Apprentice Tasks

"Don't look at me like that. In terms of this magical item's effects alone, it was worth far more than 300 points. I only gave you a discount because I saw your talent and wanted to make a friend."

"It provides protection, enhancement, and assistance. Giving you knowledge would break the rules, so this thing is perfect for you. You newcomers always seem to have some inexplicable sense of crisis. This is just what you need."

The librarian shrugged and continued.

"If you don't believe me, go ask at the Apprentice Miscellaneous Affairs Office. Magical items like this sell for at least 500 to 600 points there, and sometimes they're priceless even if you have the points."

This...

Taylor looked at the unconcerned librarian and opened his mouth, only to find that he had nothing to say. That was true—given this magical item's effects, selling it cheaply would be an insult to how useful it was.

Besides, the other man had likely cut the price in half.

No matter how much the Wizard World emphasized order and rules, strength ultimately spoke for itself. Back when Taylor had cleaned the corridors, he had overheard other wizard apprentices talking about how they sometimes received tasks such as guarding monsters or feeding them.

Just thinking about it sounded dangerous. He still had to take better care of his own safety.

Seeing that Taylor still looked hesitant, the librarian thought for a moment before deciding to let this young apprentice owe him a favor.

Who knew when the next batch of apprentices would arrive? By then, he might already be dead. It was only an investment. He could make magical items anyway; wouldn't it be better to spend a little effort and make another one?

Free was impossible. Nothing was free in the world of wizards. Equivalent exchange was the truth. The so-called discount merely shifted the goal elsewhere.

He still had some ambition. He felt that the Apprentice Library was such a fine place. He could look up all sorts of knowledge while quietly doing his own work. He could meditate or craft magical items.

Even if he no longer had any hope of becoming a powerful wizard, remaining in the library as an apprentice would still be an excellent job.

The reason he had remained the administrator of the Apprentice Library was, on one hand, that he was a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice capable of crafting magical items. On the other hand, he had used the same method to win over many powerful wizard apprentices as friends. Two of them had even become powerful wizards, which was why he had been able to claim the most prestigious position among the apprentices.

Now, the administrator believed Taylor had the potential to become a powerful wizard apprentice. Perhaps Taylor might even become an even more distinguished wizard. He was worth investing in!

"Let me give you a reminder as well. The benevolent White Wizards have deliberately raised many low-level monsters in a forest at the northernmost edge of the White Tower Alliance. Apprentices only need to pay a certain number of points to enter that forest and hunt low-level monsters for materials."

"After all, knowledge stored in the mind still requires practice to be mastered further."

Those words shattered Taylor's mental defenses without question.

"Alright, I agree. But I need time. I need to gather 300 points."

The librarian said with satisfaction:

"Of course I know you only became a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice today. I'll hold onto this Flame Medal for you until you have enough points to exchange for it."

Watching Taylor leave the Apprentice Library and head toward the Apprentice Miscellaneous Affairs Office to accept a task, the administrator chuckled. The smile in his eyes and the wrinkles on his face looked capable of crushing even a mosquito.

Then again, there seemed to be no such creature as mosquitoes in the Wizard World anymore. No one knew why, but those things had suddenly angered both Black Wizards and White Wizards, who had joined forces to exterminate the entire species.

The creatures that replaced mosquitoes afterward were never so annoying...

After Taylor's back vanished from sight, the librarian lowered his head, looked at the Flame Medal in his hand, casually opened a cabinet, and tossed it inside.

The cabinet was filled with magical items covered in all kinds of elemental magical runes.

Miscellaneous Affairs Office

Looking at the somewhat youthful Taylor, then glancing at the fireball Taylor held high in his hand, the Level 3 Wizard Apprentice at the Miscellaneous Affairs Office finally confirmed that the child before him had become a Level 1 Wizard Apprentice.

He truly was remarkable. There was hope that he might become a powerful wizard.

After a brief sigh, the round-bellied, chubby-looking Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, dressed like a middle-aged man, took out a list and placed it before Taylor. It listed all kinds of tasks.

Feed Wizard Zadro's Man-Beast—twice a day, 120 points per month.

Guard Wizard Vana's garden—50 points per month.

Patrol the small Monster Forest north of the White Tower Alliance—90 points per month.

Extract the Broom Witch's blood—10 points per vial.

Draw the sap of the Poison Vine Tree—8 points per vial.

Taylor's eyelids twitched as he looked at the tasks one after another. None of them seemed easy.

A Man-Beast had a lion's body and a human face. It was highly intelligent and loved sucking out brain matter. According to the books, a Man-Beast was already a magical beast on the verge of advancing in rank.

Once it broke through its limits, it could become a Level 1 Creature, much like a Level 1 Wizard—though not as powerful as a wizard.

As for guarding a garden, a wizard's garden was filled with poisonous mushrooms, vines, and flowers. Venom, confusion, seduction, madness, and countless other effects could be found in such a garden. Even with protective measures, one could still easily fall victim to them.

Patrolling a small Monster Forest was even more dangerous. If he encountered a monster and lacked the strength to deal with it, he could easily be eaten. He could not expect monsters to be understanding. Even if they recognized certain tokens or marks, if something went wrong, they would eat him anyway. Once he died, there would be nothing left.

As for the Broom Witch, Poison Vine Tree, and the rest, they were all opponents that only Level 2 Wizard Apprentices could handle. Even with certain credentials that might make them wary, the danger remained immense.

Taylor continued reading and found that not only were tasks suited for Level 1 Wizard Apprentices scarce, but their rewards were also meager.

He looked up at the chubby manager of the Miscellaneous Affairs Office. After considering his own strength, Taylor decided to accept the task of extracting Poison Vine Tree sap.

At the very least, he could play with fire now. Dealing with a tree that could not move should be manageable. Besides, Taylor did not believe the wizards would truly make apprentices of modest strength directly face those monsters.

Sure enough, after Taylor accepted the task, the manager of the Miscellaneous Affairs Office wrote Taylor's name in the notebook dedicated to that task, then handed him a round badge.

The round badge had a simple design. Its back was smooth, with no pin meant for wearing it, while its front bore an image of the Wizards' Botanical Garden in miniature.

"This is the badge specially used to enter and leave the botanical garden. With the badge, those monsters won't dare touch you. But be careful not to be deceived by them. If the badge is not on you, no one will care if anything happens."

After explaining the round badge's function and giving him a warning, the middle-aged manager handed the green round badge to Taylor.

Taylor took the badge, left the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, and headed for the botanical garden. The manager there would give him the equipment specially used to extract the sap.

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