Mountain Climb, Day Three.
I leisurely climbed the mountain, letting my so-called “school friends,” who were more like underlings, clear out the small fry along the way.
It’s refreshing to get outdoors from the office. It feels good, like hitting the gym after work.
…Oh, I do exercise.
A top-tier businessman has to maintain his physical health as an extension of his overall management. It seems the lower class isn’t too aware of this, but real wealth isn’t found in being overly fat or thin. Such people, even if they have money, aren’t trusted.
Moreover, true wealth is knowing that health can’t be bought with money.
A lot of people don’t realize that the desire to acquire things money can’t buy is what truly drives the wealthy.
Lavish French cuisine, Michelin-starred meals? Kaiseki that costs tens of thousands?
A villa in Dubai? A suite at the top of a skyscraper?
A birthday party with your favorite movie star?
That’s all just a poor person’s idea of “luxury.”
Real wealth isn’t like that.
It’s about meaningful, though expensive, meals—like a local specialty that can only be enjoyed in this season and place. Or a wine crafted to mark an anniversary.
Lounging lazily at a hotel? No, no. A real rich person relaxes quietly at an exclusive, invitation-only inn or restaurant. Price doesn’t matter.
Tossing money around on luxury cars or watches? Almost never. They spend money on what genuinely moves them. No matter how costly, they’ll pay for something that touches their heart without hesitation.
The rich can pay for their emotions.
Those who are broke and overly logical might say, “A drink ten times more expensive tastes only twice as good, right?” But that’s where they’re wrong.
Drinking something only twice as good as usual, and feeling moved by it—that’s what the wealthy are willing to pay any amount for.
Attaching meaning to the money you spend—that is true richness, true wealth of the heart.
On a more mundane level, the charity donations of the wealthy work like that, too.
Respect can’t be bought with money. Nor can a sense of accomplishment.
But by donating and getting your name out there, you can elevate your status. For that, the rich can donate amounts that exceed an average person’s annual income.
When the wealthy frequently talk about “purpose,” this is what they mean.
Some CEO once said, “It’s not about the money, it’s the thank-yous from customers that matter!” And, honestly, that’s true.
By the time someone becomes the leader of a major corporation, they have all the money they could want. If they wished, they could indulge in the crude luxuries a poor person might dream of.
But what they truly crave is praise from others. Gratitude, love, and, as I mentioned earlier, health and longevity… They want what money can’t buy.
That’s why wealthy people work out so much.
They choose healthy meals and pay attention to beauty as well.
In this world, just like on Earth, the wealthy generally look better.
It’s not like those old anime where the rich are bald, ugly, overweight, draped in gaudy jewelry, puffing on cigars, and surrounded by women.
It’s quite the opposite.
It’s those without money who are often unhealthy, either too fat or too thin, and, unfortunately, ugly—both in appearance and in spirit.
Sad as it is, that’s the truth.
“You’re sounding pretty cynical,” Zess chimed in from the side.
“But it’s the truth. That’s just how the world works.”
“You always have a pessimistic outlook, don’t you? You see the worst in everything.”
“If you thought the world was a good place, I apologize. Let me offer you the words, ‘Of course not, idiot.’”
“But couldn’t you trust the world and people a little more?”
“I don’t trust the people around me. But I do rely on them, in their own ranks.”
“Oh? Does that mean you trust us, too?”
“To some extent, yes. You’ve proven yourselves useful enough, at least as foot soldiers, during this clearing out of small fry.”
“‘Useful,’ huh? You really know how to talk down to people.”
“I’m always evaluating others, but they have the right to evaluate me, too. After all, I’m the employer and the project leader, right? My employees have the right to quit, and I don’t forbid them from offering feedback.”
“But if you put it like that, doesn’t it just mean someone as capable as you ends up on top? Isn’t that like a rigged game?”
“It’s impossible to measure a person’s ability in every way, but in terms of professional skills, I’ll end up higher, yes. But unless there’s a reason for someone less competent to be in charge, what’s the point?”
“…Alright, enough. You’re too good at this sort of debate.”
It’s not even a debate. You’re just being naive.
Maybe I’ve been influenced by the games I sell that promote this kind of thinking.
Of course, to me, the stories in those games are just tearjerker, cliché templates.
Friendship! Love! Justice! That kind of stuff.
The lack of moral values in this world is actually a bit troubling…
A little bit of corruption is fine—it keeps things running smoothly—but too much and everything grinds to a halt. It’s frustrating.
“…Are we nearing the summit?” Holman asked.
“Yeah, seems like it.”
“The monsters are getting tougher the higher we go.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. But, well, we can handle them with the new magic.”
“The new magic’s strong, huh?”
“Yeah, it’s way stronger than what we had before. But controlling it is tricky, and now there’s this new concept of counter-spells, so it’s become more complicated.”
“I see.”
As we were talking, suddenly—
‘GRROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!!’
A massive roar, shaking the very earth, echoed all around us.
“Oh man, this is bad. I’ve got a spell that detects moving entities, and—!”
Hector was saying something, but the roar was so loud, I couldn’t quite catch it.
“What?!”
“Something really, really big is coming!!!”
“Something big?!”
“It’s here already! Just look for yourself…!!!”
‘Humans… It’s been long since any have made it this far…’
Hmm.
A dragon, huh?
