Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: The Holy Staff
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“Genius Demon-Hunting Mage”
Chapter 17
“So…… you’re saying you’re going to become a disciple of the Aldeon Magic Tower?”
“Yeah.”
“And gather information directly from there?”
“……That’s right.”
“Haa…….”
Lena let out a deep sigh as she brushed her hair back.
“I still can’t quite figure you out…… You’re serious about this, right? You’re not messing with me.”
“I’m always serious.”
“……Sorry if I’m misunderstanding, but this sounds utterly ridiculous to me. Becoming a spy disguised as a disciple in the magic tower.”
Well, I could fully understand Lena’s reaction.
It was genuinely dangerous, after all, and if things went wrong, the request office could even become a target for Aldeon.
Or before that, they’d probably doubt whether I could even pass Aldeon’s selection process.
But this was just a matter of information disparity.
‘I have two end-game specs.’
The Mythic trait [Prodigy of Magic] and the top-tier soul imprint [Former Owner of Sword Saint].
With these two, it was safe to say I wouldn’t fail the selection evaluation.
Just like how I’d safely navigated dangers like the plunderer hideout and the Valefor kin.
This time would be no different.
“It might be presumptuous since we just met today…… but trust me. You won’t suffer any losses. Even if it means I get caught.”
“…….”
“It’s a great chance to boost the request office’s reputation and build trust between us. Wouldn’t it be a shame to pass it up?”
“……You’re the annoying type, huh?”
Huh? Did it come across like that?
I’d only stated facts, but I couldn’t figure out why she was reacting this way.
Come to think of it, Kayla had called me annoying nonstop too.
Anyway.
“Well…… you’re not wrong. Fine. Give it a shot, this request.”
Fortunately, Lena accepted my words.
Maybe because she ran the request office, but she was definitely quick on the uptake.
“Keep this in mind. This request is life-or-death for both of us.”
“Of course.”
With Lena’s stern warning, I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Phew, almost lost out on that holy power stat.’
***
Back at my lodging, I sprawled on the bed and reviewed the information I’d sorted out with Lena.
The info I needed to bring back to the request office boiled down to four things.
Simply put:
One, the reason Aldeon was opening the magic tower after 100 years to take in disciples.
Two, the results of Aldeon’s research on light magic up to now.
Three, the existence and current status of any light-attribute artifacts owned by Aldeon.
Four, Aldeon’s relationship with the demons.
Nothing seemed particularly hard to uncover.
Except the last one.
“Why do they want me to find this out?”
From what I’d personally checked in the game, the rumor that the Aldeon School was connected to ‘demons’ was pure nonsense.
They were a faction that purely researched light magic, even if reclusive.
They caught demons, not colluded with them.
But something felt off.
‘……They wouldn’t ask for this without reason.’
I had a persistent gut feeling that there was something to it.
The person posting a reward of a Heroic artifact wouldn’t do something pointless.
Plus, this was about 100 years into the future from the game’s timeline.
I couldn’t blindly trust what I knew about Aldeon.
Who knows what changes might have happened in the meantime.
Of course, it could all just be my imagination, and the request was a wild goose chase……
‘……That’d be better.’
A light magic school colluding with demons? What despair could be worse?
The thought alone was horrifying.
“Tsk…… Now my head’s all messed up for nothing.”
Worrying about it now wouldn’t change what I had to do anyway.
Everything would reveal itself in time.
With that, I quickly shifted my thoughts.
First…… let’s sort out the immediate stuff.
I sat cross-legged on the bed and quietly extended my hand.
Whooo!
Mana surged in instantly.
A single sphere of compressed blue mana floated above my palm.
Far more refined and precise than when I first made it.
But compared to after training with Barundel, it wasn’t much different.
‘It’s still just 2nd circle level.’
Of course, I hadn’t stopped growing.
I just needed a bit more experience.
And that experience had been filled through several battles over the past few days.
‘Focus.’
Woooong-.
Keeping the sphere steady in my palm, I gathered the surrounding mana once more.
For slightly more efficient, slightly more powerful magic.
My innate genius stirred to life.
-Magic calculations are maximized.
The change happened as I straightened out the complex mana pathways and settled them into my palm.
Whoooong-!
Behind the still-glowing blue mana sphere, another one formed.
Intense exhilaration welled up.
‘……Multi-cast.’
I’d finally reached the 3rd circle realm.
Now I could cast two spells at once.
As expected of a truly Mythic-grade talent.
Breaking through realms on my own, without anyone’s help.
Even in the game, it had taken ages to get here.
“Fuu…….”
Shhh-.
I exhaled the held breath and dispersed the spheres.
This level of magic should be more than enough to pass the selection evaluation.
What was urgent now wasn’t magic, but something else.
My gaze shifted from my tattered armor to a plump pouch in the corner of the lodging.
-I tend to go all-in once I decide to invest.
