Ivan walked slowly toward the counters.
The first floor had already given him a basic understanding of the academy's economy. Prices, resources, equipment, and materials could all be found there. However, if he wanted to truly understand how business operated inside the academy, he needed information rather than merchandise.
Several counters already had short lines before them. Wizard apprentices argued over prices, registered transactions, appraised magical tools, or asked about resource supplies. Some counters were crowded, while others sat nearly empty.
After a brief glance, Ivan selected one of the quieter counters and walked toward it. Above the desk floated a small bronze plaque bearing a simple inscription.
Counter No. 7.
Behind the counter sat a young low-level wizard apprentice who appeared to be in his early twenties. He wore a simple dark-blue tunic trimmed with silver thread, a light linen shirt underneath, dark trousers, and leather boots. The attire was casual and comfortable, resembling the everyday clothing favored by minor nobles and educated families throughout the wizarding world.
A bronze academy badge engraved with a single star hung from his chest. The apprentice noticed Ivan approaching and immediately stood up with practiced courtesy.
"Welcome, customer. How may I help you today?"
Ivan stopped before the counter and studied him briefly. Seeing the casual attire instead of a wizard robe, Ivan was not surprised. Although the academy issued wizard robes to every Wizard Seed and wizard apprentice, wearing them was not mandatory.
At first, however, he had found the situation somewhat strange. As a low-level knight himself, Ivan understood very well how inconvenient a loose robe could become during combat and Many wizard paths required constant movement, specialized tools, combat equipment, and unique fighting methods that simply did not pair well with traditional robes.
but during the past several days, he had already seen many wizard apprentices dressed according to their personal preferences and wizard paths. Only after reading historical texts in the library had he finally understood the reason. The wizard robe was an ancient tradition.
It dated back to the earliest era of wizard civilization, when the number of wizards was extremely small and most combat consisted almost entirely of long-range spellcasting. At that time, the robe symbolized authority, mystery, and power. When ordinary people saw a wizard draped in flowing robes covered in strange symbols, awe naturally filled their hearts.
More importantly, Compared to specialized combat garments, wizard robes were inexpensive to produce they required fewer materials, less labor, and could be mass-produced with ease. So Over hundreds of thousands of years, the tradition endured and eventually became one of the most recognizable symbols of wizard civilization.
Of course, that only applied to apprentice-level robes. Official wizard robes were an entirely different matter. Many carried powerful enchantments capable of adjusting shape, reducing weight, strengthening defense, increasing mobility, and even adapting automatically to different environments.
Compared to those treasures, apprentice robes were merely simplified descendants of a far older legacy. Because of this, most apprentices eventually chose clothing that best suited their combat style while still displaying their academy badges.
The badge, however, was mandatory. It represented rank, affiliation, identity, and legal standing. Any wizard apprentice found outside academy territory without proper identification could face questioning, detention, or punishment by authorized wizard organizations.
The rule itself had a long history. Ancient records described powerful wizards deliberately provoking weaker wizards into duels. Once the weaker wizard accepted, the stronger party would kill them and legally seize their resources through various loopholes.
The Wizard Council eventually introduced standardized identification badges to reduce such abuses and establish clear accountability throughout wizard society. Over time, the badge became one of the most important symbols recognized across the wizarding world.
After recalling those records, Ivan returned his attention to the clerk.
"I would like to know some information about the market."
The apprentice's enthusiasm visibly dimmed. Questions involving permits, regulations, and market rules were generally less profitable than selling expensive equipment. Even so, he maintained a professional smile.
"Certainly. What would you like to know?"
Ivan nodded slightly.
"The stall area near the market entrance. Do vendors need permits or pay taxes to set up there?"
The apprentice shook his head.
"No permits for ordinary temporary stalls. Any apprentice may occupy an empty stall space and sell legal goods. The academy does not charge a daily tax for the outer stall area."
Then he paused briefly before continuing.
"However, that only applies to temporary stalls. Once sales become regular, large-scale, or involve restricted materials, the Commerce hall may require registration and permits."
Ivan nodded slowly. That was reasonable. Otherwise, powerful merchants could simply occupy the free stalls indefinitely and bypass the academy's commercial regulations.
