Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1437: Chapter 15: Hill in a Fluster

Hill glanced a few more times, confirming that the threads were only pretty in color without any special functions, including those in the nearly empty mage item stores, which didn’t have anything eye-catching either.

At most, they are a bit tougher. The threads spun by the slightly more robust Teraxil silkworms are stronger than this.

So he didn’t bother disgusting himself… He didn’t even want to ask what kind of things they were made from.

Hill turned his attention back to those stores that only those wearing mage robes dared to enter.

He wasn’t very interested in these stores… the magic books and scrolls indeed had some value, but they were all of the most basic type.

Priced extravagantly at 500 gold each, besides having clearly visible magic models, the rune interpretations could only be described as baffling… they couldn’t even clarify what each rune represented!

Those able to use these books to successfully advance to become a mage must truly be gifted geniuses!

Hill glanced and quickly understood that the class system of this world was somewhat fixed, especially in the magical professions… while the military and various academies indeed provided a path for ordinary citizens to advance, there was a ceiling to this path.

Even if they became nobles, or even high nobility, there remains an invisible line difficult to cross.

But for most people, no matter how arduously they strive and struggle upwards, they might not even be able to see where that ceiling is, hence they wouldn’t care about that line.

However, for the few with sufficient capability and a clear enough mind to reach that line… they must be careful in their planning, slowly exploring, evading, or breaking through that line.

But this is a situation faced by every world. Hill wouldn’t worry about others’ fates; he just needed to make sure there were no issues with Aesces’ runes: The magic runes on the Toril Magic Net, especially the most basic ones, could be considered standards of the multiverse, used by mages in most worlds.

At most, there were only minor differences.

But in a world without the weave, mages would already make some adjustments to their learned magic to suit themselves better, as long as the world accepts it, there is no problem.

And of course, Aesces would accept… Judging by his attitude toward Hill, at least the Path of Destiny of Toril and the Will of the World of Aesces, even the gods representing the will of the world have seen it all.

That implies this world has interacted with Toril.

Hill came again to observe these few stores because he suddenly felt something was off.

At first, he really thought, maybe because the good stuff was all taken to the trade fairs, that those stores didn’t have many materials above level 2… In a low-magic world, the grading of various materials is particularly meticulous, and when Aesces sealed his supplies, they provided him a detailed resource grading chart.

For example, Mithril Ore, freshly mined, was already a level 4 material.

And Mithril, starting from level 10.

But what made Hill headache was that his materials had particularly high purity… for example, Mithril, even the scraps started at level 14, so using even a little would immediately exceed the limits allowed by Aesces.

Moreover, although he left some basic resource ores, how could he have left those unrefined raw ores?

The worst are materials refined more than three times already!

However, inside those magic stores, there were still many ordinary materials, at most only purified once… Isn’t this something a furnace can do?

Why do mage stores want to compete with blacksmith shops?

Hill was a bit dazed… He was somewhat worried whether he had misunderstood something.

But even in a low-magic world, there is still magic power!

Moreover, the Will of the World of Aesces is particularly active, with a distinct style of doing things, obviously a thriving world!

Sitting on the sofa, Hill rubbed his hands… Forget it, he should align with those stores.

Being slightly stronger should be fine, after all, his level is evident here, but… everything can’t be the best.

Damn it! What counts as good stuff at level 4?

What’s going on with this world!

Hill quickly sorted through his spatial equipment.

Earlier, that captain of the guard was obviously a battle professional, not very knowledgeable about magic materials, he knew there were good things in his carriage, but probably couldn’t recognize their level.

Hill quickly got up and retrieved all materials above level 4, replacing them with lower-level ones… especially those natural materials… It took a considerable effort!

Only those refined to higher levels through mana or magic arrays… Like steel, silver, and other common resources, were left with a few at level 4 outside.

Fortunately, on a few occasions of direct deals with the Undead Tribe, he acquired some low-level ores, now stored in the corners of the pendant.

Because the quantity was too small, Hill didn’t bother.

Otherwise, right now… I suppose he’d be grabbing a chunk of mud and slowly crafting it himself!

Although Joshua doesn’t seem to dare to look up much, Hill could tell from his sneaky actions that Joshua firmly memorized the decoration of Hill’s carriage in his heart.

