The first week of classes has finally concluded in Youkai Academy, with its student body looking forward to the weekends to spend some time off, its faculty preparing schoolwork for their respective classes, and the Hunter had been summoned by the Headmaster to his office.
"How has the first week treated you?" The Headmaster asked. "I trust that you've been busy."
"Asides from the eventful first few days, the week has gone smoothly." The Hunter responded. "But is there a reason for your summon?"
"Straight to the point aren't you?" The Headmaster replied with a slight chuckle. "I've called you here to discuss your salary."
"Is there a need?" The Hunter responded again. "The contract stated I am to be paid ¥500,000 ($3800 USD) monthly with weekly increments."
"Oh but of course, I have other things to speak to you about. Normally it would be sent to your bank account. But for you, I've decided for today to pay you in person." The Headmaster stated, handing over a closed envelope to the Hunter.
The Hunter opened the envelope to see a bundle of notes, counting a total of ¥125,000, true to form totaling a quarter of the mentioned ¥500,000.
"Since you're a stranger to this country." The Headmaster continued. "I believe you may need some assistance knowing the value of the money."
A reasonable explanation, the Hunter concluded. Even though he himself doubted he would have much usage for his salary, it would still prove beneficial to understand the potential usages. "You have thought ahead Headmaster, perhaps an example may allow me to understand the currency's worth."
"The monthly cost of living for a single person living within a large city area is ¥150,000 ($1,155 USD), accounting for paying for food, utilities and the like. Renting a single bedroom apartment monthly in said city also roughly costs the same."
"In other words, a total monthly cost of ¥300,000 for an individual. Then I have one question I must ask, since the contract also states each faculty member is provided an assigned dormitory apartment for no additional cost, along with provided meals and utilities, that would invalidate a large majority of the total cost. Is there reason for this many benefits to be given to faculty?"
A subtle chuckle came from the Headmaster, pointing at the Hunter's neck which Kurumu had caused to bleed on accident earlier. "Haven't you experienced it for yourself? Being a teacher for this academy can be quite dangerous, rowdy students disregarding the no transformation rule and being a danger to others. Although in this case, it should be the students who must be wary."
It certainly was a dangerous occupation to be an educator in this academy, the Hunter's experience with both Saizou Komiya and Kurumu in the first two days were already evident of the danger which entailed, the high benefits along with the salary was understandable with this context in mind. "I give my thanks Headmaster, that is all I must ask for now. Unless you decide now to disclose the reason I am here of course."
"That will still come another day." The Headmaster stated with an amused chuckle, handing over a note. "For now, I recommend a visit to this location so you may find your bearings."
The weekends has arrived, and the Hunter found himself alone within his dormitory residence. Since it was only the first week of the school year, there was little in regards to responsibilities expected from the Hunter for his role as an educator. It was merely introductory classes for the first week, and therefore little in regards to assignments in need for grading. Meaning the Hunter had two days worth of time for himself which he had no clue how to spend it.
'Hm, the Headmaster recommended I explore this world.' The Hunter thought, his sights wandered to his apartment, he never took the opportunity to explore his living area and the unknown machinery within. And so he did, examining all the interesting and new objects of interest in his dormitory apartment which he had never seen before.
These 'appliances' were a fascinating wonder to the Hunter. For example, this 'Refrigerator' and its ability to utilise the power of electricity to simulate two low temperature environments to preserve food, it would have been considered a revolutionary device within his original world. As a comparison, food items would be stored away underneath their residence from any forms of heat and sunlight, with physical space potentially spanning an entire room in his original world, or through other techniques such as pickling, drying, salting, and smoking. Even then these were typically ineffective, yet they were the only options asides from placing it within ice, which was a inaccessible to the populace. Yet this refrigerator outperforms these techniques in such a compact form and was capable of producing ice.
Other things which caught his attention were; a gas stove, a microwave, and an oven, to cook one's own meals instead of manually bringing coal or firewood to produce flame into a large open fire. As well as running water for the sake of cleansing oneself instead of bringing water from a well or a nearby river were also significant changes. The conveniences in this world to the Hunter were truly a work of wonder, and a clear sign of technological advancements.
