Mage Guild

Punk walked into the Mage Guild, which could only be described as exceptionally deserted. The entire floor seemed to have been carved from a single massive piece of quartz, brilliant and ornate. Though it was also emerald green, it emitted an intense glow. Nearly all the Mage Guild's lighting came from this "fluorescent floor." The upward-cast light greatly enhanced the mages' air of mystery, but aside from its flashy and impractical visual effect, it brought nothing but inconvenience.

There were few people in the Mage Guild. Only several young mages in gray robes, their faces obscured, stood gathered by a small door and listened to an old mage speaking.

The Mage Guild's receptionist was a dull-looking Alchemy Golem. This small golem had clearly not been crafted with much care, and who knew how long it had been since it was last maintained or repaired. Many components engraved with magic arrays were exposed, and every joint creaked as it walked.

The Alchemy Golem extended a thin iron rod-like arm toward Punk. The golden paint on its mechanical arm had cracked and peeled away.

A magic array appeared at the end of the golem's arm, projecting an operating panel similar to a "holographic display," though the image quality was extremely blurry.

Several options written in the common tongue could be seen on it: Join Mage Guild, Consultation, Post Quest, Purchase Items, Accept Quest, Submit Quest, Purchase Knowledge.

However, only the first four options were lit up, while the last three were completely grayed out.

Punk selected the Join Mage Guild option. The panel rippled, and its words changed into four lines:

"Please enter name."

"Please inject mana to record magical imprint."

"Member notes: None."

"Member benefits: Quest acceptance rights, quest submission rights, knowledge purchase rights."

This world might seem backward in terms of everyday life, but it does have a few advanced things. At the same time, Punk was rather surprised by the Mage Guild's rules. Although he had long known from inherited knowledge that the Mage Guild was one of the loosest organizations around, regulations no stricter than those of a study group were still far too lax.

Still, Punk decided to join the guild first. His reserve of knowledge was far from sufficient. He needed to acquire more knowledge and learn from the experience of those who came before him. To gain those things, joining a faction early on was practically essential. Even with an organization as loose as the Mage Guild, Punk absolutely did not believe it would sell truly important knowledge to outsiders.

Only a few seconds later, Punk's application to join the Mage Guild was approved. He almost impatiently opened the knowledge purchase section. Punk planned to buy one or two Alchemy Potion formulas, then purchase some basic alchemical tools. Once he could produce potions proficiently, he would have a steady stream of income—after all, his parents had left behind little money and clearly knew nothing about alchemy. There was almost no Alchemy knowledge in his memories. Punk could only rely on himself.

Punk opened the Apprentice Level Alchemy Potion section, and a dazzling array of potion names appeared on the panel.

Tranquility Potion, Lesser Meditation Aid, Fire Crystal Reagent, Cold Potion, Lesser Wind Elemental Concentrate...

Punk quickly took an interest in a formula for a "Night Vision Potion." He tapped the potion description with his slender finger.

Knowledge Name: "Night Vision Potion Recipe Explained"

"Level: Apprentice Level"

"Difficulty: Moderate"

"Effect: Grants Apprentice Level creatures the ability to vaguely see in darkness within a brightness of nine Ziruo (unit name), equivalent to a cloudy night. Duration—one hour and fifteen minutes."

Punk was quite satisfied with this potion. It was easy to foresee that many combat professionals would need one to help them spot enemies in the dark.

At last, Punk lowered his gaze... and saw the purchase requirements...

First: Become a Mage Guild member—very simple!

Second: Two hundred Kingdom of Kamos gold coins.

Two hundred gold coins is fairly reasonable. Alchemical tools only cost ten gold coins. I can gather enough by hunting magical beasts or taking a few quests from the Adventurers Guild, Punk thought.

But when he continued reading... he froze...

The third purchase requirement clearly stated: Must complete one Apprentice Level quest issued by the Mage Guild...

"Are you sure you're the Mage Guild and not the Main God's Space?"

Punk stared at the third condition, both furious and speechless. He now understood why the Mage Guild's membership requirements were so low. This unreasonable method of monopolizing knowledge could firmly tie mages desperately in need of knowledge to the Mage Guild's chariot. Unfortunately, Punk was now in the awkward position of having to climb aboard that chariot himself!

"Young sir, what are you looking to buy?"

The old mage who had just been talking to the gray-robed mages had somehow come over to Punk. When he saw Punk staring blankly at the purchase panel for "Night Vision Potion Recipe Explained," his entire bark-like face, furrowed with wrinkles, crumpled into a smile.

"This potion formula is quite good, but those purchase requirements~ really aren't very humane. After all, this is only a small city. Where would there be so many Apprentice Level quests? Even if there were any, someone else would have snapped them up first!"

Punk could not help frowning at the old man's words, but he did not retort, because he sensed the old man's undisguised Level 6 Journeyman Level Soul Level.

"May I ask what advice you have, sir?" Punk said evenly. He knew the other man had not come over merely to mock him with a few pointless remarks.

"Hehe, young man, you're in luck. This old man happens to have an Apprentice Level quest here. How about it? Interested?"

The old mage bared a mouthful of large yellow teeth and spread his "claws" with what he believed was a kindly smile. In his withered palm lay a pale crystal. As the old mage injected mana into it, a quest description emerged from within the crystal:

Name: "Investigate the undead aura in the Aegma Wasteland."

Completion requirement: "Confirm and record the location of the undead aura using the Leizer Positioning Method."

"Well? Quests that come along this conveniently are usually fought over. If you don't accept it now, it'll be too late."

Punk felt his heart twitch. Isn't this the Forest of Undead I'd been trying every way possible to avoid? I didn't expect my premonition to come true so quickly.

"May I ask why you aren't going yourself?"

Punk looked at the Journeyman Level old mage with some confusion. "Wouldn't a quest like this be effortless for you?"

"I... cough, cough... Isn't it because I wanted to leave some opportunities for juniors like you?" The old mage straightened his hunched back, trying to assume the bearing of an eminent senior.

But when he saw Punk's expression plainly saying, "I don't believe you," he could only tell the "truth":

"If I go investigate, those dog-nosed church people will definitely follow me. This is what Lord Mainesi, the only formal professional in Konola City, foresaw, and I heard there are valuable resources to be obtained as well. How could we let those church charlatans get their hands on such an easy, risk-free opportunity?" The old mage's eyes shone like a goblin spotting gold coins, and he even began gesticulating with excitement.

Punk decided not to comment on this mage, who was riddled with things to criticize. He quickly asked, "But I heard that the undead aura there has corroded an entire forest, and that there are many..."

"Nonsense!" The old mage interrupted Punk in a tone that said, "What could a child like you know?"

"It's only a small wasteland, not the Infinite Abyss. How could there be so many dangers?"

The old mage clearly held the wasteland in contempt.

"Young people nowadays are too timid to accomplish anything!"

Punk had initially wanted to refuse this obviously suspicious quest. But then he remembered that he had only the five gold coins left by his irresponsible parents. On the other hand, he was at the point of breaking through to Journeyman Level and needed resources to aid his training. Besides, he would only be conducting a little reconnaissance and marking a location. With his peak Apprentice Level mage strength and the two Journeyman Level pieces of equipment on him, even if danger arose, he was confident he could escape...

After finishing his considerations, Punk deliberately said to the old mage in an offhand manner, "I'll take this quest."