Hilia's courses are somewhat like regular university majors, seemingly not packed tightly, but her daytime schedule is full every day.
Apart from the mandatory courses like Meditation, Holy Word, Magic Puppet, and Magic, there are electives like Potions, Scrolls, Array, Runes, and materials, flying, history, Mage Behavior Code... all of which are unimportant but required courses.
Rose watched her pull out her schedule, and stared at the chaotic list of classes in silence.
"Are all these necessary?"
"No, aside from the four mandatory ones, the others just need theoretical competency. I chose so many courses because they're required by the Holy Court. They say that even if the Holy Daughter doesn't know how to make potions, she should understand potion principles, recognize potions, the same goes for scrolls, arrays, and runes."
"Okay, you have one-tenth of my elegance back then."
Rose could lie just as easily as he spoke normally; even he believed what he said.
In a certain sense, it was true; those all-nighters playing games, didn't players have to learn all sorts of things?
"What's this flying class about?"
"It's a relaxation course. After the teacher teaches us how to fly, we are allowed to fly freely, as long as we don't violate the flying rules, there's no problem."
Oh, PE class.
"There's only flying class available on Friday afternoons once a week, wouldn't it be great to have it every day?"
What are you thinking, kid? Be grateful your PE class isn't overrun.
The afternoon classes were also tightly packed, ending at six in the evening.
Hilia was just about to go eat when Anarce approached her, whispering in her ear: "Hilia, I've found a suitable job for you to earn money, want it?"
"What job?" Hilia looked up.
Just as she expected Anarce to choose from Magic Puppets, Potions, or Scrolls, Anarce mentioned something unexpected—
"Have you heard of the flying competition?"
"Flying competition?"
Are there competitions like that?
"I'm only telling you, don't spread it around," Anarce whispered.
Hilia sat up straight immediately and nodded, "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
"This flying competition isn't organized by the school, it's held privately by senior students, right during the flying class on Fridays."
"Is the job you're talking about asking me to run errands for the flying competition?"
"Of course not, you're the Holy Daughter-in-training, they won't want you running errands.
"Besides, running errands for this kind of competition doesn't pay much. I'm talking about participating in the competition, if you secure first place, you get all the prize money from the other participants."
"Get all the prize money from the others?"
"I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I heard from a… senior that the first prize is nearly 20 gold coins! That's a lot… I'm tempted myself, Hilia, you could give it a try."
"It doesn't sound like it meets the standards at all, will they let me participate with my identity as a Holy Daughter?"
Hilia was referring to her identity as a Holy Daughter.
"Uh… I don't know, I'm just offering an idea, whether you want to go is up to you."
"I'll think about it."
"No worries, it doesn't matter if you participate or not, today is only Monday, there are still several days left, they say registration is on Wednesday and Thursday, if you're interested, I'll help you find out how to sign up."
"Okay, thank you Anarce. Let's go eat together."
"Sure!"
"…"
"Go participate."
On the way to the cafeteria, Hilia heard Rose's voice in her mind.
"Should I really go?" Hilia hesitated, "That kind of competition… surely violates flying rules, right? What if the teachers catch us…"
"If you're too afraid to do even this, how do you plan to earn big money?" Rose could sense Hilia's strong desire to participate, feeling amused.
This kind of thrilling thing definitely had an allure for Hilia, probably like touching the Evil God statue yesterday without permission, the more forbidden something is, the more it tempts you to try.
Initially, Hilia didn't have much intention, but after Rose brought it up, she was tempted, only she still had concerns.
"But, I've only had a few flying classes, I'm not yet skilled at flying, can I outperform those senior students?"
"Why worry? I've got your back."
Hilia was taken aback: "You… You're not planning to curse all the participants, are you?"
"That's something only nasty people do, rest assured, I won't."
Isn't the Evil God synonymous with nastiness?
This thought flashed through Hilia's mind.
She and Anarce had already arrived at the cafeteria. After ordering her dinner, Hilia said, "Anarce, I've decided to participate in the competition, help me find out how to sign up."
Anarce looked up, a glimpse of surprise flashed across her face, and she quickly said, "Sure, I'll go ask that senior later."
Anarce was very efficient in her actions too, by nighttime, Hilia received her message.
"I asked, the senior said Wednesday afternoon at 6 o'clock, wear a disguise, go to Classroom 3, pay 1 gold coin, they'll give you a license, then just wait for Friday."
"Why do I have to pay?"
Seeing the payment requirement, Hilia hesitated.
"The senior said that's how the competition works, everyone pays, the prize money is collected from what everyone pays, the winner takes it all."
"Got it, thank you."
"No problem, hehe."
"…"
Back in the dormitory, Hilia was still conflicted.
For a long while, she summoned her courage and asked, "Lord Rose, do you think I should pay to participate?"
"Pay, why not pay?"
"I'm worried it might be a scam."
"If it were organized outside, maybe, but this is organized by students within the school. If you were the organizer, would you scam your classmates, take their money and run?"
Hilia shook her head, "I wouldn't, being expelled for just a few dozen gold coins isn't worth it."
"Exactly."
"But, 1 gold coin is too expensive…"
"It's up to you."
Hilia opened the drawer, fumbled for a moment, opened the small compartment inside, and carefully took out the only gold coin within.
Under the light, the gold coin shimmered with golden sheen, carved with strange patterns, emanating faint magic power vibrations.
"This was given to me by the High Priest when I came to school, it's meant to be my living expense for the entire year, I haven't had the heart to exchange it for silver coins."
"Oh? What do you usually use then?"
"The school's assistance, 10 silver coins every month, meals are free, those 10 silver coins can be used to buy other things, last month's money I spent on an Arcane Furnace… once I have my Magic Puppet, I can take commissions from the school, then I won't have to pinch pennies like this."
Rose wasn't very aware of the current currency value and purchasing power; when gaming, although it was similar to now, with the traditional gold, silver, and copper coins, only silver coins were used in the early stages, while later on, handfuls of gold coins were spent, after all, it was just data.
Judging from Hilia's behavior, gold coins were very valuable.
If memory serves, gold and silver are considered magic materials too.
The young girl was torn for a long time, finally putting the gold coin back.
"Not planning to participate anymore?"
"No, I want to participate! Maybe this is the first and the last time I partake in such a competition, Lord God, please help me!"