Chapter- 25 : Mental Power

"He is not completely wrong. This is indeed an artifact for common people but for grand mages who can fully use it, it's nothing more than a toy"

The man said as he picked up the 'Will Arrow', he looked at it like remembering something funny.

"Although 'B' class adventure party at the time, we were not as smart as you and bought this toy"

"It was created by a blacksmith at the level of a grand mage so we thought that it must be very valuable"

"But father it's really valuable. I have read the manual and it says that this arrow can pierce defense of an elite magic user"

The lady raised an objection but she is not wrong as the manual indeed mentioned it.

Below the level of the grand mage, there are not many who might be able to stop its surprise attack.

"What do you think young sir?"

Instead of answering his daughter's question, the man asked me.

"Although it's made of rare metal, I don't think such a small piece can store too much magic power so there should be a way to transfer it from the user"

I told him my guess. That's the only possible explanation I have.

"You are absolutely right. Actually it can absorb a certain amount of magic power from the atmosphere in its active state but it has to be kept activated by the magic user"

"It's a range weapon, right? Then how can a magic user keep it activated from afar?"

Elena asked the important question. I can also see the shop lady and miss Maya listening curiously.

"The answer is 'Mental Power', the user can transfer a certain amount of magic power to this 'Will Arrow' through their mental channel to keep it working"

The man said until here and paused.

He probably wanted me to continue the explanation to see how far I understood.

So I took over the explanation.

"It probably requires the mental strength of the final stage of 'Spirit Lake' at the very least"

Among the society of cultivators, mental strength is divided into three levels from lowest to highest; Spirit Lake, Spirit River and Spirit Sea.

These levels are further divided into stages like; lower, middle, higher and final stages.

'Spirit Lake' lower stage is the starting level of mental strength.

By the 'final stage' of Spirit Lake, it means the mental strength possessed by the most elite magic users below the grand mage level.

Even some grand mages are stuck at the final stage of 'Spirit Lake'.

This man who was once an 'A' rank adventurer is probably a grand mage with 'Spirit River' level mental strength.

"But you said it's effective against an elite magic user but if it requires the owner to be on the same level then it's not much difference then their magic spells, right?"

Elena pointed out the main issue.

The mental strength required to operate it is close to the level of a grand mage, most of them already have range spells equivalent to this weapon.

Which means it's nothing more than a fancy tool for them.

"But it's not like there's no market for this. It can be used as a self defense weapon for auxiliary magic users"

"Stop it Disha, you are already big enough but still talk like a child. Is this how you are going to run this business?"

The man reprimanded his daughter. He seems really pissed off.

Of course because this girl, although a good businesswoman, lacks the knowledge of this particular business.

"The main rare metal that was used in the making of this 'Will Arrow' reacts only to the wind element, which means the user must have a wind attribute"

Considering all these facts, this tool really has no market because there is probably no elite wind magic user who can't use attack spells.

"Honestly I am just interested in this as a piece of art and also a tool of training, considering that I might not be able to even use it until a few years later. So I just expect to get a decent discount"

Yes I am a son of a marquise, but it doesn't mean I am gonna stupidly throw away money.

The price tagged on it is much higher than its value, considering that it doesn't even have many potential buyers.

Of course I lied when I said that I can't use it until a few years later.

My mental strength has recently reached the final stage of Spirit Lake.

"Of course, I think it will at least come into some use in the hands of someone smart like you instead of collecting dust here"

The man said as he presented me with a lower price bill after doing some calculations.

Yep, this is a fair price.

I paid him from the money I had in my 'Storage Tool'.

My mother gave me some extra money to buy a present for Elena so I should also find something good for her.

While I was paying the sum, the shop lady whose name is Disha, was showing some pretty goods to Elena.

They also sell jewelry here?

That's what I thought at first but I realized that those are actually magic tools with auxiliary effects.

I looked through them and noticed a nice hair ornament, it is in purple color and in the shape of a flower.

I read the description. Apparently the ornament gives a mild increase in the resistance against mental attack.

Coincidentally, Elena also picked that hair ornament.

Though Elena already has a necklace with a similar but better effect, it doesn't harm to have another one.

"I think this will look good on you"

"Really? Then I will buy it"

Elena replied as she tried it on while looking in a mirror.

"I will buy it for you"

"You don't have to Lord Kai I h-.."

"Treat it as our engagement gift"

I said as I paid the sum to the shop lady.

"En-engagement gift...."

Elena murmured something as she caressed the ornament with a smile on her face.