Chapter 15 – The Mage Guild

Punk stepped into what could only be described as a rather desolate Mage Guild. The entire floor appeared to be carved from a single piece of quartz—smooth and magnificent. Though similarly emerald green, it emitted a remarkably bright glow. The Mage Guild was almost entirely illuminated by this “Glowing Floor,” with light shining upward, greatly enhancing the mystique of the mages. However, the cost was that aside from the flashy yet impractical effect, it only brought about various inconveniences.

The Mage Guild was sparsely populated, with only a few young mages in gray robes, their faces obscured, gathered around a small doorway listening to an Old Mage speak.

The receptionist of the Mage Guild was a seemingly dull-witted alchemical puppet. It was clear that this small puppet had not been crafted with care and had likely gone without maintenance or repairs for a long time. Many components engraved with magic circles were exposed, and its joints creaked and groaned with every movement.

The alchemical puppet extended its thin, rod-like iron arm toward Punk. The golden paint on the mechanical arm had cracked and peeled off.

A magic circle materialized at the end of the puppet’s arm, presenting an interface similar to a “holographic projection,” though the image quality was rather blurry.

Several options written in the common language were visible: Join the Mage Guild, Inquire, Post a Task, Purchase Items, Accept a Task, Hand Over a Task, Purchase Knowledge.

However, only the first four options were illuminated, while the latter three remained grayed out.

Punk tapped on the “Join the Mage Guild” option. The panel flickered, and the text transformed into four lines:

“Please enter your name.”

“Please infuse mana to record your magical imprint.”

“Member Notes: None.”

“Member Benefits: Right to Accept Tasks, Right to Hand Over Tasks, Right to Purchase Knowledge.”

Punk thought to himself, “This world, which seems technologically backward, actually has some advanced features.” At the same time, he was somewhat surprised by the Mage Guild’s rules. Although he had long known from inherited knowledge that the Mage Guild was one of the most loosely organized groups, its regulations, which were barely stricter than those of a study group, were almost laughably lax.

Nevertheless, Punk decided to join the guild. His current knowledge reserves were far from sufficient—he needed to acquire more knowledge and learn from the experiences of his predecessors. To achieve this, aligning with a faction in the early stages was practically essential. Even an organization as loosely structured as the Mage Guild, Punk firmly believed, would not sell truly important knowledge to outsiders.

After waiting only a few seconds, Punk’s application to join the Mage Guild was approved. Almost impatiently, he opened the “Purchase Knowledge” section. Punk planned to buy one or two alchemical potion recipes and some basic alchemical tools. Once he could proficiently brew potions, he would have a steady stream of funds—after all, his parents had left him little wealth and, apparently, were not skilled in alchemy. His memories contained almost no alchemical knowledge, so Punk had to rely on himself.

Punk opened the Apprentice Rank Alchemical Potions column, and a dazzling array of potion names appeared on the panel.

Tranquility Potion, Lesser Meditation Aid, Emberfire Crystal Solution, Chill Elixir, Lesser Wind Elemental Concentrate………………Punk quickly took a liking to a “Night Vision Potion” recipe, tapping open the potion description with his slender fingers.

Knowledge Name: “Night Vision Potion Formula Details”

“Level: Apprentice Rank”

“Difficulty: Medium”

“Effect: Grants Apprentice Rank creatures the ability to vaguely see in darkness with brightness below nine Ziruo (unit name) (equivalent to a cloudy night). Duration—one hour and fifteen minutes.”

Punk was quite satisfied with this potion. It was foreseeable that many combat professionals would need such a potion to help them see enemies in the dark.

Finally, Punk shifted his gaze downward… to the purchase conditions section…

First: Become a member of the Mage Guild—simple enough!

Second: Two hundred Kamos Gold Coins.

“Two hundred gold coins, fairly reasonable. Alchemy tools only cost ten gold coins. I can easily gather this amount by hunting some magical beasts or taking on a few tasks at the Adventurers’ Guild,” Punk thought!

