Cheap Labor Worth 1 Credit

Chapter 85 Cheap Labor Worth One Credit

William Cavendish, a poor apprentice on the verge of repeating a grade.

"William, let me put it this way, unless you get a perfect score on the choir exam after Psalm 16, you're definitely going to have to repeat the year."

Carnot suddenly realized he had quite a few problem students under his tutelage. Actually, Cavendish was quite good at subjects like astronomy and shaping, so he decided to give this student a chance:

"But I'm not some kind of devil, and your situation isn't too bad. How about I, as the chief professor, give you a chance to earn credits? Follow the youngest intermediate spellcaster in recent years in this tower, broaden your horizons, and learn a lot."

So Cavendish rushed here overnight. A penny might not be enough to hire a laborer, but a credit could bring in a whole bunch of apprentices who could read, write, do math, and even do some magic tricks. Cavendish was such a cheap laborer, costing only a credit.

"I am Cavendish, Rorschach, from Storm City. I even took your class!"

Rorschach had little recollection of this apprentice, who was about his age: "Are you from Istani?"

"Yes, but I can't stand the weather and food in my hometown, so I chose to enroll in the Tower of Stars."

He took off his backpack, took out boxes of various sizes, and then opened them to reveal various instruments: "I plan to map the star map over the Black Forest, and I may need to trouble you all then."

Rorschach's eyelids twitched. You, an Istani guy studying in the Holy Kingdom, are doing surveying within the Empire? "Sure, but you need to make a copy for me after you finish drawing."

"Okay, no problem!"

In previous years, the Black Forest would have been covered in white snow at this time, but the first snow of the new year came later than usual.

The survey team rode donkeys and ponies along a path leading to a human settlement in the forest. The path was difficult to traverse, rugged and winding, accompanied by a biting wind. The cleared road became a corridor for cold air currents, which swept through the group and carried away their warmth.

Rorschach was wearing thick fur coats, all purchased in Pema, presumably from this natural treasure trove. Everyone else had also prepared for the cold, except for Cavendish, who, despite carrying large bags, had forgotten to buy any extra clothes.

"Why are we conducting this investigation now, instead of waiting by the warm fireplace until spring?"

Master Humboldt walked at the front, with Rorschach and Petersen bringing up the rear, and the apprentices sandwiched in between.

Alexander von Humboldt, who was leading the group, heard the Istani man's complaints and responded seriously:

"We have learned about the situation in the sub-planes. Considering the connection between the god Dryaz and the Black Forest, we are concerned that anomalies may also occur in the corresponding area of ​​the primary plane. This is a matter of great importance and cannot be delayed."

This is the responsibility of the Forest Tower, and we thank the Star Tower for their willingness to inform and assist us.

"It's what we should do," Rorschach agreed at the back of the line, while Cavendish was completely bewildered: What is Dryaz? How is it related to gods? Is this something I'm supposed to do for one credit?

"As for the timing of our entry, by any standard, the environment here is mild and pleasant. We are mages, after all." With a wave of his hand, Cavendish received the blessing of [Elemental Resistance], and he immediately felt no cold.

"That's true, this trip is a bit dangerous, but that's what makes it so exciting, isn't it?" Peterson caught up with Rorschach at the back of the group and rode alongside him.

He whispered to the boy, "If you ask me, it might not be appropriate to have a woman participate in this mission, but Ella has the strongest senses, and she might be able to find clues that we've overlooked in the forest."

Finally, Peterson smoothed his hair, which he had combed back, revealing that his hairline had receded a few more strands. He said with great regret, "Actually, there was an apprentice before who had a stronger understanding and natural affinity. If she hadn't transferred schools, Ella wouldn't have been part of our team."

My prized student, she's a genius at learning nature magic, a born druid! Ah, Anastasia, isn't that a rather uncommon name?

Rorschach replied directly: "It means 'resurrection' in the language of Jacob."

"That's right. What a great name, a good student of the Forest Tower. Guess where she went afterward? You'd never guess, Mage Rorschach..."

As the team ventured deeper into the area, the surrounding trees grew taller and denser, their leaves eclipsing the already meager winter sunlight, as if swallowing the research team whole.

The outpost closest to the heart of the forest was a dilapidated village. It was dilapidated because it had no farmland or mill, and the people here relied on hunting for their livelihood.

Humboldt disapproved of humans' excessive hunting in the natural environment. In his view, humans had already cultivated enough land and should strive to increase food production rather than taking more from the forests for pleasure and fur.

The meat from the hunter's lodge cannot feed everyone; cherishing and focusing on cultivating the developed land and raising livestock is the more effective and proper way.

But he looked at the hut covered with whole animal skins and said nothing; he didn't want to look down on or accuse anyone.

As the trend of aristocratic travel grew, this village deep in the forest also opened an inn to serve hunters and explorers, with a huge deer head specimen as its signature feature.

In the past, the boss would have warmly welcomed guests who had traveled from afar and their money, but now he wore a sullen face:

"Excuse me, gentlemen and ladies, we're closed for the day! For your own safety, please leave before sunset!"

Rorschach noticed that many houses were also empty, with doors and windows locked. The settlement was surrounded by deer fences and chevaux-de-frise, but some had obviously been scattered by the storm, and several lay fallen and unattended.

"What's going on?"

The boss showed his arms, which had both new and old wounds, some of which were clearly from animal claws.

"Every winter there are always some left here. We point out that when it snows, it's hard for animals to find food, making it the easiest time for them to be lured and captured."

Winters here are incredibly tough, but once you get through them, the income for one season is equivalent to the total income for the rest of the year.

As he spoke, the boss slammed his hand on the table in anger, wincing in pain: "Ouch... This year is really weird, it's supposed to snow but it just won't, and the animals in the woods go crazy and run around like madmen at night."

Can you imagine? Wild boars with bared teeth, deer as big as horses, and other carnivorous creatures, all rampaging through the people and houses here like madmen.

At first, these beasts were afraid of fire, but now even muskets can't stop them! Some unlucky families have even had their children kidnapped. I'm running now, so you guys too…”

Before the boss could finish speaking, he was so agitated that he hadn't even rolled up his sleeves. Master Humboldt listened to the boss's complaints with a gentle smile, then suddenly grabbed his injured arm without saying a word.

The boss was surprised to find that the other party was no less strong than the hunter who could kill a bear, and the large hand that was holding him was overflowing with alternating golden and green light.

He felt a slight itch on his skin, and then something even more unbelievable happened: "By the Tree Spirit, my wounds are healed. You are the Mage! Are you the resident Mage?"

The smile remained unchanged on the archmage's face, and he continued to hold the boss's arm firmly. Master Humboldt slowly asked, "May I ask what kind of being this 'Tree Spirit' you speak of is?"

Thank you to readers "天下有只熊", "大墟烛龙", "冰原旅者", "马昌晓2", and "天下萝莉都归我" for their monthly ticket support! And thank you to all readers for your recommendation votes!

I felt unwell while doing the experiment this afternoon, and now I've successfully developed a fever and body aches, so I won't be able to list all the readers' IDs. Sorry. The cold wave hit northern Jiangxi, and I caught it immediately. I hope everyone stays warm and healthy!

(End of this chapter)