Expensive Magic

"Looks like today was my lucky day."

Raymond gestured without ceremony for the soldier to pack the two spellbooks, along with the books he had bought earlier, into the backpack.

The complete lack of surprise on his face made it clear.

The reason he had managed to pick out two spellbooks worth more than 5,000 gold pieces from among so many was not luck in the slightest.

The woman was clearly quite interested and asked curiously, "How did you determine the value of those two spellbooks?

Tell me! I can give you a Holy Grail worth 850 gold pieces for free.

It can produce three cups of holy water every day, each with the effect of curing light wounds."

Hearing there was something to be gained, Raymond immediately smiled and replied, "It was actually very simple. The first spellbook was battered and worn, with even the edges of its pages damaged. Before its original owner was killed, he must have gone through a fierce battle.

Along the damaged edges of the book, I found many traces of scorching and strong acid corrosion.

Whoever had damaged a spellbook protected by magic to that extent must have possessed considerable magical power.

That meant the spellbook's owner, as his opponent, could not have been weak either."

"I see! It seems you possess keen observational skills and strong logical reasoning." The woman nodded slightly in praise.

But Raymond did not grow complacent because of her compliment. Instead, he continued explaining, "As for the second one, although its pages were set with far too many cheap gemstones worth less than ten gold pieces, it gave off an initial impression of arrogance and vulgarity.

But anyone who had seriously studied Conjuration School summoning magic would notice that all those gemstones had been arranged in a very peculiar yet orderly pattern.

In other words, the cover of the second book was actually a small magic circle used to strengthen summoning spells.

So I concluded that its original owner had to be a highly skilled specialist wizard of the Conjuration School."

"Wonderful! You noticed so many details and possess such extensive knowledge. You truly are remarkable. This Holy Grail is yours now."

The woman promptly honored her promise, placing a glittering golden cup inlaid with four round transparent crystals on the counter.

Judging from the faded holy symbol on the cup, it should have been made by a Cleric.

Normally, something involving a god's blessing like this should have been displayed in a temple for worshippers to admire and use. It should never have been casually put up for sale.

The reason it had appeared on the market was likely because its original owner, like the owners of those spellbooks, had already been killed.

The murderer or some other Rogues had stripped away the valuables, and after changing hands several times, it had ended up in a magic item shop in Calimport.

Raymond even suspected that more than a third, perhaps even more, of the magical items sold in this building were untraceable "stolen goods."

But what did that matter?

He was only here to buy what he needed.

After putting away the Holy Grail, Raymond selected another book from a different shelf, one introducing the major towns, local specialties, and customs along the western coast of Faerun. He also chose an adventure book with illustrations that detailed common wilderness monsters and their weaknesses.

Finally, he purchased a magic map with enlargement and reduction functions.

It was said that the map recorded many little-known hidden paths, underground entrances, and caves.

The first two books together cost only 460 gold pieces.

The latter, just a single map, cost as much as 8,000...

Yes!

In Faerun, maps were simply that outrageously expensive.

Some cities and organizations, in order to defend against foreign invasions, went so far as to forbid anyone from drawing maps of their territories.

As a result, mapmaking required exceptional professional skill and memory, while also carrying the risk of execution if one was caught.

It was only natural that the price remained so high.

Even the crude map of the Sea of Swords and Sword Coast in the possession of the merchant Bernard had cost several hundred gold pieces to purchase.

In the end, Raymond only received 2,893 Dant gold pieces issued by Amn back from the woman.

When he stepped out of the dazzling magic shop and returned to the noisy street, he could not help sighing softly. "Just two introductory books, one large magic map, and some basic books necessary for learning this world's magical knowledge cost me more than 30,000 gold pieces. Magic... truly is expensive."

"Master, where are we going now? Straight back to the inn to rest?" the soldier asked, carrying the considerably lighter backpack.

"Yes, let's go back. I'm a little tired too. I want to get a good night's sleep."

With that, the two returned to their lodgings along the same route they had taken before.

With the Frozen Pearl continuously cooling the surroundings, the room, which had originally been as stifling as a steamer, quickly became comfortable and pleasant.

Raymond took a bath, lay on the soft bed, and read through the books he had just bought for a while. Before long, he closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of the Thieves' Guild, three streets away from the inn.

Aipuke sat in his usual seat, listening carefully to the report from one of his Rogues.

After a full minute, he stroked his jiggly double chin and asked, "You're saying that Lord Soros and his servant visited Calimport's largest magic shop? And that they bought a large number of books while also selling an interesting magic item?"

The Rogue with short brown-black hair hurriedly nodded. "That's right! When I saw them making the transaction, they piled an unimaginable number of gold pieces on the counter. It made me want to pull a job."

"Don't be stupid! The owner of that magic shop is not someone we can afford to provoke." Aipuke immediately rebuked him harshly.

But soon, the bald, fat man turned his gaze toward the middle-aged wizard standing to his right. "Kulang! Tell me, what do you think of Lord Soros?"

The middle-aged wizard, whose thinning hair was clearly developing toward a bald patch, thought for several minutes before shaking his head with a bitter smile. "Sorry, Chief.

Before seeing him in person, it is difficult for me to make an accurate judgment.

But judging from the fact that he can easily convert large numbers of low-level undead and exert a certain degree of control over them, his caster level should not be below thirteen.

Perhaps he also serves some evil god as a Cleric and possesses the ability to Turn Undead.

As for his age, it is indeed possible, as your merchant friend inferred, that he used the fifth-level Necromancy School spell Magic Jar to take over a new body.

But it may also be the result of some Transmutation School magic.

In short, this is an extremely dangerous assignment.

His strength should be far beyond mine."

"Then do you think... we could hire him for the Guild War that is about to break out?" Aipuke asked uncertainly.

"Hire a powerful necromancer?

Then what price do you intend to pay?

You should know that he spent more than 30,000 gold pieces in a single visit today.

Someone who spends money so freely will not be satisfied by an ordinary offer."

The middle-aged wizard called Kulang clearly did not think much of his leader's wild idea.

He did not believe that a truly capable and powerful wizard would easily accept employment from others.

If he had not realized that he had exhausted his potential and could no longer advance further on the path of magic, he would never have "debased himself" by associating with a group of filthy, lowly Rogues.

"How would we know if we don't try? I think Lord Soros seems fairly easy to talk to."

Aipuke clearly had not given up and intended to find an opportunity to test the waters.

As for the price...

As long as they won the Guild War and expanded their territory, they could simply pay with the money, magic items, and slaves seized from their enemies.