Chapter 118

As human civilization advanced, various cultures emerged, and one aspect stood out prominently.

That would be ‘money.’ Broadly speaking, we can refer to it as the economy, but more narrowly, it’s about currency.

Money plays a significant part in human civilization, causing all sorts of events and incidents. Just look at the Soviet Union.

A superpower that split the world into two through the rare ideology of communism. Although it eventually faced limitations and disbanded, it left a substantial mark on history.

So much so that it’s said civilization operates on money. This applies not only to different eras but also to the world as a whole.

I mention this because a vast sum of capital is about to fall into my hands. The weekdays are flying by, and the weekend is approaching.

I decided to leave the auction and commission fees entirely to Kara, but I plan to keep an eye on things myself.

Since it’s an auction taking place at the Academy, I can’t exactly haggle.

So, my plan is to deposit the winnings into the bank right away.

“Alright, Sivar. Let me school you on the concept of money. Do you see this?”

Before the auction began, I received a lesson from Kara, who came to the dormitory.

Kara and others didn’t realize I already had some knowledge about money. They probably think I know only the basics.

“This is a silver coin. It’s the basic currency, aka a common currency. Each country has its own currency, and the amount you can convert with this silver coin varies.”

Kara showed me a silver coin, which had a man’s face engraved on it.

It’s likely the face of a hero known for slaying demons. At least that’s what I recall.

Coincidentally, the silver coin started circulating around the time the Academy was founded.

Originally, it was exclusively used at the Academy, but it eventually became the standard currency over time.

“You probably won’t get what I say about exchange rates. Anyway, you can buy your favorite candies or cakes with this. Since you’ve seen us buying them, you probably have a general idea of what it is, right?”

“Yeah. One candy for one silver coin.”

“You remember that exactly.”

Most games use a single type of currency. The Soul World also uses silver coins as its main currency.

While each country has its own currency, the value of the silver coins doesn’t decrease, making them usable anywhere.

However, due to exchange rate issues, efficiency may vary in some places, and there are times when the value of silver coins just plummets during specific events.

It’s not an all-purpose currency just because it’s versatile. You can think of it like the US dollar.

In any case, the more silver coins you have, the better. You can also enhance the Non-Combat Classes with it.

“The more silver coins there are, the more people will set their sights on them. As I said earlier, once the auction ends, all sorts of strange folks will come sniffing around after hearing the rumors. If I’m there, I can ward them off in advance, but if I’m alone…”

Kara looked uneasy, probably worried that I might get scammed. Her gaze then shifted to my side.

Given we were chatting in my dormitory, of course Rize had joined us. In other words, she directed her glance toward Rize.

Catching on to Kara’s concern, Rize flashed her signature smile and spoke up.

“I won’t always be beside Sivar. It might be better to address your concerns to someone else.”

“Hmm… then, in the off chance that Sivar ends up getting scammed, can you help a little?”

“I’ll help you scrape the scammer’s wrist clean off.”

That’s quite the chilling statement. While it’s dangerous for a Saint to say, hearing it from Gwonseong makes it sound merciful.

Scammers were often dealt with severely back in medieval times. Especially for counterfeiters, they’d likely be given the death penalty without question.

In any case, if Rize steps up as my reliable backup, the chances of scammers easily approaching me… increases significantly.

“Just so you know, even those who claim it’s not a scam just because I’m mentioned should be viewed with suspicion. Many people commit scams thinking they’ll never be seen again.”

“Oh. I’ve had that experience too. Just before getting scammed, my father showed up, so I got lucky that time; otherwise, I would’ve blinked right past it.”

“What kind of punishment did he deal out?”

“He pulled out the tongue and sent them packing.”

“How merciful.”

Look at this chilling conversation. The fact that it flows so well is even more absurd.

Given their fame, they must have dealt with all kinds of pests. They must have had quite a rough time.

“Still, there are truly helpful people around, which is a real headache. I’ve been shocked when someone I told to get lost later went on to form a major trading company.”

“Economics require both insight and knowledge to run smoothly. Since you possess both, Kara student, I believe you’ll do just fine.”

“That’s not the problem; it’s Sivar that’s the issue. He seems to have an eye for people, but his knowledge is a bit…”

“Hey. I can understand everything you all are saying now. I’m honestly at a loss for words since I can’t even tell them I’m genuinely concerned.”

Plus, while they may not know, I do have knowledge too. I already know about trading companies or enterprises poised for a major rise.

Investing in those would make earning money a breeze. However, the problem is I’ll need to do so secretly or persuade them.

Especially since Kara is sensitive about money, it’s likely to create friction.

‘Am I just going to stick with depositing in the bank for now?’

This world has developed banks and finance sectors due to its scientific advancements.

So, while it’s fine to leave my money there and earn interest, doing so would take too long.

In the Soul World, banks are primarily meant for securely storing money, not for accumulating interest.

“After the auction, I’ll deposit the amount into Kara’s account, right?”

