Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 4th Circle (5)
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I bought two 3rd Circle grimoires from Miel and handed over 100 imperial gold coins.
【Division and Fusion】
—Grimoire written in the blood of the bounty hunter Frail
『3rd Circle: Fission Orb』
【Brikul's Flame Grimoire】
—Grimoire of the mage Brikul, who sought to become a dragon
『3rd Circle: Flame Breath』
Once the grimoires became mine, proper descriptions began to appear.
I'd learn them the moment I got back to the city.
If I opened them where people were around, the mana contained inside might leak out to others.
After finishing the purchase, I followed Bess out of Miel's lodgings.
Even though she said it wasn't necessary, Miel insisted on seeing us off all the way to the tower entrance.
"Come visit anytime!"
"Sure."
We left the magic tower and followed the dark forest path deep into the woods.
After walking for quite a while...
"There it is."
Bess pointed to a mansion at the end of the forest path.
Even in the darkness, I could tell it was a massive place.
The mansion of Bess's guild, the Shadow Union.
As we approached, a black silhouette slithered out of the shadows.
It glanced back and forth between Bess and me before vanishing back into the darkness.
"Ah, don't mind it. It's like a guard dog."
A mid-level spirit, Specter.
Guard dog or not, anyone with low mental fortitude would fall into madness just from looking at it.
Pretty rough for a gatekeeper.
"Come on in."
Bess casually opened the mansion door and invited me inside.
As I followed her in...
"Ah, Appraiser? You're here?"
Bess's younger brother, Bail, greeted me warmly.
"Where are the others?"
"They should be arriving in Lockhart by now."
"I see."
Bess nodded at Bail's words.
The Lockhart they were talking about was surely the Lockhart Merchant Association.
Lockhart Merchant Association.
A massive trading guild with tendrils in kingdoms and empires across countless nations.
It also served as the unofficial backer for Bess's guild, the Shadow Union.
I'd had a vague idea ever since Bess first brought it up.
If she was getting personally involved, it had to be Lockhart family business.
"That guy's upstairs, right? I told him to wait."
"...Sis, he's still the guild master. Watch your titles in front of guests..."
"Is he or not?"
Bail let out a small sigh and nodded.
Satisfied, Bess brushed past him and climbed the central staircase.
I gave Bail a light nod in greeting and followed her up.
Standing before an ornate door on the third floor, Bess flung it open.
The interior of a lavish wooden office came into view, and an elderly man seated there spoke as if he'd been expecting us.
"Bess. You've arrived."
The white-haired elder beckoned us in, and we sat side by side on the sofa inside.
The old man rose from his seat as well, taking the head chair before speaking.
"Pleased to meet you, mage. I'm Diren, head of the Shadow Union here... though these days I also manage the Lockhart Merchant Association branch. Outside, just mention Lockhart."
"Got it."
"We needed outside help urgently, so I called you in. Bess probably skipped the details, as expected."
"I haven't heard anything."
Diren chuckled softly, as if he'd known.
"Figured as much. Before I explain, mind if I ask first? I haven't heard much about you either."
...No way, but it seemed even Guild Master Diren hadn't gotten the full rundown on me.
I shot Bess a disbelieving look, but she just raised one eyebrow quizzically.
"Rain Astria. Kingdom mage, correct?"
"The family fell."
"I know. What's your circle rank?"
"4th Circle."
"...4th Circle?"
Diren paused mid-sentence, staring at me.
"I'm asking about combat magic. You possess 4th Circle spells?"
"Yes."
"...I see."
Diren nodded to himself, as if confirming something.
"4th Circle is plenty. I won't pry into what spells. Now then."
Diren stood and placed a cloth-wrapped object before me.
He uncovered it to reveal a beetle corpse with a transparent crystal protruding from it.
"I'd like you to appraise this gem. Can you do it?"
Diren gestured coolly toward the gem.
But... this wasn't a gem.
"Is it really a gem?"
"...What do you mean?"
"I've never seen one like it."
"I see."
Diren pondered for a moment before speaking again.
"It's a type of gem found in the northern frozen canyons. It attaches to living beings, slowly draining their mana to grow. Its beauty makes it popular with nobles. Enough explanation? Can you appraise it?"
Diren gestured for a closer look, but I shook my head.
No, because it wasn't a gem.
"Still can't appraise it. Faintly, but there's alien mana pulsing inside the beetle's body. The crystal has the same mana flowing through it. So... it's likely artificially created."
"...Then it has no value as a gem?"
