The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound

Chapter 232: Tuition Fee (8)

Vikir received satisfactory answers from various appraisal mages introduced by MiniPin.

“Most of them are lower-level. Many corpses were damaged, burned in boiling oil, or stuck together.”

“However, as the quantity is substantial and the higher-level ones are amazing.”

“Considering the current high prices, the total sales amount should be quite high.”

“Do you have any distribution channels in mind? If not, we can introduce you to good ones.”

Appraisal mages assessed the piles of Gnoll corpses in the field, determining prices based on the condition of their leather, bones, organs, and meat.

Perfect condition: leather, meat, organs, and bones intact (highest grade).

If only leather is intact, it is considered high-grade.

If the leather is damaged but the meat or organs are intact, it is mid-grade.

If leather, meat, and organs are damaged but bones can be salvaged, it is low-grade.

Gnoll corpses are welcomed as anatomical materials in all magical research labs within Venetior.

Taxidermists also buy Gnoll corpses, especially if they are large, as they are useful for teaching beginners.

Leather is in high demand due to its durability and soft texture; meat and organs are used as food, feed, and fertilizer.

Certain special cuts of Gnoll meat are similar in taste to premium beef, gaining popularity among connoisseurs.

Sprinkling Gnoll organs in fish farms or orchards yield richer results than any artificial feed or fertilizer.

Bones are increasingly processed for herbal medicine or ritual items.

Due to Vikir frying them in hot oil, many Gnoll corpses had damaged leather, meat, and organs.

However, given the large quantity, many corpses remained intact, and even damaged ones with intact bones, teeth, and claws could be sold for a decent amount.

While the prices were relatively low compared to the processed ones, considering the convenience of avoiding the collection, transportation, and sorting processes, it was a generous amount.

“Moreover, the government has offered a reward, so it’s even better. Fantastic!”

MiniPin’s overall assessment, sticking close to Vikir since that night, was that everything was going well.

Whether selling Gnoll corpses or receiving rewards, MiniPin handled various tasks efficiently, starting from Vikir’s extermination of the Gnoll horde.

Vikir, having witnessed MiniPin’s loyalty during the encounter with Miss Ouroboros, trusted him completely.

MiniPin, loading Gnoll leather onto Vikir’s carriage, spoke, “You can sell all Gnoll by-products to the guild, but I recommend finding a separate outlet for the leather, especially Poison Gnoll leather, which seems better suited for a private auction.”

“In that case, taking it to the Academy would be better.”

Vikir nodded in agreement.

For enrolled students, Colosseo’s Academy provides storage space enchanted with preservation magic at low rental rates.

The monthly thrift bazaar, held at the end of each month, also hosts various auctions, making it an excellent venue for selling goods.

“It’s called a ‘thrift’ bazaar, but since it’s a large-scale auction sanctioned by the Empire, it should be easy to dispose of Gnoll leather.”

“Hmm, the Colosseo bazaar. Sounds like a good plan.”

Gnoll leather has various uses. It’s excellent for layering on armor in winter due to its insulation and soft texture. It’s also sturdy and elastic, suitable for knots or decorations on blades.

Moreover, it changes color upon contact with poison, making it usable as an alchemical ingredient.

“Since I’m a member of the newspaper club, I can advertise in the newspaper corner.”

Vikir planned to return to the Academy and sell all Gnoll and Poison Gnoll leather.

Meanwhile, MiniPin seemed disappointed.

“Are you returning to the Academy?”

Vikir’s skills displayed during this hunt were so incredible that it was hard to believe he was just a first-year student at the Academy.

Perhaps that’s why MiniPin wanted to continue working with Vikir, but he was unaware.

Vikir had no intention of letting MiniPin go.

“Hey, MiniPin.”

Vikir called MiniPin in a subtle voice.

When MiniPin turned his gaze, Vikir asked gently, “Your home situation doesn’t seem great. How are your wife and daughter?”

Straight to the point. MiniPin’s expression darkened slightly at Vikir’s words.

“Yes, that’s true. Recently, it’s been challenging to manage the guild due to financial difficulties. But I can’t just let go of the experienced guides and porters who have been with us for so long…”

“Why are you facing such issues with your skills? It seems like there are many seasoned guides and laborers in the guild.”

“These days, all hunting guilds are the same. You have to be cautious of large mercenary guilds. It’s inevitable to feel sorry if you don’t have strong backing.”

After finishing his words, MiniPin chuckled and continued, “Well, it’s my fault. If I hadn’t made mistakes when I was young, I wouldn’t be financially struggling like this.”

“Mistakes?”

Vikir inquired, and after a slight hesitation, MiniPin nodded.

“I had ambitions when I was young. So, to achieve those dreams, I contacted brokers and such. But I ended up being deceived, lost all my savings, and more.”

“Deceived by brokers?”

“Yes. It’s embarrassing, but that’s what happened. I caused a lot of hardship for my wife at that time. I still feel guilty. It’s shameful for my daughter too. Speaking of which, she’ll be entering school next year, and I’m already worried about the tuition.”

“What dream led you to try contacting brokers?”

Vikir asked, and MiniPin scratched the back of his head, responding with a regretful tone.

