Chapter 69: Direct Trade (2)

“Three Fireballs should be enough, right?”

“If you’ve truly mastered my Fireball technique, that should be more than sufficient. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“I’m not so sure.”

“Hmm?”

The Archmage stared at me, his expression puzzled.

Screech!

But before he could voice his question, the Kobold Chieftain let out a monstrous roar and charged forward.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Each step of the three-meter-tall behemoth crushed the tall grass beneath its feet, shaking the very ground. The oppressive presence was palpable—even more menacing than the Venom Spore Mother I had faced at the Yanghwa Bridge Gate. Though, in terms of sheer lethality, there was no comparison.

Screeeech!

Fueled by the Kobolds’ cheers, the Chieftain swaggered triumphantly up the hill.

Only then did I nonchalantly extend my arm.

Whoosh!

A sphere of crimson flames materialized in my palm. Precisely charged to 30%, I unleashed the fiery projectile.

Fwooosh!

The pale azure fireball arced through the air, hurtling toward the Kobold Chieftain along a shallow trajectory.

Screech!

The monster’s eyes narrowed. Despite its limited intelligence, it knew that a standard fireball couldn’t even scratch it.

True, if it were a normal fireball.

Thus, the chieftain made no attempt to evade the projectile. Instead of slowing down, it actually accelerated.

Thud!

“Hiss?”

The monster’s eyes widened and froze as the blazing Fireball struck it. Its bloodshot gaze slowly drifted downward to the swirling flames embedded in its chest.

“Hiss…?”

The monster tilted its head sideways.

Kwaaaang!

A deafening explosion tore through the air, shattering the creature’s massive body into pieces.

I smirked at Ellikroid. “Three shots were a bit much, don’t you think?”

Ellikroid chuckled, alternating his gaze between the scattered remains of the Kobold Chieftain and the panic-stricken Kobolds fleeing down the hill.

“Indeed. I seem to have underestimated you. You’ve truly mastered the essence of the Fireball.”

“Is this enough to prove it?” I asked.

“Indeed,” Ellikroid replied, his face flushed with emotion. “It’s impossible for an ordinary Fireball to possess such destructive power. You’ve truly mastered the art of amplifying its potency by channeling Mana.”

He murmured, “This is deeply gratifying. My philosophical approach was constantly ridiculed in Parsley Market, the academic world, and even Ma Tower. But my faith hasn’t been misplaced after all.”

I shrugged noncommittally. To be honest, I didn’t entirely agree with Ellikroid’s unconventional method of learning magic either. But I saw no reason to voice my doubts.

“Now that you’ve demonstrated your abilities,” Ellikroid said, “it’s my turn to fulfill my promise.”

There was no need to kick away the good fortune that had rolled right to my feet.

Whoosh.

Suddenly, a Dimensional Gate materialized beside Ellikroid, just wide enough for an arm to fit through.

This wasn’t the temporary Parsley Market registration trick I’d been exploiting; this was the real deal—an actual Subspace Storage Skill capable of storing items and goods.

Ellikroid plunged his thick arm into the Dimensional Gate, rummaged around for a moment, and swiftly pulled something out.

“Here,” he said, handing me another scroll.

“Thank you,” I replied, snatching it eagerly and immediately beginning to analyze it.

“Use it immediately,” Ellikroid urged.

I quickly unfurled the scroll. Thankfully, it wasn’t covered in stick figures like the previous Fireball Scroll. Instead, it was inscribed with runic characters that even the Status Window’s Translator couldn’t decipher.

As the runes began to glow faintly, a notification appeared:

Hiss.

The scroll, its magic exhausted, crumbled into fine dust and scattered. As the remnants swirled around me, I checked my skill list in the Status Window:

‘EX?’

EX signified “beyond standard.” It meant the skill’s potential was limitless, capable of surpassing even S-Class skills depending on how it was utilized.

Globally, only a handful of Hunters possess EX-Class Skills. Yet here was a mere Fireball, somehow achieving an “out of standard” rating. Of course, its previous rank was S-Class, and its power lived up to that distinction, so I couldn’t really complain.

As soon as I reviewed the Skill information, a grin crept across my face.

This was a jackpot.

‘Recreation…’

In other words, I could not only create the basic Fireball but also mold it into countless shapes for diverse applications.

I could split a single Fireball into countless Firebolts and launch them as projectiles, or flatten it into a broad rectangle to create a Firewall. Of course, the more complex the transformation, the greater the Mana consumption, but that was a risk I was more than willing to bear with a smile, considering the immense potential rewards.

This was an undeniably incredible gain.

“I’m not sure I should accept something like this,” I said.

Ellikroid responded with a gentle smile. “Well, it seems our introduction has gone on a bit too long. Have you deposited the remaining contract fee?”

Ah, right.

While getting a little something extra from Ellikroid was part of the appeal of this direct transaction, the main purpose lay elsewhere.

It was time to get back to business.

“Yes, I’ve just deposited the remaining 4,500 Coins.”

“Then show me the item.”

I handed over the Dragon Spirit Iron Wire I had brought.

“Hmm.”

