"Huh? Assignments?"
Magnus was momentarily confused by what the voice meant, but then the memory of his last conversation with Arbarath surfaced. The chaos of the Live Examination had pushed it to the back of his mind. But he remembered now—the Ten Great Magic Academies and the Royal Court had an agreement allowing influential figures, like nobles or local governments from the regional villages, towns, and even cities, to submit requests to the academy in the form of missions for students. If Magnus had to guess, not all of them would get accepted—there was probably a screening process involved.
But once a student reached the Adept-level, they were officially eligible to take on these missions.
I didn't know about the whole credit system though, or the exchange center.
The gears in Magnus's mind were already turning, especially with what the voice mentioned about exchanging Arcana Credits.
Items... more specifically magical artifices. So far, I've had to rely on Luden for those, since his family makes them. But if I could get them on my own, without going through Luden, that'd be great. Especially since my plan to get stronger requires quite a lot of them.
It wasn't that Magnus minded relying on Luden—he wouldn't have gone to him so often if he did. But as things stood, he had already won the Live Examination for his faction, and there wasn't much more he could do for them at the moment. He had essentially exhausted the available quests in the area and had to wait for new ones. However, these assignments offered a different way for him to get what he needed—one that didn't involve owing Luden or vice versa.
Plus, I bet the rewards will be pretty good too.
From what he'd heard from Major General Arbarath, these assignments wouldn't just earn him credits—they also came with rewards from the requestors. Most students at Takerth Academy didn't care much for these rewards; being mostly nobles or wealthy in their own right, they already had access to almost everything they could want. But Magnus was different. Compared to those around him, he was basically broke and couldn't afford much of anything on his own. So, he'd happily take the rewards that didn't interest the other students.
It's a shame they rolled this out on a student off-day though—I can't even check it out right now. Oh well, I'll ask Professor Eredim about it tomorrow. For now, I should get started on what I can.
Magnus headed for his door, left his dorm, and made his way down the stairs and out of the dorm building. As he walked toward the academy gate, he continued thinking about his plans for the day.
Guess I'll head to Jerel's first. I'll need to oversee things considering what I want him to make, and it'll probably take a while.
As Magnus reached the gate and stepped through the barrier surrounding Takerth Academy, he was greeted by the familiar sight of the usual guards on duty. Despite the recent raid, most of them seemed alright, at least physically. A few sported scrapes and bruises, but they where already on their way to healing. The more seriously injured guards were on temporary leave, like the one Magnus had run into with Celia who now had his arm in a sling, and a few others who had to be wrapped in bandages. Of course, Grial was in the worst shape. Still, the guards had reassured Magnus that Grial would be fine after resting at home for a couple of weeks.
"Huh? Oh hey, Magnus, heading out?" One of the guards asked, noticing Magnus step through the barrier, catching the attention of the others.
"Yeah, just have a few things to handle around the city," Magnus replied, glancing around at the group with a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
"You guys all doing okay?"
The guards exchanged looks before laughing. One of them shrugged, "Us? Oh yeah, we're fine, kid. Honestly, that was probably the most excitement we've had in a while."
"Probably? Come on, that was definitely the most interesting thing that's happened since we took this job," another guard chimed in, sparking laughter from the others. Magnus couldn't help but grin and shake his head, seeing them act just like usual. But he could sense it was just a front. No matter how much they joked, the raid on the Jackals had clearly shaken everyone, especially with two guards having lost their lives—a thought that caused the smile on Magnus's face to fade slightly.
He'd asked about them, and their funerals were scheduled for later this month. Magnus had considered attending; after all, they'd been there because of him. But he decided against it, thinking it best to send his condolences and gifts to their families instead.
Yeah, that's for the best. If it were me, I wouldn't want the person responsible for putting a family member in danger to show up at their funeral.
"Well, take care, guys. I'll see you later," Magnus waved as he headed toward the Lower City, with the guards waving back.
As soon as he was out of sight, one guard sighed, muttering, "That kid, his priorities are all mixed up… Everything that's happened is affecting him, yet he's still worrying about us."
"Honestly, he's coping a lot better than most people his age would," another guard noted. The guard beside him narrowed his eyes, staring in the direction Magnus had gone.
