Chapter 17: Young Lady, We’re Out of Money
As Ig’s face contorted into a mournful expression, Miss Verafia contentedly put down the cutlery in her hand, her snowy cheeks flushed. With energetic little hands, she slapped the table with gusto.
“Ig, I’m done eating!”
Ig’s face filled with helplessness, yet he had to face reality and present the damp, clean white towel to the young lady.
He called over the smiling attendant who was waiting nearby.
“Sir, your meal is ninety-nine Bright Silver Coins in total.”
“Here.”
Ig paid with the last Kingdom Gold Coin in his pocket and received one Bright Silver Coin in change.
As for why a simple meal for two cost nearly a gold coin, equivalent to more than half a year’s expenses for an ordinary family, Ig was too tired to even think about it. He declared that he had grown accustomed to the experiences with the young lady by his side today.
The girl wiped her small mouth and then suddenly raised her big eyes.
“Ig, where are we going to play later? Although it’s getting a bit late, I heard that Vist City recently opened a popular Magic Crystal Theater, and someone named Basley is performing…”
“That person’s name is Balex. Moreover, these Magic Crystal Theater performances are not cheap. In Lorinc, a ticket would cost at least ten Silver Coins.”
Ig corrected the name, which was well-known throughout the kingdom, and then said somewhat helplessly.
However, when he saw the girl’s sparkling, curious eyes and the enthusiastic expression on her little face, his voice, carrying a hint of complaint, softened.
The young man helplessly placed the last Silver Coin he had on him in front of her:
“Young Lady, we’re out of money…”
“No money?”
Verafia seemed surprised.
Ig thought to himself, I’ve emphasized this so many times, and you still barely seem to care.
Speaking of which, does this Young Lady Phoenix really know what these forged gold and silver currencies truly represent? Perhaps, like dragons, she merely considers these pretty metals as decorative items?
–
Currency forged from gold and silver serves as the medium for the flow of all value in human society, and it is also the most direct expression of a person’s identity and status.
Even high-ranking court officials, enfeoffed nobles, or immensely powerful Professionals and alchemists; their status and power, in the final analysis, are still measured by the value represented by currency within the social system.
Without a single copper coin, even a powerful Saint Rank expert would be unable to move an inch.
– Of course, with their status and abilities, it is not difficult for them to earn thousands upon tens of thousands of Gold Coins.
“No money… Ig, how do we earn money?”
In Ig’s eyes, Miss Verafia, possessing astonishing beauty and immense strength, finally turned her exquisite and magnificent, yet now teary, big eyes towards him pitifully, having been rebuffed a few times due to her empty pockets.
Looking at the girl’s porcelain white, delicate and soft little face, and her silky golden hair, which seemed to have drooped like a dejected cat’s, Ig, for some reason, suddenly felt an urge to hold the little Phoenix’s small head and gently stroke her soft fur.
However, out of cherishing his precious life, Ig naturally had to suppress such urges in his heart.
Ig began to speak.
“Miss Verafia, if you want to earn money, the simplest way is to go to the Adventurer’s Guild and accept Request missions. Completing Requests not only earns you corresponding rewards, but you can also exchange various treasures and materials dropped by Magical Beasts for a good amount of Gold Coins.”
“Adventurer’s Guild?”
Seeing Verafia’s eyes light up with renewed interest, Ig quickly added.
“Young Lady, it’s already so late. The Adventurer’s Guild probably only has a few staff members on duty, and you can’t register now. How about we find a place to rest first and go tomorrow!”
“Is that so… Alright then, I’ll listen to you!”
…
Since he only had a single Silver Coin left, Ig naturally couldn’t choose a hotel with exquisite decorations that clearly indicated high expenses like the sons of great nobles. Instead, he led Verafia to a somewhat secluded and old tavern, which, at least, was not noisy.
Sitting by the quiet counter, the tavern owner, who seemed somewhat sleepy, suddenly perked up when he saw Ig and Verafia enter.
Although the attendant-like young man didn’t seem to be from any particular background, this girl… even someone whose eyes were blinded by the Holy Lord’s radiance could easily tell that this young lady must have an extraordinary background.
Whether it was her silky smooth golden hair, which could only be achieved with meticulous care, her fair and delicate slender hands, which showed no signs of labor, or her exquisite clothing and her curious gaze as she looked around—all revealed a hint of the demeanor found only in aloof nobles. This girl was likely a noble young lady playing outside without her father’s knowledge.
As for why this young lady would be interested in his humble establishment, which was usually frequented only by poor adventurers and mercenaries… how would he know?
The tavern owner quickly put on a smiling, enthusiastic welcoming face:
“Miss, are you looking for lodging? We have the finest guest rooms here, fully equipped with all amenities. Look, there are even two excellent Platinum-class rooms available. How about you and the young man beside you…”
“Um, boss.”
Ig’s voice interrupted the other party’s enthusiastic words. Under the tavern owner’s gaze, Ig awkwardly took out his remaining Silver Coin and placed it on the table. He then turned back to Verafia beside him.
“I think this single room would be quite good. Young Lady, how about we book this one!”
Muttering “I’m not awkward, it’s the others who are awkward” as if it were a piece of advice, Ig took the key to the lowest-ranked Black Iron-class guest room from the owner’s suspicious gaze and led Verafia to their lodging.
Although this “Black Iron-class” room was a bit crude, it at least had a bed, and they could sleep, right?
Entering the room, Ig locked the doors and windows before looking at Verafia in front of him.
“Young Lady, what do you plan to do with that Magic Crystal from the Blazing Dragon Wolf King? If you intend to refine potions, it won’t be easy.”
As one of the most essential parts of a Magical Beast, Magic Crystals contain immense power. In today’s era, where skills in alchemy, pharmaceutics, forging, and magic theory are flourishing, they play a crucial role in human society.
To use Ig himself as an example, when he went to the Blazing Flame Abyss previously, but his Bronze Rank strength was insufficient to resist the high temperatures there, he had specifically purchased an ice-elemental magic item that required the energy of an ice-elemental Magic Crystal.
And the reason the girl insisted on buying that fire-elemental Magic Crystal earlier was because it was the origin life crystal of the Blazing Dragon Wolf King, a powerful Star Rank Magical Beast, only one step away from Saint Rank.
The power contained within a Magic Crystal of this caliber is so immense that it could sustain even a national-class Magic Crystal Cannon for a period of time. Even for a Saint Rank expert to utilize it, they would need thorough preparation.