Although despite these advancements, with all the free time the Hunter had, he doubt examining the appliances for two days straight was a good use of his time. It would be good to return to the Dream, however, since there was no conventional method for him to return to the Dream in the form of a lantern at the moment, while there were... other means, he felt it to be more troublesome than it was worth. The Messengers were also noticeably absent, therefore he could not manifest and de-manifest his resources and armaments to and from the Dream at will. The week of not returning also made the Hunter realise he has to return to 'reset' his lack of need for sustenance and rest, else he also experiences hunger and fatigue much like a typical individual, he only never noticed during his Hunt since he frequently returned for sake of traversal throughout Yharnam as well as much needed recuperation.
Perhaps he should oblige to the Headmaster's suggestion, to see the sights which this new world had in store. Now was the perfect opportunity to do so after all, and so once again, the Hunter left his apartment, wearing his trusted trifold hat, to traverse this new land.
According to guidance on the note provided by the Headmaster, there lies an infrastructure called a 'shopping mall', its name being 'Mononoke Arcade', and supposedly popular amongst the attendees of the academy as the Hunter was told. When he arrived at the destination, it was already significantly unique from all other infrastructure he has seen. From its exterior, it was undoubtedly an extraordinary large building, spanning at minimum ten times the size in width and length of the already large Academic building.
But when the Hunter entered the interior, it was as if he had entered another world. Upon entry, he was hit with the sight of an uncountable abundance and varieties of shops and services, ranging from general goods, clothing, restaurants, and many more, all with their distinct banners and signs for the sake of advertising themselves to the populace.
Speaking of the populace, many beasts / students / faculty in their human masquerade went on their routine, many on a stroll, many on their way to purchase supplies and amenities, and many bringing their significant others onto an outing. And the lone Hunter withholding his instincts to hunt indiscriminately, a wise decision to have left his armaments back in the apartment. But for now, he shall traverse through this 'shopping mall'.
After a while and some thoughts, the Hunter came to realise both the Academy and the Headmaster truly held significantly powerful influence. The logistics to bringing supplies and resources from the world of humanity into Academy territory should have been an economically intensive endeavor, yet the Hunter could see all kinds of shops, restaurants, cafes, and many more.
Even cultures from beyond this land's oceans had their own presence in this 'shopping mall', evident from the signs with languages he recognised to not be Japanese, presumably because there were beasts with origins from overseas whom also attend the academy. Apsara, the educator in charge of cooking, as the Hunter recalled was from the lands called 'India', and he could observe cuisine of said land being displayed by a few restaurant's windows, many of which he recognised being produced in Apsara's cooking classes (which she would share among faculty afterwards). Speaking of his co-workers, the Hunter noticed a familiar face within the attendees, and they in turn noticed him.
"Oh Syn-sensei meow!" Shizuka (Miss Nekonome) called out, her feline appendages not manifesting itself, as she strolled to the Hunter's position. "Hope you've had a good morning!"
"A pleasant morning to you as well, Miss Nekonom-" The Hunter received a stern 'glare' from Shizuka before he could return his greeting. "Miss Shizuk-" A sharper glare from Shizuka, with her blue pupils and slit irises slightly showing. "Shizuka." Shizuka ceased glaring at him, reverting back to her closed eyes.
"It's such a wonderful morning today isn't it Syn-sensei meow?" Shizuka asked with enthusiasm in her tone.
It was strange to the Hunter, for his coworker to be so adamant about not being called with titles and formalities, yet she still chooses to call him with a title attached to him, although it was not much of an issue personally. Perhaps he should begin calling his co-workers with the 'sensei' attached, as he had heard his co-workers refer to each other. "It is a vibrant one."
"What are you doing here Syn-sensei? Are you going shopping meow?"
"The Headmaster suggested I familiarise myself with all the Academy had to offer." The Hunter answered, with a quick glance at the surrounding shops. "It has been a grandiose sight so far."
"Oh! Then is it your first time here Syn-sensei?" Shizuka asked, noting her co-worker's subtle sense of awe.
The Hunter nodded. "It is my first time setting foot within a 'shopping mall'."
"...?! First time even in a shopping mall?!" Shizuka asked with great surprise. "Then do you want a guide to show you around? I've been coming here for years meow!"
The Hunter paused in thought, there were no disadvantages to the offer, he would better learn the layout of this unfamiliar environment as well as build a closer connection with a co-worker. And said co-worker seemed to offer him her guidance on good will. "If it is not too much trouble."
