After donning a brand-new mage's robe, Dean Bruce's appearance became strikingly refined. He had always been handsome, but his previous low profile had kept him from attracting much attention. Now, as he walked through the academy, he immediately caught the eye of many, who whispered among themselves.
Dean Bruce paid no mind to the murmurs around him. His thoughts were entirely focused on magic, racking his brain to recall every novel, anime, and short video about magic from his previous life, trying to merge them all into something coherent.
This being a magical world, there were no complex modes of transportation. Most people couldn't afford to ride horses through the city, so despite his distracted state, Dean Bruce safely left the academy and made his way to the bustling marketplace.
As night fell, the marketplace remained brightly lit despite the lack of electric lights. In front of each shop hung fist-sized crystals that emitted a dazzling silver light, making it as bright as day.
Some shops had even covered the crystals with various colored fabrics or papers, changing the hue of the light and creating a mesmerizing, kaleidoscopic effect.
"Come on in, take a look around!"
"Check out these top-quality mage's gear, don't miss out!"
"Steel-forged weapons of all kinds at unbeatable prices!"
The familiar calls of vendors echoed from every corner of the street, causing Dean Bruce to widen his eyes in wonder. For a moment, it almost felt like he had been transported back to a modern city.
After a while, Dean Bruce couldn't help but marvel to himself, [Humans truly are the most ingenious species. Whether in a technological age or a magical one, they always find clever ways to thrive!]
Refocusing his thoughts, Dean Bruce continued to stroll through the street, searching for the Angelic Magic Shop.
With the shop's membership card in hand, he certainly wasn't going to pass up the opportunity for free purchases!
Finally, as he approached the deepest part of the street, the sign for the Angelic Magic Shop came into view.
It was clear that this shop was quite large. Though the décor was modest, the store itself was expansive, taking up five storefronts.
As he carefully took in the details, a maid noticed Dean Bruce's gaze. She hurried out, looping her arm through his, and with a gentle smile, said, "Esteemed Mage, are you here to browse our magical equipment, or are you more interested in our various talismans and scrolls?"
Wearing his mage's robe, Dean Bruce was naturally recognized as a mage. Without hesitation, he asked, "What grades of talismans and scrolls do you offer here?"
Hearing his question, the maid's face lit up with joy—only serious buyers asked such specific questions!
She quickly led Dean Bruce into the shop and answered, "We have a wide variety of basic talismans, including attack, defense, and support magic, as well as some for daily life needs. As for scrolls, we currently have intermediate magic scrolls and just one high-level magic scroll, though it's quite expensive, so I wouldn't recommend purchasing it."
As they spoke, Dean Bruce entered the third storefront, where the walls were lined with talismans in a rainbow of colors, each emitting a faint glow.
The higher the talismans were placed, the brighter their glow.
"Basic talismans range from 100 to 500 gold coins," the maid explained. "Intermediate magic talismans are priced around 5,000 gold coins, with some of the more expensive ones going over 10,000. Intermediate magic scrolls are around 50,000 gold coins." She continued, "Typically, attack and support magic are the most expensive, while defense and daily life magic are more affordable. What type of talismans or scrolls are you looking for, sir?"
Hearing the prices, Dean Bruce couldn't help but feel a jolt of shock.
Up until now, he had only dealt with the cost of everyday items, and he had assumed that the 400,000 gold coins his parents left him would ensure a life of comfort.
But now, in the magic shop, he realized just how steep the prices could be!
Moreover, Dean Bruce was curious as to why scrolls were so much more expensive than talismans.
There was a tenfold difference!
Despite his surprise, Dean Bruce kept his expression neutral. He knew that in any world, showing hesitation while shopping was a surefire way to get ripped off.
With a calm demeanor, Dean Bruce asked, "List all the attack talismans for me, and the scrolls as well."
