Chapter 77: Final farewells
Marcos’s Shop
The fat merchant.
Even before I stepped inside, I could already hear the commotion.
— I want three!
— Do you still have any Ice Crystals?
— Give me all your Healing Potions!
— Hurry!
The shop was packed.
Acolytes shoved one another as they fought over any item that could increase their chances of survival.
Everything disappeared from the shelves almost the moment it was put up for sale.
Marcos ran from one side of the shop to the other, completely drenched in sweat.
His flushed, panting face glistened.
Even his apron was soaked.
I immediately noticed that he had hired nearly twice as many employees.
In the past, a few assistants had been enough.
Now...
There were six people desperately rushing between the customers.
I discreetly looked around.
Several shelves were completely empty.
Small wooden signs hung above them.
SOLD OUT.
LAST UNIT SOLD.
NO RESTOCK ETA.
I smiled to myself.
War really was the best business for a merchant.
Marcos finally raised his head.
The moment he saw me...
His tiny eyes practically lit up.
— Hey!
He quickly pointed at one of his employees.
— You!
— Take over here for a minute!
Without waiting for an answer, he practically ran through the crowd.
As soon as he reached me, he flashed a huge smile.
— My dear George!
He grabbed my shoulders as though we were old friends.
Then he leaned in and spoke almost in a whisper.
— A little bird told me you’ve been producing a lot of Explosive Fire Crystals.
— How many do you have?
— I’ll pay twenty percent above the normal price!
I looked at him for a few seconds.
Then I started laughing.
— Sorry, fatty.
I raised both hands.
— I’ve been spending too much time completing missions.
— It’s been weeks since I last produced anything.
Marcos froze.
His smile vanished.
— That’s...
He placed a hand over his chest.
— That’s a tragedy.
He let out a long sigh.
— The market has gone completely insane.
He pointed at the customers.
— You’d be getting rich right now.
I quickly changed the subject.
— Anyway.
— I came to buy ingredients today.
I pulled a folded sheet of paper from my pocket.
I handed it to Marcos.
He opened it casually.
He started reading.
Then...
His expression completely changed.
His eyebrows furrowed.
Drops of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.
He looked up at me.
Then back at the list.
— Pure Heart Essence...
— White Diamond Leaf...
— Volcanic Ruby Powder...
— Salamander Essence...
— Stabilizing Resin...
.
.
.
He kept reading for nearly an entire minute.
When he finished...
He looked at me again.
Now his expression was completely different.
Curious.
Suspicious.
— The first two ingredients...
He tapped the paper with his finger.
— They’re part of a very old formula used to produce Mana Potions.
I nodded naturally.
— That’s right.
I crossed my arms.
— I want to experiment with a few substitutions.
— Maybe I can simplify the formula.
— So far, I haven’t found any truly efficient combination.
Then I added, as though it were merely a minor detail.
— But...
— If you happen to have any ready-made Mana Potions...
— I’ll buy every single one.
— You can charge whatever price you think is fair.
Marcos stared at me.
I had already expected that reaction.
The formula Totil had sold me certainly wasn’t exclusive.
Other experienced mages and acolytes probably knew it as well.
Therefore, there was no reason to hide the fact that I was researching in that direction.
Marcos let out a weary chuckle.
— Mana Potions?
He shook his head.
— Forget it.
— They’re far too difficult to make.
— The success rate is ridiculous.
— And demand has never been higher.
— The moment one appears...
— It’s sold immediately.
— How could I possibly keep any in stock?
I nodded slowly.
That was exactly what I had expected.
— At least you engineers...
— Still have some hope.
— You can conduct research.
— Adapt formulas.
— Build supporting equipment.
— Maybe one day you’ll even be able to produce your own Mana Potions.
His eyes lost focus for a few seconds.
As though he were remembering something from a very distant past.
His voice grew quieter.
— I still remember when I was only a Level Two Acolyte...
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
— I did things I’m not proud of.
— I committed crimes that still haunt me whenever I try to sleep.
— All of it...
— Just to get a few miserable Mana Potions.
— All right, let’s not talk about that anymore.
He gave a faint smile.
— These ingredients normally wouldn’t be this cheap.
He pointed toward the large sacks stacked behind the counter.
— But with this war approaching, the price of raw materials has plummeted.
He shrugged.
— I’ll let you have everything for one hundred Magic Crystals.
I nodded immediately.
It was an excellent price.
Without saying another word, I took out a Level 2 Crystal from the pouch attached to my waist and placed it on the counter.
Marcos quickly inspected each one.
Satisfied, he put them away.
