Chapter 72: Where Are You Going in Such a Hurry?

I was glad and happy just to have someone I could talk to, since most of the magicians in the magic tower avoid outsiders except for a very few.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Sion, not a test subject.”

“Mm. Yes. What brings you here? Here to buy scrolls?”

“Yes. I think I need to stock up on a few.”

Scrolls are a trump card.

You miss them when you don’t have them, and there’s always a time to use them when you do.

So I thought it would be good to prepare at least 1 to 3.

“Hmm. Judging by your mana quantity, anything above 4th circle would be difficult. Attribute?”

“My attribute?”

“Yes. You must have an attribute that suits your aptitude?”

“Oh, I’m not sure. I’ve never properly checked.”

“Really? Then sit down for now. I’ll choose suitable ones for you after checking your attribute.”

“No, aren’t there any general scrolls? Like Fireball. Something like that.”

“Huh? General scrolls? The word ‘general’ isn’t used for scrolls. They’re all different depending on who made them. The power of the magic embedded in them varies depending on the creator, and the effect differs according to the user’s attribute.”

Did I press some kind of trigger button?

The old man continues his explanation, spitting as he talks, as if he’s gone mad at the word ‘general’.

I couldn’t understand more than half of what he was saying.

“Oh. I see. I understand well.”

“Yes! Be careful from now on. And if you were going to buy somewhat ‘common’ scrolls, why did you come here? There must have been scroll vendors outside too.”

“That’s certainly true. I did come to get something better.”

Certainly, if I just wanted to buy ordinary ones, I wouldn’t have come here.

Among those sold outside, there are duds too. Because they’re made and sold by amateurs.

But scrolls made or owned by the magic tower are definitely reliable in performance.

“Right. Coming all the way in here to buy means you want something a bit special, or very well-suited to yourself.”

“Oh… I guess so.”

“Then wait a bit. Here, I brought an attribute test paper.”

Soon Rod brought a small piece of memo paper.

So this is what an attribute test paper looks like. It seems to be my first time seeing one.

“Hold it with both hands and let mana flow through. You can handle mana, right?”

“Yes, I can.”

Although I’m not a magician, when you use a spatial pocket like eating meals, you naturally come to understand the flow of mana to some extent.

“Come on. Do it quickly.”

“Yes. Just a moment.”

As I focused while holding the attribute test paper, mana soon flowed into the paper.

“Oh!”

“Ooh!?”

In an instant, the paper tore completely and then turned to powder and disappeared.

Some even appeared in different places.

“You. What are you?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Are you perhaps a noble from somewhere?”

“No?”

“…Hmm. This is an impossible attribute.”

“No, what are you talking about?”

“First, two attributes came out.”

“Two?”

“To be precise, it’s three. But one is so faint it can be considered almost non-existent.”

He scraped together the torn and powdered paper, put it in a test tube containing liquid, and shook it.

“First, the most distinct characteristic is the dimensional series. Would it be easier to understand if I say spatial? You were a spatial pocket holder, right?”

“That’s right.”

“It seems that characteristic has manifested strongly. This is actually closer to an acquired attribute manifested by ability rather than your innate attribute. It’s far from your natural disposition. It’s become a form where the origin is drawn towards the ability.”

“Oh, is that bad?”

“Hm? It depends on the attribute. If it was a trash attribute, you should have cursed the ability. But if the origin followed a spatial series attribute, I think you should rather bow to the spatial pocket. Spatial attributes are difficult to obtain naturally and even harder to be born with as an innate attribute.”

“Oh..!”

“If this fact becomes known, the female magicians of the magic tower will probably set their sights on you. If they could have a child with someone who has a spatial attribute. That child would likely have a similar attribute due to trait transfer.”

“You mean it’s inherited?”

“That’s right.”

To think I could become popular because of my attribute.

No wonder Mabel, the magic tower master, was slightly eyeing me last time.

“We’ve confirmed the spatial series attribute. The other one is a bit more unusual.”

“What kind of attribute is unusual?”

“What do they call this again. Holy series? No, if it was holy series, you wouldn’t be working as a porter. The church would have taken you. Right, this is. What was it?”

“Are you senile..”

“You brat! Ah, I remember. Necromancy series. Or an attribute called spiritual power. You’ll show excellent aptitude in handling souls.”

This must be because of my spirit vision.

Then this must be far from my innate attribute too.

Since it’s likely the origin changed according to the ability.

“You have a spiritual power series ability?”

“Yes. I think that’s why spirit power appeared too.”

“Aha. Then this faint one must be your innate attribute.”

“What attribute is it?”

“Earth. Yes, this is earth.”

“Earth? Is that a good attribute…?”

“No. It’s the most common. You should consider almost everyone born as a human to have it. Judging by the size, it’s not even at a level that could achieve greatness.”

“Ah…”

“If it weren’t for your ability, your talent as a magician would be close to 0.”

“Ah….”

“Don’t be too disappointed. Your ability is good, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

Right, who cares about origin or innate attributes.

I have the awesome spatial pocket and spirit vision that no one else has.

With these 2, I’ve already become the man with the rarest skills in the Labyrinth City.