The maid smiled and quickly complied, retrieving several talismans and then moving to another shelf to grab two scrolls. She returned to Dean Bruce and respectfully said, "We have a Fireball talisman for 100 gold coins, an Ice Arrow talisman for 150 gold coins, and a Wind Blade talisman for 100 gold coins..."
The prices for the basic talismans ranged between 100 and 200 gold coins, and the names were as basic as they came—just like the setups in the fantasy novels Dean Bruce had read!
It wasn't until the scrolls were introduced that Dean Bruce's eyes lit up.
"This is a Lightning Flash Scroll," the maid explained, her voice brimming with excitement. "Once you tear open the scroll, it unleashes an advanced magic spell that summons over a dozen bolts of lightning to strike a designated area. It's highly effective against mages below the fourth tier and swordsmen or warriors below the fifth tier. Priced at 50,000 gold coins, it's expensive but well worth the cost!"
Before Dean Bruce could respond, the maid presented another scroll, this one a pale blue color. "This is the Wind Spirit Sword Scroll. When activated, it harnesses nearby wind elements to form a greatsword that you can control. It inflicts significant damage on enemies and has the added effect of tearing their skin, causing them to bleed. While it's slightly less powerful than the Lightning Flash, it lasts longer—two to three minutes—and also increases your speed. The price is 70,000 gold coins. So, what would you like to purchase?"
Dean Bruce frowned slightly, considering his options.
The Lightning Flash offered high damage, but the Wind Spirit Sword had the advantage of duration and a speed boost!
[In dangerous situations, it's not just about taking out one or two enemies. The Wind Spirit Sword Scroll would be more useful—it lasts for two or three minutes, which could help me handle a variety of situations!]
With that in mind, Dean Bruce immediately said, "I'll take the Wind Spirit Sword Scroll. And for those basic combat talismans, give me five of each."
The maid's voice trembled with excitement as she responded, "Of course, esteemed mage. I'll get everything packed up for you right away!"
As she turned to leave, Dean Bruce quickly added, "By the way, do you have any books on the history of magic?"
"Books?"
The maid shook her head and replied, "We don't carry books in the magic shop. If you're looking to study such topics, it's best to visit one of the major magic academies. Even the primary magic academies have a wide selection of such books."
With that, the maid gave Dean Bruce a slight bow before turning to package the talismans and scrolls.
Dean Bruce couldn't help but slap his forehead. How could he have missed something so obvious?
Of course, the magic academy would have books on magic!
After a short while, the maid returned, carrying a tray with a ring on it. The sight immediately caught Dean Bruce's attention.
The maid respectfully explained, "The shop owner heard that you purchased the Wind Spirit Sword Scroll and has instructed us to gift you an introductory storage ring. The scroll and talismans have already been placed inside. Please check them."
Hearing that it was a storage ring, Dean Bruce was thrilled. A storage ring—just like the essential treasure from all those novels!
Suppressing his excitement, Dean Bruce calmly picked up the storage ring. With a thought, a light screen appeared in his mind, displaying the contents inside—dozens of talismans and a single scroll.
"Perfect," he said.
Confirming the quantity. Dean Bruce then took out his membership card and asked, "After deducting the amount from this card, how much do I owe?"
The maid glanced at the card and smiled, "For the basic talismans across five elements, the total comes to 3,250 gold coins. We'll round it down to 3,000 gold coins for you. The Wind Spirit Sword Scroll is 70,000 gold coins, so after deducting the 30,000 from your card, that leaves 43,000 gold coins."
In this magical world, gold cards function much like bank cards, allowing large transactions to be completed simply by presenting the card for the shop to deduct the corresponding amount.
Dean Bruce had already obtained a gold card from the treasury, so he handed it over for the maid to process the payment.
Spending nearly 50,000 gold coins in one go, Dean Bruce couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. However, considering the upcoming assessment, he knew the expense was worth it.
After all, no one could predict whether they might encounter a powerful beast in the wild. Being fully equipped was essential to ensuring his safety!