"Is the carving knife still holding up?" Paul asked with a cheerful smile, clearly pleased to accept Ryan's help.
"It works perfectly, thank you, Master." Ryan nodded, then rolled his eyes in thought before adding, "Master, how much do you know about magicians?"
Paul paused for a moment, caught off guard. "That's an unusual question. What brought it to mind?"
Ryan grinned. "Well, our business revolves around serving magicians. It wouldn't hurt to understand them better, right?"
Paul nodded. "I suppose so. I don't know everything, but what do you want to know?"
Ryan feigned contemplation, though he had his questions prepared long ago. "What do magicians need to cast spells? And how do they strengthen their abilities over time?"
Paul considered his words carefully before replying. "From what I understand, a magician's power comes from two fundamental aspects: mental strength and magic power."
He gestured slightly, as if organizing his thoughts. "Mental strength dictates the force behind a magician's spells. Without it, magic simply cannot be wielded. The stronger the mind, the more advanced spells one can cast. However, improving mental strength is incredibly difficult."
"Magic power, on the other hand, represents a magician's capacity, how much magic they can use before exhaustion. Compared to mental strength, it's easier to cultivate, primarily through constant meditation. Still, it's a slow and time-consuming process. The two, mental strength and magic power, are intertwined. A stronger mind allows for faster accumulation of magic power, creating a reinforcing cycle."
Ryan listened intently, nodding as he pieced the information together. The mechanics of magic in this world weren't so different from those in Guardians. Mental strength corresponded to spellcasting ability, while magic power functioned much like knowledge, though here, he had the advantage of quantifying them.
Before he could ask more, Paul continued, "This difficulty in self-improvement is precisely why magic shops like ours thrive. Magicians, no matter how gifted, will always rely on external aids."
Ryan snapped out of his thoughts as Paul motioned him over to a crystal display case. With a wave of his hand, he pointed at the artifacts within.
"Magicians are unlike warriors. Even the most talented ones face strict limitations when training alone. Any smart magician will make use of magical tools. Our wares fall into three primary categories."
He tapped on the glass. "First, the most commonly consumed, training props. These include water magic crystals and elemental magic cores, which are rich in magical energy. Drawing power from these vastly accelerates the accumulation of magic, making it far more efficient than endless meditation."
"Second," Paul continued, "magical artifacts, indispensable for any serious magician. Take our store's prized treasure, the Ebony Staff." He gestured toward a dark wooden staff displayed prominently, a finger-sized blue gem embedded at its top. "It grants a slight boost to mental strength. Don't underestimate even the smallest increase. For a magician, even a minor enhancement in mental strength means faster magic recovery, quicker spellcasting, and stronger effects. These advantages are crucial, whether in training or battle."
Ryan's gaze fell on the staff. He had glanced at it before, dismissing it as plain, but now he saw it in a new light. The unassuming rod, no longer than his forearm, carried a price tag of 2,000 gold coins; an amount that had once seemed absurd. But with Paul's explanation, the cost suddenly felt justified. Even a slight increase in mental strength meant a magician could generate just a bit more magic power over time. And in a profession where every ounce of energy mattered, that difference could be priceless.
"Now, let's talk about the third category; one you should be most familiar with: magic scrolls." Paul's voice carried a note of importance. "These are indispensable tools for magicians and highly coveted by adventuring parties. More than that, they're a significant source of income for many spellcasters. It's just a pity…"
He trailed off, sighing wistfully.
Income.
Ryan's ears perked at the word. He quickly pulled his gaze away from the displayed artifacts and turned to Paul. "What's the pity?"
"It's a pity we don't have a magician on staff," Paul said, licking his lips as though savoring an untapped fortune. "If we did, the earnings from scroll sales alone could be ten times what they are now."
Ryan's brows lifted in surprise, but Paul was already continuing. "Creating a finished scroll involves four key steps. First, the drawing, which is what you've been working on. Second, engraving, a delicate process. Third, coloring, where magical pigments are applied. And finally, enchanting, the most crucial step."
Paul gestured toward a case displaying the shop's wares. "Most of the scrolls we produce are only first-tier. You've seen the price, engraved scrolls go for three to five gold coins." Then he pointed to the only fully enchanted scroll in the store. It was priced at sixty gold coins.
"See that? A twenty-fold difference." Paul sighed, shaking his head.
Ryan swallowed hard, his eyes flickering at the sheer profitability. But something didn't add up. His mind turned over a lingering doubt, and after a moment, he asked, "If the profit is so massive, why haven't I seen more enchanted scrolls for sale? I remember a few customers trying to buy that one, but Master never sold it. Why is that?"
It was a question that had been gnawing at him for some time. A first-tier magic scroll wasn't exactly a legendary relic, yet Paul guarded it like a treasure. Wasn't the whole point of selling goods to… well, sell them?
Paul chuckled, then clapped a hand on Ryan's shoulder. "You're thinking about it the wrong way. I said price difference, not profit." His voice turned knowing. "Do you understand why scrolls are in such high demand? Because the success rate of making them is abysmally low."
Ryan frowned, listening intently.
"Take magic apprentices, for example. If they've earned that title, they can barely cast a first-tier spell. But sealing magic into a scroll? That's another matter entirely. If they attempt it recklessly, the magic can lash back at them. At best, they suffer severe magical exhaustion. At worst, well… let's just say some have paid with their lives."
Ryan stiffened. He hadn't realized it was that dangerous.
"Because of that risk, most magic apprentices looking to make money don't even try to enchant scrolls," Paul continued. "Instead, they focus on the third step: coloring. Magical pigments can only be handled properly by those with at least a basic understanding of spellcraft. Proper coloring increases the success rate of enchantment, so it's an essential step."
Ryan mulled over this new information. "So… to create a fully enchanted scroll, someone needs to be at least an apprentice wizard?"
Paul nodded. "An apprentice wizard can do it, but the failure rate is still high, and there's a risk involved. To be truly efficient and safe, you'd need at least a low-tier mage." His gaze flicked back to the lone enchanted scroll in the store. "That one was made by an apprentice wizard. I've kept it here all this time, not to sell, but as a marketing tool. Customers see it and think, 'Ah, even an apprentice can succeed with these scrolls.' It reassures them that the semi-finished scrolls we sell are high quality."
Ryan exhaled slowly, eyes flicking between the scroll and Paul. Clever.
Most people dismissed Paul as stingy, but Ryan now saw him for what he truly was, shrewd. He is leveraging the product, maximizing the store's appeal without wasting resources.
And that, Ryan thought with newfound respect, was the mark of a true businessman.