The Frugal Mage

Rayven couldn't help but think of another way of earning money as Victor spoke…

His gaze was on the cartographer's table. The scribes were also hunched over thick sheets of parchment with their quills scratching, pausing, dipping again into inkpots.

He even heard a few who cursed softly as their lines smudged or their ink dried too quickly.

'They're wasting too much time…' Rayven thought.

He immediately knew he could sell a sample to these people.

They would probably be one of his best customers to catch more attention, to plant the seed of demand.

Well, the maps they made still looked a bit too ugly in his mind. Perhaps, if they had better equipment, like the ease of a smooth, flowing line compared to the clumsy dipping of quills? It would be irresistible.

Cartographers, scribes, even guild officials copying reports… They would all want it.

Aside from this, Rayven's mind realized something.

'They don't just need better writing tools. They need a proper way to store and organize these important papers'

A binder of sorts came to mind. Simple leather folders with rings or cords that allowed pages to be slotted in and out. Adventurers could keep maps, notes, monster sketches, and even contracts all in one place instead of crumpled in packs or left behind at taverns.

'I really have to enter the paper business… Probably portable logbooks would help.' Rayven mused.

What he needed were easy-to-carry and had replaceable sheets. Also in standardized formats. Even guild clerks would love them.

He couldn't help but smile as he thought of the future.

If fountain pens were his main item to cut into the market, then these logbooks could be another stable source of income as long as it was practical and durable.

When Gene and the craftsmen finished the pens, he'd suggest this.

A complete set: pen, ink, and logbook. Sold together, they'd become the everyday toolkit of scribes, clerks, and adventurers alike.

Rayven rubbed his chin.

'Yes. That's probably how you build not just a product, but a business empire.'

***

Still, while the group finalized their paperwork, Rayven's attention soon drifted to a large board set up outside the outpost.

It was a collection of notices and posters…

One in particular caught his eye.

[ Dungeon Safety Advisory – 17th Dungeon ]

- Do NOT bring livestock or animals inside. They attract predatory swarms.

- Strong fragrances (incense, perfumes, scented oils) are forbidden. Dungeons are drawn to them.

- Fire magic is permitted but must be controlled. Wildfire inside tunnels results in fines and possible license suspension.

- Do not leave food waste within the dungeon grounds. Dispose properly at the designated outpost bins.

- Unauthorized mapping is punishable by guild sanction. Report all new routes to outpost officials. ]

"Wow…" Rayven couldn't help but mutter as he saw the advisory. It was quite unexpected, but it definitely made sense.

It was simply not something he expected to see when entering a dungeon.

He thought that as long as they confirmed their rank and the guards let them enter, that was it. Now, he realized that there's still a lot of process to be completed and take note of.

'So perfumes can attract those dungeon beasts? As for the food waste being banned… We should just eat everything and not waste any.' Rayven thought.

It was more detailed than he'd expected, and strangely bureaucratic for something that involved fighting monsters.

"First time noticing the fine print?" Hale teased from beside him, clearly amused at his expression.

Rayven shrugged. "I thought it was just: go in, fight monsters, come back with loot… Something like that."

"Haha… Right, most rookies think that," she replied while shaking her head. "But dungeons eat the careless alive. That's why these rules exist."

By the time the group stepped away from the outpost, Drosk had the updated map folded carefully into his satchel.

He already checked it, and aside from the additional areas and a couple of blocked paths, there were no other changes.

They were still unaware of the location of the Dungeon Boss.

The rest of them checked their gear one last time as the sun fully dipped below the horizon.

"Alright…" Drosk said firmly.

"This is it. Stay sharp, trust your team, and don't get cocky. The 17th isn't forgiving."

Rayven nodded as she now felt a little nervous after seeing how everyone looked serious.

For all his confidence in magic or system, seeing the bustling outpost and its warnings reminded him just how real this was.

And they hadn't even stepped inside yet.

The guards waved them through once Drosk presented their permit, and the party finally stepped toward the entrance of the 17th Dungeon.

"Good luck," one of the guards muttered.

As soon as they passed through the entrance, the world shifted.

Rayven felt a bit uncomfortable as his hand instinctively reached for the edge of his robe. The air was different.

It wasn't the dry chill of the mountainside, nor the stale scent of a cave.

It felt a lot different from what he thought.

'What… this doesn't feel like a cave at all.'

He looked around and was surprised. The tunnel they'd entered had dissolved into something else entirely.

Instead of stones, he found gray walls with moss that glowed…

There were also patches of mushrooms as tall as his chest sprouting near the path.

Then, there were strange vines hanging from the stone ceiling like roots…

It was still underground, yes… But it doesn't seem to be the natural world. It was as if the dungeon were its own pocket realm, built to mimic nature in different ways.

'Interesting…' Rayven mused.

"Never gets old, huh?" Victor smirked as he noticed Rayven's stunned face. "First time in a dungeon, and you already look like you've stepped into a fairy tale."

"It's… greener than I expected," Rayven admitted. "From the outside, it looked like a mine tunnel. This… is something else. Also, I wonder why no one looted those mushrooms or vines.'

Emma chuckled softly. "They're not edible or can be used for alchemy. I'll give you the compendium and bestiary later so you can read them. Anyway, that's the thing about dungeons. They aren't just caves. They're in a different dimension…"