“It was a short time, but the residents living in Wind Heaven Village couldn’t escape the famine. Since I was a war orphan, no one looked after me, so I always wore clothes that were still damp, and in that village, that smell was everywhere. That’s what left the deepest impression on me.”
To be honest, if I were to talk about what impressed me, I could have dressed up the story a little to suit Miss’s mood, but the word ‘smell’ suddenly slipped out.
After saying it, I realized I’d made a mistake.
It was as if I’d just told the Young Lord’s family, who governed the territory, ‘One of the villages you rule is abjectly poor…’ which wasn’t exactly polite.
Miss was silent for quite a while, as if she’d just heard an unexpected answer.
Did I just make a mistake? After a brief silence, Miss’s lips moved.
“You quench your thirst without water, and fill your hunger without bread.”
Hmm… There she goes again! Please, no more riddles this time… Fortunately, this time she gave the answer right away.
“It means you have caught my interest.”
“Ah, yes…”
“I gave you a day, so you should be able to answer my next question as well.”
“Have you found a way to prevent the closure of the communal living district?”
To be honest, I’d been agonizing over it since last night.
“Yes. I have found an answer.”
“Does that answer really transform the communal living district in a way that raises the territory’s tax revenue and benefits the people?”
Miss has an excellent memory.
“I would like to turn the communal living district into a school.”
This time, disappointment showed in Miss’s eyes.
“Do you realize how much money it takes to run a school?
Even in this kingdom, there are very few schools. Naturally, there is no school in our territory, either.
Inviting faculty is one thing, but building living facilities costs an enormous amount of money.
More than anything, I don’t think all of you are talented enough to even attend a school.”
Miss’s criticism was as strong as her disappointment.
Schools in this world are largely divided into two kinds.
There are the Noble School, where nobles learn etiquette, literature, philosophy, history, and other disciplines focused on rule and governance, and the Martial School, where one learns martial arts, combat skills, physical training, and magic.
But the school I want to create will teach something different from both.
“It’s not a Noble School or a Martial School. What I want to establish is a Vocational School.”
“Vocational School?”
“Yes. As the name implies, it’s a school where you learn skills needed for various professions. A place where you can learn cooking, study to become a butler, or learn to farm. Even if you’re not smart, even if you’re just a commoner, anyone can attend.”
“Is learning a profession really worth establishing a school for?”
“Yes. A profession is survival. It’s competitiveness. Right now, there is no specialized institution for learning trades in the kingdom. Except for special professions, most people just learn their craft from the village elders or their parents. But much of that knowledge has been lost due to years of war.”
“And how does that benefit our territory?”
“To learn a profession, people from all over will gather here. After a long war, there’s a shortage of skilled workers everywhere. Every territory has essential jobs to be filled, but there’s no one to teach them. Other territories will send their people here to study, and we will teach them at the Vocational School. As the variety of professions increases, more students will come from afar, which will help with tax revenue, and the graduates will be skilled professionals, becoming a new source of income for the territory.”
“It’s an interesting story, but who will teach them? Can you find teachers skilled enough to instruct in those professions?”
“They don’t need to be remarkable teachers. We can simply invite those who are reputed for their skills within the territory. The village blacksmith, a renowned cook, a meticulous butler—these are our candidates. Since it’s not a school for nobles, the teachers need not be nobles either.”
Miss fell silent.
“And I hope the Vocational School adopts Project-Based Learning.”
“What’s that supposed to be?”
“It’s a learner-centered method based on projects. Instead of just receiving one-sided instruction, students work together to solve problems through Project-Based Learning.”
Project-Based Learning involves giving students assignments and letting them plan and solve missions together.
I think it’s a teaching method that fits perfectly with a Vocational School.
“I understand your intention. But it’ll take a lot of money to build a school, won’t it?”
“I’ll raise the money myself. If you give me some time, I’ll definitely earn it.”
Miss seemed to ponder my words for a moment.
“I still don’t quite agree with you. But if you prove yourself trustworthy, my opinion might change.”
Miss looked at me. Her gaze had become noticeably softer.
“I’d like to make you a proposal.”
Gulp! I swallowed nervously.
“Form a Sangdan.”
“Eh… a Sangdan? Pardon? A Sangdan?”
I was startled. How did she know I wanted to form a Sangdan?
***
Startup. The term for a newly established company, first used in the United States’ Silicon Valley.
It refers to a business started by individuals or small teams with risky but high-potential ideas that could bring great rewards if successful.
My goal is to use the Company Builder in this world to create various items, build Startups, and accumulate wealth.
In this world, businesses are called Sangdan.
Here, anyone can engage in commerce. Even commoners can establish a Sangdan.
The classes in this world are broadly divided into the ruling class—royalty, clergy, and nobles—and the non-ruling class, the commoners.