Shizuka guided the Hunter around the mall, bringing and showing him all the various spots which were most popular. The various shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc. There were occasional glances at their way while the two trekked throughout the mall, many of whom were from students. Some shopping was also done, mainly by Shizuka, the Hunter had offered to pay for her purchases, which she declined. Their tour eventually lead the two to enter one of the 'movie theaters' to view one of the currently running films, an 'action movie' involving horseless mechanical carriages, and explosions, lots of explosions.
"How was the movie Syn-sensei?" Shizuka asked while leaving the theater.
"It was... quite thrilling." The Hunter tried to describe, the sheer amount of adrenaline displayed within the 'movie' was a heart-pounding experience he had yet to experience.
"But to think there was someone who never even heard of movies before meow!"
"One could say I have lived a... sheltered life." The Hunter answered, trying to deflect his lack of knowledge as best he could. The entertainment format called 'movies' certainly did not exist in his world. The closest source of entertainment which would loosely resemble these 'movies' would be 'theatrics', and even then it could not be compared. The immersion in audio and visuals which these movies provided as compared to theatrics were night and day. Honestly speaking, today has been a severe culture shock to the Hunter.
"How about we go eat now Syn-sensei?" Shizuka asked. "I'm starting to get hungry meow."
"It is alright, I am content with the leftovers from Miss Apsara." The Hunter answered, receiving an incredulous glance from Shizuka as a result.
"Aren't you tired of just eating Apsara-sensei's curry? Wouldn't some variety be good meow?" Usually after one of Apsara's cooking classes, there was an overabundance of pots filled with food, cooked by both teacher and students. And since there was a no waste policy in the academy, these leftovers were usually handed over for consumption to peers. And Apsara's was no different, which was typically offered to faculty. And three out of the five days the Hunter begun teaching, curry was the main offering by the cooking teacher.
"I remain indifferent, it is a delectable dish after all. It was not always curry that Miss Apsara offer to staff also."
"I guess so! But eating curry most the time would get stale wouldn't it? How about eating Japanese cuisine for a change meow? You've never tried it yet haven't you Syn-sensei?"
The Hunter supposed there was some merit in Shizuka's statement, 'variety is the splice of life' was that how the phrase went? He decided to relent, allowing his curiosity to get the better of him. "Then is there a dish you would recommend?"
"Oh I've got just the perfect recommendation meow!" Shizuka shouted with excitement. "Sushi would be a great introduction to Japanese cuisine!"
"Sueshe?"
"Mhmm! I guarantee the authentic taste of raw fish will entice you into our cuisine meow!" Shizuka shouted.
"... Raw fish...?" Now it made sense why Shizuka would recommend this 'sueshe' dish, her nature as a feline most likely influencing this choice. But the thought of consuming fish raw was a strange custom to the Hunter, raw food was not a staple in Yharnam after all. "I have... never heard."
"Then it'll be a good first experience! And I know just the place!" Shizuka shouted again, not even hiding her excitement of the idea of eating sushi, given her subtle drooling and her feline appendages finally extruding themselves.
The Hunter on the other hand, was uncomfortable with the idea of eating sushi, more importantly the raw fish aspect. "... Perhaps another time, at the very least until I become accustomed to the idea of consuming raw food."
"Aww..." Shizuka sulked slightly, clearly disheartened in not being able to eat fish. "I guess it would be too much to expect a foreigner to eat sushi right away."
It was decided for lunch to be in one of the 'ramen' restaurants as a compromise, due to the Hunter's reluctance to consume raw fish. The 'ramen' dish had a strong aroma, its broth had a variety of flavours he could not identify individually, yet it had a strong appetising taste. And most of all, it was surprisingly affordable for such a rich tasting dish. The Hunter paid for both their orders, as a form of thanks for Shizuka's guidance, which the latter reluctantly accepted. The two exited the restaurant afterwards.
"To think you could eat that fast Syn-sensei!" Shizuka begun to say. "I didn't even get a chance to see your face meow!"
"It is not a pleasant sight to see."
"Aww don't say that, I'm sure you look dashing underneath that mask meow!"
"It is a pleasure to hear that, but truly, I do no-."
"Mr. Syn! Nekonome-sensei!" A voice called out, cutting the Hunter off.
