Chapter 9

——Seek recommendations, seek favorites~

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Lucien looked amusingly at the strange scene in front of the tavern, and walked towards the door with a puzzled look. The morning was the quietest time for the tavern.

At the tavern door, a slim girl was secretly peering inside. Her light golden hair swayed slightly as she turned her head from side to side. When she sighed and turned her head, she was startled, "Lucien?"

Another person who knows me but I don't know? Lucien was already quite used to this situation and smiled, "So early to the tavern?"

The girl's wheat-colored skin immediately turned red: "I just heard that a new bard has come to the Copper Crown Tavern, and I was curious. I wanted to take a look before helping my mother with chores. Well, I don't have much time, I'll go first."

Watching the girl rush away, Lucien softly exclaimed, "Oh," It seemed that the new bard had some outstanding features or a beautiful voice.

However, this had nothing to do with Lucien, so he gently pushed open the half-closed tavern door and walked in.

The dim space, the strong smell of alcohol, the wooden floor that made a clapping sound when stepped on, and the tables and chairs placed haphazardly—this was Lucien's first impression of the Copper Crown Tavern. Coming from the fresh, bright morning outside, it felt like entering another world.

Lucien took a while to adapt before he could clearly see where the bar was.

There were several men in the tavern who were still drunk, awakened by the sound of Lucien's footsteps. They mumbled curses and then fell back asleep on the table.

Only a man in his thirties with a hooked nose, wearing a tight black long coat, was quietly sitting on a chair by the bar, slowly sipping a glass of amber-colored wine, giving Lucien a gloomy feeling.

For Lucien's arrival, the gloomy man only glanced slightly and then continued to savor the wine in his glass.

Lucien looked around and soon saw a dwarf snoring loudly behind the bar. He was sitting on a tall stool, his head leaning against the bar, and his loud snoring had wet his golden, butterfly-knotted beard with drool.

Seeing that the dwarf would not wake up without external force, Lucien had to bend his fingers and knock on the bar.

Amid the mumbled curses of the drunkards behind, the old dwarf swayed and slowly lifted his head, his eyes blurry, saying, "Hey, Lucien, you've finally grown up, and you finally understand the meaning of good wine in life. Come, let's have a drink, a toast for our new guest!"

"Uncle Coen, it's morning," Lucien carefully addressed him.

Coen rubbed his eyes and looked at the dim light around him: "I'm not drunk, don't try to fool me. It's clearly night, what a wonderful night."

After a meaningless conversation, Coen finally woke up completely: "Lucien, there aren't many jobs suitable for you, and there are no long-term jobs for now. One thing is that at nine in the morning, the Guchi shop in the market area needs to move a batch of goods to the city gate area, and they lack manpower. It's three copper fels, but as you know, the Aaron gang controls this, so you have to give them one copper fel, and the rest can only buy the worst black bread."

"Another thing is that the Musicians' Association is doing a big clean-up today, and they need a lot of garbage to be taken to the Beren River outside the city. You can rent a four-wheeled cart and go there at one in the afternoon. After deducting the rent for the cart, you can earn eight copper fels, which is quite good, of course, you need to give the Aaron gang three copper fels."

"At one in the afternoon, there are a few similar jobs, but unless you are a knight, you won't be able to return from outside the city."

Lucien nodded. The job at the Musicians' Association was the best, and he speculated in his heart: "The seven coins I have should be copper fels."

"Uncle Coen, are there any other higher-paying jobs?" Lucien asked curiously.

Coen laughed: "Of course, but none of them are suitable for you. They require real men to fight with their lives and strength. Lucien, you're still a child who doesn't even dare to drink ale."

Then he pointed to the empty space in the center of the tavern, becoming a bit serious: "The Dark Mountains are the greatest treasure. Every year, many, many mercenaries and adventurers enter the Dark Mountains, but only a very small part can come out... Coen burped, 'Of course, they all get rich.'"

"Do not underestimate these mercenaries and adventurers. Among them are many real knights, even grand knights," a soft, magnetic voice said behind Lucien. The end of each sentence rose strangely, creating a unique rhythm and a sense of allure and elegance.

Lucien quickly turned around and saw a silver-haired man walking out from the side of the tavern that had been converted into a hotel. He wore tight-legged pants, a red vest, and a high-collared black coat. Despite the formal attire, he looked very relaxed and casual. His features were deep and delicate, with silver eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. His silver, smooth hair made him look both exotic and handsome. Seeing him was like seeing the beauty of the silver moon at night.

This young man held a lyre similar to Joel's and slowly walked over.

