Chapter 62
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 062
Chapter Title: Grimoire and Wind Mage (2)
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‘Moist Skin...?’
The spell contained within the Beauty Grimoire.
Its name was Moist Skin.
The effect made the skin moist.
It was similar to the Smooth Skin spell I had learned before.
‘Guess I won’t have to worry about moisturizing anymore.’
In a world without lotion, it was a useful spell.
Anyway, after confirming the spell from the Beauty Grimoire like that.
I checked the spell held within the Clean Grimoire.
‘Purification?’
Purification did exactly as its name suggested—it made dirty things clean.
It was a handy spell that could be applied to my body, someone else’s body, or even objects.
In simple terms, it meant I could lie right there and take a shower while doing laundry!
‘This... is amazing!’
I wanted to try the Purification spell right away, but I had already bathed, so I was clean.
Then where could I use it...
‘Ah, there it is.’
I looked ahead.
Gilbert was standing guard at the door, having finished his task of drawing water from the well.
When I cast Purification on him, the sweat smeared on his face vanished cleanly.
Fascinated, I tried the spell on the brown cloak he was wearing next.
The dirt and dust there disappeared in the blink of an eye, and the fabric’s color brightened noticeably.
Clap clap clap.
I couldn’t help but applaud.
It was that revolutionary of a spell.
As I admired it alone like that.
Bang!
Bear and Connell burst through the door into the room.
They must have heard my clapping and rushed back, thinking something had happened.
I cast Purification on the two of them as well.
It took less than ten seconds for the grimy Bear and Connell to become spotless.
The next day.
I woke up in a great mood.
I had learned three new spells yesterday, and today I could read two more grimoires.
There was no way I couldn’t feel good.
‘Can’t help but hum a tune.’
I reviewed the spells I had learned yesterday in my mind.
First, the Tough Hide from the Land Turtle Grimoire.
It was an Earth Magic spell.
It covered the skin with earth for protection.
The grimoire had increased my magic power by 25, and the mana cost depended on the surface area of skin to cover.
Second, the Moist Skin from the Beauty Grimoire.
It was an odd spell that kept the skin moist—a passive skill.
The grimoire boosted my magic power by 10.
Mana consumption was 5.
So effectively, it was only a net gain of 5, but it was still a profit for me.
A gain of 5 was better than nothing.
The third and final spell was Purification from the Clean Grimoire.
The most useful one I learned yesterday, it made dirty things clean.
How much did the grimoire increase my magic power?
A whopping 50.
Mana cost: 25.
It consumed the same amount as Lightning Bolt or Stone Spike spells, but I didn’t mind at all.
Its performance was that outstanding.
‘I hope today’s spells are as useful as yesterday’s.’
The grimoires I was reading today were Charcoal and Green Thumb.
They required materials—weapons and seeds—so I hadn’t tried reading them right away yesterday.
But first, there was something else I needed to do.
‘I should stop by the castle and report first.’
The subjugation leader was Godfrey.
So he must have already reported.
There was no need for me to step up.
But I was the one who planned it and played the decisive role in its success.
Morally, I should meet Count Chester and discuss what happened yesterday.
Still, I wasn’t too worried.
Honestly, without me, it would have been a disaster.
He’d praise me, not scold me, right?
‘He’ll give me extra rewards. That’s only fair.’
In truth, I had just wanted to hunt the monster.
The monster that killed mages, nobles, and priests.
It was also to gain Count Chester’s favor and show off my skills.
I hadn’t expected things to blow up like this.
I hadn’t done it for rewards originally, but now that it had come to this, I could hope a little.
Given the count’s personality, he’d reward me generously to save face—for saving the city from crisis.
‘Shall I head to the castle?’
With that thought, I opened the door and stepped out.
“Good morning, Lord Heros.”
A man who had been pacing in front of the house bowed politely to me.
I recognized his face from before.
“He’s been waiting since dawn.”
As I was startled by the sudden greeting, Bear, standing to my right, spoke up.
Then Connell, to my left, added an explanation.
“He works at Chester Castle.”
That cleared it up.
He was Count Chester’s servant.
I had seen him a few times when visiting the castle.
That’s why his face was familiar.
“What’s this about?”
“Count Chester requests the presence of Mage Heros.”
“I was just about to head to the castle.”
“I’ll guide you.”
The man said that and took the lead.
Right after arriving at Chester Castle.
I was able to meet Count Chester immediately.
The private chamber where I had met him before.
The count, who had been handling work there today as well, jumped up from his seat the moment he saw me enter.
Then he spread his arms wide and said,
“The hero of Chester has arrived.”
Count Chester joked with me.
I was dumbfounded by his sudden change in attitude.
Why was he acting so friendly?
As that question crossed my mind.
He continued speaking.
“As the lord of Chester, I offer my deepest gratitude for what you’ve done.”
“Yes.”
“So as a reward, I’ve prepared a gift. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
With that, Count Chester glanced behind him.
A attendant waiting there stepped forward holding an object wrapped in blue silk.
He wasn’t giving me the silk as a gift; it was what was inside.
From the outline alone, it looked like a long rod.
Swish.
As I guessed at the gift’s identity.
Count Chester took the blue silk-wrapped object from the attendant.
And handed it straight to me.
“Take a look.”
I politely accepted Count Chester’s gift.