"Good afternoon, Miss Akashiya. / Good afternoon Moka!" The two faculty members simultaneously greeted the newcomer.
"I didn't expect to see you both in the mall!" Moka said, soon noticing the close distance between the two teachers. "Are you two on a date?"
"Miss Shizuk-" A light slap from Shizuka on the Hunter's back. "Shizuka offered to guide me around this 'shopping mall' as a form of a senior guiding a junior. It would be inappropriate for colleagues to go on a tryst after all. It is my first experience in such a building, and it has been fascinating so far."
"Is that true Nekonome-sensei?"
"Yep! Today was even Syn-sensei's very first time seeing a movie meow!"
The talk between female student and teacher eventually evolved from small chit chat to a full conversation. But there was one thing the Hunter noticed, even though it was the afternoon, Moka did not seem to have done much purchasing. And an assumption was already made in his mind.
"Is something wrong Mr. Syn?" Moka asked, when she noticed the Hunter's slightly concerned gaze on her.
"Do you need currency for your purchases Miss Akashiya?" The Hunter responded without hesitation. "If you were to ask, I am willing to provide some funds."
The statement came to a surprise to both Shizuka and Moka judging by their reactions, for a reason the Hunter did not know.
"M-mr. Syn!" Moka cried with a big fluster. "You shouldn't offer students money! What if you get accused of performing compensated dating?!"
"Compensated dating is a no-no Syn-sensei meow!" Shizuka added.
"Compensated dating?" The term was thrown at the Hunter by both Moka and Shizuka, he had no clue of the context, yet considering their reaction, it must have been a serious matter.
A short and brief explanation of what 'compensated dating' entailed was given to the Hunter, the details which consisted of an older man offering a younger woman items of monetary value / money for... 'favours', a practise which could be considered close to prostitution.
"I apologise, Miss Akashiya." The Hunter apologised, giving an apologetic bow. "It was not my intention to bring you discomfort."
The Hunter had truly meant to offer Moka money without any sinister intentions. After all, currency had not been a necessity during his venture in Yharnam, it was merely a considered to be a cast off luxury with its only usage to be to guide one's way back. Self-sufficiency was the only skill he had needed to sustain his own livelihood during the time and one which would determine one's survival, especially since Yharnam was in a state of disorder where even the Yharnamites did not utilise its coin in trade. Even the payment he had received from the Headmaster yesterday was likely to be rarely used, left to accumulate without issue. Yet he did not know there was such implication in offering money to another. This land's culture surely was both fascinating, as well as confusing.
"I-it's alright!" Moka replied, still flustered. "I still have allowance money from my family."
"That is relieving to hear. But would this fund reserve not run dry eventually?"
"Some students take up part-time work, while some others have their family provide money. And since their dorms and meals are already covered by their school fees, there's not much need for students to bring money." Shizuka explained. "Unless they want to buy something of course, didn't you see some students working meow?"
"I only knew you two were here because some people in school were talking about you two."
Another interesting tidbit, the idea of students partaking in an occupation with reduced hours, in his world, the younger generation tended to become either a work hand, an apprentice, or a ward to earn one's bread in a day's work. It seems the Academy truly did provide the necessities to both faculty and the student body, although not complimentary for the latter.
"So just don't go offering to pay for just anyone Syn-sensei! Even like you tried to pay for me today meow!"
"I will keep this advice in mind."
The trip finally ended, and it had been a good usage of the free time the Hunter concluded, with some grocery shopping done and the like. Eventually, it was decided for Shizuka to bring Moka back to the female student dormitories, while the Hunter would return to the Teachers' Dormitories.
"This is where we will part ways, have a safe travel Miss Akashiya, Shizuka." The Hunter said, giving a bow.
"You too Mr. Syn." Moka replied while returning the bow, her hands full of groceries. "I look forward to being in your class again next week."
"Of course, the coursework will become more hectic as time goes on. I shall rely on your assistance once again Miss Akashiya."
"You're doing just fine Syn-sensei! Keep up the good work meow!"
"I give my thanks for such undeserved praise." In all honesty, disregarding the language barrier between the Hunter and a number of classes, it was surprising how natural he had assimilated into the role of an educator, despite lacking the credentials to become one. Especially for one who taught beasts.
And that was how the Hunter had spent his first weekend. The culture and technological advancements he saw were truly a work of marvel.