After a moment, he asked another question.
"The permanent shops in the central area. Are they rented, sold, or both? And what permissions are required?"
The apprentice blinked in surprise. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Ivan's badge before returning to his face.
"You're asking about shops?"
"Is there a problem?" Ivan asked calmly.
"No."
The apprentice shook his head slightly.
"It's just unusual. Most newcomers ask about spell books, potion ingredients, low-level wizard tools, or currency exchange. Shop ownership and rental are usually concerns for intermediate or high-level apprentices with stable income."
Ivan merely listened without interrupting.
The apprentice leaned slightly forward and continued.
"The process for obtaining a shop is far more complicated than operating a street stall. You must first obtain a trade permit from the Commerce Hall. After approval, you gain access to the commercial registry."
"The registry contains information regarding shop rentals, ownership transfers, operating licenses, and location details. Only after receiving authorization can you officially rent or purchase commercial property inside the academy."
Ivan nodded thoughtfully.
Then he asked the question he cared about most.
"What do the rents usually look like?"
The apprentice answered almost immediately.
"Location matters more than almost anything else. Outer-area shops are the cheapest. Small units equipped with basic cleaning and security runes generally rent for around five magic stones per month."
Ivan silently recorded the information in his memory while the apprentice continued explaining.
"Mid-area shops are significantly larger and attract better customer traffic. They generally rent for around twenty magic stones per month while including superior maintenance, cleaning, and security enchantments than those found in outer-area shops."
"Many intermediate apprentices prefer those locations because they offer a balance between cost and customer flow. If a business is stable, a mid-area shop is often the most practical choice."
Then his expression became slightly more serious.
"The prime central shops are another category entirely. Most are multi-story buildings equipped with protection formations, sound-isolation arrays, reinforced storage vaults, workshops, courtyards, maintenance formations, and numerous utility runes."
"Expect at least fifty magic stones per month."
"Often more."
Ivan's expression remained unchanged. Internally, however, he was genuinely shocked.
A low-level wizard apprentice generally earned ten to fifteen magic stones per month. Intermediate apprentices usually earned thirty to forty. Even many high-level apprentices remained within the fifty-to-one-hundred range unless they possessed highly profitable skills or powerful family backing.
Fifty magic stones every month merely for rent was astonishing. No wonder most sellers preferred operating street stalls. The costs were simply too high for ordinary apprentices to bear.
Ivan continued asking practical questions. Where could large quantities of ores be purchased? How did workshops secure stable deliveries of herbs and magical beast materials? Which organizations handled long-term supply contracts? What merchant groups operated within academy territory?
The apprentice answered readily. Now that the questions had become more technical, he appeared noticeably more interested in the conversation.
He mentioned academy-licensed suppliers, independent merchant companies, and several recognized chambers of commerce that maintained warehouses near the academy's transportation district. Some organizations specialized in herbs while others focused entirely on magical beast resources.
Several large chambers of commerce even controlled resource routes extending beyond academy territory. Their influence stretched into surrounding kingdoms, wizard cities, and resource zones.
The more Ivan listened, the more complete his understanding became.
Eventually, he asked another question.
"What if someone wanted to buy a shop outright?"
The apprentice immediately smiled.
This time, the smile carried a trace of amusement.
"The prices aren't very friendly."
"Low-tier commercial properties generally start at around one thousand magic stones. Mid-tier properties usually cost around five thousand."
"As for prime central properties..."
The apprentice paused dramatically, seemingly enjoying the moment.
"They often exceed ten thousand magic stones before accounting for workshop upgrades, maintenance costs, and formation expenses."
Hearing those numbers, Ivan almost had a heart attack.
One thousand.
Five thousand.
Ten thousand.
They sounded less like property prices and more like daylight robbery carried out under the protection of academy regulations.
The apprentice seemed to notice the subtle change in Ivan's expression and could not help but chuckle.
"Most people react that way."
"Don't worry. Even many high-level apprentices never purchase a shop. Most simply rent one when necessary."
Ivan silently exhaled.
That explanation somehow made him feel slightly better.
After a moment of silence, Ivan leaned slightly closer and lowered his voice.
"One more question."
