Chapter 16

Perhaps due to Lina's petite figure, her performance under the bed was not as impressive as that of a high-level apprentice.

Sain's physique was not bad either. At just sixteen years old, he still had several years of growth ahead of him.

According to Sain's growth rate, by the time he reached 25, when his physical attributes would be at their peak, his physical stats were likely to exceed 12 points.

Compared to the robust minotaurs or the talented subterranean elves, Sain's physique was indeed nothing special.

However, among the group of black mages, his physique was sufficient.

After all, not all black mages were like Scarface Jock, who specialized in honing his physique and strength. Even Lina found Sain's strength a bit overwhelming, let alone other magic apprentices.

...

As the day of the grade assessment approached, the usually quiet Black Magic Academy gradually became lively.

Many apprentices who had been on missions returned, and those who had been staying in their dormitories or the library for long periods also began to appear in various corners of the academy.

Apart from his live-in girlfriend Lina, Sain actually had a few "friends" over the years.

Without sufficient strength, a lone wolf would find it hard to survive in the Black Magic Academy.

Especially for the new apprentices who had just joined the Black Magic Academy, they knew the importance of forming groups and relying on powerful allies.

Sain had many ordinary friends, but those who he truly trusted and knew well were only two.

"Hey, fatty, long time no see." Walking among the many buildings of the magic academy, Sain greeted a plump magic apprentice who was walking towards him.

Fat Boss, one of the young boys who came to the Black Magic Academy with Sain ten years ago.

Because they had fought side by side, competed for, and protected food together, their relationship had grown stronger over the years.

Especially since many of the apprentices who came with them had already died for various reasons, Boss and Sain were probably the longest-standing friends.

The deceased low-level apprentice Ilk had another enemy, and that was the Boss in front of him.

Because, strictly speaking, Boss was one of the main culprits who had taken food from Ilk's brother.

When Sain greeted him, Boss was initially stunned, then his chubby face trembled, and he smiled, spreading his arms to walk towards Sain.

The reason he didn't recognize Sain immediately was that Sain was wearing a white mask at the time.

"Ha ha, Sain, I've heard about the big things you've done in the past two months!"

"I heard you've even been taken as a disciple by a great formal black mage?"

"Is this mask the pale mask you took from Ilk? A low-level magic item, let me take a look."

Boss was also a low-level apprentice, but unlike Sain, he had no interest in meditation or studying magic. Instead, he was more interested in business and black gold.

The Black Street was the commercial street inside the Black Magic Academy, but in the city of Mithral, there were also several commercial streets, where the goods were more varied and often required dealing with subterranean elves or other dark creatures.

Fat Boss mainly worked there. Although he wasn't taken as a disciple by a formal black mage, the shop he ran seemed to have the backing of a black mage.

Before Sain went to the Saltwater Crocodile territory, the iron phosphorus powder and other spell materials he bought were actually obtained from Boss at a friend's price.

The fatty hands ultimately did not touch Sain's mask but patted his shoulder. However, what made Sain roll his eyes was still Boss's large belly.

Boss was only one year older than Sain, and it was really a mystery how he managed to get so fat in the dangerous Underdark.

When Boss first came to the Underworld, he wasn't this fat, was he?

This time, Boss returned to the Black Magic Academy not to compete for the academy's rewards.

His strength among low-level apprentices was only average, and his return was more because he smelled a business opportunity.

For the past three years, every time the academy assessment came around, Boss would sell his goods to the low-level apprentices.

From spell materials to certain incomplete spell models, he had everything.

Of course, most were just low-level items, priced between a few black gold.

After all, there were no rich people among the low-level apprentices, and the higher-level apprentices looked down on Boss's shoddy goods.

Or perhaps Boss had some good items, but he didn't dare to sell them to the higher-level apprentices, fearing that they would remember him.

Before Boss could speak again, Sain took off his mask himself.

Handing it to Boss, Sain asked, "Take a look, how much black gold is this mask worth?"

The fatty hands skillfully examined the pale mask Sain handed over. Boss was a knowledgeable guy, and the store he worked at in Mithral sometimes sold low-level or mid-level magic items.

After examining the mask for a long time, Boss finally said, "The normal price is 120 black gold, but if you give it to me, I'll pay 150 black gold for it."

Boss's answer vividly demonstrated the high cost of magic items and the popularity of the alchemist profession.

However, Sain didn't fully believe Boss's words. Given his nature of not doing anything without profit, even if he bought it from Sain for 150 black gold, he had enough confidence to sell it for a higher price.

As for how much he could sell it for, it depended on the buyer's wealth and Boss's sales skills.

In Mithral, due to the rarity of magic items, there was no fixed standard price.

Boss was still examining Sain's pale mask. Seeing that he had no intention of returning it, Sain suddenly said, "This mask is indeed from Ilk, but it seems to be a treasure bestowed by a formal black mage."

Sain's words startled Boss, and he instantly dropped the pale mask, which fell back into Sain's hands.

Boss's timid and fearful appearance made Sain chuckle. If it had been two months ago, he would have been as afraid as Boss, fearing retaliation from a formal black mage.

However, as two months passed, the formal black mage Ketherson from the plantation had not come to trouble Sain, and he gradually put his worries aside.

Moreover, with more time spent with his mentor Moses and senior apprentice Phoe, Sain knew that if he really encountered any trouble, his mentor would not stand idly by.

Because if a formal black mage came to trouble Sain, it would be like seeking trouble with his mentor Moses.

Sain did not know the exact strength of his mentor, but from the performance of Deputy Dean Daldron and Lina's mentor Ferenia in the dungeon, Moses was probably not a weak formal black mage.