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n𝓞𝑣𝐞xt.𝗰𝑶𝑚

nIn one of the VIP rooms on the ship, Maximus finished exploring and entered the meditation room, curious to experience its differences from his own meditation room.

nPracticing his meditation technique ‘Divine Consciousness,’ he sensed a turbulent yet serene mana flowing rapidly through him.

nThe speed of mana transmission was at least a hundred times faster than his usual meditation practice.

nIf he could train in this meditation room indefinitely, he could advance to a Tier 4 Elemental Mage within two years without taking any supplements.

nUnfortunately, he lacked the funds to acquire such a meditation room. Just looking at the materials used in the arrays and runes he knows already that he can’t afford it.

nA few days later, his token vibrated and conveyed a message signaling their departure from Elnor Island.

nMaximus reached for the ship token given to him by the steward, looking at it with curiosity.

nAs he infused the token with his mana, it illuminated and presented a virtual screen displaying an image of the boat, swiftly transitioning to the main menu.

n“It resembles a mobile phone,” he murmured, astonished by the technological advancements in this world that he thought were backward except for its magical wonders.

nAlthough the token offered limited functions specific to the ship, it was impressive enough for someone like Maximus, who had lived in a backward and ancient place.

nThe main menu consisted of simple options: maps, services, and notices.

nUsing his spiritual consciousness, Maximus tapped on the map. However, instead of revealing the entire ship’s structure, it only displayed the available facilities.

nThere was a gambling area offering various types of games, including fighting, cards, and more.

nSubprofessional areas such as alchemy, mechanics, weaving, runes, and puppetry were also present.

nMoreover, there were different areas designated for relaxation and training.

nAfter browsing for a while, Maximus selected the food area, feeling a pang of hunger.

nUpon selecting the option, a holographic projection emerged from the token, guiding him to the elegant and exquisite dining area.

nThe sight of the surroundings whetted his appetite, prompting him to quickly find a seat and settle down.

nObserving Maximus, one of the waiters approached him with a menu in hand.

n“Here is our menu, sir. If there’s anything else you fancy that’s not on the menu, we can prepare it, especially for you,” the waiter said, bowing politely and waiting for Maximus to make his choice.

nPerusing the menu, filled with a variety of delectable dishes, Maximus settled on “Pixie Popper” for the appetizer, “Sea Dragon Grilled Steak” for the main course, and “Phoenix Fire Crème Brûlée” for dessert.

nOpting for ingredients of Tier 5, he intended to indulge himself for a while, as he now possessed the means.

nTypically, at home, he and his family could only consume Tier 3 ingredients due to their inability to digest higher-energy foods.

n“Will that be all, sir? And what would you like to drink?” the waiter inquired, noting down Maximus’s choices.

n“Just bring me a Mystic Moonshine Brew,” he replied nonchalantly.

nMaximus realize that just this single meal alone would cost him 750 low-magic crystals, a sum unimaginable in the past.

nAs the food was served, Maximus’s eyes lit up at the taste of the Pixie Popper.

nHe then took a bite of the Sea Dragon Grilled Steak, and his initial assumption was confirmed.

nTaking a sip of the wine, he marveled at the meticulous cooking process behind the food.

nAlthough he was aware that there is a sub-profession for cooking, he had never realized they could preserve the aura of ingredients so effectively.

nUsually, when he consumed food purchased from the system mall, the aura within it would diminish to less than 10 percent after cooking, resulting in a waste of energy.

nHowever, the food he was currently eating still retained 70-80 percent of its aura, even when cut into smaller pieces. Amazed, he quickly finished his meal.

n“Huh,” he exhaled, feeling pleasantly stuffed.

nNormally, with his strength, food would be quickly digested, but Tier 5 ingredients proved to be different.

nHoping to aid digestion, he strolled toward the upper deck garden.

nAfter walking for a while, he discovered a fantastical garden adorned with carefully arranged greenery and flowers of various colors.

nHe settled into one of the chairs, gazing into the distance, reminiscing about his life.

nIt had been nearly five years since he arrived in this world, basking in its luxurious offerings. He now had seven wives and concubines, along with eight children.

nIn his previous life, he had been a mere worker, hoping to save enough money to start a family. He sighed at the stark contrast.

nLost in his thoughts, Maximus was interrupted when a waiter approached, offering him a complimentary tea.

