The Frugal Mage

Rayven didn't hesitate.

He had already reviewed the risks. The estate was secure, and there was no better time. Furthermore, he was already excited to advance to the next tier!

"Let's do this…"

Rayven muttered as he tapped the confirmation.

[ Advancement Initiated... ]

[ System Lockdown in Progress... ]

[ Spellcasting Disabled ]

[ Skill Market Disabled ]

[ Vault Access Disabled ]

[ Suggestion Feature Disabled ]

[ Estimated Time: 120 minutes ]

"Two hours, huh…"

Rayven sat down and closed his eyes. He wanted to monitor his body while the advancement happens. He wasn't sure how it would work, but he prayed that it wouldn't be painful.

As the room remained silent for a few seconds, he son felt a shift… It was not something physical, but internal.

There was still no mana flow within his body, but he felt a subtle change that he couldn't explain.

If he were to make a guess based on his previous experience, the system was probably not just upgrading his access. It seemed as if it was refining his compatibility, recalibrating his limits, and preparing him for the next stage.

He didn't move as he was afraid that the advancement process would get interrupted if he started doing some other activities…

Though he was probably thinking too much of this, he wanted to ensure that he would safely advance.

Almost an hour had passed.

This time, Rayven had already rested enough and opened his eyes. He then glanced at the system window, confirming the timer was still running and sixty-three minutes was still remaining.

He stretched his arms and paced the room once, then sat at the desk and pulled out a notebook.

'Well… There seems to be no issues. The system was only deactivated.' He mused.

If he couldn't train or cast spells, he might as well plan.

He flipped to a blank page and started writing.

Future Business Concepts.

He already had the Pen and Ink business that was considered stable. The Mayonnaise line was still in early testing, but the feedback had been promising. He noted both, then moved on.

Soap Production

'Hmm… I wonder if this would work…'

It was a solid idea, but there was already a soap existing here, though it wasn't the scented one he was familiar with.

Gene already did a bit of research with his instruction, and Rayven confirmed that the current soap used in this era was actually considered a plant-based cleanser.

They were using roots, yucca roots to be exact, that produce soapy lather for cleansing… Nonetheless, the main concern was the fact that this business was owned by a huge Mage Family.

It wouldn't be easy to enter this field of business like he did with the Quill Pen with his Fountain Pen.

Anyway, if he succeeded, it could be scaled easily and sold to inns, bathhouses, and traveling merchants.

Next in his consideration was Scented Oil.

It was a versatile item after all. It could be marketed as perfume, insect repellent, or even temple offerings. Herbs and flowers are also locally available that could help him with this... Distillation is simple with basic tools as well.

'Right… This is also good for or masking dungeon stench.' Rayven's eyes lit up as he considered this.

He had entered the dungeon before, plus the abandoned ritual site. The place definitely had some stench, but he would normally endure it since Miki, Nara, and many others wouldn't mind it at all.

Furthermore, it also masked their scent in case some beasts were around.

However, there was a limit to how much he could endure…

'I should think about this part carefully…' He mused.

Rayven thought for a moment before he considered the next idea…

Basic Footwear Inserts

Soft cloth or padded leather cut to fit boots. It reduces fatigue during travel as it gives more comfort…

'Right… These boots are too uncomfortable… or maybe I'm just using the cheap ones? I should look around for other products, I guess.' Rayven mused.

In his mind, these inserts would be cheap to make but with high comfort value. A salaryman like him would know the pain of long commutes, so he already thought of this.

He kept writing or even erasing some random ideas that he would probably fail to create like the suspension he had previously thought of.

Time quickly passed as ideas came slowly at first, then faster. Some were practical. Others needed refinement. But it helped him not notice the passing time.

Then, without warning, he felt something…

It was not an external change but something internal…

His posture straightened as his breath caught for a moment. Something had changed within his body and he felt it…

Soon, he confirmed it.

"Twenty Spells! Nice!" Rayven exclaimed in celebration as he saw the complete message.

[ Advancement Complete ]

[ System Functions Restored ]

[ Congratulations! You are now a Tier 2 Mage. ]

[ Spell Limit Increased: 10 to 20 ]

[ Tier Classification Updated: Tier 2 Mage (Mystic Explorer Path) ]

[ Physical Augmentation Feature: Unlocked ]

[ Bonus: Initial Physical Augmentation Granted (Free) ]

[ Bonus: Initial Physical Augmentation Granted (Free) ]

[ Installed Augmentation: Body Conditioning I ]

[ Effect: Improves muscle coordination, balance, and joint stability. Slight increase in movement efficiency and pain resistance. Enhances physical durability during travel and combat. ]

[ Spell Removal Feature: Unlocked ]

[ You may now permanently delete Common or Uncommon learned spells.

Warning: Deleted spells will not refund coins. All invested costs are lost forever. ]

[ Tactical Simulation Mode: Unlocked ]

[ You may now access a controlled, coin-based simulation environment to test spells without real-world risk. ]

[ Spell Market Tier Access: Expanded ]

[ Market has been refreshed. Rare Spells are now available for purchase. ]

Rayven paused after seeing this… Finally, he could start getting some Rare Spells and try them out without worrying about implications.

Furthermore, he could remove some unneeded Spells, too!

Still, the notification didn't end there.

[ Additional Reward: Adept Robe, Adept Staff, True Healing Potion x5 ]

[ Items have been delivered to your Vault. ]

[ Remarks: You may now begin Physical Augmentation Progression. Each upgrade requires coin investment and spell milestones. ]

"Whoa~ Free gears too…" Rayven couldn't help but smile after recalling the starter gift he had when he arrived here. He actually got a statless Robe at that time!

Now, he was hoping that these items would give him decent stats!