Chapter 5
Pei Sen’s main character was also a mage. He only entered the game after “Bix Cube” had already exploded in popularity. By the time he started playing, the mage class had already matured significantly, with numerous strategy guides available online. Back then, the community generally agreed that being a mage was an extremely brain-intensive profession, so not many players chose it. However, among those who did pick the mage class, quite a few became highly skilled. After all, many players initially selected mages simply because the class seemed prestigious, but most of them eventually gave up.
When he first started playing, Pei Sen didn’t realize just how demanding the mage class truly was. However, he wasn’t someone who easily gave up. As he continued playing, he gradually found enjoyment in it, and eventually, he became one of the more renowned high-level mage players.
Although this current character is merely an alternate account, and furthermore one with poor innate attributes, it is still, regardless, a mage character.
After obtaining Bertha’s notebook, Pei Sen did not rush to read it. Instead, he first returned the trays and other items to the kitchen and requested that dinner be prepared anew.
Watching Pei Sen walk away, Kesso cast a meaningful glance at Lady Mary. “Sending a commoner of unknown background to serve the young master; you certainly seem confident.”
Mary did not look at him. “Since the young master insists, I see no harm in it.”
Compared to the dangers they pose, are the people you sent any less risky? In comparison, even if these commoners’ backgrounds are unknown, they are still preferable to those others.
Seeming to know what Mary was thinking, Kexo let out a scoffing laugh, said nothing more, and turned to leave directly; his magnificent mage’s robe shimmered with a faint halo under the crystal chandelier.
Lady Mary watched his retreating figure, her heart still heavy with worry.
It was precisely because of this unease that the young master was willing to tarnish his own reputation, causing a group of people to flee every so often.
She wondered just how long this Pei Sen would be able to stay here.
If Eagle knew what Mary was thinking, he would surely find it somewhat amusing.
Driving people away out of unease? No, that wasn’t it; he genuinely found them disagreeable, which was why he had chased them off.
He continued toying with the cat carelessly when a beautiful young woman with black hair and blue eyes entered from outside. Glancing at the stain on the floor, she cast a cleaning spell with evident disgust, then took a deep breath to steady her emotions before speaking to Eagle, “In a bad mood?”
Eagle didn’t even glance at her. “Knowing I’m in a bad mood, you still dare to stay?”
This young girl was, of course, Bertha, who had been ordered by Keso to clean the carpet.
As a gifted young lady and a noble mage who had already successfully embarked on the path of becoming a formal mage, being summoned to clean carpets like a mere maid was already deeply humiliating to her. Her mentor had instructed her to try engaging Eagle in conversation, which she diligently attempted, but Eagle’s personality was simply intolerable to her!
“Still not leaving?” Eagle said mockingly. “The carpet has been cleaned. Remember your place; you are nothing more than someone sent to clean carpets. Or do you expect me to have someone escort you out?”
That attitude completely treated Bertha like a cleaning maid, infuriating her until her face turned crimson. Without another word, she spun around and stormed off in a rage.
By the time Pei Sen returned, not only had the carpet been thoroughly cleaned, but two maids were now carefully dusting the room’s furnishings. They had practiced shrinking their presence to such an extent that they moved silently, making absolutely no sound throughout the entire process.
This was because earlier, any maid who drew attention to herself or made even the slightest noise had already been dismissed.
With the notebook still weighing on his mind, Pei Sen forced a smile and spoke with deliberate patience, “Young Master, if you don’t wish to have thick soup, perhaps something light would suit you better? Next time, shall I personally prepare some congee for you?”
He was basically using the kind of tone one would use to coax a child.
The continent of Yali was largely Westernized in culture; staple foods consisted mostly of bread, meat, and thick soups. Rice existed as well, though rice cultivation itself was quite limited across Yali. For the Golden Rose Manor, however, obtaining such ingredients wasn’t particularly difficult.
In truth, Pei Sen himself was craving something different; after eating bread for days, he was nearly sick of it.
Eagle looked at him with some curiosity. “You know how to cook?”
“As a commoner, this is also a basic survival skill, young master,” Pei Sen said with a smile. “Though it depends on whether you’re accustomed to it.”
The young master isn’t used to such food, which works out perfectly for him. Still, he’ll first need to raise the banner of “the young master wants to try it” before he can openly prepare whatever dishes he desires.
Pei Sen considered himself quite clever.
He had endured another hour or so with Eagle, watching him take exactly two bites of dinner—truly just two bites… and even then, Eagle acted as though he was doing Pei Sen a favor by eating at all. Pei Sen found himself utterly speechless.
Finally, after spending a good while grooming the cat named Pex, his “work” for the day came to an end.
Back in his own room, Pei Sen finally had time to take out that notebook and read it.
An ordinary person reading this mage’s notes would be completely baffled. The so-called aptitude is actually not the most important factor. Keso casually tossed this notebook to Pei Sen, confident that a boy with no teacher and of common birth could never embark on the path of a mage merely by relying on such a basic notebook.
Pei Sen looked at the notebook, yet the corners of his mouth curved upward.
Bertha’s notes from when she first began studying under Keso were certainly not profound; they contained only the basics for entering the realm of magic. However, the threshold to becoming a mage is inherently high. When Keso handed him the book, he didn’t mention that nearly the entire text was written in the language of magic. This magical tongue is fundamentally different from ordinary writing; aside from its deep and obscure semantics, one must possess certain comprehension abilities and a foundation in spatial imagination to learn spells.
