A million Mora

His eyes reflected the Padisarahs swaying in the wind, the street vendors hawking handicrafts, and the flecks of sunlight filtering through the leaves. Every sight was utterly unfamiliar to him, and an inexplicable emptiness stirred in his heart.

He turned toward Nahida, his eyes filled with bewilderment, and asked softly, "Is this... Sumeru? What... should I do?"

Nahida slowly walked to his side, soothing his flustered thoughts. She knew that Xingsu had no past. He understood nothing of human relationships or written knowledge, and even his basic survival knowledge was a blank. Living alone right away simply would not work. Going to the Akademiya to study might be the safest path.

But before that...

"New here?" The leading member of the Corps of Thirty looked Xingsu over. "Huh, that outfit doesn't look like something a desert dweller would wear, or a rainforest dweller, either..."

Out of professional habit, he checked this person using his Akasha Terminal.

Then a few fragments of personal information suddenly flashed before his eyes.

Xingsu, a scholar from a certain foreign family, here to study abroad.

Identity clearance: confidential.

Personal information: confidential.

!!!

The young Sumeru man instantly dropped his careless attitude and snapped to attention.

You've got to be kidding. Someone whose specific information even the Akasha Terminal doesn't dare provide can only be someone at the very top. How could a nobody like me get involved in something like this? The only thing I can do is hurry up and leave a good impression on this esteemed gentleman.

"Uh, Young Master... Xingsu! Welcome-oh, no, it's a great honor to have you come to Sumeru to study. This is the culmination of Sumeru's wisdom, the Akasha Terminal! Once you put it on, you can freely access all the knowledge of the nation of wisdom. I'll personally put it on for you."

With that, the guard carefully clipped the Akasha Terminal onto Xingsu's ear, then solemnly saluted him and personally escorted him out.

"Uh... Nahida, is everyone here this polite?" Although Xingsu had lost all his memories, he somehow felt that something seemed off about their attitude toward him.

"I only added some personal information about you to the Akasha Terminal. After all, the Akasha Terminal was developed based on my authority."

"Then what did you write about me?"

"Confidential."

All right, since Nahida doesn't want to say, I'd better stop asking.

"But aren't you the God of Wisdom? Why did that guard seem to treat you like you weren't even there?"

"Because he really can't see me. The me you see now is a projection in your mind. My actual body in the real world... is carrying out an important task."

Gurgle...

As they talked, Xingsu's stomach let out an ill-timed protest.

"Uh, Nahida, um..."

"Are you hungry? Perfect, I can demonstrate how to use the Akasha Terminal. Hold down the Akasha Terminal and think, 'I want to get something to eat.'"

"I want to get something to eat... Huh?"

Two lines of text suddenly appeared before Xingsu's eyes, labeled Lambad's Tavern and Puspa Café respectively, each with a brief introduction.

Lambad's Tavern, beside the entrance to Sumeru City, offered filling main dishes such as Shawarma Wraps and Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cakes, with a full selection of drinks and light meals. Travelers and forest rangers often stopped here. Its signature dish was the Lambad Fish Roll.

Puspa Café, about fifty meters uphill along the road from Lambad's Tavern, specialized in desserts, coffee, and light snacks. With its quiet, elegant atmosphere, it was suitable for scholars taking a break between classes.

Xingsu tilted his head, his thoughts unknown.

Beside him, Nahida put her hands on her hips and asked with a smile, "Well, Xingsu, have you decided what to eat?"

"Nahida."

"What is it?"

"I can't read."

"..."

In short, with Nahida's help, Xingsu ultimately chose to eat at Lambad's Tavern.

The tavern was clean, tidy, and sanitary. It was around two or three in the afternoon, and there were hardly any customers inside. Lambad was wiping down the tables.

Seeing a customer arrive, the middle-aged man immediately offered a warm welcome.

"Hello there, welcome to Lambad's Tavern! You look like a new face. First time here, right? I'd recommend the Lambad Fish Roll. I stake my decades of experience on it-delicious and affordable, guaranteed. If it doesn't taste good, you don't pay."

"Then... two portions?"

"Coming right up! That's 950 Mora altogether. Eating here or taking it to go?"

Uh... Mora? What's that?

Xingsu looked toward Lesser Lord Kusanali beside him. Nahida seemed to have realized the problem that buying things required Mora, too, and stood there rubbing her chin in thought.

Looking at the young man's stammering and evasive eyes, Lambad already understood.

He's probably a poor student, and poor students like him most likely come from the desert.

Has this child fallen on such hard times that he can't even afford food? What the hell are those damned sages at the Akademiya doing?! How could they let a child go hungry?!

"Come, child, this meal is on me..." As he spoke, Lambad scanned Xingsu's personal information with his Akasha Terminal, intending to record the child's information so he could help him out.

I've been running this place for years, so I've got some connections, at least. Besides, I'm from the desert myself. Whatever happens, I can't let a child who managed to study at the Akademiya go without food!

The Akasha Terminal displayed Xingsu's information.

Then the tavern owner snapped to attention, too.

So that's it... For someone of this standing, it's perfectly normal to go out without carrying Mora.

"...It's on me. Your presence truly honors my humble little tavern. How could I possibly take your money? Ha... ha..."

The experienced Lambad immediately changed his tune. Giving it two hundred percent of his attention, he prepared two portions of fish rolls and delivered them to Xingsu's table with both hands.

"Uh... thank you?" With guidance from Nahida beside him, Xingsu politely offered his thanks.

"Ah! You're welcome. As long as you enjoy my cooking. If you need anything, just let me know."

At that moment, even if Xingsu had asked for his tavern, Haaland would have handed it over without the slightest hesitation. At worst, he could spend another few years working as a sailor. But one word from someone this important could decide whether his head would still be attached tomorrow.

After receiving Xingsu's affirmative response and praise for his cooking, Haaland let out a long breath. He stayed by Xingsu's side until he finished eating, then personally escorted him out.

"Nahida."

"Hmm?"

"What exactly did you put in my personal information?"

"Confidential."

"...You didn't actually give me some distinguished identity, did you?"

"No, I just wrote 'confidential' under your identity."

"...Why don't you rewrite my identity? Just an ordinary student will do."

"All right. Hmm... but it seems humans still feel more fear and reverence toward the unknown than curiosity."

Nahida put her hands on her hips and smiled in satisfaction, feeling that she had learned something new again today.