At least for that moment, Lanci didn't resemble a novice cardmaking apprentice but rather a grand artist of unparalleled skill!
And so tens of seconds passed.
Accompanied by the sound of an explosion.
It burst.
Talia: "..."
In the faint, lingering smoke, she imperceptibly shook her head.
He really was an utter wastrel who squandered money.
Even if she wasn't too familiar with human magic text engraving, she could roughly discern Lanci's perplexing maneuvers—
It seemed that he was not satisfied with merely producing [Mental Interference], instead he attempted to extract, engrave, and transform it into a more complicated spell during the process of encapsulation.
Just like a beginner should first learn to walk before trying to run, Lanci was attempting to fly right from the get-go.
Those who do this kind of thing,
Either have an extraordinary self-conceit of genius,
Or are fools with unrealistic ambitions.
"How did it explode…"
Lanci looked at the magic card in his hand, which had blown up like a firecracker, a bit dumbfounded.
It seemed like everything happened too suddenly and shattered his card making dreams.
Fortunately, the lightweight barrier in the cardmaking workshop protected him from injury.
The next second, as if he remembered something, Lanci quickly fled the cardmaking workshop.
"This guy..."
Talia muttered to herself, frowning.
Even if a master is in a bad mood from a setback and wants to leave, they shouldn't leave her behind in a huff.
The thing she hated most was anyone who just drops her.
Just as Talia was getting ready to leave the card room with a hint of displeasure on her face, Lanci ran back in and started jotting something down feverishly.
"Are you not leaving?"
Talia asked.
"Not leaving, we've only just begun! I just went to ask the butler to bring me some more things."
Lanci replied matter-of-factly.
It seems like he's not been hit at all. Instead, his eyes glimmered with passion and anticipation, seemingly brimming with limitless curiosity about the world of card making.
Talia said nothing more, returning to her seat.
She was quite patient, able to earn 3 pounds a day just sitting here. She didn't mind.
She just wondered how long it would take for this human to give up due to repeated failures.
Soon, the butler brought Lanci a few books and some previously unused materials.
Upon receiving the books, Lanci started flipping through them frantically like he was possessed.
All afternoon, he was either exploding cards, recording failure data, or studying.
...
And so two whole weeks passed.
Every day, Lanci and Talia would come to the cardmaking workshop. He would create and fail, she would watch, and this would go on for almost the entire day.
But up to now, Lanci still hadn't managed to make a decent [Mental Interference].
Talia still sat in her chair, book gently held in her hands, flipping through it leisurely, continuing to do her job of safeguarding her employer.
However, she no longer paid much attention to Lanci's card-making process, and was just reading human books to pass the time.
In her view, Lanci's failure was normal.
For beginners, even if they train intensively with disregard for waste like Lanci, it often takes numerous failures to create a Blue Preciousness quality card.
Lanci seemingly had no talent.
Those with a knack for it probably have already made several usable first-order magic cards.
There were even geniuses who could directly create Blue Preciousness quality cards right after they started cardmaking.
Unlike Lanci, who only produced scrap for half a month.
Accompanied by a faint light at the edge of her vision.
Even with her attention on the book in her hands, Talia knew there'd soon be the sound of another magic card bursting.
Because Lanci had already failed this step countless times.
However,
As the light grew more intense until it went out, unlike usual, there was no sound.
"..."
Talia couldn't help but shift her gaze a fraction from the page before her,
She saw Lanci, looking focused as ever, like an artisan finishing the final step of a masterpiece.
And the Magic Card in his hand began to radiate a faint halo.
It seemed to be a success, and Lanci breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally, a finished Magic Card was born amidst the mist!
Lanci displayed a gratified smile, gazing at the card face.
It seemed he was quite satisfied with the quality of this card, and as a Cardmaker himself, he couldn't help but admire it for a moment.
The card was bathed in a purple crystal light.
Even Talia couldn't help but glance at Lanci.
Could it be possible that the first card he made, without any formal instruction, was of Purple Rarity?
Most Cardmakers, often only have hope of producing rare quality when they return to manufacture the first or second order cards after reaching the Fourth or Fifth Order.
Though, Lanci indeed spent a lot of time and cost, there were no more exaggerated talents in the Demon Race.
But what surprised Talia was that the random human she encountered possessed such a talent...
Indeed, even fate stood on the side of humans.
A feeling of helplessness began to permeate her heart.
This feeling, this scene, only made her feel that in this generation of humans blessed by the gods, the revival of the Demon Race was as unreachable as a phantom.
"Tata, take a look at my masterpiece!"
The joyous voice of Lanci lifted the downcast eyes of Talia by a fraction.
In reality, to her.
A First-order Purple Card wasn't something rare.
Compared with the materials wasted by Lanci, the value of this card could not even offset the loss.
Even if it was [Mental Interference] of purple quality, it was after all only a low-cost spirit magic, not a necessity, and it couldn't even be called a versatile card.
Compared to long-range professions, it was more often used by close combat professionals.
However, while thinking about this.
Talia appraised the effect of the card in Lanci's hand and finally furrowed her brows.
Because.
She saw the effect of this modified [Mental Interference] magic was—
[Basic Etiquette]
[Category: Magic Card]
[Grade: Purple Rarity]
[Rank: 1]
[Effect: only valid for enemies within 3 meters, making the opponent kneel to oneself. The mana consumption depends on the difference in spirit between both parties. Cooldown time 120 seconds.]
[Note: Sir, please do not peek through the crack of the door, and even more, do not be smug.]
"...?"
She wondered, isn't this kind of card usually used to immobilize enemies for half a second after getting close enough?
Although the one Lanci made had a similar effect… it might indeed have a slightly longer control time than [Mental Interference].
But...
There were some things she couldn't bring herself to say.
"Are you selling this card?"
After considering it, Talia finally asked.
This was the first time she had taken the initiative to speak to Lanci.
With the several dozen pounds she had earned from Lanci now, it would not be difficult to buy the lowest grade Purple Rarity Magic Card.
Of course, this was only true for ordinary cards.
Lanci's unique Spell Card did not exist on the market, and its price was impossible to determine.
Its value was not about whether it was useful or not.
It was absolutely unacceptable to let others use it.
So it was better for her to control it herself!
"Ah, no, I'm keeping this one for myself. It's a good lifesaving card."
Lanci looked at Talia with mild surprise, apparently taken aback by her admiration, and then shook his head with a smile to decline.
Talia: "?"
A good lifesaving card?
…Are you sure this card can be used to save your life?
Maybe you wouldn't die in a fight originally.
However, after using this card that inherently has a powerful provocation and taunting effect, it's hard to say.
...