The apprentice's expression remained polite, but his eyes sharpened slightly. He could already tell that whatever Ivan wanted to ask next was probably not some common knowledge.
"What kind of question?" he asked.
Ivan lowered his voice another degree.
"Where do people usually learn about academy matters that aren't posted openly? Market rumors, unofficial opportunities, difficult-to-find resources, private spell exchanges, illegal restricted materials, and knowledge. Things that don't appear publicly."
For the first time during the conversation, the apprentice hesitated.
His gaze drifted briefly toward the surrounding counters before returning to Ivan. The sounds of the shop continued around them as apprentices discussed prices, registered transactions, and negotiated purchases. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Ivan quietly slid several magic coins across the counter.
The apprentice's hand moved with surprising speed. A ledger casually dropped onto the coins as though by accident. Beneath its cover, his fingers counted the amount.
Fifteen magic coins.
The hesitation vanished instantly.
The apprentice coughed lightly and lowered his voice.
"The academy officially discourages illegal trading. However, everyone knows information moves through people long before it becomes official notice."
He glanced around once more before continuing.
"If you want market information, visit the evening exchanges near the Mid-Area taverns. Merchants, apprentice teams, workshop owners, and workshop workers often gather there after finishing their business."
"If you're looking for hidden opportunities, pay attention to groups returning from academy missions and expeditions. Valuable information usually appears among them first."
Ivan listened carefully and memorized every word.
The apprentice paused briefly before leaning forward.
"If you're looking for things that are difficult to acquire openly—private collections, specialized materials, restricted manuals, uncommon spells, and similar things..."
His voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"Visit the Mercury Ledger Bar after sunset."
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
The apprentice casually reached for another document on the counter. During the motion, a folded slip of paper somehow found its way into Ivan's hand. The movement was so smooth that anyone watching would have thought he was merely organizing papers.
"You'll need this," the apprentice said quietly.
"The people there won't speak freely to strangers. Not everyone who enters the Mercury Ledger Bar is allowed access to information or resources. Show them the code written on that paper. Once they see it, they'll know you're looking for information rather than trouble."
His expression became slightly serious.
"Information is valuable. The people selling it didn't survive this long by being careless."
Ivan quietly slipped the paper into his robe and gave a small nod.
"Understood."
The apprentice immediately straightened. The cautious expression disappeared as though it had never existed, and in the blink of an eye he had become a professional clerk once again.
"Is there anything else I can help you with today, customer?"
Ivan almost laughed at the sudden change.
"No. You've already been very helpful."
The apprentice smiled politely.
"In that case, I wish you a pleasant day."
Ivan nodded and stepped away from Counter No. 7.
A few moments later, he exited the Academy General Store. Outside, the Market District remained as lively as ever beneath the afternoon sun. Wizard apprentices crossed the streets carrying crates of materials, potion boxes, enchanted tools, and rolled formation diagrams while merchants shouted advertisements from their stalls.
Floating signs drifted slowly above the streets, casting faint reflections across the stone pavement. The entire district seemed filled with endless activity and movement.
Ivan looked toward the sky.
Only half the day had passed.
Originally, he had intended to return to the library and continue copying books. However, after hearing about information networks, merchant organizations, academy opportunities, and hidden channels of trade, another destination came to mind.
The Mission Hall.
If the Market District represented the academy's circulation of wealth, then the Mission Hall represented the circulation of opportunities and wealth at the same time.
Without hesitation, Ivan headed toward the transportation platform.
A flying disk soon arrived. He stepped onto it and selected the Central Area as his destination.
The disk rose smoothly into the air.
Below him, countless academy buildings passed by. Towers, laboratories, dormitories, gardens, workshops, training grounds, and countless other facilities stretched across the vast academy like a magnificent city.
Several minutes later, the flying disk gradually descended.
After landing in the Central Area, the first thing that entered Ivan's vision was a towering wizard tower stretching toward the clouds.
The structure was constructed from dark-gray materials that seemed almost metallic. Countless glowing runes covered its surface, shining softly as magical energy flowed through them.
The tower radiated an invisible pressure.
According to the academy records he had read, this was the residence of one of the academy's Fourth-Level Great Wizards. Its position at the center of the academy allowed its owner to maintain order and respond immediately to emergencies, attacks, or large-scale disturbances.