"Is he the new bard?" Lucien guessed in his heart and then asked curiously, "Knights are true nobles, why do they still go to the Dark Mountains to seek wealth?"

Coen greeted him: "Hey, Rhine, want a drink?"

"I only drink at night," Rhine smiled and sat down next to the bar. "In many countries in the east, there hasn't been a war for two or three hundred years, so the need for knights is not so urgent. After all, ennobling a knight requires granting them an estate and land. So, there, even if a commoner activates their bloodline power, they can at most become a knight, but not a true noble. Some have gone to other countries to become knights there, while others have come to the Duchy of Vaucluse, the closest place to heretics, heretical religions, dark creatures, and monsters, to establish their merits and seek wealth."

"Also, there are many bankrupt poor knights, knights who have fled from crimes, noble knights who follow their family's teachings and travel the continent, and those who have activated their bloodline power but, due to its dark nature, are not recognized by the Church and are even hunted—dark knights."

Coen mumbled a few words, a bit unhappy that Rhine didn't drink with him: "Lucien, this is the new bard, Rhine, Rhine Carandia. He wanders around, well-traveled, and has just escaped the热情 of特里亚的贵妇人们，从叙拉古王国过来。”

“叙拉古王国？”路西恩微笑着对莱茵点头，黑暗山脉如此危险，就连真正的骑士死在里面的都不少，因此路西恩暂时打消了冒险求取财富的主意，不管什么时候，对于自身实力的清醒认识，都是非常重要的。

寇恩哈哈大笑起来，长长的金色胡子剧烈摇晃，满是皱纹的矮人脸用一种男人都懂的暧昧说着：“对，就是那热情的、奔放的、爱情高于一切的叙拉古王国。”

一个醉鬼在莱茵出现的时候，就醒了过来，跌跌撞撞走到吧台，打着酒嗝，充满向往和羡慕地问道：“莱茵，特里亚的夫人、小姐们，是不是有传说中的那么美丽，恩，那么热情？”

莱茵带着淡淡的笑容，用自己独有的、优雅的、富有节奏的语调道：“恩，她们有晨星般明亮的双眸，丝绸般顺滑的长发，玫瑰般娇艳的双唇，牛奶般嫩滑的皮肤，身上洒满了充满魅惑味道的香水，有几位伯爵夫人、子爵家小姐甚至在我耳边吐出温热、湿润的香气，邀请我去她们的秘密庄园做客。”

醉鬼期待地问道：“那你去了？是什么滋味？”呼吸都变得急促起来。

路西恩对这样的场面并不陌生，一堆男人聚在一起，总是少不了讨论女人，一边兴致勃勃地听着，一边想着该怎么向寇恩打听学习文字的事情。

莱茵表情没有变化，依旧淡淡笑着回答：“我对她们说，我不喜欢被人使用过的肮脏物品，我只爱美丽的、纯洁的、干净的生命，不管是男是女，他们才是这个世界上最美味的事物。”

“噗，莱茵，你真会吹牛，贵妇们、小姐们会接受这样的侮辱？”

“哈哈，要是你真的对宫廷贵妇们这么说，恐怕已经被投入了特里亚那间著名的监狱，嗝。”

“那些贵族小姐们，其中不少可是有骑士实力的，莱茵你要是敢这么回答，会被直接撕成碎片。”

对于寇恩、醉汉的大笑，莱茵并不在意，轻轻耸了耸肩：“所以，我从叙拉古王国逃到了阿尔托。”

寇恩笑得不停捶着吧台，将所有醉鬼们都吵醒，在骂声中他高声喊：“感谢莱茵编的好故事，让我们能够开心地迎接新的一天，干一杯！”

这三四个醉鬼对“干一杯”非常敏感，立刻嘻嘻哈哈、跌跌撞撞走过来，从寇恩手中接过麦酒，高举起来：

“为了吹牛者莱茵，干一杯！”

哄闹完，寇恩看到路西恩还在，惊讶地问道：“路西恩你还有什么事情吗？”

路西恩组织着语言，小心地道：“寇恩叔叔，我经过这几天的事情，有了一点新的想法，我想学习文字。”

“哟，学习文字？我们的小路西恩难道也被莱茵传染了，开始吹牛了？”

“文字，欧，那可是远大的、卓绝的理想！”

“路西恩，别管他们，男子汉没有梦想，嗝，那还不如死掉！”

寇恩跟着笑了一阵，然后看着路西恩：“你真的想学习文字？你没有任何基础，要想初步学会文字，据说至少要两年，你有这么多金钱和时间吗？”

