Chapter 46. Ring of Rune (1)
"Welcome, Mage! As I mentioned before, it has been completed most successfully!"
Mort pointed with both hands at the robe and staff displayed on the stand.
Verden's eyes read the effects contained in the magical items.
◇ Blue Mithril Staff
⦁ Increases mana recovery speed (small)
⦁ Increased casting speed (medium)
⦁ Mana charge
⦁ Mana amplification (small)
A blue gem processed from high-grade magic stone, and a frame made from an alloy that contained a small amount of mithril.
The staff made from these two materials was distinctly different from the one he had used before. The mana conductivity was far higher, and the amount of mana it could contain nearly doubled.
Moreover, the staff itself could store mana, enabling him to empower it at any time, with its power slightly amplified.
For Verden, who possessed a vast amount of mana, it meant he could continuously empower the staff.
On top of that, the length slightly exceeding Verden's height, and the balance fitting perfectly in his hands, made it suitable for immediate use in actual combat.
'Performance is good for the price.'
Though a little disappointing that it lacked an effect that directly strengthened spells, this was good enough to compromise.
Having already reached mid-4th tier, and with a magic tome in his possession, there was no reason to cling to it unnecessarily.
Next, he turned his gaze toward the robe.
◇ Magician Cape
⦁ Maintains body temperature
⦁ Physical resistance (small)
⦁ Fire and cold resistance (small)
⦁ Preservation of state
Other than the resistances, the effects were simple, maintaining temperature and keeping it clean without special care.
Most of the cost had gone into the staff, so this level of performance was expected. With his current fortune, buying a better robe would not give much value for the price.
Verden judged it better to save money now and prepare for the future.
'There might come an opportunity to acquire a robe with Protection Shield imbued.'
Though first, he would need to gather at least hundreds of millions in wealth.
Of course, Verden had confidence. Objectively, he more than had the ability to achieve that.
"Are you satisfied?"
"Yes, indeed."
Magical items, though using the same materials, clearly differed depending on their maker.
Seeing Verden's satisfaction, Mort laughed and said,
"I used the highest quality magic stone available at that price range. Condor prepared it for me. Thanks to that, I was able to make something decent for the first time in a while. Now, please try them on."
Verden draped the robe over himself and gripped the staff.
The blue of the gem, the gray of the robe, and the navy of the leather equipment peeking from beneath the robe gave off a subdued sense of authority. Altogether, they harmonized well with Verden's eyes and hair.
"Haha, it suits you very well. Then, about the payment..."
"Here is the remainder."
As there had been no card reader before, he paid in cash on the spot.
Mort grinned ear to ear at the bundle of money, roughly estimating the amount by eye. Once he confirmed it matched, he bowed repeatedly toward Verden.
"Farewell, Mage!"
Receiving Mort's farewell, Verden stepped outside.
Afterwards, he stopped by the Con Merchant Guild briefly to meet Condor, then headed to the inn. He had no further business in Briente, planning to leave the city the next morning.
Verden felt the surging, ocean-like mana within his heart and fell into thought.
'I've become incomparably stronger than before, so I can act more boldly without issue.'
The Wailing Knight he had subjugated with Galliark, now he could overwhelm it alone.
Since many of his spells consumed large amounts of mana, Verden could now make more active use of his greatest advantage, his vast mana reserves. In a one-on-one fight, he was confident he would not lose even against a 5th tier mage head-on.
But that also meant his growth speed was bound to slow.
Just because one could surpass the heavens did not make climbing them any easier. The higher one rose, the more arduous it became.
From the beginning, what Verden achieved by Defying the Heavens was not an easy and fast path of growth, but the limitless possibility of not being bound by limits.
Verden lay down on the bed, pondering what he should do next.
'Continue training as usual, but focus more on external matters.'
He had secured weapons and armor.
Within his means, he had obtained equipment he was satisfied with, and planned to change to better ones later when opportunities arose.
'What remains are only the treasures taken from the magic tower.'
First, the magic tome.
To register enhanced spells, he needed at least a mid-to-high-grade magic stone. But through the information broker Pale, obtaining them would be easy. With enough money, he could further empower his earth elemental magic.
Next, Breath of Element and the mana crystal.
These two could be used to craft the staff's core, the Orb. But unless he found an expert of truly exceptional skill in magical item crafting, he dared not attempt it. A single failure would reduce everything to dust.
'Besides, I don't even have a proper frame, and I lack the production funds.'
For now, using those two was premature.
Excluding those three, only one remained.
The Ring of Rune.
It was time to awaken the dormant runes.
***
Runes.
Though their origins were never clearly revealed despite long study, they were presumed to be among the magical item crafting techniques used in ancient times.
The characters themselves held mana, and depending on the arrangement of the runes, a wide variety of magical effects could be granted. Since the effect manifested merely by engraving the runes, in some sense, it could be seen as more advanced than modern crafting techniques.
But it was never commercialized.
Because no one had been able to reproduce the method of engraving runes. The ancient technique, already forgotten, could not be recreated by anyone.
