Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 5th Floor Boss (1)
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The next day.
"Miel asked me to pass this on—said a new grimoire arrived at the Mage Tower."
I took the letter from the Mage Tower that Bess handed me.
Miel had thoughtfully attached a list of the new grimoires, and one in particular caught my eye.
Brayen Vision Grimoire "Thank you."
"Heading to the Mage Tower right away?"
"Yes."
No need to dawdle. At my answer, Bess motioned for me to wait a moment before heading inside the shop. After a brief conversation from within, "This one's gonna take you there."
"Wizard, it's been a while."
Bess's younger brother, Veil, waved at me. He was the coachman—and also a skilled assassin.
"Perfect timing. I was just about to head out, so let me give you a ride."
Veil pointed to the carriage with a friendly smile. I thanked him and climbed aboard. The carriage set off soon after, leaving the city behind. On the way to the Mage Tower, we chatted about this and that.
"Oh, Wizard. There was that festival at the Mage Tower recently, right?"
"Yes."
My last visit had coincided with the festival period. It was a festival honoring the transcendents—one that had only existed in the lore until then, so it was my first time seeing it.
"Something really bizarre happened at that festival, they say."
Veil continued in an intrigued tone.
"Most of the mana compasses belonging to the participants broke."
"...Compasses, you say."
"Yeah! Folks like you and me don't use them often, but mages do."
Mana compasses used mana stones instead of magnets to point toward areas dense with magical phenomena. There was no better tool for locating special places like Mage Towers or Labyrinth City.
"Isn't it wild? The mana flow in the stones inside the compasses all got disrupted at once—twisted so badly they couldn't be used anymore... And it happened to everyone at the festival simultaneously."
Veil pulled something from his pocket. It was compass-shaped, but with a magnet inside instead of a mana stone.
"I switched to this one in a pinch."
Compasses made with mana stones rarely broke from physical damage. But exposure to intense magical phenomena could occasionally ruin them. For the Mage Tower, even a magical event strong enough to break compasses wouldn't be surprising. And it just happened to be during the festival, when the Mage Tower Lord had descended.
"Anyway, you might wanna be careful, Wizard. Those things are pricey."
"...I see."
I nodded lightly. I had no need for one anyway, with the map in my status window. We made small talk the rest of the way until we arrived at Mage Tower City. Veil dropped me off in front of the tower and turned the carriage around.
"My job's scouting ahead, Wizard. It'll take about two hours, so come back around then."
"Got it. Thanks."
After he left, I went straight to meet Miel. I entered the code at her lodging door.
"You're here!"
Miel came out barefoot to greet me.
"I'm here to buy a grimoire."
"Hehe. I've been waiting! This way first."
She glanced around before ushering me inside. We threaded through the cluttered interior and sat on the sofa from last time. On the desk in front was that magic appraisal item I'd seen before.
"I sent the grimoire list to Bess—did you check it?"
"Yes. I'd like the Brayen Vision Grimoire."
"Right away!"
Miel went into one room, rummaged through the mess, and brought the grimoire to me.
"Here you go. Brayen Vision Grimoire—30 Imperial Gold."
"One more—the Mandrake Elixir, too."
"Oh... hold on!"
From the room she'd converted into a lab, she fetched a flask of yellow liquid.
"Mandrake Elixir, 50 Imperial Gold. With the grimoire, that's 80 total... Sound good?"
As she quoted the price, Miel shot me a look that subtly hinted at something more. ......
"By any chance."
"By any chance?"
"Magic catalyst purchase......"
"Yes!"
Like she'd been waiting, Miel hopped onto the desk. She clasped her hands politely and held them above her head. ...This was getting awkward. I opened my inventory and placed the Burning Heart—the top-grade fire spirit item I'd gotten recently—into her hands.
Burning Heart
― A red gem primarily found in Ashpile Volcano. Its flickering flames resemble a heartbeat.
She slowly lowered her hands, feeling the weight, and stared at it.
"As expected......!"
Nodding like she'd known it, she quickly placed the Burning Heart on the appraisal stand and finished appraising it.
"Appraisal complete—it's a pure Burning Heart. I'll buy it for 80 Imperial Gold again. That work?"
"Yes."
"Thanks!"
Miel wrapped the Burning Heart in enchanted cloth and set it down carefully, lest it break.
"Then, the Burning Heart covers the purchase."
"Yes."
She placed the elixir and grimoire in front of me.
As I reached for them, she plopped down another large pouch.
Jingle—
Gold coins clinked inside.
"...What's this?"
"The Mage Tower Lord wants to formally commission you, Rain."
A commission?
"What kind?"
