Chapter 5

Observing the man's hastened departure across the alley, Lennok straightened his fatigued expression.

Though he entertained the idea of silencing the man for good, Lennok's conscience forbade him from harming an innocent soul.

While he had no qualms executing the supervisors who had mercilessly abused him at the factory, this situation was distinct.

Lennok received a business card from the man, so he knew that if he ran into any trouble regarding the matter, he could visit him later.

And, Lennok wasn't concerned about the wrath of the bullies, who were sure to be furious when they woke up.

As he trudged through the clammy alley, Lennok withdrew the stolen money and began counting it.

"Not too shabby," he mused.

Initially, he had only intended to steal enough money to cover his hotel costs. However, to his surprise, the amount he had pilfered was a hefty sum.

Combined with the money he already had, Lennok was now in possession of about 700,000 cells. This should be enough to keep him at the hotel for at least four more days, excluding incidentals.

It was undoubtedly a profitable outcome for ripping off the back alley bullies.

Without delay, Lennok departed from the entertainment district and proceeded to a nearby clothing store to purchase a new outfit.

His current clothes didn't fit his physique well, and they were too conspicuous.

He opted for a fitting shirt and jeans that wouldn't attract any undue attention.

Upon returning to District 49, Lennok surveyed the streets and spotted a rundown pharmacy with a barely hanging sign.

He entered the establishment, where a disheveled pharmacist looked up wearily to assist him.

"Sleeping pills. How much for a week?" Lennok queried.

The pharmacist responded slowly, "150,000 cells."

Lennok's eyebrow twitched in surprise at the steep price, but he forked over the money and received seven bags of pills.

He couldn't risk a sleepless night again, not after experiencing the excruciating insomnia at the factory.

Although smoking several cigarettes provided temporary relief, it was a foolhardy risk to chain smoke to catch some shuteye.

While he wouldn't hesitate to use the cigarette as needed, he couldn't overtax his already weakened body.

With the necessary funds and sleeping aids secured, Lennok had the luxury of contemplating his next move.

He exited District 49 and headed towards the bustling downtown area where the majority of people congregated.

Lennok made his way through the bustling streets of downtown, asking strangers for directions until he arrived at a magnificent library at the end of the area.

This 10-story building was a repository for books and data, and it was where Lennok hoped to find answers about his magical abilities.

Upon entering, Lennok shook off the unpleasant scent of cigarettes that lingered in the air and settled down to focus.

The first thing to look for was not various information about this world— knowing about magic.

He was determined to develop his magical abilities to their fullest potential, as he knew that this was the key to his survival in this unfamiliar world.

Though it was a stark contrast to his days of toiling away in the factory, Lennok's expression crumpled in a different sense and he did not know how to straighten it.

‘This isn't quite what I expected,’

After spending the entire day poring over magic-related books, he had come to a disappointing conclusion.

‘The concept of common magic has completely disappeared.'

The magic books he had scoured through all day only offered limited insight into the unique magic system ‘Sinister,' which each wizard could learn one by one. There was no mention of the common magic system known as "Dexter," which all wizards use in common.

Lennok wondered if the concept of common magic had been eliminated as part of the 3.0 worldview.

If that were the case, all the common magic he had used in the past would remain unexplained.

Despite his talent, Lennok couldn't draw or use a concept that didn't exist.

"Given the usefulness of common magic, it's impossible for it to simply disappear or be discarded as irrelevant," he mused.

Common magic was often considered less sophisticated and powerful than unique magic, lacking depth and expertise.

While a wizard who had mastered lightning-type magic could summon a powerful storm, they wouldn't be able to conjure a gentle breeze between their fingers using common magic.

However, common magic acted as a lubricant that prevented magic from becoming too rigid and helped to bridge the gap between different types of magic, at least in the game WORLD 2.0.

Lennok pondered why the book he was reading made no mention of common magic. There had to be a reason for it, which he would need to investigate later.

As he sifted through the bookshelves scattered around his desk, he saw that the book on unique magic systems contained information on various types of magic, including black magic, necromantic magic, shamanism, barrier magic, and attribute-type unique magic.

However, Lennok quickly lost interest in the book, realizing that he needed a real "Spellbook" or a teacher who could pass on their knowledge to learn it.

Since he didn't know anyone who could help him, the information in the book was meaningless to him.

After organizing the books, Lennok was preparing to leave when he heard a stern voice from behind.

"If you want to be a wizard, it's better to give up now."

Confused, Lennok turned around to see a woman with blonde hair, dressed in a white blouse and blue skirt, sorting through abandoned books. She spoke in a cold and firm tone, not even looking directly at him.

"Reading books all day won't make you a wizard. It's too late for you, so you should focus on studying theoretical magic engineering instead."

Perplexed, Lennok asked, "What are you trying to say?"

“You're clinging onto a futile hope.”

BAM.

She put down the book she was holding and looked at Lennok's face. Blue eyes like the sea stared at him calmly.

“If you can't enroll in a school or find a mentor, your only option is to pursue magic at university. But without a solid foundation, even if you manage to get in, you won't gain anything from the lectures.”

“......”

“Magic is a field that demands both talent and luck. And mere emotions like curiosity, passion, and inquisitiveness are not enough to succeed on your own.”

Lennok remained silent, staring at her blankly.