Chapter 13
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 013
Chapter Title: Letters
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Andy could read letters.
Not ordinary ones, but the script of mages—rune letters.
The reason an uneducated boy like Andy could read runes was that they were composed of a spiritual language.
His spiritual senses were exceptionally keen, bordering on the mystical.
From the very first time he laid eyes on them, he had been able to puzzle out their meanings, reading them haltingly.
'But I can't read regular letters.'
The only script he could decipher was limited to runes.
He couldn't read the common letters used in everyday life.
Because they weren't the language of the soul. Without learning them, it was impossible to read them.
Andy wished he could read ordinary letters too.
'Someday I'll leave this village for the city... I want to learn them before then.'
In the city, there would surely be situations where letters were essential.
Like searching for knowledge or information, or handling contracts.
The boy was preparing in advance for such times.
"A book to learn reading from... You want to learn letters, Andy?"
"Yes."
"That's admirable."
Meanwhile, Dario gazed at Andy with a pleased smile.
Andy was only twelve years old. The age when kids loved playing and were obsessed with sweets.
Yet here was Andy, yearning to learn to read. He wanted to acquire skills to raise his own value.
Dario found it impressive how the boy possessed such ambition, uncharacteristic for his age.
But regardless of his feelings, providing a book was problematic.
It wasn't about the money. It was time.
"As you know, the trading caravan won't bring books on this trip. They focus on fast-selling goods. To get one, we'd have to pay a deposit upfront and wait for the next caravan. But as you know..."
"It'll be months before we get it."
"Exactly."
If this were a city, acquiring a book wouldn't be hard.
There would be specialized bookstores. Or you could pay to borrow from a library.
But this was a remote village on the frontier, without even a bookstore or library. Getting a single book took months.
Andy nodded.
"If I have to wait until the next caravan... then there's no choice. Please do that."
"You must really want to learn. Willing to wait months for a book."
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Dario stroked his chin thoughtfully.
To get the book would mean waiting months.
And since it wasn't a standard item with low demand, it would cost a hefty premium.
Inefficient in both time and money.
Andy wanted the book to learn letters. If he could learn them without one, the book itself wouldn't matter much.
So why not teach him without a book?
After a moment's thought, he made a proposal to Andy.
"Andy. How about this instead?"
"?"
Dario and Andy headed to a house in the village.
It was larger than the others, with a small ranch and expansive fields out back. The home of the village's wealthiest man.
Knock knock knock.
Dario rapped on the door and called out.
"Patrick! Come out!"
-Who is it?!
The door flew open.
Patrick stepped out and spotted Dario.
"Dario, huh. What's this about in the middle of lunch?"
"Village chief. I have a proposal for you."
The house Dario and Andy had come to belonged to none other than the village chief, Patrick.
The local magnate who governed the village in the lord's stead. The man with the greatest influence here.
And the only one in the village who knew how to read.
Dario said to the chief,
"I'd like you to teach this boy to read."
"...What? What's that out of the blue?"
The chief looked down at the boy with a bewildered expression.
He knew the kid well.
Andy. The orphan working at Gavory's inn.
Teach him to read? What was going on?
"Here's the situation..."
Dario explained patiently.
How Andy had helped with his herb gathering. How he wanted to repay him by helping him learn to read. And so they'd come to the chief, the only one who knew letters in the village.
Village chief Patrick snorted.
"So? Why should I teach this kid? What's it got to do with me?"
He had a point.
The boy's desire to learn had nothing to do with him as village chief. Why would he spend time teaching some random orphan?
Dario replied,
"If you teach Andy to read and write, I'll forgive the treatment fees and herb costs you owe me on credit."
"...You're serious?"
The chief's expression wavered at Dario's words.
As village magnate, he had considerable wealth. He raised cattle and owned vast fields worked by tenant farmers.
But that didn't mean he was swimming in money.
Recently, he'd invested in a new merchant company in the city and lost big.
He'd sold land and liquidated assets to put out the fire, but his cash was nearly gone.
Then his son Frank fell ill. A serious illness that threatened his life.
The chief had sought Dario, who used heaps of herbs and time to cure the boy.
But with no cash on hand, the treatment bill was left on credit...
'And he'll waive it?'
