Volume 17 Chapter 2 Border City Lester - A Visit To The Usual Places
There were 2 places Al always visited in the border city of Lester. One was, of course, the shop selling spellbooks next to the Levy merchant guild, and the other was Lara's magic tool shop located near the slums on South Fourth Town Street.
Al decided to go to Lara's shop first. The prices were much cheaper there for the same spells. Plus, there was another reason for visiting her shop. Her main business was magic tools.
She didn't make magic tools herself; she only appraised them. However, the knowledge Al learned from her about magic tools was essential for him to create them, making her his mentor in magic tool crafting.
He wanted to show her some of the magic tools he had made over the past 3 months.
"Good evening, Ms. Lara."
Lara was as usual, displaying her goods at the market stall. Among the many items that looked like junk spread out in front of her, there was only one magic tool. It seemed to be a light magic tool based on its shape.
Next to her, there was a large bag that seemed to contain magic tools and spellbooks, placed discreetly.
"Oh, it's Al! How have you been?"
"Yeah, thanks. I'm doing well. Do you have any hidden treasures today?"
She glanced at Al's face and thought for a moment.
"Well, it's not flashy, but how about the spell 'Regeneration'? I bet you could think of some use for it."
"What kind of spell is that?"
According to Lara's explanation, it was a spell that could record what you see or hear and let you relive those experiences.
She mentioned that the recording time increases with skill level, but there might be options to explore if he looked into it.
"That sounds like it could be really useful as a magic tool."
"Make it a magic tool? You're not saying you've learned to make magic tools, are you?"
Her eyes widened in surprise.
She had only taught Al the skills to analyze magic tools for buying and selling, thinking it would be nice to ask him for help if there were difficult magic tools to analyze.
As far as she knew, very few people outside the magician guild's experts could create magic tools. Al being able to do it was far beyond her expectations.
"Can you take a look at this?"
Al said, pulling out a slender cylindrical object with a round ball at one end from his belt pouch and handing it to Lara.
"The round end is the switch. Also, it can turn on with the command word 'Light On.' To turn it off, just say 'Light Off'."
Lara held it and pressed the spot Al indicated with her thumb. Then, the end of the cylinder opposite the one she pressed lit up.
It's still evening, so it's not too noticeable, but the brightness is much stronger than a typical 'Light' spell. When she pressed the bump, the light turned off.
Lara tried using the switch and the command word a few times. She also compared it to the magic tools displayed in the store, looking at their brightness and weight.
Then, she nodded in understanding and returned the cylindrical magic tool to Al.
"Did you make this?"
Lara's tone had a hint of disbelief.
"Yeah, yeah. I just modified the light magic tool a little. Do you think it will sell?"
Basically, it was made by looking at the magic circuit of the existing magic tools and copying it. There weren't any major modifications.
That was the best Al could do for now, but seeing Lara's reaction, it might have been something impressive. She thought for a moment and looked at Al seriously.
"How long does it last with one magic stone?"
"Since it's brighter than a regular light magic tool, about ten days."
"I see... If it has a magician guild certificate at a proper store, it would probably sell for about 5 gold coins. At my store, I'd sell it for one or 2 gold coins. I could buy it for 5 silver coins. What do you think?"
Five silver coins, even though it was the first time buying, made Al smile a little, feeling trusted about the quality.
The price at the proper store matched what Al knew.
He had heard that at Lara's store, spellbooks were sold for one-third of the retail price and bought for one-tenth, so considering that, it meant they were evaluating it as a proper magic tool.
"I have another one."
Al then took out a palm-sized round disk. Lara didn't know, but it looked a lot like the one attached to the ceiling of the (Red-Faced Sheep) inn.
The difference was that it didn't have the effect of the 'Stealth' spell, but it reacted to the 'Magic Sense' spell, and the light ball from the 'Light' spell appeared only right next to the magic tool.
He looked at the magic circuit of the 'Soften Stone' staff, completely removed the part that looked like the 'Soften Stone' spell symbol, and replaced it with the symbol from the 'Light' spell magic tool.
"What's this?"
Lara asked with a slightly puzzled expression as she took the magic tool from Al. Al explained how to use it proudly.
"Well, the light ball created lasts about 8 hours continuously, and you can produce it about a hundred times with one magic stone. It stays in one place, but I thought it might be more convenient for camping or something."
