After leaving the Black Tower, Colin didn’t rush to treat his wounds. He first went to collect his thirty Gold Coins.
As he walked, he ntally assigned the Skill Level points to his Swordsmanship.
After the increase, his Skill Levels were: Casting (1369/2000), Armor (639/1250), Swordsmanship (1247/1250).
’My Swordsmanship is just a few points away from leveling up. I should get the next Specialty before my next adventure.’
Colin silently calculated.
’After a few days, I need to check on the Dwarves’ progress with their work. Orelia is also training there these days, so it’s a good chance to bring her the cake I promised.’
’I wonder when Kase will be back.’
’Even though I need to rest for a while, I’ll feel more at ease when he’s back. Besides, if a commission cos up, it’s always better for the team to go out together.’
Colin climbed the stairs and walked into his room.
He rummaged through the two money pouches hidden under his bed. One contained a few hefty pieces of Gold, while the other held a mix of scattered coins.
He had already given Orelia her share; now he was holding onto Kase’s money.
Colin carefully weighed the pouches in his hands.
By his calculations, his savings now amounted to over two hundred and eighty Gold Coins. It was enough to live on for a few years without working, but far from enough to let him retire for good.
’So I still have to go out and take commissions.’
Colin thought to himself, ’After all, my Power is nowhere near the point where I can completely protect myself. Besides, I do want to increase my attribute points and learn new Magic. The feeling of becoming physically stronger and more knowledgeable is truly satisfying.’
’Next up is Orelia’s evaluation summary. I’ll head south then and make so money along the way. Kase is probably short on cash right now, too, especially since he has a hundred Orcs to feed.’
’Other than that... there’s the Ancient Empire of Ora Kaim.’
This was the only thing that gave Colin a bad feeling. But if he really thought about it, he couldn’t pinpoint anything specific that was strange. After all, even with so many Skeletons reanimating in Snow Deer Valley, it couldn’t be called an especially severe disaster.
’Fortunately, Ale is also investigating this. Otherwise, I’d just be running around like a headless chicken.’
’I just hope this all ends well.’
’If everything goes smoothly, I’ll just keep completing commissions, raising my rank, and eventually beco a tenured professor at the Black Tower with a cushy job. A respectable life where I can teach two classes a day, slack off, and still get paid well.’
’What working person could refuse that temptation?’
With these thoughts in mind, Colin tied the money pouches to his waist, turned, and headed downstairs.
As soon as he reached the second floor, he saw a familiar figure standing by the door.
Ale, holding a book, looked up and asked, "Are you done with class?"
"I’m done."
"So what are you going to do next?"
"I’m going to check on the Dwarves and see how they’re handling the spoils, then I’m bringing Orelia a cake." Colin could tell what she wanted to ask just by looking at her. "Want to co along?"
"Okay." The Half-Elf nodded.
Colin continued down the stairs, and just like before, she obediently followed behind him.
’Does this Half-Elf have nothing to do all day? Why do I run into her every ti I leave?’ Colin grumbled to himself.
The two of them were out on the main street again.
"Where are we going to buy the cake, Colin?" Ale asked, tugging on the corner of his sleeve.
"Let’s go to the Southern District. There are a lot of Halflings there."
"The South District? Okay."
"Once we get there, don’t call the Southern District the ’South District,’ or people will think you’re an idiot," Colin quickly turned and whispered to the Half-Elf.
Ale gave her signature head tilt, asking in confusion, "Why?"
"Because many of the residents in the Southern District are southerners who ca here for business. The district got its na from them, not because it’s in the southern part of Thousand Masts City. A lot of people from the south and Halflings live there, along with so Golden Dwarves."
Colin continued, "Most of the chefs who open shops in the Trade District are locals from Thousand Masts City, and they adjust their flavors to local tastes. Since Orelia is one of the Holy City People, I figured a cake from a chef in the Southern District would suit her palate."
"I see."
After saying that, Ale took out her notebook again and started writing and sketching.
Colin glanced at her serious expression and, recalling the Half-Elf’s usual dazed look, felt that her notebook was probably eighty percent full of strange trivia with adverse side effects.
Speaking of Golden Dwarves, Colin took the opportunity to ntally review his knowledge of Dwarves.
The southern Dwarves of this world are generally known as "Golden Dwarves," while the northern Dwarves are called "Shield Dwarves."
A long ti ago, all Dwarves lived together in a single, vast underground fortress.
Due to geographical isolation, war, and cultural differences, they began to diverge into Shield Dwarves and Golden Dwarves.
At that ti, so evil forces from the underground took advantage of the situation, causing another clan to splinter off and beco the Gray Dwarves.
Compared to the Shield Dwarves, the Golden Dwarves’ underground fortresses are much deeper. They are arrogant, self-confident, and consider themselves the true guardians of Dwarven culture. They have a habit of showing off and accumulating wealth. The ones who tricked Colin and the others into fighting the Scorpion-tailed Lion were Golden Dwarves.
As a result, many a Wandering Poet enjoys writing Dwarven jokes to poke fun at them.
The last type, the Gray Dwarves, went to a much deeper extre.
They live in the sunless depths of the earth. Most are vicious, an-spirited, warmongering, and cruel slavers, ostracized by all civilized races.
Speaking of which, Donkexes and his kin had the proud personality characteristic of Golden Dwarves, but their sturdy bodies and pale skin were more like Shield Dwarves.
While Colin was lost in thought, the two of them had already walked into the Southern District.
The environnt here was indeed much better than in the Dock District. Most of the buildings had reddish-brown roofs, and many carriages suited for long-distance travel were parked along the streets.
Colin led Ale down the main road, searching for a sign depicting fire and wheat—the symbol for a bakery.
Along the way, they saw many Halflings and occasionally spotted a few Dwarven rchants dressed in silk.
From ti to ti, they also saw colorfully dressed rcenaries, much like the ones near Rommon, but these ones were standing quietly by the roadside, completely lacking the flamboyant behavior they displayed back there.
After all, if they tried to randomly stop passersby here to pitch their services, the locals would actually dare to argue with them.
It didn’t take long for them to find a small shop.
The shop’s street-facing wall was a glass display case filled with colorful cakes. At first glance, it didn’t look much different from a modern cake shop.
Inside, there were many seats where well-dressed citizens sat enjoying various pastries.
"What can I get for you, sir?" said the clerk behind the counter.
Colin walked to the counter, looked at the nu, and said, "A strawberry cream cake, please."
"Certainly. That will be five Silver Coins, sir."
The clerk nodded and went to the back of the counter to box up the cake.
This strawberry cream cake was a mid-range item, not too expensive, but not too cheap either.
’A mont ago, I saw a "City’s Light" cake on the nu for over twenty Gold Coins. I wonder if that cake is actually made of gold.’
Just as Colin was scoffing internally, his cake was brought out.
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