“不管前面布满多少荆棘，但如果不踏出这一步，那就永远无法前进，寇恩叔叔，我已经想好了。”路西恩认真地回答，而且对于一位经历过多年学习，懂得学习的方法，最重要的是能流畅地说这个世界语言的成年人，学会文字很可能只需要一两个月。

寇恩看到路西恩这么认真，于是正经地回答：“如果你年纪小，还可以通过教会的挑选，去修道院学习文字、知识，现在嘛，你要么成为别人的学徒，签订十年的合同，要么自己花钱，到学者家学习，当然，成为别人学徒，并不一定能学到文字，比如铁匠行会的许多铁匠就不会，而自己花钱，整个阿尔托都是标准的价格，一个月五个银纳尔，有十多位学者愿意教授。”

路西恩下意识就排除了成为别人学徒的方法，这并不是十年合同的问题，一旦自己决定学习魔法，那合同就根本不需要遵守，可成为学徒，每天跟着师父学习、吃住，很容易暴露自己的秘密，也不方便学习魔法，因此路西恩仿佛自言自语地问道：“五个银纳尔？”

寇恩点了点头：“恩，五个银纳尔，除非你每天从早忙到晚，只吃最差的黑面包，半年多才可以攒够，而你一个月能够学到多少？真的要去学习文字？”

“是。”路西恩坚定地回答，照这么算，一百个铜费尔才相当于一个银纳尔。

这还真是艰难的开始。

;

{Piaotian Literature}

---

“—Seek recommendations, seek favorites~

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Lucien looked amusingly at the strange scene in front of the tavern, and walked towards the door with a puzzled look. The morning was the quietest time for the tavern.

At the tavern door, a slim girl was secretly peering inside. Her light golden hair swayed slightly as she turned her head from side to side. When she sighed and turned her head, she was startled, "Lucien?"

Another person who knows me but I don't know? Lucien was already quite used to this situation and smiled, "So early to the tavern?"

The girl's wheat-colored skin immediately turned red: "I just heard that a new bard has come to the Copper Crown Tavern, and I was curious. I wanted to take a look before helping my mother with chores. Well, I don't have much time, I'll go first."

Watching the girl rush away, Lucien softly exclaimed, "Oh," It seemed that the new bard had some outstanding features or a beautiful voice.

However, this had nothing to do with Lucien, so he gently pushed open the half-closed tavern door and walked in.

The dim space, the strong smell of alcohol, the wooden floor that made a clapping sound when stepped on, and the tables and chairs placed haphazardly—this was Lucien's first impression of the Copper Crown Tavern. Coming from the fresh, bright morning outside, it felt like entering another world.

Lucien took a while to adapt before he could clearly see where the bar was.

There were several men in the tavern who were still drunk, awakened by the sound of Lucien's footsteps. They mumbled curses and then fell back asleep on the table.

Only a man in his thirties with a hooked nose, wearing a tight black long coat, was quietly sitting on a chair by the bar, slowly sipping a glass of amber-colored wine, giving Lucien a gloomy feeling.

For Lucien's arrival, the gloomy man only glanced slightly and then continued to savor the wine in his glass.

Lucien looked around and soon saw a dwarf snoring loudly behind the bar. He was sitting on a tall stool, his head leaning against the bar, and his loud snoring had wet his golden, butterfly-knotted beard with drool.

Seeing that the dwarf would not wake up without external force, Lucien had to bend his fingers and knock on the bar.

Amid the mumbled curses of the drunkards behind, the old dwarf swayed and slowly lifted his head, his eyes blurry, saying, "Hey, Lucien, you've finally grown up, and you finally understand the meaning of good wine in life. Come, let's have a drink, a toast for our new guest!"

"Uncle Coen, it's morning," Lucien carefully addressed him.

Coen rubbed his eyes and looked at the dim light around him: "I'm not drunk, don't try to fool me. It's clearly night, what a wonderful night."

After a meaningless conversation, Coen finally woke up completely: "Lucien, there aren't many jobs suitable for you, and there are no long-term jobs for now. One thing is that at nine in the morning, the Guchi shop in the market area needs to move a batch of goods to the city gate area, and they lack manpower. It's three copper fels, but as you know, the Aaron gang controls this, so you have to give them one copper fel, and the rest can only buy the worst black bread."

"Another thing is that the Musicians' Association is doing a big clean-up today, and they need a lot of garbage to be taken to the Beren River outside the city. You can rent a four-wheeled cart and go there at one in the afternoon. After deducting the rent for the cart, you can earn eight copper fels, which is quite good, of course, you need to give the Aaron gang three copper fels."

