From the perspective of the onlookers, the arcade screen suddenly flared with a bright light, and then, the Transmutation Mage was ejected from the game world like a pixelated ball, growing from small to large as he was kicked out of the screen.
He rolled across the ground, crushing a chair in the process, and the crowd around him burst into laughter.
"That was extreme difficulty! After seeing it... I can't believe we've all been playing on just normal mode this whole time."
"As expected of a Grand Mage, he just bumped the game up by two difficulty levels with one move."
Amid the crowd, a handsome boy wearing a black top hat and black trench coat clapped along, grinning with delight.
Not everyone was laughing at the mage, though. In fact, many began to think that learning magic was quite extraordinary—imagine being able to jump into a game world and discover new ways to play.
"So, where can we learn Transmutation magic?"
"I used to think being able to cast fireballs was enough awesome but this transmutation is on another level, damn!"
The conversations buzzed all around, but the old mage showed no embarrassment at all. Even though he'd rolled across the ground, the wild expression he'd worn in the game world had completely disappeared by the time he stood up.
Despite the mud still clinging to his beard, his expression remained calm and composed, emanating an air of elegance. Even the magical apprentices were left stunned for a moment.
"Ahem, excellent! If you want to learn Transmutation magic, come to Leia Academy, the most prestigious academy in the Falling Star World. Here's the address. I'm a senior professor there."
"As you've seen, the magic at our academy is quite fascinating. If you study with us, you too can do the things I just did. What? Embarrassing? I was defeated on extreme difficulty—there's no shame in that."
"We're always recruiting. As long as you have confidence in your talent, you're welcome to apply."
The old mage easily joined in the crowd's discussion, adamantly denying any accusations that he was bad at the game.
Somehow, he produced a large stack of promotional flyers and began handing them out to all the bystanders, regardless of race.
"Those mages who only know how to cast fireballs? Their job prospects are too limited. But us Transmutation Mages, we're different. Not only can we make everyday life more convenient, but if you want to compete with those fireball slingers, we've got spells like Iron Body, Extreme Swing, Crushing Strike, and Meteor Counter. Those scrawny little fireball casters won't stand a chance."
A kobold in the crowd raised his hand. "Wait a minute, Master. At first, I thought when you said 'competing for jobs,' you meant competing for employment. But now it sounds like you mean charging at fireball mages and smashing them so they can't compete anymore. Is that what you're saying?"
The old mage responded with righteous conviction, "Magic is all about how much you can learn, which depends on your innate talent. But understanding how to use and define magic? That's where a clever mind comes in. Unlike those spell-reliant fireball mages, we Transmutation Mages value critical thinking and hands-on practice."
The kobold excitedly grabbed the old mage's hand. " Exactly, I've always believed that the essence of magic lies in practical use, not just chanting incantations. I want to apply in your college.."
"In that case, let me recommend you a specialized spell system designed just for kobolds. After you complete your studies and join a team on a mission, you'll be a headhunting kobold. Sounds cool, doesn't it? First, you need to learn the Great Illumination Spell. This spell is great for blinding both allies and enemies, giving you the chance to steal kills. You don't need high intelligence for this. For spellcasting equipment, I recommend a long-handled axe—it increases your attack range. As for enchantments, go for Hemorrhage."
"Hey! Professor Harley, stop handing out flyers here. This is the front of my church."
Maya appeared—the beautiful vampire with ruby-red eyes, glaring at the old mage.
"Miss Maya, long time no see." The old mage was visibly pleased by her appearance and immediately asked, "By the way, what's going on here? Did you develop this arcade? Why has your tavern turned into a church?"
"The Church of Fiction... You're saying you worship a god called 'Fiction'?"
The old mage couldn't help but feel confused. Since when did taverns become temporary bases for churches? This place had nothing sacred about it, and even gods with a fondness for dark aesthetics wouldn't pay attention to a tavern.
Maya knew it was strange too.
But the loan she was waiting on hadn't come through yet, so she wasn't ready for a full renovation. There was no need to change the signboard for now.
"The god is the God of Fiction, but yes, he truly exists. The name Fiction doesn't mean he's a fake god. So, the church is fictional as well. Since we don't have an actual chapel, the tavern will do. Just imagine the tavern as a church, use your imagination—fiction it in your mind."
The old mage's face twitched.
'So, your entire church just runs on imagination?'
"Oh, speaking of churches, I did receive an invitation from one."
"But it doesn't seem to be yours."
The old mage quickly shifted the conversation. Still, he couldn't help but want to know more about the arcade machines—he had lived a long time but had never seen such magical "machines".
Maya sighed. "I had a feeling... You've been hired by Today's Print to promote the Sacrifice Church, haven't you?"
The old mage chuckled. "After all, they paid me a good amount for my services. Does your church need promotion too? I'll give you a discount."
Maya, however, gave him a mysterious smile. "You're right. Our church is planning a promotional event in the coming days, but the date overlaps with Sacrifice Church's."
"The Sacrifice Church is funding this entire campaign. You're telling me you scheduled your event on the same day as theirs? What were you thinking? Can't you be dumber."
The old mage frowned, not understanding her reasoning.
Normally, for a smaller promotional event, you'd avoid clashing with a major sponsor like that.
"Relax, we've already talked to Today's Print about our promotion. They've agreed to let us use the spare corners of the printed materials for our event details. Mr. Litt has confirmed it."
"And on Saturday evening, we'll be holding our own promotional event. If you make a reservation now, you can grab a good seat to witness something extraordinary."
"Oh, and are you willing, as a Transmutation Grand Mage, to give an interview for the promotion? I'll make sure it gets featured on the front page. You'll be paid handsomely—don't worry, I won't shortchange you."
Stroking his beard, the old mage smiled with interest. "An interview? I thought you were going to hire me for something more."
"And as for promotion... is there really any method more effective than Transmutation magic?"
Maya flashed a sly, sunny smile. "Of course there is. Because this time, it's an online promotion."