Chapter 52

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 52: Mage Hunter (2)

“A call?”

Oscar mouthed the words.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Elder Maxim of the White Tower.”

Maxim, huh?

As the attendant handed him the receiver of the communicator, Oscar took it and stared at it blankly.

He’d seen Archbishop Baldwin use one before, but it was his first time handling it himself.

“Do I hold it up to my face like this? Hello? Can you hear me?”

“Uh, Sir Oscar, you’re holding it upside down.” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Oh, I have to hold it to my ear this way.”

The moment he adjusted the receiver correctly, a flood of nagging complaints blasted through.

– Oscar! What kind of dangerous stunts are you pulling out there for your name to dominate the newspapers...

I should’ve kept holding it upside down.

Wearing a sour expression, he endured five minutes of Maxim’s scolding before the latter seemed to calm down and allowed some concern to creep into his tone.

– Anyway, are you okay? How’s your health?

“I’m fine overall. My ears are stinging a bit, though.”

– Your mouth seems fine, judging by that cheeky reply.

“My body’s fine too. But why the sudden call?”

– I was worried about your return trip. The reason I suggested Kilian escort you back in the first place was because of that new criminal prowling around the northern region—the so-called ‘Mage Hunter.’ It’s not safe for you to encounter someone like that in your current state.

“...The Mage Hunter?”

Intrigued, Oscar switched the receiver to his other ear.

“How strong are they?”

– Over ten mages have already fallen victim, including a Level 5 mage, so you can assume they’re at least that powerful.

“...Have any of our White Tower mages been targeted?”

– Fortunately, not yet. But even mages from the Red Tower and Yellow Tower have been attacked recently. It’s only a matter of time before it’s our turn.

It was concerning news—though, to be honest, Oscar was more worried for other mages than himself.

‘Especially since the northern regions have traditionally been the White Tower’s domain…’

Though their numbers had dwindled, there were still many White Tower mages in the north, likely because Sirin, the heart of their operations, was located there.

“Thank you for the warning. I’ll be careful.”

– Good. Remember, the Mage Hunter only targets solitary mages. Stay with Kilian at all times.

After ending the call, Oscar stepped into the hallway where Kilian was leaning against the wall, waiting for him.

“You seemed to be talking to someone. Was it Elder Maxim?”

“Yeah, he told me to be cautious because there’s some Mage Hunter lurking around.”

“Hah, what an absurd individual.”

Kilian scoffed and pushed off the wall.

“Do we just head straight back to the White Tower, then?”

“Before that—”

Whir, whoosh.

Oscar swung a thick envelope filled with cash, the sound resembling a club being brandished.

Inside the envelope was a hefty 1.85 million bels, including the contract fee he’d recovered from Klein.

“Let’s do some shopping first.”

* * *

Shopping was another must-do activity in a city famed for its booze and gambling.

To prove it, Baran City hosted the world’s largest auction every week, attracting wealthy patrons with high-quality, verified goods.

However, the place Oscar intended to visit wasn’t the auction house.

“...Don’t you already have enough money?”

Kilian asked, eyeing the dazzling casino in front of them.

Magical lights illuminated the building’s exterior as night fell, making it shine like a festival.

“I have plenty.”

“Then why are we here? Gambling is a vice.”

“I’m not here to gamble, so don’t worry.”

Smirking, Oscar approached the entrance adorned with a golden dragon sculpture.

Beneath it stood doormen in sleek black suits.

Passing them, the duo entered, revealing a bustling gambling hall.

“Damn it, it’s about time I hit the jackpot...”

“Raise.”

“Ugh, I fold. My luck’s trash today.”

The casino’s central area was filled with slot machines and card tables.

Slot machines of various themes and colors spun endlessly, their jingles enticing new customers.

Meanwhile, well-dressed dealers manned the card tables, ready to accommodate players.

“Let’s go.”

Oscar led Kilian toward the cashier’s cage.

A cheerful employee greeted them.

“Hello, how can I assist you today?”

“I’d like to buy some chips—the darkest, most obscure ones you have.”

The employee’s expression subtly shifted as they handed over two dull, dark chips.

“That’ll be 20,000 bels.”

After paying and pocketing the chips, Kilian frowned.

“You said you’re not gambling. Why buy chips?”

“These aren’t for games—they’re tickets.”

“Tickets?”

“Too much to explain. Just follow me.”

Oscar headed toward the emergency stairwell, descending until they reached the 9th and final basement floor.