"Yeah, let's just hope this is him coping, and not a prelude to something else…"
=====================================•=====================================
"Oh, Jerel, I didn't expect to see you working today." A frail voice interrupted Jerel as he was busy arranging the tools on his rack. He glanced over and saw it was Miss Mott, the older woman who often visited his shop. Jerel smiled warmly at her as he replied.
"Hello, Miss Mott. How are you today? How's the bakery doing?"
She nodded, her face brightening at the question.
"Oh, it's been wonderful! Business has never been better. And, Jerel, I can't thank you enough. You wouldn't believe how much we've saved since you started repairing our pots and utensils. Buying new ones every time they wore out was getting so expensive, but you've made it so much easier for us."
To that, Jerel chuckled, and said, "Well it's not like I'm being completely selfless. How can I resist helping when you offer me discounts on all your pastries? Plus it's always a pleasure to see such a beautiful face every time I grab breakfast for the day."
"Oh, Jerel, you should save those compliments for someone younger than me," Miss Mott responded, though it was clear she was pleased by his words.
"Are you kidding? You look just as good as you did five years ago—you've hardly aged," Jerel remarked, causing Miss Mott to giggle.
"Well, if you're going to be so charming, how about I set you up on a date with my granddaughter? You've met her before, right? She's been helping out at my bakery lately; her parents want her to experience having a job while she's still young." Jerel raised his hand with a polite smile, shaking his head.
"While I appreciate the offer, I'm not interested in dating right now." Miss Mott looked slightly disappointed at his response.
"I see… what a shame. You're such a handsome young man; you shouldn't spend all your time worki-" She was interrupted by the sound of loud footsteps and the clanking of armor and weapons from around the corner. A moment later, a squad of city guards rushed by, their expressions serious and an oppressive aura surrounding them, clearly on their way to handle something important.
"Oh my, I've been seeing more and more city guards around lately. I hope nothing bad has happened," Miss Mott commented, her tone filled with concern.
"I'm sure it's fine," Jerel reassured her.
"From what I've heard, they're cracking down on a human trafficking ring and are trying to make arrests as quickly as possible." Miss Mott, who had looked worried, seemed to relax a bit after hearing that.
"Ah, I see. Well, that's good then! There have been too many thugs around here lately if you ask me." After chatting a bit longer, Miss Mott mentioned that she should be heading back, having only intended to take a short walk.
After she left, Jerel shifted his attention from the street to his surroundings. A few people walked by, but unlike usual, he didn't see anyone watching him from a distance or peeking through an alleyway. The familiar set of eyes that usually tracked his every move had vanished.
Hmm, I haven't seen any of Zeth's men lately, especially not recently. Looks like they're keeping a low profile with the city guards out in full force.
Either way, it was good news for him—it meant he didn't have to worry about being harassed for a while. But Jerel knew this wouldn't last. The city had cracked down on criminal groups like this before, and while it might suppress crime temporarily, it was just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Unless the heads of the syndicates responsible for the rampant crime in the lower and outer city were caught, they'd be back in full force soon enough.
Jerel stood there for a moment, then sighed to himself and muttered, "Well, I suppose there's no point in dwelling on it."
"No point in dwelling on what?" Startled by the voice, Jerel turned around quickly, only to find Magnus standing there smiling to himself.
"Magnus! It's been a while. I wasn't expecting to see you today," Jerel greeted.
"Yeah, definitely. But I'm sorry to say I'm not just here for a visit," Magnus admitted as he greeted Jerel back.
"Haha, that's alright. But you should at least come in," Jerel replied, gesturing for Magnus to follow him inside. As they entered the shop section of Jerel's blacksmith, Magnus found himself once again surrounded by weapons, armor, and an array of Jerel's other creations.
Man, if only I could use normal weapons along with the Command Console, I'd probably buy a sword or something.
Magnus had considered it before, but no ordinary weapon could withstand being used in tandem with [Self Body Puppetry]. A regular sword would likely shatter after a single swing, and even if it survived the strike, it wouldn't hold up against the impact of clashing with something else with absolute force behind it. That's why Magnus usually relied on mana-constructed weapons when he engaged in weapon melee; he could repair or replace them instantly if they broke.
I guess the only way I could use a real weapon is if I controlled it, along with my body, using the Command Console to negate outside forces. But I don't think my mind could handle visualizing something like that right now.
"Haha, you seem pretty interested in those swords. I could let you have one if you want," Jerel offered, noticing Magnus staring at a line of swords hanging on a nearby wall. Magnus snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head.
