章 12: Seeking Guidance
編集者: EndlessFantasy Translation
The mission board was located in the Student Union.
A sea of people was gathered at the Student Union, and most of them were there to see if there was any suitable mission.
Marcus was there to issue a mission, however.
Marcus walked in front of a teacher. "Teacher, I want to issue a mission."
"Issue a mission?"
The 50-year-old teacher yawned. He evidently had not had a good night's sleep while he was on duty yesterday.
He glanced at Marcus and then at the badge on his chest. He noticed that the release date was a few days ago—it was newly issued!
It belonged to an apprentice mage.
One had to know that very few mages of this level would come here to issue missions.
"Okay, the content of the mission should not be against the law. The minimum is 200 credits.
"Give me your student card first. Let me see it," the teacher said calmly.
"I understand."
Marcus knew the academy's rules, so he had already taken out his student ID.
The teacher muttered to himself, "What kind of capable person can he be? I'm afraid he's an idiot. Such a low realm—"
However, when the teacher saw that his realm was not that of an apprentice but that of an intermediate mage… his eyelids twitched a few times.
"Achievements!" The teacher's legs trembled.
The student before him was the person who had dealt with the academy's potential dark mages at the Durant family's fishing grounds yesterday!
"What kind of mission do you want to issue?" asked the teacher.
"I only need to issue a task, teacher.
"Any senior brothers or sisters who are proficient in the Shadow Flash spell are eligible.
"One hour of guidance. Reward: 2,000 credits!"
Marcus may be rich now, but he had also risked his life in order to do so and increase his strength.
"This spell of mine... has not reached level-10 yet."
The teacher knew of his current predicament.
A level-10 intermediate mage needed to break through to an advanced mage!
There were only 200 advanced mages in the Ivy League Academy.
And to be able to break through to an advanced mage before reaching the age of 20? It could be said that nobody could achieve that feat in the academy!
'This Marcus student…'
The teacher wiped his sweat and said meaningfully, "Shadow Flash is an agility spell, so very few people practice it. If you do this...
"I'm afraid no one will take up the task even after an entire semester..."
"Alright then. Add another 2,000!" Marcus gnashed his teeth and said, "One hour, 4,000 credits!
"But the rules are set—only level-10 Shadow Flash practitioners are eligible to pick this task."
4,000 credits per hour—that was 400 gold coins per hour!
It really made one's heart bleed.
"Yes, student." The teacher had already posted his task on the mission board. "You just need to wait quietly.
"Your senior brothers and sisters will come to your place for the task."
Marcus nodded after hearing that. "I understand, teacher."
Then, Marcus disappeared into the sea of people.
Not long after...
A cold and elegant woman appeared beside the mission board. Her aura was like a winter dragon, so high that it was unreachable.
When the students saw her, they did not dare to approach her. They were afraid that something would happen to them.
Moreover, the badge on her chest also indicated that she was a third-year student, an advanced mage!
"That's our senior, Susan Garcia, right? Legend has it that she broke through to the advanced mage-level at the age of 21."
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Don't call her by her name."
"It's over. She's looking over!"
The silver-haired Susan glanced at them a few times before ignoring them. She swung her long hair and continued to walk toward the next mission board.
She rarely appeared in this crowded place to search for missions.
However, she recently wanted to buy a bottle of high-level Strength Potion but was short of money.
Thus, she came here just to take a look and try her luck. She hadn't had high hopes in the first place since she knew that the students' posted missions' rewards were mostly extremely low.
Susan looked from top to bottom, and sure enough, she frowned slightly after checking many missions.
She was evidently dissatisfied with them.
"Hmm? Shadow Flash? Guide for an hour, 4,000 credits!?"
Susan's eyes suddenly sparkled.
'When did such a rich young master appear in the academy?
'4,000 credits for an hour? Generous!
"And it's just for a level-10 Shadow Flash. That's too easy!'
Susan smiled slightly and said to the teacher, who was dozing off, "Teacher, I'll pick this task!"
