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Chapter 4 - Damn Nobles

After donning his worn-out flat cap, which appeared as though it had been salvaged from the trash, he also adorned himself with a vest and stepped outside.

The weather was bleak and the air carried a chill, yet the atmosphere was vibrant and full of warmth, seemingly unaffected by the cold.

From a distance, Elias spotted a rental carriage but was quickly reminded of the scant resources in his pockets, as meager as a cat's purr.

What a pity, he mused, continuing on his way.

According to his predecessor's memory, the factory was located at 151 Pendleton Street. By carriage, the journey from the slums took merely an hour, but traveling on foot was far more arduous. As a result, Elias often arrived two to three hours later.

Before leaving the slums, someone reached out and firmly grasped the back of his neck with their arm.

"Hey, what happened to you? I haven't seen you around for a few days," said the kid.

He stood a full foot shorter than Elias, making it looked like they aren't at the same age, which made their current situation feel rather peculiar.

This looks like I'm being overpowered by a child—just like that giant in the Bible, Elias mused, recalling the story of David and Goliath.

"I'm not feeling well," he replied casually, masking his discomfort.

The boy was none other than Victor, Elias' childhood friend. Victor also worked at the factory and had been the one to introduce Elias to the underground fighting arena—a clandestine form of entertainment for young nobles.

"Oh, really? Are you alright now? Can you fight tonight?" Victor asked, his tone brimming with enthusiasm.

"About that," Elias said, glancing at him. "I'm not going anymore." He brushed Victor's arm off and resumed walking.

Elias had come to understand that in order to endure in this unfamiliar world, he needed to prioritize caution and self-preservation.

Stunned, Victor hurried to catch up with him.

"But… you're good at it," Victor teased, recalling Elias' impressive bout against the son of a baron.

"Enough. I need to survive and provide for two mouths," Elias responded firmly.

Despite Elias' clear dismissal, Victor persisted, trailing alongside him and continuing to pester him, though Elias paid no heed and maintained his stride.

As they moved farther from the slums, the surroundings grew increasingly pleasant and vibrant. The sight of children running about became more frequent, and the sound of adults engaged in lively conversations filled the air.

As they walked, their attention was drawn to the loud cry of a newspaper boy: "Headline! Headline! The Rise of the Enchantment of Labor!"

The boy's voice gradually faded into the background as murmurs arose from the surrounding crowd. Snippets of conversation, such as "Those noble bastards" and "What are we going to do?" echoed amidst the growing unease.

Before they realized it, they had arrived at the factory, where they were greeted by familiar faces among the workers they both knew well.

"Hey, you should consider what I said earlier, tonight is a big game," winking at him, Victor went to change his attire.

Ignoring him, Elias went straight upstairs to the supervisor's office. Unlike Victor, Elias needs to fill the attendance chart for part time workers.

'I still don't get how that short kid got a full time job while I only get to part time, he said to himself.

At the office, Elias signed the chart and went straight outside to do his work.

Upon arriving, Elias noticed that only three workers, including himself, were present. Confused, he approached one of the workers carrying a stack of wood.

"What happened? Where is everyone else?" he asked.

"Haven't you heard? They're cutting back on workers and hiring those who know magic," the old man replied with a hint of resignation.

Turning his gaze across the open field, Elias spotted another worker seemingly manipulating fire with his bare hands, using it to heat the iron more efficiently without the need for a smelter.

Noticing Elias' puzzled expression, the old man offered an explanation.

"Don't worry about me," he said with a faint smile. "I haven't learned any magic. They just told me my body is full of aether, which makes it stronger. Elias was it? What about you, what's your specialty?"

The question makes him think even more—this whole thing made him confused as to what was happening.

I would like to ask that question to myself either, he mused. "I don't know magic," He simply replied.

The old man gave Elias a once-over and began asking questions. "How old are you?" he inquired, followed by, "How much are you making a day?"

"Sixt—seventeen," Elias replied, hesitating as he suddenly remembered that today was his birthday.

If I forgot about it, does that mean… Oh, poor kid, he even forgot his own birthday, Elias thought, reflecting on the original owner of his body with a tinge of pity.

"I'm making 3–4 pence a da—" Elias began but abruptly stopped, a realization dawning on him.

He recalled his interaction with Evelyn earlier that morning, particularly when she gave him tea—something she had described as "a norm" in the capital.

A norm, huh? So, to her, Elias probably looked like he was begging for money, he thought, not insulted but quietly disappointed in how slowly he had grasped his new reality.

Thinking back on his earlier conversation with Victor, Elias began to piece things together. He now understood the implications of the Enchantment of Labor: recruiting skilled workers who could wield magic while disregarding those who couldn't.

Instead of paying wages for five workers, they're willing to hire one specialist for a quarter of the cost, he deduced. And yet, they still keep me around—someone who's been earning only half of what I should be paid from the start. His lips curled faintly, his expression blank but his thoughts simmering.

Noticing the realization on Elias' face, the old man gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Way to go, kid."

Damn nobles…, Elias muttered inwardly, letting out a quiet, bitter laugh.

As the old man continued with his work, Elias began his usual routine: tallying the number of logs, counting the metal pieces, and inspecting the equipment for any missing items.

In the afternoon, during their lunch break, Victor sprinted over to him.

"Hey! Hey!" Victor called out eagerly. "So, have you thought about my proposal?"

"What proposal?" Elias asked, having not paid attention to Victor's earlier words. He then remembered the mention of the arena. "Oh, that?" he responded, playing along. "Yeah, I'll fight."

"Great! But first, let's eat. I'm starving," Victor replied, his enthusiasm unwavering.

After an hour, they parted ways to resume their tasks.

"El! Meet me at the place tonight, alright?" Victor shouted from the other side of the building.

What a headache, Elias thought to himself, but, determined, he gave a nod and returned to his work.