Sakeer had been flipping through the catalog for quite some time.
The magician named Vala had long since noticed, his expression now carrying a trace of impatience.
"Have you made a decision yet?" Vala asked, his tone curt.
Hearing this, Sakeer finally looked up from the book.
"Yes, I've made my choices," he replied. "But... I have a question first."
Vala's expression softened slightly as he reached for the catalog.
"Go ahead," he said flatly.
"I noticed there are two different scrolls for the 'Papermaking Technique.' What's the difference between them?" Sakeer asked curiously.
When he'd first seen the entries, it caught his attention — Papermaking, a life-based magic unique to this world, appeared twice: once as a Zero-Tier spell and again as a First-Tier spell.
Magic of the same type existing at different tiers was something he hadn't encountered before.
Could people in this world have actually advanced life magic to the first tier?
In YGGDRASIL, magic tiers were strictly defined.
Whether a player was Level 20 or Level 100, casting a first-tier spell produced the same result. While stats like Magic Attack could affect power, the fundamental nature of the spell never changed.
Even special spells like the Third-Tier Fireball had set rules: although its power and range could expand by consuming additional mana, it still remained a third-tier spell.
For instance, beings like the Bone King or the guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick had the passive ability "Low-Tier Magic Nullification", which rendered them completely immune to spells like Fireball.
To face a Level 100 opponent in YGGDRASIL, you'd need at least Eighth-Tier Magic to break through their defenses.
"It's not much different," Vala said lazily.
"If anything... the paper produced by the 1st Tier scroll is smoother, whiter, and better suited for writing."
His tone suggested disinterest, and his gaze shifted slightly — the look of someone signaling, Hurry up and buy something already.
Hearing that, an idea suddenly struck Sakeer — one that left him momentarily stunned.
Suppressing his thoughts for now, he mulled over his options before speaking.
"I'll take a Zero Tier Papermaking Technique scroll and a Heating scroll."
"And... I'll also take a 1st Tier Odorless scroll and a Magic Arrow scroll."
Hearing his selections, Vala gave a brief nod, then turned and walked toward the back.
Behind the counter, a large wall adorned with murals stood. Without hesitation, Vala stepped forward — and passed directly through it.
A magical barrier? Sakeer thought, eyes widening slightly.
He hadn't noticed any fluctuations in mana, nor any visual distortion to indicate an enchantment. The concealment was flawless.
Moments later, Vala returned, carrying four scrolls in his hands.
"Two Zero Tier scrolls — two gold coins."
"The 1st Tier Odorless scroll — one gold coin."
"And the Magic Arrow scroll — three gold coins and ten silver coins."
"That's a total of seven gold coins and seven silver coins."
Vala set the scrolls neatly on the counter.
Hiss...
Sakeer sucked in a breath.
The price was steeper than he'd expected. He hesitated briefly before reluctantly pulling out eight gold coins and placing them on the counter.
Why is offensive magic so expensive?
Both Odorless and Magic Arrow were 1st Tier spells, yet the latter was nearly three times the price.
Vala glanced at Sakeer with mild surprise, then wordlessly collected the coins, handing back six silver coins in change.
With this purchase, Sakeer's remaining funds now stood at 14 gold coins, 7 silver coins, and 4 copper coins — enough to comfortably buy supplies for his next venture.
Pocketing the scrolls and coins, Sakeer turned and left the Magician's' Guild.
Once outside, he tucked all four scrolls into his Item Box for safekeeping.
As he walked briskly back to his hotel, his earlier thought resurfaced — one that gnawed at his mind like an itch he couldn't quite scratch.
Sakeer needed to return to his room and test his earlier conjectures.
By now, the sun had completely set.
The sky was dark, and though street lamps illuminated the town square, they were spaced too far apart to fully dispel the shadows. The dim light barely revealed the cobbled road beneath his feet.
Strange... it's too quiet.
Perhaps because this was a border city, the streets were nearly deserted at this hour.
Tap!
Tap!
Suddenly, the sharp sound of footsteps echoed from a nearby alley.
A figure emerged from the shadows, playing with a dagger in his hand. His steps were heavy — deliberate — as if trying to draw attention.
Sakeer's brows furrowed, and his pace slowed.
It wasn't just this one figure.
From the corner of his eye, Sakeer noticed another person moving behind him, cutting off his retreat.
"Hey there, little brother," the man with the dagger called out with a grin. "How about treating us to a drink?"
He stepped forward, revealing his face hidden beneath a mask. Dressed in black, the dagger twirled menacingly between his fingers.
The figure behind him remained silent, standing firmly in the middle of the road. Like Sakeer, he wore a black robe with a hood pulled low, his face obscured by shadow.
"Looks like I've been targeted." Sakeer thought grimly as he considered his options.
"Come now," the man with the dagger sneered. "We just want you to buy us a drink... and maybe lend us some coin while you're at it."
The figure behind still said nothing, yet Sakeer couldn't shake the feeling that this silent man was the more dangerous of the two.
"How do you even know I have money?" Sakeer asked, narrowing his eyes.
Beneath his black robe, his hand quietly slid toward the hilt of his short sword.
"Was it someone from the Magician's' Guild?" he continued. "No... that doesn't add up.
"With their pride, those mages wouldn't stoop to this — especially not for the meager coins I have on me. Besides, I only just left the guild. There's no way they'd organize something like this so quickly."
His voice dropped slightly as he pieced it together.
"...I just arrived in E-Rantel today, which means..."
Sakeer's eyes sharpened.
"You've been watching me since I entered the city, haven't you?"
The man's grin widened.
"Smart kid."
"In that case, we can skip the pleasantries. Hand over the scrolls and the gold, and maybe we'll let you keep breathing."
"No..." The man's smile turned cold.
"...Maybe I'll just cut off those legs of yours and sell you as a slave instead."
His dagger spun faster now.
"I hear black-haired slaves fetch a good price, especially those with Faith Magic... like 'Low-Tier Healing.'"
Sakeer's expression shifted.
They know about my healing magic...
His mind raced.
The only people aware of his abilities were the "The Rocks" adventurer team — and Bareare's duo.
Neither seemed like a likely suspect.
Nfirea's grandfather could be ruled out immediately, and as for the "The Rocks" team — they'd practically begged Sakeer to join them. Besides, after saving their captain's life, they had no reason to betray him.
Did they slip up and accidentally reveal it?
Unlikely. The "The Rocks" team was a professional silver-ranked party — skilled and experienced. They wouldn't carelessly expose his abilities.
Wait...
There was one more possibility.
The Royal Capital's Adventurers' Guild.
Back when he'd demonstrated his healing magic there, plenty of people had seen him cast it.
That's it.
These thugs weren't just after his gold — they wanted to capture him as a valuable commodity.
A slave.
A healer with black hair — rare, exotic, and profitable.
Sakeer's expression hardened.
"Eight Fingers," he muttered coldly.
The man twirling the dagger froze for a moment — just a brief hesitation, but it confirmed Sakeer's suspicion.
(End of Chapter)