A burly guard sat in front of a sturdy door, his aura suggesting he was around Level 3 in magic.

“Two people.”

After inspecting them, Oscar handed over the two chips, and the guard unlocked the door.

What lay beyond was a stark contrast to the glittering casino above.

Kilian’s sharp eyes widened in shock.

“Oscar, this place...?”

“It’s the black market.”

The underground cavern was vast, its chill air brushing past them.

Stone buildings were scattered throughout, and luminescent crystals embedded in the towering ceiling glittered like stars.

“This... is astounding. How could they construct such a place beneath the city?”

“Dwarven craftsmanship,”

Oscar replied with a shrug.

“If you’re done gawking, let’s move. The longer we stay, the worse it’ll get.”

“What do you mean by that?”

As Kilian looked around, he noticed the stares directed their way.

Not just subtle glances—open, brazen scrutiny.

“These stares are unsettling. Why are they looking at us like that?”

“Kilian, do you know why the royal family tolerates the black market’s existence?”

Kilian shook his head.

“I don’t.”

“It’s basically a trash bin.”

In a sprawling empire, managing scattered refuse is a hassle.

Instead, the court opted to gather the trash in one place.

“Of course, the trash can’t overflow, so the court keeps it in check. Black market leaders even report their activities to the royal family.”

“...This is complicated.”

“To simplify: it’s a mutual understanding. Even the court can’t catch or kill every criminal out there.”

Without such an outlet, criminals might wreak havoc in the surface cities.

In short, the black market was a space where minor criminals were tacitly allowed to roam.

“So those unsettling stares I noticed—they really are unpleasant?”

“Probably. They’re likely thinking, ‘Does he have money? Could I take him in a fight?’ But don’t worry too much. Even criminals know causing trouble here leaves them with nowhere else to go.”

“Hmm.”

As if resolving himself, Kilian suddenly shouted:

“I am Kilian Lockwood, a proud warrior of the forest! Anyone who dares give us an unpleasant look will lose their eyes!”

“...Wow.”

As expected of a forest warrior—unpredictable and ever fresh.

To Oscar’s surprise, the brutish tactic worked.

Startled criminals coughed awkwardly and averted their gazes.

Though not all the stares disappeared, they at least became less overt.

“Nicely done. Let’s move before we attract more attention.”

Walking deeper into the black market, Oscar scanned the stalls lined with goods—herbs, potions, materials, weapons, books.

Despite the variety, he focused on quality.

‘Most of this stuff is junk, probably stolen goods.’

Items sold in black markets were usually looted, stolen, or excavated illegally.

Naturally, their condition was far inferior to the meticulously preserved items found in auction houses.

"Oscar, is there a particular reason you insist on buying from the black market?"

"There is. Compared to their value, the prices are cheap."

For sellers, holding onto stolen goods for too long was a liability.

If the original owner showed up, it would inevitably cause trouble.

"I see. Do you have anything specific in mind?"

"Equipment that can aid in combat."

Oscar had already decided in his mind to prioritize enhancing his combat strength over purchasing herbs.

Since losing Trinity, his combat power had undeniably declined.

‘But I can't just pick up anything randomly.’

What he was after was equipment worthy of being called a masterpiece.

Some people said that skilled individuals didn't blame their tools, but Oscar thought those people knew nothing.

‘True craftsmen are the pickiest about their tools.’

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

So-called masterpieces were tools that could push their users beyond their limits.

If that weren’t the case, the term “masterpiece” wouldn’t even exist.

"Hm?"

Oscar stopped in front of a shabby stall.

His gaze was fixed on a bracelet sitting atop a tilted display stand, the alignment so off it seemed ready to collapse.

It was an ordinary-looking bracelet, devoid of any magical aura, something you could find anywhere.

And yet, it stood out amidst the other magical items.

"Ho, young man, you’ve got a keen eye."

A middle-aged man, arms crossed, spoke from where he was seated.

"It may look like this, but it’s an artifact discovered in an ancient dungeon. It’s so difficult to handle that it hasn’t been sold yet, but if we’re talking value, this is by far the best item I’ve got."

"...An artifact, you say?"

Usually, when sellers made such claims, it was a scam 99.99% of the time.

Even Trinity, which Oscar had found quite useful, was just a modified weapon; it was nothing compared to genuine artifacts discovered in dungeons.

Yet, something about this bracelet gave him a feeling—an inexplicable sense of destiny.

