To learn Magic, one must offer a Tribute. Taesan rummaged through his Inventory.
“How about these?”
Taesan took out the things he had obtained from killing the Lizardmen. They were all ambiguous items, not much different from the Equipment he was currently wearing. After examining the Equipment, Lilith tapped her chin.
“They’ll do… but this much isn't even worth one Magic spell.”
“Isn't this quite a lot?”
“This is Magic. Simple quantity won't do. It has to be something of greater value, a one-of-a-kind item.”
“Can't there be an easy way.”
Indeed, if one could learn Magic with things like these, anyone and everyone would have learned it. But even Lee Tae-yeon had not been able to. Taesan turned his eyes toward the Equipment he was wearing.
“How about this?”
Taesan showed her Balta’s Earring. Lilith still had an ambiguous expression.
“It's decent… but this alone isn't enough. You need at least two pieces of Equipment of the same class.”
“Then what about this?”
This time, he showed her the Necklace for the Master he had obtained from defeating the Goblin Lord. A look of surprise appeared on Lilith's face.
“Huh? That doesn't seem like Equipment you can get here.”
“So how is it?”
“That's valuable enough. For about one Basic Magic spell?”
“Stingy.”
“Really? I thought I was being generous.”
An item from a Lord for one Basic Magic spell. Considering this was just the entrance, it was a somewhat understandable trade. Taesan took out Rakiratas's blade.
“Then what do you think of this?”
Lilith opened her mouth with a reluctant face.
“He would like it very much… Though it's of a lower rank, he might think of it as screwing over the other one and give you up to a Beginner Magic spell, but can you handle the consequences?”
“Rakiratas would like it.”
He held a strong favor for Taesan. It didn't seem likely he would show hostility just because Taesan sold the blade he had bestowed. At Taesan's words, Lilith made a weary expression.
“I've never seen someone speak of a God like that.”
He put the weapon away again. Magic was important, but not enough to sell the Equipment he was currently using. He was just checking for a comparison, not intending to sell.
Taesan was searching through his Inventory when a piece of Equipment caught his eye.
“Then how about this one.”
[Magic +3] [Contains a faint amount of Magical Power. One with Talent might be able to use it.]
Equipment obtained from defeating the Goblin Chieftain. It had a Stat called Magic, which Taesan had never seen before. After confirming the Equipment, Lilith nodded.
“This will do. It's just barely enough for one Basic Magic spell.”
“This is on the same level as the Lord's necklace?”
“Not exactly, but it's different in the context of a Tribute. The God prefers items related to himself. Unless it's something that can screw over an opponent like Rakiratas's blade, he places greater value on items related to Magic.”
In that case, it was perfect. To be honest, it had been a white elephant. He had kept it because the Magic stat was unusual, but he hadn't been able to find a use for it.
“What is this Magic stat?”
“It's literally power. If you use Magic while holding that staff, it improves things like power, size, duration, and Judgment.”
Then it was useless to Taesan. He was learning Magic to use it easily in the midst of combat.
“Let's go with this.”
“Alright! I'll take it!”
Lilith cheerfully took the staff. She was about to pray for something but then paused.
“Ah, right. I almost forgot. Is there any Magic you want? Invisibility is too valuable, so that's a no, but others should be possible.”
“I don't even know what kinds of Magic there are.”
“I'll show you.”
She waved her hand. A list of spells streamed into his vision.
[Fireball] [Frost Arrow] [Invisibility] [Basic Detection] [Veil of Concealment] [Food Production] Other than Fireball and Frost Arrow, all the spells were for hiding or enduring.
It clearly showed what kind of life Lilith had lived here.
“Should I explain them?”
Taesan nodded.
It was better to hear the details before deciding. Lilith began to speak.
“You already have Fireball, so let's skip that. Frost Arrow is the same as Fireball. In terms of power and Mana consumption, I mean. It's just a difference in element. This one's not bad either.”
The frost status abnormality was quite good, as it noticeably slowed down movement. Moreover, since it was a projectile with a physical form, it could also be usefully employed as a substitute for an arrow.
“We can't learn Invisibility, so let's skip that too. Detection. This one tells you the number and location of the Monsters in the next room. With this, you can know for sure where the danger lies.”
She said boastfully, but it was a spell Taesan had no need for. He intended to clear out every room.
“And Veil of Concealment. It blurs your presence. It lets you safely pass by those with detection Skills.”
This one was somewhat useful. Seizing the first strike was a great advantage.
“Lastly, Food Production is just what it sounds like. It literally produces tasteless water and gruel. I'd love to sprinkle some salt on it, but things like that are precious here.”
She let out a deep sigh, as if she was quite fed up with it. Taesan quietly reviewed the Skills. And he made his decision.
“I'll take Food Production.”
“Huh? This one? I thought you'd take Frost Arrow.”
“I can probably get that one later.”
Frost Arrow was the most common spell found on staves. The same went for Basic Detection. Most spells existed on staves.
Invisibility, though extremely rare, also appeared from time to time. But he had never heard of Food Production. Most Players made do with meals from the cultivation skill, Monster meat, or by buying emergency rations.
