I Need the True Ending to Graduate - Chapter 9

【 Big and Impressive 】

Exactly one week later, a letter arrived from Evan Bell.

Perhaps because I had previously asked the attendant to deliver any letters addressed to me immediately, the moment the letter arrived, the attendant knocked on my door.

Knock knock knock.

“Miss Lucia Even. A letter just arrived for you.”

Having just finished a light breakfast, I had been anxiously waiting to see whether the letter would arrive today as promised. I quickly opened the door.

When I did, the attendant handed me the letter he was holding.

I swiftly checked the name engraved on the envelope, wrapped in a deep blue hue.

“Evan Bell…”

Seeing the name written in the same handwriting as on the contract, my tension instantly melted, and a deep sense of relief spread through me.

‘Whew. Thank goodness.’

I hadn’t really believed Evan Bell would go back on what was written in the contract, but a small part of me still harbored the fear that he might break our agreement and not send the check.

No more sleepless nights spent burying my face in a pillow, worrying about worst-case scenarios.

But my small moment of joy was short-lived. The attendant cautiously asked me a question, looking a bit unsure.

“Um… this might be a rude question, and I apologize in advance if it is. But Evan Bell… could it be that Evan Bell?”

“What do you mean, that Evan Bell?”

Not understanding what he meant, I asked him to clarify.

“The Evan Bell who runs Bell Restaurant and a magic shop at the academy?”

I hadn’t known about the magic shop, but it was true he owned Bell Restaurant.

I nodded. “Yes. The owner of Bell Restaurant.”

“Oh my. You know him personally?”

The attendant’s eyes sparkled as he asked, like he was looking at someone who knew a famous celebrity, full of admiration and awe.

His reaction was so intense, it caught me off guard. I gave an awkward, stiff smile and shook my head.

“We don’t know each other personally. It was just… a brief business-related correspondence.”

“I see. Still, exchanging words with the famous Evan Bell… Miss Lucia, you really are in a different league from ordinary people like us.”

“…You know Evan Bell?”

His tone implied familiarity with the name, so I asked.

The attendant nodded without hesitation, as if there was no need to hide it.

“Of course. I’d say there’s probably no one in the entire empire who doesn’t know. The wealth he possesses surpasses that of most nobles. It’s rare to see a commoner that rich.”

“…Oh. He’s a commoner?”

“You didn’t know? It’s quite a well-known fact.”

He looked at me as if he was genuinely surprised I didn’t know.

But I could only shake my head. It was the first I’d heard of it.

Kindly, the attendant began to share everything he knew about Evan Bell.

“He’s a self-made man who suddenly appeared two or three years ago. I don’t think there’s a more successful commoner in the entire Calypse Empire. He’s like a dream figure for all commoners.”

“……”

“I heard he started with a small business. But after hitting it big, he expanded into mining and real estate recently. There’s even a saying that any business he touches is guaranteed to succeed, and even the most arrogant nobles humble themselves before him.”

“I see… But why would someone like that be at the academy?”

Curious, I asked. It seemed odd that someone with the Midas touch would choose to sit around selling shrimp tomato pasta at an academy.

But even the well-informed attendant looked troubled, unsure of that part.

“I’m not sure either. People do find it odd that he suddenly expanded his business toward the academy. A few journalists have tried to get interviews, but he refused. I doubt anyone but Evan Bell himself knows the reason.”

“I see…”

“For reference, the hottest topic in the Calypse Empire right now is who will become Evan Bell’s wife.”

“Because he’s rich and a commoner?”

“That’s right. With no restrictions on status, how many chances in life do you get to enjoy that kind of wealth? I’m sure every commoner woman in the empire is after him.”

“What about noblewomen?”

When I asked, the attendant gave a bitter smile.

“Well… no matter how rich he is, a commoner is still a commoner. Nobles don’t really have a reason to marry someone of lower status.”

