Terrifying Expenditure

Today's meditation had completely ended. Roland's Mental Power was now below two points; any further consumption might push him into a state of Mental Power exhaustion, which would greatly affect his body. Therefore, he was no longer permitted to conduct any magic experiments.

Yet today's enormous improvement had left Roland somewhat obsessed.

"Nuwa, create a three-month training plan based on the maximum supply of potions, and calculate all expenditures."

"Received, Master."

For the Nuwa Chip, calculations of this level took less than half a second, even after she had lost more than ninety percent of her functions.

A standard planning chart appeared before Roland's eyes.

It even arranged Roland's daily schedule and work in meticulous detail.

This was the most reasonable plan Nuwa had devised based on Roland's current situation.

The plan showed that over three months, Roland would consume a total of twenty-nine Level 3 Spirit Agility Potions, worth 638 gold coins.

He would also consume thirty Tier 3 Fire Element Resonance Potions, worth 540 gold coins.

The total expense would be 1,178 gold coins.

Faced with such an exorbitant, even sky-high cost for training, Roland fell silent for a moment.

According to the memories of his predecessor, all human nations on the Saint Nor Continent basically used gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins as their monetary foundation.

The exchange rate between the three was one to ten. In other words, one gold coin could be exchanged for ten silver coins, and one silver coin for ten copper coins.

As the highest-value currency, gold coins possessed tremendous purchasing power in any human nation.

Even in the immensely prosperous Highland City, an ordinary person's average monthly salary was only around two gold coins.

For example, Jonathan, who had helped Roland select a house the other day, might earn more than the average monthly salary, but he certainly would not make more than four gold coins a month.

And that was Highland City. For the relatively poor residents in the northwest of the Terra Kingdom, let alone gold coins, their monthly wages were calculated in silver coins.

Yet according to Nuwa's plan, Roland would need to consume more than four hundred gold coins' worth of potions every month.

With such terrifying expenditure, not to mention a commoner, even a minor noble with a fief would definitely be unable to afford it.

But under such immense expenditure, Roland could become a Level 5 Mage in less than three months.

His Mental Power and Mana would even exceed the requirements by quite a bit, both reaching the standard of 8.4.

Seeing the pained expression on Roland's face, Nuwa paused slightly. Then, seemingly realizing something, she changed the potion prices on the screen.

"Master, with your level of potion brewing, the cost of these potions would be roughly between 230 and 260 gold coins."

"So it is not as expensive as you imagined."

"No, Nuwa, you're switching concepts. You've only calculated the value of the raw materials, but you've ignored the value of my labor." Roland did not take Nuwa's comfort to heart at all and still insisted seriously.

"The value of labor?" Even with Nuwa's immense processing power, she could not figure out what Roland's labor value was supposed to mean.

She handled the most important work of injecting Mental Power. As for everything else, even a technically proficient mage apprentice could do it well.

Did an apprentice have labor value?

Seeing Nuwa fall silent, Roland could not help feeling a little embarrassed. He then skillfully changed the subject.

"Nuwa, proceed according to this plan and record the extent of my improvements at all times."

Faced with Roland, who had returned to normal, Nuwa also expressed her respect.

"Received, Master."

"Alright, now I'm going to bathe, eat, and sleep." Roland stretched lazily and prepared to leave the basement after speaking.

But just then, Nuwa's mechanical voice suddenly rang out.

"Beep!"

"Beep!"

"Master, according to the daily work schedule, your next task should be to study Chapter Three, Section Five of Fire Element Combination and Spellcasting."

"We're starting today?" Roland froze, speaking with great reluctance.

"Yes."

"But I'm hungry and exhausted right now. I need rest." Roland looked thoroughly unwilling.

"Nuwa suggests that you call Old Nob to prepare afternoon tea for you, then have him help relax your body while you study."

"No, I don't want to study."

"The crisis-ridden Sea of Ten Thousand Islands is every Pioneer Knight's nightmare. They may die to the songs of beautiful sirens, perhaps perish at the hands of cruel and violent pirates, or be devoured by terrifying magical beasts. Here, there are only deaths you cannot imagine, never deaths that cannot happen—painful, cruel, despairing..." Nuwa stopped trying to persuade Roland and instead began reciting intelligence about the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands.

But those few short sentences alone made Roland's scalp tingle and his face turn pale.

Not only was he afraid of death, he was also afraid of pain.

So Roland obediently returned to the wooden table and silently opened Chapter Three, Section Five of Fire Element Combination and Spellcasting.

"Beep! Detected that Master's mental fluctuations are tending toward stability, with signs of falling asleep. Please study seriously."

"I know."

