Mages, Adventurers, and Women

……

Beside the campfire.

The goblin, bound hand and foot, screamed desperately.

He had a brownish-green body, was very thin, and was about the same height as Duron.

Its head was exceptionally large, and its most striking feature was a sharp tooth protruding from its left cheek.

Li Wei crouched down in front of him, his fingers brushing across the goblin's left arm, and a black line appeared right afterward.

then.

The black line shot into the goblin's palm at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Just as the three skeletons were puzzled by Li Wei's behavior.

What happened next chilled them to the bone.

The struggling, screaming goblin was like a molting insect; its flesh and blood vanished, leaving only a pale skeleton...

"This...this...this isn't a magic trick?!"

Dulong rubbed the black line that reached the base of his palm so hard that he stammered and was speechless with fright.

Bone also looked solemn.

Even Yulia, who was watching the show, rolled up her sleeve to check for any black lines.

Livy took the goblin's fangs and kicked the newly molted goblin into the campfire.

It added a large handful of firewood to the nearly extinguished campfire, and the fire crackled and burned brightly again.

Li Wei thoughtfully explained:

"The black lines are not an alchemical technique, but a transformation ritual spell called 'Bone Undead'."

"In short, when the black lines spurt into your palm, you will uncontrollably transform into a skeletal undead, just like this goblin."

"Everyone knows about undead creatures, so I won't go into details. They are simply mindless beings who become servants of necromancers and are considered heretics by the Grand Continent, among other things."

Duron and Bones were too frightened to speak.

After confirming that she wasn't confused, Yulia asked curiously, "Levi, I've heard that the rituals for transforming into undead creatures are very complicated. Why was yours so simple?"

Li Wei explained to Yulia and the other two in great detail:

"Because I know the true name of the 'Bone Undead' spell. Do you remember what I said about everything having a true name hidden in the dark space? The essence of a spell ritual is a process of establishing contact with a set of items through the use of arcane language and the corresponding true name in the dark space."

"Fortunately, after some time of trying, I captured the true name of the 'skeleton spirit,' so I didn't need to go through a tedious process to contact the true name of the dark space."

"Just like my fireball spell is different from other mages' fireball spells, because I found part of the true name of the fireball spell in the arcane language of the fireball spell. Although I can't control it like 'Bone Undead', I can control the location of the fireball spell's true name on the Grand Continent. Apart from consuming some magic power, the effect is quite good, as you have all seen."

Li Wei was telling the truth this time.

Another real name?!

Yulia and the other two were completely baffled.

Before they met Li Wei, they didn't even know what his "real name" was.

But through Li Wei's explanation, Yulia and the other two suddenly realized the terrifying nature of the "True Names of All Things".

Li Wei is like a tangled ball of yarn.

Each thread they found was thought to be the key to untangling the tangled mess.

In the end, it turned out that this loose thread was only a small part of a huge mystery.

He's so mysterious!

So mysterious that it instilled in Yulia and her companions a profound sense of awe for the "mage" profession.

This is completely different from the bard who hides behind the warrior and chants spells.

"So, do you have any objections to me becoming the vice-captain?"

Li Wei asked softly.

The three skeletons nodded their heads like rattles.

Yulia suddenly realized what was going on and asked, "Levi, what if I don't agree with your decision?"

"Let's vote by raising our hands, it's fair and democratic."

"A vote by raising hands?"

Julia watched as Bones and Duron fawned over Levi.

This isn't a show of hands; it's clearly a way to strip her of her rights!

You're something else, Li Wei.

I'm paying you to do a task.

You've taken over my squad for yourself?!

Just as Yulia was feeling indignant.

Bone whispered words of comfort:

"Captain, you're not a nobleman in the kingdom, so why are you so eager for power? I think Lord Li Wei's proposal for a show of hands is excellent, fair and democratic."

Yulia was so angry her head was about to explode.

You lowly orc, unable to distinguish right from wrong, are slandering me as having a strong desire for power?!

