Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

"I'm going to die..." Nameless lay slumped on the table, his eyes lifeless.

"Get up, it's not over yet."

"Please, let me rest for a while."

“No,” Isaac said expressionlessly. “We must finish learning about linear equations in two variables today.”

Behind him was a blackboard covered with densely packed formulas, formulas that Wuming found daunting.

Why should I learn this kind of thing?

“Right now, all you know is fighting and killing. Of course, you need to learn something so that your future path will be smoother,” Isaac said. “I didn’t have the opportunity to go to school back then, and I hope you can study hard.”

"But it's so hard!!" Wuming exclaimed in frustration, looking at the formulas on the blackboard and his own scribbles on the paper.

Ever since she joined Isaac's group, Isaac has been teaching him all sorts of math and science knowledge under the guise of mentoring her, regardless of her previous knowledge base, and just cramming it all in.

"Once things are settled here, come back to Amestoris with me, and I'll take you to school."

Will Isaac come with me to school?

"I'll walk you to the school gate."

Aren't you going to school with me?

“…I hate going to school.” Isaac turned his head to the side.

"Schools really are terrible places!"

Just as the two were arguing, Ayame knocked on the door.

“Lord Isaac, Nameless, we’re almost at Wabun-i Station,” Ayame said with a smile. “We’ll be getting off there soon to resupply.”

“Alright.” Isaac pushed the blackboard behind him aside. “That’s all for today’s lesson…”

Goodbye, teacher!

Before Isaac could finish speaking, Wuming quickly stood up and ran outside with lightning speed, bypassing the calamus by the door.

"...Doesn't this brat know that knowledge is power?" Isaac looked at the nameless man who had already wandered off into the distance with a helpless expression.

"Is Lord Isaac teaching Nameless?" Acorus asked.

"Yes, but she doesn't seem to have any interest in studying at all." Isaac leaned back lazily in his chair. Ever since he started teaching Wuming, she seemed to have a strong aversion to math and science.

“That’s good,” Changpu chuckled, covering her mouth. “In this country, only the children of wealthy families and the powerful can attend private schools. Ordinary people basically have no opportunity to learn.”

“Really? In Amestris, everyone has access to education,” Isaac said.

Aside from himself, who doesn't like going to school.

Isaac, who had just joined the army, was not originally scheduled to go to the battlefield. Olivia's plan was to send him to the sergeant school in the northern city until he graduated. However, after only two days at the school, Isaac couldn't stand the environment and returned to the army.

Isaac thought that self-study was better than going to school, and college life really made him feel self-conscious.

"That really is a country that people yearn for," Changpu remarked.

With the sound of the train whistle and the friction of the rails, the Kabaneri slowly pulled into the platform of Wabun-eki.

The nameless one disappeared as soon as the ship docked at Junjo. Isaac, Ayame, and several samurai then disembarked from the iron fortress. They were greeted by the head of the Japanese post station.

Upon seeing the group descending from Junjo, the person in charge cut to the chase and asked, "May I ask who is in charge of the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress?"

“It’s me,” Changpu said, raising her hand.

"Then I'll be frank. You only have one day to stay at Wowen Post Station. You must leave after tomorrow," the person in charge said.

In his view, everyone in the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress was an uninvited guest; in fact, everyone who came to resupply was an uninvited guest.

The resources of the Japanese were not abundant to begin with. Those who came to other cities to request supplies were treated like beggars, let alone a woman. This made him feel that their original lord had already kicked the bucket.

“I see… I understand.” After a moment’s thought, Ayame replied, “We will leave Wowen Station after a day of rest.”

"It's so good that you understand."

"Hey, one day isn't a bit too short, is it?" Isaac said to the person in charge as he got off the train. "Give me the courtesy of staying a few more days."

"What?" The person in charge didn't notice and looked at Isaac, who was walking down from the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress.

Upon seeing the blue military uniform he was wearing, he instantly felt a chill. This was an officer from Amestoris, someone even the lord of Wowen Post Station couldn't afford to offend, let alone a mere manager like himself.

"Well, one day is a bit too short," the person in charge changed his mind. "How about a year?"

calamus:"……"

Isaac: "A year is too long. We can leave in just a few days."

"No rush, no rush." ​​The person in charge quickly waved his hand, "If you would like, you are welcome to visit our lord's mansion. We will welcome you with the highest courtesy."

"Oh, I'm just wandering around here, don't worry about me."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, and with the person in charge offering a warm but somewhat obsequious invitation, Isaac finally agreed to visit the lord.

Ayame and her group of warrior guards felt a little awkward. If they went to the lord, they would likely have no chance of negotiating and would probably be turned away. But before Isaac could even speak, someone was already begging him to come and be a guest.

