A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 24 Can Pay-to-Win Really Make You Stronger?

Learning scrolls—using specially treated parchment and engraved ink, scrolls slow down the casting speed of spells, gradually revealing how magic works.

The assistant brought a scroll of [Magic Detection], led Rorschach to the practice room on the top floor of the guild, and then took a letter tube with him.

The practice room was also a windowless room, with walls made of northern bluestone and engraved with protective magic arrays—it did not require additional charging, but could be activated by the dissipated magic power of the practitioners to provide a weak protective and soundproofing effect.

A very nice venue.

Rorschach channeled magic into the scroll, and the scroll's patterns gradually lit up. His proficiency in condensing magic was extremely useful; now, even a slow infusion of magic allowed Rorschach to perceive its flow, essentially allowing him to "play" the [Magic Detection] function twice—like charging and releasing a scroll.

Rorschach's specialization in Fireball at the academy also had its own objective difficulties:

Even with royal subsidies at the academy, a basic spellbook still costs at least ten gold eagle coins. This was unaffordable for Rorschach, so he could only seize opportunities to learn from his teacher's demonstrations in class and by asking Professor Caroline for help.

Apprentices from other noble and wealthy families who did not master new spells in class could purchase learning scrolls after class.

Didn't learn it? Here's another one!

So in reality, during the apprentice and novice mage stages, spending money really can make you stronger! Rather, it's more accurate to say that without spending money, you can only be like the original Rorschach, with limited mastery of the few spells with the best affinity.

From the captain of the special defense force, Rorschach learned that he was being followed by two people, who were probably sent by the head of the organization to half-protect and half-monitor him.

He needs to master a detection spell, and the Magic Guild sells the most comprehensive learning scrolls.

Rorschach came to the guild for another reason: his panel, which had been stuck in a "spinning" state since the Battle of the Nameless Valley, had finally unlocked, and the spell creation slots had now increased to four. The Magic Guild was a great place to experiment with and practice new spells.

[Magic Detection (White)] - "Magic Diffusion (White)" "Feedback Perception (White)"

The patterns on the scroll gradually faded and crumbled, and the parchment became hard, brittle, and yellowish. It had completed its mission; in Rorschach's eyes, the panel already possessed the spell.

【Magic Detection】A simple and straightforward spell. Within the cone-shaped field of vision emitted by the magic, all magical items, magic nodes, and spellcasters with high concentrations of intrinsic magic will be reflected as "auras" in the field of vision. The detection can even slightly penetrate common thin walls and wooden doors.

A small opening doesn't count!

This spell has been unlocked, but it's not enough. Based on my experience with the [Water Creation] spell, even a white-level proficiency level can't guarantee a successful casting.

Without hesitation, he immediately dragged the newly appeared term into the slot on the panel.

Rorschach's Magic Jet (White)

This is a terrible name and a terrible effect. As the name suggests, it sprays magic power into a cone-shaped area, making it a trash spell because the mana bar is too long.

Luo Xia frowned slightly. The second entry failed to construct a spell on its own. He thought for a moment and added "Feedback Perception (White)" after "Spell Hand".

This time it was a success! [Rorschach's Arm of the Unicorn (Blue)]

This panel has a strangely wicked sense of humor.

Rorschach specifically clicked on the panel's annotation: "Rorschach's Qilin Arm; the young man's mage hand, whether judged by power or range, surpasses the level of common sense in this low-level magic. Now, with the final piece of the puzzle added, the Qilin Arm is finally born! The third hand is as powerful and agile as the mythical beast Qilin of the Far East!"

Alright, Rorschach tried it out first, and he found that he still preferred to call it "Mage's Arm". It was no different from real hands in terms of perception. As the "feedback" took effect, his magically formed hands also gained tactile sense and became more dexterous, as if they were born with it!

"It's somewhat effective." As he brushed against the wall of the practice room, Rorschach could feel the texture of the stone wall through an invisible hand.

"It can be used for exploration; touch can also convey information."

The repeated use of the spell caused a familiar throbbing pain in Luo Xia's temples. He took a deep breath and decided to make a dangerous but significant attempt.

By forcibly inhaling large amounts of magical energy from the environment through "magic drive," the side effects are quite clear: after a surge in energy, the person falls into a prolonged coma.

What about absorbing external magic little by little, carefully and in a controlled manner? While that might not have the explosive effect or the frenzied casting, it would at least extend one's mana bar.

[Magic Drive] Guided by external magic, he slowly infused it into himself, instantly feeling refreshed. Not only did the throbbing pain in his temples subside, but his previous fatigue was also significantly reduced, and his thinking speed increased markedly.

He had practically acquired an energy-gathering ring, making him stronger at level one than at level six or three!

While excited, Rorschach was also a little worried—if this world had "magic addiction," it would be a self-inflicted wound!

"By the way, where is the stationmaster here?" Luo Xia suddenly realized before leaving the Magic Guild that he had always been greeted by the assistant and had never seen the stationmaster of this branch.

The assistant looked embarrassed: "As I mentioned before, our branch leader and the resident mage went to a banquet together on the night of the carnival."

At the time of the sacrificial ceremony, the branch president was already unconscious due to excessive drinking and was therefore under investigation for suspected dereliction of duty.

Mr. Unuk came out with a flushed face, apparently unable to hold his liquor and leaving the table. He happened to be there during the sacrificial ceremony and thus escaped punishment for dereliction of duty.

"Excuse me, but whose banquet are you attending?"

The assistant's expression turned to disgust. After a tumultuous, night of collapse, his emotions seemed more readily apparent.

"I may tell you, but the banquet was hosted by the city's governor, along with other nobles and wealthy merchants, all locals. They're scheming and corrupt, entrenched in the empire's fortress city, and they have an ambiguous relationship with the Holy Kingdom."

"Thank you for informing me, assistant. I don't want to know the rest."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rorschach, I'm currently experiencing a mental breakdown."

"Thank you for your hard work, assistant. Goodbye!"

"Farewell, Mr. Rorschach!"

Rorschach also achieved another important breakthrough: [Rorschach's Magic Detection]. The first step in building it was no longer "Magic Jet (White)" but his familiar "Magic Condensation (Purple)". Although the detection distance was shorter, under Rorschach's control, the range of magic condensation could cover his entire body, gaining a small-area, blind-spot-free detection field of vision.

However, the magic guild had far too many magical items and other magical nodes, and Rorschach didn't want to blind himself with magical auras.

By observing the magic guilds within his field of vision, Rorschach sensed the effective range of the new spell.

One step, two steps. About three yards. It doesn't feel like a big distance. Rorschach forcibly gathers more magic power and disperses it, expanding it to a radius of five yards.

Rorschach discovered the anomaly during the experiment.

(End of this chapter)