Chapter 39 - 38: Magic Scroll

Chapter 39: Chapter 38: Magic Scroll

"What about the Tapping Technique?" Gaode asked, noticing Pierre’s unfinished sentence.

"The Tapping Technique is only a 1st Ring Magic."

"Only... a 1st Ring Magic." Gaode pursed his lips, wanting to retort that it was easy for Pierre to say.

In Hogan City, a 1st Ring Mage was already the ceiling of power; there were hardly any in the entire city.

So, no matter how you looked at it, a 1st Ring Magic could not be described as "only." However, he understood that Pierre was comparing it to Dispel Magic.

With this understanding, Gaode’s restless heart finally calmed down.

He knew it was highly unlikely he would be able to open the wooden box left by Mage Seda anytime soon.

"What, are you trying to unlock a Secret Technique Lock without the Unlocking Secret Spell?" Pierre asked suddenly, his words carrying a hint of implication.

Hearing this, Gaode instantly went on high alert.

But looking at Pierre’s calm expression, he hesitated. He realized that since he had already said this much, trying to cover it up would be pointless. Ultimately, he nodded. "Yes, but it doesn’t seem that simple."

"It certainly isn’t easy. You can hardly find a few 1st Ring Mages in Hogan City, let alone one who has mastered the Tapping Technique. It’s practically impossible," Pierre affirmed.

"Although the Tapping Technique is a common and versatile magic, its effect makes it too much of a Niche Magic. It would never be a mage’s first choice to learn.

"Only those with specific needs, or veteran 1st Ring Mages, would possibly master this magic."

Pierre’s words undoubtedly made Gaode’s heart sink a little further.

However, on second thought, it made perfect sense.

Learning magic required a massive investment of money, Energy, and time.

Therefore, when mages learned magic, they would try their best to avoid impractical Niche Magic, instead pursuing spells with high power or broad applicability.

Seemingly noticing Gaode’s disappointment, Pierre chuckled and added, "However, in certain situations, this Niche Magic often plays an irreplaceable role and cannot be completely ignored.

"Therefore, for magic that is rarely used but necessary at crucial moments, mages usually won’t spend a lot of Energy trying to master it. Instead, they choose to purchase Magic Scrolls as a reserve for emergencies."

"Magic Scrolls?"

It was a term that felt both familiar and foreign. It was familiar because in the games and novels of Gaode’s past life, "Magic Scrolls" were a classic, ubiquitous item.

It was foreign because, in this world, he had yet to see a Magic Scroll with his own eyes.

"Magic Scrolls contain pre-inscribed magic, allowing a mage who hasn’t mastered it to cast the recorded spell a single time," Pierre explained to Gaode.

"Using a Magic Scroll does not consume one’s own Mana; it only requires meeting the Spiritual Power requirements of the scroll.

"Moreover, almost all types of Low Tier magic have corresponding Magic Scrolls, which greatly satisfies a mage’s flexibility in Casting and their ability to handle sudden emergencies.

"For any mage, it can be considered an extremely important Magic Item."

"There are no shops selling Magic Scrolls in Hogan City," Gaode stated with certainty. He had visited the commercial district several times recently and hadn’t seen a single shop selling them.

"That’s for sure. Only a Scroll Master who has mastered the respective magic can create its corresponding Magic Scroll," Pierre sighed.

"Although Scroll Masters aren’t as esteemed as Rune Masters, they are just as Rare. Usually, only major Mage organizations possess the corresponding professional knowledge and inheritance.

"Therefore, you can only buy Magic Scrolls from these formal Mage organizations.

"Additionally, they are usually released in limited quantities. Once they hit the shelves, the highly sought-after Magic Scrolls are basically snatched up within an hour. Even the Niche Magic ones won’t last the day.

"Buying one or two Magic Scrolls requires a certain amount of luck. If it’s like this in big cities, how could you possibly find any Magic Scrolls in a small place like Hogan City?"

Hearing this, Gaode wasn’t disappointed. He knew that if Pierre was going to such lengths, it definitely wasn’t just to educate him on Magic Scrolls.

Thus, he waited patiently for Pierre to continue.

"However..." Pierre trailed off, keeping him in suspense.

Gaode played along perfectly, pressing, "However what?"

"I have a friend in Bremen City who is a Mage of the Jade Alliance," Pierre patiently introduced. "The Jade Alliance is one of the top three Mage Associations in Bremen City.

"So, getting a few Magic Scrolls through his internal channels is still doable.

"As it happens, I have some business in Bremen City and will be heading there in a while.

"If you need it, I might be able to bring back a Magic Scroll of the Tapping Technique for you."

Pierre finished his proposal in one breath, then quietly looked at Gaode, waiting for his decision.

"How much does a Magic Scroll of the Tapping Technique cost?" Gaode grasped the crux of the matter.

"Even though Magic Scrolls are in high demand, they are merely single-use consumables, so the price isn’t outrageously high.

"Six to seven Sean Gold Coins. That’s the average price for a 1st Ring Magic Scroll."

The average price of a 1st Ring Extraordinary Item was 65 Gold Coins.

The price of a 1st Ring Magic Scroll was only a tenth of that of a 1st Ring Extraordinary Item.

The price gap seemed very obvious, but the former was reusable, whereas the latter was a single-use consumable.

Taking this into consideration, one could see that it was a very fair and reasonable price.

This was the fundamental law of commodity pricing.

Six to seven Sean Gold Coins was still a significant expense.

With the Medicinal Garden’s current output, it would take about half a month to save up that amount.

However, Gaode believed that whatever valuables Mage Seda had so solemnly protected with a Secret Technique Lock would definitely far exceed this amount in value.

This was a guaranteed profitable venture.

"What else will it cost me?" Gaode asked, fully aware of how things worked.

Pierre was using his personal connections and traveling all the way from Bremen City to bring back a Magic Scroll for him. Since they weren’t related, it was naturally impossible not to pay an extra fee.

There was no such thing as a free lunch.

Unexpectedly, Pierre shook his head. Looking straight at Gaode’s slightly youthful yet unusually calm face, he said, "You only need to pay the cost required to purchase the Magic Scroll itself."

Gaode lowered his gaze. After a moment of silence, his furrowed brows smoothed out. He lifted his eyelids, looking directly at Pierre. "Then I will trouble you for this."

"As for the money to buy the Magic Scroll..."

"There’s no rush. You can pay when I actually bring back the Magic Scroll of the Tapping Technique," Pierre waved his hand, completely unbothered.