Chapter 9, A Difficult Beginning

Those noble young ladies, many of whom possess the strength of knights, if you dare to respond like that, Rhine, you will be torn to shreds.

To the braggart Rhine, cheers!

Kohen rubbed his eyes and looked at the dim light around him: "I am not drunk, do not try to deceive me, it is clearly night, what a beautiful night it is."

Once again, there is someone who knows me, yet I do not know them? Lucien has become quite accustomed to this situation, smiling as he said, "You arrived at the tavern so early?"

At around 1:00 PM, there are a few similar matters, but unless you are a knight, it is impossible to return from outside the city.

Rhein's expression remained unchanged as he answered with a faint smile: "I told them that I do not like dirty items that have been used by others; I only love beautiful, pure, and clean lives, regardless of whether they are male or female, for they are the most delightful things in this world"

Lucien turned around and saw a silver-haired man emerging from the side of the tavern that had been converted into an inn. He wore slim-fit trousers, a red jacket, and a high-collared black coat. Although his attire was quite formal, it appeared rather relaxed and casual on him. His features were sharp and refined, with silver pupils, a strong nose, and thin lips, complemented by a head of smooth silver hair, giving him an otherworldly and handsome appearance. Seeing him evoked a sense of the beauty of the silver moon in the night sky.

"Uncle Cohen, it is dawn," Lucien pondered over the form of address.

Words, oh, those are lofty and extraordinary ideals

After a period of meaningless conversation, Cohen finally fully awakened: "Lucien, there are not many things suitable for you to do, and there are no long-term jobs available for the time being. As for other matters, one task is at 9:00 AM; the Gucci shop in the market area needs a batch of goods transported from the warehouse to the city gate area. They are short on hands, offering three copper coins. However, you know that such matters are controlled by the Aaron gang, and in the end, you will need to pay one copper coin to them, leaving you with just enough to buy the worst black bread."

Kohen laughed for a while, then looked at Lucien: "Do you really want to learn writing? You have no foundation at all. It is said that to initially learn writing, it takes at least two years. Do you have that much money and time?"

Lucien instinctively ruled out the option of becoming someone else's apprentice. This was not merely a matter of a ten-year contract; once he decided to learn magic, the contract would not need to be honored at all. Becoming an apprentice, learning and living with a master every day, would easily expose his secrets and hinder his ability to study magic. Thus, Lucien seemed to be talking to himself as he asked, "Five silver nals?"

Additionally, there are numerous bankrupt and impoverished knights, knights who have committed crimes and are evading justice, noble knights who adhere to family traditions and roam the continent, as well as dark knights who have awakened their bloodline powers but are not recognized by the Church due to their dark nature, and are even hunted down.

There is one more thing, the Musicians' Association is conducting a major cleanup today, and there is a lot of garbage that needs to be taken to the banks of the Belem River outside the city. You can rent a four-wheeled cart and go there at 1:00 PM. After deducting the cost of renting the cart, you can earn eight copper faels for the round trip, which is quite good. Of course, you will need to give three copper faels to the Aaron gang

Upon Lucien's arrival, the somber man merely cast a glance before continuing to savor the wine in his cup

Watching the young lady leave in a hurry, Lucien let out a soft "oh." It seems that the appearance or singing voice of that bard possesses some extraordinary qualities

Syracuse Kingdom? Lucien smiled and nodded at Rhine. The Dark Mountains are so perilous that many true knights have perished within them. Therefore, Lucien temporarily abandoned the idea of risking himself for wealth. Regardless of the circumstances, a clear understanding of one's own strength is always of utmost importance

He is the newly arrived bard? Lucien speculated in his heart, then asked in confusion: "The knights are all true nobles; why would they venture into the Dark Mountains in search of wealth?"

After the commotion, Cohen saw that Lucien was still there and asked in surprise, "Lucien, do you have anything else to discuss?"

Do not underestimate these mercenaries and adventurers; among them are quite a few true knights, and even great knights. A soft and magnetic voice sounded behind Lucien, with the end of each sentence rising oddly, presenting a unique rhythmic beauty that conveyed a sense of allure and elegance

Lucien organized his words carefully: "Uncle Cohen, after the events of the past few days, I have had some new thoughts. I would like to learn to read and write"

When a drunkard appeared in the Rhine, he woke up, staggered to the bar, burped, and asked with longing and envy: "Rhine, are the ladies of Trier, the madams and the young ladies, as beautifully enchanting and passionately warm as the legends say?"

Kohen nodded: "Yes, five silver naars. Unless you work from dawn to dusk, eating only the worst black bread, it would take you more than half a year to save enough. And how much can you learn in a month? Do you really want to learn to read and write?"

Lucien was no stranger to such scenes, where a group of men gathered together, inevitably discussing women. While listening with great interest, he pondered how to inquire with Cohen about learning to read and write.

Then he pointed to the empty space in the center of the tavern and became somewhat serious: "The Dark Mountains are the greatest treasure. Every year, there are three, five, six, seven—never mind, I really can't count. In any case, there are many, many mercenaries and adventurers who enter the Dark Mountains, but in the end, only a very small portion of them manage to come out..." Cohen let out a belch, "Of course, they all became rich."

"I only drink at night," Rhine said with a smile as he sat down beside the bar. "In many countries to the east, there have been no wars for two or three hundred years, so the need for knights is not as urgent. After all, to confer knighthood requires granting a manor and land. Therefore, there, even if commoners awaken their bloodline powers, they can at most obtain the status of a knight and a share of books, but cannot become true nobles. Some have gone to other countries to become knights of those lands, while others have come to the Principality of Vaolirit, the closest place to heretics, pagans, dark creatures, and monsters, to establish their merits and seek wealth."