"Huh? Oh, no, I was just imagining something. Sorry about that."
"Well, suit yourself," Jerel shrugged, moving behind the counter. "So, what do you need?"
"Uh... so you remember when you said you'd make something for me last time?" Magnus asked. Jerel smirked and nodded.
"Of course. I meant it too. You really helped me out when you dealt with Zeth back then. Even though his men still hang around having me make their equipment, they seem a bit scared of you showing up one of these days so they're not nearly as forceful. And with the city guards on high alert, they haven't bothered me at all this week." Hearing the last part, Magnus could only chuckle awkwardly.
"Well, I'm glad I made things a bit easier for you. Anyway, I don't need you to make something new for me, but rather modify something," Magnus explained as he pulled out a familiar coin with a spherical object embedded in its center. Jerel rubbed his chin at the sight.
"Oh right, I remember making that. The overall shapes were easy enough, but those special patterns were tricky. So, what do you need me to modify? Is something wrong with it?" Jerel asked, examining Rokshaata. Despite how often Magnus had used it since its creation, it still looked nearly pristine, with hardly any wear or tear on its surface—likely because Magnus always used it under the Command Console's control.
Magnus shook his head at Jerel's question. "Oh no, it's been working great. But I think it could be even better, no offense."
"None taken. You'd be surprised how many people buy something from me and then ask for improvements later. It's only natural. But I'm a bit puzzled about what you want improved. From what I've seen, your magic or whatever does most of the work. Do you want me to add spikes to it or something?" Jerel asked curiously. When Celia had first ordered Rokshaata for Magnus, the priority during its creation had been its durability. Of course, Jerel never imagined it would turn into a weapon until he saw it blow a hole through Zeth's stomach firsthand.
"Not exactly," Magnus replied, pulling a fragment from his pocket—it was a piece of the Knockout Brick. Jerel looked confused but recognized the material immediately.
"A piece of a brick?" He asked, puzzled.
"Hmm, it looks similar, but it's a special material with... unique properties," Magnus explained, surprising Jerel as he examined the fragment. Like most people, Jerel knew magic existed, but most of his knowledge came from stories and rumors rather than credible sources.
"I see. So you want me to modify it with this? Are you sure? I've never worked with anything like this before," Jerel admitted, a hint of nervousness creeping in.
"It's fine. Although it's special, you weren't wrong to compare it to a brick—it's physically the same. All I need you to do is break it down, mix it with the same metal you used to make Rokshaata and coat the spherical section with it," Magnus explained, and Jerel listened carefully.
"Hmm, I see. So you want me to create an alloy with it?" Jerel clarified, and Magnus nodded.
"Is there anything specific I should be careful of?" Jerel asked.
"Well, a few things. First, you can't hit it with anything—it's volatile when subjected to even slight physical force. Second, I'll need to be present the whole time and set up some barriers around your shop while you work. I know it's a bit unusual, but this stuff is rare, and I need to make sure nothing goes wrong." The first reason was obvious: if Jerel struck the Knockout Brick fragment with a hammer, the hammer would get knocked out, and possibly the anvil too, since both would technically be getting hit.
Jerel crossed his arms, thinking deeply as he stared at the fragment in Magnus's hand, pondering the process he'd have to follow to adhere to Magnus's guidelines.
"Well… You're asking me to do this without any direct force, but hammering, pressing, and applying force are pretty crucial in smithing," Jerel said with a frown, taking another moment to consider.
"But I might be able to pull it off by using casting—melting and mixing the metal with your material, then pouring it into a mold that can coat the spherical section. However, I'll need a custom mold, which will take some time to create, and I'll have to practice a bit to get it right on the first try."
Magnus's face lit up at Jerel's words.
"Yeah, sure! I have no problem waiting, as long as you can do it." Magnus could hardly contain his excitement. Jerel's response meant his weapon idea was possible—a fully controllable projectile with variable speeds capable of knocking out anything it so much as grazes. If Rokshaata had been a kinetic energy weapon before, then with Jerel's modifications, it would become like a precision knockout dart, capable of putting even a whale to sleep in an instant.
With something like that in my arsenal, I'll definitely be a lot stronger. And if my other ideas to improve my other abilities pan out, I might actually stand a chance against that vampire woman the next time I run into her.