It was the bag of gold coins Lena had kindly given me, remembering I’d said I needed quick cash.
Money I’d have to pay back later……
But tomorrow, I planned to head to the bustling streets with it.
“Busy day tomorrow too.”
It was about time to get some proper gear.
***
District 6’s bustling streets. Or Dmitri Square, as it’s also called.
This place, where Barundel’s training hall was, could be said to have all of District 6’s commerce concentrated here.
As such, countless shops lined the area, and the noise from merchants hawking on mats never stopped.
“Check out these high-quality artifacts!”
“Special potions I made myself! Buy ten, get one free!”
“How about a quick shell game?”
I’d only popped into a general store for potions before; this was my first real shopping spree.
After carefully scanning the shops overall and deliberating, I entered the one that looked most promising.
“Welcome!”
The first purchase had to be the priciest: a weapon.
“What are you looking for?”
I firmly told the shopkeeper, whose eyes gleamed greedily.
“I’ll just browse for now.”
He seemed friendly at a glance, but from here on, I had to stay sharp.
District 6 shops would fleece you the moment you blinked.
“Yes, yes! Take your time!”
With the owner’s permission, I slowly examined the weapons displayed on the walls.
Well-maintained swords and blades gleaming brightly, double-headed axes, maces, greatbows, and more.
Tempting items that sparked the urge to buy, but I passed them without a glance.
My destination was the section with staves and wands.
“Oh ho, a mage, are you?”
“Yeah…… How much are these?”
“Staves start at 50 gold, wands at 20 gold. Prices go up as you go right.”
“Hmm…….”
……I didn’t show it, but cold sweat trickled down my back.
What the hell, weapons costing tens of gold coins?
I swallowed my complaints and opened the gold pouch.
Generously, maybe 50 coins at most.
‘Gotta give up on the staff…….’
Staves were the true flower of a mage, but with my funds, no chance.
I needed armor too, after all.
No helping it; I started scrutinizing the cheaper wands carefully.
“How much is this one?”
After much thought, I picked up a yellowish-brown wand from the middle.
No magic stone embedded, so not an artifact, but the wood quality looked decent.
“Oh, good eye. This is made from eikave wood, known for excellent durability and mana conductivity. Many mages love it. Perfect for those just starting out in…….”
He was getting long-winded; felt ominous.
“So, how much?”
“Ah, yes, 50 gold.”
“50 gold?”
“Heh heh, quite the bargain, right?”
Bargain my ass.
I didn’t know if it was cheap in this world, but to me, absolutely not.
‘A beer costs half a gold, so 50 gold is…… 100 beers.’
Modern equivalent: about 500,000 won.
A non-artifact wooden stick for 500k? No way. I’d rather take the evaluation unarmed.
“……Tch.”
When you’re broke, you compromise over and over—that’s life.
Eventually, my gaze naturally shifted left.
The quality here looked too iffy; nothing caught my eye…… Huh? What’s this?
What grabbed my attention was the wand at the far left.
The cheapest one, which no one would even glance at.
“This one…….”
Before I could finish, the owner explained in a bitter tone.
“Ah…… Our shop’s one and only white elephant. Been here over five years, just won’t sell. Well…… you’ll understand when you see the condition.”
It was definitely in bad shape.
Unlike the others, no engravings on the handle, and worm-eaten marks in the corners.
At this point, it was more rotten branch than wand.
But for some reason, it felt oddly familiar.
Like I’d definitely seen it somewhere……
‘Ah!’
In that instant, something I’d jotted in my notes flashed through my mind.
‘Am I crazy? I didn’t recognize it even seeing it in person?’
Vertical grooves spaced midway.
Stains soaked more than halfway, like in oil.
A bit longer than I remembered, but no doubt.
This was none other than the leveling gear from my build: a Heroic artifact!
[Holy Staff].
“Fuu…….”
Hard to stay calm even trying.
To think I’d find this wand like this?
“It’s been unsold for five years?”
“The antique shop guy down the street opened six years ago…… Yeah, about that.”
Makes sense.
It looked far more shabby than in the game.
Who’d buy this crap? Even I almost passed it by clueless.
“Hmm.”
I composed myself as much as possible and asked flatly.
Wouldn’t want to show excitement and get ripped off.
“How much for this?”
“Huh? You want this?”
“Price first.”
“Hmm…… It was priced at 5 gold originally…….”
5 gold!
At that price, I immediately started stripping off my gear.
Clink, clank.
“Uh…… customer? What are you……?”
“Hold on a sec.”
I placed on the counter the [Wood Shield], cracked from clashing with the guards, and the [Leather Armor], worn out from Barundel’s training.
Items that’d be useless to me once I bought new gear.
And the reason I put them up now……
“Would you trade these for that wand? They’re not badly damaged, so repair and sell them—you’d get at least 10 gold.”
“Tr-trade?”
All to save even that 5 gold.