The Wizard Who Endured the World of Murim - Chapter 5

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Surviving in the Martial Realm as a Mage: Episode 5
The wealth I currently possessed would last, at most, a few months?
If I economized carefully, perhaps I could live comfortably for a year on this amount.
But a mage was an existence that consumed money without limit.
This sum fell far—desperately far—short of what I needed.
“I need to acquire knowledge of this world.”
More precisely, I wanted to understand the magical system of this realm.
Just from observing the Runic Language that created the inventory and its methodology, I could see it diverged fundamentally from the Lower Dimension.
In some aspects, it displayed considerable depth.
In others, the inventory had been constructed with careless haste.
Yet even such flaws proved educational—those hours had been remarkably enriching.
Thus, alongside studying the magical system, I desperately needed resources.
As I mentioned before, mages were fundamentally resource-devouring entities.
Whether mana stones or elixirs.
I had to acquire whatever I could and cultivate my own capabilities.
“For that, I’ll first need a credible identity.”
Beyond that, I also needed connections—people who could provide accurate information and knowledge.
It was nearly impossible to gather all the resources necessary for growth alone.
“Hmm, I wonder if I can obtain all that from that village over there.”
The village visible far below the mountain.
Though the distant village didn’t appear particularly small in scale,
it also didn’t radiate an impression of thriving prosperity.
“But what in the world is this book?”
What emerged from the inventory wasn’t merely money and mana stones.
There was an old, worn tome.
“Fire… technique?”
The problem was that the Kid’s knowledge had limits—I couldn’t read it.
“Ugh, so I’m illiterate.”
This was an unforeseen complication.
But realistically, there was nothing to be done about it.
In any dimension, the likelihood of a lower-class existence having mastered all written characters was extraordinarily low.
I felt considerable regret as I gazed at the tome.
Yet I accepted the situation as unavoidable.
Thus, I set the ghouls to automatically hunt in the Forest, and I myself proceeded toward the small village.
Passing through the Rice Fields, neatly arranged on both sides,
I finally arrived at the Village Entrance I had only observed until now.
‘Hmm, the atmosphere isn’t so different from where I came from.’
The only oddity was that the faces of the people passing by seemed somehow lacking in dimension,
possessing a flat, compressed quality.
Beyond that, there was nothing particularly striking.
One way or another, Trevallion had crossed into this world and now found himself face-to-face with an actual village for the first time.
The village was encircled by a stone wall roughly six meters high.
Whether due to sparse foot traffic, the Town Gate was surprisingly quiet despite the morning hour.
“Huh? What’s with that Kid?”
Perhaps that’s why.
Among the Gatekeepers leisurely stationed at the entrance, one soldier—broad-shouldered and fierce-looking—fixed Trevallion with a dismissive gaze.
‘Well, that tells me everything I need to know about this place’s standards.’
The lord of this domain didn’t seem like a particularly meticulous person.
A Gatekeeper with such discourtesy, no less.
When first impressions matter so greatly to people.
Trevallion grumbled inwardly while outwardly scurrying along the Central Main Road on his short legs.
He discreetly slipped ten coins to the fierce-looking soldier at the Town Gate.
At that lightning-quick gesture, the soldier’s menacing expression melted away as if by magic, replaced by a warm smile.
“Well now, that won’t do. Looks can be deceiving—you’re quite the worldly little fellow, aren’t you? Still, try not to cause trouble. You understand, yes?”
“Of course, sir.”
Indeed, there was no world where bribes didn’t work.
Truth never changes.
“Hmm, you clearly look like a first-timer here, so I’ll give you some advice. Follow the Central Main Road to its far end, then take the left alley to the Manseok Inn. The cook there is skilled—the food should suit your palate quite well.”
“Thank you for the kind counsel, sir.”
After that, Trevallion entered the village without incident, passing through without resistance.
Indeed, with money in hand, any world was a pleasant place to live.
Trevallion walked along the Central Main Road with determined short strides, viewing with interest the Government Building with its peculiar architectural style—as if crowned by a hat.
“All the buildings share the same uniform appearance.”
The fact that the entire City displayed identical architectural forms without distinction, and that
every building’s facade faced the same direction as if predetermined by someone, revealed much about this place.
“It seems the lord’s authority is quite formidable in this world.”
Because the lord’s power and the strength of law were considerable,
such uniformly constructed buildings—stripped of individual character—had been erected.
Cities like this had their merits and drawbacks,
but on the positive side, security and living standards were remarkably high.
Not a bad first City to encounter.
With such observations, I noticed the tall, sturdy Government Building at the City’s center,
and broad avenues extending in all directions from that building.
Following the Gatekeeper’s directions, I turned left down the avenue into an Alley.
Before long, the recommended Manseok Inn came into view.
‘Might as well eat first.’
Truth be told, I wasn’t particularly hungry, but after days eating only beasts in the Mountains, a gamey stench clung to my mouth.
Now I craved proper cuisine.
From the outside, the Manseok Inn was a three-story building.
It appeared to be a typical inn of this world—combining both dining and lodging.