nAs he looked out over the endless sea, he marveled at the sea’s vastness, although he couldn’t ascertain the ship’s exact velocity, he was sure that it was moving very fast.

nLooking at the still ship, if it weren’t for the imposing waves, he wouldn’t have even realized they were moving.

nHe could also faintly hear the sound of the harsh wind, which was muffled by the ship’s protective barrier.

nTaking a sip of tea, he relaxed, allowing the gentle breeze and the fresh scent of plants to cleanse his spirit.

n“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” A man with a rugged but energetic appearance disturbed Maximus’s peaceful moment.

n“You can sit wherever you want,” Maximus replied, unfazed by the man’s rudeness, and continued to relax.

n“Thanks. I’m Griffin Helmsworth. What’s your name?” the rough-looking man, Griffin, persisted in his attempts to engage in conversation.

nGlancing at Griffin, Maximus sensed a strength comparable to that of a Tier 3 Nascent Mage.

nUsing the system’s function, he accessed Griffin’s information on his panel.

nGriffin Helmsworth

nStrength: Tier 3 Nascent Mage

nAge: 56

nPotential: Rare

n“Maximus,” he uttered, uninterested in further small talk.

n“I’m from Helmsworth Plateau. And you?” Griffin persisted, oblivious to Maximus’s lack of interest.

nNoting that Griffin shared the same surname as the plateau, Maximus deduced that he must be from a royal family that had conquered the entire island.

nThis must be the reason for his great strength despite coming from Curse Continent and only having rare talent.

nAfter all, conquering the whole island can get you an enormous amount of money that you can then use to buy resources.

nMaximus looked at Griffin and asked directly, “Sunburnt Plateau. What do you want?”

n“Oh,” Griffin apparently unaware of the place called Sunburn Plateau.

n“I’m just bored and looking for someone to talk to.” he replied

n“Are you one of the prospective students?” Griffin asked, noticing Maximus’s strength of a Tier 3 Nascent Mage, which just met the requirements for admission to the academies in the central continent.

n“No,” Maximus replied nonchalantly.

nOn the ship, there were three types of people: prospective students, adventurers seeking breakthrough through the central continent, and returning adventurers looking for exotic resources on the cursed continent for quick cash.

nObserving Griffin’s rough appearance, age, and potential, Maximus concluded that he was likely selected to attend one of the academies under the Alliance of Mages.

nAlliance of Mages is also known as the Order of the Arcane, which ruled over all of the mages, one of the three powerhouses of the central continent.

nAcademies are their breading ground to train talented mages and knights.

n“Oh, I’m going to Battle Academy,” Griffin continued, obviously not believing Maximus’s response, that he was not a prospective student.

n“Do you have an academy you’ve chosen?” he said, not waiting for an answer. “I wish I could pass the Battle Academy exam; otherwise, my sister will send me to Spirit Farm Academy,” Griffin continued to ramble on.

nMaximus no longer bothered to respond, treating Griffin’s words as mere background noise.

n“Do you know my sister? She’s very powerful. I heard she has mythic talent,” Griffin subtly bragged about his sister.

nMaximus took a sip of his tea, unfazed by the tales of his sister’s supposedly heaven-defying talent.

n“Anyway, we won’t have any more interactions in the future, so why should I care? Can I just drink my tea in peace?”

n“Hey, hey, just listen to me. What if I introduce my sister to you?” Griffin suggested, hoping to continue to brag about his sister.

n“Alright, stop. Can’t you just relax and keep your mouth shut?” Maximus eyed him, unable to fully relax with Griffin’s incessant chatter.

n“Okay…” Griffin abruptly fell silent and remained seated.

nAfter a while of silence, Griffin spoke up again, saying, “Can I talk now?” He sounded like a pitiful child.

nWell, I can’t entirely blame him. After all, he’s still young if you consider the lifespan of a Nascent Mage.

nOrdinarily, people live to be around 70 to 80 years old.

nThe lifespan of an Official Mage is 100 years, which is the maximum a human can live without having sickness or ailments in their life.

nThe lifespan of a Great Mage, however, extends to 300 years, as their bodies undergo fundamental changes and the aging process slows down

nThe most significant transformation however occurs when one advances to a Nascent Mage, where the lifespan reaches 1000 years.

nAt this stage, the strengthening of the soul affects the body and greatly enhances one’s longevity.

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