Annie's Otherworldly Adventure

10 Open Source Chapters

The Royal Magic Academy of Kane has officially started its semester.

Welcoming and seeing off guests.

The freshmen began to adapt to their new college life, while the upperclassmen, after a brief registration period, left the school one after another, carrying their own trial missions.

The curriculum at the Royal Magic Academy of Kane is quite unique. To successfully graduate from the school, students must begin their fourth year and travel to various locations across the continent for trials. Only after accumulating enough trial points can they graduate smoothly.

Kerry and Mark were among this year's students who needed to leave school for a trial.

Although Mark really wanted to take Anne with him, Kerry refused, saying that the trial was not a trip. Anne also told him that she had to wait in Priscillac for her family to come and find her, and that's how she managed to coax Mark away.

Before leaving, Mark brought back the necklace that Annie had pawned. Kerry looked pained by his lost gold coins. Finally, with Kerry's heartache and Mark's reluctance, they embarked on their trial journey.

With Kerry and Mark gone, Anne was plunged into poverty. Although Kerry reluctantly left her five gold coins before leaving, God knows, that kid Mark just had to treat Anne like a little sister!

Anne counted the money on her, a total of 6 gold coins and 25 silver coins. If she was frugal, it would be enough for her to live on for a while, but she couldn't just sit around and do nothing. Besides, she had to take care of this little guy, Abag. Although he could find his own food, as his master, she couldn't just do nothing, could she?

Therefore, on the day Kerry and Mark left, Annie went out to wander around, looking for some work. Coincidentally, the owner of a small eatery in the dining hall of the Royal Magic Academy of Kane was looking for temporary workers.

Because the Royal Kane Magic Academy is world-renowned on the continent, it often attracts visitors. Therefore, the academy does not restrict outsiders from entering, except for some teaching buildings and trial grounds.

The job posting was displayed outside the school. Anne happened to live nearby. When she saw the posting, the ink on the ad was still wet. Anne thought for a moment and decided to just tear the ad down to avoid competing with someone else.

Gods above, since Annie came to Gerson, she's really become more and more cunning, cough cough, I mean "clever"...

To the left of the college's main gate, there was a large wall with a map showing the layout of the entire school. Following the map, Annie quickly found the cafeteria.

The Royal Magic Academy of Kane has a very large dining hall located on the left side of the campus. It has two floors and sells a wide variety of delicacies from all over the continent to satisfy the needs of students from different places. It can be called a food paradise.

The snack shop recruiting workers is located in the left corner of the first floor of the cafeteria. It's a konjac snack shop, but the konjac here isn't the kind found on Earth. It's actually a kind of starchy fruit. Annie thinks that the shape and taste of konjac are exactly the same as potatoes on Earth, only the name is different.

Annie hid the flyer and went to the snack shop. Since it was morning, there were no customers. Annie looked around the shop; there was a counter in the front and a kitchen in the back. There was no one at the counter.

"Excuse me, is anyone home?" Annie shouted for a while before a short, small old man with small eyes finally trotted out from the kitchen at the back.

"Coming, coming," the old man muttered as he ran.

"Ugh, Jack, that kid, he suddenly took leave, leaving me completely overwhelmed. He's so annoying!"

"Hello, sir, I'm here to apply for the job!" Annie bowed to the old man.

The old man was stunned, staring blankly at the little girl in front of him.

"Are you here for a job interview?"

"Yes, sir, I saw your job posting. I'm here to apply."

The old man frowned and sized her up. Her petite figure and delicate hands suggested she had never done any manual labor. Judging from her clothes, Old John guessed she was probably a fallen noblewoman from some family. She seemed quite clever, but unfortunately, he wasn't from a charity center. He waved his hand dismissively and said to Annie.

"No, no, you're too young, and I need experienced workers here."

"Uncle, you can believe me, I can do it."

No matter what Anne said, Old John wouldn't agree and went back to the kitchen to continue his work. Anne had no choice but to think of something. She picked up a burlap sack and started cleaning. When Old John was resting inside, his back aching from peeling peels, he found that Anne was still there and had wiped the tables and chairs in the shop spotless.

"Hello, Uncle!" Annie greeted old John with a bright smile.

Old John checked the time; it was almost time for students to get out of class. Apart from Annie, no one else had come to apply. Holding his aching back, Old John thought that if he had to squat and peel the skin himself this afternoon, his old bones would really break.

Old John kept Anne on trial, agreeing to pay her five silver coins a day.

Five silver coins a day was a very low wage in the capital, but Anne knew that if she hadn't used a little trick and if Old John hadn't been so eager to hire people, she probably wouldn't have gotten the job. Besides, it was just a short-term job.