However, the existence of the game system directly bypassed the obstacle known as the “language of magic.”
Some players previously believed that excelling in solid geometry would guarantee success as a mage, which holds some truth but isn’t absolute. These spell models defy all logic; not only do they lack any discernible rules, but their twisted and interwoven lines even transcend the realm of science…
After all, magic itself is not scientific.
One thing remains absolutely certain: every spell model is complex enough to induce a severe headache.
Yet Pei Sen has already become remarkably proficient at memorizing these spell models. His main character once mastered around three hundred different spells, over half of which were intermediate-level or higher—models so intricate they could make anyone dizzy just looking at them.
However, being a player has one distinct advantage: as long as you can memorize a spell model and replicate it on your skill panel, you will master that spell with 100% proficiency. It’s equivalent to reading a skill book; once learned, the spell remains permanently in your skill list. Unlike ordinary mages who, after memorizing a spell model, must still undergo arduous practice to truly master it, this恐怕 explains why mages are so exceptionally rare and precious. Not only is the threshold high, but progress is also difficult; among those who truly become mages, there are simply no fools.
Pei Sen looked at the first spell model, and instantly constructed the spell in his mind, because his main character had already mastered this skill.
The most basic Meditation Technique. This skill isn’t the foundational cultivation method for mages found in novels; it’s purely a passive skill used to restore mana.
“Ding, you have learned ‘Meditation Technique’.”
Meditation Technique (Passive Skill): Increases mana regeneration speed by 10%.
Mana regeneration is tied to Intelligence and can also be boosted through passive skills like the Meditation Technique.
He continued scanning down the notebook; after all, this was the very tome Bertha had used when first learning magic, so discovering any profoundly advanced spells within it was nearly impossible.
It contained almost exclusively the most basic, entry-level apprentice spells, which happened to be perfectly suited for him at this stage.
The skill list clearly stipulates that a certain amount of spell reserve is required to learn higher-level spells. Each apprentice-level spell learned increases Spell Knowledge by +1, and reaching the threshold to learn elementary spells requires more than 20 points of Spell Knowledge.
This was no easy number to achieve; Pei Sen’s main character had cobbled together a hodgepodge of miscellaneous apprentice-level spells from various sources, taking quite some time before barely managing to advance.
What delighted Pei Sen was that although every spell recorded in this notebook was extremely basic and simple, belonging to the apprentice level, their quantity was truly substantial!
“Cleaning Spell, Organizing Spell, Dust-Repelling Spell…” Pei Sen mused thoughtfully. “Could it be that this Kexo genuinely intends to send this Bertha over to serve as Eagle’s maid? Why are there so many apprentice-level spells of this particular type!”
To be honest, Pei Sen had never even seen quite a few of them before!
However, among players, this type of lifestyle spell was never popular; only a tiny minority truly cared about such aspects within the game. Clearly, most favored practical offensive and defensive spells instead.
“It’s quite good; it’ll help me round out my spell knowledge.” Pei Sen, for his part, didn’t mind at all.
“Ding, learned ‘Cleaning Spell’.”
“Ding, learned ‘Organizing Spell’.”
“Ding, learned ‘Dust-Repelling Spell’.”
“Ding, learned ‘Rain-Avoiding Spell’.”
“Ding, learned ‘Water Divination’.”
“Ding, learned ‘Basic Ice Blade’.”
“Ding, learned ‘Basic Freeze Spell’.”
“…”
Pei Sen guessed that Kexo might be an ice-element mage, as even at the apprentice level, no spells from other elemental schools appeared in this notebook; nearly all of them belonged to the ice element.
Having flipped through the notebook once during the night, he had already mastered every apprentice-level spell contained within. What’s more, upon reaching the final few pages, he was pleasantly surprised to discover that Bersha had also attempted to study magical runes and magic circles!
However, judging by the contents of the notes, she had merely copied down some related knowledge and gave up directly without ever truly mastering it.
Of course, these were notes Bertha made many years ago; whether she has since learned these things is uncertain, but back then, she likely realized her abilities were insufficient to master such knowledge.
However, the content she copied happens to be introductory material.
“Ding, Mastery of Rune Knowledge (Introductory Level) acquired.”
“Ding, Mastery of Magic Circle Knowledge (Introductory Level) acquired.”
“This is truly an unexpected windfall,” Pei Sen thought with delight.
Yes, it was true that this character had poor innate aptitude, but mages were fundamentally different from other classes; innate aptitude was far from the most critical factor.
Too low intelligence and insufficient mana? No problem. At worst, once he reached level ten, he could fight while chugging potions. Who was afraid of whom?
Let’s not forget, this smurf account was originally meant to be a storage character… It boasted inventory and bank slots of the highest capacity, stockpiling vast quantities of supplies. Some items might seem insignificant years later, but right now, they could be considered rare treasures.
He had stored a vast quantity of magical potions alone.
As for the issue of spell damage, there was no need to worry too much; at worst, he could simply layer ten or eight magic sigils upon himself when the time came. Sigilology, which truly shone only in the later stages, was something he had mastered exceptionally well.
Pei Sen closed his notebook and said with genuine feeling, “I must truly thank Lord Keso; he is far too considerate!”
He loved him.