The Archmetamagician: The Weave Collapses Again

”Looks like it worked.” A magnetic voice came from behind.

Anser turned his head and saw Delira leaning against the corner of the corridor with her arms crossed, her body angled slightly toward him, her striking curves fully on display.

”Weren’t you waiting for me in the restaurant?”

”I was afraid you wouldn’t come.” Delira’s lips curled. ”You made a big score—weren’t you thinking of running back home just like that?”

”I only sold a few first-circle spells.” Anser shrugged. ”Just gold, that’s all.”

”Oh? You’re not going to keep making money?” Delira raised a brow. ”Next time you come, you might not even be able to sell them.”

If the Magic Research Society managed to collect enough spells, they might stop accepting them altogether.

”Doesn’t matter.” Anser’s expression remained calm. It wasn’t that he didn’t care—he simply had confidence in the spells produced by his character card.

”Going shopping now?” Delira beckoned with her finger.

”Let’s go.” Seeing she still wasn’t showing her hand, Anser played dumb as well. A free guide was too good to pass up.

Since Jiandar knew her and hadn’t warned him to stay away, it meant Delira’s reputation wasn’t bad.

The two went downstairs together, passed through the trading market, returned to the restaurant, and then headed straight to the second floor.

What came into view was a shop about the same size as the restaurant on the first floor. The layout resembled an exhibition hall—there weren’t many items, and each one had its own display stand.

Items of the same type were grouped together, so the arrangement was fairly orderly.

There weren’t many people in the shop, maybe around a dozen, and most of them were on their own.

”Anything sold here starts at rare quality, but the prices aren’t cheap either—there’s a markup,” Delira explained softly.

”Are there any legendary items?” Anser asked.

”Heh, there are!” Delira’s lips curved as she stepped deeper inside. ”Come with me.”

Anser followed.

A ghostly clerk trailed behind them as well.

The inner area of the shop was relatively spacious. Along one wall stood over a dozen stone pillars, but only three of them displayed magical items. Each was sealed within a hemispherical magical barrier—visible, but untouchable.

Delira gestured for Anser to take a look himself.

He stepped closer to one of the display pillars. Beside it were two sheets of stiff parchment—one labeled Appraisal Certificate, the other Transaction Rules, both written in Toril Common.

He decisively picked up the transaction rules and read carefully.

[Barter only. Seeking a same-tier melee weapon, preference for heavy weapons. Interested parties, please leave weapon details and meeting time… Client: Astral Traveler No. 5679.]

The content was brief, but it left Anser deeply disappointed.

Thinking about it, it made sense. Anyone who possessed legendary equipment would be powerful. Making money wouldn’t be difficult, so there was no way they would casually sell such items.

Putting himself in their shoes—if someone tried to buy his Euryale’s Aegis with gold, he probably wouldn’t sell it either… right?

Well, at the very least, he definitely wouldn’t sell the Book of Castella.

He picked up the appraisal certificate. The item name stood out immediately: Crown of Storms.

Aside from granting lightning and thunder resistance, the crown could transform its wearer into a Storm Herald—eyes shining with bright white light, body crackling with electricity, capable of flight and casting lightning bolts.

However, the thunderwave spell attached to it was basically useless now—extremely unstable under the current magical environment.

’Useful for non-casters… what a pity.’

He already had lightning resistance, and his spells were stronger than lightning bolt anyway. He really didn’t need it.

Seeing his expression, Delira let out a soft laugh. ”That Crown of Storms is the best legendary item to appear recently.”

”Hmm?” Anser froze for a moment, a bad feeling rising in his chest. He immediately moved to the next display.

On it sat a silver jar.

...

[Magic Item: Sovereign Glue]

Category: Wondrous Item

Rarity: Legendary

This milky, viscous substance can permanently bond any two objects together. Current quantity: 7 ounces.

Each ounce can cover one square foot and hardens after one minute. Once hardened, the bonded objects can only be separated by universal solvent, oil of etherealness, or a wish spell.

...

”Never seen it before, right?” Delira giggled, her chest trembling slightly.

Anser glanced at her helplessly. ”Nope.”

Sovereign Glue wasn’t completely useless—but it really didn’t live up to the name of a legendary item.

He checked the price again. This one didn’t require barter—four thousand pounds of gold, equivalent to two hundred thousand gold coins.

But who would spend two hundred thousand gold coins on a jar of glue?

He definitely wouldn’t. He couldn’t think of a single situation where it was absolutely necessary.

”The last one—you definitely won’t find it unfamiliar.” Delira walked with a catlike sway to the third display and handed him the appraisal certificate.

Anser took it, and his eyes narrowed instantly.

[Deck of Many Things]

He immediately looked at the display. Sure enough, two cards lay side by side—one black, one white. Both were completely blank.

Checking the transaction rules, it wasn’t barter this time. Two thousand four hundred pounds of gold per card—about one hundred twenty thousand gold coins.

Generally speaking, the actual market price of legendary items wouldn’t drop below two hundred thousand gold coins. That was the baseline threshold—and even then, money alone might not be enough to buy one.

But the Deck of Many Things was special. A single card or a full deck were both considered legendary. The effects were random, with a one-third chance of danger. Its value fluctuated wildly.

With good luck, the effect could rival a legendary item. With bad luck… there might not be a ”later.”

But Anser was different. His dice could detect the deck’s shifting outcomes. Whether he could profit was uncertain—but he could definitely seize good fortune.

Seeing him hesitate, Delira’s smile faded slightly. ”Hey. You’re not Tymora’s illegitimate son. Don’t go looking to die.”

Anser was extraordinarily talented—there was no need for him to gamble his life. That was something only desperate gamblers did.

”I know. I’m planning to resell them. Might make a profit.” Anser laughed, casually making up an excuse.

Delira stared at him suspiciously but didn’t press further.

Anser waved at the male ghost behind them and pointed at the display. ”I’ll take these two cards. Any chance for a discount?”

The ghost looked at him, a flicker of light passing through its eyes. ”Mr. 9528, these are consignment items. You can only negotiate with the seller. The seller is… Traveler No. 43960. Their schedule is irregular—I can help you arrange a meeting.”

”Forget it.” Anser waved it off, then asked curiously, ”Why are there travelers with numbers so much higher than mine?”

”Because identity plaques cannot be replaced or reissued. Once we detect a plaque has been destroyed, we archive the related data, but the number continues to be reused,” the ghost explained.

”I see.” Anser understood. No wonder these ghosts knew his number without him showing his plaque—it must have some kind of sensing function. Possibly even tracking.

’If Traveler’s Rest ever wanted to screw me over, wouldn’t I be dead for sure?’ A chill ran through him.

”I’ll take the two cards.” He didn’t hesitate any longer—he just wanted to finish shopping and leave.

”Please follow me, sir.”

”Alright.”

At Traveler’s Rest, payment always came first.

Anser and Delira followed the ghost attendant into a sealed transaction room beside the counter. After completing a transaction of four thousand eight hundred pounds of gold with an elderly tiefling, they returned to the counter with their receipt.

By then, the two cards had already been placed inside a small box, sitting on the counter.

After verifying them with his dice, Anser finally stored them in his Avaricious Dragonhide Pouch.

All around him, eyes turned in his direction—full of unclear intent.

After all, not just anyone had the wealth to purchase legendary items.

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I will post some extra Chapters in Patreon, you can check it out. >> /TitoVillar

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