“Ah, I suppose that makes sense…”

The mood turned gloomy in an instant, as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown over my casual question.

The attendant who looked after my room and I were both commoners.

Though I had only gotten a brief taste of the rigid class system while scrambling to find money, the attendant before me had likely lived with such discrimination all his life.

The overwhelming divide between classes that even an enormous sum of money couldn’t bridge was enough to bring on a wave of melancholy.

Reality crept back in, cutting through forgetfulness, and a heavy silence followed.

It seemed best to end the conversation here. I had already learned enough about Evan Bell.

Wearing an awkward smile, I said, “Well, anyway, it’s amazing. Making that much money isn’t easy. I envy him. I wonder who his wife will be.”

“……”

“Thank you for telling me about Evan Bell. And thank you as always for bringing the letter quickly. I look forward to your continued help.”

“Ah, yes. If you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to call. I apologize for rambling on like that… excuse me.”

Understanding my subtle dismissal, the attendant realized he had kept me too long and quietly withdrew after offering a polite farewell.

Finally alone, I carefully locked the door, sat at the table, and opened the letter he had given me.

Inside was a check with six zeros following the number 15, along with an actual letter.

‘Letter?’

There was no reason Evan Bell would send me a letter instead of just the check, so something unpleasant must have happened.

‘What is it this time? Don’t tell me he changed his mind about the money. Or… found another girl?’

I hastily unfolded the letter.

[To Miss Lucia Even,

Did you receive the check sent to you today? I sent the exact amount stated in the contract, not a single word off, so please verify it carefully.

The check has been arranged so that you can process it immediately by signing the back and taking it to the bank. There should be no need for any extra effort on your part. As long as you can write your name, that is.

From now on, you only need to focus on actively cooperating with me in the secret matter we agreed upon.

I don’t believe someone as smart as you would now foolishly go back on our earlier negotiations.

Just so you know, I’ve never once forgiven anyone who broke a contract with me.

I trust you understand what this means.

Do not forget to fully carry out the items specified in the contract.

I will call for you soon.

From,

Evan Bell.

P.S. I heard from the staff that you scraped the plate clean, so there was no need for dishwashing. I’m glad it suited your taste.

If you wish, I can propose another contract under the condition of free meals. Let me know anytime. I’d be happy to oblige.]

Nothing ominous had occurred, but the sentences that seemed to hover between threats, mockery, and sarcasm left me with a strange feeling.

The most peculiar part was the postscript.

‘He found out I really enjoyed the pasta…’

The shrimp tomato pasta he treated me to was objectively so delicious, it was worth scraping the plate clean.

There was nothing to hide or be embarrassed about.

But thinking that Evan Bell knew about it made me feel oddly self-conscious.

His tone in the letter played a part in that.

‘I still can’t tell if he’s a good person or a bad one.’

He was the one who fed a hungry person, yet teased me for enjoying the food.

Shaking my head at Evan Bell’s inscrutable personality, I turned my attention to the check he had sent me.

“Fifteen million gold…”

That’s right. With fifteen million gold in hand, who cared if Evan Bell mocked me for eating?

It was more than enough to be satisfied that I had avoided the disaster of being expelled from the academy before the semester even started.

‘He said to endorse the back and take it to the bank, right?’

Recalling the instructions in the letter, I hurriedly fetched ink and a pen, sat at the table, flipped over the check, and wrote my name and signature on the back.

Evan Bell’s fifteen million gold was now mine.

And just then, a quest window appeared.

[Quest: Pay one year’s tuition and dormitory fees to the school by the deadline. (0/1) (!)

Current balance: 20 gold.]

They say strike while the iron is hot, so with the check now in my hands, I decided to finally free myself from the terrifying notice that had tormented me for nearly half a month.

I quickly changed clothes, packed the check and the tuition and dormitory fee notice I had received on my first day in this world into my bag.

Fully prepared, I headed straight to the bank.