Rising from the Slum City of Reincarnation in Another World ~ Gathering, Hunting, and Living a Slow Life by Eating

Chapter 68 Lanierda Blue Sky Elementary School

Now, Gid-san was mainly focused on spoon-making, but since I was also in need, we decided to cooperate.

To put it simply, the problem was that I couldn’t read or write.

I can barely read a few words and numbers on the Adventurer’s Guild quest board. It uses a phonetic script similar to English, so I can try to guess the pronunciation, but I haven’t memorized all the combinations of letters and their readings yet.

“So, Gid-san, I’m requesting your help in organizing an open-air classroom in the slums,” I said.

“Ah, I see,”

“The Lanierda Neighborhood Association will provide the salary. It’s sponsored by the Dridon General Store and the Miranda General Store,” I explained.

“Oh, you’ve already arranged it to that extent”

“Yeah, that’s right”

And so, I asked Gid-sensei to teach me the common language of this world’s continent. It’s mostly a pseudo-alphabet, so I refer to it as the alphabet.

The numbers are in decimal system, with ten symbols. Miraculously, zero and one are quite similar to the numbers I’m familiar with.

Once I manage to memorize them, it should be easy for someone like me, a reincarnated individual.

A makeshift hut was built on the vacant lot in the middle of the North District and East District, so I ended up next to it.

It’s right beside the stage where the previous “Ed’s Week-Long Poop War” took place.

The participants are kids from both districts, whom we’ll refer to as students.

They range in age from around five to ten years old.

For me, it’s obvious, but there are boys and girls participating.

There were some extremist discriminationists who claimed, “It’s a luxury for the girls,” but Dridon-san shut them down with a strong reprimand.

Dridon-san, of course, knows that many girls come to his shop to buy things.

While reading and writing aren’t essential for shopping, he explained that it would be a significant advantage and convinced them.

Unfortunately, many people who can’t read or write characters and numbers are easily taken advantage of when shopping.

If Doridon-san wasn’t trustworthy, the slum stalls would be perfect targets.

Children over ten years old can somewhat read words.

They may have difficulty spelling accurately, but they can write to some extent.

Based on the survey results, it was determined that elementary school-aged children would be the target.

“Gid-sensei, please help us,” the children said in unison.

The children gather, wearing brown clothes, and among them, some are dressed in colorful outfits, showing off their style.

I, of course, am wearing brown.

Minya is wearing a green dress, Lania is wearing a blue and white dress, and Ciel is wearing a pink dress.

We’re all dressed up nicely.

I’ve been wanting spare clothes for a while, but it’s hard to bring up the topic when it’s coming out of my own pocket.

In a world where buying lots of clothes and changing them every day seems like something only nobles do, it’s not good to impose such values.

Gid-sensei showcases all the different characters and performs a simple ABC song-like presentation.

We shouldn’t make fun of songs or anything like that.

Doing things from the basics like this is important.

Although it’s called the “Blue Sky Classroom,” it was officially named “Lanierda Blue Sky Elementary School” by Dridon-san.

Dridon-san holds a 60% stake in the Dridon General Store and Miranda General Store’s funding ratio.

Children who don’t live in the slums are also allowed to attend.

There is a monthly fee, one silver coin per student per month.

It seems unnecessary, but since there are expenses, it was decided to collect it.

However, there are no penalties for non-payment.

Classes are held only in the morning, provided by Dridon-san, and they serve a school lunch.

Well, it’s just boiled salted Ilk beans, the same thing I used to eat as a pre-meal.

Just having regular school lunches alone brings in a surplus, so they’ll continue to allow attendance even with the monthly fee.

If you can do proper cost-benefit calculations, that is.

And so, the school project is on track, and today we are singing the ABC song.

As we gather, there are some children I don’t know.

The older kids in higher grades are mostly unfamiliar to me.

We are the youngest ones.

When they attend, the attention towards Minya, Lania, and Ciel is incredible.

Even children who don’t usually get to play together are sitting side by side, studying, and they look happy.

Ciel-chan seems to be particularly popular among the children of beastkin.

Minya has many fans among humans.

Or rather, there are no other elves in the slums.

Elves, aside from the regular class distinctions, seem to have a higher status as a race itself, surpassing even the upper-class citizens.

It seems there are no elves who willingly choose to live in the slums under such a caste system.

And then, recently, Dridon-san had quite a profitable opportunity, although I’m not sure who is responsible for it.

I wonder who it could be, quietly wondering.

“This is Dridon Central Toilet. Clap, clap, clap.”

“Wow, ohhh!”

Next to Lanierda Blue Sky Elementary School, the Dridon Central Toilet had been completed unnoticed.

In the slum area, there were only public toilets near the East and North Gates.

The operation is managed by a noble person from Trieste, and they generate income through slime breeding.

This income seems to be quite lucrative.

Just thinking about the slime multiplying and the magic stones, it’s like, yeah, it can be quite profitable.

Since the jelly part of the slime is an alchemical material, calling the toilets a slime breeding facility is more accurate.

“Are you making money?”

“It’s going alright. Ahahaha.”

“A dark smirk.”

“That’s a rude business smile, you know.”

I had a conversation with Dridon-san during the completion ceremony.

“So, to be honest, is it profitable?”

“Yeah, it seems like it can be really profitable if cleaning and volunteering are taken care of.”

“Oh, I see, cleaning.”

“Yeah.”

Cutting costs on maintenance can lead to profits. It seems like there’s a constant need for cleaning, remodeling, and other expenses.

By the way, there’s no toilet paper. Instead, large leaves growing in the vacant lot are used. There are rules regarding this where it’s mandatory to bring back and replenish more leaves than the number used. However, there are some disrespectful individuals who occasionally neglect to replenish. Thankfully, most people gather leaves beforehand, use them, and keep the remaining as stock.

There’s also the management of these leaves.

And so, a new public toilet and the Lanierda Blue Sky Elementary School were established in the northeast vacant lot.