Shortly afterward, four enormous bundles were placed in front of me.
Each was completely filled with ingredients.
When I hoisted the entire load onto my back, several nearby people turned to look at me.
I smiled bitterly.
As I adjusted the bundles more comfortably, I looked at Marcos once more.
— Hey...
I lowered my voice a little.
— Have you happened to acquire any magical artifacts?
Even though I knew the chances were slim...
I had no intention of wasting any opportunity to increase my strength.
Marcos answered almost immediately.
— Of course not!
He shook his head so vigorously that his cheeks jiggled.
— The prices of magical artifacts have gone completely insane.
— Who would be crazy enough to sell an item capable of saving their own life at a time like this?
I nodded silently.
It was exactly what I had expected.
Marcos then discreetly glanced around.
He made sure no one was paying attention to our conversation.
Then he lowered his voice.
— Buying so many ingredients...
— Looking for magical artifacts...
— You’re leaving the Tower too, aren’t you?
I remained silent.
He smiled wearily.
— You don’t have to answer.
— We were both at that meeting.
— We know exactly what’s happening.
— Staying here...
— Doesn’t seem like a good idea anymore.
— I’m leaving too.
— In a few days.
I looked at him for a few seconds.
Then I held out my hand.
He shook it firmly.
I smiled.
— My mission can’t wait any longer.
— I have to leave immediately.
Marcos simply nodded.
There was nothing more to be said.
...
Before leaving the Tower for good...
I first stopped by my personal laboratory.
My armor had already been completely repaired.
After putting it on, I once again felt that comforting sense of security envelop my body.
Next, I went to say goodbye to my master.
Our conversation was brief.
He merely advised me to be cautious.
After that...
I went to find Ruby.
She smiled with that same dangerous smile as always.
She promised she would finish her own mission as quickly as possible.
Then she made me promise that I would come back in one piece.
Finally...
I stopped by Lina’s room.
We said our goodbyes once again.
Without many words.
We had already said everything that needed to be said.
...
When I finally arrived at the Tower’s Mission Hall...
I noticed something strange.
There were very few acolytes around.
I carefully observed their faces.
Most of them were low-level acolytes.
Some carried old equipment.
Others were discussing small rewards.
Many were accepting simple missions just to earn a few Magic Crystals.
A complicated feeling welled up inside me.
While they divided up meager rewards and struggled desperately just to survive...
They had already been abandoned.
In a war between Mages...
Hundreds of ordinary acolytes could be gathered into massive magical formations.
Sacrificed.
Consumed.
Used for nothing more than delaying the enemy’s advance.
That was the real reason they were still here.
Even so...
Being anywhere near a battle between Mages was practically a death sentence.
If thirty percent survived...
It would already be considered a miracle.
But there was absolutely nothing I could do.
The magical contract I had signed forbade me from revealing any information.
Not even Totil would be able to protect me if I broke it.
I looked away.
And kept walking.
On the other side, there was only a quiet room.
Behind a wooden counter, an elderly clerk was organizing several scrolls.
Without saying a word...
I took out my identification document.
I placed it on the counter.
Then I set a small pouch containing several Magic Crystals beside it.
The old man picked up the pouch immediately.
He opened it.
He smiled in satisfaction.
— All right.
He picked up my identification document.
He passed it over a magical formation.
A light spread across its entire surface.
Then he nodded.
— You are now officially authorized to undertake the Silence of the Black Forest mission and the Underground World of Kar-Dur Tower mission.
He took out another scroll.
He unrolled it across the counter.
— Your destination will be the City of Distant Wind.
His finger slowly traced the map.
— It’s located practically on the eastern border of the Kingdom of Urna.
— You’ll need to cross nearly half the kingdom.
Then he smiled like an experienced merchant.
— Would you like to buy a map?
It was always wise to compare different sources.
— I’ll take one.
I handed him two Magic Crystals.
A moment later, I received a new map, carefully rolled up.
Not only were the provinces of the Kingdom of Urna marked in far greater detail...
A red line also showed the exact recommended route to my destination.
I immediately stored it away.
The old man then returned my identification document.
— Your scroll now also serves as your official exit pass.
His expression turned serious.
— Don’t lose it.
— It cannot be replaced.
I nodded slowly.
...
Some time later...
I returned to my room for the last time.
I slowly closed the door behind me.
Silence filled the room.
I looked around.
The spellbooks I had recently purchased were neatly arranged in one corner.
The ingredients occupied two large reinforced wooden chests.
I smiled nostalgically.
I wonder...
When will I be able to return to this place again?
....
1710 Words