The Wizard: Starting with Infinite Part-Time Jobs

"The progress has slowed down; I've only memorized a little over two thousand pieces so far," Aiden said helplessly. He raised his hand and rubbed his throbbing temples vigorously.

"Then you'd better put in some effort. Anyway, don't end up like that guy who hanged himself," Bondi comforted him. He reached out and patted Aiden hard on the back.

"Don't worry, I would never commit suicide." Aiden smiled, his lips barely twitching, and continued, "It's just that I'm short on magic stones, so I need to find some ways to make money."

"The easiest way to make money is to work part-time in the experimental zone in the center of the basin," Galatea said, toying with her wine glass.

Aiden was taken aback.

Experimental zone? But...

"Miss Galatea, I'm afraid I don't have the authority to go in," Aiden said with a wry smile, spreading his hands.

The entire Forbidden Forest Basin is divided into an outer living area, an inner living area, and an experimental area, from the outside in.

As a prospective wizard apprentice, Aiden can only move around in the outer living area; he cannot enter the latter two areas.

That was an absolute no-go zone; even taking a single step closer would result in being torn to shreds by the animal servant puppets.

He had been searching for his senior sister Winnie, who was most likely a formal apprentice and was currently in the inner living area, so he couldn't see her.

"Yes, Galatea, your suggestion is unreliable," Bondi said, frowning.

"Who knows?" Galatea replied with a nonsensical remark. She tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

Calvin, who had always been at odds with Aiden, said, "Mr. Aiden, you can come with me to the Forbidden Forest to hunt wild beasts. The animal servants will buy the valuable parts of these beasts with magic stones."

Aiden shook his head and refused without hesitation. He stared warily at Calvin's hypocritical face.

Calvin didn't seem to have any good intentions.

He had encountered the wild beasts in the Forbidden Forest before, and they were all very fierce and difficult to deal with.

Otherwise, why would this godforsaken place be called the Forbidden Forest? Even the wind here smells of blood.

Just as Aiden was at his wit's end, the tavern door opened with a jarring creak.

A young man dressed in a dark gray robe walked in and addressed the tavern patrons, "Does anyone need magic stones? I need a personal assistant."

The prospective wizarding apprentices in the tavern all turned to look, including Aiden and his three companions. All eyes were fixed on the entrance like searchlights.

This was a young man with a light-colored scar on his face. He looked at the apprentices on the field with a somewhat gloomy gaze, his face twitching from time to time. The scar, like a pink centipede, lay on his left cheek, making him look particularly ferocious and terrifying.

"This guy, is he a formal wizard apprentice? He's wearing a dark gray robe," Aiden said, squinting.

"He seems to be in a somewhat unstable condition," Bondi emphasized.

"Can I?" A boy raised his hand.

When the boy stood up, he knocked over the chair. His face turned bright red, his hands were raised high, and his eyes were full of longing and flattery.

"Senior, I want to give it a try," someone asked. This person even got up from their seat and jogged over to the scarred youth.

"What I need are ladies, beautiful ladies." The scarred youth licked his lips and scanned the girls in the bar with greedy eyes.

"Disgusting." Galatea frowned, her face filled with disgust.

A few seconds ago, the scarred young man's gaze lingered on her for quite a while.

The sticky, damp gaze made her feel as if a cold snake had coiled around her neck.

"So this guy was really pent up and came looking for his lover," Bondi cursed.

Aiden sneered.

He had genuinely thought the scarred young man was looking for an assistant. Now it seemed he wasn't looking for an assistant at all, but rather selecting a concubine.

Most of the prospective wizards on the field remained silent, expressing their disdain for this behavior but feeling powerless to do anything about it.

After all, the person in front of them was a formal wizard apprentice. The oppressive aura brought by that hierarchical suppression felt like a huge rock pressing on everyone's chest.

The scarred young man was very patient, as if this wasn't the first time he'd done something like this. He even found a clean chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers.

Before long, several girls got up. Judging from their clothes, they were all ordinary girls. Their clothes were rough and even patched, but at that moment they looked like commodities waiting to be sold.

"Sera, why?"

"Quelinth, I'm sorry. But I need the magic stone, and you can't give it to me."

Not far from Aiden and his group of four, a couple was arguing. The boy's face turned red, and he pounded his fists on the table, clearly in agony. His features were contorted in pain, tears and snot streamed down his face, and he let out a low growl like a wounded beast.

In the end, the girl named Sera was taken away, leaving everyone sighing with regret.

The girl looked back every few steps, but still followed the scarred young man out of the tavern.

Before leaving, the scarred young man uttered a single sentence.

"That's reality, newcomers. If anyone is short of magic stones, even if you're just staying at the tavern, someone will come looking for an assistant. If you're a noble lady, you can get more magic stones."

"It's all worth it to become a wizard. Now is the time when you can fetch the highest price. It's all an equal exchange."

Curses echoed through the tavern, and many people began to leave. However, a few hesitated, while the few commoner girls who had raised their hands earlier had resigned themselves to their fate and remained in the tavern to wait.

They huddled in the corner like a few frightened quails, their eyes vacant and their bodies still trembling slightly.

"Let's go back. It seems these magic stones aren't easy to earn. Without a skill, I'm afraid I'll have to sell my dignity," Aiden said, shaking his head.

"Aiden, if you're short of magic stones, I can lend you some," Bondi said generously. He patted the bulging leather pouch at his waist.

"No need, I'll think of something else." Aiden forced a smile, revealing an expression that looked worse than crying.

……

On his way home, Aiden kept thinking about the "equivalent exchange" that the scarred youth had emphasized earlier.

The gravel path beneath his feet made a screeching, grating sound, stretching his shadow long and distorted.

He has made up his mind to make use of his special abilities to enhance his personal value.

"Although I'm very busy, and all my energy is currently focused on memory meditation, I also need to find a way to improve my mastery of the 'acrobatic' profession, which requires some of my energy."

"Besides stage performances, I can improve my mastery of beasts and upgrade to the next level of beast fighter by taming them."

Aiden looked at the core competency—basic animal behavior.

"This is the Forbidden Forest, where wild animals are plentiful. I can find a way to train a few smaller animals that are less aggressive."

Just then, several gray-robed apprentices appeared on the main road, rushing over in a hurry. They were carrying something that could be vaguely seen. Their hurried footsteps, accompanied by heavy breathing, kicked up clouds of dust.

"Please make way."

"Hurry up, don't waste time."