"Uncle Cohen, are there any other tasks with higher rewards?" Lucien asked curiously

"Lucien, don't mind them. A man without dreams, sigh, might as well be dead"

Regarding the laughter of Cohen and the drunkard, Rhine did not mind and lightly shrugged: "Thus, I escaped from the Kingdom of Syracuse to Alto"

Seeing Lucien so earnest, Cohen replied seriously: "If you are young, you can still be selected by the church to study letters and knowledge in a monastery. As for now, you either become someone else's apprentice and sign a ten-year contract, or you pay to learn from a scholar. Of course, becoming someone else's apprentice does not guarantee that you will learn letters; for instance, many blacksmiths in the blacksmith guild do not know how to read. If you choose to pay, the standard price throughout Alto is five silver nals per month, and there are more than ten scholars willing to teach."

The drunkard eagerly asked, "So, did you go? What was it like?" His breathing became rapid.

The dimly lit space, the strong scent of alcohol, the creaking wooden floor, and the haphazardly placed tables and chairs formed Lucien's first impression of the Copper Crown Tavern. Stepping in from the fresh and bright morning outside felt like entering another world

Oh, studying literature? Has our little Lucien also been infected by the Rhine and started boasting?

Kohen laughed uncontrollably, pounding on the bar, waking up all the drunken patrons. Amidst the curses, he shouted loudly: "Thank you, Rhine, for the wonderful story, allowing us to joyfully welcome a new day. Cheers!"

"Yes," Lucien replied firmly. By this calculation, one hundred copper feils would be equivalent to one silver nar.

Amidst the slurred curses of the drunken men behind him, the elderly dwarf swayed and, with a slow lift of his head, spoke with bleary eyes: "Hey, Lucien, you have finally grown up and come to understand the significance of fine wine in life. Come, let us raise a glass in honor of our new guest!"

Kohen laughed heartily: "Hahaha, of course there are, but none of them are suitable for you. Those require a true man to fight with life and strength. Lucien, you are still a child who doesn't even dare to drink beer"

At the entrance of the tavern, a slender young woman was peeking inside. Her light golden hair swayed slightly as her head turned from side to side. When she sighed and turned her head, she was startled: "Lucien?"

This is indeed a difficult beginning

Kohen greeted, "Hi, Rhine, would you like a drink?"

The young woman's wheat-colored skin flushed instantly: "I just heard that a new bard has arrived at the Copper Crown Tavern. Out of curiosity, I thought I would come and take a look before helping my mother with her chores. Well, time is short, so I must be on my way."

No matter how many thorns lie ahead, if one does not take this step, one will never be able to move forward. Uncle Cohen, I have made up my mind. Lucien replied earnestly, and for an adult who has undergone years of study, understands the methods of learning, and most importantly, can fluently speak the language of this world, learning to read and write may only take one or two months.

Lucien glanced around and quickly spotted the dwarf sleeping soundly behind the bar. He was perched on a tall stool, his head resting against the bar, snoring loudly, with drool soaking his golden long beard, which was tied in a bow.

Without any external force acting upon him, the dwarf appeared as if he would not awaken for a long time. Lucien had no choice but to curl his fingers and tap rhythmically on the bar.

The young man approached slowly, holding a harp similar to Joel's in his hand

These three or four drunkards were very sensitive to the phrase "have a drink"; they immediately stumbled over, laughing and joking, and took the ale from Cohen's hand, raising it high.

Kohen mumbled a few words, feeling somewhat displeased that Rhein did not accompany him for a drink: "Lucien, this is the new bard Rhein, Rhein Kaleneldia. He roams around, well-traveled and knowledgeable, having just escaped the enthusiasm of the noblewomen of Trea, coming from the Kingdom of Syracusa"

Haha, if you really said that to the court ladies, I fear you would have already been thrown into the infamous prison of Trianon

However, this had nothing to do with Lucien himself, so he gently pushed open the half-closed door of the tavern and walked in

Lucien took a moment to adapt before he could clearly see where the bar was located

A man in his thirties, with a hooked nose, dressed in a tight-fitting black long coat, sat quietly on a barstool, slowly sipping a glass of amber-colored liquor, giving Lucien a sense of gloominess

Puh, Rhine, you really know how to boast. Would the noblewomen and young ladies accept such an insult

Kohen burst into hearty laughter, his long golden beard shaking vigorously, and the wrinkled face of the dwarf spoke with a kind of ambiguity that all men understand: "Yes, it is indeed the passionate, exuberant, and love-above-all-else kingdom of Syracusa"

Lucien nodded. The matter of the musicians' association was considered the best job available. At the same time, he speculated to himself: "These seven coins on me should be the copper fare."

Several men, who were nursing hangovers in the tavern, were awakened by the sound of Lucien stepping on the floor. After mumbling a few curses in a daze, they lay back down on the table and continued to sleep soundly

Laiyin, with a faint smile, spoke in her unique, elegant, and rhythmic tone: "Yes, they have eyes as bright as morning stars, hair as smooth as silk, lips as vibrant as roses, skin as tender as milk, and are adorned with a captivating fragrance. Several countesses and viscountesses even whispered warm, moist scents in my ear, inviting me to visit their secret estates."

Lucien looked amusingly at the strange scene in front of the tavern, walking towards the entrance with curiosity, for the morning was the quietest time at the tavern