But as he continued reading… he froze…

Purchase Condition Three clearly stated: Must complete one Apprentice Rank task issued by the Mage Guild…

“Are you sure you’re the Mage Guild and not the Main God Space?”

Punk stared at the third condition, both indignant and speechless. He now understood why the Mage Guild’s entry standards were so low. This unreasonable method of knowledge monopoly could firmly bind mages in desperate need of knowledge reserves to the Mage Guild’s war chariot. Unfortunately, Punk now found himself in the awkward position of having to willingly jump onto that chariot!

“Young sir, what would you like to purchase?”

The Old Mage, who had just been explaining something to a gray-robed mage, had somehow approached Punk unnoticed. When he saw Punk staring blankly at the purchase panel for “Night Vision Potion Formula Details,” his entire wrinkled, bark-like face crinkled into a smile.

“This potion formula is quite excellent, but the purchase conditions~ aren’t very humane. After all, this is just a small city—where would we get so many Apprentice Rank tasks? Even if there were any, others would have snatched them up already!”

Hearing the old man’s words, Punk frowned slightly but didn’t retort, as he could sense the old man’s unconcealed 6th Apprentice-Level soul tier.

“Might I ask if the elder has any advice?” Punk said in a neutral tone, knowing the other party hadn’t approached him just to exchange idle remarks.

“Hehe, young man, your luck is good. I happen to have an Apprentice Rank task right here. How about it, interested?”

The Old Mage grinned, revealing a set of yellowish teeth, and stretched out a “claw” with what he likely thought was a kindly smile. In his thin, bony palm lay a pale white crystal. As the Old Mage channeled magic into it, a task description appeared within the crystal:

Name: “Investigate the Undead Aura in the Aegma Barren Wasteland”

Completion Requirement: “Identify and record the location of the undead aura (using Leize Localization for positioning).”

“So, what do you think? Tasks that come this promptly are usually fought over. If you don’t take it now, it’ll be gone.”

Punk felt his heart twitch at that moment. “Isn’t this exactly the Undead Forest I’ve been trying to avoid? I never expected my premonition to come true so quickly.””May I ask why you don’t go yourself?”

Punk asked the Old Mage with Apprentice-Level strength somewhat puzzled: “Wouldn’t such a task be effortless for you?”

“I… ahem… I’m doing this to give you younger generation some opportunities,” the Old Mage straightened his hunched back, attempting to appear like a venerable senior.

However, upon seeing Punk’s expression of “I don’t believe you,” he had no choice but to tell the “truth”:

“If I were to investigate, those Church hounds would surely follow. This was prophesied by Lord Mainaixi, the only formal professional in our Konola City, and I’ve heard there are decent resources worth obtaining too. How could we let those Church charlatans get their hands on such a risk-free, easy job?” The Old Mage’s eyes shone with the same gleam a goblin gets upon seeing Gold Coins, even briefly dancing about in excitement.

Punk decided not to comment on this utterly questionable mage and quickly asked: “But I heard the death energy there has corroded an entire forest, with many…”

“Nonsense!” The Old Mage interrupted Punk with a tone that said “what does a child know.”

“It’s just a small Wasteland, not the Abyss. How dangerous could it be?”

The Old Mage clearly looked down upon the small Wasteland.

“Young people nowadays accomplish nothing because they’re too timid!”

Punk originally wanted to refuse this obviously suspicious task, but then he remembered he only had five Gold Coins left by his irresponsible parents. On the other hand, he was at the brink of breaking through to Apprentice-Level and needed some resources to aid his cultivation. Considering it was just some reconnaissance and locating – with his peak apprentice mage level and two Apprentice-Level equipment pieces, he could surely escape even if there was danger…

Having finished his considerations, Punk said to the Old Mage with feigned nonchalance: “Very well, I’ll take this task.”

(End of Chapter)