Matthews and Mia continued making their way toward the Imperial Capital this way.
"Wow, this really is the Imperial Capital!"
Mia was practically buzzing with excitement, but Matthews felt nothing at all. Although people in this world were far stronger as individuals than those in his previous world, its cities still couldn't compare to the bustling metropolises he remembered.
The strength of individuals was certainly a good thing, but it also brought greater chaos. That was why civilization here hadn't developed as it had in his old world. There were no skyscrapers—only sturdy fortresses!
"Come on, let's find somewhere to change our clothes."
"But, Brother, we only have enough money for the magic aptitude test. Where are we supposed to get the money to buy clothes?"
"People need clothes to look their best. A few extra coins won't hurt."
Mia looked down at the dress she was wearing. It was much better than the animal hide she'd worn before, but it was only worth two hundred copper coins. Her brother, on the other hand, had spent about three silver coins on his clothes.
"Brother, is this the pretty dress you promised me?"
"Mm. I'll buy you an expensive dress later."
"Brother, I'm not a little kid anymore. You've been stringing me along this whole time!"
Matthews admired himself in the shop's magic mirror and was quite pleased with how he looked. Then he said, "Don't sweat the details. We're going to need your brother to talk some fools into buying our stuff for gold coins, so I need to look expensive."
It was a shame the outfit the mercenary group that had betrayed him gave him was much more expensive than this. But he'd ruined it while drifting down the river; otherwise, he never would've spent these three silver coins.
"Brother, do you think I'm still going to fall for your lies?"
Under the shop assistant's contemptuous gaze, Matthews awkwardly led Mia out of the shop.
"He looks like a pretty handsome young man, but who'd have thought he'd be so stingy with his little sister?"
"Right? Whoever marries him will be in for a lifetime of bad luck!"
Hearing the disdainful comments behind him, Matthews could only sneer to himself. How could people like you, mere mortals, understand my greatness?
Today was the Empire's annual magic aptitude test, and people had poured in from all corners of the Empire. It had taken Matthews and Mia a great deal of effort to squeeze into the crowd.
Mia watched her brother standing bolt upright, fanning himself with his folding fan. He did look pretty handsome, but it was autumn. The weather wasn't hot anymore; it was actually getting a little chilly.
"Brother, you're fanning yourself. Aren't you cold?"
"Go on, get lost. Your brother's showing off."
"What does 'showing off' mean?"
Mia had asked a question, and Matthews wanted to explain. But after thinking it over, he realized it wasn't easy to put into words, so he said, "Just think of it as your brother attracting customers."
Mia didn't understand what he meant by "customers" either. Frowning, she asked, "Mm... So, like when you said you were going to trick some fools?"
At Mia's words, the people around them looked at Matthews as if he were a fool. They instinctively moved away from the area!
"But, Brother, shouldn't we take the aptitude test first?"
"No rush. We're still short on gold coins."
Mia's lips immediately jutted out, and she grumbled in displeasure. "Hmph! If you hadn't spent those extra three silver coins, we'd have enough."
With the people around him keeping their distance, Matthews stood out even more from the crowd.
Not far away, a wealthy young master was making his way over, surrounded by attendants. His family was one of the great clans in the eastern part of the Empire. This time, the old man who had served him for years had accompanied him to enroll at the Imperial Magic Academy.
Just as he was about to get out of his carriage, he spotted Matthews standing in the crowd, flamboyantly waving his fan. He was instantly awestruck and called out, "Wow, Uncle Lodi! Look how cool that guy is!"
Lodi had only just heard the eight-year-old young master speak when the boy leaped straight out of the carriage and ran off. Lodi's job was to protect the young master, so naturally, he had to follow.
"Wow, big brother! You look so cool!"
"Hahaha, my friend, you're clearly a man after my own heart. Everything else is fleeting, but looking cool and having strength are things that last a lifetime."
"Wow, big brother, you've finally answered a question that's puzzled me for years. Those are words of wisdom!"
"Snap—"
With a stylish flourish, Matthews snapped his folding fan shut, then clasped his hands and bowed to the eight-year-old boy. "My friend, you have a discerning eye."
The boy's eyes lit up when he saw Matthews strike such a dashing pose, and his heart pounded.
"Wow, that's so cool! This thing suits me!"
After returning the bow, Matthews smoothly opened his fan with another stylish flourish and chatted with the boy in an elegant manner.
"I'm Matthews. May I ask your name, my friend?"
The eight-year-old boy copied Matthews's manner and said, "I'm Winter of the Utteridge Clan."
"Brother Winter, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Winter looked a little bashful. "Big brother, would you be willing to part with this item? I'd like to buy it with gold coins!"
Matthews put on a troubled expression. "It isn't worth much, so I wouldn't mind giving it to you, my friend."
Mia didn't believe her brother could talk a fool into buying a bamboo folding fan with gold coins, but their magic aptitude test depended on it. When she heard him say he'd give it away for free, she blurted out in alarm, "Brother!"
Only then did Winter notice Mia standing beside him. He bowed and said, "Greetings, young lady."
Matthews gave Mia's "Brother!" a thousand approving points, then said, "This is my sister. I wouldn't mind giving you the fan, but it was a gift from my father."
After thinking for a moment, Winter said, "I'll give you twenty gold coins for it. Would you be willing to part with it?"
"Well... all right. Since you like it, I'll give it to you. Think of it as a token of friendship!"
Winter immediately said, "Uncle Lodi, give my friend twenty gold coins."
"Young master, this..."
"Uncle, I'm just making a friend."
"All right."
Winter gave Matthews twenty gold coins, then left with the fan, thoroughly satisfied. Lodi suspected Matthews had swindled his young master, but since the boy liked the fan so much—and Lodi was merely a guard of the Utteridge Clan—he had no right to say anything.
"Brother, you really did trick a fool. And for twenty gold coins!"
"Watch your mouth. He's a good friend of mine."
After spending this time with Matthews, Mia had realized her adoptive big brother wasn't a good person. He was always finding ways to take advantage of his little sister, and many of his actions went completely against the noble manners and conduct her parents had taught her.
"Fine. I didn't think a fool would really fall for it, either."
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