Chapter 42: Spell Scrolls

“What about the Knock spell?” Gao De noticed Pierre had left his thought unfinished and asked after it.

“The Knock spell is only a 1st-level spell.”

“Only a 1st-level spell?” Gao De pressed his lips together, wanting to retort that Pierre spoke without feeling the burden.

In Hoggen City, a 1st-level mage was already the pinnacle—there weren’t even a few to be found in the entire city.

So no matter what, calling a 1st-level spell “only” was absurd—but he understood this was in contrast to Dispel Magic.

With this understanding, Gao De’s restless heart finally calmed.

He realized that within a short time, he had little chance of opening the wooden box left by Seda.

“So, you want to unlock the magical lock without knowing the secret incantation?” Pierre spoke with implication, suddenly.

Hearing this, Gao De immediately grew wary.

But seeing Pierre’s calm expression, he hesitated, realizing he’d already said this much—further concealment was pointless—and finally nodded: “Yes, but it doesn’t seem simple.”

“Indeed, it’s not easy. In Hoggen City, you can’t even find a few 1st-level mages, let alone one who knows the Knock spell.”

Pierre affirmed: “The Knock spell, while common in theory, is far too obscure in effect to ever be a mage’s first choice when learning spells.”

“Only those with specific needs, or seasoned 1st-level mages, might possibly master this spell.”

Pierre’s words sank Gao De’s spirits further.

Yet upon reflection, it made perfect sense.

Learning spells requires vast sums of money, energy, and time.

So mages always avoid impractical “obscure” spells and pursue those with high power or broad utility.

As if sensing Gao De’s disappointment, Pierre chuckled and added: “But in certain specific situations, these obscure spells often have irreplaceable uses—can’t be entirely ignored.”

“Thus, for spells rarely used but occasionally needed, mages rarely invest the effort to learn them—they instead buy spell scrolls as emergency reserves.”

“Spell scrolls?”

It was a familiar yet unfamiliar term—familiar because in Gao De’s past-life games or novels, “spell scrolls” were a classic item, ubiquitous.

Unfamiliar because in this world, he had never seen a spell scroll before.

“Spell scrolls contain pre-written spells, allowing mages who don’t know the spell to use it once.”

“Using a spell scroll consumes no personal mana—only requires meeting the spell scroll’s mental energy requirement.”

“And for nearly all low-level spell types, corresponding spell scrolls exist, greatly enhancing a mage’s flexibility and emergency response.”

“For every mage, it’s an extremely important magical item,” Pierre explained to Gao De.

“There are no shops in Hoggen City that sell spell scrolls,” Gao De confirmed. He’d visited the commercial district several times and never seen any shop offering them.

“Of course not. Only scrollmakers who master the corresponding spell can produce those spell scrolls.”

Pierre sighed: “Scrollmakers aren’t as esteemed as rune masters, but their rarity is nearly equal—usually, only major mage organizations preserve their professional knowledge.”

“So, you can only buy spell scrolls from these formal mage organizations.”

“And they’re typically released in limited quantities—once listed, popular spell scrolls are sold out within an hour; even obscure ones vanish within a day.”

To acquire even one or two spell scrolls requires luck. Even in big cities it’s hard—how could you ever find them in a small place like Hoggen City?”

But Gao De wasn’t disappointed—he knew Pierre went to such lengths for a reason, and wasn’t just giving him a lecture. He waited patiently for Pierre to continue.

“But,” Pierre paused, drawing out the suspense.

Gao De played along immediately: “But what?”

“I have a friend in Bremen City—a mage of the Emerald Alliance,” Pierre explained patiently. “The Emerald Alliance is one of Bremen City’s three major mage associations.”

“So through him, I can get a few spell scrolls through internal channels.”

“I’m planning to travel to Bremen City soon.”

“If you need it, I might be able to bring you back a scroll of the Knock spell.”

Pierre finished speaking and fell silent, watching Gao De, waiting for his decision.

“How much does a scroll of the Knock spell cost?” Gao De seized the key point.

“Though spell scrolls are in high demand, they’re single-use consumables, so their price isn’t especially high.”

“Six to seven Syen gold coins—that’s the average price for a 1st-level spell scroll.”

The average price of a 1st-level magical item is 65 gold coins.

A 1st-level spell scroll costs only one-tenth of a 1st-level magical item.

The price difference seems stark—but the former is reusable, while the latter is single-use.

Considering this, the price is fair and reasonable.

That’s the law of commodity pricing.

Six to seven Syen gold coins is still a substantial sum.

At the current output of the herb garden, it would take about half a month to save up that much.

But Gao De believed that whatever Seda had sealed with such a powerful magical lock must be worth far more than this.

It was a guaranteed profitable deal.

“What else do I need to pay?” Gao De asked, fully aware.

Pierre was using his personal connections, traveling all the way from Bremen City to get him a scroll—he wasn’t family or a close friend; no extra payment would be expected.

No free lunches existed.

Surprisingly, Pierre shook his head, staring directly at Gao De’s youthful yet unnervingly calm face: “You only need to pay the cost of the scroll itself.”

Gao De’s gaze lowered. After a moment of silence, his furrowed brows relaxed. He lifted his eyes and met Pierre’s directly: “Then I’m in your debt.”

“As for the money to buy the scroll—”

“No rush. Pay me after I actually bring back the Knock spell scroll,” Pierre waved dismissively.

New book’s first recommendation round is here—brothers, please keep reading during the launch period; it means everything to me!

My last sword cultivator book got knocked out in the first round—this is my second book; I’ve got to make it to the second round!

(End of chapter)