Universal Truths and Local Customs
His current wealth would last him a few months at best.
If he pinched every penny, he might stretch it to a year of comfortable living.
But a wizard was a creature that consumed endless amounts of gold.
This meager sum was nowhere near enough.
"I need to acquire the knowledge of this world."
More precisely, he wanted to understand this world's system of magic.
Just looking at the runic language used to create the inventory and the craftsmanship behind it, it was clear that this world operated on a completely different level compared to lower dimensions.
In some aspects, it possessed remarkable depth.
In others, the inventory was constructed so sloppily it was almost laughable.
Yet, even analyzing those flaws was highly educational and a thoroughly productive use of his time.
Therefore, Fabius Trevalier currently required not only a deep study of this world's magic system but also an immense amount of resources.
As established, wizards were fundamentally black holes for resources.
Whether it was mana stones or elixirs,
he had to get his hands on whatever he could to increase his power.
"To do that, I will first need a respectable identity."
Along with that, he needed connections to gather accurate information and knowledge.
Gathering every single resource needed for his growth entirely on his own was nigh impossible.
"Hmm. I wonder if I can obtain all of that in the town over there."
He looked down at the town nestled far below the mountain.
Though shrouded in a faint haze, it didn't seem particularly small.
Then again, it didn't give off the vibe of a bustling metropolis either.
"By the way, what on earth is this book?"
Gold and mana stones weren't the only things he had pulled from the inventory.
There was also a single, worn-out book.
"Fire... Magic?"
The problem was that the child's knowledge was too limited to read the rest.
"Ugh. To think I'm illiterate."
This was an unexpected pitfall.
But realistically, it couldn't be helped.
In any dimension, the probability of a lower-class commoner being fully literate was exceedingly low.
Fabius stared at the book with deep regret,
but he accepted the reality of his situation.
Leaving his ghouls to auto-hunt in the forest, he set off toward the small town.
He passed through neatly arranged fields flanking both sides of the path.
Finally, he arrived at the entrance of the town he had been observing from afar.
Hmm. The atmosphere isn't all that different from my previous world.
Except, perhaps, for the facial features of the passersby.
They felt somewhat flatter, lacking the sharp, three-dimensional structure he was used to.
Other than that, nothing particularly impressed him.
In any case, this was the first proper town Fabius had encountered since arriving in this world.
The town was enclosed by a stone wall about six meters high.
Perhaps because foot traffic was generally light, the gate was quite deserted despite it being morning.
"Huh? What's with that kid?"
Was that why?
One of the guards idling at the gate—a burly fellow with a fierce scowl—squinted suspiciously down at Fabius.
Good grief. I can already tell what kind of place this is.
The lord of this territory did not seem particularly meticulous.
Allowing a gatekeeper to display such blatant hostility.
First impressions were of paramount importance.
Grumbling inwardly, Fabius trotted forward on his short legs.
He approached the fierce-looking guard and discreetly slipped ten coins into his hand.
At that lightning-fast gesture, the guard's scowl melted away like magic, replaced by a warm, welcoming smile.
"Ah, now, we shouldn't be doing this... But look at you! For a little brother, you certainly understand how the world works. Just make sure you don't cause any trouble, alright?"
"Of course, officer."
Indeed, there was no world where bribery failed to grease the wheels.
Some truths were universal.
"Ahem. Well, since it's clearly your first time here, let me give you a piece of advice. Walk straight down the main street, and at the very end, turn into the alley on your left. You'll find the Manseok Inn. The chef there is excellent. The food should suit your palate."
"Thank you for your warm advice, officer."
Afterward, Fabius entered the town without further issue.
As expected, any world was a pleasant place to live as long as one had money.
Fabius resumed his brisk walk down the main street on his short legs, observing a government building with a peculiar architectural style that made it look as if it were wearing a hat.
"The buildings are remarkably uniform."
The entire town shared the same bland, standardized architectural style.
Furthermore, the fact that every single building faced the exact same direction—as if decreed by a higher authority—revealed a great deal.
"The local lord must wield absolute authority here."
Only a powerful ruler or strict laws could enforce such a complete suppression of individual expression in architecture.
This level of uniformity was the hallmark of centralized control.
While such cities had their pros and cons,
the positive side was that public order and the standard of living tended to be quite high.
It wasn't a bad place to start his journey.
As he walked, he noted the tall, sturdy government office standing at the town's center.
Broad avenues radiated outward from it in all directions.
Ilyang followed the guard's directions, turning down the left avenue and entering the alley.
Before long, the recommended Manseok Inn came into view.
Should I eat first?
He wasn't particularly hungry, but after surviving on wild game in the mountains for days, his mouth tasted of gamey grease.
He craved a properly cooked meal.
From the outside, the Manseok Inn was a three-story building.