The bill wasn't small. Ten large silver coins. Enough to hire a tenant farmer for a month.
Waiving a debt like that?
Not a fortune, but no pocket change either.
'Did that orphan get something on him?'
The chief couldn't understand Dario.
Going that far for some orphan who wasn't even family. Wasn't that excessive generosity?
But it didn't matter to him.
Teach basic reading and writing, erase a ten large silver coin debt? Definitely a good deal.
"Fine. Come back in three days. I'll start teaching you then."
"Are you sure it's okay? It seems like you spent a lot of money..."
On the way back from the chief's house, Andy spoke to Dario with a guilty look.
His selfish desire to learn letters had burdened Dario. Waiving a ten large silver coin debt? That seemed like a huge loss.
Dario chuckled.
"It's fine, Andy. The herb costs were less than half of that bill. The rest was my labor fee. From my perspective, it's like getting the chief to do a job for two large silver coins and a bit of effort."
"Still..."
"Really, it's okay. The herbs you gathered are worth more than ten large silver coins."
Andy had collected a massive amount of herbs in just a few days. Enough to surprise even a seasoned herbalist like him.
Just the value of those herbs exceeded ten large silver coins. That's why he'd insisted on giving the boy something in return.
"So no need to feel sorry. If anything, I'm the one who feels bad. You gathered so many, and this is all I can do."
"No, this is more than I deserve."
Andy shook his head at Dario's words. He meant it. An orphan like him learning to read? It still felt unreal.
"Then study hard. Honestly, not sure what use reading will be in this backwater... but learning never hurts."
Dario said, patting the boy's head.
And so Andy gained the chance to learn letters.
Master them well, and he'd adapt easily to city life later.
The boy looked forward to his future self, reading and writing fluently.
The day the trading caravan was due arrived.
Andy spent it without a moment's rest.
"Andy! Clean room two!"
"Yes, Gavory Aunt!"
"Tom, serve the food! Orders are piling up!"
"Got it, Mom!"
The caravan had reached the village. Dozens of merchants and mercenaries flooding in.
The only place for outsiders to stay was the inn. Gavory's place was packed.
Innkeeper Gavory and Andy, plus Tom who was coming of age, all bustled about.
'Every time the caravan comes, it's chaos.'
Three people handling dozens of guests. Bound to be hectic.
Serving food, cleaning rooms, hauling luggage—the boy kept at it.
In the midst of the frenzy, Andy suddenly realized something.
'Busy, but... not tiring.'
It hadn't been like this before.
Caravan visits used to leave him exhausted, on the verge of illness from overwork. He was just a kid, after all. No stamina or strength for it.
But now, his body felt unburdened.
Heavy loads felt light. Legs kept moving without fatigue piling up. Vitality surged through him.
Even as a child handling heavy labor, he wasn't wearing out.
'Thanks to the Yohan Grass.'
A few days ago, he'd consumed it and stored a good amount of mana in his heart.
That mana had strengthened his body and mind. Granting him stamina and strength beyond his twelve years.
Andy felt the power of mana anew.
Just from one herb's worth, this much change.
What would it be like with the vast mana stores of true mages?
No doubt, incredible.
'I can see why mages and knights treat commoners like bugs.'
He'd barely started with magic and already felt this. Lifelong mages? Unimaginable.
Knights and mages who could slaughter hundreds alone. To them, how insignificant must ordinary folk seem?
Lost in such thoughts, Andy kept working.
As he carried out dishes,
"Damn it... Heading to the front lines at a time like this?"
"Gotta earn money. Gotta feed the family back home."
"Front's getting pushed back. Rupoff Fortress fell."
"What? Rupoff? Wasn't that garrisoned by knights? And it got breached?"
Conversations drifted over. From a group of mercenaries at a table corner.
Andy perked up his ears as he served.
In this remote village starved for outside news, travelers were the only source.
And their topic? The war front. Worth listening to.
Andy listened closely as the mercenaries talked among themselves.
"Empire's pushing south even in winter. Front lines keep falling back. Could be... won't be long before it reaches here."
"No way! Pretty far from here to the front, right? Doubt it'll come this way."
"Their momentum's scary. Pouring in troops like they want to end it."
The war between the Federation and the Empire.
Things looked bad for the Federation.