Chapter 147: Chapter 146: See You Again If the Chance Arises
Holding the Examination Exemption Certificate, Gro couldn’t help but be excited, but soon, he thought of the nearly twenty thousand Gold Coins it had cost him and immediately became dejected, placing the certificate back into the wooden box and slumping back into his seat.
At this moment, the Guard leaned in close to Gro’s ear and whispered a few sentences.
Gro’s eyes widened, he was stunned for a moment, then he asked aloud, “Really?”
“Show it to me,” Gro said, his brows furrowing.
The Guard reached into his breast pocket, drew out a sheepskin roll map, unfolded it before Gro, and pointed at a certain spot on the map.
Gro looked for a long time, then fell silent.
On the side, Richard had guessed a possibility and spoke up, “Has your territory been assigned?”
“Mm,” Gro nodded, “I previously sent word to my elder brother, saying that no matter how poor the territory, I would accept it, so long as he first sent me ten thousand Gold Coins. As a result… I really hadn’t expected that he would actually give me the worst piece of land.
The territory is situated on the border, adjoining two enemy nations, and there are hardly any plains, just mountain ranges. The civilians are also a bunch of rough characters; half of the criminals from the Jade Kingdom hail from there.”
Gro’s expression turned ugly, he muttered under his breath, “I really hadn’t expected, really hadn’t…”
“You should have expected it,” Richard said softly, “From the moment you handed the choice over to your elder brother, you should have foreseen this outcome. After all, you demanded ten thousand Gold Coins, and you obtained the last Examination Exemption Certificate at the auction. There are gains and losses.”
Source: , updated on ƝονǤᴑ.сᴑ
“But… but…” Gro still felt somewhat unconvinced, “That’s not the point…”
“Indeed, that’s not the key issue,” Richard interrupted, “The key is whether or not you truly wish to become a Wizard and how firm is your desire to be a Wizard. Do you possess the determination to forsake everything else?”
“Uh, this…” Gro hesitated.
Richard spoke up, “If you truly desire to be a Wizard, then paying such a high price for the certificate is obviously the right thing to do. Because only in this way will you have the chance to board the great ship and head to the continent for study. In this light, whether the territory is good or bad is meaningless to you.”
“This…” Gro’s eyes flickered, deep in thought.
“However, as I’ve said to you before, you really aren’t suited to become a Wizard,” Richard looked at Gro earnestly, “In saying so, one reason is that your Talent is relatively low, and on the other hand, choosing to be a Wizard means choosing a hard path.
As a Prince, no matter how foolish or incompetent, even if you’re granted the worst place, you will still have far more luxuries than others, never worry about food and warmth, and still possess plenty of beauties, wine, and food. You could even do some bad deeds without facing any punishment.
But once you choose to become a Wizard, things will be different. You must give up your status as a Prince, become a common man, the lowest entity within the Wizard World. You will live a life of hardship and toil, and death could always be around the corner. Even if you tenaciously endure, success isn’t guaranteed. Even if you succeed, you might find that it’s not at all what you wanted.
From the standpoint of a friend, um, let’s just say we’re friends. I would hope that you give up the fantasy of becoming a Wizard and live securely as a Prince and a Lord. As for having a lesser territory, that doesn’t matter, nor does it being on the border of two nations. If you’re ambitious, it instead gives you an opportunity to expand your lands. If civilians are unruly, that’s not an issue—if you can handle it, you’ll have the best source of soldiers.
Even if you want to do nothing, take on no risks, you could entirely give up your territory and just hang around the Royal Capital; there shouldn’t be any significant problems. I think, your elder brother would probably prefer to see that.”
“You need to understand one thing,” Richard raised one finger, “If you truly decide to become a Wizard, it will be completely different from those casual attempts you’ve made in the past. You could give up on any of your previous attempts at any time, but once you set sail on the great ship, there’s no turning back—you have to rely on yourself. Have you really decided?”
Gro pursed his lips tightly, pondered for a long time, then looked up at Richard and asked earnestly, “Lord Richard, can you tell me why you decided to become a Wizard? I have a feeling your identity can’t just be some Civilian. Before becoming a Wizard, you were certainly a Noble, maybe even of a higher status than me. So why did you decide to become a Wizard, and not stay a Noble? Your previous words, they apply to you as well, right? Why not choose to enjoy and instead choose hardship?”
“That question, hm,” Richard said softly, “It’s simple, because as a Noble, there are some things I want to do that are hard to accomplish and easy to be constrained by. Being a Noble does have its conveniences, but it also comes with invisible resistance.
I chose to become a Wizard, not really because I want to be a Wizard, but to use the status and abilities of a Wizard to study certain things, to achieve a particular goal. To put it simply, for me, becoming a Wizard is a means to an end, the correct path to take, hard though it may be, but still, I must proceed.”
“Then, for me, isn’t becoming a Wizard also the correct path?” Gro pressed.
“For you, becoming a Wizard may indeed be the correct path, potentially marvelous, but it’s not one that necessarily has to be taken.”
“Because this path is too difficult for you.”
“To put it simply, there’s a big difference between you and me. So, I can make it, but you might fall flat on your face.”
Gro, with tears streaming down his face, felt the words were too honest; telling him straight that he wasn’t good enough, and that would be the end of it.
“So…” Gro was clearly struck by the words, “So, it’s better for me to stay and be my Prince? Then this… Examination Exemption Certificate…”
Gro took out the Examination Exemption Certificate from the wooden box and looked at Richard: “Lord Richard, why don’t you take this certificate? Weren’t you unable to board the ship because you were tested to have no talent? This certificate should be able to help you, right? Considering how lacking I am, I might as well just loaf around and wait to die instead of wasting it…”
Richard shook his head and did not accept it: “Keep the certificate; after all, you acquired it at such a great cost at the auction. Not having the talent to board the ship, I’m not in a rush.
On one hand, I don’t necessarily have to follow the White Stone Tower’s ship to the continent. Boarding the ship is just a shortcut for me, but apart from that, I can take other traders’ ships to the continent, though it might be somewhat dangerous.
On the other hand, even if you gave me an Examination Exemption Certificate, there are two of us, Pandora and me. It’s not possible for both of us to board the ship at the same time, which wouldn’t solve the problem.
Thirdly, I actually have my own ways to board the ship.”
“Uh, then, I…” Gro didn’t know what to say anymore.
Richard stood up, walked over to Gro, and said: “Keep the certificate. You can sell it or actually use it to board the ship. Although I’ve shared a lot with you before, those were just my views, some advice.
I don’t like making decisions for others. Although I hope you can be more rational, the ultimate decision on whether to become a Wizard lies with you. You take responsibility for your choice, have no regrets, and don’t blame others. That’s it.”
Having said this, Richard patted Gro’s shoulder and turned to leave the private room.
The door closed with a creak.
Gro stared at the door of the private room, lost in thought.
Suddenly, the door creaked open again, and Richard returned.
“Um, Lord Richard, have you changed your mind? Do you want my Examination Exemption Certificate now?” Gro’s eyes lit up.
“No.” Richard shook his head, then snapped his fingers, “Wake up, it’s time to go.”
Pandora, who had been sitting, rubbed her eyes and stood up, sleepily clinging to Richard’s arm as they headed for the door.
Richard turned his head to Gro and said, “Hope to see you again if there’s a chance.”
The door closed with a creak once more.
In the quiet private room, Gro bowed his head, deep in thought.
“‘Hope to see you again if there’s a chance,’ huh? So is it… there’s a chance, or… no chance?”