Chapter 38

It was not until half a day after Sain regained consciousness that he managed to support himself and crawl out of the half-person-tall crevice.

The reason he stayed for another half day was twofold: Sain was waiting for his physical strength to gradually recover, and he was also meditating to restore his mental and magical energy.

Magic was the strongest reliance for magic apprentices.

Although Sain was still relatively weak overall, he should have no problem casting two spells.

In addition, the acid staff could be used again.

If he hadn't been so unlucky as to encounter another high-level magical beast on such a short journey, he should have been able to handle other ordinary troubles.

After leaving the crevice, Sain first followed the route he remembered to return to the main road leading back to Mithral City.

The traces of the previous battle had long since disappeared.

Along with these traces, even the gray dwarf's corpse and some of Sain's dropped loot had vanished.

The underground world had its unique rules and scavengers.

This was why Sain had struggled to leave the scene with his paralyzed body, seeking a more secluded and safe environment.

Even in the murky air, there was little blood residue left.

Without lingering, Sain quickly walked toward Mithral City.

Due to his full-speed travel, it took only half a day for Sain to see the distinctive city walls and buildings of Mithral City.

Although Mithral City gave the black magic apprentices who lived there a sense of oppression, coldness, and darkness most of the time, Sain still felt a sense of comfort and familiarity whenever he returned to the city after completing a college task.

Sain, who was at the intermediate apprentice level, still used the special passage to enter Mithral City.

Perhaps because he had just been attacked by a gray dwarf and nearly died, Sain's expression showed unmistakable disgust and aversion as he looked at the underground subhumans queuing to enter and exit Mithral City on the main road.

Unlike the last time, the mid and low-level apprentices guarding the city gates did not dare to say a single word when Sain entered and exited the city this time.

Sain's current condition was quite wretched; his magic robe was badly damaged, and he had some wounds on his body, with a ghastly pale face.

However, he carefully and cautiously covered the unhealed wound on his neck with his magic robe.

After glancing at the apprentices, Sain walked into the city.

"What happened? How did you get such serious injuries?"

"Didn't you say you would return within five days? It's already been seven days, and Lina even came to ask me yesterday."

Fat Boss saw Sain walk into the shop and hurriedly came out from behind the counter, looking Sain up and down as he asked.

Seven days had passed, indicating that Sain had been unconscious in the crevice for nearly three days.

No wonder he felt so weak after waking up.

His exhausted and heavy body made Sain only briefly recount his attack.

Although Sain didn't reveal much, Fat Boss could still sense the danger he had encountered.

"I knew it. I've been telling you to just take on simpler guard duties."

"You already have a formal black magician as a backer, so why push yourself so hard?" Fat Boss nagged incessantly.

Different paths, different goals. Sain and Fat Boss had different ideals and pursuits, so he didn't say much, just urging, "Quickly, count how many black golds my loot is worth. I need to submit the task to the college."

Sure enough, Sain's words finally made Boss shut up.

The moment money was mentioned, the guy perked up.

After helping Sain unload his loot, he immediately started counting.

Sain's return to Mithral City this time was at least 30% less than when he left the Gray Valley.

Fortunately, the green-jawed feather's claws were in pairs, and he still had over thirty left, enough to hand over twenty.

Sain didn't lose many green-jawed feather beaks, only two.

After selling most of them to Boss, Sain kept seven for himself.

The three green-jawed feather eggs were the main part of Sain's loot.

According to Boss, although there were no black magicians in the underground world raising such magical creatures, some larger subhuman tribes had developed initial methods for taming them.

The three green-jawed feather eggs in Sain's possession were definitely top-quality goods that those subhuman tribes would vie to purchase.

If he handled the negotiations, each egg could sell for as high as 100 black golds.

After hearing Boss's introduction, Sain's expression was complex.

Just a moment ago, he had hated the underground subhumans, but now he was about to earn money from them?

However, Sain's hesitation didn't last long. He was a pragmatist.

Moreover, the gray dwarf who attacked him might not be a member of the subhuman tribe that would buy the eggs.

If these subhuman tribes grew stronger, they might even help him eliminate the gray dwarf's tribe.

In the underground world, racial conflicts were common.

The humans in Mithral City, protected and suppressed by black magicians, had fewer issues.

But the native underground subhumans and dark creatures never stopped conquering and annexing.

After some calculations, Boss estimated the value of Sain's loot at nearly 500 black golds, which was twice what Sain had originally expected.

The main reason was the three green-jawed feather eggs, which Sain hadn't realized were so valuable.

Of course, the subhuman tribes wouldn't just raise three green-jawed feathers.

Their true goal was to use the three newly hatched green-jawed feathers to harvest more eggs and adult green-jawed feather mounts in the future.

The subhuman tribes around Mithral City were generally small in stature.

While adult green-jawed feathers were unsuitable as mounts for humans, they were perfect for the subhumans.

Since the amount of black gold involved was high, Boss couldn't pay Sain the full amount immediately.

He could only pay after selling the items and then give the money to Sain.

Boss mentioned that he could give Sain an advance, but Sain declined, preferring to unload the items and immediately return to the college to submit his task.

Before leaving the shop, Boss called out to Sain.

"Hey, catch this."

"Consider it a gift from me. Recover well!"

A small red potion was thrown by Boss, and Sain recognized it as a low-level healing potion made by Melly.

Without saying much, Sain waved to Boss and hurried toward the college.