'It's that student…'
The teacher obviously knew about Susan. She was one of the academy's geniuses.
"You have to demonstrate your Shadow Flash first before you can pick this task."
"That's fine with me." Susan smiled. "Teacher, watch carefully."
In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind blew, and Susan disappeared.
The surrounding students rubbed their eyes, not knowing what to do.
Only the teacher nodded slightly. "You can claim the task now..."
After Susan heard that, she quickly tore off the mission paper and left.
After the rain, the sky turned blue again...
"I wonder if someone will pick my task."
Marcus had already returned to his dormitory. When he thought of the 4,000 credits, his heart ached.
However, it did not matter.
"Marcus."
Unknowingly, an afterimage suddenly appeared in Marcus's courtyard, followed by a woman in white.
She emitted a cold aura, like a 1,000-year-old snow mountain that had never melted.
Marcus had experienced a series of attacks from dark mages recently, so he was a little scared.
However, the Ivy League Academy was now stricter than before, so there was no danger.
"Who are you?" asked Marcus.
"Susan, third year, advanced mage. I accepted your task. One hour to guide your Shadow Flash."
Marcus was a little surprised. "Susan?"
Marcus had heard this name when he was an apprentice mage. She was one of the Ivy League Academy's top geniuses.
What surprised Marcus even more was that Susan was proficient in Shadow Flash, and level-10 at that.
It was really unbelievable.
As far as agility magic was concerned, mages generally wouldn't consider training to level-10.
"Then let's cut the small talk. From now on, I'll only give you guidance for an hour.
"Since you want to have higher attainments in Shadow Flash, then you have to practice more.
"Use the Shadow Flash first. Try to snatch this stone from my hand first. Let me see how fast you are."
Susan put the stone into the hat on her back.
"As you wish." After saying that, Marcus immediately used magic and activated his Shadow Flash.
The wind rose, and the leaves fell.
A gray shadow and a white shadow were in pursuit.
Marcus did not reserve his magic power and directly activated Shadow Flash to its limit.
None of them made a sound or conserved their strength.
"Too slow, Marcus." Susan stood on a big tree and said, "Is that all your strength?"
"Again!" Marcus said slowly.
Susan dodged while imparting her understanding of Shadow Flash to Marcus.
A buzzing sound echoed, and Marcus felt his body suddenly become extremely light.
Great Enlightenment!
[Your Shadow Flash has reached level-10 after listening to Susan's explanation!]
[Shadow flash: Level-10 (Progress 1%)]
An hour passed quickly...
Susan looked at the time. "Time is almost up. Let's call it a day then.
"I guided you seriously, so this task should be considered complete. If you are not satisfied, you can report me to the Guidance Office."
Susan believed that an hour of guidance was not enough for Marcus to make much progress.
"There's no need." Marcus suddenly added, "Senior Sister Susan, I would like to exchange a few more moves with you before time is up. Is that okay?"
Susan nodded.
Soon, two afterimages danced in the wind again.
However, the gray shadow was chasing closely behind the white shadow this time.
Shortly after, the wind stopped.
Bang!
Marcus suddenly touched Susan's stone, and it fell on the ground.
Susan had never seen an agility spell faster than this.
'His level-10 Shadow Flash's speed is actually faster than mine.'
"Not bad, very perceptive," Susan praised.
"Perhaps one day you will comprehend the legendary Shadow Flash Perception."
"Shadow Flash Perception? Senior Sister, what is that?" Marcus asked curiously.
Susan was not a person who liked to talk.
However, Marcus's talent was inhuman, and he would definitely not be an ordinary person in the future.
Having more friends was good.
"Above level-10 is the so-called Shadow Flash Perception.Your opponent would be a fool for even dreaming they would be able to touch you once you've mastered Shadow Flash Perception."
"So powerful?" Marcus was shocked upon hearing that. "Then, Senior Sister, how does one master this?"
Susan shook her head. "If I knew, I would have mastered it long ago."
-- 贈り物
が届きました