Translator: CinderTL “However, this system also has its drawbacks…
Because the Guild Commission Office charges such high commission fees, only tasks requiring mages with essential skills are posted there.” “These tasks are typically high-level, making magic apprentices completely useless and even low-tier mages find little opportunity.” “To alleviate the financial hardship faced by lower-tier mages, the Mage’s Guild introduced a subsidy policy, granting monthly stipends based on rank.” “The Mage’s Guild’s history has certainly been tumultuous,” Zellier remarked, impressed.
No wonder some members of the Adventurer’s Association were surprised to see mages accepting quests.
As they spoke, the pair arrived at the Trading Hall.
Even in a prestigious institution like the Mage’s Guild, any place involving money inevitably becomes a bustling hub of activity.
Long display cases lined the hall, showcasing a diverse array of goods: Vibrant magic crystals, dried exotic plants, mana-radiating magic cores, unique magic potions, and ancient tomes.
People in magic robes bustled around the shipping containers, their demeanor reeking of shrewd merchants.
The cacophony of haggling and the clinking of coins filled the air.
Copper coins?
They were practically nonexistent here.
Silver coins were the minimum currency.
A quick glance from Zellier revealed transactions involving dozens of gold coins.
You really can’t be a mage without money.
“From basic blank parchment to high-tier magic scrolls, mana-replenishing crystals, and all sorts of rare materials,” Bev said with a hint of pride.
“If you have the coin, you can buy anything a mage needs here.” Bev’s words rang true.
A single glance at the containers left Zellier overwhelmed, rooted to the spot.
So many treasures…
“Alright, enough dawdling,” Bev tugged at Zellier’s sleeve.
“We have important business to attend to.
You can explore later.
There are countless magic wand shops here, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed on your first visit.
But I know a good one.
Follow me.” Guided by Bev, Zellier reluctantly weaved through the crowd.
The two reached the end of the hall, where several small doors of varying styles stood.
Bev pushed open one made of glowing redwood.
As soon as they stepped inside the shop, the clamor of the outside world was cut off by an invisible force field.
The atmosphere inside became peaceful and serene, with only the crisp chime of wind chimes hanging by the door breaking the silence.
The shop was smaller than expected, with no shelves.
Instead, two vertical wand racks displayed dozens of magic wands of various shapes and designs.
Further inside, a kind-faced old woman with silver hair sat behind the counter.
Her expression was gentle, lacking the pushiness of a typical salesperson.
She simply gestured for them to browse freely.
“Feel free to choose at your leisure.
The prices are marked below each wand.” Selecting a magic wand required little explanation.
No amount of flowery salesmanship could replace the experience of handling and testing the wands themselves.
Only the right fit truly mattered.
A magic wand consisted of three main parts: the base material, the embellishments, and the core.
The base material influenced the smoothness of mana flow within the wand.
The core, on the other hand, determined the types of magic the wand could amplify.
For example, a wand with a Fire Lizard Core would greatly enhance fire-based magic.
Magic wands with a core made from the special mineral “heart of the earth” could amplify earth-based magic.
The accessories were mostly mana-conducting metals, similar to mithril or adamantite, which helped to better integrate the core with the wand’s base material.
Zellier paced before the vertical wand rack, his astonishment growing with each glance.
Not a single wand on display cost less than three hundred gold coins!
He even spotted one made from aged oak with a natural crystal core, priced at an astonishing six hundred gold coins!
“Hiss…” Zellier instinctively took a step back, terrified of accidentally damaging it.
Even if he sold himself by the pound, he couldn’t afford to pay for it.
“What’s your budget?” Bev asked softly.
“Three gold coins…
three gold and fifty silver at most,” Zellier said through gritted teeth.
After receiving his mage stipend, Zellier now had a total of four gold and three silver coins.
He still needed to reserve some for daily expenses.
Dude, why is your budget so precise?
Bev shot Zellier a surprised look.
You dare come to a wand shop with so little money?
“Then let’s skip the finished wands and go pick out a base material instead.” Bev offered her advice decisively, “While the base materials certainly won’t perform as well as a finished magic wand, they’re much cheaper and still provide a decent boost to your magic…
It’s better than nothing, anyway.” So the two of them wandered over to a secluded corner of the shop.
Here, a large pile of base materials lay stacked—products that had been roughly processed but not yet fitted with embellishments or wand cores.
Though still expensive, Zellier at least had the means to choose one.
After much deliberation, he finally settled on an ashwood base material, priced at three gold coins.
The ashwood base material was unremarkable, offering only the most basic mana amplification and a slight increase to spellcasting speed—the very definition of entry-level equipment for mages.
But as Bev had said, it was better than nothing.
After paying for the base material, Zellier felt a pang of regret.
Too expensive…
His gaze drifted involuntarily to the deep crimson magic wand at Bev’s waist.
The texture, the color…
That must cost at least a few hundred gold coins, right?
No wonder mages are such easy targets when they go on missions…
Zellier muttered inwardly.
After purchasing the materials, the two left the Trading Hall.
On their way back, Zellier’s attention was drawn by a thunderous roar.
He followed the sound to a massive circular stone structure resembling an ancient Roman colosseum.
“What’s that place?” Zellier stopped in his tracks.
“Oh…
that’s the martial arena,” Bev replied, unfazed by the noise.
“It’s where guild members practice magic duels.
Sometimes, members preparing to advance to low-tier mage also undergo their promotion trials there.” Magic duels…
Hearing those words, Zellier immediately perked up.
Not because he wanted to participate himself, but because he saw another opportunity to mooch free magic.
“I want to go check it out!” Zellier blurted out.
“Are you really that excited…?” Bev couldn’t help but chuckle at Zellier’s eagerness.
“Come on, then.
Judging by the commotion, it’s probably quite lively today.” They climbed a circular staircase to the observation platform, where they could survey the entire martial arena from above.
It was a massive circular arena over fifty meters in diameter, with the ground and surrounding walls forged from solid granite.
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