“It’s going well.”
Inside a dark mansion. A man stood before a high-ranking officer of the Demon Army. The young counterpart was a high-ranking officer of the Demon Army.
Fifteen years ago, they lost the war against the humans. It had been a brutal fight, and there were internal issues, but regardless, they had to endure for a long, long time.
Back then, the Dark Lord lost his strength and entered a long rest. One day, when the Lord regained his power, he would be resurrected.
‘Until that time, what must be prepared is not the sword, but gold coins…’
The reason they lost the war fifteen years ago wasn’t because of swords, but because of gold coins.
Their military strength had been about equal. No, the Demon Army was even slightly ahead.
But the Human Alliance Army, which included humans and all the other races, could keep holding out with the endless supplies sent to them.
By contrast, after crossing over from the devastated Demon Realm, the Demon Army could not continuously receive supplies.
That, they determined, was the reason for their defeat.
Fortunately, after the Lord entered his slumber, humans fell into wars among their own nations, and in that time, the Demon Army cautiously grew its strength.
The Demon Army’s subordinates became merchants and bandits, expanding their power base.
Their purpose was singular. To revive the Demon Army, and for the Dark Lord to rule over the Yuras Continent.
“Return of the Dark Lord, prosperity of the demon race.”
He bowed toward the unseen darkness.
Secretive, but thorough… The movement to control the Yuras Continent’s economy was underway.
***
Three days passed.
“So, Pizza. What’s your new name?”
“Why bother with all this? Just pick a good name.”
As expected, my friends found my name awkward.
My delicious friends…
Arancini, Pasta, Pie, and the others were displeased with me leaving the food party.
“But isn’t it more common than I thought? Feels like you just mixed two typical names you hear everywhere…”
That’s right. After struggling for three days until my departure, the name I came up with turned out to be relatively common in this world.
In Korean terms, it’d be like being named Kim, Lee, Park, or Choi.
“What? So what’s the name?”
“William Steven… How many times do I have to say it…”
My new name: William Steven. In the end, I mixed the names of my two role models. With the resolve to create a Startup as great as my two heroes.
Some may not know, but the full name of the one who made Microsoft is William Henry “Billy” Gates III.
And Steve Jobs’s full name is Steven Paul Jobs.
So, I thought of naming myself “Steven William,” but… I’m changing it to “William Steven.”
‘I keep getting the order mixed up…!’
“So, should we call you William Steven then… William Steven Pizza.”
Why do they keep adding Pizza? Just call me William Steven…
“Well… Pizza’s just the name we always used among ourselves anyway.”
The purpose of this census in this world is for tax collection and identifying people. But that only applies to commoners with some accumulated wealth or higher.
So, while we did participate in the census, our names weren’t properly registered in any official ledger.
‘No Resident Registration Card either…’
I seem to recall hearing from my friends that you need to get an Identity Certificate before heading to the big city…
“Are you really going to Grunvalt, though?”
As I told my friends my new name, I also informed them I would be leaving the communal living area to chase my dream.
“I heard before that Grunvalt is at least a week’s walk away…”
The somewhat smarter Costa raised a realistic point. Still, I figured I’d have to go to a big city if I wanted anything at all.
“Have you saved up anything?”
Those words almost made me explode. Damn you, Pizza. I mean, how did I not manage to save even a penny?
No matter how hard I search my past memories, there’s no way money’s going to appear. How could I not have a single Copper?
“Hey… Why do I not have even 1 Copper…”
“Hey… Wasn’t it you who insisted on being penniless and claiming your dream was to be a ‘flower beggar’?”
Whenever I did get money, I spent it all that day on a special meal. That’s the life of Pizza.
Our Kingdom’s currency is also a familiar system: Copper, Silver, and Gold.
A Copper is about 1,000 Korean currency, Silver is about 100,000, and Gold is around 2,000,000.
It’d be nice if it matched Korean currency exactly, but since it doesn’t, it’s hard to calculate.
Either way, there was no problem figuring out my net worth.
Truly penniless. Not even a single Copper.
It’s a week’s journey; I hope I don’t end up dying on the road to Grunvalt…
“There were a few others who left before us and headed to Grunvalt too. I wonder if we’ll meet up.”
“That’s right… Meat said he was going to Grunvalt as well, didn’t he?”
Unlike us, Meat was smart and capable. He said he was headed to Grunvalt too.
If I’m lucky, maybe I’ll run into him.
Just then, Pie, one of my companions, suddenly burst into tears.
“Tsk, this is heartbreaking. Are you crying because a friend is leaving…?”
“Our poor Pizza, what are we going to do? He’s such an idiot, he’ll probably die right away.”
“Hm… Are you sad, or mocking me? And it’s William, I told you…”
“Yeah… sniff… There’s no way you’ll adapt. And you have to make an Identity Certificate to get into a big city… You won’t even manage that.”
Arancini, who aimed to become a knight, was tearing up as well.
“My reputation… seriously, ugh…”
“Please, at least settle down in another village, alive…”
Even Pasta, who served as our messenger thanks to being relatively smart among us, sobbed.
When I said I was leaving, most of my companions reacted like this. What kind of life have I led to get this response…
“You guys are so heartwarming, bastards. But listen. I promise you this.
Someday, when I become unbelievably successful, I’ll build a huge building in the communal area.
