Just thinking about it made Charles frown.
In the game, there were primarily two ways to make money early on. The first was through gold-generating constructions in the monastery—like the tailor's shop—where you could craft items such as clothing to sell for gold.
However, this method alone not only required a nun to work there full-time but also generated money painfully slowly. It simply didn't solve the problem.
They'd have to reach Level 2 and construct buildings like the Blacksmith Shop and the Trading Post—which could secure large orders—before things would start looking up.
But that was still a distant prospect, completely unreliable for their immediate needs.
The other method was accepting bounty missions at the Government Affairs Halls in various districts, then leveling up by hunting monsters.
But that path…
Charles knew plenty of early-game shortcuts and guides, but they were all designed for the player's character. For example, sacrificing certain attribute points to start as a Level 3 Warlock with 2nd-level spells like Aganazzar's Scorcher, then taking goblin-clearing quests before heading to the mountains in the northwest Rubble District. There, you could exploit terrain advantages to wipe out entire goblin camps with a single fire spell.
And afterward, you could storm their hideout, not only claiming a heap of treasure but also rescuing an exceptionally strong, beautiful female knight—who just happened to have fallen into the goblins' traps today and would've been insulted if the protagonist hadn't arrived in time…
Ahem!
But that was a path only the original protagonist could take. He couldn't do it. His current attributes—though slightly higher in Charisma—were collectively worse than even the player character's minimum starting stats.
And at Level 1, with only a single non-combat 1st-level spell (Create/Destroy Water), he was practically defenseless. Even with Hattie's help, charging into the Rubble District now was too risky: this was the real world, where enemies didn't just stand around waiting for you. If they ran into goblin traps or encountered roaming centaurs and minotaurs plundering the area, there'd be no respawns.
With only one life, Charles wasn't about to take that gamble without proper preparation.
And so, the money problem loomed over him like a mountain, weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Sigh… No matter the world, poverty remains the ultimate nemesis.
Technically, as a lewd game, there was a third way to make money—arguably the intended path, given how many CGs it unlocked.
But Charles, who had studied guides and pulled all-nighters specifically to achieve the pure love route, would never choose that option.
Enough. Money can wait—I need to focus on these books first.
Shaking his head to clear away the financial worries, Charles opened Quandrix Primer, eager to see what the actual contents of a spellbook looked like.
Hattie leaned in, seemingly intending to read alongside him. With the witch pressed so close, the faint maidenly fragrance drifting into his nostrils sent a surge of heat through his body.
But this time, he summoned his willpower and forcefully resisted the urge to pin Hattie beneath him. With a pained expression, he added, "Thank you, Hattie, but… could you leave me alone while I study?"
"I have a feeling if you stay, I'll lose control again and end up spending all my time on, uh… our little pleasures…"
He felt slightly embarrassed and ashamed—she had just brought him the books, and now he was shooing her away. Reflecting on it, this behavior felt a bit like that of a scumbag…
Fortunately, Hattie didn't seem to mind. She lowered her head, pressing a soft kiss to Charles's lips, then said, "Of course. I'll be waiting right outside the door. Whenever you need me, just call, and I'll come in at once to… service you."
With that, she turned and glided out. Charles watched her go, a mix of awe and amusement rising in his chest. So this is the high-society life—having a dedicated maid at your beck and call?
Just as Hattie reached the door, Charles had already turned his attention back to the spellbook—until she suddenly dropped to her knees, crawling back to him with a sultry smile. Before he could react, her delicate fingers unbuckled his belt, freeing his hardened length.
Her lips parted, taking him deep with practiced ease. A moan escaped Charles as her tongue swirled expertly, her mouth working him with lewd, wet sounds. Every flick, every suck, drove him closer to the edge—until with a guttural groan, he spilled into her throat.
Hattie didn't waste a drop. She swallowed greedily, then licked him clean with kittenish precision, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Only then did she rise, smoothing her skirts before finally leaving—this time for good.
For a commoner like him, it was truly hard to get used to…
Shaking off these thoughts, Charles refocused on the spellbooks, then allowed himself a faint smirk.
Among the five colleges of Strixhaven University, the College of Quandrix specialized in mathematics, using mathematical knowledge and computational prowess to cast spells.
And as everyone knew, the average Eurian's math level…
Pfft.
Just mentioning math makes me laugh.jpg
Charles wasn't some theoretical mathematician, but in his previous life, he'd been a small-town overachiever, a king of Eurian academic grind. He couldn't boast about much, but those math problems the Eurians struggled with? To him, they were child's play!
Heh. Well then, let's get started.
Filled with ambition, he opened Quandrix Primer and began his deep study…
Meanwhile, after stepping outside, Hattie strolled through the monastery grounds lined with sycamore trees, her expression troubled.
Master was learning magic—which meant he'd soon need a lot of money. So, how could she get funds quickly?
Before this, she'd never had any real experience earning money. Her life had never required it: she fed on human souls, so whenever hunger struck, she'd just snatch some unlucky soul from the slums. That kept her going for a long time—no need to spend on food.
As for this monastery, the most powerful Fate Weaver, Theresa, had arranged it. Hattie hadn't contributed much financially.
The money she'd used to buy Charles' spellbooks was just scraps she'd accumulated over the years—occasional windfalls, like cash carried by her victims. She'd saved it, thinking it might be useful someday.
This was how she'd always lived. Now, suddenly needing to procure money, she was at a loss.
What was the fastest way to get it?
Hmm… The South Harbor District's slums had recently seen several new gangs—thugs from other areas banding together.
Those gangs must have some money, right?
Maybe she could go slaughter them all, take their cash, and disguise it as gang warfare?
Ugh, but if too many died at once, it'd draw too much attention. Getting scolded by the sisters was manageable—she could talk her way out of that—but if it actually alerted Blackstaff Tower, Master could be in real danger…
Lost in thought, she suddenly heard a gentle female voice behind her: "What's got you so troubled, Hattie?"
Hattie turned and saw a nun in black robes, slender and poised, with delicate features, raven hair, and dark eyes, smiling at her.
It was Ruth, another powerful witch of the monastery—the Memory Witch.