With the expenditure of a skill point—
[Skill Points: 45 → 44]
A new ability appeared in the skill menu: Scroll Crafting.
Skill: Scroll Crafting
Cost: 1–3 low-level scrolls / 5 MP (mana cost doubles every three levels)Description: Allows the creation of blank magic scrolls corresponding to the caster's level, requiring appropriate materials and mana.
Sakeer's eyes lit up as he examined the skill information.
Unexpectedly,
Acquiring the ability to craft magic scrolls was far easier than he had anticipated.
For a technique that had clearly been refined and adapted by humans, the trade-off of higher material and mana consumption was hardly a concern—at least, not for him.
It was much like Apothecary skills. Without higher-grade herbs and rare ingredients, creating high-level potions was simply impossible.
But here—
With the ability to level up Papermaking using skill points, Sakeer could produce his own materials indefinitely!
The only real constraint was mana.
"This should be a second-tier magic scroll, right?" Sakeer suddenly asked.
"That's correct."
The middle-aged magician instinctively glanced at Master Belori before answering.
Seeing that his strict teacher made no move to interrupt, he hesitated briefly but then proceeded with an explanation—a bit surprised at the leeway he had been given.
"Ordinary sheepskin can only be used for first-tier magic scrolls. Anything beyond that simply won't hold the spell properly."
"To craft second-tier scrolls, sheepskin must be combined with paper made using second-tier 'Papermaking' magic."
Sakeer nodded in understanding, his gaze shifting toward the pale golden liquid in which the paper had been soaking.
"What exactly is this liquid?"
Learning scroll-making techniques wasn't enough—
One also needed the skill and method to infuse magic into the scrolls properly.
Since he had no plans to take on an official mentor, the best alternative was to glean as much knowledge as possible from experienced magic casters.
This was a perfect opportunity—one he wouldn't waste.
The middle-aged magician glanced at his teacher again, ensuring Belori was still occupied examining the freshly made scroll.
Seeing that his teacher paid no attention to their conversation, he relaxed slightly and answered,
"It's a magical solution that stabilizes mana."
His tone had softened noticeably, and his expression toward Sakeer had shifted from reserved to genuinely friendly.
When he first saw the young man, he had assumed Sakeer had merely been brought here due to his high status.
But now—
It seemed that his teacher saw something special in him.
"Second-tier 'Papermaking' is far more difficult to master than most spells of the same level."
"The strength of a caster's magic, their level of proficiency, and other factors all affect the final product—meaning the magical potency of the paper can vary significantly."
"Because of that, instability issues frequently arise when crafting magic scrolls. Failures are common, and in some cases, the scrolls can even become dangerous."
"That's why we use this magical solution—to stabilize the mana within the paper."
As he spoke, the middle-aged magician glanced at Master Belori again, this time with a flattering smile.
Lowering his voice, he added,
"Of course, only Teacher is capable of producing flawless second-tier scroll paper without needing the magic solution."
Sakeer immediately understood.
His initial interest in the golden liquid vanished instantly—and instead, a look of pity crossed his face as he glanced at the magician before him.
He really miscalculated that flattery.
Belori, standing in the front hall, pretended to evaluate the second-tier paper he had made, commenting,
"This level is quite impressive, even among my students."
But now—
It was clear that he had only said that to praise himself.
Sakeer's second-tier Papermaking skill should be on par with Belori's—
Which meant…
Belori's so-called perfection was nothing special at all.
Of course, this was only possible thanks to the 'player system'—not his own merit.
But that didn't change the outcome.
The middle-aged magician's flattery had completely backfired.
No wonder Master Belori hadn't even bothered to ask for his background before directly offering to take him as a disciple.
Truly.
Just as the middle-aged magician finished speaking, Master Belori, who had been inspecting the magic scroll, suddenly paused.
"How many blank magic scrolls have been made today?" he asked, looking up. His face remained unreadable as he fixed his gaze on the middle-aged magician.
"First... second... two copies," the magician stammered, sensing an abrupt shift in the atmosphere.
"Only two, after all this time?"
Master Belori's tone was light, almost indifferent, yet it carried an unmistakable weight.
"Since you have so much free time, why don't you clean everything up in here?"
The middle-aged magician blinked in confusion, his expression turning aggrieved.
"Huh?"
Crafting a magic scroll wasn't overly complicated, but it required careful selection of paper with similar magical properties, preparation of the stabilizing solution, and time to restore mana.
"Must I repeat myself?" Master Belori's eyes narrowed slightly.
"No, Teacher!"
Not daring to argue, the middle-aged magician hurriedly turned and left.
His little attempt at flattery had clearly backfired.
Meanwhile, Master Belori's lined face betrayed no emotion, as if the exchange had never happened. His voice remained steady as he continued,
"This is the process of making a magic scroll."
With that, he turned and strode deeper into the building.
Yet—his pace was noticeably faster.
Sakeer followed Master Belori into a dimly lit room, its cramped space filled with an overwhelming array of objects.
Crowded was truly the best way to describe it.
Despite the room's considerable size—roughly 100 square meters—nearly a third of it was occupied by towering bookshelves, crammed from top to bottom with aged tomes and scrolls.
The wall directly opposite the entrance held a massive ancient map, its faded parchment showcasing the detailed terrain of a vast region.
At its center, a bold, mountainous ridge split the land in two.
This… []
Isn't this a map of the Kingdom of Re-Estize and the Bahas Empire?
Sakeer's gaze lingered on the distinctive Azerlisia Mountains, a key landmark on the map, and his suspicions were confirmed.
Yet the map was only part of the room's odd assortment of items.
Scattered across various tables and shelves were a bizarre collection of artifacts—some appearing to be ancient stone tablets, others resembling components of some kind of architectural structure.
And then there were the countless notes, scrolls, and animal hides of various colors.
In one particularly cluttered corner, Sakeer even spotted a fully intact pelt of an adult Barghest.
No wonder he hadn't reacted when he saw the little Hellhound earlier.
Clearly, he was accustomed to seeing such creatures.
The sheer abundance of items crammed into the space made it feel even smaller than it was, as if every inch had been occupied by relics of history and knowledge.
Master Belori let out a quiet sigh.
"I imagine you must have many questions."
"No need to rush. Sit—we'll talk."
His rigid, old-fashioned demeanor seemed to soften slightly the moment he stepped inside. Though his expression remained serious, a faint trace of exhaustion could be seen between his brows.
Sakeer, unfazed, simply walked over and took a seat beside him without hesitation.
Master Belori blinked in mild surprise, then let out a low chuckle.
"Not bad."
"Gifted individuals should act differently from the mediocre."
(End of Chapter)