As Roger walked down the mountain, he replayed the recent battle in his mind, his thoughts lingering on the captured magical device.
The fact that this world had developed magitech suggested its level of civilization wasn't as backward as he had initially estimated. Although from everything he had seen and heard since crossing over, this technology was far from widespread. It was still in the small workshop stage, nowhere near mass production.
Roger opened the system shop. He recalled that in many of the Western fantasy novels he had read in his previous life, magitech was practically a mandatory technology tree for protagonists. Its developmental potential was far greater than pure magical cultivation.
A holographic interface popped up before his eyes. The variety of magical devices in the system shop was much richer than he had imagined, and there were corresponding specialization skills available for exchange:
【Name: Magitech Specialization
Description: Grants the host mastery over the core principles of magitech, including mana circuit design, energy conduction optimization, multi-rune synergy, and overall magical device construction.
This specialization is an advanced integration of Rune Specialization and Magic Circle Specialization. It requires the host to possess a solid foundation in basic runes and magic circles.
Once learned, the host can design and manufacture magical devices. The higher the level, the greater the complexity and maximum power output of the devices that can be crafted.
Max Level: Lv10
Prerequisites: Rune Specialization Lv5, Magic Circle Specialization Lv5
Exchange Cost: 2,500 points】
This was the most expensive specialization he had seen so far, and it even came with prerequisites. Roger's gaze lingered on the “Prerequisites” section for a moment before he looked at the prerequisite skills.
【Name: Rune Specialization
Description: Grants the host mastery over the basic principles of runes, including rune classification, engraving techniques, energy guiding, and sealing spells.
Runes are the basic building blocks of magical devices and the core technology of enchanted equipment. The higher the level, the greater the variety and complexity of runes that can be engraved.
Max Level: Lv10
Prerequisites: None
Exchange Cost: 800 points】
【Name: Magic Circle Specialization
Description: Grants the host mastery over the basic principles of magic circles, including array design, mana flow planning, multi-node coordination, and the foundational theories of area-of-effect spell solidification.
Magic circles are the key means of stripping spell effects from a caster's body and solidifying them onto a medium. The higher the level, the larger the scale and complexity of the magic circles that can be designed and drawn.
Max Level: Lv10
Prerequisites: None
Exchange Cost: 800 points】
In any case, he might as well learn them first.
“Points -1,600. Balance: 4,015.”
As he pressed the exchange button, foundational knowledge of runes and magic circles flooded into his mind, just as he reached the foot of the mountain.
After leaving the Cliffside Mountains, he passed through the villages and estates he had traveled through before. Having been pillaged by goblins, these places had yet to recover. The farmlands were overgrown with weeds, and not a single soul was in sight. Roger traveled by day and picked a relatively intact empty house to rest in at night. Since he didn't even know if the owners were dead or alive, there was no one to argue with anyway.
After several cycles of day and night, a new city appeared on the horizon.
Soloren City, part of another count's territory, was similar in scale to Orland City. The sentries at the city gates let him through after a brief questioning; a mercenary's identity always granted easy passage in such trading towns.
Roger wandered around the city for a good while before finally picking the busiest-looking tavern and pushing the door open. It seemed that institutions like Adventurers' Guilds or Mercenary Guilds didn't exist in this world yet, so if one wanted to know about recent events, taverns—places where all sorts of people gathered—were the only option.
Roger walked up to the counter and slid a few silver coins over to the tavern keeper.
“Any jobs available in town lately?”
The keeper reached out, swept the silver coins into a drawer, poured Roger a foaming mug of ale, and said, “The Skylark Merchant Group wants to transport some goods to the royal capital. They're currently recruiting guards, meals and lodging included. If you want to take the job, you can find their representative at the Tobacco Inn in the east of the city.”
After saying this, the keeper lowered his head and resumed wiping glasses that seemed as if they would never be clean.
Roger picked his mug and took a sip. His brow furrowed immediately. Setting the mug back on the counter, he asked, “Where can I get a map?”
He didn't expect a highly detailed one; he just wanted to get a general understanding of the world's layout.
“You can check out the marketplace. Traveling merchants often set up stalls there.”
“Thanks.” Roger stood up and left the tavern.
Following the keeper's directions, he circled the marketplace several times, eventually buying a world map from a traveling merchant. Unfolded, it was over half a meter wide. The world map only depicted the rough outline of the continent and the distribution of nations. It was far from detailed, but it was enough to give Roger a general sense of the global situation.