A soft texture came through my palm, along with something hard.
The surface was uneven.
Not sure what it was, I unwrapped the blue silk, revealing a wooden staff.
‘A staff? I’m not old enough to need one yet.’
It was completely unexpected.
A noble like Count Chester wouldn’t give me an ordinary wooden staff.
So the remaining possibility was...
‘A magic tool?’
I could definitely sense magic power from the wooden staff.
I didn’t know its effects yet.
Looking to him for an explanation, Count Chester spoke.
“It’s a staff used by a famous mage.”
“Oh...”
“They say using spells while holding it boosts the power of that magic.”
Magic power boost?
If true, it was a fantastic magic tool.
The odds of Count Chester lying were slim, so it probably had that effect.
“What do you think? Like it?”
As I looked down at the wooden staff, Count Chester asked.
I answered right away.
“Yes, thank you.”
“I pondered a lot, actually. It wasn’t easy finding a suitable reward. I already promised weapons and armor, and you wouldn’t want coins. Then I remembered that staff. It’s better off with a new owner than rotting in storage.”
Honestly, Count Chester’s words went in one ear and out the other.
I just wanted to test the staff’s power right away.
I was holding back since I couldn’t use magic inside the castle.
“Do you have other business?”
As I half-listened to Count Chester.
He suddenly asked a question.
But I didn’t panic and replied smoothly.
“No, nothing in particular.”
“You seemed distracted.”
“No way.”
As I played innocent, Count Chester shrugged and continued.
“Anyway, glad you have time. Plenty of people want to meet you.”
“Me?”
I couldn’t help but ask back.
The only people I knew at Chester Castle were Count Chester and the baroness couple right before my eyes.
So ‘plenty of people’ wanting to meet me meant strangers had taken an interest.
I wondered who they were.
“Many nobles witnessed you incinerating the Flesh Golem yesterday. And all of us there, myself included, were captivated by your magic.”
Ah, he meant the nobles.
The people Count Chester mentioned who wanted to meet me.
Now I understood their identities.
‘Not bad at all.’
Building ties with nobles.
It was a good thing for me.
“I’m truly glad they thought well of me.”
So I simply expressed gratitude.
It wasn’t overdone or lacking.
Honestly, it would be rude for me to say I wanted to meet other nobles first.
So I waited for him to bring it up.
“They’re probably all waiting for you by now. Come with me.”
Just as I hoped, the words came from Count Chester’s mouth.
So I gladly followed him.
Where Count Chester led me.
It was the hall in the center of the castle.
A spacious place used for banquets, audiences, assemblies, and more.
As we neared the hall, boisterous noise reached my ears.
And finally, when we entered with the count.
I was overwhelmed by the scene inside.
A massive brazier in the center of the hall.
Its roaring flames lit up the interior.
Long tables draped in white cloths were arranged around it, and the variety of meats atop them caught my eye.
Goose, pheasant, chicken, pork, wild boar, venison, beef, lamb, duck, rabbit, and more...
It was like they’d piled up every edible animal.
‘Is this for real?’
When food was scarce even with rationing, this extravagance was beyond me.
From my perspective, it was incomprehensible.
But I couldn’t show it.
The nobles had spotted me and started calling out.
“Ooh! Who’s this?”
“Chester’s hero! The fireball mage!”
“The flame wielder!”
The nobles cheered.
Their flushed faces suggested they were already quite drunk.
Seeing that, regret washed over me.
Maybe I should’ve just gone to read new grimoires?
As I thought that.
“Keep your wits about you. They may look sloppy, but they’re all scheming how to use you.”
Count Chester whispered advice just loud enough for me to hear.
His words snapped me alert.
Right, the count was spot on.
They weren’t interested in Heros—they wanted a capable mage.
So they’d covet my power and test me.
‘Gotta stay sharp.’
After the count’s words, the hazy nobles suddenly seemed like they were feigning their state.
“Sit over there.”
At that moment, Count Chester pointed to the table on the brazier’s left.
The seat at the end was empty.
That must be my spot.
“Yes.”
I answered and turned toward it, as Count Chester headed to his own seat.
The center of the central table.
In other words, the head of the hall.
That was his place.
Swish.
As I sat down, looking around, the noble next to me immediately asked,
“Heros! How long have you been learning magic?”
“About four months, I think.”
“Just four months? And you have such impressive skills? What you just said shocks me more than seeing you fight that monster yesterday!”
The noble who heard my answer made a fuss.
Then the one beside him spoke up.
“Do you have a patron?”
“Not yet. No connections.”
“What a shame! A talented mage like you without support. I hope you find a good connection here today.”
“Thank you.”
After that, I spoke with several nobles.
They asked what they were curious about, including questions about my master.
“Do you have a master?”
“Master Digori is my teacher.”
“Digori? The live burial Digori?”
“Yes.”
“Hoo!”
The moment I revealed I was Digori’s disciple.
All the nobles in the hall exclaimed in admiration.
Even Count Chester, who had shown little reaction before, looked over with shining eyes.
That showed how great my master’s reputation was.
I felt good.
“As expected from that master, that disciple!”
The nobles praised me and my master, warming up the atmosphere.
Once the mood had ripened enough, they finally showed their true colors.
“Heros, how about working under me? Swear loyalty, and I’ll ensure you never worry about money again.”