Ivan stared at the magnificent structure for several seconds.
Only after appreciating its grandeur did he look away and examine the surrounding area.
Compared to the bustling commercial atmosphere of the Market District, the Central Area felt far more organized. Wide roads extended in every direction, connecting the academy's most important facilities.
Although Ivan roughly knew the Mission Hall's location, he still stopped several passing wizard apprentices to confirm the route.
After walking for some time, a magnificent building finally appeared before him.
The structure was built from white stone resembling polished marble. Massive pillars lined the entrance while elegant arches supported the upper structure, reminding Ivan of ancient Roman architecture from his previous life.
Above the entrance floated several enormous glowing words.
Mission Hall.
Standing before the building, Ivan felt unexpectedly small.
Compared to the Academy General Store, this place possessed a far grander sense of authority.
After observing it briefly, he stepped inside.
As expected, the interior was vastly larger than the exterior. Ivan had already encountered similar spatial expansion enchantments multiple times since arriving at the academy, so he was no longer surprised by the phenomenon itself.
What truly surprised him was the layout.
He had originally imagined something similar to the Adventurer Guilds from games and novels of his previous life—rows of counters with mission boards hanging behind them.
The reality was completely different.
At the center of the enormous hall floated a giant projection screen dozens of meters wide.
Countless missions continuously appeared and disappeared across its surface.
First-Level Mission: Monster Investigation.
Location: Kingdom of Lamac.
Mission Objective: Investigate the cause behind repeated magical beast attacks on nearby towns.
Mission Requirement: At least one First-Level Formal Wizard.
Mission Reward: Five Thousand Magic Stones.
First-Level Mission: Plane Support Operation.
Location: Academy Subordinate Plane.
Mission Objective: Assist academy-controlled kingdoms in resisting invading foreign races.
Mission Requirement: First-Level Wizard or higher.
Mission Reward: Fifteen Thousand Magic Stones.
Second-Level Mission: Plane Exploration.
Mission Objective: Explore a newly discovered low-level plane, evaluate conquest potential, and establish a forward operating base if conditions permit.
Mission Requirement: A team of First-Level Wizards or one Second-Level Wizard.
Mission Reward: Fifty Thousand Magic Stones or equivalent Academy Points.
Mission names.
Danger ratings.
Rewards.
Objectives.
Required qualifications.
Everything updated continuously in real time.
After observing the giant projection screen for a few moments, Ivan finally shifted his attention toward one of the nearby terminals.
The machine stood slightly taller than himself. A crystal display occupied the upper section while a rune-covered scanning panel rested on the side. Soft streams of blue light flowed beneath the crystal surface, giving the entire device a strange mixture of technology and wizardry.
After watching several wizard apprentices operate similar terminals, Ivan quickly understood the process.
He removed his academy badge and placed it before the scanner.
A soft blue light swept across its surface.
The crystal screen immediately brightened.
Welcome, Wizard Student Ivan.
Current Status: Wizard Student.
Current Authority Level: Zero.
Available Mission Category: Zero-Level Missions within Academy Territory Only.
Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly.
The academy clearly did not allow apprentices to select missions freely. Instead, every mission was categorized according to difficulty and danger, with access granted according to rank and authority.
It was a simple system, but also an efficient one.
After all, a dead apprentice contributed nothing to the academy.
Soon, a list of missions appeared before him.
Zero-Level Mission: Medicinal Garden Maintenance.
Employer: High-Level Apprentice Lucy.
Duration: One Month.
Requirements: Basic Herbalism Knowledge.
Reward: Five Magic Stones.
Zero-Level Mission: Temporary Workshop Assistant.
Employer: High-Level Apprentice Marcos.
Requirements: Basic Alchemy Knowledge, Material Identification, Basic Rune Theory.
Reward: Fifteen Magic Stones.
Zero-Level Mission: Temporary Shop Assistant.
Employer: Intermediate Apprentice Jack.
Duration: One Month.
Requirements: None.
Reward: Ten Magic Stones.
Zero-Level Mission: Spell Optimization.
Employer: Intermediate Apprentice Emma.
Requirements: Knowledge of Spell Theory and Spell Structures.
