hungry existence. Whether it was mana stones or elixirs, he had to obtain whatever he could to increase his own capabilities.

"To do that, I will first need a plausible identity."

Furthermore, he needed a network of connections through which he could obtain accurate information and knowledge. It was nearly impossible for one person to gather all the resources necessary for growth alone.

"Hmm, I wonder if I can obtain all of that in that village."

The village was visible in the distance at the foot of the mountain. Although the village did not look small from afar, it did not give off the impression of being particularly bustling.

"But what on earth is this book?"

Money and mana stones were not the only things that came out of the inventory. There was also a single, worn-out book.

"Fire... Arts?"

The problem was that the boy's knowledge was limited, so Tvalier could not read it.

"Ugh, to think I am illiterate."

This was an unexpected pitfall, but it was unavoidable. In any dimension, the probability of a lower-class being possessing full literacy was extremely low. Although Tvalier was disappointed as he looked at the book, he accepted the reality of the situation.

Thus, he left the ghouls to perform 'Auto-Hunt' in the forest and headed toward the small village himself. After passing through well-organized fields on both sides, he finally arrived at the village entrance he had been observing.

‘Hmm, the atmosphere is not much different from where I came from.’

The only difference was that the faces of the people passing by were not particularly sharp or defined, but rather had a flat, plain feeling. Other than that, there was no significant impression. Regardless, Tvalier was now facing the first actual village he had encountered since coming to this world.

The village was surrounded by a stone wall approximately six meters high. Perhaps because there were few travelers, the entrance to the wall was quite deserted even though it was morning.

"Hmm? What is with that kid?"

Perhaps that was why one of the guards—a large, fierce-looking soldier who had been idly guarding the entrance—glared at Tvalier with squinted eyes.

‘Good grief, I can already tell the quality of this place.’

The Lord of this area did not seem to be a very meticulous person if the gatekeeper was this unfriendly. First impressions were of utmost importance. Tvalier grumbled inwardly, but outwardly, he used his short legs to jog toward the fierce-looking soldier at the gate and secretly slipped him ten copper coins.

With that lightning-fast movement, the soldier's fierce face magically softened into a warm smile.

"Ahem, this is not right. For a little brother, you certainly know the ways of the world, unlike how you look. But do not cause any trouble. You understand, right?"

"Of course, sir."

Indeed, there was no world where bribery did not work. This truth remained unchanged.

"Ahem, since it looks like this is your first time in this town, I will give you some advice. Walk along the central road and go to the Manseok Inn in the left alley at the very end. The cook there is quite skilled. The food will suit your taste."

"Thank you for the warm advice, sir."

Afterward, Tvalier was able to enter the village without any further issues. As expected, any world was a good place to live as long as one had money. Tvalier continued to walk down the central road on his short legs, looking with interest at an official government building with a strange architectural style that looked as if it were wearing a hat.

"All the buildings have a uniform appearance."

One can learn many things from observing that an entire city has the same architectural style without any unique characteristics, and that the fronts of all buildings face the same direction as if decreed by someone.

"It seems the Lord's power is quite strong in this world."

Because the power of the Lord or the law was strong, buildings were constructed in a way that erased individual personality. Such cities have their pros and cons, but on the positive side, it meant that public security and the standard of living were likely quite high. It was not a bad place for a first city.

While taking in the sights, he noticed a tall and sturdy government building in the center of the city. Wide roads stretched out in all four directions from that building. Tvalier followed the left road into an alley, just as the guard had instructed. Before long, the recommended Manseok Inn came into view.

‘Should I eat first?’

He was not particularly hungry, but after eating only wild animals in the mountains for several days, the smell of gamey meat seemed to linger in his mouth. He wanted a properly cooked meal now. From the outside, the Manseok Inn was a three-story building. It appeared to be a typical inn of this world that provided both food and lodging.

Rattle—

When Tvalier pushed aside the beaded curtain at the entrance and stepped inside with a bit of anticipation, he found the inn to be completely empty, contrary to the guard's recommendation.

‘What? I thought this was a famous place?’

Just as doubt about the guard's recommendation began to sprout, a young boy about his age quickly ran out from behind the kitchen curtain and spoke.