Commoners are divided into Serfs, Free Persons, and Citizens. In the past, there was also the Slave class, but after the war, slavery remains only as a vile practice in a few countries.
Some nations and cities still implicitly permit slavery, but most enforce a strict ban.
Serfs are peasants bound to the Young Lord, receiving wages in exchange for forced labor and services.
Not just agriculture—they also handle all manner of menial tasks for nobles.
Because life is hard, more than 50% of commoners are Serfs. Serfs have the advantage of more stable livelihoods compared to Free Persons, and since they aren’t slaves, they can become Free Persons if they wish.
Free Persons are the residents living in cities or villages. Most are those who couldn’t become Citizens, working as laborers or running small independent farms.
I’m a Free Person myself. Free Persons survive on their own skills or labor.
Since Free Persons have no one to look after their livelihoods, ironically, they have the highest mortality rate among the classes. About 40% of commoners are Free Persons.
Those Free Persons with many talents try to start their own Sangdan or be recognized as artisans and become Citizens.
I’m a Free Person too, so I could go to a major city, register at a Guild, and start a Sangdan, or register as an artisan.
Citizens are Free Persons who have their own businesses or Sangdan, or who have achieved artisan status and live in the city.
Citizens are treated almost like quasi-nobles and have the right to vote. Many Citizens even become nobles.
Most Free Persons with a reputation become Citizens.
To become a Citizen, one must obtain Citizen Right issued by the state, and those with Citizen Right receive special privileges compared to Free Persons.
Whether on Earth or in this world, acquiring Citizen Right is difficult.
Currently, any commoner can form a Sangdan and run their own business.
However, to form a Sangdan, you must visit a city and join a Guild, which requires a membership fee and annual dues.
Sangdan always starts at 5th grade. 5th grade Sangdan can be formed by anyone, so the restrictions are light, but you still have to pay an annual fee of 1 gold coin—about 2 million won.
As your reputation grows, your Sangdan will be promoted, and you’ll receive many privileges.
Even at 4th grade, you can travel freely between nations and receive tax benefits on trade.
Sangdan is the indispensable foundation for starting a Startup in this world.
“Pardon? A Sangdan?”
I blinked and asked again.
“Yes. Form a Sangdan. You can do it if you go to the great city of Grunvalt.”
‘I know how to form a Sangdan. What matters is why she wants me to form one…’
“If I may, can I ask a few questions, as long as I’m not being rude?”
“Of course. If you’re curious, ask anything.”
“Miss, as a Noble and the Young Lord’s daughter, why do you want to form a Sangdan?”
At my question, Richard glared at me as if I was being disrespectful and started to approach, but Miss Prana Bella stopped him with a simple gesture.
To subdue a tough guy like him with just a wave of her hand—what charisma!
“Do you remember the last riddle?”
“‘When the stag’s antlers of Nookdae become the dead monk’s horn…’ is what it was.”
“That’s right… And it was from that riddle that you discovered the Secret of the Ashford Family.”
First, I should start with the story of the family I belong to—the Ashford Family.
You seem to like stories and probably know a lot about the continent’s history. About 25 years ago, the Demon race army invaded the entire Yuras Continent.
They suddenly appeared and brought great suffering to the world.“
“Yes… The era of countless heroes born from the Great War with the Demon Tribe.”
The war with the Demon race… It was not just the Tutun Kingdom, but the entire Yuras Continent—a truly massive event.
This incident was so famous that no one living on the Yuras Continent could not know about it.
About 25 years ago, the Demon race invaded, and Magic Beasts indiscriminately attacked villages, plunging the era into darkness.
It was an age when many heroes arose to fight against the Demon race and Magic Beasts.
The Hero Party I saw in Wind Heaven Village were the most legendary heroes active during this period.
The greatest reason they are so highly regarded is because they defeated the Demon King and ended the war.
Thankfully, thanks to the heroes’ efforts, the Demon race was driven away, and an era of peace arrived.
“You know your history well. My late grandfather, Hans Ashford, was a Noble, but his family was an unknown and poor one living on the frontier. Because they were poor, they lived on the village outskirts, hunting beasts or Magic Beasts and selling byproducts from the hunt, or crafting and selling soft leather goods from beast hides.”
‘So he was a hunter…!’
“Then, the Demon race invasion began, and many Magic Beasts attacked the village… My grandfather, who was part of the vigilante corps, once saved the life of a wounded woman. In gratitude, the woman bestowed a blessing upon our family. That blessing was not something learned but inherited, so we don’t know the principle, but he could directly create defensive gear or jewelry imbued with magic, producing Artifacts.”
‘Artifacts!’
Artifacts, items imbued with magical power, are rare treasures that command an enormous price.