Reward: Twenty Magic Stones or more depending on optimization results.
Mission after mission appeared before him.
For a brief moment, Ivan felt tempted.
Several of these missions were well within his capabilities. With Nova's assistance, completing some of them would not be difficult at all. His hand unconsciously moved toward the acceptance button.
Then he stopped.
A sudden clarity emerged in his mind.
Slowly, Ivan withdrew his hand.
The temptation of magic stones was real. However, the risks were equally real.
Ivan was a newly enrolled wizard student who had not even remained within the academy for a full month. Furthermore, he had arrived from the Outer Islands with virtually no formal wizard education.
Under normal circumstances, someone like him should still be struggling with introductory magic theory and basic magical knowledge.
Yet many of these missions required knowledge far beyond what a newcomer should possess.
If he completed them too efficiently, people would inevitably begin asking questions.
Questions led to attention.
Attention led to investigation.
And investigation could eventually lead to Nova.
The possibility was small.
Perhaps nothing would happen even if he accepted several missions.
Perhaps nobody would notice.
Perhaps nobody would care.
But Ivan had no intention of gambling his future on a series of "perhaps."
For several moments, he remained silent while staring at the mission screen.
Then he calmly closed the mission list.
From now on, he needed to think further ahead.
Magic stones, resources, and knowledge were important, but none of them were more important than protecting his greatest secret. Nova existed to help him become stronger, not to drag him into unnecessary danger because of short-term greed.
If he wished to survive and advance within the wizard world, he needed to think about the consequences of every decision before making it.
Only after organizing his thoughts did Ivan feel completely calm again.
Rather than accepting missions, he spent the next several hours exploring the Mission Hall and observing the apprentices around him.
Although he accepted no missions, he still gained a considerable amount of valuable information.
Returning teams constantly discussed their experiences. Some talked about magical beast habitats and resource zones. Others argued about mission rewards or complained about dishonest merchants who deliberately lowered purchase prices.
Several apprentices exchanged information regarding dangerous regions surrounding the academy, while others discussed newly discovered resource deposits and profitable hunting grounds.
By quietly listening from the sidelines, Ivan gathered a surprising amount of information.
He learned which resource zones produced the highest-quality herbs.
He learned which magical beasts were easiest to hunt and which ones appeared harmless but were actually extremely dangerous.
He learned which chambers of commerce offered fair prices and which merchants were notorious for exploiting inexperienced apprentices.
He even learned which shops within the Market District consistently sold reliable equipment and which mission categories carried hidden dangers despite appearing simple on paper.
Many of these details would never appear in books.
This was the type of knowledge that could only be obtained through experience and interaction with others.
In many situations, such information was worth more than formal academic knowledge.
Time gradually passed.
By the time Ivan finally left the Mission Hall, nearly three hours had gone by.
The afternoon sun had already begun descending toward the horizon.
After exiting the Mission Hall, Ivan did not immediately return to his dormitory. Instead, he spent some time walking through the Central Area, familiarizing himself with the layout of the academy.
Large roads stretched in every direction.
Along the way, he identified several important buildings, including the Commerce Hall, the Alchemy Department, the Rune Department, the Elemental Research Building, and several training facilities reserved for official wizard apprentices.
He carefully memorized their locations.
The academy was simply too large.
If he did not learn the routes now, he would waste considerable time asking for directions in the future.
As he continued walking, the sky gradually turned golden.
Warm sunlight illuminated the academy's buildings and reflected from countless magical formations hidden within the structures. The entire Central Area seemed to glow beneath the evening light.
Soon, the sun began descending toward the horizon.
Seeing this, Ivan finally decided to end the day's exploration.
Tomorrow would be the first official class for the new wizard students.
Being late on the very first day would undoubtedly leave a bad impression on the instructor.
After one final glance at the Central Area, Ivan headed toward the transportation platform.
A flying disk soon arrived.
He stepped onto it and selected the dormitory district as his destination.
The disk slowly rose into the air and carried him across the academy.
As the vast academy gradually disappeared beneath the evening sky, Ivan quietly reviewed everything he had gained today.
Only after organizing all the information in his mind did he slowly close his eyes and allow himself a moment of rest during the journey back to his dormitory.