This thought flashed through Hogg’s mind, but the idea of magic power within his body returning to a state of calm because of a cup of tea... such a thing was simply impossible for him.
If the total magic power of a Rank 1 mage could be compared to a bucket of water, then Heroic Spirit rank magic power was a vast ocean. Attempting to interfere with magic power of this magnitude... aside from another professional of the Heroic Spirit rank, perhaps only the power of a god could suffice.
So, the feeling just now must have been a coincidence—but...
Hogg frowned slightly, lifting the tea cup to examine it closely. Even after enhancing his perception with magic power, he still found nothing unusual; naturally, there were no magic fluctuations either.
Yet, the surging magic power within his body had truly grown calmer, as if a small patch of tranquility had appeared amidst a raging sea.
Filled with doubt, he raised the cup and took another sip. As the tea entered his mouth, it was the same as before—as the liquid went down, another trace of calm settled into his magic power.
It was a strange sensation. It wasn’t like magic spells such as Sedation or Lionheart, which worked by deceiving the senses or using hypnosis to create a calming effect. It felt more like... a forced suppression—as if his magic power sensed a “threat” from the tea and lost its original “arrogance.”
So, his magic power was being suppressed? By a cup of tea? What a joke.
But the facts were undeniable. By the time the cup hit the bottom, the surge of magic power within him had quieted significantly, and the effect was still spreading. Perhaps a few more cups would restore it to complete tranquility.
Normally, it would have taken ten days to calm this magic surge, but now...
Was this shop owner really just an ordinary person?
Hogg wasn't naive enough to believe that an ordinary cup of tea—no matter how precious—could have such an effect. At the very least, in his centuries of knowledge, no such thing existed on the Ogu Continent.
When he looked back at the young man with suspicion and a hint of shock, the youth was reading a book. Sensing his gaze, the other man merely offered a smile and asked softly,
“Would you like a refill? The first refill is free.”
“Yes, another cup.”
He nodded instinctively, his eyes a bit dazed.
The refilled tea was soon placed before him. Without hesitation, he downed another cup. This time, the effect was even more pronounced; his surging magic power was returning to a state of calm at an accelerated rate.
He took a deep breath, feeling himself in a state of absolute relaxation. He lightly raised his palm, and an invisible force of magic gathered in his hand with extreme speed, only to dissipate the moment he turned his hand over.
As still as water—this was the sign of having regained absolute control over his magic power.
Hogg suddenly recalled what his unreliable apprentice had said—could Angela have been telling the truth? Was he really a Heroic Spirit?
For a moment, he felt lost. His gaze toward the young man was filled with hesitation; he truly couldn't imagine how powerful someone must be to perfectly hide their existence in front of a Heroic Spirit.
After a few deep breaths, he finally spoke.
“Thank you.”
These words were Hogg’s heartfelt gratitude. While his doubts and vigilance hadn't diminished, the other party had helped him solve his most pressing problem.
Regardless of the motive, there was no doubt that he was the one who benefited.
Hogg stood up and brought the empty cup to the counter, only to be met by the young man’s slightly confused gaze. The youth seemed not to know where this gratitude was coming from.
“The fact that you enjoyed the tea is the greatest affirmation for me. Is there anything else you need?”
“Actually, there is something I’d like to ask.”
He looked seriously at the young man before him, pointing at the tea cup and asking in a low voice, “Is this tea a regular item sold here?”
Li Yuan maintained his smile. Though he didn't know why this customer was asking such a question, he nodded.
“Of course. All the teas on the menu are items sold daily at this shop. There’s no such thing as ‘ordinary’ or ‘special’ versions.”
He paused for a moment, then asked with a slightly puzzled expression, “Is something wrong? Was there an issue with the tea?”
“No, nothing. The tea was excellent.”
Hogg shook his head, unable to glean any useful information from the other’s expression or tone. It was as if the man truly was just an ordinary tea shop owner.
He hesitated for several seconds, his mouth twitching as he struggled to speak, but in the end, he didn't voice the questions in his heart. He just stared blankly at the young man, as if trying to etch his appearance into his memory.
He didn't know what words to use to describe his current mood. Such complex emotions hadn't appeared in so long that Hogg had forgotten how to respond to them.
Ever since he stepped into the Heroic Spirit rank, very few things could cause him to feel such complicated emotions.
Ultimately, he chose the most direct approach.
“Are you... an ordinary person?”
The moment the words fell, the magic power within his body erupted like a limiter had been removed. The cramped space of the small shop instantly became viscous, as if wrapped in a thick, sticky liquid.
This wasn't a spell; it was a pure outpouring of magic power.
As more magic was released, the resistance in the space grew greater and greater. In just a dozen seconds, it had reached a level that could suffocate a person.
Anyone who could perceive magic—even Legendary mages and professionals—would be pinned down and unable to move in such an environment. But clearly, it had absolutely no effect on the young man before him.
Indeed, it had no effect on Li Yuan. All he could feel was a sudden surge of impurities mixed with a tiny amount of spiritual energy emanating from the man, which then filled the room. As for anything else... he felt absolutely nothing.
Though he didn't know why the man was doing this, he still nodded.
“Of course. If I weren't an ordinary person, I wouldn't be running a tea shop here.”
In this world, people with magic or professional talent were rare, so their status was much higher than that of ordinary people; even the laws favored these gifted individuals. For a simple example—if a Rank 1 mage and an ordinary person committed the same theft of the same amount, the ordinary person would likely face imprisonment, while the mage could avoid it by returning the stolen goods and paying a fine.
Therefore, most gifted individuals would not choose to engage in low-status trades like being a small vendor. While some mages chose to go into business, they mostly collaborated with large chambers of commerce in the form of franchises. Even if they worked alone, they would mostly engage in business activities related to magic or other professions.
The idea of someone like him being willing to open an obscure little tea shop... was almost impossible.
Hogg was stunned, but he could accept this explanation. The higher one’s position, the more one felt the convenience that strength provided.
His current mood was extremely complex. He both hoped the man was an ordinary person and was unwilling to believe that the tea just now came from the hands of an ordinary person, yet the fact that the other party couldn't perceive magic power was also true.
Li Yuan indeed could not perceive magic power, so his answer wasn't a lie—for this world, he truly fell into the category of an “ordinary person.”
Ultimately, Hogg chose the most cautious approach. He left dozens of gold coins and departed.
As long as the other party had no ill intent, then let him be an ordinary person.
Looking at the gold coins on the counter that far exceeded the price of the tea, Li Yuan was in a very good mood. To have such an unexpected windfall right before closing was a good way to make up for his future losses.
Rate on N.U.
