GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 17.2 - Class::Quarter

Vel sank down beside her on the fountain's edge. "Any trouble from last night?" he asked.

Celia shook her head. "Not really. I met my roommate, but it was late for any long conversation. She seems nice enough—a craftman's daughter from the eastern provinces."

Vel nodded, his eyes drawn to her sandwich. "That looks tasty. Where did you get it?"

"There's a bakery just outside the west gate," she replied, gesturing vaguely with her sandwich. "Not too expensive, but not too cheap either."

"You bought it?" Vel frowned slightly. That didn't seem fair compared to his own situation.

An idea suddenly struck him. He turned to Hileya, who stood patiently nearby.

"Hileya, do you think you could prepare food for three people every day?" he asked. "If it's too much, we could cut down the portions. The three of us would certainly eat less combined than some noble folk."

Hileya blinked in surprise. "Three?"

"Yes, three," Vel confirmed. "Including you. If you have trouble with the kitchen management, tell them it's my request. I'll talk to them if they give you any trouble."

Hileya's eyes widened slightly. "Young master, I... that's very kind of you, but—"

Before she could finish, Vel raised a hand to stop her objection. The pieces were finally clicking together in his mind—why Lady Halen's offer had been such a significant proposal, why merchant involvement had been necessary. These daily expenses—not just food but all the small necessities—wouldn't seem like much individually, but they would accumulate dramatically over their stay. For common folk without connections, the cost would be prohibitive.

"I want to help in any way I can," Vel said firmly. "And please don't think about refusing it."

Celia watched the exchange with a mixture of gratitude and hesitation. "Vel, I appreciate the thought, but I can manage—"

"You've heard what Lady Halen said," Vel interrupted, straightening his posture dramatically and adopting an exaggerated noble accent. "Connections are important in Lona. Consider this a perk for having connections with me."

He finished with an absurdly pompous smile and a flourish of his hand that was so unlike his normal demeanor that both girls stared at him in momentary shock.

Celia recovered first, her lips twitching as she recognized his attempt at humor. She reached out and gave him a solid thump on the shoulder.

"Thank you, mister noble," she said, rolling her eyes but unable to suppress her smile. "Your generosity knows no bounds."

Vel rubbed his shoulder, dropping the pretentious act. "I'm serious though. We should stick together while we're here. It just makes sense to pool our resources."

[Few hours later]

Vel's eyes darted from stall to stall as he navigated Lona's bustling streets—less crowded than the outer layer, yet not secluded. The city's vibrancy impressed him more on foot than from a stagecoach window. Each corner revealed something new, unlike anything in Elnor.

Their first stop was the Academy, but with every turn, distractions lurked—food stalls, curious merchants, and street performers showcasing minor magic tricks. Vel occasionally glanced up at the street signs, trying to recall the route they'd taken when arriving. He'd memorized key intersections, but navigating the city's layered districts was proving trickier than expected.