Then, Arancini, you’ll be my knight. Pie, my exclusive chef. And Pasta, you’ll be my butler. So live well, all of you.”
Pffft. Hahaha!
My once-melancholy friends suddenly burst into roaring laughter.
“Pizza, you’re the best! That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all year.”
“Oh, my lord. I will focus diligently on my training, trusting only in you.”
Did they find it genuinely funny? Everyone clutched their stomachs and howled.
“Tch! If I’d said I’d become a Swordmaster and Merchant King, you’d be rolling around on the ground laughing…”
“It’s not Pizza, it’s William… Anyway, I’m off. Take care of yourselves.”
Good guys. The communal living area is like my hometown. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.
I decided to leave coolly. My luggage was just a single bundle of clothes and a few pieces of bread from this month’s rations.
Partings were familiar to both my friends and me. We’d been through it so many times…
Without delay, I left the communal living area and headed toward the center of Costa Village.
Gradually, my friends became tiny dots, and soon, when I looked back, I couldn’t see anyone at all.
Leaving the place I’d lived for seventeen years, it was an oddly hollow farewell.
Honestly, I feel a bit lost. But it was the same when I first started out in Korea. Born in an orphanage, I had nothing when I entered society.
First step, become a Pre-entrepreneur…
In this world, the start of a Startup begins with becoming a Pre-entrepreneur.
A Pre-entrepreneur is, literally, someone preparing to start a business.
“What kind of item should I start my business with…?”
My head is packed with countless successful items.
Which of these Business Models would make the best Startup? I walked on, enjoying my own happy imaginings.
***
As I headed toward the center of Costa Village, someone called out to me.
“Wait there.”
I turned my head, and the sunlight glinting off the armor dazzled my eyes.
“Who are you?”
“I am Sir Dalton, a knight attached to the Kosta Territory.”
The one who stopped me was a knight. The fantasy knight of my dreams.
His silver plate armor shimmered in the light, and elegant patterns were engraved on its silvery surface.
‘Wow… That’s so cool…’
As a fantasy fan, seeing an actual knight in plate armor was truly impressive.
“Ahem… Are you Pizza?”
“Yes, that’s me, but…”
“Is your head alright? You probably don’t remember me, but I had to subdue you because I mistook you suddenly rising for attacking the lady.”
Those words jolted my mind. Ugh, my headache…
‘This bastard… No, so this knight was the one who knocked me out, huh.’
Of course, from a knight’s perspective, I doubt he feels genuinely sorry. He probably just wants me to understand.
And it’s only natural for a knight to speak down to a commoner. In fact, it’s strange he came to apologize like this.
“Oh, honorable knight. You were only doing your duty. I was the fool who suddenly jumped up and got kicked.
Honestly, I was deeply moved by your chivalry and loyalty.
Where else would I ever get to be kicked by such an honorable knight? Just being stepped on by your foot is an honor.”
I’m even more skilled at handling situations than Pizza.
Hmm… Still, this is a little embarrassing…
“Ahem… Now that I look, you’re quite the upright young man.”
Sir Dalton—no, since he’s being casual, I’ll just call him Dalton—looked at me with a very satisfied expression.
I mean, how often does the guy who got kicked compliment you like this?
Turns out, savvy social skills work in this world too.
“So, why did you call me?”
Dalton just kept staring at me with a satisfied look, so I took the initiative.
In truth, ever since Dalton started introducing himself, my brain had been working at full speed.
Right away, I thought it had to be one of two things.
There was a reason I chose to be humble instead of confrontational.
First possibility: bad news. From a noble lady’s perspective, she might not be satisfied with me just getting hit.
She might feel humiliated and have called me back to inflict a harsher punishment.
‘Even at the cost of such hassle, a noble must save face…’
Second possibility: good news.
The angelic Frana Bella, feeling uneasy about punishing a boy over an accident, is calling me to offer help out of concern.
Based on my intuition, I felt it was closer to the latter. There was no need to antagonize a knight in this situation.
At my words, the knight seemed to remember his business and pulled a leather pouch from his belt.
Unlike his impressive plate armor, the pouch dangled rather pathetically.
“Well, here, take this.”
As soon as I received the leather pouch, I instinctively realized this wasn’t just good news—it was a windfall. This was 100% a pouch of coins.
“Sir knight! What is this? Why are you giving me such a valuable gift?”
I hadn’t even opened it yet, but my sincerity leaped out before my greed.
“Ahem… Well, it’s not actually from me. The young lady asked me to give you some consolation money. Though it was an accident, her heart is uneasy.”
I wanted to open it right away, but I felt it would be rude to open a pouch and count coins in front of a knight who valued decorum.
My body instinctively straightened up.
“Sir knight, I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life. Though I made the grave mistake of looking upon the young lady, I will remember this kindness forever.”
As expected, rewards are never left out of this world’s Tutorial. Setting out with nothing felt daunting, but it seems there’s some mysterious mechanism keeping me afloat…
“Ahem… And there’s one more reward…”
“Eh? There’s one more reward? What is it?”
They’re really bundling the rewards in the Tutorial. I barely held back a twitching smile.
“Well, the young lady has decided, out of her benevolent grace, to specially show you her face.”
“Eh?”
‘No, well, I am curious… but hmm.’
Honestly, I’m not really that curious at this point.
Seriously… Looks aside, the more I think about her, the more mysterious the young lady seems.
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