Even though this subordinate of Count Stelter behaves with straightforwardness, appearing to be a standard noble of order… Hill wouldn’t think he’s truly a reckless person having firmly controlled power in such a chaotic city.

And Joshua, who could be valued so highly by the Earl, was able to bring Hill directly to the Earl’s domain without consulting him. Thus, he couldn’t be as mediocre as he appears.

Hill clapped his hands, looking at the overall reduction in the interior decoration level of the carriage, and couldn’t help but smile wryly… Are we not like a brainless bear scrambling around?

Thinking hiding behind a big tree would keep him unnoticed, yet… his figure was so distinct, he couldn’t cover both head and behind.

Ugh, prepared a whole lot, but ended up in a chaotic scramble!

Hill sat back on the sofa, face filled with displeasure… yet, the puppet beside him, dressed in a maid’s outfit, only knew to organize the cabinet Hill had just messed up.

Hill looked back, sighed, and fetched a pot of rose mint tea, poured a cup, and drank slowly… he really needed to cool down.

Huh? Hill set down the Crystal Cup; his Mage’s Eye observed a carriage coming toward him… The black-and-gold carriage door prominently displayed the Unicorn Whale Crest, proving the identity of the visitors: the Stelter Family.

It should be the butler Joshua mentioned who came to deliver the invitation.

It seems the Stelter Family really values him and holds high hopes… Around this time, Joshua should have just finished explaining his background to the Count.

Though Hill thought it would take a bit more time… after all, he needs confirmation of his identity from the God of Runes’ church!

What if his family is entangled with some great nobility that has a feud with the Stelter Family?

Came so quickly… Does the Stelter Family perhaps have especially close ties with the God of Runes’ church?

Hill, completely unaware that Count Stelter and Joshua affirmed his hermit identity with that face known far and wide, waved his hand and pushed open the carriage door.

He had no interest in engaging in the standard noble greeting routine of knocking and asking; simpler is better.

First, get his hands on the stuff; as for the rest… at least, until the so-called celebrating Miss Stelter’s advancement during this trading season ends, Hill will maintain a cold demeanor.

Though he does harbor a bit of interest, it’ll require observing for a while first.

This bit of goodwill toward the Stelter Family wouldn’t lead to him deciding to engage closely with them now.

Butler Sander stepped off the carriage, glanced at the carriage door wide open in the middle of the lawn, and slightly frowned.

But he quickly regained composure… Joshua’s keen observation skills were still something he trusts; the fellow was naturally sensitive to others’ emotions.

Otherwise, with his experience following the Earl in southward expeditions, he wouldn’t be holding the position of Sheriff and acting as a city gate guard leader.

Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his collar and the hem of his clothing.

This powerful Earth Magician might not be indifferent to the Stelter Family due to the words from those great nobles and the Alchemist Association in the Royal Capital, but it doesn’t mean he would hold much warmth for the Stelter Family.

He had just arrived at Basia, and lacking malice already represents half the success!

As for the other’s disposition of “skip the pleasantries, quickly finish what you need to do and leave,” Sander thought nothing of it.

Being willing to open the carriage door for him and letting him board to speak a few words, rather than dropping things and gifts far away and rushing off, this High-level Warlock could be considered exceptionally approachable.

Sander had long been accustomed to the mages’ arrogance.

After years of pleading to various Gods for Miss Stelter’s mage path, he had experienced plenty of disdainful gazes… and this was the good treatment thanks to his Magical Swordsman identity.

Though he only knew a simple spell to imbue mana onto a long sword, at the very least, he could.

For those pure battle professionals, the mages’ attitude might be slightly better… after all, despite looking down on them, they are seen as their kind… Warriors, what are they?

Who would show off a haughty face to kittens and puppies!

Magic professionals revere the nation and military, not some noble, much less just a butler beside the nobility.

To be this approachable now is the result of the Crystal Cannon already threatening the safety of most mages… before that, let alone commoners, many counts died at the hands of these mages.

Though some indeed met their demise, facing this situation, even the trouble-free nobility feared it!

Sander turned to present a delicate tray… topped with a Pearl box filled with entry tickets and invitations, along with a few exquisite small gifts… With the mages’ temperament, upon first meeting, unless deliberately accepting a noble’s ‘friendship,’ they wouldn’t receive expensive gifts.

Sander settled his breathing, briskly paced toward the open carriage door.