The Wizard: Starting with Infinite Part-Time Jobs

"No way, I can't remember as fast as I forget. How long would it take to memorize this?"

"I only have 20 magic stones, which means I need to memorize them within 20 months to become a formal apprentice."

"I'm under immense pressure."

Aiden tried to memorize it several more times and managed to remember more than ten color blocks, but he couldn't remember the rest no matter what he tried.

"Before we knew it, it was already dark. This progress is really too slow."

"Let me try this wooden meditation pod."

Aiden rubbed his temples, feeling a bit dizzy, and lay down, accompanied by a creaking sound.

"I felt a tingling, numb sensation all over my body, like I was being electrified, especially my scalp, which felt very comfortable."

"I feel like my brain is working much better, like I'm on a cheat code."

Aiden was both surprised and delighted, and continued to memorize the meditation method.

About six hours later, it was already past midnight, and the distinctive howls of wild animals from the forbidden forest could be heard from time to time.

"I've memorized nearly 20 more color blocks, bringing the total to 35. At this rate, I can memorize all 18000 color blocks in just 18 months. I'll have enough magic stones."

"This meditation pod is really great. If we could upgrade it, it would probably be even more efficient."

"I'm not sleepy, I just feel so hungry, hungrier than ever before. My body feels completely drained."

Glug!

Aiden's stomach rumbled.

"Let's go out for some late-night snacks. The restaurant isn't far from here. Food and drinks are free."

Aiden was shocked by what he saw as soon as he pushed open the door.

Outside, there were many people wearing robes walking hurriedly along the walkway, carrying lanterns, just like during the day.

"So curly?"

"It's 3 a.m. Is the restaurant packed?"

……

At this moment, in the restaurant.

Aiden was still taken aback by the packed restaurant, even though he had expected it.

The restaurant was packed with prospective apprentices dressed in grey robes.

Everyone looked half-dead, queuing up to get food from the window, and they all looked extremely hungry.

"Looks like everyone's been completely drained after trying the meditation chambers," Aiden thought. "I wonder what my progress is. I've memorized 35 color blocks."

He ordered a rye bread, a fish pie, and a vegetable soup from the window.

I randomly found a spot near the window, rolled up my sleeves, and started eating.

"I wonder where Senior Sister Winnie is? It seems like all the prospective apprentices are out on the outskirts of the manor. She's been here for so long, she must be a full-fledged apprentice by now."

Aiden was eating when he heard a strange voice.

"Hey, you from the Atlantis Empire? Make room for me."

Aiden looked up and saw the blond boy who had worn a crown during the day was holding a plate and waving to him.

"I didn't expect this rich bastard to be a fellow countryman," Aiden thought to himself.

Aiden smiled and made way for him.

"Thank you, but I really don't want to move anymore. Let me fill my stomach first."

After saying that, he started eating with gusto.

Aiden didn't reply, but went to the window and ordered a plate of smoked wild boar. The two of them ate in silence.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the blond boy said, "My name is Bondi. You must be the one Mr. Ford recommended."

"I've seen your animal training performance; it was fantastic. But I don't know your name."

Aiden paused for a moment, then nodded: "My name is Aiden."

He didn't expect this guy to know him.

"Aiden, how's your meditation technique going? Father told me that anyone recommended by Mr. Ford is never bad," Bondi leaned closer and asked curiously.

"I memorized 35 color blocks," Aiden honestly replied.

He could sense that the guy didn't mean any harm; he was just of noble birth and spoke too casually.

"What the hell? Only... 35 yuan?" Bondi looked puzzled. "Did you use that meditation pod?"

Aiden smiled and said, "I used it. The effect is pretty good."

"Aiden, I didn't mean any offense. But if you take the meditation pod into account, your progress is probably a bit slow," Bondi said, shrugging.

Aiden said helplessly, "It's probably because my initial mental strength was too low. How many pieces did you memorize?"

"I spent over 200 yuan. I can't remember exactly," Bondi said casually. "And I plan to upgrade my meditation pod to improve efficiency."

Aiden was utterly shocked upon hearing this, instinctively clenching his fists. He had been so smug, thinking his progress was going quite well.

At least I could memorize more than 1 color blocks before running out of magic stones, but now it seems I've been crushed to dust.

"You don't need to compare yourself to me. My initial mental strength is 2.3, which makes me one of the most talented people in the royal family," Bondi comforted him.

Aiden took a deep breath and said with a wry smile, "It's okay, at least now I know the real gap between me and others."

His initial mental strength was only 0.6, barely a quarter of Bondi's.

"I didn't expect you to have such a good attitude. I need to learn from you."

"When I found out that Galatea's initial mental strength was higher than mine, I was so angry that I ripped out two handfuls of hair." Bondi lifted his blond hair and pointed to a bald patch on his scalp. "Look, it still hasn't grown back."

Galatea?

Aiden vaguely recognized the name; she seemed to be a mathematical genius in the Empire, the Minister of Finance's daughter, who had proposed new tax policies that filled the depleted treasury considerably.

More importantly, it did not cause public dissatisfaction and received a very good reputation.

"My father said her mental strength is 2.6. Even on the entire continent, that's among the best."

"It's a done deal to board the wizarding ship and head to the wizarding world. Let me learn from her."

"Hey, but I'm not convinced. There's still a long way to go."

Aiden nodded.

It doesn't matter if he has low talent; everything is unknown, and he still has a professional stat panel.

"She's here."

"Galácticos, Calvin, this way."

Aiden saw Bondi waving to him. A tall girl in an indigo-blue belted robe and a short boy in a gray robe sat down, both carrying plates full of food.

"Hey, Galatea, why aren't you wearing your gray robe?"

Bondi said somewhat irritably.

"Wizards are free; there's no rule that they must wear grey robes, Your Highness Bondi," Galatea said calmly.

Bondi: "But you're not a wizard yet. Like me, you're still a prospective apprentice."

"If there's nothing else, please don't disturb my meal, Your Highness Bondi."

Galatea ignored her and began to eat slowly and gracefully.

"Your Highness Bondi, who is this?" the gray-robed youth asked.

This was a burly young man, and after he sat down, he clearly had more space than the others.

Aiden could tell from the exquisite inner garment peeking out from under Calvin's gray robe that Calvin was also a nobleman, and the three of them were most likely from the same circle.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Aiden, the last sorcerer seed of our Atlantis Empire."

"There are four of us in this cohort. We all come from the same empire, so let's stay united," Bondi said with a smile.

"So, what is your family background?" Calvin's gaze turned towards him, somewhat sharp.