“Anyway, now that we’ve checked your attribute. I should give you some scrolls now. Let’s see. How about this?”

“What magic is contained in it?”

“Teleportation.”

“Wow..!”

“You’ll probably be able to use it right away. Your attribute matches the scroll creator’s too. If you move a short distance, the mana consumption won’t be big either. Of course, with your current mana quantity, you’ll be almost instantly exhausted if you tear the scroll, so use it for emergency escape.”

“I understand. What else should I be careful about?”

“It goes without saying, but you can’t move between layers inside the labyrinth. You can only move within the same layer. Above all, if you don’t accurately imagine the place you want to move to, you’ll get stuck in a wall or floor and die on the spot, so be careful.”

“Yes.”

“The price is 5 gold coins.”

“What? Isn’t that too expensive?”

“You little brat! Do you know how amazing teleportation magic is! If you were to learn and use this yourself, you’d have to dedicate your youth. You know? You’d have to study until your hair falls out like me.”

“Ah…”

If it’s the price for youth, I guess I should pay it, what else can I do.

Above all, it’s the best escape technique that can definitely get you out of the scene when you’re on the brink of death, so it’s good to have it on hand.

“Alright. Here, 5 gold. But it works properly, right?”

“Hm? I can’t tear it to show you. It works. If it doesn’t work, go find the magic tower master and complain, not me.”

I took out 5 gold from my pocket.

“Good. How many more will you buy?”

“Yes. I have to go to a dangerous place. Please give me good ones.”

Rod brought out a few more scrolls from the warehouse.

“Now, this is a scroll containing transfer magic.”

“Transfer magic?”

“Yes. It’s 5th circle, but. You’ll be able to use it if you use all your strength. You can launch an object you possess to a desired location. You have to launch it within 5 seconds of tearing. Otherwise, you’ll just launch the scroll.”

“Can you launch it anywhere?”

“You’ll be able to transfer any object you’re holding in any direction within about a 10-meter radius of the caster. If you didn’t have a spatial attribute, the range would be smaller and the size of objects you could launch would be much smaller, but you have one spatial attribute.”

This is literally a scroll for instant death.

If it’s within 10 meters, you could transfer a sword into the opponent’s brain and burst their head.

“How much is it?”

“10 gold.”

“No! It’s more expensive than teleportation?”

“This is expensive because there’s only one. The price fluctuates according to rarity, so it can’t be helped. If you’re upset, draw the scroll yourself.”

“….”

He didn’t seem to have any intention of giving a discount at all.

Raphnel reluctantly gave discounts, but this old man seems determined not to give any discount.

What should I do? 10 gold isn’t just some kid’s name.

‘It’s expensive. Damn expensive, but…’

If I buy this, I can use an instant death technique once.

No matter who the opponent is, if you turn their brain to mush, they’ll definitely die.

What if something appears that the Saint and heresy inquisitors can’t handle? Couldn’t I use this then?

‘The more trump cards, the better.’

This is the opinion of someone who has survived multiple times with trump cards.

Having a bunch of joker cards makes it easier to survive in the labyrinth.

“I’ll buy it.”

I’ll get money from the Young Lady in three days anyway.

Even if I become penniless right now, I must buy this.

“Good. You, you have more money than I thought?”

“Please don’t consider me rich because I’m using up all my spare funds. I’m buying this to survive too.”

“I don’t know how far you’re trying to go in to buy things like this recklessly. But if you’re going to buy, take a look at this too.”

“What’s this?”

“It has necromancy written on it.”

“Necromancy? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Where is there dangerous magic in the Labyrinth City? If you use it well it’s a tool, if you use it badly it’s jail time.”

“That’s true.”

“I don’t know what kind of spiritual ability-related ability you have. But it will be helpful.”

The last scroll he brought out had ‘Summon Spirit Body’ written on it.

“It makes spirit bodies in the area gather.”

“No, that’s calling ghosts, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. You can forcibly wake up and call everything from wandering souls without self-awareness to nearby evil spirits in the area. Try combining it well with your spiritual ability. You’ll probably see some terrifying and amazing effects, won’t you?”

“…”

There are many wandering spirits in the labyrinth.

They’re not friendly, of course.

But I have the ability to make them absolutely friendly beings.

‘If I use spirit vision…’

This seems like it would be good to buy too.

“How much is it?”

“This is rare, but its effect isn’t particularly groundbreaking. So I’ll charge a bit cheaper. Let’s make it 1 gold coin.”

“1 gold coin… Alright.”

It’s rather cheap for a rare type of scroll.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Alright. See you alive.”

I left the shop.

The expenditure was too big, so I don’t think I can go to the accessory shop separately.

Let’s come again when I have money later.

‘I need to go to Raphnel’s general store too. It’s getting late.’

Should I go to the general store tomorrow?

It should be fine to see the magic tower master next time too, right?

“Wait.”

“Aah!”

“I told you to come see me. Where are you going in such a hurry? Just using the entry pass efficiently. Not willing to participate in my experiment? This won’t do. It’s a special interview.”

“Ah, wait a moment please!”

Just before leaving the magic tower, I was caught by the magic tower master’s hand.