Perhaps Adam had been browsing too long.
Vara, the mage, snapped out of his daze, his face showing impatience as he looked at Adam. "Have you decided or not?"
At the question, Adam lifted his gaze from the booklet. "I've chosen, but I have one question."
"Go ahead."
Vara's expression softened slightly as he took the booklet back, speaking curtly.
"I noticed there are two types of Papermaking scrolls. What's the difference?" Adam asked, curiosity in his voice.
While flipping through the booklet, he'd discovered that Papermaking, a spell unique to this world, had both zero-tier and first-tier scrolls.
Zero-tier magic, exclusive to the New World, presented a rare case where the same spell existed at different tiers. This was a first for Adam, sparking his intrigue.
To think the people of this world had developed a lifestyle spell to the first tier!
In the YGGDRASIL game, magic tiers were fixed.
Whether you were level 100 or level 20, a first-tier spell remained the same. Its potency might vary with the caster's magic attack stat, but its essence never changed.
Some spells were exceptions, like the third-tier Fireball.
That spell's power and range could increase based on the mana expended.
But a third-tier spell remained third-tier, unchangeable.
Ainz Ooal Gown and other Floor Guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, with skills like Low-Tier Magic Nullification, could completely negate Fireball.
Thus, in YGGDRASIL, hunting level 100 players required at least eighth-tier magic.
"Not much difference."
"If I had to say, the first-tier Papermaking scroll produces whiter, finer paper, better quality, suitable for writing."
Vara spoke lazily, clearly uninterested in elaborating, his eyes signaling it was time to buy.
Adam's mind jolted with a startling idea.
Suppressing the thought, he considered briefly and said, "Give me one zero-tier Papermaking scroll and one Warm scroll."
"And one first-tier Odorless scroll and one Magic Arrow scroll."
Hearing Adam's selection, Vara nodded and walked to the back.
Behind the counter was a wall adorned with a few paintings. Vara strode straight toward it.
Under Adam's gaze, he passed through the wall and vanished.
"A magical barrier? Completely invisible." Adam murmured, surprised.
Moments later, Vara returned, holding four scrolls.
"Two zero-tier scrolls, two gold coins."
"The first-tier Odorless scroll, one gold coin and ten silver coins. The Magic Arrow scroll, three gold coins and ten silver coins."
"Total: seven gold coins and seven silver coins."
Vara laid the scrolls before Adam.
Hiss!
The price made Adam's eyes twitch. After a brief hesitation, he pulled eight gold coins from his pocket and placed them on the counter.
Both first-tier scrolls, yet Magic Arrow, an offensive spell, cost nearly three times as much as Odorless.
Vara glanced at Adam with mild surprise but said nothing, collecting the coins and handing back six silver coins.
Adam now had 14 gold coins, 7 silver coins, and 4 copper coins left. Not much, but enough for his upcoming supply purchases.
He tucked the scrolls and coins away and left the Mage Guild.
Stepping out, Adam's mind stirred. He stored the scrolls in his Item Box and quickened his pace back to the inn.
He needed to test his earlier hypothesis.
The sun had set, and the sky was fully dark. Street lamps lit the plazas, but they were spaced far apart, providing just enough light to see the road.
Perhaps because this was a border city, the streets were nearly deserted at this hour.
Tap!
Tap!
Suddenly... a figure emerged from a nearby alley, deliberately stomping heavily, twirling a dagger in hand.
Adam frowned, slowing his pace.
Not only was someone ahead, but another figure appeared behind him.
"Buddy, care to buy us a drink?"
The figure ahead stepped from the shadows, a man in black, face masked, wielding a dagger.
The figure behind halted in the middle of the road, blocking Adam's retreat.
Adam glanced back with his peripheral vision.
Like him, the figure wore a black robe, hood up, face obscured in the evening darkness.
"Looks like I'm being robbed." Adam said, mind racing for a strategy as he spoke.
"No, no."
"We just want you to treat us to a drink and maybe lend us some coin." The dagger-wielding thief spread his arms, shrugging.
The figure behind remained silent, yet Adam sensed greater danger from them.
"How did you know I have money?"
Adam narrowed his eyes, slipping his short sword free under the cover of his robe. "The Mage Guild? No!"
"The Mage Guild has no reason to do this. I just left, and with their pride, they wouldn't bother with the little money I have, even if they were desperate."
"I only arrived in E-Rantel today, so…"
Adam's thoughts clicked, and he let out a cold laugh. "You've been watching me since I entered the city, haven't you?"
If he was right, these two must have seen Dosari, the Rock Team's captain, hand him the coin pouch.
They likely targeted newcomers to E-Rantel, preying on those traveling alone.
"Wow, sharp kid."
"No need for chit-chat then. Hand over all the scrolls you bought and your money, and we'll let you live."
"Otherwise!" The dagger-wielding thief's grin turned icy. "I don't mind cutting off your legs and selling you as a slave brat."
"A black-haired faith-based magic caster who can use Low-Tier Healing would fetch a nice price."
Adam's eyes sharpened.
Had his information been leaked?
Only the Rock Team and the Bareare family knew he could use healing magic.
Neither seemed likely to betray him.
The Bareares could be ruled out immediately. As for the Rock Team, he'd saved their captain's life, and they'd been eager to recruit him.
They had no reason to leak his details.
A careless slip?
Unlikely. The Rock Team was a Silver-rank adventuring group with professional standards. They wouldn't be so easily tricked into revealing information.
After racking his brain, it seemed the Rock Team was the only possibility… wait.
More precisely, they weren't the only ones who knew about his healing magic. Back at the royal capital's Adventurers' Guild, plenty of people had seen him cast it!
The dagger-wielding thief's words weren't just about his money, they wanted to enslave him.
This motherfucker...
"Eight Fingers!"
Adam spat out the name.
The thief twirling the dagger froze.
***
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