At my question, Miel handed me a letter stamped with the Mage Tower Lord's seal from her pocket.
"Seeker" was a term mages used to flatter each other.
I read through the commission slowly.
In short...
"You want me to keep selling magic catalysts from now on?"
Essentially, an exclusive contract.
Miel chuckled softly at my words.
"More precisely, just sell to me and the Mage Tower Lord."
She opened the pouch in front of me to show the contents.
100 Imperial Gold.
"This is the down payment, Rain. The Mage Tower Lord promises an additional 100 Imperial Gold for every four similar magic catalysts you sell me, regardless of type."
She pointed to the Burning Heart nearby.
So... every four top-grade spirit items sold, and I'd get 100 more gold?
"What do you think?"
Miel glanced up at me expectantly.
What else? I was grateful.
"How many more can I sell?"
"Wait—you have more?!"
Misinterpreting my question, her eyes sparkled.
I shook my head lightly, dashing her hopes.
"I've sold everything I have."
"Oh... Well, we need as many as possible. With the funds from the Mage Tower Lord, we can buy up to 100 right now."
100 would be... over 10,000 Imperial Gold.
I'd worried the value of spirit items might drop eventually.
But from the response, that was still far off.
"Deal."
"Thanks!"
I signed the commission letter she handed me and gave it back.
After a short exchange,
"I'll be going now."
I left her lodging.
Miel followed to see me off, so we strolled slowly through the Mage Tower area.
"Oh. One thing I'm curious about."
About to part ways, I suddenly recalled the man I'd met before the Mage Tower.
The one spouting nonsense—the old man or young guy, impossible to tell.
"A guy in his early twenties, but with an old man's voice?"
"Yes."
"Hmm......"
Miel pondered for a while.
As expected, no recollection.
"If nothing comes to mind, it's fine."
"No, no—it's not that. There are too many to count."
She ticked them off on her fingers.
"First, Dray. Kalun. Polam. Those three have spent over ten years perfecting old-man voices. Plenty of mages train under them."
"...Why imitate an old man's speech?"
"Because... it's cool? Gives off that hidden master vibe."
......
Right.
Mages were all weirdos.
I raised a hand to stop Miel as she rattled off more names.
After the send-off, Miel returned to her lodging.
"You're back!"
Back in the city, I parted with Veil and arrived at my mansion.
I took out the items I'd bought from the Mage Tower and laid them out.
Mandrake Elixir
【Grade: Hero】
Brayen Vision Grimoire
【Grade: Hero】
First, the Mandrake Elixir.
I uncorked the flask of yellow liquid, and a earthy root scent wafted out.
I downed the contents in one go.
"Ugh."
The astringent bitterness twisted my face.
The elixir slid down my throat, slowly absorbing into my body. Gradually, something inside me stirred awake, and my mind expanded.
[Consumed Mandrake Elixir.]
― Mental Power +100
Scream in Agony!
― Mental Power +30
[Mental Power: 370 → 500]
Mental Power had now reached 500.
That cleared the entry requirement for the 8th floor of the labyrinth dungeon.
Next...
Brayen Vision Grimoire
【Grade: Hero】
I opened the grimoire.
As my eyes followed the text, the words lifted off the pages and etched themselves into my mind, page by page.
When I reached the end,
【3rd Circle: Circulation Sphere】
【Grade: Hero】
― Creates five circulating spheres.
I'd learned the 3rd Circle magic, Circulation Sphere.
I used the Magic Fusion Rune I'd prepared in advance.
Then,
Magic Fusion Rune
― Used
【1st Circle: Chain Lightning】
【3rd Circle: Circulation Sphere】
→
【4th Circle: Circulating Current】
【Grade: Legendary】
― Creates five mutually circulating current spheres. The spheres transfer lightning to nearby targets. Each transfer extends the spheres' duration.
Chain Lightning and Circulation Sphere fused into the 4th Circle Circulating Current.
【Chain Lightning's awakening is released.】
― 1st Circle Magic Awakening Rune returned.
Since Chain Lightning had been awakened, releasing it returned the awakening rune.
I used it again to awaken another spell.
【1st Circle: Blink+】
【Grade: Legendary】
― Instantly teleports up to 15 meters in the caster's line of sight. Ignores obstacles.
With Blink awakened, it now ignored obstacles.
Useless in the dungeon, but handy elsewhere.
Awakenings complete, I turned in for the night.
Tomorrow, the 5th floor boss would fall—and it would be the seventh day.
Meaning, the day the boss respawns.
This time, I hadn't sold the info to Dawn Guild.
Even if it respawned in the boss room, I'd just go take it down myself.