Esmond's Compensation

"Whether they succeed or not, as wizards and Wizard Seedlings of the Tower of Dawn, you will inevitably be caught up in the disaster when it arrives, perhaps even killed."

"Helping me is also saving yourselves."

Leo pondered for a moment, then asked, "Wizard Esmond, this is a matter concerning our Tower of Dawn. Why do you know so much about it?"

At his words, Esmond wore a bitter smile.

He said, "I have no way to explain that. My identity has been sealed. Even if I wished to explain, I cannot tell you from what position I came to learn these inside matters of the Tower of Dawn."

After thinking it over, Leo said, "Wizard Esmond, perhaps you can tell me about those wizards hiding within the Tower of Dawn. I can find the wizards from our gathering and expose their identities. Wouldn't that save more trouble?"

But Esmond shook his head. "I already said that information about them was sealed as well. Unless one is also a Formal Wizard, I cannot even reveal their names to anyone else."

"If you do not believe me, I can try telling you the names of the five Formal Wizards who trapped me here."

Esmond opened his mouth and spoke five names.

"Uriel, (), (), (), ()."

After speaking, Esmond looked at Leo. Seeing Leo's baffled expression, he revealed a helpless bitter smile.

Leo, too, frowned. When Esmond had spoken just now, he had once again fallen into that state where he had clearly heard the words, yet could not form any memory of them.

Leo asked, "Hughes, did you hear their names?"

Hughes shook his head.

Seeing this, Esmond said, "Just as you have seen. It is not that I deliberately wish to conceal anything. It is simply that, in my current state, I truly cannot make everything clear to you."

"Not only sound—even words I write down will likewise be affected by the spell's effect."

"To break through this influence and obtain definite information from my mouth, one must be a Formal Wizard."

Leo fell silent.

What Esmond said was reasonably coherent.

However, Esmond had destroyed their boat earlier, leaving them no choice but to trade with him to leave this island... That matter gave Leo an instinctive sense of distrust toward Esmond.

Rather than a trade, Esmond's actions were more like creating a situation where Leo and Hughes had no choice but to trade.

Leo ran the Prismatic Dragon Scale across his fingertip.

The Prismatic Dragon Scale showed no reaction.

"In other words, whether he lied or not, at least he bears no ill intent toward me."

"So, do the two of you agree to my trade?"

Esmond had not noticed the Prismatic Dragon Scale testing his hostility. He looked at the two of them, a trace of anticipation flashing through his eyes.

Leo said, "All right, Wizard Esmond. We accept your trade."

Leo had made this choice out of helplessness as well.

If there had been another way, Leo truly would not have wanted to make this trade.

After all, the other party was a Formal Wizard.

Yet they truly had no other way to return now.

Setting aside how they would leave this boundless sea.

There were also Formal Wizards who would occasionally keep watch on this island, so they could not remain here for long.

Making a trade with Esmond was undoubtedly the comparatively safer choice for now.

Seeing that Leo and Hughes were willing to trade with him, Esmond also breathed a sigh of relief. "Leo, Hughes, I do not deny that this task itself carries a certain degree of risk."

"For wizards, an equivalent exchange is an important principle."

"Besides one hundred Magic Stones, you may also make other requests of me."

After Esmond finished speaking, Leo and Hughes exchanged a glance.

Then Hughes said, "Wizard Esmond, I would like a potion that can help me become a wizard."

At Hughes's words, Esmond made no visible movement.

Yet a bottle of potion appeared on the table.

Esmond said, "This is a Mind-Nourishing Potion. It can stabilize your mental energy, bringing it closer to a more stable state. The more stable your mental energy, the faster the improvement brought by your meditation method. Its side effects are also very slight. Taking just one bottle will be enough to ensure that you become a wizard, and it will not negatively affect either your mental talent or your body."

"Thank you for your gift." Hughes immediately cradled the bottle of Mind-Nourishing Potion.

Leo stared at the Mind-Nourishing Potion, and an entry for it surfaced in his mind.

It was one of the potions in the Grand Compendium of Potions he had obtained from Woodpecker Hut.

Its price was definitely far higher than the Dawn Arcane Potion Leo had consumed.

"And what about you, Leo?"

Esmond then looked toward Leo.

All manner of thoughts flashed rapidly through Leo's mind.

Spells, potions, illustrations, questions...

Leo felt that he lacked every one of them.

But in the end, his thoughts settled on the Stone Sea Dragon Scale he had acquired earlier.

As for the Prismatic Dragon Scale, it was far rarer than the Stone Sea Dragon Scale.

If Esmond became interested in it, Leo would not be able to keep the Prismatic Dragon Scale at all.

Leo asked, "Wizard Esmond, do you happen to understand Magitech Studies?"

Esmond smiled at his words. "Magitech Studies is one of my specialties. Do you wish for me to forge a magitech item for you, or would you like me to answer your questions about Magitech Studies?"

Leo said, "I would like you to forge a magitech item for me."

Leo took out the Stone Sea Dragon Scale and placed it on the table.

Esmond picked it up and said, "This is a Stone Sea Dragon Scale. Among Stonefish scales, one can occasionally find this kind of dragon scale."

Esmond recognized the origin of the material at a glance.

Whether Nova or the Formal Wizard before him.

These outstanding wizards all possessed abundant reserves of knowledge.

Leo said, "Wizard Esmond, I would like you to use this Stone Sea Dragon Scale to forge a defensive, clothing-style magitech item for me."

However, Esmond said, "The type you describe is not included among magitech items. What you are referring to belongs to the discipline classified under tailoring. We collectively call such things enchanted items."

Leo was stunned. "Does that mean you cannot make it, Wizard Esmond?"

Esmond smiled. "I was merely correcting you. If this is the compensation you request, I can make it for you."

"Wait a moment."

Esmond took the Stone Sea Dragon Scale, then cast Arcane Hand.

Arcane Hand gathered strands of thread.

At some point, a piece of cloth appeared in Esmond's hands.

Then, in the time it took Leo and Hughes to blink, a robe was resting atop the mushroom table.

Esmond said, "It is done."

"This is a Stone Sea Dragon Robe."

"As long as you infuse it with mental energy, it can give you a hard defensive layer without changing its shape."

Esmond pondered for a moment before saying, "The defensive power of this layer is related to your Magical Pressure. The higher your Magical Pressure, the stronger its defensive ability will be."

Finally, Esmond emphasized, "Also, this is a wizard item of perfect quality."

Leo did not notice what Esmond had emphasized at the end. He picked up the robe and discovered that its style, colors, and everything else were exactly the same as before. He said, "Thank you, Wizard Esmond."

After tailoring compensation for each of them, Esmond handed them each a letter.