"Correct."
Diren nodded with a satisfied expression.
"You're a real mage, and you've got appraisal talent too."
He'd shown it as a test, just as I thought.
Diren set aside the gem he'd brought and continued.
"Now, the main issue. The Lockhart Merchant Association wants to auction an item through us. I can explain why if you want."
"No need."
Auctioning without the Lockhart name meant the item's origins were shady at best.
Given the Lockhart family's tendencies, it was probably something scraped from the back alleys.
Which meant... anyone with a grudge would be sharpening their knives.
"Quick on the uptake, good. It'll ship in a month. Needs an escort. You get me?"
"Yes."
"Fine, mage. You don't want affiliation, right?"
"Not yet."
"Fair enough. As long as we keep good relations going forward, no issue."
Diren shook my hand lightly and returned to his seat.
"Alright, let's go."
With business done, Bess headed out of the third floor, and I followed her back to the first.
"Ah, Sis. Leaving already?"
"Yeah. Carriage?"
"Ready outside."
Bail pointed to the carriage beyond the mansion doors.
He'd be the one taking us back to the city, it seemed.
Bess went out first and boarded.
"Appraiser, hop on!"
"Sure."
I climbed in after.
The predawn outside had given way to sunrise.
"Rest up when we get back. We head out at sunset."
"Where to?"
"Where else."
Bess smirked faintly.
"The dungeon."
---
"Thanks, Bail."
"No problem! Call on me anytime you need an appraiser. See you."
Bail dropped us off in Labyrinth City, saying he had business in the empire, then left.
After walking to the bustling district with Bess...
"Be there on time."
"Will do."
I parted with Bess and returned to my lodgings.
Back in half a day.
"Miss me?"
Splash—
Undine leaped joyfully upon spotting me.
The lotus had grown quite a bit, now covering a third of the pottery's surface.
Time for a bigger pot.
The flowerpot housing Sylph had sprouted large cotyledons as well.
With top-grade spirits attached, the plants were growing fast.
I cleared the water from the pottery base and refilled the pots.
Then I flopped onto the bed.
【Division and Fusion】
—3rd Circle: Fission Orb
【Brikul's Flame Grimoire】
—3rd Circle: Flame Breath
I pulled the two grimoires from my inventory.
Bess preferred moving after dark, so plenty of time before forming a party.
Might as well learn some 4th Circle magic in the meantime.
I opened Division and Fusion first.
With each page turn, information layered into my mind.
By the end...
『3rd Circle: Fission Orb』
【Rank: Hero】
—Combines hundreds of mana orbs into one point. On contact, it explodes and splits outward.
The first spell settled into my mind.
"Hoo."
One 3rd Circle grimoire barely taxed my mental strength anymore—no real discomfort.
I followed up with the second grimoire.
Then...
『3rd Circle: Flame Breath』
—Exhale a powerful breath of flame. Power rivals an adult dragon's.
I learned the second spell without issue.
Preparations complete... now just need the runes.
[Drew: Advanced Vitality Recovery Rune x7]
[Drew: Advanced Mana Recovery Rune x3]
Luck, as always, nothing new there.
At least the 4th Circle shop's main draw, Magic Fusion Runes, had good odds.
Continuing the draws...
I obtained the Magic Fusion Runes easily.
Without delay, I used one.
[Magic Fusion Rune used.]
[Your magics will fuse.]
[3rd Circle: Destruction Ray]
[3rd Circle: Fission Orb]
→
[4th Circle: Fission Ray]
[Use it?]
I confirmed the prompt.
Then...
『4th Circle: Fission Ray』
【Rank: Legend】
—Condenses light that decomposes all it touches. The condensed light splits into five beams.
The Magic Fusion Rune was consumed, and I acquired the 4th Circle spell, Fission Ray.
Unlike the single beam of Destruction Ray, Fission Ray created five beams.
Already powerful, now with added versatility.
Next, I used the second Magic Fusion Rune.
[Magic Fusion Rune used.]
[Your magics will fuse.]
[3rd Circle: Flame Breath]
[3rd Circle: Inferno]
→
『4th Circle: Hellfire』
【Rank: Hero】
—Spews endless roaring flames forward. Devours lower-circle fire magic.
I acquired Hellfire, a fusion of two Hero-rank spells.
"...Hoo."
A light fatigue washed over me.
Lying on the bed, I took deep breaths.
Thanks to my boosted mental strength, it wasn't overwhelming.
Still, it had consumed some.
I rested on the bed until evening party time.