Chapter 13: The Price of Knowledge
Elliott left the Hundred Herbs Apothecary with his clothes noticeably heavier.
Inside them were the newly written contract and a thick leather pouch.
Blood-Staunching Powder, Antidote Pills, and Vitality Pills.
In exchange for agreeing to supply all three, he had received an advance payment of six hundred mana stones.
"Maybe I should have asked for more."
The thought crossed his mind briefly, but Elliott soon shook his head.
He might have squeezed more out of Arum, but stopping there had been the wiser choice.
'Excessive greed invites disaster.'
Six hundred mana stones were enough to deal with his immediate problems.
More importantly, he had secured a long-term contract and a reliable source of income. There was no reason to damage that relationship over a few extra stones.
Elliott blended into the crowd and calculated his finances.
'I currently have six hundred mana stones.'
The remaining principal he owed the Black Serpent Syndicate was three hundred and eighty-eight.
That left him with roughly two hundred and twelve mana stones.
He could repay the debt immediately.
However, clearing the debt would not guarantee his survival in this brutal world of Adepts.
Would the Black Serpent Syndicate simply accept the money and leave him alone?
Or would they see that he had begun earning money and invent another excuse to drain him?
Without strength, wealth became a disaster.
He desperately needed the power to protect himself.
'Cultivation.'
The path of training in this world was broadly divided into two categories.
Cultivation Methods and Arcane Spells.
They might appear similar, but their purposes were completely different.
A Cultivation Method was the foundation used to accumulate power.
It increased the chance of advancing to a higher star rank.
Whenever an Adept advanced, their lifespan increased and their physical abilities improved as a whole. Each Cultivation Method could also provide additional effects of its own.
Advancing in rank meant becoming stronger at the most fundamental level.
Arcane Spells, on the other hand, were techniques.
They consumed accumulated Mana to produce flames, summon wind, or increase the speed of the caster's body.
'Now look at my situation.'
Elliott smiled bitterly.
A mixed affinity toward all five basic elements.
Talent at the very bottom of the scale.
Advancing through a Cultivation Method?
A path that took someone else one year might take this body ten or even twenty.
He also lacked the wealth required to swallow expensive medicines and force his progress forward.
A blade might be coming for him in a few days or a few months.
He could not afford to sit quietly and accumulate Mana for decades.
'Then the answer is an Arcane Spell.'
Even with a low star rank, mastering a spell with overwhelming destructive power could give him a chance.
It was no different from placing a deadly weapon in the hands of someone physically weak. Raw strength mattered less when a single attack could decide the battle.
Naturally, Arcane Spells were also extremely difficult to learn.
They required complicated hand signs and precise control over the flow of Mana.
Elliott, however, possessed his greatest advantage.
[Trait: Infinite Proficiency]
[Proficiency gained from failure is multiplied by five.]
'While others master something through a hundred successes, I can do it through twenty failures.'
The more complicated and difficult an Arcane Spell was, the easier it would be to fail.
For Elliott, that made difficult spells far more attractive.
Once he made his decision, he changed direction.
His destination was an enormous tower in the center of the commercial district.
The Hall of Arcane Arts.
It was essentially a bookstore for Adepts.
The interior of the Hall of Arcane Arts was quiet.
The faint scent of old paper and ink drifted through the air.
Numerous Adepts wandered through the first-floor lobby, examining the Memory Crystals and manuals displayed on the shelves.
Elliott quietly walked between the displays.
'Let's see what they have.'
The first things to catch his eye were the brightly glowing Memory Crystals.
By injecting Mana into one, its stored knowledge could be directly imprinted into the user's mind.
[Flame Orb]
[Description: Launches a sphere of intense flame that burns the target.]
[Price: 1,500 mana stones]
"You have to be joking."
A hollow laugh escaped Elliott.
One thousand five hundred mana stones?
He would need to sell hundreds of packets of Blood-Staunching Powder before he could even consider buying it.
'Memory Crystals are out.'
He turned away without hesitation.
Passing the central display of Memory Crystals, Elliott headed toward the manual section in a quiet corner.
Unlike a Memory Crystal, a paper manual could not place knowledge directly into the mind.
The reader had to study every word and diagram, then personally understand the flow of Mana.
Because the learning process was slower and less efficient, the manuals were supposed to be cheaper.
'Supposed to be.'
Elliott's expression darkened when he reached the shelves.
[Wind Blade]
[Rank: Low Grade]
[Description: Launches a blade formed from compressed wind.]
[Price: 350 mana stones]
[Iron Skin]
[Rank: Low Grade]
[Description: Temporarily hardens the skin.]
[Price: 200 mana stones]
[Lightstep]
[Rank: Low Grade]
[Description: Reduces the body's weight and increases movement speed.]
[Price: 420 mana stones]
So much for being cheap.
A single basic Spell Manual cost more than his original debt.
'These thieves.'
Elliott clenched his fists.
Knowledge was valuable everywhere, but this was excessive.
He could afford one manual by emptying his pockets, but then Acke and the Black Serpent Syndicate would put a blade through his stomach the next day.
'I still have to repay the debt. These might as well be decorations.'
Was there another option?
He searched every shelf.
The cheapest item he found was Illumination, a simple spell that produced light, and even that cost one hundred mana stones.
'Everything I can afford is completely useless in a fight.'
A fragment of household magic that did nothing more than produce light still cost that much.
Elliott sighed and looked toward the counter.
A clerk stood behind it, reading a book with a bored expression.
Elliott could not simply return home because the answer seemed impossible.
His situation was desperate enough that he had to try anything.
Begging, pleading, or making a nuisance of himself were all preferable to doing nothing.
He walked directly to the counter.
"Welcome. Are you looking for something?"
The clerk spoke without much interest.
Judging from Elliott's filthy appearance, he clearly did not expect him to purchase anything valuable.
Elliott gestured toward the expensive displays.
"Everything is too expensive."
"The Hall of Arcane Arts sells verified editions. They are worth their price."
The clerk's voice contained a trace of contempt.
His indifferent attitude clearly meant that anyone without money should look around quietly and leave.
Elliott ignored it and leaned against the counter.
"Do you have anything cheaper?"
"How cheap?"
The clerk asked reluctantly.
"A combat Spell Manual costing around one hundred mana stones."
The clerk yawned.
"Did you see anything like that on the shelves?"
"No."
"Then we do not have one."
The reply was cold.
Elliott did not retreat.
"I urgently need one. Please help me. Do you have old stock or anything else that is not displayed?"
"If you want spells that cheaply, join an Adept Order. Members receive support, so their manuals cost far less."
"Do you think I would be standing here if an Adept Order were willing to accept me? I am asking because they would reject someone with my aptitude."
"Why are you taking your frustration out on me? Blame your own talent."
Elliott bit his lip at the clerk's sharp response.
The man was not wrong.
In this world, lacking money and talent was practically a crime.
'Damn it.'
Elliott suppressed his anger and steadied his breathing.
This was not the time to defend his pride.
He needed information.
He was the one asking for help, while the clerk held the advantage.
Elliott took ten mana stones from his clothes and quietly pushed them across the counter.
"My apologies. I spoke carelessly because I was desperate. I hope you can show some understanding."
The clerk's eyes settled on the mana stones.
He cleared his throat, casually reached out, and swept them into his pocket.
"Ahem. I suppose I can understand your situation."
The effect of money was immediate.
As the clerk's expression softened, Elliott asked again.
"Is there truly no other way?"