[Farmer] Mage

“Would this really be of much help?” Tavia asked as they stared at Seris dreamily running her fingers over a bow on display.

“No, at least, not now. I noticed she had given up on her hunting entirely after she started working for me. This will give her a reason to keep her skills sharp until she has use of her mana.”

Tavia hummed in agreement, letting the silence take over for several seconds. “This trip doesn’t count.”

“What?” Cal raised an eyebrow.

“This isn’t a date, not really. It’s more of a Seris-sitting trip with some business added in.”

“Ah, that. I can’t disagree. It’s probably for the best. Going to a restaurant in the city and calling it our first date would be lazy. I’ll think of something much better.”

Tavia smiled. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Cal, this is the one!” Seris had moved onto another bow, looking even more pleased at it. Cal couldn’t tell why this one was better than the last, but he didn’t need to know.

He motioned to the shopkeeper. “I’ll take that one, and the arrows she picked out.”

“Of course! Of course!” The shopkeeper practically ran to pack everything up as if he was afraid the sale was going to disappear. That was the first sign that something was wrong.

“The total comes out to one guildmark and two gold.”

There was silence. And Cal’s previously casual expression was stuck in a strained smile. “I’m sorry, repeat that.”

“Uh, of course. One guildmark and two gold.”

So, it wasn’t my delusion. What in the world is the bow made from?

“Seris, is it worth it after hearing the price?” Cal asked, preparing himself. Seris looked far less excited than before, but she still gave him a hesitant nod. “I see.”

Cal took a deep breath and shoved away his desire to take back his words. He might think the bow was overpriced, but he gave his word to Seris. He would take this as an investment into her future.

I could use [Master Negotiator] to give me a guaranteed discount, but something this high-priced should get me a decent amount of experience.

“I didn’t anticipate spending that much, but I am willing to pay seven gold.”

The shopkeeper recoiled as he pulled away the bow and arrows that were just packaged up. “Nearly half off? I’m sorry, but that is impossible.”

Cal knew he pushed it. “Surely you can’t expect me to pay over a guildmark for this.”

The shopkeeper lost his professionalism. “You think this is just any bow? Boy, you’ve got no idea what you’re looking at! This isn’t some mass-produced, bent piece of yew from a street vendor. This is crafted from the heartwood of a Stormpine—a tree that only grows on peaks where the winds howl strong enough to flay flesh from bone! You can’t just chop it down whenever you feel like it, oh no. You have to wait for it to be struck by natural lightning at least three times! How long do you think that would take?”

Cal listened to the rant with a wooden expression. All of that did indeed justify the price that was asked. “I see. One guildmark.” He ignored Tavia’s snicker.

The shopkeeper was lost for words. Cal ignored that way he was being studied, likely due to the fact an Apprentice was haggling, but he didn’t care. He would get those experience points.

“Fine, just to get rid of you. Your face infuriates me.”

Cal immediately handed over the coin and motioned for Seris to take her things.

Your skill [Master Negotiator] has increased by 2 levels.

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[Master Negotiator: Apprentice 1]—>[Master Negotiator: Apprentice 3]

The unexpected gift of his skill increasing by two levels soothed the pain of a guildmark disappearing. He pulled up his inventory.

Basic Storage Pouch

Inventory: 15/20

6 Unknown Gems

137 Copper, 27 Silver, 23 Gold, 1 Guildmark

1 Rake (Rare)

1 Map (Trade Routes of the Celestial Order)

2 Healing Potion (Minor)

2 Mana Restoration Potion (Minor)

2 Calming Potion

2 Rage Potion

4 Daggers (Common)

1 War Hammer (Uncommon)

Cal focused on the money he possessed and comforted himself that he still had around three and a half guildmarks. That was plenty for someone who doesn’t spend much. He purposely ignored the roads he had requested Miren to research. Besides, the only way that would proceed is if the guild subsidized them.

He listened to Seris thanking him profusely as they wandered about the city aimlessly, taking in the sights with genuine interest since none of them knew most of Lumina. None of them, even Seris, were in a rush to eat.

“Seris?” A girlish voice call out from behind them.

“Elara!”