“I, well… truthfully, I wanted to join the Baskerville Clan.”

To Vikir’s surprise, his eyes widened a bit.

MiniPin continued, “A family that hunts monsters on the Western Frontline. The Baskerville Clan! How cool is that? And if you join the Baskerville family, wouldn’t you inherit the invincible swordsmanship of Baskerville? They provide a house, land, and a comfortable life for your wife. It seemed like the only path for me. Of course, it all turned into nothing but bubbles due to being deceived by brokers.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Vikir lightly brushed his chin with his fingers.

His existing thoughts became even stronger.

Vikir asked one last question, “Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know well about the ecology of monsters? Their habits, nest locations, and such.”

“Of course. I was a member of an exploration guild, traveling all over the continent.”

“Do you know about the monsters on the Western Frontline?”

“Naturally. I can distinguish between subspecies, variants, lower species, and upper species.”

Satisfied with MiniPin’s answer, Vikir nodded approvingly.

“Someone will call you soon.”

* * *

Colosseo Academy’s Admissions Office and Scholarship Foundation.

Professor Banshee was filling out documents with a visibly irritated expression.

“…Feels like I’m the only one doing the academy’s work.”

The paperwork piled up like a mountain was all related to scholarships and tuition.

At that moment.

Knock, knock, knock—

A knocking sound echoed from outside the office.

“Come in.”

Along with Professor Banshee’s voice, a familiar face appeared.

It was Dolores, the student council president.

Professor Banshee strongly disliked her, especially when she appeared only during the execution of the scholarship budget, always bringing up annoying matters.

“…What kind of complaint are you here to make now?”

“It’s about students excluded from scholarship benefits.”

Dolores submitted new documents in front of Professor Banshee, who was visibly annoyed.

Students who couldn’t attend the next semester due to unfavorable family circumstances.

Among them were stories of students managing their grades while working part-time to afford tuition or, conversely, students managing their grades but unable to work part-time to qualify for scholarships.

The student who worked part-time ultimately couldn’t raise enough money for tuition, and the student who focused on studies fell short of the required grades for a scholarship.

Some students were facing complicated family situations, making their household environment genuinely challenging, but on paper, they couldn’t qualify for scholarship benefits.

Dolores calmly explained, “There are students who didn’t receive scholarships but are requesting a reassessment. On the other hand, some students received scholarships but need reassessment as well.”

In reality, there was a significant number of students born into affluent households who pretended to be poor on paper, fraudulently claiming scholarships.

She was currently exposing this fact.

However, the documents Dolores submitted were neatly organized, well-prepared forms, but for Professor Banshee, they were just additional paperwork to handle during another late-night shift.

“…Scholarships are awarded according to regulations. You talk about ‘protecting and upholding’ those regulations as the ‘student council president.'”

“I’m asking you to reconsider the students who are overlooked by the scholarship benefits, following those regulations.”

“Are you telling me to work again?”

“As the ‘student council president,’ I have a duty to voice the concerns of the students.”

“Then who will take responsibility for my grievances of having to do the work twice? Will you double my salary?”

“Professor Banshee. Today is the deadline for tuition payment. Please, just listen to the students’ voices one more time.”

“What does the regulation say about me dealing with such matters?”

Professor Banshee and Dolores engaged in a heated argument with no signs of backing down.

But as time passed, Dolores’ momentum was gradually waning against Professor Banshee’s ironclad stance.

…Right at that moment.

Bang!

The door swung open without a knock.

Vikir. He walked confidently into Professor Banshee’s office.

As expected, Professor Banshee, who originally disliked Vikir, immediately scowled.

“Vikir. Are you now barging into rooms without even knocking? Did your father not teach you manners?!?!”

“Yes, he didn’t.”

“…?”

It was a defeat for Professor Banshee, who failed to realize that Vikir had a strong immunity to sarcasm.

Professor Banshee clenched his fist uncomfortably.

“Well then. Do you know that today is the deadline for tuition payment?”

He inwardly believed that Vikir wouldn’t be able to arrange the tuition.

He’d heard Vikir had brought back a large number of gnoll skins from somewhere.

Professor Banshee, on the other hand, had heard other rumors.

‘Two groups of students have declared that they will keep Vikir’s arm in check, one noble faction and one clan faction.’

Colosseo Academy’s bazaar had two major factions.

The elite nobles formed the Noble Faction and the elite Clan faction from the Seven Great Clans.

It was said that both factions intended to restrain Vikir, making it virtually impossible for the items he submitted to the bazaar to fetch a fair price.

So, Professor Banshee secretly believed that it wouldn’t be easy for Vikir to come up with the tuition.

‘He brought an enormous amount of Gnoll leather from somewhere…’

However.

Professor Banshee’s expectations took an unexpected turn.

Thud!

Vikir placed a hefty bag on Professor Banshee’s desk.

To everyone’s surprise, the bag was filled with banknotes and gold coins.

It was truly an enormous amount, enough to pay four years’ worth of tuition and still have a significant surplus.

“!?”

Professor Banshee and Dolores, both stunned, stared at the spilled gold coins on the desk.

In front of them, Vikir, with his typical expressionless face, spoke.

“For me, and all of the friends who couldn’t pay their fees.”