Talent Awakening: I, the Weakest Awakened, Start with Dragonfire Spell

Chapter 502 503-Shopping

Waving her hand to reassure Nula, Howard, accompanied by Vivia, left the room.

The pair's backs faded from the doorway, and their footsteps eventually vanished into silence before Nula settled back into her seat.

"When do you think Howard will see through it?"

A voice suddenly filled the room.

If Howard had still been there, he would have instantly recognized it as Dorek's voice!

For a magus, the role of a mentor is incomparably different from that of teachers in magus schools.

If those teachers are responsible for opening the door to the world of magus for you, then a mentor is your first true guide on the path forward.

No magus could ever forget their mentor's name.

"Maybe a long time, or perhaps he'll realize as soon as he descends the stairs. I can't make that judgment."

Nula's voice was calm, emanating a chill that seemed to keep others at a great distance.

"It's not that you can't, but rather you don't want to, right? If it were you, you could probably see through what he's thinking," Dorek's voice seemed to come from every corner of the room.

"Mentor, do you know? It's precisely because I understand too much that I dare not make any judgments," Nula's eyes reflected hesitation and fear.

"Yet, among us, you're the only one who might manage it," Dorek's voice carried a hint of resignation.

"Otherwise, we could at least share some of the burden with you now."

"It's no use, mentor," Nula stated coldly.

"It's all up to you now."

Dorek's voice gradually faded, eventually disappearing altogether.

Simultaneously, the faint mana that had lingered in the room completely dissipated.

Dorek hadn't come to Rodel City.

If he were here, Nula wouldn't be concerned about the assassination attempts; instead, she would be discussing with Howard how many captives to keep for interrogation.

Everyone in the organization has their tasks, with Howard being her target, just as Dorek has his own.

The reason Dorek appeared in Lorinda last time was purely out of concern for Nula's safety, essentially taking a break from his duties.

This time, he was stealing a moment from his busy schedule to chat with Nula through the mana network that spans the entire continent.

From what Nula knew, Dorek's target seemed to be a soul from the Alternate World as well, seemingly young, vibrant, and resembling a loli.

Could that be the type Howard likes?

Nula's thoughts drifted aimlessly.

If Howard were to truly fall for someone, what would that person be like?

If Howard hopelessly fell for someone, what characteristics would that person embody?

Could this become a breakthrough?

In the slightly ajar room, Nula's eyes narrowed as she smiled like a little devil.

...

"Hey! Howard, do I look good in this?"

Again!

Howard ran his fingers through his hair, feeling that his hair was doomed for the day.

In the last hour, the two had hurried through half the city.

Starting from the adventurer-dense western district, progressing along the central avenue, crossing the winding Rodel River that snakes through the residential areas, and finally arriving at their destination in the commercial district on the eastern part of Rodel.

This area is the only bustling commercial hub in Rodel and the sole place within the city selling scrolls and magic potions above the basic level.

Although these items are primarily used by adventurers, merchants and nobles also fancy purchasing such exquisite trinkets, whether for self-defense or to bolster their status.

After all, on this continent, magi hold the highest esteem.

You might encounter preparatory-level or level 3 magi among adventurers, but it's nearly impossible to see magi of level 1 or higher.

Magi at such ranks are almost always national treasures of their respective countries or belong to the upper echelons of nobility.

They may not be exclusionary, but the disparity in knowledge and understanding naturally makes communication challenging.

To capture the attention of these recluses, who prefer to stay within their laboratories, the best method is to present something that would undoubtedly pique their interest, thus drawing their gaze.

However, Howard's visit here was not to make a statement but to purchase items for Vivia's self-defense.

Directly enhancing a person's power might be challenging, but spending money on defensive means is straightforward.

Whether it's advanced Mana Shield scrolls, Liontiger magic potions, or spell wands with limited usage, all these items meet the requirements.

Naturally, the price won't be modest.

Even the cheapest intermediate magic potion costs over a hundred gold coins per bottle.

And this isn't even the price for combat-related magic potions, which generally cost about twice as much as those of other types at the same level.

On this outing, Howard had budgeted six hundred gold coins, hoping to purchase at least one suitable intermediate magic potion and several decent scrolls, with the most important being a teleportation scroll.

Instant use, a dash of several kilometers, a supreme artifact for escaping, yet its price is far from friendly.

From what Howard knew, the cheapest short-range teleportation scroll, capable of transporting someone less than five kilometers, also cost around two hundred gold coins.

A single scroll and one intermediate magic potion could deplete Howard's budget.

Money, oh money!

Is there any quick way to earn it?

Throughout the journey, Howard pondered this question.

Yet, Vivia seemed oblivious to these concerns, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed at the exquisite dresses in the shop windows.

The love of beauty is, arguably, innate to every female, and Vivia was no exception.

The moment she saw those fine garments, she was thoroughly captivated.

Although she knew their budget was limited and refrained from asking Howard to buy any, their progress was slowed significantly.

They would hardly cover a few meters before Howard had to coax Vivia away from another shop window.

Thus, after more than half an hour of delay, they finally reached their destination: Rodel Grand Marketplace.

The name might sound like a supermarket, and in fact, it indeed was one—a supermarket exclusively for magi.

This place sold nearly every common mana material available in the Northwestern Province, and even some of the rarer materials were regularly in stock.

As long as one was willing to pay the right price, they could be taken home immediately.

Not just materials, the marketplace also sold many semi-

finished magic potions and semi-finished scrolls, or even just the base ingredients for magic potions and blank scrolls.

Additionally, some mana creatures could also be found here, including purely experimental mana constructs and others designed for specific purposes.

One such example is a special type of slime named "Happy Night," a typical utility-focused mana construct.

Its inherent corrosive qualities had been eliminated, with an enhancement in structural strength and versatility.

Although its strength was reduced, its speed and the ability to survive in low-oxygen environments were increased.

Moreover, it could sustain itself in a smaller form for extended periods.

The majority of purchasers were noblewomen or nobles with particular tastes.

Anyway, Howard couldn't help but twitch at the sight of this item.

Not daring to linger too long in front of the "Happy Night" display, he quickly led Vivia to other counters.

After a tour around the marketplace, Howard finally found the stall selling intermediate magic potions.

Intermediate magic potions were considered relatively high-

end in Rodel, and there were only two counters selling them, situated directly opposite each other, seemingly in a long-

standing rivalry.

Howard wasn't much bothered by this; direct competition was advantageous for negotiating a better price.

Choosing a counter that seemed more appealing, Howard approached it and, without a word, placed his magus badge on the countertop.

In the Grand Marketplace, the identity of a magus could offer considerable convenience and effectively prevent scams.

No one dares to deceive a magus, as the price for such folly could very well be death.

Observing the middle-aged man behind the counter, who had now fully focused his attention, Howard tapped on the surface with his knuckles, speaking in a measured tone, "Do you have any decent intermediate magic potions here?"

A level 3 magus, although not the most distinguished figure in Rodel, could still be a guest of honor in any family, holding a position of significant esteem.

"You have a keen eye, sir! You've chosen the right shop! Truth be told, we've just received a new shipment recently, which includes several bottles of quite exceptional intermediate potions.

Whether for research purposes or self-defense while on the road, they're an excellent choice!"

For most, the purposes of purchasing intermediate magic potions boil down to these two uses.

In comparison to the brief duration of basic magic potions, intermediate magic potions not only offer a substantial enhancement in effect but also last at least three times longer than their basic counterparts.

They are indeed the best option for combat or self-defense.

Consuming one before an adventure pretty much ensures a safe journey ahead.

Of course, the price will definitely reflect their value.