Warlock Apprentice

Pierre did not explain any Inscription knowledge because he didn’t know much about it.

“Generally speaking, the smugglers who pass slaves around are responsible for sticking inscriptions onto their goods,” said Pierre.

“So I have to talk to these ‘smugglers’ if I need to learn how to use Inscription?”

Pierre remained silent for a while as he wondered whether Angor was asking such a question to help Nano or because of some other personal reasons.

“It’s not the only way.” Pierre decided to provide thorough help and showed Angor a small card with the Abyssal Inscription, as invented by Vulgar Sage, drawn on it. “This is copied from the authentic inscription print and is less effective. But it can still help common otherworldly slaves resist the world’s consciousness. Let’s say… the severity of the corrosion will be halved.”

Pierre proceeded to describe the inscription card.

For example, a helpless toddler from another plane who fell into the wizarding world would have their life expectancy reduced from 100 to 15 due to the world’s consciousness. With this card, they could reach the age of 55-65.

The “authentic print” would raise the resistance to about 80%. Nano’s inscription was drawn in this way.

And anyone who actually knew how to draw Inscription could achieve the full effect.

Angor looked at the card and wondered how well it would work on Jon.

Assuming that Jon could live until 100 under normal circumstances and putting his current age into consideration, Angor presumed that Jon could live for at least another 20-25 years in good health. In the meantime, he could attempt to acquire Inscription skills or help Jon become an apprentice, both of which would further extend Jon’s life.

He had already met with a live case before, which was Balba, the child of an otherworldly race. After becoming an apprentice, the negative effect caused by the world’s consciousness wasn’t so obvious on him.

“Can I have this card? I’ll pay, of course.”

“Sure, it ain’t anything too valuable.” Pierre shrugged. “I’ll just buy another one from the smuggler next time. Fifty crystals, and it’s yours. BUT! Remember that from now on, this card has nothing to with me. If the cult comes to you, you don’t know where you found this thing, and I don’t know how you found this thing. Understand?”

“No problem.” Angor nodded. “Is there a way to find the ‘authentic’ Inscription or learn how to draw it?”

“No no no. There’s no way those smugglers I mentioned will sell it to you. As for studying it… I don’t know. The cultists are everywhere in the southern region, so you’ll have a hard time finding books or people who can teach you.”

Angor fully understood the situation and paid for the card.

Before he could leave, Pierre stopped him to warn him of something else, “I will not question why you need the inscription, Mister Padt, but there’s something important you must know.”

“Go ahead.”

“This one used on slaves is Abyssal Inscription, but not the optimized Inscription. It comes with negative effects. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you use it on mortals.”

The Vulgar Sage was another Grand Demon living in Abyss Plane. Just like dealing with the other Grand Demons, receiving their blessing meant paying a cost.

However, a Grand Demon probably would not expect payment from mortals. Only wizards and apprentices had to be cautious about using their power.

Demons would follow the rule of “equivalent exchange” as well. In fact, sometimes they were even more faithful compared to wizards.

Angor thanked Pierre and turned to the door.

“Please take good care of Nano. He has suffered too much,” Pierre added in the end.

“I will.”

…

While leaving through the narrow alleyway, Angor thought about the brand new knowledge that he had never heard about before. It seemed that this particular subject that was invented by Vulgar Sage held much potential, and at the same time, it was feared by people.

Much of the knowledge composition in the wizarding world came from Grand Demons such as Astute King and Crown Clown. However, this didn’t necessarily mean that the demons were more intelligent. Wizards could also make miracles happen, such as by modifying Vulgar Sage’s Abyssal Inscription into a new and more powerful subject.

“Inscriptions…”

Angor checked the card in his hand. The back of the card had simple patterns drawn on black background, much like how poker cards were designed, while the front of the card had the same picture found on Nano’s chest—a smiling demon with hooked tail that caught a pile of beautiful books.

How does such a simple picture work wonders?

While looking at the picture, he thought about someone else’s name—Blackjack, a certain bully who loved copying Sunders’ dressing style and enjoyed picking on weaker fighters in Sky Tower.

While battling with Blackjack, Angor saw the man using several cards with strange pictures and names such as “Kiss of the Tongueless”, “Garden of the Twilight Goddess”, and “Knight Shield”. Back then, he didn’t know much about wizardry yet, so he regarded Blackjack’s skill as an Occult art that he wasn’t familiar with.

Is Blackjack an Inscription user?

He decided to confirm it once he returned to Brute Cavern.

…

With the inscription card safely stored in his bracelet, Angor took Nano away from Cork Street.

He was going to attend the Sky Auction together with Sunders five days later. Even though he didn’t plan to buy anything, he did have several items that he’d like to sell.

The auction this month wasn’t the biggest auction held by Floating Mech City. Despite that, it was still a lot greater than Twilight Auction, not to mention that there were many visiting wizards currently in the city because of the garden challenge.

Angor had less than a hundred crystals in his account after buying the inscription card, so he thought of using this chance to earn more money.

First, he was going to sell the Bloodrose Vine that he retrieved from the Nightmare Realm.

Next was a series of trinkets such as several space storage items.

After obtaining more greyspace microbes from Sunders, he had enough resources to craft more storage items and earn as many magic crystals as possible during the auction.

This was his plan—he would use the next five days solely on crafting storage items.

…

The dusk had arrived when he arrived at Sunders’ manor.

He saw Greya sipping tea in the flower garden. Meanwhile, Toby had returned to his original form and was sprawling on Greya’s tea table, asleep. Judging from Toby’s rapid breathing, Angor believed his little partner had another tough day.

“You’re back?” Greya looked up from her teacup. “And who’s that little cutie?”

Nano didn’t know who the girl was. He flinched when he felt a terrible aura covering him up as the girl glanced at him.

“A Fibber slave I found in Cork Street,” said Angor.

“Fibber? I heard about them before… Oh yes, an interesting race from Grand Plane who can produce fine silk. Are you going to make clothes, Angor dear?” Greya tilted her head as she got an idea. “Alas… Ever since I lost my body, I never found a suitable dress for this tiny form. I so want to present my great beauty in front of others again! A silk dress sounds like a nice choice…”

Angor almost rolled his eyes. Why does she sound like Toya all of a sudden?

“Lady Greya, I haven’t started studying tailoring yet, and I need time for it. As for this Fibber… you may want to check his own style first,” Angor said and moved aside to allow Greya to take a better look at Nano.

Greya pursed her lips when she saw Nano’s green hat and cherry-red outerwear.

“Oh, that’s too bad. Guess we have to wait for another chance.”

Nano, on the other hand, felt a bit pissed off after both his new master and the wizard-like girl displayed discontent about his designs. Even so, he dared not say it.

“Apart from new clothes, I also want a new accessory.” Greya flipped a hand over, and an ear stud shaped like a white feather appeared on her palm.

Angor gave her this item before leaving Dark Castle. At first, Greya only considered it an insignificant gift, but she changed her mind after experiencing the illusion left by Angor. The particular ambiance of the Nightmare Realm convinced Greya to return to the Nightmare Realm again to retrieve her body.

She had been keeping the item with her because Angor’s illusion meant so much to her.

She always adored Angor’s alchemy skills and wanted to request for another item, yet she never found a chance since Angor was busy with something else.

Now that the boy seems to be unoccupied…

“The illusion contained in this ear stud is the most enjoyable one that I have ever seen. Say, if you can bring me a second surprise like this one… I’ll serve you another customized meal!”