Chapter 61: Daina’s Action

Ace thought this, then rubbed the ring that his Grimoire had transformed into, recording a detailed understanding of the Lesser Magical Trickery spell in the Magic Diary.

The Spell Page only records a simple introduction; more detailed information requires consulting the Magic Diary.

The first two pre-set spells Daina received were fixed, and the same would be true for future Grimoire contractors.

This was a form of invisible guidance for newcomers: the Lesser Permanent Mental Blessing helped them achieve the state of Mental Overdrive; Introduction to Wizardry provided them with a basic understanding of the path of Magic; and then the Minimal Meditation spell and Lesser Magic Missile provided them with the fundamental meditation method and offensive spell necessary for initial growth.

Afterward, they would need to discover new Monsters and magical materials themselves, and collect new runes and rune structures.

They could attempt to use the Equivalent Exchange Ritual, sacrificing Monsters or magical materials to the Torch-Bearer in exchange for runes and Spell Models that were only described in the Rune Page and Spell Page.

Ace, meanwhile, would gain a group of diligent workers who would discover new Monsters, new runes, and new materials for him, accumulate new materials, and simultaneously experiment with his various ideas and observe the effects.

In the future, he could also draw upon their collective wisdom. With a large enough base, innovations are inevitable. Runes, spells, rune arrays, rituals, and so on—unexpected surprises might emerge.

Time shifts back a few days. After Daina quickly parted ways with Ace, returned home to see her parents and siblings, and meditated for two days, her mental power reached 2 Mental Power Units.

She was now very familiar with the Grimoire’s functions and was somewhat addicted. The feeling of her strength gradually increasing and her slowly delving into the mysterious supernatural world was too easy to become obsessed with.

It had been many days since she last looked at Mr. Ace’s Elementary Mathematics (Volume Three), and she hadn’t done the corresponding exercises. Guilt and a sense of sin began to surface.

But she couldn’t control herself. She still opened the Grimoire.

The Rune Page and Spell Page displayed many catalog entries. The Spell Model entries numbered over a dozen, all glowing white.

All the entries only had titles and descriptions, with no actual runes or Spell Models. The Spell Page also showed many Rune Array catalog entries, similarly blank.

Daina focused her mental power on one of the entries. The entry on the Grimoire faded, and a line of text appeared.

【Wizards adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange. You used your future knowledge as tuition and received the fundamental knowledge of the supernatural world from the Torch-Bearer.】

【This is new knowledge. You need to pay new tuition: go discover new Monsters, magical potions, new runes, new rune structures, or activate the Equivalent Exchange Ritual on the first page, sacrificing Monsters or magical materials to exchange for my knowledge.】

【Provided your payment is sufficient, you can exchange for anything I allow you to exchange for, according to the principle of equivalent exchange.】

Daina continued to browse and contemplate. Exchanging her future knowledge for the current opportunity to enter the supernatural world was actually quite fair.

She flipped to the special list in the Magic Diary. Her mouth fell open slightly, and her expression suddenly grew excited.

The Grimoire!

She could actually exchange for a Grimoire! Daina concentrated her mind on the Grimoire entry. Text appeared.

【Grimoire. Sacrifice 10 powerful low-level Monsters or a greater number of equivalent low-level Monsters! Exchange quantity: 1/1. You may gift it to any person. The recipient will enter a covenant with both the Torch-Bearer and the giver. The giver and the recipient will form a natural senior/junior ally relationship according to the covenant.】

Daina unconsciously bit her thin lower lip and silently thought:

“I want to exchange for one and develop Mr. Ace into my junior. With Mr. Ace’s talent, we will surely go farther down the path of Magic.”

Daina fantasized for a moment, her face flushed, and then she returned to reality.

She focused her mental power on the Equivalent Exchange Ritual on the Grimoire’s first page. The Grimoire began to heat up, and text appeared.

【Respect knowledge, equivalent exchange. Imagine the items on the list that you can exchange. The list will evaluate their value in points.】

1. Sacrifice one ordinary low-level Monster: 10 points.
2. Sacrifice one powerful low-level Monster: 100 points.
3. Sacrifice specific magical materials: 10–100 points.
4. Discovery of a rune: Lesser Rune 10 points, Soul Rune 100 points.
5. Discovery of a Monster: Ordinary low-level Monster 1 point, powerful low-level Monster 10 points.
6. Discovery of magical material: Lesser material 10 points, powerful low-level Monster material 100 points.

Daina looked at her 0 points and felt a little despairing.

Powerful low-level Monsters were beyond her ability to handle. Even ordinary low-level Monsters would be difficult to deal with. It seemed she could only continue meditating to improve.

Wait! I could go check out the Monster Hunter camps outside the city. Maybe I can complete the mission easily there!

Daina acted on her thought immediately. She flipped to the second page, asking the Grimoire to evaluate her status:

【Strength 0.5, Constitution 0.5, Agility 0.6, Mental Power 2.1, Perception 1.9, Mana 6.3, Inherent Mana 0】

【Magification Progress 20%】

If she previously had no intuitive sense of her attributes, after easily wrestling her burly younger brother to the ground, Daina had a clear sense: her physical quality had increased by more than double!

Daina speculated that, given the status of using spells when mental power reached 1 Mental Power Unit, reaching 1 in other attributes would surely make her far surpass ordinary people, perhaps even reaching the physical state of the Divine Descendant Nobles.

With the increase in her strength, the flame of adventure in her heart began to burn fiercely. This feeling was even more intense than her love for knowledge.

She took her younger brother’s old clothes, put them on, and tightly bound her chest with a fine wool cloth. Wearing one of her brother’s hats, she looked exactly like a short, delicate young man.

Early the next morning, Daina quietly changed clothes, left a parchment note for her parents, and left the city for a nearby camp.

She looked a bit out of place in the Monster Hunter camp. Anyone could tell at a glance that she was not a Monster Hunter.

Daina hadn’t yet realized this. She enthusiastically wandered around the Monster Hunter camp, using her newly unlocked exploration function to scan the Monsters and materials in the camp.

Regrettably, she did not discover a single new rune, new Monster, or new material.

Ace, using his ring, perceived Daina’s actions through the reserved imprint on the Grimoire.

“Daina, you are still too young. I am the famous ‘Iron Face Fire Fist.’ How could there be any meat left for you in my domain? The soup is probably gone too.”

“However, that place is too chaotic and complicated. But this is perfect. Let me watch your performance.”

Ace muttered to himself and quickly left Medimus City-State. Upon reaching the pile of rocks outside the city, he activated Flash Teleportation. He plunged underground and rushed forward!

The Mana-Crystal Protection Membrane variation spell, a spiral Mana-Crystal membrane, rotated rapidly in front of Ace, pushing aside the underground obstacles. After several thrusts, Ace surfaced.

“Fresh and Clean!”

The Magical Trickery easily cleared the mud from his body. Ace found a hidden large tree, quietly transformed into a leaf, and continued to watch through the illusion interface of his Grimoire.

“Young man, I see you’ve been wandering around for several loops. Are you looking for something?” A white-bearded old man covered in patches struck up a conversation with Daina.

“Cough, cough… I am just casually looking at Monsters. I don’t need anything.” Daina said cautiously, her voice deliberately rough.

“That’s quite a coincidence. I have many newly captured Monsters here, completely different from what is on the market. How about patronizing my small shop, young man?” The old man said kindly.

“No need. I’m just looking around.” Daina remained vigilant.

“Very well. My small shop is on the east end, marked by a red flag. If you are interested, you are welcome anytime before 6 PM.” The old man didn’t hesitate. He smiled kindly and left.