Chapter 104 A Minor Incident in the Freshman Trial (1)
However, most students don't care about this.
After all, everyone here is a spoiled aristocratic son. They will definitely not choose a meal worth less than 15 credits unless they have no other choice because of their face.
As for buying ingredients and cooking their own meals, that is something they don’t have to think about.
"That's not all. When we return to the classroom later, Al, you should be able to know the details. I believe that Teacher Michelle will also give a detailed explanation later."
Rose still explained it in a very general way.
It seemed to be an unspoken agreement among all senior students not to reveal the content of the freshman trials to the first-year students.
"Is that so? I understand."
Alfred shrugged and didn't ask any further questions.
The average number of credits a first-year student can earn in class per week is approximately 1200 to 1300.
If you only eat two meals a day and choose the cheapest 15-credit meals for the sake of appearances, your weekly expenses on meals alone will exceed 200 credits.
As for academic studies, the average weekly course costs 50 to 100 credits.
Considering the cost of training the puppets, daily life and entertainment expenses...
(That amount of credits is definitely not enough for these young masters and young ladies to squander~ In a sense, this is indeed a very headache trial for the noble students.)
Alfred thought so in his mind.
At the same time, he gradually understood why many well-known lords and nobles liked to send their children to Illya Alia Academy.
Just letting the children go through the so-called freshman trial is very worthwhile for them.
The empire currently practices a feudal system similar to that of the Middle Ages, in which local lords have great power.
In addition to independent administrative power, the military and taxation also have great freedom.
This has many advantages for local lords, but also many disadvantages.
The more power one has, the more it means that the people who use this power must be good enough and have certain talents to use the power in their hands well.
However, if the heir to the family business is a playboy who is out of touch with worldly affairs, does not understand the hard work of ordinary people, and imposes taxes indiscriminately in order to live a luxurious life.
What will happen next is most likely a rebellion by the subjects.
If a rebellion broke out in the territory, according to imperial law, the imperial government would have reasonable grounds to confiscate the land owned by the lord and revoke his noble lineage.
This was undoubtedly a devastating disaster for the lords and nobles.
In order to avoid this from happening, it would not be a bad thing for the lords and nobles to let the children who may inherit their mantle in the future suffer a little more in the academy and experience the hardships of life.
After breakfast, Alfred came to Noren's classroom.
As soon as he entered the door, Leonard rushed over with tears and snot.
"Al~ lend me some credits!"
"Forgive me for being so decisive."
Without any hesitation, Alfred refused.
"Why did you reject me so decisively? At least give me some hesitation. We are friends, right?!"
Leonard cried and complained.
Alfred pushed his head to prevent Leonard from really hugging him like this.
If possible, Alfred hoped that a girl would rush over and hug him. He had no interest in getting involved with Leonard in that regard.
Just as Alfred was thinking this, he felt someone hugging him from behind.
It was the invisible Emilia.
(This girl, when did she learn to read minds? Also, why did she get up so early today?)
Alfred sighed helplessly, reaching over his shoulder and tapping Emilia's head hard where it should be.
Then he looked at Leonard, who had tears in his eyes.
"It is precisely because of my friends that I cannot lend you money. Haven't you heard that 99% of friendships in the world are ruined by borrowing money?"
"Huh?! This is the first time I've heard of this."
Leonard had a look of surprise on his face, and the innocence in his eyes made Alfred feel embarrassed.
He subconsciously looked away.
(Sorry, this is something I made up on the spur of the moment, and there is no definite basis for it.)
"Well, anyway, I won't lend you credits."
"B-But if this continues, I'll really starve to death~! I didn't go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast this morning because I didn't have any credits."
Credits earned last week will not be issued until after the last class today.
Leonard, who had already squandered all his credits, had no money to eat today.
"Don't worry, if you really don't have money, I will treat you, but only for packages under five credits."
“You don’t bring this kind of thing, do you?”
"Are you dissatisfied with the sandwich combo that only costs five credits? It's obviously delicious, and the combination of meat and vegetables is very balanced in nutrition. It also comes with a glass of freshly squeezed juice."
Alfred explained somewhat dissatisfiedly.
"But that's a cheap set meal, right? If I order that, there will definitely be people who will talk behind my back and look down on me, right?!"
"Don't worry, those who talk about you behind your back probably can't afford the noble meal. Also, that's what I ordered this morning, and it tastes really good."
Alfred continued to recommend it strongly.
"That's because you don't care, Al!"
Leonard looked as if he wanted to cry but couldn't.
"Since you, Reynard, insist on borrowing credits from me, it's not a problem. However, I will charge interest, and it won't be low."
"Eh? Why?!"
"Think about it, you have no way to earn credits now, so every credit is precious to you. It's the same for me.
If you wait until the second year to return it to me, then we can all go into the Warner Fairy Forest to hunt monsters and earn extra money. The value of a credit will be completely different than it is now, right?"
Alfred explained in a serious tone.
“That’s true…”
Leonard thought about it for a moment, nodded blankly and muttered.
"In that case, it is reasonable for me to charge you a high interest so that the value of the credits I lend you will not decrease significantly as we advance to the second year, right?"
"Hey... this, okay, seems to make some sense, but..."
"But?"