With Food Production, he could solve that inconvenience and the consumption of Gold with a small amount of Mana. A Skill that couldn't be obtained elsewhere, existing only in Magic. Naturally, learning it first was the right answer.
“Alright. Wait just a moment.”
She held the staff and closed her eyes. She opened her mouth and murmured something. An unintelligible language flowed out like a song.
The fact that Taesan, Lilith from another world, and the Ghost could converse without any problems must have meant there was an automatic translation function. Yet, the fact that he couldn't understand it meant one of two things. It wasn't a language to begin with.
Or it was a language for those whom translation didn't work on.
[You feel a colossal gaze.]
The God, having answered the call, reveals itself from the other side. A balanced power of order fills the space. Its gaze turns to Taesan.
A smirk.
The God smiled. That was what Taesan felt.
[You have obtained Food Production.]
With the smile, its presence vanished. Lilith opened her eyes with a bewildered look. The staff that had been in her hand was gone.
“Huh?”
“What's wrong? Did something go wrong?”
“No, it's not that. He just granted it so readily. I thought we were in for some trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“The Gods are very particular about those they do not permit. In fact, even the Hero went through all sorts of hardships when he learned Magic.”
[Different from me, right? You could count the number of Gods who hate this guy on one hand.]
Come to think of it, he did have a title about being favored by the Gods. Judging by the reactions so far and the Ghost's words, it seemed rare for a God to show him hostility. Taesan checked the Magic he had obtained.
[Basic Magic: Food Production] [Mana Cost: 5] [Summons a small amount of consumable liquid and consumable solids. It probably tastes bad.]
Now he wouldn't have to go through the trouble of eating Monster meat. Honestly, there was no need to raise his Proficiency for Disease Resistance any further.
“Is there any more Magic you want to learn?”
“There is, but I don't have a Tribute anymore. I'll come back later.”
He planned to learn everything he could. The more cards in his hand, the better.
“Does that mean I have to come back here again?”
“No. When you conquer the floor, I'll go down too. A kind of Safe Zone appears on floors that have recently been cleared.”
“Something like that exists?”
Taesan was surprised. It was something he didn't know about. Usually, there was no reason to go back up to a floor that had been cleared, and even if one did, they could just stay at the Shop.
“It's basically a hidden place. You don't have to go through the trouble of coming all the way down here.”
“That's good to hear.”
It would be incredibly troublesome if he had to come all the way up to the 6th Floor after reaching The Depths. Lilith smiled brightly and waved her hand.
“See you later, then! I'll be waiting for you to bring something good!”
“One more thing before that.”
There was something he had to ask.
“Here, is Magic considered a Skill Judgment?”
“The type is different, but if you had to categorize it, then yes, that's right.”
“Then, just like a Skill, can you create one yourself without receiving it?”
“Uh…”
Lilith paused.
She trailed off with an ambiguous expression.
“Theoretically, it should be possible. The Judgment is that of a Skill, after all. But I don't think I've ever heard of it happening.”
“That's enough.”
Not ‘impossible,’ but ‘I don't know.’ That was sufficient.
[Why did you ask that at the end?]
“Because I have something to test.”
Magic was something he, too, was obtaining for the first time. Unlike Skills, it was an unknown territory. There was more than enough reason to try various things.
First, he checked the reward from the Secret Room she gave him.
[Ashen Boots] [Defense Power +4] [Movement Speed +5%] [Comfortable shoes for moving around. They look quite good.]
They were good shoes with an additional movement speed bonus. His Attack Power would drop by 1, but they were well worth the change. From now on, it was simple.
As he descended the floors, he would take valuable Items, sell them at the Shop or bring them to Lilith to learn Magic. He just had to descend like that. Therefore, he planned to learn what he could before then.
“Karreuk!”
Taesan thought as he blocked the Lizardman's attack.
‘What was the Damage on this thing again?’
He searched through his past memories. He recalled his Defense Power at that time and the Damage he had taken. And the answer emerged.
‘The Base Attack Power of the Boss Room.’
It would inflict that much Damage if he were hit without wearing any armor. Taesan checked his Shield.
[Shield: 35/35] It was possible.
Taesan put strength into his sword. The Lizardman was sent flying and crashed into the wall.
“Kek, kereuk.”
He quietly watched it as it staggered to its feet. The Ghost let out a dry laugh as if it knew what was coming.
[Here he goes, trying something strange again.]
“Karreuk.”
The Lizardman, having barely gotten up, raised its spear with determined eyes. It did not back down, even knowing it could not win. The Lizardman, who was about to face its death with dignity, became flustered.
“Kareuk?”
Taesan was taking off his Equipment one by one. The necklace, armor, shoes, wrist guards, and so on. He put all the Equipment with Defense Power into his Inventory.
[…What is this now?]
Dressed in the same clothes from Earth as when he first came to this world, Taesan stood before the Lizardman.
“Kareuk?”
The Lizardman hesitated. Its small reptilian brain could not comprehend it. An unstoppable foe suddenly weakening itself.
Even one with high intelligence would likely feel the same.
“Come.”
Taesan crossed his arms.