"Huh? Did you come alone?"

"Yeah."

Tvalier was momentarily flustered by the boy's casual speech, but he realized that since he was also a child, he was being treated accordingly.

"Are you going to eat?"

"Yes."

"...I will show you to a window seat."

Tvalier naturally followed the server’s guidance and sat by the window. The chair was high, so his feet barely touched the floor. The table was also high, reaching about his shoulder height when he stood, but he figured this was unavoidable since he was in the body of a child.

‘This is uncomfortable.’

He could barely reach the chopstick container on the table, so he anticipated that his future life would be full of challenges. Meanwhile, the server brought over a wooden menu with a slightly uneasy expression.

"I am sorry, but our shop requires payment in advance."

What did that mean? After thinking for a moment, Tvalier understood why the server had been looking uneasy.

‘Aha! I looked like a beggar to him!’

Since he had been in the mountains for a while, he had not paid attention to his clothing. It was absurd at first, but thinking objectively, his current appearance probably did look quite funny.

 The clothes he had received as a "donation" from the Mansi Sect did not fit him. Later, he had cut off the bloodstained parts in the mountains, making them even smaller, and even then, he was wearing them all crumpled up because the length was wrong.

‘I must have looked extremely suspicious.’

If he had not been a child, he might not have even made it past the guard at the city gate.

‘Did they think I just stole my father's clothes and wore them?’

Tvalier chuckled as he finally understood why the guard had looked so fierce earlier. He knew from experience what to do in such a situation.

Thud—

He took a silver coin out of his sleeve and placed it firmly on the table. The server's uneasy eyes widened.

"Do you have a room where I can sleep for the day?"

"Y-yes, we do, guest."

"Then, one roasted duck and one bowl of flour noodles. And a room to stay in tonight. The rest is a tip."

When Tvalier spoke with a bit of authority, the server tilted his head without taking his eyes off the silver coin.

"I apologize, but what is a 'tip', guest?"

"Ah! It means you can keep the change after the bill is settled."

"Gasp! Thank you, Young Master! P-please, let me bring you some cushions to sit higher!"

"Oh? Good. Now the height is just right. You have good sense."

In an instant, Tvalier’s status was upgraded from "hey kid" to "Young Master." He laughed heartily, reminded once again of the power of capital. He sat comfortably on the cushions provided and carefully organized his plans for the future.

‘First, I should change my clothes and visit a place called the Vagabond Association.’

Since the possessed boy's knowledge was so poor, he lacked a lot of information about this world. Fortunately, however, there was a place like a mercenary reception desk in this world as well.

‘Since vagabonds are the same as mercenaries in that other world.’

Whether in this world or the other, the way people thought seemed to be quite similar. Feeling a bit of novelty, Tvalier fiddled with the objects called chopsticks on the table. Since they were eating utensils in the boy's memory, he could use them skillfully, but they still felt unfamiliar.

‘It really is strange.’

The fact that they did not use forks and knives at the table felt like a slight lack of dignity, but Tvalier was a person of character who knew how to acknowledge 'differences.' Just then, the food arrived.

"Here is the food you ordered, Young Master!"

"Oh? That was fast."

Tvalier ate the flour noodles the server had kindly brought first and nodded with a satisfied face. The deep meat flavor and the pungent garlic scent from the hot broth were quite harmonious. The guard he had met earlier had given him honest information after all.

‘It is delicious. No, this is actually quite excellent.’

Slurp—

"Hehe, it is hot, so please eat carefully, Young Master."

Perhaps because of the tip he had given earlier, the server came by frequently to pour warm tea and provide service. Thanks to that, it became a very satisfying breakfast.

"I will prepare hot bathwater for you this evening, Young Master!"

"All right."

After finishing his meal, Tvalier asked the server, who was bowing deeply, for the location of the nearest clothier.

"Ah! Yu's Clothier is the most famous here in Giyang County, Young Master. If you follow that left road for about fifteen minutes, you will find it."

The power of money was incredible. The server escorted him all the way to the door with a gentle voice.

"Well then, shall I be on my way?"

Tvalier moved his body with a light step.

 Now that he had a plan, it was time to put it into action.

 And the start of that plan was his attire.