Minori walked along the crowded street, the figure of a small ghostly dog padding quietly at his heels.Wherever he passed, pedestrians instinctively gave way, their gazes drawn to the unnatural aura the creature exuded.
In Minori's eyes, the questions posed earlier by the middle-aged man at the Adventurer's Guild were of little consequence.
When he had taken out the two bone chains — proof of killing dire ghost dogs — to sell, he had already anticipated that others might speculate he had ventured into the Great Tob Forest.
However, no matter how wild their guesses,no one in the Adventurer's Guild would truly believe that a human was responsible for the recent disturbances there.
After all—
The disappearance of so many monster corpses, without leaving behind even a trace, was unthinkable for native humans.Without the concept of space-folding items like magic boxes or prop inventories, such a feat was beyond their imagination.
Without evidence,speculation could never become certainty.
—
"Vice-President of the Magician's Guild, Bellori Vanov Grigori Botkin..."
Minori quietly muttered the cumbersome name.
"Just hearing it makes me want to avoid him."
He sighed helplessly.
"I wonder if the Magician's Guild has any magic items capable of translating text..."
It was now nearing midday.
Minori simply found a busy tavern, ordered a modest meal, and listened carefully to the scattered gossip swirling among the patrons.
This was not merely for idle curiosity.
He had long since noticed that E-Rantel's surface atmosphere was unchanged from a month ago,yet the soldiers guarding the gates moved with an intensity that hinted at unseen tensions.
It was clear:something had happened, but the higher-ups were actively suppressing the information.
In such circumstances, even buying intelligence at the Adventurer's Guild would likely yield little of value.
Gossip, however—
Rumors often revealed what official channels tried to conceal.
—
Unfortunately—
When Minori finally left the tavern, all he had gained was a full stomach, a meal that was at least a welcome change from the monotonous rations of the forest.
No useful information.
—
Magician's Guild.
Ding-dong—
The heavy, dark-brown doors creaked open by themselves.
Minori entered.
Compared to the Adventurer's Guild, the Magician's Guild was as deserted as ever.
The two staffers at the front desk were different from the last time he had visited.
The young magician he remembered was still present,but the older middle-aged spellcaster had been replaced by another young magician clad in a light blue robe.
—
"No wonder the monster detection device reacted.""Turns out it's a ghost dog. A cub, at that!"
The light-blue-robed magician's lively voice rang out the moment they noticed the small creature at Minori's side.
Both young men immediately turned their attention toward the little ghost dog, their faces filled with surprise and curiosity.
The black-robed magician, after a moment's hesitation, recognized Minori.
His pure black hair had left a lasting impression from a month ago, when Minori had come to purchase a scroll.
—
"Are you here for another magic scroll?"
The black-robed magician asked cautiously.
"No. This time, I'm interested in purchasing a magic item."Minori's voice was quiet, but steady.
Most scrolls sold here were auxiliary spells, not suited to his needs for the moment.
The only things that truly interested him were certain life magics capable of evolution—but given his limited skill points, he had no intention of making frivolous purchases.
—
"A magic item...?"
Both magicians exchanged brief looks of surprise.
Magic items were extravagantly expensive.Judging by Minori's plain attire, they hadn't taken him for someone with deep pockets.
"Is there any magic item that can translate text?"
Minori asked calmly.
—
"Translate text?"
"Who would waste their time making such a useless magic item?!"
The blue-robed magician suddenly raised his voice.
"Even the best magic items have limits!"
The black-robed magician hurriedly tugged on his companion's sleeve, offering Minori an apologetic smile.
"Forgive him. Unfortunately, we don't have any such item here."
Minori nodded slightly.He wasn't particularly surprised.
He remembered that Sebas Tian, the butler of Nazarick, possessed a high-tier translation artifact—but that was a relic far beyond what this world's human mages could create.
"In that case..."
Minori changed the topic, as if remembering something.
He pulled a small sheet of faintly glowing white paper from his pocket, resilient and shimmering softly.
"Would your guild be interested in purchasing magical materials like this?"
He raised the paper slightly.
It hovered lightly under his hand, emanating a faint, pale white light.
The two magicians, previously a little disdainful, immediately snapped to attention.
Their eyes locked onto the paper, their expressions betraying naked greed and excitement.
"How much of this do you have?"
"We'll buy all of it!"
The blue-robed magician nearly leapt over the counter, snatching the sheet for closer inspection.
Minori raised an eyebrow.
This level of excitement—
Was it really that valuable?
—
According to the results of Item Appraisal,this paper, crafted using second-tier life magic, could preserve any writing for a hundred years without decay.
Certainly useful—
but the reaction of these magicians seemed excessive.
—
"This... meets all the standards perfectly,"the blue-robed magician whispered fiercely to his companion.
The black-robed magician's expression grew even more serious.
"You are a faith-type magic caster, correct?"
The black-robed one asked.
"That's right," Minori confirmed.
"Who made this paper? If possible, we'd like to negotiate a long-term purchase. Ten sheets for one silver coin."
Ten sheets—one silver.
Given that Minori's current second-tier Papermaking could produce 700 sheets at once...the profits were staggering.
Even producing a few batches per day would easily net him over 160 gold coins per month.
Economic freedom.
Minori smiled faintly.
"No need to negotiate. I made it."
He answered casually.
—
"...You?"
Both magicians froze.
The black-robed magician looked especially stunned.
—
"But... that's impossible!"
The young man's voice rose sharply.
"You bought a zero-level 'Papermaking' scroll just a month ago!If you knew how to create this paper, why would you have purchased a beginner scroll back then?!"
The arrogance that had been carefully concealed beneath professionalism now surfaced in full force.
The black-robed magician's hostility was obvious.
—
Minori's expression turned cold.
The aura he had cultivated—the killing intent forged through a month of hunting goblins and monsters alone in the wild—
unfolded silently.
The tavern's low light seemed to darken further.
The messy, uncombed strands of his black hair half-shielded his sharp, emotionless eyes.
He spoke with icy indifference:
"Is there a problem?"
—
"You... you..."
The black-robed magician involuntarily took a step back.
An instinctive, primal fear chilled his spine.
He tried to recover quickly, forcing a look of anger onto his face:
"Do you even know where you are?!"
—
"Enough."
The blue-robed magician cut in, his voice serious.
He turned to his black-robed companion:
"Albert. Was what you said just now the truth?"
Caught off guard, the black-robed magician stumbled over his answer.
"I... uh... yes..."
—
The blue-robed magician nodded gravely.
Then, turning to Minori, he said:
"Please wait here for a moment, sir."
Without further explanation, he hurried upstairs.
—
Now, only Minori and the black-robed magician remained in the lobby.
An oppressive silence filled the air.
The black-robed magician paled, unable to meet Minori's gaze.
Minori, meanwhile, grew more curious.
There was clearly some hidden importance behind this kind of magic paper.
—
Before long—
Footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
The blue-robed magician returned, following closely behind an old man clad in a simple gray robe, patched and worn.
It was clear at a glance—
this man was no ordinary mage.
Despite his age, the old man's steps were firm. His face, deeply lined like the pages of an ancient tome, was grim and severe.
An aura of authority clung to him like a second skin.
—
"Teacher..."
The black-robed magician hurried forward, trying to assist him.
The old man brusquely brushed him aside, stepping forward on his own power.
He first glanced down at the white paper resting on the counter.
Then his gaze sharpened, locking onto Minori.
"...Are you from the Slane Theocracy?"
The old man asked coldly.