Ellikroid, holding the pair of rusty knuckles, suddenly began chanting an arcane spell. At the same moment, blue runes lit up in his pupils. After staring intently at the knuckles for a moment, he turned to me and said, “You’ve acquired a proper item. It’s undoubtedly an S-Class Artifact or higher.”

That was welcome news.

But the real question was:

“Can you fully restore it?”

Could he perfectly restore this S-Class Artifact or higher?

The muscular Archmage replied confidently, “As you surely know, I’ve never attempted Durability restoration before. That’s why I quoted such a low restoration fee.”

“You said so.”

“But do you know who I am? Bellune, renowned throughout the Magic Continent. Among its elite, I’m one of the few Archmages who has attained the 10th Circle—a master of supreme power.”

Thump! Thump!

The Archmage pounded his massive pectoral muscles with his fists, like a barbarian warrior.

“Naturally, I can restore it perfectly. But tell me, Passing Porter,”

“Yes?”

“Why settle for just restoration?”

The Archmage added meaningfully, his eyes gleaming.

“Wouldn’t you be interested in adding something extra? A little something more?”

“Something extra?”

“First, let me briefly explain how Durability restoration works.”

Ellikroid continued without waiting for a response.

“Items with Durability have intricate networks of magic circuits inside them.”

With each use, an item’s magic circuits gradually become blocked and severed, one by one. It’s like the organs, blood vessels, and muscles of the body slowly deteriorating.

“So, as the magic circuits disappear, the item gradually loses its power.”

Once all the magic circuits are gone and its durability reaches zero…

“It’s completely broken, then.”

Ellikroid nodded.

“That’s why items with completely depleted durability cannot be restored by ordinary blacksmiths. It’s like a human body that has ceased to function and died of natural causes.”

A blacksmith is akin to a physician. They can cure illnesses, but they cannot resurrect the dead. Therefore, restoring an item broken by fully depleted durability is…

“This is truly magic,” I exclaimed.

It wasn’t merely within the realm of humanity; it belonged to the divine.

“I’m glad you grasp the concept so quickly,” Ellikroid replied.

Now I understood why magicians, not blacksmiths, were the true experts in durability restoration.

On the other hand, I was also impressed by the Dwarf Village Chief who claimed he could restore items to 70% durability. He was human, yet he possessed the ability to partially revive the dead—that was remarkable.

Of course, the 10th Circle Archmage before me could completely resurrect the deceased.

And that wasn’t all.

“So, what did you mean by ‘plus alpha’?” I asked.

“In addition to perfectly restoring durability,” Ellikroid replied, “I can eliminate the durability limit itself.”

Not content with simply reviving the dead, he was offering to grant them immortality.

“Is that even possible?” I asked, incredulous.

“It is,” he replied.

“I heard you’ve never restored an item’s durability before,” Ellikroid said, clearing his throat.

“Durability restoration involves channeling mana into an item’s internal magic circuit to reactivate damaged pathways and restore its functionality. However, I intend to go beyond simply reactivating the circuit—I plan to apply an additional layer of mana on top.”

Hmm, so he’s proposing to coat the item’s magic circuit with mana to prevent permanent damage?

“Is that not difficult?” I asked.

“Theoretically, no,” Ellikroid replied.

“But from what I’ve seen at Parsley Market, none of the restorers offer to completely eliminate the durability limit.”

“That’s because basic restoration itself consumes a tremendous amount of mana in a short period. Even most 8th-Circle Mages would exhaust their reserves restoring a single S-Class Artifact. However…”

The Archmage stood confidently, hands on his hips. “This body is a 10th-Circle Archmage with mana rivaling that of a dragon hatchling. Not only can I restore the artifact, but I can also enhance it further without issue.”

I stared at Ellikroid for a moment. His abilities had already been thoroughly demonstrated through his Archmage’s Fireball.

In that case…

“Alright. I’ll trust you, Archmage Ellikroid.”

Perhaps I should take a little more of a gamble.

“Thank you,” Ellikroid said, winking as he brandished his staff.

Simultaneously, the knuckle floated into the air, enveloped in a semi-transparent blue mana.

The Archmage raised the knuckle to chest height and continued, “Now, while I focus on restoring its durability, there’s something you must do.”

“Something I must do?”

“You must protect me.”

”?”

My head tilted involuntarily.

Seriously? I have to protect this muscular, gym-bro magician who looks like he could slap an Orc Great Chieftain across the face?

In truth, he probably possesses combat prowess rivaling several S-Rank Hunters.

Sensing my confusion, Ellikroid elaborated, “Restoring durability requires intense concentration. It’s akin to entering a state of No-Self, making it impossible to be aware of my surroundings during the process.”

“So, if a monster attacks you while you’re restoring the artifact, I’m supposed to defend you?”

“Hmm, an attack is inevitable. In fact, it will happen the moment I begin the restoration.”

His answer puzzled me.

Wasn’t this dungeon only inhabited by non-aggressive Kobolds? The sole aggressive creature, the Kobold Chieftain, had already been incinerated by my Fireball.

However, Ellikroid’s next words swiftly resolved my confusion.