Master Belori observed Sakeer with a trace of expectation hidden in his slightly clouded gaze.
Through the brief exchange between his disciple and Sakeer, he could already tell—the young man had a keen interest in crafting magic scrolls. And for Belori, that was more than enough.
For someone Sakeer's age to already be capable of using second-tier magic, stepping into the realm of third-tier spells was inevitable.
And beyond that…
Even reaching the level of fourth-tier magic was entirely within the realm of possibility.
Teachers always favored gifted and intelligent students.
"In crafting a magic scroll, beyond the physical creation of the parchment itself, the crucial step is learning how to properly infuse magic into it," Sakeer stated, voicing the question in his mind.
Master Belori nodded approvingly. He wasn't one for excessive words. Instead, he picked up the sheepskin scroll that the middle-aged magician had made earlier, placed it on the table, and carefully spread it open.
"A properly crafted scroll must not only serve as a vessel for magic but must also undergo the process of enchantment."
With that, he extended his hand over the parchment.
Swish!
A pale blue glow shimmered across the surface of the sheepskin scroll, rippling like water disturbed by an unseen force.
Then—
Master Belori raised a single finger and placed it at the center of the scroll. As he poured magic into it, he continued speaking.
"Next is the magic infusion. The scroll must absorb the magic you wish to record, and for that, precise control over your mana is essential."
"To put it simply, you must channel your magic into the scroll as though you were casting a spell normally. The key here is stability and focus. Any mistakes could cause the process to fail—or worse, result in an explosion."
Despite his warning, Master Belori performed the steps with complete ease, as though it required no effort at all.
From the point where his fingertip touched the scroll, intricate magical patterns began to weave themselves across the parchment, spreading outward as if following a preordained path.
Sakeer glanced at the information that appeared on his system panel, then back at the rapidly forming arcane inscriptions. He blinked.
"The process of unleashing magic…?"
Wasn't magic supposed to be released by simply expending mana?
Sakeer closely studied every movement Master Belori made.
Something felt… off.
This was nothing like the scroll-crafting process in YGGDRASIL.
In the Great Tomb of Nazarick, NPCs specialized in various support roles.
Titus, the head of the Ancient Library department on the tenth basement floor, was a production-class specialist. He excelled in the creation of magical tomes and scrolls.
The materials used in YGGDRASIL were similar to those found in this world—each level of magic scroll required parchment made from corresponding high-grade materials.
For instance, tenth-tier magic scrolls required dragonhide parchment, crafted from the skin of mighty dragons. In fact, members of the Ainz Ooal Gown guild had once mobilized their entire force to hunt dragons en masse just to secure the materials.
After the Great Tomb was transported to another world, the shortage of high-grade materials led Ainz to strictly limit their usage. Instead, he tasked Mare and Titus with researching an alternative method for creating scrolls using local materials.
Titus, the master scribe, did not use enchantments to imbue magic into scrolls.
Instead, he burned magic circles onto the parchment using gold coins, allowing the scrolls to passively absorb magic through the intricate spell formations.
However, this experiment had ended in complete failure—
The local materials simply could not withstand magic above the third tier.
The contrast between these two scroll-crafting methods was striking.
On one hand, YGGDRASIL relied on a game-like system—where magic scrolls could be manufactured using currency.
On the other, this world followed a more traditional, Western fantasy approach—where scrolls had to be handcrafted and enchanted through meticulous spellwork.
The fundamental difference made Sakeer feel a strange sense of detachment.
For the first time, he truly realized something.
Since the era of the Six Great Gods, centuries had passed, and the humans of this world had gradually forged their own unique path of magic!
Sakeer refocused on the scroll before him.
The magical inscriptions continued to spread across the parchment, forming an elaborate arcane circuit at a speed visible to the naked eye.
And suddenly—
An odd sense of familiarity washed over him.
Wait a minute…
This feeling…
This is… magic infusion?
Sakeer leaned forward, his upper body slightly tilted as he carefully observed the process. His eyes widened slightly.
Isn't this the same way "Mana Infusion" works?
That passive skill from the Magic Swordsman class...
For a brief moment, a flicker of blue light danced across the scroll.
Then—
The parchment folded and sealed itself automatically.
A second-tier magic scroll now rested before Sakeer.
Master Belori remained composed, his demeanor as calm as ever. He reached out and plucked a sheet of parchment from the messy pile of notes scattered across the table. Strange, intricate symbols covered its surface.
"Try using the scroll on this," he said, placing the paper before Sakeer.
Sakeer's eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he picked up the scroll and gave it a firm squeeze.
A soft blue glow pulsed from his fingertips.
Swish!
The scroll disintegrated into countless flecks of starlight, and in the next instant, the magic stored within it activated.
Decipher Magic!
As Sakeer's gaze passed over the complex symbols on the parchment, a surge of foreign information flowed directly into his mind.
He still couldn't recognize the script itself, but—
I understand the meaning behind the words!
The text on the paper described a specific point in time.
"The disciple at the front counter mentioned that you were looking for a magic artifact to translate written language."
"Unfortunately, such an artifact does not exist here."
"However..."
Master Belori's aged voice carried a hint of amusement, deep yet steady. Fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes lifted slightly as he smiled.
"I happen to possess the magic that allows one to read any written language."
"If you become my disciple, I will teach you not only the art of scroll-making—but also this magic."
[Skill Points: 44 → 42]
Sakeer glanced at his status panel.
Newly acquired skills: Magic Accumulation and Interpretation Magic.
His gaze shifted back to Master Belori, who was watching him with quiet anticipation.
For a moment, Sakeer remained silent.
Master Belori mistook his hesitation for indecision.
And so, he decided to push a little harder.
"Albert plans to buy ten second-tier scroll papers for just a single silver coin."
"In truth, that price is far below market value."
"That kid is clearly planning to use your paper to pass my assessment," Belori scoffed, a flash of indifference flickering in his eyes.
Then, turning back to Sakeer, he smiled once more.
"With your skill in papermaking, which is on par with my own, you could easily produce seven hundred sheets at once—all of which could be used to craft magic scrolls."
"You do realize the value of a second-tier magic scroll, don't you?"
"The profit margin isn't just a few times over—it's dozens of times!"
"With your talent, mastering the scroll-making technique would allow you to craft a few magic scrolls at random and earn what others struggle to accumulate over years—even decades!"
Master Belori's voice grew more impassioned as he continued,
"Give it five years."
"I have no doubt that you will master the craft of third-tier scroll-making."
"You would become the youngest fourth-tier scroll-maker in the Kingdom of Re-Estize!"
Wealth.
Prestige.
The temptation was undeniable.
For many, such an opportunity would be impossible to refuse.
Silence settled over the room once more.
Then—
Sakeer chuckled softly.
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
(End of Chapter)