Chapter 6: The Suspicious Luxury Mansion Spell Scroll
Before coming here, Croyer had been somewhat looking forward to the seafood by the coast—after all, as long as the ingredients were fresh, it shouldn’t be difficult to make something delicious.
However, reality hit him hard.
The cook, desperate to avoid being dismissed and sent away, had put all her skills to use, adding what she considered the most "luxurious" spices into the sea cucumber and abalone soup.
The result? A thick, murky brown broth.
The strange mix of aromas was so intense that it seemed like something brewed by an alchemist rather than a chef.
Inside the soup, the sea cucumbers and abalones bobbed up and down, their pale forms resembling restless spirits refusing to rest in peace.
What made it worse was that the abalone and sea cucumbers were enormous, radiating a faint magical energy. Even someone unfamiliar with seafood could tell that the ingredients were of exceptional quality.
It was nothing short of a waste of premium ingredients.
Croyer scrutinized the dish for a long moment before finally taking a small sip.
The complex and overwhelming flavors nearly made him spit it out. He could taste salt, black pepper, fennel…
And many other things he couldn't even begin to identify.
As for the dry, brittle-looking white bread on the table… it seemed like it had been left out long enough to fossilize.
The only edible thing on the table was a plate of grilled salted fish. However, the way it was plated was utterly horrifying—the fish head was propped up, its lifeless eyes wide open, staring straight ahead.
With a deep sigh, Croyer silently infused his fingertips with magic and began dealing with a coconut.
His silence was contagious. The four knights and Robert, his steward, fell into a similar quiet. After all, the Royal Capital had long abandoned the idea that "the more spices, the better," yet this remote coastal village was still operating under that assumption—one look at the dish was enough to tell that it contained a near-lethal dose of seasoning.
And yet, in this small island village, such an extravagant use of spices was clearly reserved for the most honored guests.
"My Lord, shall I prepare some food?" Knight Art asked respectfully. "I once learned how to handle seafood from a tavern owner."
This particular knight had been with Croyer the longest—his first attendant knight after joining the Mage Tower. Art had been a mercenary since the age of eight, traveling far and wide, learning many skills along the way.
He also knew well that Croyer had a habit—if he didn’t like a dish, he wouldn’t eat a single bite.
Mages, after all, could afford to be a little willful. It was their right.
"No need," Croyer shook his head. "Let’s leave it as is for now. After we finish eating, get some rest. We need to investigate the entire island thoroughly.
If necessary, use any means at our disposal."
He split open the coconut in his hands. Inside, the flesh was smooth and translucent, and the juice emitted a sweet fragrance—somehow, it felt different from the coconuts he had seen before.
He took a sip.
A refreshing, slightly viscous sweetness spread through his mouth, instantly sweeping away his irritation and restlessness, leaving a lingering taste that was quite pleasant.
Most importantly, it contained magic!
The magic was hidden so deeply within the coconut water that even he hadn’t sensed it at first.
"This coconut… it’s similar to the White Coconut."
No wonder it was so pale. Now that he thought about it, it did look familiar. The original owner of his body had seen it before in a basic magic plant guide.
His prior research was paying off. He was surprised. "Although this coconut hasn’t quite reached the level of a magic plant, it naturally absorbs magical energy over time. Long-term consumption would greatly enhance one’s physique."
Even more critical was that this plant, if cultivated properly, could evolve into a true magic plant—the Pure White Sea Spirit Coconut. If that happened, the nutrients in its juice would be comparable to the milk of a Tier-2 magic beast.
It could be turned into coconut powder, coconut oil, or other products with great market potential.
Robert immediately saw the business opportunity.
Without even finishing his meal, he shot to his feet and said, "My Lord, I’ll go conduct a survey on how many of these coconut trees we have!"
Ever the devoted steward, Robert constantly worried about the estate’s resources. If they lacked sufficient assets, supporting Croyer’s advancement would be difficult.
And in this world, Croyer’s level determined the ceiling of their ambitions—his progress was their progress.
If he could reach the level of a Tier-3 or even Tier-4 mage, then returning to the Royal Capital would no longer be an issue.
"…"
"No need to rush." Croyer leisurely ate the coconut flesh. "If these coconuts have existed here for so long without being discovered, then no one likely knows about them. Let Bartos handle the survey.
You, on the other hand, should conduct a private count and compare the numbers with Bartos’ report. If they match… I'll keep him around."
He didn’t say the rest of his thoughts aloud.
But if Bartos deliberately hid information or was careless in his report, his time was up.
A lord who had ruled here for years and didn’t even know the number of trees under his domain? That would be unacceptable.
"Understood," Robert replied.
Then he and the four knights resigned themselves to eating the disastrous meal, while Croyer finished off two coconuts before dusting off his hands and heading to inspect his new living quarters.
…
His residence was the former lord’s chambers—the largest room in the castle. It had been tidied up meticulously.
Roughly twenty square meters in size.
It had all the essentials: a bed, bookshelves, a desk.
A small plant sat on the windowsill, resembling coral, swaying gently in the sea breeze, producing a crisp, bell-like sound.
"Not bad."
Croyer hadn’t expected much, though—after all, he had something special: a Luxury Mansion Spell Scroll left behind by his grandfather.
It could "renovate" up to forty square meters of space while also installing a basic Level-1 Protective Ward.
A luxury product for lazy mages.
The original owner had carefully preserved it, but Croyer had no intention of letting it gather dust.
He unrolled the scroll and placed a Magic Crystal on it, musing over something strange.
The magic system of this world seemed inconsistent.
A mere Level-1 Mage's carriage could contain a Spatial Folding enchantment. This scroll could provide an extravagant instant renovation spell. And yet, according to his inherited memories, the Mage Association didn't appear to be particularly advanced.
It was difficult to pinpoint the true level of magical civilization in this world.
As he pondered, the scroll absorbed the Magic Crystal's energy. Golden magic patterns unfurled from it like reaching tendrils.
The room transformed before his eyes.
The crude stone ceiling was replaced with elegant starry engravings. The rough floor was covered in plush carpet. The bed, desk, and bookshelves became intricately crafted and refined.
But the most astonishing feature was the strange blue lantern hanging at the center of the ceiling.
Inside, a flame flickered, burning a unique Tier-3 magic plant essence—Azure Lavender Oil.
The scent filled the air, naturally aiding a mage's meditation.
Croyer froze.
Wait… what?
This was supposed to be a Level-1 Luxury Mansion Spell.
Why did it come with premium meditation perks?
Had he misread something?