"Beep! Detected frequent fluctuations in Master's Mental Power. You are distracted. Please return your focus to studying."

"Ah, I know."

"Beep! Detected..."

"Nuwa, shut up!!!"

And so, the final hours of the day ended with Roland studying in misery.

Today, Roland still went to bed early after dinner to recover his Mental Power.

The difference was that yesterday, he had done so willingly. Today, it was under Nuwa's "threats."

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, two days went by.

This was Roland's fifth day in Highland City.

Today, instead of brewing potions as usual, Roland picked up a sturdy little box in the basement and led Old Nob out of the two-story house he rented for the first time.

In the morning, the bustling Highland City welcomed one of its rare moments of peace.

There were few pedestrians on the streets. Most were adventurers who had spent the whole night drinking, dragging their weary bodies back to their lodgings or searching for work that could feed them today.

Dressed in a clean Mage Robe, Roland tossed the small black box to Old Nob. With his hands clasped behind his back, he leisurely observed the surroundings and the passersby.

After four days of intense meditation and magical experiments, this rare moment of relaxation had finally arrived, making him especially enjoy the somewhat deserted streets.

Roland strolled all the way to Farul Street. After looking around and finding nothing unusual, he headed straight for the Apothecary Guild.

The Apothecary Guild of the Terra Kingdom was a semi-official organization.

Even the Terra Kingdom did not dare directly manage those ill-tempered yet highly respected apothecaries.

It only dispatched officials to maintain the guild's daily operations, provide various Magic Materials, and purchase all kinds of potions.

The Apothecary Guild stood in the heart of Farul Street. Its exterior resembled a mysterious and solemn temple, seven stories tall, magnificent and imposing.

The entire building was constructed from sturdy bluish-gray stone bricks, bearing the marks of time. Its doors were tall and heavy, carved with all kinds of strange herbs and magical rune patterns that exuded an air of mystery.

Roland carefully studied the magical patterns on the walls. After realizing that his knowledge was insufficient to identify them, he had the Chip scan and record them before heading toward the entrance.

Four tall, fully armed guards stood at the entrance. They had noticed Roland long ago, so when he approached them, they immediately gave him a standard military salute.

In truth, every one of them had a higher occupational level than Roland, yet they still remained humble before him.

It was not because Roland was an Intermediate Mage, nor because he was an apothecary, but because the Pioneer Knight badge hanging from his chest.

Although every Pioneer Knight was still not a noble, they could indeed enjoy the respect normally reserved for nobles among humankind.

Roland paused slightly at the sight, then nodded lightly and passed between the four men into the Apothecary Guild.

The spacious hall was lofty and bright. Gorgeous magical chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow. The floor was covered with exquisite magical carpets woven with intricate magic patterns. Walking over them, one could vaguely sense a faint flow of magical power, clearly indicating that they were no ordinary items.

The walls were decorated with precious herb illustrations and ancient potion formulas that had already lost their effects, displaying the long history and profound foundation of apothecary studies.

Roland was in no hurry. He also chose to wander quietly through the hall, carefully appreciating the murals on the walls and recording them in the Chip.

As a newcomer, he urgently needed to understand some of this world's ancient history. It would not only help him understand the world's origins but also broaden his knowledge.

For a mage, every kind of knowledge had value.

After scanning all the murals on the surrounding walls into the Chip's storage, Roland came to a counter in the center of the hall bearing the sign: Kingdom Apothecary Service Center.

The name was modest, but this was an office directly established by the Terra Kingdom's government.

It not only purchased various potions but also sold all kinds of Magic Materials.

Although trading with the kingdom was not especially favorable in either sale or purchase prices, quality was well guaranteed, and there would be no trouble.

This was especially important to Roland, because for him at this moment, trouble meant danger.

There were only two young men behind the counter, dressed in Beginner Mage robes. Judging from the badges on their chests, they were respectively Level 2 and Level 3.

When they saw Roland walking directly toward them, the two young men hurriedly rose to their feet. The Level 3 Mage with brown hair and green eyes bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Honored Intermediate Mage, what may I do for you? Chiard is willing to serve you."

Roland nodded slightly in return and said, "I have some potions I need to sell."

At his words, a trace of delight immediately flashed across Chiard's face, and his attitude became even more enthusiastic.

"Honored Apothecary, may I see your potions?"

Upon hearing himself addressed as an apothecary, Roland's attitude clearly softened. Among the hierarchy of all professions, mages certainly ranked near the top, but they were still inferior to apothecaries. After all, being a mage did not mean one could become an apothecary, but an apothecary was certainly a mage.

Thus, since Roland possessed both professions, Chiard naturally addressed him as an apothecary to show his respect.