31 Currency

The cool evening breeze brushed past Johan as he sank into a worn-out chair, fatigue etched on his face. Across from him, his younger brother, Miles, watched him with a furrowed brow, the flickering candlelight illuminating his worried features.

"You look like you've been wrestling with ghouls all day, Johan," Miles started, his voice heavy with concern. Johan chuckled lightly, rubbing his sore muscles, 'He's not entirely wrong.'

"Well, you're not too far off, little bro," Johan admitted. Seeing Miles' shocked expression, he quickly added, "Just kidding! Just a lot of heavy lifting today."

An awkward silence descended upon them. 'Is he... worried about me? How cute,' Johan mused, attempting to alleviate the tense atmosphere. "So, what's on your mind, Miles?"

Miles cleared his throat, fidgeting with his fingers. "I... um... wanted to talk about our money, Johan. The city's currency system, I mean." He glanced at Johan, a hint of determination in his eyes.

Johan sat up, his fatigue momentarily forgotten. 'Huh, he wants to talk about money?' He nodded for Miles to continue, feeling a surge of curiosity.

"The copper, silver, gold, platinum, and diamond... you do know how they work, right? I mean, I know you know, but do you know know?" Miles asked hesitantly, hope flickering in his eyes.

Johan blinked, taken aback by the unexpected topic. 'I didn't realize he was so concerned about our finances. Well, he's not wrong. It's important to understand.' Johan thought as he listened to his brother.

Nodding at Miles, he leaned back in his chair, mentally preparing himself for what would undoubtedly be a long, but necessary discussion.

Miles, with a deep breath, began his explanation. "So, you know about the iron, silver, gold, platinum, and diamond coins, right?" He looked at Johan for confirmation, receiving an encouraging nod in return.

"Yes, but you seem to think there's more to it. What am I missing?" Johan asked, leaning forward, his tired eyes now shining with curiosity.

Miles nodded earnestly. "Well, yes. The thing is, each type of coin isn't just a single unit. They represent a multitude of the lower ones. For example, 100 iron coins make one silver, 100 silver coins make one gold, and so on."

Johan listened attentively, his mind racing as he tried to grasp the information. 'Wow, the value jumps up so drastically. I always knew there was a difference, but I never realized how huge it was.'

As Miles continued, explaining how 100 gold coins equalled one platinum, and 100 platinum formed one diamond, Johan felt his stomach knot. 'And here I thought that having a few silvers was good enough... If a single diamond equals ten thousand gold, and a gold is ten thousand silver, that's...'

His thoughts trailed off as the enormity of their financial predicament truly dawned on him. The meager amount of money they had was but a fraction of the wealth circulating in the city.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "So we're practically living in poverty, huh?" Johan asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and resignation.

Miles nodded, a sad frown creasing his forehead. "Yeah, but we can change that, Johan. You can change that."

Johan, hearing the conviction in his brother's voice, felt a surge of determination. 'Yes, we're at the bottom now. But that doesn't mean we'll stay here. I won't let us stay here.' He nodded firmly at Miles, a resolute fire burning in his eyes. "You're right, Miles. I will change it."

"Besides, knowing the value of our coins can also help us in our daily lives," Miles continued, his tone serious. "When we're buying goods, negotiating salaries, or trading for resources, it's crucial to understand their worth in relation to our money."

Johan, following his brother's words, felt a sense of revelation washing over him. 'I never thought about it that way. Miles is right, it's essential to grasp this for our survival.' He mentally thanked his brother for his insight. "I see. I never considered that, Miles. It's an important perspective. Thank you."

Seeing the appreciation in Johan's eyes, Miles smiled and nodded, relieved. "You're welcome, Johan. We're in this together."

As they wrapped up their discussion, Johan's mind buzzed with thoughts. 'I will make sure our life changes for the better. I will pass the assessment and climb up the ranks. I won't let us continue in this state.' His thoughts were filled with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.

Just as the brothers were about to retire for the night, a harsh knock echoed through their humble dwelling. Both of them froze, glancing at each other with wide eyes. Johan felt a chill run down his spine as he approached the door, his heart pounding in his chest. 'Who could it be at this hour?'

As he opened the door, a burly man with a grim expression stood on their doorstep, holding a piece of parchment. "Are you Johan?" he asked, his voice cold and sharp. As Johan nodded, the man thrust the paper into his hands. "This is a reminder of your outstanding debt due to your mother who died. If you fail to pay within a month, we'll have to take further action."

With those chilling words, the man turned on his heel and left, leaving a stunned Johan staring at the paper. His heart sank as he closed the door, he stared at the parchment. 'Debt of three gold coins? Should I just let my ghoul after them?'

Johan chuckled at his intrusive thoughts. Of course, he won't kill someone just they were collecting debts. Though, if they really take drastic action... He doesn't have a choice but to respond!

"Miles," Johan began, his voice shaky as he held the paper. "Why is our debt three gold coins? How did it get so high?"

Miles looked at his brother with a sad smile, understanding the confusion in his eyes. "Sit down, Johan," he said gently. "It's a bit of a long story."

They sat across each other, the paper with the intimidating sum lay on the table between them. Johan waited, a knot forming in his stomach. 'How did we end up in such a situation?'

Miles began explaining. "When mother was depressed... She fell sick. Her medicine alone cost a silver coin every week. Then, there were the doctor's visits. Each one was another silver coin."

His words stung Johan, but he remained silent, intently listening to his brother. 'Those silver coins... they add up. I can see how it became a gold coin.'

"But there's more," Miles continued. "Mother's condition required special dietary needs. The fruits, the high-quality meat, they weren't cheap. We had to hire help for a while too, remember? Mother needed someone with her all the time."

Johan remembered, and it was a memory he wished he could forget. The sight of their usually vibrant mother, bedridden and weak, was something that still haunted him. 'Yes... yes, I remember. But I had no idea how expensive it all was.'

"Then, there were the hospitalization costs in her final weeks," Miles finished with a sigh. "That was the most expensive part."

Johan felt as if he had been punched in the gut. 'Three gold coins... it's a mountain of debt.' He looked at his brother speechlessly.