Swish―
Trevallion pushed aside the beaded curtain at the entrance with modest anticipation and stepped inside.
Contrary to the soldier’s recommendation, the inn was completely empty.
‘What? They said it was a popular place?’
Just as doubt began to sprout regarding the Gatekeeper’s recommendation.
Clatter―
A Kid who appeared to be roughly my age rushed out from beyond the kitchen curtain and opened his mouth.
“Huh? You came alone?”
“Yeah.”
Trevallion was momentarily flustered by the Kid’s casual tone.
But thinking about it, I realized I was simply receiving treatment befitting my apparent age.
“Will you be eating?”
“Yes.”
“…I’ll show you to a window seat.”
Trevallion naturally followed the Inn Server’s guidance and sat at the window seat.
The chair was so high that my feet barely touched the ground.
Even the Dining Table reached about shoulder height when standing.
But I accepted this as inevitable given my body was that of a child.
‘How inconvenient.’
I could barely reach the chopstick holder placed on the Dining Table.
I anticipated that difficulties lay ahead in my daily life.
In the meantime, the Inn Server approached with a somewhat anxious expression, presenting a wooden menu board and speaking.
“I apologize, but our establishment requires payment upfront.”
What did that mean?
After a moment’s thought, Trevallion finally understood why the Inn Server had looked anxious from the start.
‘Ah! I must look like a beggar.’
After spending time in the mountains.
I hadn’t paid attention to my appearance.
At first, it seemed absurd.
But objectively speaking, my current outfit probably looked rather ridiculous.
The clothes I’d specially “received” from Man Si-jong didn’t fit properly.
Later, in the mountains, I’d roughly cut away the bloodstained portions, shrinking them further.
Even then, the length didn’t match in places, so I was wearing them crumpled and bunched up.
‘My appearance must have looked quite suspicious.’
If I hadn’t been a child.
I might not have passed through the Gatekeeper at the City Gate.
‘Did he think I’d stolen my father’s clothes?’
Now I finally understood why the Gatekeeper had worn such a harsh expression when he saw me.
Trevallion let out a quiet chuckle.
Trevallion knew from experience how to handle situations like this.
Clink—
I fished a silver coin from my sleeve and placed it on the Dining Table with a deliberate tap.
The Inn Server’s anxious eyes widened in surprise.
“Do you have a room where I can sleep for the night?”
“Y-yes, sir. We do.”
“Then roasted duck and thin noodles. A room for tonight. The rest is yours.”
When I spoke with a certain weight to my voice.
The Inn Server kept his gaze fixed on the silver coin, tilting his head in confusion.
“Forgive me, sir, but what is a… tip?”
“Ah! After you settle the bill, keep the rest for yourself.”
“Gasp! Thank you, sir! L-let me lay down some cushions for you to sit more comfortably!”
“Oh? Good. Now the height is just right. You’ve got good sense.”
In an instant.
I, who had just been elevated from “you” to “sir,” found myself amused.
I chuckled to myself, reminded anew of the power that capital wielded.
I settled comfortably onto the cushion he provided and began organizing my thoughts about what lay ahead.
‘First, I need to change clothes and find this place called the Ronin Guild.’
The knowledge I inherited from the Kid was far too sparse, leaving me desperately short on information about this world.
Still, fortunately, this world seemed to have something like a mercenary recruitment center.
‘Since ronin here are equivalent to mercenaries in my old world.’
Whether in this world or that one.
People’s thinking seemed remarkably similar.
Feeling a certain novelty in this observation.
Clink—
I picked up the chopsticks placed on the Dining Table, examining them.
Since they existed in the Kid’s memories, I could use them with some familiarity.
‘Still, they feel foreign.’
No forks or knives at the table.
It lacked a certain refinement.
But I was the sort of person who could fully appreciate [difference].
Then.
“Here is your order, sir!”
“Oh? That was quick.”
The Inn Server had kindly brought the thin noodles, and I began eating them first.
I nodded with satisfaction.
The rich broth carried a deep meaty aroma mingled with the sharp, pungent scent of garlic—a surprisingly harmonious blend.
The Gatekeeper I’d met earlier had given me honest information after all.
‘This is delicious. Actually, this is quite excellent.’
Slurp—
“Hehe, it’s hot, so be careful, sir.”
Perhaps it was because of the tip I’d given earlier.
The Inn Server kept visiting at regular intervals, pouring warm tea and providing attentive service.
Thanks to this, my breakfast became quite satisfactory.
“This evening, I shall prepare hot bathwater for you, sir!”
“Very well.”
After finishing my meal,
I asked the Inn Server—who was bowing so deeply his waist nearly touched the ground—about the location of a nearby fabric shop.
“Ah! In Giyang County, the Yuga Fabric Shop is the most renowned, young master. If you follow the left avenue over there for about half a quarter hour, you’ll find it.”
The power of money was truly formidable.
The Inn Server saw me off all the way to the door with a humble voice,
“Well then, shall I be on my way?”
I moved forward with light, purposeful steps.
Now that I had formulated a plan, it was time to act upon it.
The first step of that plan was my appearance.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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