Ring!
The soft chime of the bell echoed in the small waiting room as the door swung open.
A young man stepped inside, his eyes scanning the space before settling on the trio already seated on the sofa. They looked like they had been waiting patiently for their turn.
"Please, have a seat, young man. Your turn will come soon,"
The voice came from a kindly middle-aged man in green robes. His tone was calm, almost reassuring.
The newcomer smiled faintly and gave a respectful nod before walking over to sit in the empty spot beside him.
The room was simple but tasteful—just a few sofas, a low table, a potted plant with glossy leaves, a vintage wall clock ticking steadily, and several framed paintings and certificates on the walls. The faint scent of parchment and old books lingered in the air.
Glancing at the green-robed man, the youth hesitated before asking:
"Sir… do you come here often?"
The man seemed momentarily surprised, then chuckled.
"Yes. I'm practically a regular here. Not just me—these two as well."
He nodded toward a tall woman with long purple hair and a revealing outfit, who gave the young man a graceful wave, and a stoic man in dark robes who merely acknowledged him with a silent glance.
The green-robed man noticed the caution in the youth's eyes and smiled knowingly.
"I understand your worries. I was once in your shoes. But once you meet the appraiser here, those worries will disappear."
"I understand… thank you, sir."
The words eased him slightly, but his guard didn't drop. It wasn't paranoia—he had been cheated before, more than once.
Most wizards he had encountered were clever-tongued and self-serving. He had learned not to take anyone's word at face value.
The only reason he dared come here at all was because the reputation of Gil's Appraisal Room was unusually good. The reviews he'd heard were overwhelmingly positive, and he hoped this time would be different.
Time ticked by slowly. Every few minutes, someone from the waiting room was called inside, and the crowd gradually thinned. By the time half an hour had passed, he was the only one left.
"Next!"
The voice jolted him. He stood, straightened his robe, and stepped into the appraisal room.
He had been told that the appraiser here was young—unlike most, who were already in their thirties or older. But even prepared, the sight still surprised him.
Gilgamel, seated behind a polished desk, didn't look like someone who spent his days buried in shop work. His posture was straight, his features sharp, his expression calm but not unkind. And there was an air about him—something confident yet understated—that set him apart.
'As expected from a member of Owl… he's on a completely different level.'
"Welcome to Gil's Appraisal Room," Gilgamel greeted, smiling faintly.
He gestured toward the chair opposite him, ignoring the nervous look on the young man's face.
"Please, take a seat. Show me the item you want appraised."
The youth wasted no time. Reaching into his robe, he carefully produced a creamy white fruit covered in fine, delicate fuzz—like spun silk.
"I found this fruit in a remote place… but it was guarded by a poisonous creature. I don't know what it is, and I'm afraid to eat it. Can you tell me more about it?"
Gilgamel's gaze lingered on the fruit. A faint shimmer of magic flickered across his eyes as a prompt appeared in his vision:
[Do you want to spend 20 mana crystals to identify this object? Y/N]
'Only twenty mana crystals? So, a Tier-0 item…'
Years of work had honed his instinct for judging an object's general value before even appraising it. Tier-0 items always cost twenty mana crystals to identify; the higher the grade, the higher the cost.
He confirmed without hesitation.
Twenty mana crystals were nothing to him, and the appraisal fee was a cost he always earned back easily.
Information poured into his mind as glowing script formed before him.
⊱⋆⟡──────⟡⋆⊱
Name: White Spider Fruit
Grade: Tier-0
Status: Consumable
Origin: The White Spider Fruit grows on the Spider Nest Tree, a rare elixir-bearing tree whose scent attracts a wide variety of spiders. Highly sought after for its use in crafting the Owl Tears Potion.
Effect: When consumed raw, it increases the level of a Zero Circle Wizard by one and boosts immunity to poison.
Market Price: 200 mana crystals.
⊱⋆⟡──────⟡⋆⊱
'Hiss… so it's this fruit.'
As a Potioneer, Gilgamel had studied hundreds of rare ingredients. He recognized the White Spider Fruit's description instantly—but until now, he had never seen one in person.
The Spider Nest Tree itself was rare, found only in places steeped in toxins. Its fruit was a treasure to Zero Circle Wizards.
Consumed raw, it granted a direct level increase—something most elixirs could not achieve. But processed into Owl Tears Potion, its effects doubled. That potion could raise a Zero Circle Wizard's level by two… though it could only be taken once in a lifetime.
Unfortunately, White Spider Fruits were so scarce that even Owl rarely stocked the potion.
Gilgamel's eyes lingered on the fruit. A flicker of temptation stirred in his chest.
For the first time in years, he felt a genuine, sharp desire for another's property. His mind ran through a dozen ways he could secure the fruit without consequence.
Then, without warning, the page in his mysterious book glowed faintly. His thoughts cleared in an instant.
'Tch… dangerous. I nearly let greed take over.'
It was a sobering reminder. His reputation as an honest appraiser had taken years to build. Throwing it away for one fruit—no matter how valuable—would be foolish.
'I need a break. I've been pushing too hard lately.'
Suppressing the last of his thoughts, he looked at the youth.
"The appraisal fee is one hundred mana crystals."
Routine was routine. Business came before the reveal.
The young man sighed, producing a red Arcane Bank card from his sleeve. He slid it across the desk.
Arcane Bank cards came in ranks: Red for balances up to ten thousand mana crystals; Blue for up to one million; Purple and Gold for the elite, with near-unlimited capacity.
Gilgamel's own was blue. He swiped his over the youth's card, and the machine chimed—PING! Transaction complete.
Pulling the cards back, Gilgamel leaned forward and delivered the details exactly as his appraisal had shown.
The young man's eyes widened at the explanation, then narrowed with caution. Possessing such a treasure made him uneasy; it also made him a target.
Gilgamel, reading the shift in his expression, added,
"Don't worry, my friend. While I acknowledge the value of your item, I won't compromise my principles. I'll never share this information without your consent."
The youth muttered under his breath, "That's what they all say…"
Gilgamel's mouth twitched.
'This kid's been burned too many times.'
He took a breath, then offered, "My friend, may I make a suggestion?"