The layout of this world wasn't overly complex: elves to the west, dwarves to the south, beastkin to the north, and humans to the east, divided into three rival powers. The Kingdom of Arank, where he currently was, was a landlocked country ranking second in overall strength among the three human nations. It bordered the top-ranking Rakard Empire to the east.
After browsing the world map, Roger pulled out the kingdom map he had found in the cave earlier, placing the two maps side by side on his knees to compare them. Just as he was pondering where to go next, a familiar voice came from behind him.
“Sir Roger? I didn't expect to run into you here.”
Roger folded both maps at once and turned around.
Knight Stine stood a few paces away, wearing a dark casual shirt with a shortsword hanging from his waist. He didn't look like he was on duty; he seemed more like he was just taking a stroll. Before Roger could respond, Stine continued, “It's not convenient to talk here. How about we find another place? Lord Raymond happens to have a new commission, and I wonder if you might be interested.”
Roger figured he had nothing better to do right now, and since he hadn't decided on his next destination yet, he might as well hear what they had to say. He nodded and followed Stine.
The two twisted and turned through several alleys, arriving at a small inn nestled in a corner of the city. Stine pushed open a wooden door at the end of the second-floor hallway and stepped aside to let Roger enter first.
The room was small, containing only a bed, a table, and two chairs. Baron Raymond, also dressed in casual attire, sat on one of the chairs.
“My Lord,” Knight Stine bowed to the Baron. “I encountered Sir Roger outside.”
“We meet again,” Raymond nodded slightly to Roger, gesturing for him to take a seat on the other chair.
“I thought you had already returned to your domain,” Roger said casually as he sat down.
“We were supposed to,” Raymond took a sip from the goblet on the table before setting it back down. “But some unexpected circumstances arose. I had Knight Waters lead the main force and the wounded back to the territory to rest, while I came here to handle some private matters.”
He paused, shifting his gaze from the goblet to Roger's face. “And to see if I could find the right person for a commission.”
“Why don't you tell me what the commission is first?” Roger didn't rush to commit.
“It's not a difficult task. I just want you to help me look into something in the royal capital, and deliver a letter along the way,” Raymond said, pulling an envelope from the inner pocket of his robe.
“Look into what?” Roger asked.
Instead of answering directly, Raymond asked, “Have you heard of Count Augus?”
Before Roger could reply, Baron Raymond continued: “His full name is Woodrow Augus, a direct vassal of the King. Although he doesn't hold an official position in the palace, he has lived in the royal capital for a long time and loves making friends. Regardless of their background, as long as they have a specialized skill, he is willing to associate with them. My commission is for you to quietly look into his social circle—for instance, who he frequently associates with, and if there's anyone he is particularly close to. I don't need any confidential intelligence, just general information from the public sphere.”
Hearing this, Roger felt that the commission was likely not as simple as it seemed. Raymond wouldn't look into a noble far away in the royal capital for no reason. He recalled the map of the kingdom, where the royal capital, Parmenia, was surrounded by cult symbols. A count who loved to associate with all walks of life, residing long-term in the city with the densest network of cult strongholds, whom Raymond wanted to investigate right after the war ended—there was no way this was just a private matter.
“I'm afraid I might not be the right fit for this commission.”
Just as Roger finished speaking, Raymond unhurriedly took a heavy coin pouch from his waist and placed it on the table.
“This is the deposit. There will be more once the commission is complete.”
Roger's rear had barely left his chair before he sat right back down. He looked up at Raymond, seamlessly continuing the conversation: “Who is the letter for?”
“The Mage Association in the royal capital, to a member named Nina. She is essentially my chief mage, currently pursuing advanced studies at the association,” Raymond replied.
Roger recalled that when Stine had first extended an olive branch, he seemed to have mentioned that the Baron had a mage studying in the royal capital. It was just that the name reminded him of a little girl and a dog... He quickly shook the thought from his head.
“Alright, I'll take the job.” Roger tucked both the envelope and the coin pouch away.
“Set out once you are ready.” Raymond offered no further instructions, simply picking up his goblet to take another sip.
Roger stood up, but paused as he reached the door.
“Once I arrive in the capital, how do I deliver the investigation results and her reply to you?”
“Give them to Nina. She will handle forwarding them to me,” Raymond's voice drifted from behind him.
Roger nodded and pushed the door open.
Rate on N.U.