Cal realized Tavia didn’t know who the new girl was. “She’s a friend Seris made the last time I brought her to Lumina. Somehow, the kid owns multiple spell shops.”

Tavia narrowed her eyes at Elara, who was sticking close to Seris, listening to her gushing over the bow. “I would think it would have to do more with the Elder beside her.”

Cal blinked in surprise. He hid his shock at how clueless he was of the Elder’s presence. He had been relying on detecting mana subconsciously, to where he ignored someone he had assumed was a mortal.

He recalled what Overseer Marek told Elara, about how she could shadow an Elder as a reward for keeping Seris in the shop. “Elder Corvin?”

“Oh? I wasn’t aware you knew me, Apprentice Cal.”

Cal shook his head. “I remembered the Overseer mentioning you.” He paused, realizing someone who could block his mana tendrils wouldn’t be free enough to come across him in a large city. “What can I do for you?”

Elder Corvin looked pleased at his initiative. “I heard you visited Silverpine.”

Cal nodded, wondering where this was going.

“The guild has encountered some issues in the area when a sinkhole opened close to the town. We are losing too many alchemists recently and need someone with sufficient combat ability to check on the situation. Are you interested?”

Cal’s instinctive reaction was to refuse. The only reason he went to Silverpine in the first place was to find Oleg. In all other matters, he considered it a waste of time, and would be more than happy to just stay on his farm and get stronger.

He remembered something when he was buying his war hammer. “Is this why the guild was subsidizing the weapons in town? I noticed far too many alchemists buying them.”

Elder Corvin almost looked embarrassed. “Unfortunately, we implemented that policy when we thought it was an easily solvable issue.”

Cal was thinking of a way to decline politely. “What could be in that sinkhole that alchemists would willingly rush into danger?”

“Precious materials,” Elder Corvin revealed bluntly. “If it was possible for a Master to solve the problem, we would have sent several immediately. However, there is a real danger of the materials being damaged with the power a Master could use. You would be perfect for the job.”

Cal ignored the flattery and focused on one thing. “Precious materials?” He pulled up the upgrade requirement for his Rare Rake.

[Rare Rake: Average Quality] Upgrade: 2 Requirements

1. Tasks Required: 1

- 8452/20000 Tasks

2. Materials Required: 3

- 0/5 Earth Crystals

- 0/10 Dragonite Scales

- 0/500 Voidiron Pellets

“Could I find Earth Crystals there? Dragonite Scales or Voidiron would work too.”

Elder Corvin frowned. “It is no secret that the sinkhole has plenty of Voidiron, but I have never heard of Earth Crystals or Dragonite Scales. What do you need these for?”

Cal perked up with interest. “There is a young blacksmith that I find quite talented. I figure the more unique materials I can give him, the faster he will grow.”

Elder Corvin looked delighted. “You are a credit to the guild. Not only are you talented yourself, but you are nurturing others. So, what do you say?”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Cal accepted the task, pretending like it was his plan to do so all along.

“Take what you need from the sinkhole, Apprentice Cal. Treat it as your reward,” Elder Corvin said before leaving with Elara.

Seris stared at him unblinkingly. “Does this mean you’re going to sponsor Orrin for the blacksmith test?”

“Soon,” Cal replied, still thinking of the Earth Crystals and Dragonite Scales. If an Elder never heard of them, then it could be a problem to find.

“I wonder if Orrin will drop a hammer on his foot when I tell him. I’ve seen him do that before when something really surprised him.”

Cal recalled how Orrin repeatedly told Seris to stay out of his workspace. “Were you the one that surprised him?”

“How did you know?” Seris asked with a shocked expression.

“I had a feeling.” Cal’s lips twitched. “So, you said you wanted to treat us to a meal. Why don’t you take us to the restaurant?”

Seris beamed before leading the way to the enormous tower that was the Grand Market.

Tavia remained suspiciously quiet and lost in her thoughts since Elder Corvin appeared.

“What’s wrong?” Cal asked in a low voice.

“Do you think Elder Corvin looked familiar?”

He thought about it before shaking his head.

“It’s probably nothing,” Tavia said, clearly not wanting to speak of it.

It only made Cal more curious, but he let it go for now.

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