Introduction Arc: Chapter 6.
⟐ Two days later...
The classroom window offered a spectacular view of the city and various other monuments. Everywhere Lyle Cass would look, there would be something tantalizing to stare at. The world outside was beautiful, breathtaking, and alluring.
Since the school was built on a peak, it offered a clear view of the entire city. The arcane tower, crowned by a massive gem, glowed with a bluish radiance. A flying fortress in the sky cast a wide, yet comforting shadow beneath several structures.
(Hoore City, the capital of the United Lenderotev Kingdom States. A semi-constitutional monarchy. Whatever that means.)
(The author said that the level of technology in this world was similar to the earth's late 1930s while the culture was similar to the late Victorian era..)
(Hoore City is the biggest city in the world. I think this city has around three million residents. Is that impressive? I don't know.)
(So many people to meet, so many wonders to explore yet I am stuck in this class full of smug and scheming nobles or aristocrats. Being an upper strata is stressful.)
Lyle Cass finished his thoughts with a bored sigh.
His legs moved restlessly under the desk as he stared outside, ignoring the subject teacher's lesson. Nothing eventful happened yesterday, and it seemed today would be the same.
Five days. Lyle Cass had been in this 'artificially generated' world for five days. The joyous phase was still there but it was slowly whittling away.
(In the novels, they never show you the day-by-day. Just talking then action then drama and then resolution. Some slice-of-life segments here and there but the story was mostly fast-paced.)
Lyle Cass thought, spinning a pencil in his hands while blankly staring at the backside of his classmate in front. His brows furrowed, trying to recognize the back profile.
(Oh brother. It's that smug ice magic caster asshole.)
"That's it. I am bored out of my mind." Lyle added, raising his hand and excusing himself to the bathroom.
The comfort room was quiet, allowing him to destress for a while. He entered an empty stall and took out a candy bar from inside his beret, a smuggled treat.
*Munch!* *Munch!*
*Bang!* The door violently opened, whacking against the wall. The noise startled Lyle, almost dropping the candy bar. "Whew!"
"That piece of shit! Always the same fucking shit. We complete their request on fucking time and the payment is always fucking delayed. Fucking bitch. I have a mind to report her ass."
A frustrated voice rang out as four upperclassmen students entered the bathroom, three of them hurriedly checked the stalls, seeing if there was anyone inside.
"Bane! Keep your voice down! Please! Not until we're sure it's safe."
The other student added, looking beneath the stall's gaps, checking for any feet but found none. Lyle had lifted his feet, crouching in the toilet.
"Does she fucking think that it's easy to smuggle blue cattails!?"
Lyle Cass perked up upon hearing the name 'Blue Cattails'. He recognized the plant, his brows furrowed trying to recall.
(Blue Cattails! They're an uncommon ingredient that can be used to create [Sage's Mind]. It's a banned potion that can temporarily boost a person's focus and memory.)
(The Potion Proliferation Arc shouldn't happen until the next school year. I forgot the other details but basically, illegal potions have proliferated in the city and the school due to a certain herbalist.)
Lyle Cass smiled, grinning widely. To him, this was an excellent example of environmental storytelling. A small foreshadowing to a distant arc. He quietly praised the
*Clang!* The door to Lyle Cass's stall opened, revealing himself to the four upperclassmen students. He meekly smiled while crouching in the toilet, exhaling a laugh.
"Occupied?"
"I see that. Get out of there!"
An upperclassman then grabbed his uniform and threw him to the floor. The leader of the group stepped forward and turned Lyle over with his foot.
"What did you hear?" Bane, asked calmly. His white uniform was missing a black tie and a beret — creases were scattered all over.
Lyle felt a familiar surge inside him, the activation of a worldly talent that increases the chance of success in any action.
(Ah well, might as well try some of those potions.)
"I am aware of what the blue cattail can be used for and I want some of what you're peddling. I can pay. I've used some before."
The four upperclassmen were unmoving, not believing Lyle's words. Bane smirked, shaking his head.
"Really? I don't know what you're — "
"Bane Marigold. My father frequents your establishment, the one down under."
Lyle Cass cut him off, bluffing.
The three upperclassmen exhaled, recognizing a possible customer and thus slightly lowered their guards while observing their leader's face. Bane chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
(I hope my blessing talent worked.)
(This character is Bane Marigold. His father owns several acres of land, they're one of the biggest agricultural noble families in the country. They own a hidden establishment in this city where they'd sell illegal potions despite the potion prohibition.)
(This guy is temporarily cut off from his family due to his expensive wasting. He doesn't have a stable source of allowance, so I doubt he'll turn me away since he receives a small commission per purchase.)
"There're no exams and classes are just entering their first week. What do you need a Sage's Mind for?
Bane Marigold asked as Lyle Cass smiled beneath his neutral expression, his bluff had worked.
"I didn't say I want Sage's Mind. What I want is an Everflow potion."
Lyle Cass added, producing several bills of money, and fanning it. The four upperclassmen students looked at each other, eyeing the cash.
⟐⟐⟐
The transaction was complete. Bane Marigold at first was wary but the sight of money changed his mind. His pockets were slightly empty and seeing as it was futile to demand payment to the herbalist, he instead sold some of the herbalist's potion.
(That bitch will get what's coming for her. Can't even honor a timely fucking deal.)
Bane Marigold counted the money as his newest customer, Lyle Cass, left the comfort room.
"Are you sure about him? Don't we only sell to those who were referred?"
One of his classmates and his current right-hand man, Girdle Winsey, said with concern.
"Have some balls, Winsey. Taking risks now and then wouldn't hurt. Besides, if things go south. That herbalist bitch can cover us, she owes us that much."
Bane pocketed the money, staring at the door while deep in thought.
"Still.... we should keep an eye out. Tell Frederick to give us information about that freshman, Lyle Cass."
With that, the four senior upperclassmen left the comfort room and walked straight to their classroom while trying to avoid any hall monitors.
⟐⟐⟐
⟐ Later, after class.
The potion sloshed around in the vial as Lyle Cass skipped his way toward the dorm rooms. He couldn't wait to try out the potion and see how it would work. Several students watched as the freshman loudly hummed and skipped along the hallway.
He arrived in the dorm rooms. "Now, let's see what you can do."
He bought three Everflow potions and jiggled the vials, watching them slightly glow.
"These three vials alone cost me 1000 marks. This better be worth it."
As Lyle was about to open the potion and sniff it, the door opened. Three of his dormmates entered while talking to each other, talking about their studies.
"Ah! Lyle! You were here already. We apologize for the surprise."
The bespectacled student said in surprise, lowering his voice and hushing his two classmates.
"It's no issue. Please, don't mind me."
The three nodded, slightly bowing and taking off their bags.
(These three aren't peasants, just some middle-class strata. However, that still doesn't stop them from lowering themselves to the nobles and aristocrats. It's kinda weird having this kind of system in a somewhat advanced world.)
(The short one that looks like a woman is Jesse Yun. His family comes from a successful fishery.)
Lyle gazed at his strangely feminine dormmate, observing his figure as he took off his clothes. Lyle and two of Jesse's classmates averted their gaze, feeling it was a sin to stare.
(Meanwhile, the lanky one is Ave Kant and the rather bulky one is Henry Best.)
Lyle Cass talked to these three before, telling them to drop any sort of formality and just address him normally. The three were surprised yet reluctantly agreed.
(I honestly have no idea who these people are. Their names weren't mentioned nor were their faces ever shown in the animations or movies.)