"At one in the afternoon, there are a few similar jobs, but unless you are a knight, you won't be able to return from outside the city."

Lucien nodded. The job at the Musicians' Association was the best, and he speculated in his heart: "The seven coins I have should be copper fels."

"Uncle Coen, are there any other higher-paying jobs?" Lucien asked curiously.

Coen laughed: "Of course, but none of them are suitable for you. They require real men to fight with their lives and strength. Lucien, you're still a child who doesn't even dare to drink ale."

Then he pointed to the empty space in the center of the tavern, becoming a bit serious: "The Dark Mountains are the greatest treasure. Every year, many, many mercenaries and adventurers enter the Dark Mountains, but only a very small part can come out... Coen burped, 'Of course, they all get rich.'"

"Do not underestimate these mercenaries and adventurers. Among them are many real knights, even grand knights," a soft, magnetic voice said behind Lucien. The end of each sentence rose strangely, creating a unique rhythm and a sense of allure and elegance.

Lucien quickly turned around and saw a silver-haired man walking out from the side of the tavern that had been converted into a hotel. He wore tight-legged pants, a red vest, and a high-collared black coat. Despite the formal attire, he looked very relaxed and casual. His features were deep and delicate, with silver eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. His silver, smooth hair made him look both exotic and handsome. Seeing him was like seeing the beauty of the silver moon at night.

This young man held a lyre similar to Joel's and slowly walked over.

"Is he the new bard?" Lucien guessed in his heart and then asked curiously, "Knights are true nobles, why do they still go to the Dark Mountains to seek wealth?"

Coen greeted him: "Hey, Rhine, want a drink?"

"I only drink at night," Rhine smiled and sat down next to the bar. "In many countries in the east, there hasn't been a war for two or three hundred years, so the need for knights is not so urgent. After all, ennobling a knight requires granting them an estate and land. So, there, even if a commoner activates their bloodline power, they can at most become a knight, but not a true noble. Some have gone to other countries to become knights there, while others have come to the Duchy of Vaucluse, the closest place to heretics, heretical religions, dark creatures, and monsters, to establish their merits and seek wealth."

"Also, there are many bankrupt poor knights, knights who have fled from crimes, noble knights who follow their family's teachings and travel the continent, and those who have activated their bloodline power but, due to its dark nature, are not recognized by the Church and are even hunted—dark knights."

Coen mumbled a few words, a bit unhappy that Rhine didn't drink with him: "Lucien, this is the new bard, Rhine, Rhine Carandia. He wanders around, well-traveled, and has just escaped the enthusiasm of the noble ladies of Tria, coming from the Kingdom of Syracuse."

"Syracuse Kingdom?" Lucien smiled and nodded at Rhine. The Dark Mountains were so dangerous that even real knights often died there, so Lucien temporarily gave up the idea of seeking wealth through adventure. No matter when, a clear understanding of one's own strength is very important.

Coen laughed heartily, his long golden beard shaking violently, and his wrinkled dwarf face spoke with a knowing, ambiguous tone: "Yes, the passionate, free-spirited, and love-above-all Syracuse Kingdom."

A drunkard woke up when Rhine appeared, stumbled to the bar, and with a hiccup, asked with longing and envy: "Rhine, are the ladies and misses of Tria as beautiful and passionate as the legends say?"

Rhine smiled faintly and spoke in his unique, elegant, and rhythmic tone: "Yes, they have eyes as bright as morning stars, hair as smooth as silk, lips as beautiful as roses, skin as smooth as milk, and they are drenched in perfumes that are full of allure. Some countesses and viscountesses even breathed warm, moist air into my ear, inviting me to their secret estates."

The drunkard asked expectantly, "So, did you go? What was it like?" His breathing became rapid.

Lucien was not unfamiliar with such scenes. When a group of men gathered, they always discussed women. He listened with interest while thinking about how to ask Coen about learning to read and write.

Rhine's expression did not change, and he continued to smile faintly: "I told them that I do not like used, dirty things. I only love beautiful, pure, and clean life, whether male or female. They are the most delicious things in this world."

"Ha, Rhine, you really know how to brag. Would the noble ladies and misses accept such an insult?"

"Ha, if you really said that to the noble ladies, you would probably already be in Tria's famous prison, hiccup."

"Those noble misses, many of whom have the strength of knights, would tear you to pieces if you dared to answer like that."

Rhine was not bothered by Coen and the drunkard's laughter