People should be content; at least we have some income now, Annie encouraged herself.

On this day, Annie began her work, which was simple: peeling konjac.

Annie finally understood why konjac is called konjac, instead of being called potato like on Earth.

It turns out that the konjac in the continent of Gerson comes in different colors: red, yellow, blue, white, and gold, which correspond to the five elements of magic: fire, earth, water, wind, and light. Each color of konjac can replenish a certain amount of magical energy. When the konjac is cooked, mashed into a paste, and mixed with cheese and other ingredients, it is both delicious and nutritious, and it is one of the traditional delicacies of the Eastern Continent.

So it's just potato salad, huh? Uh, colorful potato salad, that's how Annie described it.

Peeling wasn't too difficult, although at first Anne was often yelled at by Old John for peeling the skin too thick.

However, because Anne had a bright smile and a sweet tongue, she seemed to sell more konjac than usual when she helped sell it. Old John was quite satisfied with this, so at the end of the day, he gave Anne five silver coins and made an agreement with her to continue employing her until Jack, the shop assistant, returned.

Anne's plan is to find some work near the college and hold out until the school's entrance exams next year. By then, Priscilla's problem will be resolved, and she can retake the entrance exams.

Now that she has lost her magical talent, she can't go to the Ministry of Magic, and that large scholarship is out of the question. However, the Alchemy Department also offers scholarships, just not as many as the Ministry of Magic.

She must perform well in next year's mental strength test, then the Alchemy Department's scholarship should be no problem. Before that, she needs to save as much money as possible. Who knows if the Alchemy Department's scholarship will be enough to cover her tuition and living expenses?

Increasing income and reducing expenditure are the two magic weapons for saving money. Annie has increased income by finding a short-term job, but reducing expenditure is also essential. Back at the hotel, Annie found the hotel landlady, a plump woman named Aunt Mary with a pair of shrewd eyes.

"Hello, Aunt Mary!" Anne bowed to Aunt Mary and said sweetly.

Aunt Mary, who was working on her abacus, looked up and cheerfully glanced at Anne.

"Oh, isn't this Annie? Need help from your auntie?"

Anne bowed again.

"Dear Aunt Mary, my brother has gone to participate in the trials, and I... I can't afford a hotel..."

Aunt Mary's face fell upon hearing this, and she looked at Anne.

"Oh, I see. Annie, are you checking out and leaving?"

Anne took 25 silver coins out of her pocket.

“Dear Aunt Mary, this is the money for your lodging for the next few days.”

"Ah, what a sensible child. Let me do the math, it's exactly 25 silver coins."

After receiving the money, Aunt Mary's complexion finally returned to normal.

"So, Annie, have you packed your bags? When are you leaving the store?"

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt Mary, but... but, I'd like to discuss something with you."

"what's up?"

“Aunt Mary, can I work at your shop? I’m still young, but I’m very capable!” Annie patted her arm, wanting to prove her abilities.

Aunt Mary's eyes darted around.

“Oh, little Annie, my little shop doesn’t need many people. The little money I make is just enough to make ends meet.”

Anne could tell from Aunt Mary's tone that she hadn't directly rejected her, so there was still a chance.

“Aunt Mary, I see you work very hard cleaning the inn every night. If you hire me, you can get some rest earlier and get enough sleep, which will make you even more beautiful, won’t it?”

"Well, that's what I say, but... well, I don't have much money to hire anyone."

“Dear Aunt Mary, I don’t need your wages, I just want to stay here.”

“But my inn costs five silver coins a night,” Aunt Mary said, somewhat reluctantly.

Finally, Anne told Aunt Mary her idea directly: she would work during the day and come back at night to help Aunt Mary clean the hotel, and if she wanted to stay, she could move to the small and messy storage room at the back of the hotel.

Aunt Mary thought about it and realized that she wasn't at a loss. The storage room wasn't usually used for living, so exchanging it for a free maid wouldn't be a bad choice.

She worked at a snack shop during the day and could eat leftover konjac for free; she came back at night to help clean the hotel and could stay in a free room. In this way, Annie solved her life plan.

Fortunately, Abag can hunt for food on her own, otherwise, she would definitely be eaten out of house and home by it. Alas, she is truly the most useless dragon owner in the world. Poor Abag.

And so, Annie finally had a place to stay in Gerson. She thought that no matter what, she would live a good, hardworking, and happy life in Gerson, because her family was praying for her from afar.

Mom, Dad, and Brother, I hope you are all safe and sound. I am doing very well now.

After praying to the gods, a weary Anne drifted off to sleep.