It appeared to be a typical establishment of this world, serving both as a restaurant and a lodging house.
Shhhk—
With a hint of anticipation, Fabius parted the bead curtain at the entrance and stepped inside.
Contrary to the guard's glowing recommendation, the inn was completely empty.
What gives? I thought this place was supposed to be good.
Just as doubt began to creep in,
Clack-clack-clack—
the kitchen curtain parted, and a young boy roughly his age came rushing out.
"Oh? Are you by yourself?"
"Yeah."
Fabius was momentarily taken aback by the boy's casual speech,
but then he remembered his own current appearance. It was only natural to be addressed as a peer.
"Are you here to eat?"
"Yes."
"...I'll show you to a window seat."
Fabius naturally followed the jeomsoi's lead and took a seat by the window.
The chair was so high that his feet barely grazed the floor.
The table was also quite high, reaching up to his shoulders when he stood.
He sighed inwardly, chalking it up to the inconveniences of having a child's body.
How annoying.
He could barely reach the chopstick container on the table.
It seemed his daily life would be fraught with minor struggles.
Meanwhile, the jeomsoi brought over a wooden menu, looking somewhat hesitant.
"I'm sorry, but we require payment upfront."
What did that mean?
After a moment's thought, Fabius finally understood the source of the boy's anxiety.
Ah. I must look like a beggar.
He had spent too much time in the mountains to care about his attire.
He hadn't paid any attention to his clothes.
At first, he found it absurd,
but looking at himself objectively, he had to admit he looked rather ridiculous.
The clothes he had "borrowed" from the Mansi Sect didn't fit him to begin with.
After cutting away the blood-stained portions in the forest, they had shrunk even further.
He had been forced to tuck and fold the mismatched fabric just to keep it on his body.
I must look incredibly suspicious.
If he hadn't been a child,
he might not have even made it past the gatekeeper.
Did they think I stole my father's clothes?
Finally understanding why the guard had glared at him so fiercely, Fabius let out a soft chuckle.
He knew from experience exactly how to handle this kind of situation.
Clack.
He reached into his sleeve, pulled out a silver coin, and tossed it onto the table.
The jeomsoi's anxious eyes went wide.
"Do you have a room available for tonight?"
"Y-yes, of course, esteemed guest."
"Then bring me some roast duck and a bowl of wheat noodles. I'll also take a room for the night. Keep the change as a tip."
Fabius spoke with an air of dignity,
but the jeomsoi merely tilted his head, his gaze still glued to the silver coin.
"Excuse me, but... what is a 'tip'?"
"Ah. It means you can keep the rest of the money."
"Gasp! Thank you, Young Master! P-please, let me fetch some cushions so you can sit higher!"
"Oh? Excellent. Now the height is perfect. You've got quick wits."
From a mere "kid"
to "Young Master" in the blink of an eye.
Fabius chuckled, once again reminded of the sheer power of capital.
Settling comfortably onto the cushions, he began to organize his plans.
First, I need to buy new clothes. Then, I should pay a visit to this Nangin Association.
The memories of the child he had possessed were far too sparse, leaving him sorely lacking in local knowledge.
Fortunately, this world seemed to have its own version of a mercenary guild.
Since vagabonds here are essentially the same as mercenaries back home.
No matter the world,
human nature remained remarkably consistent.
Finding this slightly amusing,
Clack—
Fabius toyed with the wooden utensils called chopsticks.
Although he could use them naturally thanks to the child's muscle memory,
it still feels incredibly foreign.
Eating without a fork and knife.
It felt somewhat unrefined,
but Fabius was a man of culture, fully capable of respecting different customs.
Just then,
"Here is your food, Young Master!"
"Oh? That was fast."
Fabius took a bite of the wheat noodles the jeomsoi had served with utmost politeness.
He nodded in deep satisfaction.
The rich, savory broth blended beautifully with the sharp kick of garlic.
The guard at the gate had been surprisingly honest.
Delicious. In fact, this is quite excellent.
Pour—
"Hehe. It's hot, so please be careful, Young Master."
Perhaps because of the generous tip,
the jeomsoi hovered nearby, constantly refilling his tea and attending to his needs.
It made for a highly satisfying breakfast.
"I'll have a hot bath ready for you this evening, Young Master!"
"Very well."
Having finished his meal,
Fabius asked the bowing jeomsoi for the location of the nearest tailor shop.
"Ah! In Giyang County, the Ryu Tailor Shop is the most famous, Young Master. If you follow the left avenue for about ten minutes, you'll see it."
The power of money was truly magnificent.
The jeomsoi escorted him all the way to the door with a sweet, polite voice.
"Well then, shall we go?"
Fabius set off with a light step.
Now that he had a plan, it was time to execute it.
And the first step of that plan was a change of clothes.