They even came up with "Lord Li Wei".

Could you be any more obsequious?

Shameless!

Those Bilal Orcs are utter bullshit; they should be renamed "Raso Orcs"!

"Lasso" is the dialect of Yulia's hometown. Translated into the common language of the mainland, it means weeds growing on the top of a wall.

These are Yulia's true feelings.

She dared not say it aloud.

Beside the campfire.

Li Wei put down the book in his hand.

He was giving Bones and Duron advice on their future career plans.

He said to the bones:

"Women are indeed fine wine, but if you want to go far on the path of a warrior, you must learn to be moderate."

"There are only exhausted oxen, not over-plowed land."

Duron suddenly interjected:

“Captain Li Wei, don’t say that. The dwarves believe that the divine cow created the continent of Grand. If they hear that the word ‘cow’ will cause them to die of exhaustion, they will complain that you are racially discriminating against the dwarf race.”

Li Wei glared at Dulong: "You're funny?"

Dulong gave an awkward smile, shrank his neck, and remained silent.

Yulia found herself isolated.

She never expected that, as the captain of the adventurers, she would be isolated by her teammates and vice-captain.

Yulia walked to Li Wei's side with a cold face.

Forcing a smile, he whispered:

"Li Wei... Your Excellency, what aspect do you think I should focus on for my future?"

……

……

Chapter 11

"This child has no talent. Let him become a soldier. At least he'll have a skill, and he won't starve no matter where he goes on adventures."

This phrase appears as frequently in the Grand Continent as "Since you're not good at studying, go to a vocational school to learn a skill. Having a skill will keep you from starving."

A long-lived elven scholar once conducted an investigation on the continent of Grand.

She gathered one hundred beings from different fields and races in each of three different regions.

The first group has seventy-one soldiers.

The second group has seventy-nine soldiers.

The third group has seventy-three soldiers.

In her book, "Are Warriors Parasites on the Grand Continent?", she writes that over 70% of the beings on the Grand Continent are warriors.

The old lady selling shoddy bread is a warrior, the horse-leading nobleman is a warrior, the princess's protector is a warrior, the dragon-slaying hero is a warrior...

Warriors are never the main characters in every book or in every bard's song, but they are everywhere.

Through constant exposure and influence.

Li Wei had some insights into soldiers.

He can provide some career guidance to Bones and Duron.

But Yulia's "Ranger" class is not suitable.

This profession has "entry barriers".

They often appear together with the legend of the "elf race".

In the stereotypes of the Grand Continent.

Ranger is a class exclusive to the "Elf race".

Because of the nobility of the Elven race.

Anything associated with the Elven race will fetch an astronomical price.

Therefore, Li Wei rarely bought books about the Elven race.

He had only a superficial understanding of the profession of knight-errant, and most of his knowledge came from observing Julia.

The price of one elven book could buy him ten books of other races.

If it's an orc book, you could even buy fifty copies.

Li Wei frankly stated:

“Yulia, may I see your feet? I’ve read some autobiographies of elven rangers, and they say that a ranger’s talents are all concentrated in their feet.”

Beside the campfire.

Bones and Duron tactfully turned their backs and walked away.

Yulia asked uncertainly, "Really? But my teacher..."

Li Wei interrupted her, saying, "Since you don't trust me, then forget it."

Julia frowned, recalling Li Wei's past erudition, even his ability to speak the dialect of the Kuso region fluently.

She lowered her guard.

Take off your leather boots.

Surprisingly, it had no taste.

Li Wei recalled the "Pinkku People" of the Eastern Continent recorded in the illustrated guide.

They lived in the eastern part of the Grand Continent, and each of them was fair-skinned and handsome.

And there was absolutely no odor on his body.

"Pinku" is a dialect word from a certain region of the Eastern Continent, meaning "clean and flawless".

Holding Julia's feet, Li Wei remained calm and composed.

He nodded occasionally.