The Amestris people in Japan can really do whatever they want.

The residents of the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress were very excited to arrive at Wabun-eki, having finally found a place to stay after a long journey on the brink of death.

Before long, all the residents got off the bus and breathed in the fresh air outside.

Besides resting, we also need to procure some supplies, including parts for Juncheng, coal, clothing, and medicine. This will cost a lot of money.

"Today seems to be Qixi Festival," a girl nearby said.

Isaac knew this girl; her name seemed to be Qiu, one of the few girls who wasn't afraid of nameless girls.

“We do have time to celebrate Tanabata, since Lord Isaac has extended our rest period,” said the samurai named Kurusu. “But we don’t have that much money, and we also need to buy necessities.”

Ayame looked at everyone and smiled as she took out an exquisite box from the sleeve of her kimono: "Don't worry about the money, just sell it and get some."

"Lord Changpu, that is..."

Ayame shook her head. "It's alright. It's rare to find a place to rest in Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress. Let's not worry about money anymore."

“You don’t need to worry about the money.” Isaac walked over from a distance, placing a stack of banknotes in front of them.

"Huh? Sir, where did you get so much money?"

“It’s not mine.” Isaac scratched his head. “When I agreed to go to the lord’s mansion, the person in charge took out a stack of money and gave it to me, saying that the lord wanted to thank me for my patronage or something. I don’t understand him.”

"..."

Chapter 432: My Negotiation Skills Were Useless

After a long journey, the residents of the original Xianjin Post Station disembarked from the Kabaneri Castle and began preparing for the Tanabata Festival celebrations.

After showering and changing, everyone looked refreshed.

Wuming had also taken off her old red and white combat suit and put on a beige outfit. She styled her hair into pigtails, which added to her girlish charm.

"It's been so long since you've changed your clothes, it's not bad at all." Wuming smiled and turned around in front of Isaac. "How is it? Pretty, right?"

"I can't see the difference."

"Tch~" Wuming stuck his tongue out at him angrily, "By the way, why didn't you change your clothes? Wearing the same blue military uniform all the time will get dirty."

“I’ve already changed it,” Isaac said.

"I couldn't tell at all."

“Actually, I have more than a dozen military uniforms in my closet for changing,” Isaac said, pointing to his clothes. “So what you’re seeing now is a different one.”

"You..."

"nameless!"

Just then, Mumei heard someone calling her. She turned around and saw a group of women from the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress waving at her.

"Ok?"

The girl named Qiu ran over and grabbed Wuming's hand: "We're going to the street to buy supplies together, can you come with us?"

"Sure, but is it really necessary to include me?" Wuming asked, puzzled. "I don't know much about shopping."

“Only girls get bullied. So we’re looking for someone to protect us,” Qiu said with a smile. “So, could you protect us, Nameless?”

That's what she said, but her main purpose was to help Wuming better integrate into the group. She was a very kind-hearted girl.

Isaac looked at the hesitant Nameless and said, "What does it matter? I have to go to the lord's manor soon anyway and can't keep you company. Why don't you go and play in the streets with them?"

“…Alright then.” Wuming nodded and accepted Qiu’s invitation.

"Thank you, Nameless," Qiu said with a smile, "and Lord Isaac as well."

Isaac waved his hand, and Wuming was pulled into the purchasing team by them.

Along the way, Qiu kept talking to Wuming.

“Nameless, you and Lord Isaac must be on good terms, right?” Qiu asked. “Judging from your manner, you must have known each other for a long time.”

“I went to Amestris once before, and that’s where I met him.”

"So what kind of person do you think he is? Is he easy to get along with?" Qiu asked.

Isaac's identity put immense pressure on everyone in the Iron Fortress, as he was even more prestigious than the current Grand Shogun. Even ordinary people like them could only avoid him when they saw him.

“He’s just a really boring person,” Wuming said, somewhat annoyed. “All he does is teach me math and stuff that I don’t understand.”

Hearing what she said, the loach seemed somewhat envious.

"so good."

"What's good about it?"

“Commoners like us have virtually no opportunity to learn,” Qiu said. “The doors of private schools are only open to samurai and nobles; we don’t even have the right to sit in on their classes.”

"So, samurai and nobles like to pay money to suffer?" Wuming pouted.

"It's not exactly suffering, is it? Isn't it good to have books to read?" Qiu asked, somewhat puzzled. "Besides, it's Lord Isaac personally teaching you."

Would you take this opportunity?

Qiu smiled wryly and said, "Of course I'll cherish any opportunity I have."

Wuming's eyes darted around, as if he had come up with a good idea.

"How about I talk to Isaac and ask him to let you attend class with me?"