Rather, I Like It

A smile crept across my face as I checked the floating messages.

Even better, my Enchanter proficiency went up just by sitting here watching.

I came to pay off a debt, but now I'm piling on more?

Stain's magic seemed to follow the steps of detoxification, extraction, purification, and harmony.

It felt similar to the magic I knew, yet carried slightly different functions.

I could use this for item crafting. Raise material purity that way.

Especially 《Guidance of Harmony》—it looked like it could reduce explosion risks.

Lately, the System threatened me with explosions every time I crafted something.

I calmly compared it to my own spells while thinking about the System, memorizing how the mana circuits flowed.

"Phew, done! This potion's mid-grade. But... still failed to extend the shelf life."

Stain looked dejected.

I figured I could offer him a bit of advice.

"Want to try the purification step again? But change the mana circuit in the materials... no, the mana circulation path like this."

"Mana circulation? Would changing that really make a difference? Mana's mana, isn't it...?"

"I do it in the opposite direction. Wanna try?"

I pointed out issues by comparing his mana circuits to preservation runes.

A one-point lesson, basically.

Stain seemed a bit skeptical at first.

But that expression didn't last.

"Wha... huh? This doesn't make sense? Wait, why's it working?"

"How's it going?"

"W-wait a sec! Let me finish it!"

Stain suddenly focused intensely.

He'd had some realization.

I didn't use Magic Analysis on any other spells, so I stepped back and read the book he'd gifted me: 《Release of Binding》.

Perfect. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠This'll be useful in combat too.

This grimoire wasn't just for crafting or enchanting.

Release of Binding disassembled items.

So, I could break down a knight's sword or gear to create openings.

If I could slip into their guard, that is.

How's Stain doing?

Stain kept experimenting until I finished the book.

A smile mixed with a hint of madness lit his face.

Then he shouted.

"It worked! It really worked! Me? I'm an advanced potion maker now?"

Stain babbled in a daze, but I checked the finished product first.

Slightly different, huh?

It differed subtly from what I made with enchanting magic.

"Quick" instead of instant HP recovery, and "enhanced" anti-corruption with a caveat.

Not full preservation... shelf life extended, though.

Still weaker than direct enchanting, it seemed.

This should be good enough to report to Baron Sellevan.

Same grade anyway.

Stain hadn't noticed the nuance; tears streamed down his face.

Lots bottled up, apparently.

"Finally... success! Th-thank you... no, thank you so much, Mage Theo."

He bowed at a sharp ninety degrees.

Too formal—made me uncomfortable.

"You did all the work yourself."

"No way! With guidance like that, how could I..."

"Ah, enough. Next time ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you find good grimoires like this, grab 'em for me. Don't worry about price—I'll buy."

Stain nodded eagerly, but curiosity flickered.

"Didn't go well in Asterium? They have tons of grimoires there."

I sighed deeply at the mention of Asterium.

Count Arno made me wary of going back.

Told Baron Sellevan, but better avoid the area if possible.

"Prices aside... nothing caught my eye."

Stain nodded sympathetically at my sigh.

Though his point was off.

"Yeah, mostly attack spells, no real use. And stupidly expensive."

"Well... true."

"Ever checked Petron's used grimoire market near the Magic Academy? Prices vary... but way more variety!"

My eyes lit up at his words.

He'd gotten Release of Binding from a merchant passing through there.

Another source for grimoires.

"Where's that?"

"Near the Magic Academy—Petron used market. You didn't know?"

"No ties to the Academy... is it students only?"

I had memories of the Academy.

Back trailing slave traders, I'd dreamed of it but lacked cash.

Academy: a word laced with love and hate.

"Nah, the whole city's Academy industry. That's why the used market exists. But..."

Stain hesitated cautiously.

I waited; he continued carefully.

"It's... rough. Better commission through a merchant guild."

"Rough?"

"Well... used stuff, y'know? Not shady origins exactly... but better not to know some sources."

Dead mages' grimoires.

Stolen ones.

Fancy fakes.

Unknown origins meant that.

Stain beat around the bush, but I chuckled.

Unknown origins? Perfect.

I just needed the magic; origins didn't matter.

Cheap and plentiful was all I cared about.

Formal mages like Stain might balk, but for an omnivorous one like me? Ideal spot.

"Why not tell me sooner? Sounds great."

"Not recommending it... and if you botch a Five Great Towers spell, trouble brews."

Magic Towers.

Closed groups hoarding magic lineages.

Advanced unique spells; hated leaks.

Unknown origins... even better?

My heart raced.

Tower magic was renowned for completion.

Stronger than equivalents.

And Towers weren't for riffraff.

Curated spells? Worth coveting.

In my memories, Towers were pipe dreams.

No more dreaming.

Just learn.

"You're misunderstanding... don't. Seen mages ruin lives over it."

"Me? What?"

"Don't touch Tower magic. Better steal—er, ahem. Buy others."

He slipped but kept warning.

Not the risk I thought.

"Towers retaliate, sure... but many obsess over the tomes for decades."

"Decades?"

"Heard the contents are insanely cryptic."

I got it.

Written in their private languages to prevent leaks.

That made me laugh.

I had the System.

I could learn.

Effortlessly.

If only all Five Towers' grimoires were there... too greedy?

My heart pounded.

Enchanter at 70%—time to go.

3rd class soon.

"Your face looks suspicious. Shouldn't have said anything..."

Stain fidgeted, regretting it.

But an urgent voice from outside cut us off.

"Mage Stain! Need help quick!"

A breathless soldier, panting from a run.

"Sir Stain! Murder case."

Murder? My head turned too.

Maybe Haft viscount remnants stirring trouble.

"Murder? Knights or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Gaius handle that, not me."

"It's... ambiguous."

"Ambiguous how?"

The soldier looked awkward, then explained.

"Body's there, but not quite natural death... not murder either. Just weird."

"Poison, then?"

"Came to check. But not quite poison either..."

Frustrated, Stain stood and headed out.

I followed.

Checked info from my deployed puppets too.

Maybe the intel dolls caught something.

"Here!"

Crowd at the spot the soldier led us to.

Victim leaned against the wall, looking asleep—but dead.

My heart skipped.

I knew her.

Florence? Why here?

Merchant house didn't collapse to slavery, it seemed.

Clothes worn but still upscale.

But staring at the corpse triggered an odd message.

From the soul-tracking doll's summary.

No details on Camilla.

No conversation logs or anomalies.

But cold sweat trickled down my back.