"Wow, normally sold ones glow themselves, but this one can produce a light ball."
"Exactly. When using it with a spell, it's at the tip of the staff, so most regular magic tools glow themselves. But this one just lights up the spot where the magic tool was when you press the switch."
Lara nodded, impressed as she listened to Al's explanation.
"Is it really that easy to think of and create a magic tool...? Well, since I've seen it, I can't doubt it. Do you want to try selling both? I'll keep the price the same for now."
"Then, I'll give it a try."
It seemed she would buy one of each to see if they would sell. From Lara's perspective as a magic tool shop owner, it meant she was satisfied with the products. Al felt happy.
"Got it. So, what about the spell 'Regeneration'? It's 3 gold coins."
"Of course, I'll buy it."
Al took out 2 gold coins from his wallet and handed them to Lara along with both the cylindrical and disc-shaped magic tools. In return, Lara took a package containing a spellbook from a large bag beside her and handed it over.
"If I asked you to make another magic tool, could you do it? Like the 'Magic Missile' spell?"
At Lara's question, Al tilted his head slightly. He remembered that the guardian golem had it, but he didn't know much about its performance.
However, he could borrow it from Malachi, and if he could see the real thing to create it, it shouldn't be too hard.
"Depending on the performance, I think I could probably do it. If I can make it well, I'll bring it to you. By the way, can I buy magic ink cheaply at your place, Ms. Lara?"
Magic ink is a special ink used to repair spellbooks or draw magic circuits for magic tools.
With regular ink, no matter how many symbols you draw, the reader won't be able to visualize them with Interpretation, and the magic circuit of the magic tool won't work.
But this special ink is only sold at the magician's guild, and even a small bottle costs one gold coin. Currently, magic ink was the most expensive material for making magic tools.
"Well, the method to make it is kept secret. We don't handle it here."
Al had hoped Lara might know something, but it seemed impossible. Even when he asked Malachi, it seemed Tempest was buying it from elsewhere and wasn't making it themselves. The only other person to ask was Eric.
He was supposed to be a council member of the magician's guild, so maybe he could sell it a bit cheaper. Considering Aines, he decided to stop by later.
"I see, it can't be helped. Well then, Ms. Lara. See you again."
Al waved his hand and left Lara's shop.
* * *
"Hello."
Al opened the door to the usual spellbook shop.
"Welcome, Sir Al."
The usual shopkeeper noticed Al and greeted him with a cheerful smile. It seemed they had remembered his name.
"Um, do you have any recommended spells for adventurers?"
"Well, first we have the attack spell 'Magic Tornado' or the magic spell 'Magic Shockwave.' This one costs 35 gold coins. Then there's the 'Sleep' spell and the 'Paralysis' spell, which are 25 gold coins each. You've already bought the defense spells 'Magic Resist' and 'Shield,' right?"
He continued without missing a beat.
"The detection spells like 'Detect Invisible,' 'Detect Illusion,' and 'Detect Magic' are 15 gold coins each. As for other options... how about 'Create Weapon' spell or 'Create Armor' spell? Both of these are 10 gold coins."
The shopkeeper's recommendations included many spells that Al had already learned.
If Al was looking for spells he hadn't learned yet, it would be the magic spell 'Magic Shockwave' or the weapon creation spell and armor creation spell.
"What can I make with 'Create Weapon' spell?"
"Well, as a guideline, you can create weapons that weigh up to 2 kilograms. The sharpness isn't very good. so I think blunt weapons like maces or hammers would be suitable. As your skill level increases, the weight of the weapons you can create will also increase. But keep in mind," he added, "the weapons you make disappear after about an hour."
He then gestured to some tools on display. "Also, you can create useful tools like shovels, pickaxes, and hammers," he said with a nod, clearly pleased with the practical value of the spell.
"What about pots?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't know about that."
The shopkeeper smiled wryly at Al's question. It seemed asking about pots was a bit too much. That was something he would have to try for himself. However, if the spell could be applied to tools, it could be quite handy.
This meant that the armor creation spell would likely have some useful applications as well.
"Then, I'll take the 'Create Weapon' spell and the a'Create Armor' spell."
"Thank you very much!"
The shopkeeper smiled happily and placed 2 fancy boxes containing spellbooks on the counter. Al paid 20 gold coins and carefully put the boxes into his bag.
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