Free Web NovelChapter 12: Chapter 12: Money, Money, Money
Radak’s duty was to guard the Wizard Inheritance Hall, which made him incredibly critical of everyone. In his view, the slightest carelessness could shatter a Wizard’s Ladder of Truth.
Therefore, whenever anyone entered the Wizard Inheritance Hall to select a Witchcraft, they would inevitably be met with Radak’s scathing critiques. freewebnσvel.cѳm
Although Radak’s words pinpointed the genuine flaws in these Wizards, he was so blunt that his words cut like a knife.
Over time, a consensus formed throughout the White Sea Wizard Academy. With the exception of a few deans, everyone—from Official Wizards and Wizard Apprentices to the creatures and Magical Beasts qualified to enter the Inheritance Hall—agreed on one thing.
When going to the Wizard Inheritance Hall, avoid Radak at all costs.
And now, this Radak—whose words were sharp enough to be daggers—had actually taken an apprentice? A complete rookie, no less?
The days ahead were certainly going to be interesting!
Many Wizard Apprentices could already picture it: Andre running frantically around the academy, with Radak hot on his heels.
"Alright!" Andre didn’t press his master about his past, instead turning his attention back to the task screen.
His master had given him a task—comprehend ten Demon Patterns and receive a Magic Stone—but he hadn’t even managed to tame his Spiritual Power, let alone construct a Spirit Rune. He was completely incapable of sensing the meaning within the Demon Patterns.
Until he could tame his Spiritual Power, he would have to earn Magic Stones on his own.
"Okay, I’ll take this one."
After looking for a while longer, Andre accepted a task from the screen.
"Alright, give me your Token."
The old man held out his hand, and Andre handed him the wooden Token.
The old man took the Token, softly chanted a Curse Art, and performed a bit of Witchcraft. A sheet of Curse Paper immediately lifted off the table before him.
The Curse Paper detailed the task Andre had accepted. When he returned with the required items, it would serve as proof of completion.
"You have two days," the old man added, handing the Token back to Andre.
Andre nodded, thanked the old man, and left the Task Hall with his Token.
’Collect ten stalks of Phosphorescent Grass for a reward of 0.3 Magic Stones!’
Following the location described in the task, Andre consulted his map and walked for over two hours. By the time he arrived, he was famished. He had finally reached his destination: the Burial Bone Forest!
The Burial Bone Forest was the academy’s research ground for those who studied Death Witchcraft.
The bones of many large animals were buried within, and rumor had it that a Wizard in the forest was researching a forbidden form of Witchcraft to bring the dead back to life.
But that wasn’t Andre’s primary concern. What mattered was that every night, the Burial Bone Forest came alive with countless Ghost Fires, which cast an eerie, blue-green glow.
Furthermore, Ghost Fire was unlike ordinary fire. A quick touch of a regular flame might leave a minor burn, but nothing severe.
Ghost Fire, however, was different. It would cling to your skin and was nearly impossible to extinguish, burning until its victim was consumed completely.
Still, Andre had chosen the task of collecting Phosphorescent Grass after careful comparison with the others available. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
’Water,’ he thought. ’The key to completing this task is water.’
Hearing the sound of rushing water, Andre took off his outer coat, went to the water’s edge, and soaked it through before draping it back over his shoulders.
"Gah!" The shock of the icy water against his skin instantly drove away any lingering drowsiness.
’Let’s go!’ Steeling himself against the cold, Andre stepped into the Burial Bone Forest. The moment he crossed the threshold, all sound of chirping insects and birds vanished.
All that remained was the sound of a ghastly wind, like the wailing of the dead.
’I need to pick them fast and get out of here!’
Using the light of the flickering Ghost Fires overhead, Andre picked up a flat piece of stone from the ground and gripped it tightly.
With this simple tool in hand, he began to search the Burial Bone Forest for Phosphorescent Grass.
After searching for a short while, Andre finally spotted his first target: a short, small plant that flickered with the same light as the Ghost Fires.
’Damn, I should have brought more clothes!’ he thought with a sigh.
Andre took the stone shard and slid it into a seam of his outer coat. He pulled hard, and with a loud RRRIP, tore off a strip of cloth.
It was the only thing he had on him that he could use to carry the Phosphorescent Grass.
After tearing off the strip, Andre crouched down and used the stone shard to dig up the Phosphorescent Grass. He carefully transferred the plant onto the strip of cloth and wrapped it up securely.
Once the flickering light of the plant was completely concealed, he knew the first stalk was his.
Emboldened by his first success, Andre quickly found the remaining targets.
To the sound of more fabric tearing, Andre finally emerged from the Burial Bone Forest with ten stalks of Phosphorescent Grass. He spent another two hours walking back to the Task Hall and presented the plants to the old man.
The old man unwrapped the cloth strips and confirmed that they contained Phosphorescent Grass. He immediately took out the Curse Paper and affixed it to Andre’s Token, signifying the task was complete. Then, he handed three small pebbles to Andre.
These three pebbles were the 0.3 Magic Stones; each one was a tenth of a standard Magic Stone.
With the Magic Stones in hand, Andre immediately consulted his map and headed for the dining hall. After using one pebble to pay for a month’s worth of meals, he finally ate his first hot meal in days.
’Magic Stones are what I need most,’ Andre thought, ’but earning them by taking tasks from the Task Hall is just too slow!’
Andre shoveled meat porridge into his mouth as he mulled over how to earn Magic Stones more quickly.
’The fastest way to earn Magic Stones is from other Wizards, or even from the more senior Wizard Apprentices. They’re the ones with the most stones. But how could I possibly earn Magic Stones from them right now?’
Andre racked his brain but couldn’t come up with a single good idea.
’Wait... the only possible way to earn Magic Stones right now is my Talent Witchcraft, the Eye of Truth!’
Andre’s thoughts finally landed on his own eyes. According to that Wizard from Moutian Wizard Academy, his Eye of Truth was perfect for researching Magic Potions and Witchcraft Artifacts.
But he hadn’t even completed the first step of the basic Meditation Technique. Researching Witchcraft Artifacts and Magic Potions was out of the question.
’So what am I supposed to do?’
Andre poured the last of the meat porridge into his mouth, swallowed, and sighed helplessly. ’Life is hard, but being broke is the hardest part!’