“I’m planning to visit the bank first. Once Sivar’s account is established, I’ll deposit it there; if not, then into my account.”

Of course, just because finance is developed doesn’t mean you can open an account willy-nilly. In fact, it can be frustratingly complicated.

Basically, you need some form of identification or an item that can effectively guarantee your identity; without that, it’s a no-go.

If anyone could open an account freely, cannon accounts would be all over the place being used for crimes. The people of the mid-medieval era aren’t stupid.

“Sivar, being an Academy student, should find it easy to open an account. However, that said, Kara will still need to manage it.”

“I can’t keep it safe forever either. The priority is to instill some economic awareness… but that might be tough, right?”

“If you conduct education at their level, it shouldn’t be too hard. With the help of Kara and Eli, you can definitely grasp it.”

“Ah. Eli…”

Kara showed a slightly uncomfortable reaction when Eli was mentioned. She looked genuinely surprised.

‘Eli’s economic sense isn’t exactly top-notch either…’

It’s not that she spends recklessly. She tends to lavish only on herbs and potions.

Currently, she’s making do with the herbs from the forest due to a lack of funds, but if she gets investment, she’d negatively splurge it all.

However, she achieves incredible growth, making her the number one investment target. I plan to invest in her as soon as I acquire some money.

“It’s almost time for the auction to start. Are you going to the bank first?”

“Yes. I’m going to open Sivar’s account first. We can teach him economic sense little by little.”

As the time for the auction approached, Kara and I stepped outside together. Our destination was the bank.

Tartar places a high value on trade, which naturally makes them sensitive about money. Consequently, Hector introduced banking and finance.

Despite being somewhat of a troublemaker, his ability as a ruler is comparatively decent. Otherwise, he would’ve ruined the country by now.

Thanks to this influence, Kara is well-informed about banks. Beyond just knowing about them, she’s quick-witted and good at investing.

‘She hasn’t started with stocks yet, though.’

The reason she hasn’t started stocks is simple: they haven’t been introduced yet.

Knowing something and actually using it are different. Tartar is just now getting it off the ground, so there’s still plenty lacking.

Especially considering Kara, despite being labeled a barbarian, is quite cautious. She doesn’t jump in without prior information.

“Let’s see… I’ve got my ID ready, and my status as an Academy student should be on file, so we really don’t have anything to worry about. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Before long, we arrived at the bank and conducted another inspection. The exterior of the bank looked familiar, with only the building material differing.

It felt like a strange mix of fitting yet not fitting together. Thanks to one nation with an advanced scientific civilization, the world is benefiting.

While I was wandering around the various parts of the bank, Kara was in discussions with the bank staff—naturally for the sake of my account opening.

“Wait, what? Academy students can’t deposit over 10,000 silver coins?”

“Correct. That’s due to the new regulations. There’s been a surge in cases of Academy students’ accounts being misused for crimes.”

But then an unexpected problem arose. Academy students are not allowed to deposit more than 10,000 silver coins.

It wouldn’t matter for nobles since their family can provide assurances, but commoners don’t have it easy. They have to go through ridiculously tedious procedures.

Kara seemed ready to argue more but quickly gave up. It looked like she knew it was indeed a solid reason for crime prevention.

“Ugh… so can I deposit into my account instead?”

“Uh… you are from Tartar, correct?”

“…And so?”

Are they seriously rejecting me just because I’m from the Tartar race? Kara’s face became tense, as if she was having similar thoughts.

The staff member glanced around and then, in a low voice just for us, said, “Tartar natives have unclear credit ratings, so the limits are very low. This is unavoidable due to Tartar’s past issues holding things back.”

“I’m a private citizen, not issuing national bonds here!”

“Consider your status…”

“Oh.”

It seemed she finally realized her identity as the princess of Tartar. Unexpected obstacles kept popping up.

In any case, the maximum amount that can be deposited into Kara’s account is 500,000 silver coins. I realized just how expensive Usuk fangs are.

In the end, even establishing an account became a headache. Now even Kara’s account is facing deposit difficulties.

Effectively, I must inflate my account limit. To do this, I’ll have to go through complex procedures.

“With the auction starting today… is there no other way? Cancelling the application feels weird with people already gathering.”

“As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to bring in something or someone to firmly guarantee your identity.”

“Hmmm… Ah.”

Suddenly, a great idea hit me. I nodded and spoke to Kara.

“Hang on a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“Huh? Where to?”

“You’ll see.”

I should have done this right away. Without delay, I dashed out of the bank.

About ten minutes later, I came back with the ‘witnesses’ the bank staff mentioned.

“I didn’t realize there were regulations like this since I don’t use banks much.”

“I agree. I didn’t think Kara would be in this position.”

Rize and Rod. We have a Saint and a Sword Saint here.

The bank staff was left flabbergasted by the unexpected appearance of such individuals. Their reactions made it clear they couldn’t believe their eyes.

“So, what happens with the account now?”

“…Just a moment. I need to confirm with the bank president…”

If certification and all of that won’t do, then this is discrimination.