For over a hundred years research had continued, but at best, all they had managed was to awaken runes whose activation had ceased.
No matter how high the potential value, if results did not follow, it was destined to be discarded.
The magic tower had long since abandoned such studies, and in the present era, only historians with a particular fascination for the ancient world continued such research.
The "Ring of Rune" Verden possessed.
This ring, engraved with complex rune arrays, was valuable enough to be kept in the treasure vault of the magic tower. However, a body capable of withstanding the effect of the runes was required, and with Verden's ascension to the 4th tier, he had at least crossed the minimum threshold.
Now, he only needed someone to awaken the Ring of Rune.
Originally, he had intended to search through rumors, but since he now had an information broker at his disposal, he planned to make full use of it.
Leaving Briente, Verden headed straight for Cohen.
"It has been a while, Sir Asher. In fact, I was about to contact you regarding a commission, so this is fortunate."
"I haven't come for a commission today, but for information. What is it about?"
"Ah, I see. Then let us first resolve your business, Sir Asher, and afterwards I shall speak of mine. What information do you seek?"
What he wanted was the introduction of a rune expert.
Hearing Verden's request, Pale stroked his chin.
"Runes, hmm... yes, I do have information. To be precise, it concerns someone who knows the whereabouts of a rune expert."
"Their whereabouts? And the way to meet them directly?"
"There is none, at least not nearby. If you look further a field, perhaps there might be, but whether they would possess the knowledge and skill at the level Sir Asher desires is doubtful. As you know, magic items engraved with runes are rare, and runes themselves are ill-suited to profit, so most treat them as little more than a hobby."
"Which means, the expert you mentioned is different from them?"
"I do not know why Sir Asher is seeking a rune expert, but from my personal opinion, I can answer, 'yes'."
Verden hesitated.
Even if he purchased information, and sought out the person who knew the expert's whereabouts, there was no guarantee they would cooperate with him.
Perhaps reading Verden's concern, Pale smiled faintly.
"As it happens, Sir Asher, a 'designated commission' has arrived that may be of help to you."
"A designated commission?"
"Yes, the client wishes to hire you specifically. Of course, you may decline, and suffer no disadvantage."
However.
"Coincidentally, the very person who knows the whereabouts of the rune expert is this client. He is rather strict, but if you accept his commission, he will willingly hear your request. Naturally, the reward is separate. And since this relates to the commission, you need not even pay me an information fee. What do you think?"
A commission, plus information about the rune expert's whereabouts, plus payment, plus exemption from the information fee.
The only question was the nature of the commission, but Verden had every reason to accept. As he nodded, Pale handed him the request document.
As he read through the details, his eyes stopped at the client's name.
'This person....'
Count Rodenmeyer.
The client was the noble who had previously commissioned the capture of the slave trader, Luton Cohort.
***
The Rodenmeyer estate.
The gray mansion had an air of old elegance, and the surrounding gardens were immaculate, without disorder.
For a count's residence it felt somewhat modest, but the equipment of the knights guarding his side was anything but.
Verden turned his head to glance at the knight guiding him forward.
Armor of steel faintly infused with gold. From its traits, it was evident that it had been forged from Damascus steel, known for its outstanding resistance to both physical and magical attacks.
'Such enormous wealth. Ordinary magnates cannot hope to match it.'
Perhaps Count Rodenmeyer was a noble who valued practical strength over ornament. Or, it might be his intention to elevate his own status by raising the caliber of the knights under him.
Pale had said that Count Rodenmeyer was a pragmatist, and pragmatists were those who pursued only personal profit.
Before long, guided by the knight, Verden arrived before the count.
Golden hair close to white, wrinkles denoting middle age, and golden eyes that seemed indifferent yet carried ambition.
Count Rodenmeyer, sipping tea outdoors, turned his gaze toward Verden.
"You are the mage Pale sent?"
"My name is Asher."
"I know. The mage who personally captured Luton Cohort and his band, and took my money as reward. Well, as they say, your looks are polished enough."
The count gestured to the chair across from him.
As Verden sat, an elderly butler poured the tea himself. Smelling the fragrance, it seemed to be of the 'Gold Buzz' variety of tea leaves, a luxury befitting nobility.
Soon, a slice of cheesecake and sugar were set upon the table.
"Pure Gold Buzz. Not only expensive, but finicky as well. It is not something one can drink whenever they please, so you would do well to savor it now. Not that I know if you even have a palate for tea."
At the count's urging, Verden naturally moved his hand.
First, he mixed in half a spoon of sugar, then cut the cake into bite-sized pieces and placed one in his mouth. After that, he sipped the tea, savoring both the flavor of the cheesecake and the aroma of the tea at once.
This was the proper way to enjoy Gold Buzz tea.
He had tasted it from time to time in the magic tower, and had even brewed it himself, so there was no way Verden could fail to appreciate its flavor.
At his manner, the count's eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"...You have knowledge in confectionery?"
"Not to any noteworthy extent."
At Verden's reply, the count let out a soft laugh.
"So you are not one of those ragtag mercenaries littering the streets. Not bad. Then let us proceed directly to the matter at hand."