"What enchantments does it have?"

"As far as I know, 『Size Adjustment』, 『Enhanced Durability』, and 『Summon Clone』"

The setup wasn’t bad.

Especially the『Summon Clone』which was a mid-level illusion magic often associated with the Purple Tower.

"But just those enchantments qualify it as an artifact?"

Oscar tilted his head in skepticism and asked.

"Can I try it out?"

"Ahem. Artifacts are more delicate than they seem, and mishandling them could break them..."

Oscar pulled out a pouch and handed over 10,000 bel.

"This should be enough to cover a trial."

"...Just once. But if it breaks, you’ll have to buy it."

With the merchant’s stern warning, Oscar nodded and put the bracelet on his left wrist.

Though it seemed a bit large, it adjusted to fit his wrist perfectly, bringing a slight smile to his face.

But as soon as he infused it with mana, 30% of his total mana was drained in an instant.

‘Are you kidding me?’

Was this how much mana it took just to summon a duplicate?

His mana pool was on par with high-level fifth-tier mages, so the amount drained was ridiculous.

Most would have tossed the bracelet aside in frustration, but the results were too intriguing to ignore.

"Whoa!"

Even the merchant was shocked.

Another figure identical to Oscar had appeared right in front of them.

Oscar's eyes deepened.

‘This is 'summoning a duplicate'? No way.’

While he wasn’t an expert in illusion magic, he prided himself on his sharp eye.

Based on what he saw, this magic was far more extraordinary than the description implied.

‘It might even be an advanced-level spell from the Purple Tower.’

Unaware of this, the merchant scrutinized the duplicate in amazement.

"So far, quite a few mages have tested this thing, but you’re the first to create such a refined duplicate. Others have all conjured humanoid blobs of clay."

"Looks like the bracelet has finally found its proper owner."

The merchant narrowed his eyes at this remark.

"Well, that depends on how much money you’ve got."

Not easily swayed, huh?

Just then, the duplicate dispersed into smoke.

Seeing this, Oscar spoke swiftly.

"Ah, but the duration is way too short."

"Even so, it’s still an amazing artifact. I’ll let it go for a special price—2.5 million bel."

"Hmm."

Feigning hesitation, Oscar had already decided to buy it.

As the merchant said, this could very well save his life depending on how he used it.

"That’s too expensive. I doubt anyone but me could use it properly anyway."

"That’s none of my concern. I’ll sell it to whoever pays the most, even if they don’t know how to use it."

"And that’s why you haven’t sold it until now, isn’t it?"

Oscar asked in a casual tone.

"Let’s be honest here. How long has this been unsold?"

"...Only half a year."

The air subtly shifted.

"That’s a lie. Let’s see... Has it been over a year? Oh, wait—more than that? Two years, perhaps? Hold on... could it be three years?"

At the mention of three years, the air around the merchant quivered in a distinctly different manner.

Oscar muttered incredulously.

"Seriously, are you trying to sell a piece of inventory that’s been sitting unsold for three years for 2.5 million bel?"

"...It’s still an artifact, isn’t it?"

Sullenly retorting, the merchant reached for the money pouch Oscar handed him.

"1.8 million bel. I doubt anyone else will offer you this much for it even in another three years."

"Tch, this thing’s worth every bit of 2.5 million bel."

"Not likely. Besides, there’s no proof it was even discovered in an ancient dungeon, is there?"

"Well, no, but..."

The merchant hesitated, but when he saw the thick pouch of cash, he snatched it with a sigh.

"Fine, take it before I change my mind."

"Thank you."

Oscar smiled brightly.

If the bracelet’s appearance had been more refined, if the enchantments turned out to be beyond『Summoning Clone』and if there had been authentic certification of its dungeon origin, it would’ve fetched at least ten times the price at an auction.

"Well, that’s why it ended up in the black market to begin with."

Feeling satisfied, Oscar turned around.

"Kilian, let’s head back."

Kilian, who had been yawning the entire time as if bored, nodded.

Just as they turned to retrace their steps—

"Hey, hold it right there."

Two men they’d never seen before stopped them.

The larger of the two, scanning them with a condescending gaze, asked:

"You two, mages?"

What kind of manners were these?

About to retort, Oscar caught sight of the badges pinned to their chests, worn like trophies.

Golden badges shaped like lightning bolts.

"......"

These guys were mages from the Yellow Tower.

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]